Sony MDR-Z7m2 Review

The Sony MDR-Z7M2 Review is here, deemed as the successor to Sony’s former flagship, the Sony MDR-Z7M1 (which now belongs to the MDR-Z1R). Many were detractors of the M1’s tuning. We’ll see and let you decide if the Sony MDR-Z7m2 is an improvement to its predecessor.

Disclaimer:  The author personally purchased this Sony MDR Z7m2 headphone used for this review. My personal bias with tonality and signature is on the warmer / smoother side. For more information about Sony’s current and upcoming products, you may visit the Official Sony website.

Specifications:
Driver Unit: 2.76″, dome type (CCAW Voice Coil)
Magnet: Neodymium
Impedance: 56 Ohms at 1 kHz
Diaphragm: Aluminum-coated LCP diaphragm
Frequency Response: 4 Hz–100,000 Hz
Sensitivity (DB/MW): 98 dB/mW
Cable: Proprietary Sony detachable Y-type

Source: Shanling M5s (3.6 Firmware Version)

Music: 24-bit FLAC

Packaging

Sony MDR-7Zm2 Box
MDR-Z7m2 Packaging
Sony MDR Z7m2 Inner box
Inner Box

 The Z7m2 comes in a large cardboard box with a cloth interior where the headphone is secured. A compartment is present where the 2 cables are stored which has a dual entry locking mechanism.

MDR Z7m2 Accessories
Accessories Included

One of the cables sports the signature 4.4mm termination for Sony DAPs which is 1.5m long and another for SE configuration(3.5mm) and is 5m long. I would have loved to have seen a headphone case that most manufacturers supply at this price range.

Build Quality

MDR-Z7m2 Headphone
MDR-Z7 Headphone

Build quality is good but not built like a tank compared to studio headphones such as the DT770 or the HD25. Headband and its pads are made out of synthetic leather which will last. I have owned these headphones for a year and a half.

Sony MDR Z7m2 Headphone

The Headphone adjuster is made out of plastic. The hinges and cups are made out of aluminum. It’s not a rugged headphone per se but can be used outdoors. The cables are very well made with rubber insulation and the 3.5mm plug is sturdy. The HD25 and DT770 as well as the z7m2 use hard plastic and their utilitarian design make them last almost forever, as all of the parts are replaceable.

I do like the semi-locking mechanism in the headphone slider which will resist loose sliding headband over time.

Sound Quality:

Tonality and Isolation

My personal bias would be towards the smoother and warmer side sound signature.

I would describe the MDR-z7m2’s sound signature as mildly U shaped, with the stock cable and stock pads. For most genres, it is generally pleasing due to its smooth and forgiving sound. The detail retrieval is good, not great, compared to Mr. Speaker’s Aeon flow. The Aeon flow is more detailed but more unforgiving and sibilant on poorly mastered recordings. Isolation is only average; you might pump the volume in a noisier environment.

Lows

Sony intended to tone down the bass especially compared to the m1. The m1 was more bass heavy and slower on busy recordings. The m2 has better control, speed, and texture compared to the m1. The m2 is warm but definitely less than the m1.

The mid-bass has good detail. It still has that trademark Sony warmth signature that it has on most of its headphones, and the sub-bass has good extension.

Overall, its bass is on the warmer side, a little forward in relation to the midrange. EDM and RnB music are very enjoyable, Daft Punk’s Fragments of Time usually a benchmark for sub-bass presence has the z7 show its mid-bass bias.

Midrange

The midrange still has a tint of warmth from the mid-bass, but it has more presence, very noticeable with vocal-centric tracks. Male voices have more body and presence than females due to a dip in the upper midrange.

The lower midrange has more emphasis compared to the upper midrange, vocals are clear and have good detail. Lower-pitched vocalists like Norah Jones stand out compared to higher-pitched vocals such as Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. The guitars and pianos are clear and detailed. Compared to its predecessor, the mk2 definitely has more vocal presence and detail due to its toned-down mid-bass.

Highs

There’s a dip in the 5khz upper midrange but there’s definitely a peak around 10khz in the treble for it not to sound as dark as the gen 1. Treble detail and extension are good, there’s certainly a roll-off after 10khz but not as detailed nor sharp the Mr. Speaker’s Aeon flow nor the Beyerdynamic T5P.

The M2’s forgiving treble is very good for poorly mastered tracks. Cymbal crashes on Foo Fighter’s Everlong sound smooth but could use a little more sparkle and extension. 

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage is wider than it is deep, there is a certain depth when listening to binaural albums more like 2-3 rows of depth in the soundstage field.

The soundstage width is almost as wide as the Sennheiser hd600 but not as open sounding. Imaging is not as accurate and precise as compared to similarly priced competitors such as the T5P and the Aeon flow closed.

Notable Modifications and Improvements

I have another Z7m2 unit it might be a product of burn-in but compared to the mint z7 with stock earpads the former has Dekoni Fostex TX earpads which unexpectedly changed the tonality with tighter mid-bass and deeper soundstage width.

Conclusion

As I write this review the MSRP of the Sony MDR-Z7m2 is around $500. It has a better value compared to its introductory price of $900. I’ve never heard of such a headphone in this price range that handles a lot of genres, unlike its predecessor. It may not be the most detailed nor the largest soundstage of its competitors. Due to its smooth signature, it may win a lot of fans.

I definitely recommend it. The Japanese did not like the Mk2. As it was not tuned for J-pop music which requires a lot of bass. One of the reasons why mk2’s price has gone down. Things to improve on are the build quality and the adjustable sliding material. It should be made out of metal like studio headphones, detail retrieval, and treble extension so it can rival mid-tier / former flagship headphones. If you want affordable yet almost same-tuned headphones you can look at Meze Audio Neo which also has a warm tuning with great build quality to boost.

Leo Avila

A music lover first then an audiophile second. Loves warm-sounding audio equipment. A decade old in the hobby.

“It’s not just the sound. It’s everything that goes along with it.”

Getting older does change your taste in music.