- Enjoy premium sound with high-resolution audio
By digitally capturing music at a higher rate than CD, high-resolution audio allows you to get closer to the original studio recording and enjoy your music just as the artist intended. - 2.76″ HD driver units deliver high-quality sound
Designed to cover most people’s ears, these large-diameter HD driver units produce a plane wave front similar to that in a natural sound field and reproduce frequencies from 4Hz to 100kHz. - Fibonacci-patterned grill for smooth ultra highs
Made of stiff resin to achieve both thinness and strength and minimize sound damping from the grill at ultra-high frequencies. - Dynamic neodymium magnet
The MDR-Z7M2 headphones establish more driving power and a fast response to high-resolution signals, which results in sharp clarity of sound. - 0.17″ balanced cable connection
Enjoy clear, precise and dynamic sound with the 0.17″ balanced-connection cable, which separates left and right sound signals and reduces noise from the output signal. - Aluminum-coated LCP diaphragm for more precision
Gives a consistent and precise sound across the entire frequency range. - Silver-coated oxygen-free copper cable
Minimizes resistance and signal transmission loss. The result is less sound degradation, finer detail, and smoother treble sounds. - Ergonomic ear pads
The combination of three-dimensionally sewn synthetic leather surfaces and a thick, low-repulsion urethane foam cushion provides an ergonomic shape designed to fit the unevenness of the head, applying even pressure across the area. - Aluminum alloy hanger and slider
Form the backbone of the headphones, offering lightweight and long-lasting durability over the years.
-36%
Sony – MDR-Z7M2 Over-the-Ear Headphones – Black
$432.00 Save:$242.00(36%)
Available in stock
Description
Additional information
| Weight | 3.03 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 6.21 × 8.56 × 9.28 in |
| Tangle-Resistant Cord | Yes |
| Sound Isolating | No |
| Built-In Microphone | Yes |
| Cord Length | 3.94 feet |
| Minimum Frequency Response | 4 hertz |
| Voice Assistant Built-in | No |
| Water Resistant | No |
| Connection Type | Wired |
| Manufacturer's Warranty - Labor | 30 Days |
| Sensitivity | 98 decibels adjusted |
| Bone Conducting Technology | No |
| Headband Material | Aluminum |
| Sound Mode | Stereo |
| Manufacturer's Warranty - Parts | 1 year |
| High Resolution Audio | Yes |
| Lighting Type | None |
| Model Number | MDRZ7M2 |
| Adjustable Headband | Yes |
| Body Metrics Measured | Not Applicable |
| Waterproof | No |
| Color Category | Black |
| Headphone Fit | Over-the-Ear |
| Product Depth | 6.21 inches |
| Volume Limiting Function | No |
| Carrying Case | No |
| Connector Size | 1/8 in. (3.5mm) |
| Foldable Design | Yes |
| Maximum Frequency Response | 100 kilohertz |
| Microphone Features | Noise cancelling |
| Detachable Cord | Yes |
| Product Width | 8.56 inches |
| Product Name | MDR-Z7M2 Over-the-Ear Headphones |
| Product Weight | 3.03 pounds |
| Brand | Sony |
| Driver Size | 70 millimeters |
| Product Height | 9.28 inches |
| Color | Black |
| Impedance | 56 ohms |
| Integrated Amplifier | No |
| Noise Cancelling (Active) | Yes |
| Environmental Noise Control | Yes |
| UPC | 027242913059 |
Reviews (45)
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BADog –
The Sony MDR-Z7M2 high resolution wired over-the-head headphones are one of Sony’s flagship models. They are 2nd only to its model Z1R premium headphones which retail for $2300. These Z7M2’s retail for $900 and are a 2nd generation model of the original Z7’s released a while back. They have improved on the Z7 model to come out with the M2 version. The packaged box comes with the MDR-Z7M2 headphones, 2 detachable audio cables sets & warranty papers.
PROS:
———–
* Incredible sound. The highs and lows of the sound spectrum are distinct. The highs are enhanced by the Fibonacci-patterned grill that smoothly reproduces sound properties which is challenging at ultra-high frequencies. This technology was inherited from the MDR-Z1R, Sony’s top-of-the-line flagship headphones.
* Pressure-relieving leather-like earpads provide a ton of comfort – feels like memory foam around your ears and they are not too tight. They are ergonomically cut to fit the shape of the head.
* Semi-lightweight considering the enormous size. The aluminum hangers help keep the weight manageable. If you lean forwards or backwards, they do not fall off your head unless you jerk your head very hard.
* Headphone size adjustments on each side are of good construction/quality and feel very solid.
* Unlike some other headphones, the bass does not overwhelm you. The sound provided by the headphones feature the full frequency spectrum at a high quality with no distortion. Of course, if you want bass, graphic equalizers can be adjusted as such to get the sound you want.
* They have added ports on the outside bottom of each ear cup which aid in airflow for better sound and bass frequencies.
* This headphone has a nearly 200% bigger magnet in each cup than its predecessor Z7 which creates faster response to hi-res signals and results in better sound clarity.
CONS:
———–
* I’m completely at a loss of words why neither a soft or hard carrying case of any kind was not provided for headphones at this price point. Soft bag carrying cases are provided for the lesser Sony headphone lines – why not this one? Big disappointment especially for travel needs.
* The headphones are incredibly huge – not a low profile like the Sony 1AM2 headphones. This may be due to the tech involved in making them, but they stick off one’s head like Princess Leah’s hair.
OTHER OBSERVATIONS:
———————————–
* 3.5mm cord length is an exceptionally long 10-feet and should be plenty long for most purposes. Included is a 1/4″ audio plug which screws onto the 3.5mm plug for that size adaptability (for plugging into receivers, etc).
* Included in the box is a balanced-connection headphone cable (4.4mm) which is ~4 feet long. I am unable to use this connection for added audio clarity as I have no device with that output size. Based on what I have read, this type of cable will allow for an even more enhance listening experience.
