Do the M2s have less soundstage than the original? Listening to the test from Bert's video it seems to be less. I've seen the video before and even after listening to it a few times now I still can't decide which one I like better.
Would the sound signature of the MDR-1A be more akin to the Z7?
I was very hot to buy the original Z7's, and I did so as soon as they were listed on Ajmazoh.
Then I bought the Kimber Kable direct from Sony.
Listened to them often with a variety of amps, etc., and I was never as satisfied with their SQ
as I thought I'd be. I was, however, knocked out by their build quality.
This time, regarding the M2's, I waited a month or so b4 buying them, but as soon as I heard them
I felt that they were definitely "keepers", at least for me. I very much liked
their sound. And that good feeling about them has continued.
To my ears the M2's have a wider and deeper soundstage than the Z71's.
Instruments and voices are located more accurately
More detalied without any stridency or other irritations.
And once again, very solidly made, albeit with a slightly different
design aesthetic and construction approach. They feel more
solidly put together than the originals.
It seems to me as well that an important part of the improvement
in SQ lies in the extensive "venting" employed in the M2's. While
not quite "semi-open" (like the Beyer DT880's, for example),
there certainly seems to be a hella lot of air moving in and or
out of those earcups.
Again, to me, the audible benefit is apparent with a simple strum
of an acoustic guitar. The decay is more realistic, more natural
than the MK1's. In fact, I find it quite thrilling - the M2's are the
first "closed" headphones that avoid the issues and problems
and limitations of just about all closed headphones. The first I've
heard, anyway. (And I have heard more than a few - like most
of us, I guess.)
Sure, Sony "opened them up" a bit with the vents; but wow
what a terrific payoff.
More, however, than the soundstage is the tremendously
Immersive nature of the listening experience. The wearing
comfort together with their accuracy, detail, soundstage
and definite lack of "closed headphone sound" - (restricted,
just busting to get out, something's "wrong", let me reach
for a set of my open back headphones to alleviate this
situation) all combine for a pretty great listening experience..
So I very much like these headphones. Very, very much.
I still reach for one of my Grado's first, but more and more
I want to listen to the Sony;s. And they are so damn
comfortable...
I heard that some have remarked on their midrange being
somewhat "distant" or recessed. And I noticed from the
outset that this had some truth to it. But it's completely
different from the recessed mids that so many cans have,
especially those with V and or U shaped tuning.
Instead, mids on the M2's are very realistically and
accurately presented. Their "recessed" sound is subtle
and really quite tasty. I think if it was any more present
the overall presentation just wouldn't work as well as it
does.
I imagine I'll post again about these as i continue listening
to them. Overall, though, I think Sony has done a really
fine job with these, and I feel that they're a most useful
additon to the ever-expanding headphone marketplace.
Cheers,
