[audionewbi]

  ^ but XBA-Z5 is an IEM right?
Sound a bit unfair you pitted it against a full size can in the caliber of TH900

Apologies I meant to say the Z7 keep mixing them up for some reason. 

 

[dweaver]

I think you need to compare MSRP to MSRP since the Z7 will be available for less than MSRP at some point just like the TH900. The bottom line is the TH900 is a much more expensive headphone.

 

[akhyar]

  Apologies I meant to say the Z7 keep mixing them up for some reason. 

 
If treble clarity is what someone is looking for, I think Z7 will be a disappointment.
Having owned the TH600 for 6 months and auditioned the TH900 for many times, my main gripes with them is the mids suck-out, which I can't get used to.
 
Value-wise, I couldn't agree more with you as the TH900 can be had for US$1.1k-1.2k nowadays, while it's younger brother the TH600 can be had for US$7xx.
Bear in mind that when the TH900 was launched, the RRP was US$2k, before they revised it to US$1.5k much later.
The Z7, for me should be priced within the US$500 price-bracket, as that seems to be the going rate of Z7 in Japan.
I bought the Z7 for less than US$600, so I think it still represents a good buy as within this price bracket, not many headphones can make me smile as the Z7, considering I already own the HD800 and LCD-X

 

[audionewbi]

   
If treble clarity is what someone is looking for, I think Z7 will be a disappointment.
Having owned the TH600 for 6 months and auditioned the TH900 for many times, my main gripes with them is the mids suck-out, which I can't get used to.
 
Value-wise, I couldn't agree more with you as the TH900 can be had for US$1.1k-1.2k nowadays, while it's younger brother the TH600 can be had for US$7xx.
Bear in mind that when the TH900 was launched, the RRP was US$2k, before they revised it to US$1.5k much later.
The Z7, for me should be priced within the US$500 price-bracket, as that seems to be the going rate of Z7 in Japan.
I bought the Z7 for less than US$600, so I think it still represents a good buy as within this price bracket, not many headphones can make me smile as the Z7, considering I already own the HD800 and LCD-X

Yes that is quiet true. While price does matter I cannot see how one would be happy with Z7 even at lower price if what they seek is a good close back headphone with decent treble. Eventually the treble head will look for some other alternative.

 

[akhyar]

^ Indeed, treble head should look elsewhere.

 

[dweaver]

LOL ok I am a former mid/treble head (still am when the mood strikes me) and yes the treble of the Z7 is more gentle than a lot of other headphones like my Q701 and sold K712 and is not as treble present as the D7000 when I had a pair. But for me I have to admit it is part of why I like the Z7 as it allows me to listen at louder volumes than I am used to with no fatigue. I don't blast my ears either, a nice exciting enveloping volume that allows me to be engrossed by my music.

I am listening stretches of hours with these as I just want to stay in the music.

 

[Boffy]

LOL ok I am a former mid/treble head (still am when the mood strikes me) and yes the treble of the Z7 is more gentle than a lot of other headphones like my Q701 and sold K712 and is not as treble present as the D7000 when I had a pair. But for me I have to admit it is part of why I like the Z7 as it allows me to listen at louder volumes than I am used to with no fatigue. I don't blast my ears either, a nice exciting enveloping volume that allows me to be engrossed by my music.

I am listening stretches of hours with these as I just want to stay in the music.

May I ask if you don't mind, how does Z7 perform in terms of female vocals in comparison to Q701? I was also a former mid/treble head and own Q701 like you, but the problem for me is that I have a lot of badly recorded music. While I love treble and Q701, female vocals often sound sibilant so I am thinking of buying a darker headphone like HD600 or Z7. Any opinions? Cheers.

 

[dweaver]

Here is a link to another post where I discussed the Q701 and Z7. http://www.head-fi.org/t/586909/the-discovery-thread-new-dannybais-take-on-the-new-yamaha-eph-m200-pg-1769/26745#post_11052033

 

[Mickice]

I do prefer male vocals, but I think the slight darkness aids to this with the Z7, I've heard some amazing male stuff. 

Bernard Fanning - Wash Me Clean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L430_iFmyXM

 

[gidion27]

If treble is an issue would silver cables not help to lift the treble. Solving this shortcoming

 

[Mickice]

If treble is an issue would silver cables not help to lift the treble. Solving this shortcoming

I would love it if this was the case, someone with the unlimited money will have to try it for us. 
But logically I'd say it's more down to the driver design.
A Z7 MKII could be highly sort after if the treble is perfected with the rest the same.

 

[akhyar]

If treble is an issue would silver cables not help to lift the treble. Solving this shortcoming

The stock cable is already silver-plated copper cable.
Not sure if silver cables can help very much as I believed the lack of treble is more due to the driver design

 

[elnero]

Personally, I quite like the treble on my Z7, it's present without being overbearing. Sibilance is held in check and although it's treble is not quite as refined as something like the Oppo PM-1 it's still quite good in comparison to quite a few other high-end phones I've heard. With that said, I should note that I've found quite a few of the high-end headphones I've tried are overly bright or lack a level of refinement so there's going to be a certain amount of personal preference at play.

 

[ButtUglyJeff]

  I had some time to spend with XBA-Z7 and to my ears they did not sounded as I hoped it to be upon further listening. Its major problem to me is lack of clarity and extension on the treble. Comparing to the TH900 it could not simply match it. While it is true that TH900 is much more expensive one can find it for 1099 USD or so and frankly for home usage I think paying the extra 200-300 dollars on TH900 is a much better investment than XBA-Z7.
 
Maybe Z7 is to be paired with the PHA-3 in order to sounds its best but today out of Lotoo PAW Gold it sounded not so good. 

 
TH900 for $1099?  Where?

 

[Mickice]

Maybe he means TH600. The TH900 looks closer to $2k, lol.