* Unlike some other audio headphone cables that only have 2 ends, both of the included audio cables have a Y-connection point in which 2 ends plug into the earpieces (and screws down to each to keep from coming out) and the other into the audio source.
CONCLUSION:
===================
Overall, Sony did an outstanding job with these headphones, both in style, performance, and weight. The price point is steep but the sound quality is incredibly good. Some kind of case should be provided to protect while in transit or in general storage. The retail box would work for storage purposes but overall too bulky for travel and convenience. The product itself stands out big-time and will be rated as such. Great job, Sony.
The34Car –
The Sony MDR-Z7M2 headphones are a decent pair of headphones that bring a lot of comfort but maybe not the best sound.
The good: They offer Hi-Res audio, which if you have music or movies saved on hi-res file formats like FLAC or ALAC, you get to hear them without any loss from file compression.
They do a great job of cancelling outside noise, even without having active noise cancellation. These are massive cans, but also very lightweight. The will encompass even the largest of ears. They have big vents, but have very little noise bleed.
Two cables are included: a 4 foot, balanced cable with standard plug; and a 10 foot stereo cable with mini plug. The cables screw into the headphones for a secure connection.
The bad: No wireless mode. Algorithms like aptx make wireless headphones almost as good as wired, but there is no wireless option on these.
There is no case included for the headphones, although you can use the box that they came in.
It seems like the shorter cable should be the one that fits your phone headphone jack and the longer one should be the one to fit into a receiver or amp, but it is the opposite.
With the marketing of the Fibonnaci patterned grill, silver coated oxygen free cable, and 70 mm drivers, I expected a fuller sound stage. I found the sound to be somewhat flat sounding. Not completely flat, mind you, but I was expecting more. The bass seems to be a bit muted as well as the highs and vocals. What comes through the most is the mid-range, which surprised me. Music with lots of layers or with big orchestras seemed as if all the parts were recorded on one track and kind of stepped on each other with these headphones.
Overall, these are pretty good headphones with pretty good sound, but I wouldn’t say that they’re great.
teasten –
The Sony MDR-Z7M2s are Sony’s flagship headphones. Designed for the serious audiophile they connect with a cable. There is no Bluetooth, no microphone, no noise canceling – they’re designed for listening. Everything about them screams quality, from the build to the felt lined box, to the way the gold-plated audio cables screw into the headphones. Yes, every connector is gold plated. The cables are seriously long which is perfect for when you’re connecting it to your stereo and want to still sit on your couch.
Included in the box (pictured) are the MDR-Z7M2s and 2 audio cables – a standard headphone cable and a stereo mini plug. Before I get into my thoughts on the audio quality, there are things I am surprised at. First, the cables are not braided fabric but some sort of textured rubber. The cables don’t tangle, so Sony has made a good compromise, but I was surprised they went for rubber. The other thing is there’s no included case. Genuinely surprised at this and feels like a miss. Not sure if Sony expects you to keep them in the box when not in use? (see the picture, it’s a presentation style box) Sony doesn’t even make a case for them so you’ll need to look into the aftermarket to protect them if you plan to take them on the road or on tour.
AUDIO QUALITY
Wow. Wow. Wow.
Test 1: Sony MHC-M20
The first test was on my Sony MHC-M20 Stereo with some CDs. It was like hearing a song for the 1st time all over again. Rich sound and no distortion even at high volumes. No matter what you listen to classical, rock, pop, you can pick out each instrument and vocal clearly. Seriously, I broke into a grin going through my music library and listening to tracks.
Test 2: iPhone X
I know some will frown on this as there’s a lot of quality loss on streaming audio, but I was interested to see if the Sony MDR-Z7M2s still performed well with Spotify. Once again, the MDR-Z7M2s blew me away and made me rethink my prejudices on streaming vs physical media.
COMFORT
The MDR-Z7M2s are comfortable making a firm seal around your ears (and would suit even the largest head/ears). They are not noise canceling but they are definitely noise isolating. So a word of warning, if you’re listening to music at a reasonable volume you will not hear people talking to you. I got a fright when my partner came up and tapped me to get my attention as I sat back with my eyes closed listening to music. The MDR-Z7M2s are a little bulky, but that’s not a complaint as you need the bulk for the drivers. Everything looks and feels premium and while they have some weight, they’re not heavy and are good for long listening sessions.
WOULD I RECOMMEND – YES!
The MDR-Z7M2s are not for everyone and that’s OK. I personally love them and rediscovering my music collection makes them for a worthwhile investment. I am not disappointed. Chances are if you’re reading these reviews you’re the right audience for the MDR-Z7M2s. If you have a library of Vinyl or CDs and want to truly enjoy and appreciate your music collection buy them! I promise you will be amazed. Just make sure you invest in a case to protect your investment. Even without a case the Sony MDR-Z7M2’s are worth 5 stars as I can’t fault their audio.
Closingracer –
These are the first pair of headphones that is high end I have ever used. I have headphones from other well known companies in the business ( not made by Apple) and while they sound good they are meant for portable use (wireless ). I haven’t bought an amp for these yet but with the impendance at 56 my iPhone can drive it good enough for now.
As far as sound goes these aren’t flat but they sound great though. The bass is tight but it’s not a whole ton of it to rattle your brains. Where this shines is in the mids though.
The ear pads are huge and they are soft. You can wear these for hours as well.
CoppinFam –
In the box is the over the ear headphones, two cords, (a balanced connection headphone cable with a L-shaped balanced standard plug and a headphone cable with a stereo mini plug) and one unimatch plug adaptor. (There is also an instruction manual and warranty pamphlet.)
The first thing that I noticed is the comfort of the headphones. The oversized ear muff fit perfectly around my ears but there is a warning in the pamphlet that states that the earpads may be damaged or deteriorate with long-term use or storage.
