[dweaver]

I am more than happy witht the stock balanced cable and my Pono player. They combination has amazing synergy in my experience.

 

[Krutsch]

What amp do you guys pair the z7? Right now I am using dragonfly red and it really opened up the mids and removed the feeling that I once had wherein the bass overlaps with the mids.

I spent a week traveling with the PHA-3 + MDR-Z7 and that pairing is magic.

 

[lugnut]

What amp do you guys pair the z7? Right now I am using dragonfly red and it really opened up the mids and removed the feeling that I once had wherein the bass overlaps with the mids.

I am running  Emotiva ERC-3 Balanced CD Player - Matrix HPA-3-B Balanced Amp - with Wywires Red Balanced Headphone Cable.

 

[Mainrollman]

What amp do you guys pair the z7? Right now I am using dragonfly red and it really opened up the mids and removed the feeling that I once had wherein the bass overlaps with the mids.

Fiio e17k...and I think it's a good match.

 

[fullranger]

Geek Out V2 DAC. It really kicks.

 

[pietcux]

Sony NWZ-ZX1 Walkman, the Z7 was made for and with this DAP, great synergy.

 

[alpha421]

A DIY balance cable with the PHA-3 for desktop purpose and a PONO for portable purpose is all good.

 

[pietcux]

I am more than happy witht the stock balanced cable and my Pono player. They combination has amazing synergy in my experience.

 
 I also bought a Pono earlier this year. The Z7 was the reason. It sounded best with the balanced cable from the Pono. But guess what, it sounded even better unbalanced out of the ZX1. And the battery drain on the Pono was far to fast for me. Sold the Pono after only 6 weeks with no loss. So yes if the DAP/amp is balanced go balanced, but it is not mandatory to go balanced to get the best sound.

 

[alpha421]

Planning to perform the Z7 mods explained on SABF. Stock bass sound is still too loose.

 

[Whitigir]

Planning to perform the Z7 mods explained on SABF. Stock bass sound is still too loose.

You will be surprised

 

[alpha421]

I hope to be (pleasantly)!

 

[Krutsch]

   
 I also bought a Pono earlier this year. The Z7 was the reason. It sounded best with the balanced cable from the Pono. But guess what, it sounded even better unbalanced out of the ZX1. And the battery drain on the Pono was far to fast for me. Sold the Pono after only 6 weeks with no loss. So yes if the DAP/amp is balanced go balanced, but it is not mandatory to go balanced to get the best sound.

 
Not mandatory, but it sure made a substantial difference with the PHA-3, using the stock cables that came with the Z7s.

 

[Whitigir]

Not mandatory, but it sure made a substantial difference with the PHA-3, using the stock cables that came with the Z7s.

Pha-3 is great on it own, not to mention nowadays you can have it for so cheap, and then upgraded cables bring even further improvement

 

[alpha421]

I had the Ayre Codex. That's a mild improvement over the PHA-3 with the Z7, but I disliked the vertical balanced ports positions. Glad that the PONO has the analog amplification DNA from the Codex.

 

[Whitigir]

I had the Ayre Codex. That's a mild improvement over the PHA-3 with the Z7, but I disliked the vertical balanced ports positions. Glad that the PONO has the analog amplification DNA from the Codex.

You will be surprised by the Pha-3 capability with upgraded "Digital cables"