Been reading this thread a lot after getting my Z1R, and about that Z7... i plan to travel in a couple days lets see whether putting a short cable on the Z7 and bring it around with a hardcase is a good enough remedy when i feel like missing my big Sony.
For now I feel I need to contribute a bit so: Audio Technica's closed backs, copied from my post on MSR7b thread.
I might be in minority for this, but I rank Audio Technica's entry to mid closed backs to be:
1. M70x: most detailed of them all. I think I'd be hard pressed to find any headphone as clear, clean and detailed as the M70x on its price range, on that aspect alone, it's comparable to summit fi headphone like HD800s and T1 IMO. all that without really sacrificing in other aspect as well, a tad bigger soundstage than the pure intimacy M50x and 40x offers, a good bass that focused more on the lower registers than its brothers, the mids is different, its leaner sounding for sure.... tho really that's subjective whether its good or bad, for me I prefer MSR7's mids more, one to be cautious is the treble presentation it has, it is not for everybody. For me it's pronounced, yes but it's not annoying, its not peaky, but instead feel like they are spread pretty evenly, albeit in a quite high fashion. It is, for me, a unique sound, and I love this best with acoustic music. I've owned them for a couple years now, never intend to sell it. One thing I don't like about it tho.. is the non standard mounting mechanism for the pads, it'd be harder to replace than other AT closed backs. Mine is holding up but its slightly more worrying than it should I guess.
2. MSR7: when i think of audio Technica's tuning, the MSR7 is the best rendition of them before going to their open back offering, aka the AD1000x' Air Series, At least form what i've tried as i never got my hands on an A1000z or A2000z, also curious about the esw990h and WP900 as well, but Woodies & Titanium AT are a different thing altogether and certainly are not entry or mid fi. So anyway back to MSR7, I like the tuning for music enjoyment and I know there's other version of these now, but still for me this is still the best of them.
3. MSR7B: basically the MSR7 but slightly more reined in, i like these just as much but the build kills it for me, it basically feels like what would come out if you give a team a job to copy all the physical characteristics of the MSR7, but make it cheaper to manufacture. This, build more like an MSR6 would be if it ever exist in the line, just a step down of the MSR7's build, and the only upside you get from it is that its much lighter and ah yes more comfortable, but that's more due to the lower clamp than the lighter build, which IMO just make it feel hollow on the hand really. Well on the other hand it is "kinda" cheaper than the MSR7 by a couple bucks locally so i guess barrier of entry just got lower for the MSR7... at least in the long run when msrp got cut down as much as the couple years old OG.
Basically, as you can see I like the M70x the most so of course I prefer the more raw MSR7 than the slightly smoother MSR7b. This feels like a case of Beyer T1 and T1.2 again, there's the original intention, and then there is the successor trying to be more accepted by the mass market. To me it loses the original essence a bit to gain the appeal.
4. MSR7SE: this feels a tad more subdued than both MSR7 and B version, also the bass is a more pronounced, just a tad tho. I like the looks and it even comes with similar case as the one that came with the M70x, but on pure sound i prefer the OG just a little more. not worth the extra cost, tho maybe as they're newer manufactured its an easier way to buy into MSR7 without the old quirks but don't want the diminished build of the B.
5. WS1100: these are more comfortable than the others solely due to its better pads, still less comfortable than both the MSR7b and M70x IMO due to its tight fit. on sound it doesnt impress me much, but it did offer more bass and soundstage than the others, albeit on a diffused manner, it's just not that good on instrument placement so you doesnt gain much from the extra space, especially as I feel it lose an edge on detail over the others for that, on the flipside its more relaxed too tho, so.... priorities. What I like is that this is the more "natural", more balanced-ish sounding of the bunch, not really much to brag about but its a safer "a good headphone" recommendation for newbie than the others. I guess this feels like trying to be a Sony headphone too much and failing at it for me... I prefer its IEM version CKS 1100 a lot more.
6. M50x: well the first AT I tried, I prefer it over the 40x because it sounds more alive for me.
6. SR5: I dont remember much of the one time i try these but its a portable audio technica that doesnt sound too different from 7, so i did think i liked it. so same rank as 50
7. M40x: basically the minimum i'd go IMO, 30 and 20 doesnt offer anything for me.
I really want to try M60x, but man, local jaben just never get them in stock it seems.