The next thing that I noticed about the headphones is the cords. I love how the cords twist into the ear piece instead of just plugging them in. This to me makes the cord less likely to come out, more secure. I also love the stereo cord has a small piece of extender on the plug for those types of devices that have cases that may get in the way of the plug. Also I like that the stereo plug has a snug fit that you can tell if the plug is all the way in or not. Another thing that I would like to point out is the the specific type of cord. In the operating instructions pamphlet it does state that you can only use the supplied cords and earpads, so you definitely can’t buy a generic cord or earpad for these headphones if one is damaged, deteriorated, broken or lost.
The sound is the next thing that I noticed. No apps, no equalizer, just plain plug and play. I do love the incredible sounds that come out of these headphones. I am hearing impaired and I don’t normally wear aids when listening to over the ear headphones and I must say that I will never have to wear them with these headphones. I attempted to listen to the headphones with the volume turned completely up on my iPad (hince my iPhone no longer has a headphone jack) and I definitely had to turn it down because it was so loud. If you like bass then you will definitely need to use your music player’s equalizer but television/movie apps needed no adjustment. You can definitely watch a movie in high quality sound with these headphones. Also, there is a disclaimer to not use the unit while walking, driving or cycling; doing so may cause traffic accidents. Do not use at a dangerous place unless the surrounding sound can be heard. I definitely agree with the disclaimer, you can’t hear anything around you and I tested different types of sound and the person next to you may be able to hear what you are listening to if you are listening at the highest volume.
Another disclaimer that I would like to point out from the operating manual is that the product does have magnets which may interfere with pacemakers, defibrillators and programmable shunt valves or other medical devices. Do not put this product close to these medical devices and the person who use any of these medical devices.
In my opinion, these are great headphones, I love the simplicity of the plug and play. No connecting via bluetooth, battery life or apps to deal with. The comfortability is also a huge plus for me as well and after about two hours, the earpads were still very comfortable to me. The headphones are really starting to get better sound, comfort with time.
My only con for these headphone is there is no carrying case. My previous Sony headphones came with a case and a special slot for the additional cords but this one has a big bulky box that would be hard to carry in a daily tote or backpack.
glspark2007 –
These headphones are not for the casual listener. But before getting to the sound, let’s focus on the look and feel. First, in terms of comfort…ahhh-mazing! The padded, cushy leather makes these perfect for long term, all day use. They don’t squeeze, just firm enough to give you the confidence of knowing they’re not going anywhere and you’re locked into the sound. They’re a bit big and bulky, but that’s to be expected.
I’m more than a casual listener but also not a full on audiophile. I love having different headphones for different music and occasions. The sound clarity on these is excellent, with so much depth. Honestly, I feel like I was missing out on some songs because you can’t hear everything a song has to offer with some other headphones or speakers.
These headphones are really all about (studio) sound quality and that’s obviously where the focus was in the design. Two of the most sought after features in headphones today are wireless and noise canceling. These Sonys don’t offer either of these features. That’s not what they’re for, and I’m good with that. I’m a little surprised/confused at the lack of a case for them though. If you’re buying this caliber of headphone, I’m pretty sure you want to make sure they’re well protected. That’s not enough to take away a star for me though. The sound is the focus and that’s a home run as far as I’m concerned.
Trobadour –
—SETUP—
These headphones are plug an play, but you do have several different type of plugs to choose from: the L Shape balanced standard plug, a stereo mini plug (think auxiliary cables), and a unimatch plug adapter (like a guitar cable). After you choose which one of the plugs you intend on using, it’s just a matter of plugging it into your device.
—SPECS—
The specs for these headphones are as follows:
Type: Closed dynamic
Driver: 70 mm, dome type.
Power handling capacity: 2,000 mW (IEC)
Impedance 56 Ω at 1 kHz
Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW
Frequency Response: 4 Hz – 100,000 Hz (JEITA)
Mass: Approx. 340 g (12 oz) without the cable
—PERFORMANCE—
I have well over 10 pairs of headphones that range in prices and brands. However, this new Sony headphones are the most top of the line headphones I’ve owned to date and they have truly changed the way I listen to things now. Because of the various connections available, I plugged it in every where I could. I used a pedal to test it on my guitar, and the sound was the most clean and authentic sound I’ve heard. This is my new favorite way to practice, with these headphones. I also tested it with my phone and laptop, both of which makes listening to music as if you’re hearing it for the very first time. Lastly, and most impressively, perhaps, using the stereo mini plug, I connected them to my Xbox and PS4. Playing Call of Duty Black Ops Four with these headphones was a new experience. Keep in mind that these don’t have a microphone, so you won’t be able to communicate with friends if you use them for gaming, but anytime you want to fully immerse yourself in auditory gaming heaven, these are the headphones to put on.
—EXPECTATIONS—
The product exceeds my expectations in all categories that I tried them. It is not an exaggeration when I say that it feels like listening to everything the way it’s meant to be heard for the first time. However, being a musician, I can see how this is a definite investment for those seeking professional quality sound from their sources.
—APPROVAL—
I highly recommend this product for people who are professional musicians wanting to get the most accurate sound from their instruments for practice or for those audiophiles who are particular about listening to the most authentic sound that artists around the world wanted you to hear.
JMan –
These Sony MDR-Z7M2 headphones are an impressive sounding set of cans. Other than the imposing size, the first thing I noticed about these was the buttery soft feel of the cups and headband. I could wear these all day without nary a hint of protest from my ears or head. The cups envelope the ears in a nice soft cocoon filled with vibrant sound. My ears don’t get hot while listening, even 2-3 hours later. These come with a standard cable as well as a balanced cable for those with the playback equipment to utilize it. There is no carrying case included.
As I typed, these bad boys are a bit large. I attached a photo of these next to my Sony WH-1000XM3’s, which aren’t exactly a small set of headphones either (I’ll refer to the 1000XM3’s as M3’s from this point). These dwarf the M3’s by comparison. These are also corded and aren’t noise canceling like my M3’s. The cord is 3m long, which is nearly 10ft. That’s because these are mainly meant to be worn while stationary. If your sound system is on the other side of the room from your easy chair, a 10-ft cord doesn’t seem like such an absurd length. The downside is that the bulk and lengthy cord make these cans less than ideal for commuting. If anyone does plan to wear these on the go, they’d better have a lot of pocket space for the roughly 7-feet worth of excess cord they’ll need to tuck away.
Now for the important part; these cans sound really, really good. The highs are nice and clear without being overly bright. Bass is nice, tight and controlled. The absence of overwhelming bass also helps make the music sound clearer and more balanced overall. I can tell a pronounced difference in clarity between these and my Sony WH-1000XM3’s when I listen to jazz and bossa nova. I’m noticing notes I never noticed before with my other headphones. The music just pops and reminds me of my vinyl days. Best of all, that’s only with VBR MP3’s. I was very impressed the first time I listened to a high-res track with these. It was Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and the vocals sounded phenomenal. It sounded so good, it compelled me to invest in a nice high-res player. I pumped the brakes on the hi-res bandwagon when I saw the costs of hi-res tracks. There are several hi-res/hi-fi streaming services available that I’ll likely use instead. I also plan to encode my extensive CD collection to lossless format to replace my current and aging MP3 collection. It’s gonna take me forever and it’s not quite hi-res but it’s close enough for my ears, and likely nearly every other human’s ears as well. It’s also a lot cheaper than buying everything over again in hi-res which may or may not be around a decade from now. Remember vinyl, cassette tapes and when we thought CD’s were here to stay for good? Then it was MP3’s. Now the flavor of the month is hi-res.
Although these are a great sounding set of headphones, they’re not without what some may perceive as shortcomings. As I’ve already shared, they’re bulky, have an insanely long cord and lack noise-canceling. Although the bass sounds very nice to me, it doesn’t hit as hard as many popular mainstream models available for less, including the M3. These are fine for jazz, classical, pop and the like but these probably aren’t the best choice for anyone who listens primarily to hip hop, EDM and other bass-heavy genres. I do like them for Reggae however and the overall improved sound quality more than makes up for the somewhat bright signature.
Overall, I really like these MDR-Z7M2’s. These are my dedicated home cans because I can’t really travel with them due to the size, cord length and lack of carrying case, (although the last item can easily be resolved). Good thing I have the smaller, wireless, noise cancelling M3’s to pick up the slack when I do commute.
TonyB –
I have owned many headphones in my life including Beats and these far surpass anything I’ve used. They are soft yet durable. The sound is perfect! They fit great. There was a lot of thought put into the construction of these and it shows.
phoenixfta –
I was blown away after the first few notes heard through these serious headphones. Listening to a variety of music genres, I don’t really enjoy the freebies that come with most devices. My car has a great soundsystem so I’ve really missed all the instruments when listening via headphones and earbuds.
These Sony headphones are high quality in construction and performance. They isolate you from outside sound and then fill your ears with marvelous music.
They come with multiple connection attachments for just about every type of stereo and a nice long cord. The cord allows you to sit comfortably while attached to a stereo or some freedom to walk around your desk.
I’m listening to more music now because of this great product.
MIXMASTERICE –
First off, these are very solidly built headphones and comfortable to wear. They are fairly large, but not overly heavy. Music is pretty balanced and the bass isn’t overly exaggerated like you find in some other Sony headphones. No real complaints other than maybe these don’t have quite as big of a sound stage or quite as immersive as I expect from headphones costing $900. Some might even find them a bit boring or flat if you are coming from a headphone that puts a priority on bass.
These come with screw in connectors to the headphones, with a standard 3.5mm connector on the end of a long, 10ft. cord. A balanced cable is also included, as well as a .25″ adapter to use on something like a receiver or amp. No case is included or even a cloth bag. You would think something would be included with these, but I guess these really aren’t what you would consider portable headphones.
These are straight-up old-school headphones. No Bluetooth, microphone, active noise cancellation or any other features. They may not do things other headphones do or feature, but they do sound quality well. Are these worth $900? That depends on the person and what they are wanting from a pair of headphones. I would recommend them, but only when they inevitably go on sale. I took a star off for the MSRP price, no case and no other features.
TheTruthRealDeal –
The Sony – MDR-Z7M2 Over-the-Ear Headphones – Black are the best headphones that I have ever placed over my ears. The sound produced put a smile on my face and made me immediately relax and just enjoy the music of some of my oldies but goodies from younger years. The songs sounded better with the Sony – MDR-Z7M2 Over-the-Ear Headphones – Black than when I first heard those songs years ago. These headphones are not Bluetooth capable. It is a traditional wired headset that I can connect to my smartphone/android device or walkman. It comes with two cables for using with a smartphone/android device or a walkman needing an L-shaped plug. The large cushioned ear pads feel very soft and comfortable and completely enclose my ears from all outside sounds. The fit is not tight and expands enough to adjust for a snug fit. The quality of the sound is perfect. Sony quality and superior craftsmanship and technology can be seen and heard once the Sony – MDR-Z7M2 Over-the-Ear Headphones – Black is in use. The Sony – MDR-Z7M2 Over-the-Ear Headphones – Black are great for plugging in and listening to all of my devices.
Reddog –
Sony – MDR-Z7M2 Over-the-Ear Headphones – Black
The Sony MDR-Z7M2 is a revision to the older MDR-Z7 that is still available for purchase. Both sit very high on the list of audiophile headphones in the Sony product line. I did not have the pleasure of getting to hear the original MDR-Z7 so I will limit myself to my personnel experience with the MDR-M2 revision.
For its size the closed back MDR-Z7M2 headphone felt very lite to me when I first picked them up. According to the Sony website the MDR-Z7M2 is a claimed 12.0 oz which is just slightly heavier than the MDR-Z7 at 11.82 oz. They felt very comfortable to me but within my first hour with them I thought Sony could have added a bit wider padding for the top headband. It didn’t take long before I completely forgot about headband and felt it wasn’t an issue after many hours of use. The very soft thick ear padding and room for my ears added up to some of the most confrontable headphones I have worn. The clamping pressure was just right for me with a mostly average head size and I got very good isolation with the design of the ear pads. I wear glasses most of the time and they never affected the seal around my ears. With pads this thick and pliable I think they will be fine for most users. The ear pad adjusters feel like they’re made of aluminum but I am not sure of that. They have numbers positions and a very nice click for each adjustment position. The headphones seem to be made with this same material and it all blends together very well. I would have to try and scratch them to know if they are truly made of aluminum so please forgive me if don’t go that far. The overall build quality is very good as one would expect from a true audiophile headphone made by a world leader in audio. As I write this review I have about six different headphones around me and I rate the Sony as the easiest to wear for hours at a time. This is a critical feature for headphones in this class.
The overall packaging presents itself very well but you do not get any type of travel case. In the package you get an almost 10’ long stereo cable and a shorter 4’ balanced-connection cable. This seems like an odd choice since the longer stereo cable would be mostly used on a portable device where the shorter balanced cables would be the choice for newer or high-end audio devices that can support balance cables. There is some that say balanced connections sound better but I don’t have any way to prove that. However, it wouldn’t have hurt to have included a shorter stereo cable for those that want one.
Sony rates these headphones at 56 ohms. This should allow you to drive them with most cell phones. They sounded very good on my Galaxy S8 but they really came to life on my ifi micro portable headphone amp. Which brings me to the audio quality of these headphones. On my S8 they could be driven but I did need to use most of my available volume. The mids seemed to suffer which was not a problem on my ifi headphone amp. On my ifi headphone amplifier they were very good. I never thought there was any part of the music I was missing or that I couldn’t pick out. I was especially pleased with them at mid to low volume levels. I could listen to them for hours without any fatigue or discomfort. I will say that on the bass they are not overpowering but they seemed very accurate to me. If the song asked for it, I could hear it. They are very well balanced and if you do need more bass it can be had with a touch of equalization. I also want to mention that I listen to mostly FLAC audio files streamed from my NAS. In most of my recent headphone purchases I have been going for open back headphone to try and improve the sound stage of the music I listen to. The MDR-Z7M2 have a very natural sounding sound stage for a closed back design. Not quite as large as some open back designs but very good in their own way. The MDR-Z7M2 have replaced my current go to headphones. Its actually not really a fair fight. I do wish they came with a case and shorter stereo cable. There is always something else you want but they got the most important parts right. I expect to get many hours of pleasure listening to my favorite music again and hearing parts other headphone left out.
CraigB –
Pros
Ridiculous large sound range, up to 4Hz to 100KHz
Music is as about as neutral is as possible with a single driver
Sturdy, aluminum construction
Comfortable ear pads block out noise for extended listening
Headband provides grip without being excessive
Sturdy cords feel durable
Cords have texture which reduces unwanted noise from movement
Cords screw into headset with metal connectors
Headset side of cords are plated red and white to indicate left and right
Cord attachments are angled to curve naturally over your shoulders
Large drivers reproduce sounds precisely
Mobile listening is reasonable even if with loss of fidelity
Cons
No carrying case or stand
No shorter cord with 1/8” end to allow mobile listening
No compatibility for Surround sound formats
No high res wireless option
No active noise canceling option
Poor quality, or highly process recordings are easy to spot
Hi-res audio is hard to find
Most people rarely go beyond a slight upgrade in the quality of their headphones. At most they might purchase headphones that can produce heavy, punchy bass giving the impression they produce good quality audio. Then you have those who are often buying new headphones in search of that perfect set to faithfully reproduce the music as intended. The Sony MDR-Z7M2 is targeted at those whose priority is clean, precise sound reproduction but their budget can’t quite afford the much more expensive Sony Z1R headphones.
Design
At first glance the MDR-Z7M2 headphones look different than most headphones. There are no flashy designs or highly polished surfaces. They are very understated in semigloss textured black throughout with only a touch of dark gray on the slider. Strangely at this price point there is no case or stand included nor is there any mini stereo jack cable to allow listening to other mobile devices. The first indication of the difference is how large they are. The earpiece contains a 2.76” driver which there is no way to hide. The design is over the ear with a thick, soft earpad made of synthetic leather. Upon closer inspection the differences become apparent. To start, two cords included in the box. One is a 3-meter-long cable with a mini stereo jack and adapter for full size stereo jack. The other cable is 1.2-meter-long with an l-shaped stereo connector in a size you don’t often see intended to match with Sony’s Hi-Res Walkman portal player. The cables have a ribbed design which reduces cord noise from movement. All connections are gold plated with the modular cables having heavy screw in connections to attach firmly to each earpiece directly.
Once you pick up the headphones you begin to realize something is different. There is no plastic in the design. Even most headphones that claim to be premium and cost several hundred dollars are still primarily plastic but not these. The earpiece, slider, and headband are all aluminum-alloy and sturdy. The choice of aluminum-alloy gives them a quality, sturdy, but helps keep them relatively light. They are light enough to where you might suspect they are plastic until you feel the coldness of the metal and realize otherwise. With a padded headband and earpieces and the over the ear the design they are intended for long hours of listening without discomfort. The band creates a modest amount of pressure to hold the headphones against your head securely and block out most external sounds. It seems Sony put some work into finding just the right amount of force to keep things secure without creating discomfort. The headband is also sufficiently wide enough to distribute the slight weight bump so as not to create a painful pressure point on your head either.
From end to end Sony has taken measures to preserve the sound and prevent distortion. The cords are silver-coated oxygen-free cables designed to minimize resistance and signal-transmission loss. Sony claims they reduce sound degradation producing finer detail and smoother treble. In Sony’s own words the diaphragm is made of an aluminum-coated liquid crystal polymer to give a more consistent and precise sound across the entire frequency range. Material-specific resonance is canceled and delivers natural sound with low coloration. The driver is made of a neodymium magnet which is 200% larger than the previous MDR-Z7 to establish more driving power and a fast response to high resolution signals and has a range of 4Hz to 100KHz. This means it produces sounds above and below the audible range as the highest frequencies even the best ears can hear is around 20KHz.
Performance
If the price doesn’t turn you away, then that means you are more interested in performance than costs. First, these headphones don’t have any sort of processing in them. No surround sound processing, or anything Dolby including THX. It’s all about a simple, high quality speaker. They are first and foremost, designed for listening to music and preferably Hi-Res music. That is where they shine. Sound production is clean, precise, and as neutral as is possible. Of course, neutral isn’t possible with a single drive but that is the closest description. You could maybe say the are ever so slightly warm but that seems to not do them justice to some of the crisp highs they can reproduce without harshness. Overall, there is no inbuilt coloring of the tones and it seems Sony was really trying for neutral. Of course, with a good equalizer you can adjust to your heart’s content, but you don’t have to adjust against any inbuilt changes. Highest as crisp and smooth as the original source and bass is reproduced without distortion or being overbearing. Even mid-tones are faithfully reproduced or at least more evident than on any previous headphones. It’s hard to fault the quality of the sound produced. The size of the drivers means that if you like hard hitting bass it might seem a little smoother than you expect but even then, it is in a pleasing way.
Even without hi-res audio you can still hear more nuances just from lossless compressed audio. When listening to Moonlight Sonata Opus 27, No. 2 you can hear subtle sounds in the room that are lost otherwise. Besides hearing more of the range of the piano you hear more detail, such as the pianist moving in their chair or sliding their arm across the piano. It’s hard to say what they did without first seeing in person, but the point is it is detail rarely heard. You can hear more of the reverberation of the guitar strings in some music, sometimes the pick against the strings, or even the breath control as a musician playing a woodwind instrument. Of course, this all depends on where the microphone was originally placed, how high of quality was the recording, and if there is any post processing but if it is there these headphones do a nice job of reproducing it. Therein lies maybe the biggest downside an audiophile might encounter. If the source music is hi-fi or any form of lossless, you can hear every detail and the experience has more depth. If there is compression, or heavy post processing then the music loses depth and almost feels flat. It might mean if you are a fan of rock, classic or otherwise, you might find yourself looking to find more acoustic versions to feel the depth more. This isn’t the fault of the headphones but more the fact that they are able to expose some of those shortcomings in the recording.
Final Thoughts
The Sony MDR-Z7M2 are a great set of headphones for those not satisfied with the sound quality of what are normally called quality headphones but that also need to be more mindful of the extreme prices that can come from such an endeavor. The MDR-Z7M2 headphones are by no means cheap, but in a category where prices can easily ready 5 digits these are well placed and provide a good value for the category. If you the type unsatisfied with the sound quality of the normal “premium” headphones, are willing to spend extra without hitting the stratosphere in prices, and don’t care about all the extra sound processing modes and wireless features but just want precise sound the Sony MDR-Z7M2 warranty serious consideration.
InternationalZeus –
Having grown tired of my wireless headphones I was intrigued by the higher end group of wired headphones. Included in this group were the Sony MDR-Z7M2 headphones.
Historically, the Z7 was the predecessor to these headphones and so they do share some of the same specs. The frequency range, 4 – 100,000 Hz, are the same for example. The Z7M2s do have lower sensitivity and impedance than the Z7s. There are additional important differences between the two meant to improve the Z7M2s performance.
As far as fit, the Z7M2s are very comfortably to wear for even long periods of time. The ear pads are extremely well padded and the headband is comfortable as well. Build quality is what you would expect for headphones at this price level for the most part, although at the Z7M2s price point I would expect perhaps some more exotic materials.
As far as sound, I found the Z7M2s to be very neutral to bright. Bass and low end was muted; certainly not suitable for those listeners looking for a large bass presence. Mids were “clean” and sufficiently present, with highs being reproduced faithfully in part. Accordingly, I found the Z7M2s to be a little on the “bright” side; given the lack of significant bass presence. Sound stage was acceptable but not exceptional for headphones at this price point.
MsPeekaboo11 –
My last set of headphones were good, but I wanted to upgrade to great, so I went from a pair of Sony MDR-1A cans to these MDR-Z7M2s. I’m not an audiophile, so there’s no in-depth discussion of the technical aspects, however I can discern and do appreciate clarity of sound. I ended up choosing these headphones in particular because of the volume of reviews talking about consistency of sound, driving power, & hi-res signal response. All in all, I’m very happy with them.
Davidbuscotecno –
I got a sony High resolution player and these headphones are the best for it
aodnj –
I own several high end (audiophile) heaphones, Some costing triple this price. I pair these headphones with the 4.4 balanced connection to fiio m11 which is a cheaper alternative to sonys top of the line daps such as sony nw-wm1a etc.
The performance is great with that pairing. I don’t recommend comparing these with the unbalanced 3.5mm adapter without a proper dac.
Pros: Clean natural sound – Great Separation – articulated details with lossless formats – outstanding performance – lightweight/comfortable – great closed-back performance.
Cons: Still cant replicate performance from a open back like Audeze LCD-X although the fiio m11 cannot drive those headphones.
Johnny –
I have severe hearing loss, volume on ear phone won’t get louder. I can’t make out the words on it.
I’m taking it back and tried a friend’s beats blue tooth headphones and I can hear perfectly with it understood the words to songs clearly so am gonna try a new beats with volume control.
robodeo –
These phones are extremely warm, with a preponderance of somewhat unrefined bass that seems a bit disproportionate to other frequencies, particularly the high-ends with are extremely subdued. The soundstage is not particularly wide given the driver size but not particularly narrow for closed-backs. Overall I found the sound the be extremely enjoyable for laid-back non-critical listening but the slightly exaggerated bass was a bit much for my more neutral tastes. Comfort is unbelievable as is ambient sound isolation. Get these if you want chill out to bass-oriented music but I would not recommend for jazz for those looking for a more balanced presentation.
Poene –
The sound quality is great but it works wonders with a quality streaming service and amp.
JIcewood –
I love these headphones. I use them to mix music and son forth. Great sound.
GoHack –
I purchased both the MDR-Z7M2, and another less expensive brand, here at Best Buy over the holidays, in order to try out and compare the two models. The MDR-Z7M2 were also on sale for $599.98.
The MDR-Z7M2 are a great pair of headphones. I especially loved the fact the they fit completely over your ears, helping w/blocking out external sound, and are “very” comfortable to wear. The physical build quality is excellent as well.
The sound quality is excellent, but do tend to take a little more power to drive due their Impedance of 56 ohm, vs. the 36 on the pair that I stayed with. The frequency range are 4 to 100,000 Hz on the MDR-Z7M2, while the other pair which I stayed with, are 5 to 50,000 Hz. I would listen for a while w/my other pair, at a set volume, and when I switch, I had to increase the volume in order to compensate, w/the MDR-Z7M2.
The other pair’s sound quality is excellent as well, and were not cheap by any means.
The MDR-Z7M2 are a little bigger than the other pair, more for just sitting down and comfortably listening too, while the other pair, though not small, but are lighter, to allow walking and listening to a portable digital player if I so wished.
It was a very hard decision between the two models, but I had to to go w/the best price.
In the future, should the price drop on the MDR-Z7M2 to say $299.98, I’ll reconsider them. Once again, I paid $599.98 for them, on sale, while they’re now back up to $899.98, The other pair that I stayed with were $249.99.
Everyone’s hearing is different, as is the type of music they enjoy listening to.
If you have the money, and can afford the MDR-Z7M2’s price tag, then by all means, I would recommend them highly.
Finally, the MDR-Z7M2 are “wired headphones only”. Wired headphones are going to give you the very best music quality vs. to what wireless can provide. Being wired, the MDR-Z7M2 don’t ever need batteries, nor do they need to be recharged. Also too, the MDR-Z7M2 have no noise reduction built in either, which will surely kill music quality as well. I have a pair of Bose headphones, which have noise reduction, which I only use when I travel on a flight.
Chris –
After exhaustive research I purchased the Sony MDR-Z7M2 headphones for a home office setup for late night listening to music and to watch Netflix. I needed close back headphones to be able to listen at any volume level I wanted and not disturb the wife while sleeping. These headphones are built well and are comfortable to wear for extended listening sessions. As a reference I consider myself an audiophile. I have a very elaborate home theater downstairs and although this office setup project was not about an all out what is the best I can get for my office, the end result I am very happy with.
Out of the box I would say these headphones are fairly good. After the first few hours of listening with them I definitely felt there was untapped potential. But I was not happy with them as is. So I let them burn-in 24/7 for 7 or so days, listening to them now and then during the burn-n process. The burn-in helped a bit but did not change the way I felt about them. I listen to just about all genres of music via Tidal and sometimes YouTube (if the recording is decent). Now I started tinkering with EQ (APO Peace version), trying different amps and DACs on hand, with some hardware offering better results than others. Then I changed the pads to deeper sheepskin pads and filtered the headphone cups. At this point the headphones have vastly improved. Then noticing the vibrations throughout the headphone and to some extent the cabling I added vibration dampening material to the exterior of the headphone and BAM this was the finishing touch. The end results after all the minor tweaks and mods these headphones are stunning.
Let me give an idea of the stark difference when I first got these headphones to what they are now. If I was at a Magnolia store and heard them stock I would not of purchased them for $600. If I listened to the headphones with how they sound now and the price was $1200, I would of asked how much the amp and DAC attached was and purchased it all on the spot. Anyone can duplicate what I did with these headphones,
For full impression review, pic of my setup and for tweaks and mods I did, see my two posts on Head-Fi.org here (page 136 under name cdacosta): https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sony-mdr-z7m2-headphone-thread.886123/page-136
I find these headphones great for all genres of music and fantastic for movies. I know most reviews do not mention any tweaking or mods someone might have done to improve performance on a product. For these headphones the performance difference is so much I felt that not mentioning them would be misleading. In summary, if the Sony MDR-Z7M2 headphones are affordable and you do not mind a little modding that is reversible you will be rewarded with sonic reproduction that is stunning and will have you smiling and grooving to whatever you like listening to.
Yodel –
Bad to the tone! Great headphones especially with amplification
Ottie –
Great investment! Super hearing quality. Enjoying my music.
Nate –
These headphones are absolutely amazing! Coming from a pair of Bose “Quiet Comfort” headphones, this is definitely a step up, especially when compared to the Bose being wired in. For whatever reason, the Bose didn’t sound as good wired as they did over Bluetooth. That said, even when playing over Bluetooth, they still don’t match the Sony headphones.
With my current setup, I have all the clarity I was looking for, though I could stand a tad more bass if I’m to be perfectly honest (just being greedy). I don’t feel this is the fault of the headphones, just the fact that I’m using lower quality equipment to feed these (to be remedied in the future). I think if I got a better headphone amp that had the balanced output, things could get even better. Still, an hour or two with these just seem to make my troubles disappear.
The only thing of note that I could say “against” these is that they are rather large, so that is something to be considered. I wouldn’t say I’m a “small” guy, but I’m certainly not on the large side either. These headphones sit perfectly on my head, but at the smallest setting.
Speaking of fit, I usually get sore from headphones after a couple of hours of use, but these are so dang comfortable, I don’t have this issue at all. I think the fact that they are so large actually helps disperse the weight/pressure of the headphones very well/evenly across your head so you don’t really have any pressure points, and the ear cups are very soft also.
I don’t have a ton of hours with these yet, but the hand full of hours I’ve put into them have been very pleasant. I bought them on sale, and don’t regret this purchase at all.
Current Setup:
AudioQuest Dragonfly Red → Rolls “Sonic Exciter” (Basically bass/treble boost, but helps tremendously) → Schiit Magni 2 headphone amp.
Music I Typically Listen To:
Christian Rock and Metal (Fit for a King/August Burns Red/Disciple/Relent)
Christian Rap/Hip Hop (Bizzle/KJ-52/Andy Mineo/Tedashii)
Contemporary Christian (We Are Messengers/Chris Tomlin/Matty Mullins/Mercy Me)
RB56 –
Best headphone for the 600 pricerange bass is fantastic
Myxo –
The first thing i noticed out of the box is the annoying fancy 3.5mm Y cable they make you use. When i actually listened to music on these with my turnatable setup i thought i plugged them in wrong because the treble was completely missing. To make sure the cable wasnt defunct, i plugged them into my PC which has a dedicated DAC and it sounded much better. I did some research and found out the amp i’m using with my turntable must be low quality, although the amp sounds fine with other headphones.
Listening to music on my PC i only found a difference when listening to 96khz 24 bit FLAC files, played through my dedicated DAC, and it sounded AMAZING with these headphones. Great and immersive soundstage, completely even and smooth tones, everything just sounded so warm and encompassing. My biggest issue is how hard it is to find ultra high quality music files, since streaming services often don’t provide them. I also did not want to drop hundreds more on a new amp for my vinyl setup, so i ended up returning these simply because they weren’t worth the money to listen to such a limited amount of music. An alternative is to cancel my streaming services and buy all my music in FLAC if i can, but that would be very expensive.
In short, These are really nice headphones, but you need EVERY component of your whole setup to be just as nice or nothing will sound right, and I can’t invest in all the other equipment at this time.
Chris –
Having owned numerous headphones in the past, I can say, from experience, that these are fantastic. Comparing them to their less expensive, MDR1A set, these go that extra step in detail and balanced sound. I can assuredly say that these are by far worth every penny and deserve an audition. Although they can definitely be ran via a normal 3.5mm jack, I highly recommend using the quarter inch and having a solid headphone amplifier, like an iFi. You will not be disappointed in the imaging, detail, and well-rounded bass that these guys are capable of. Cheers
CrazyHorse007 –
Pairing these headphones with a sound blaster x4 for gaming. They are very comfortable for long use and with atmos, very impressive. Totally worth it with the discounts.
Applebear –
When I first heard these I was initially turned off. I was used to the open back sound of my hd660s and lcd-3, but after I got used to the sound I am finding that these headphones are much more immersive. They sound quite open (though still have a closed sound) and are very detailed. The isolation adds a layer of immersion that the open backs do not. Quite parts sound so much quieter in these. I’m going to give it some more time, but I may end up selling my audeze’s after getting these.
Nomoresony –
I would not give a 1 star had there been an option for “0 stars”. Not a reliable brand at all. I had a different model of Sony headphones , and it broke by the hinge. Reached out to both US and Japan headquarters about the issue. Received a reply email stating that the Sony engineers agree that there is a defect with the product, but they cannot exchange it because it was out of warranty. If a product has a defect, and company admits it, then why does not matter what the purchase date it. Anyway I highly recommend to stay away from sony headphones in general.
Jaedan –
Sound was very clean and the packaging was perfect. But the headphones are extremely quiet, nearly no bass at all. Not at all worth the price. Much rather use my sennheiser MW 3’s
Mixing –
After weeks of research I was able to for my needs move forward with this Sony product over some of the more expensive headsets available. They are VERY comfortable the sound is amazing for the price point they are worth it. I am mixing at my workstation as opposed to walking around on the go. My only complaint is for the price a storage case should have been included.
DannyB –
Excellent sound quality.
Has a greater frequency range than some of the other more expensive units.
Siljan –
Very comfortable, excellent sound quality when paired with a RME ADI-2 DAC. The supplied 3.5mm/6.35mm TRS cable is a bit too long for listening off of a desktop DAC. Overall great value considering that it uses same type of actuators as the egregiously expensive MDR-Z1R.
Robchu –
Best of best headphone, never go wrong wirh sony !!
Mike –
Next Buy asked for a review. My opinion on these headphones are good build quality, very plush pads & comfort but sound for me was immediately disappointing. Absent highs, not neutral, detailed but not very lively, muddy lows. My particular model had a hiss on the left so perhaps even defective,
DrNo –
Great headphones. Might be my endgame. Sound can be better compared to others in this price range for some.
gman –
truly excellent, all aspects! Get it on sale for $650.
Noobsssd –
Was surprised with the sound quality with my sony walkman NW-WM1AM2. Different then my shure se846.
NKost –
Very comfortable ear cups. Nice smooth sound.
Would like to be able to turn off the passive noise cancelling circuit. Like the headphone jack connectors. (nice mini plug and standard headphone plugs) Buying 2nd pair because my kids keep taking mine.. Nice mid-range phones..
Paul –
Sound quality is excellent, not as good as Bose but not as expensive either. This headset works well on a multiple platform basis with rapid back and forth audio. These are comfortable and the sound cancellation is excellent.
julesh –
still too expensive, can’t change ear pads, did i mention they are still too expensive