Audio Technica MSR7

I just realized the MSR7 doesn't have it's own proper thread, and I think it's worth talking about.

In the high efficiency, closed back, portable atmosphere I think it's a winner and a bit unique. I find it has a fairly balanced, yet bright leaning signature with just enough low reaching bass that isn't as bloated as many of it's competitors. It's $249 MSRP is competitive, and can often be found for lower

I particularly enjoy them with rock or any music with strings or female vocals, as it's upper midrange is brought forward. Build seems solid, the simple 3.5mm cable is nice, and they're fairly comfortable once the clamp loosens up a bit. Worth mentioning there's a port on each cup, so isolation isn't phenomenal. They're bright enough to get to me after a couple consecutive hours, but I enjoy the detail and rarely use them that long at work.

Would be interested to hear other's impressions (I believe @keanex wrote a comprehensive review elsewhere around the time I purchased them)

I've seen it get a lot of votes for measurements, and would be happy to send mine in if desired

 

My first impression of the MSR7 was that they were incredibly detailed and clean sounding...they did that thing where they revealed some details in songs that I had never heard before....but that the highs were just too piercing for me.

After a few months I found myself kind of itching to give them another try. I got a set for $150 or so from Amazon warehouse deals and luckily they were in perfect condition. I suppose my brain adjusted to the highs, because they now sound excellent and are my go-to portables.

The pads are a bit small for my ears, and HM5 pads ruin the sound. I'm currently experimenting with some spacers in the stock pads and it seems to be going well so far. I don't have the ability to measure what sonic effects the spacers have, unfortunately.

 

Agree about the HM5 pads. Can you elaborate about what the spacers are? I don't have too much trouble with the pads but may be worth a try

 

I designed some 3D printed spacers that go inside the earpad, under the padding. The idea is to kind of create a minimum distance between the driver and the padding for your ear without pushing the driver away from your head like the HM5s do.

I'm experimenting with different densities and shapes. One fun thing about 3D printing is that I can make them hollow or fulll, basically any shape, cut out holes, etc.

I use them in my MSR7 and a circular set in my HE500. I think they're great but I really need to find someone to measure them.

 

I like these more every day. Seriously capable headphones. And in a slightly isolating form factor. They also scale well. Some brightness is inherent though and annoying with some metal that I like to listen. Everything else sounds good. Esp EDM.

 

Also interested in these. Have these been measured yet?

 

From the description they sound very much like the Audio-Technica ATH-CKR9s in ears. Would definitely like to try these at some stage as I do like the CKR9s. While I also heard some things in those I've never heard before I suspect its more the presence region that has been tweaked that make it more noticeable rather than it being attributable to outright clarity.

 

I'd say both. These have some minor oddities from high mids to treble plus have quite good clarity from bottom to top, only loosing to some totl cans in lowest octave and top octave at that. It beats HD650 in transient attack and clarity in the most part. Not boxy sounding, like many other closed hp-s.

Although, be not fooled, these are not totl worthy. They have this grain in mids that makes vocals slightly artificial. Low treble is quite wonky in tonality, but surprisingly not piercing. Solo violin sounds off and hi-hats are a bit funny. Headroom is rather small, yet imaging is good.

At least these do proper dynamics and slam, unlike some other closed cans and it's playnar competition. Percussion instruments and el guitar are very enjoyable with these from a powerful amp.
I love the construction and feel that these are going to last.

 

http://diyah.boards.net/post/23136/thread

Don't know how representative this pair is.

 

Tyll also did measurements http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/AudioTechnicaATHMSR7.pdf

His review, they were on the closed wall of fame for a while http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/incisive-audio-technica-ath-msr7#FtoCH1PsHSYwSELj.97

If a measurer here is motivated enough to do them I will throw my pair in a box

 

Soldadude got a lemon it seems. I've tried 2 pairs, both fine.

 

Since these seem to get no love, I will give a little insight to this headphone, even I have only had it for less than 24 hours.

Good: good microdetail, somewhat comfortable, lightweight, 1/8" one side connector, looks cool
Bad: lack of bass, lack of overall slam (macrodynamics)

Sources used:

Home Rig: Bifrost 4490 + MCTH
Portable Rig: Fiio X3 II + A3
Phone: LG V20

First off...the FR -

Yes they are kind of bright. But not in the way you would think. It is a mind trick. They are kind of light in the bass, so it gives you the perception of more bass, but more importantly, there is a boost in the 2kHz area, giving a kind of high-mid rise that is in a very grainy ear itching area. Male vocals sound more present, and some female vocals might be out of pocket. The very top end at the ultra bright areas (8kHz and above) are very smooth. Cymbals actually sound very natural, but distorted electric guitars can make you turn it down or take them off.

The bass is tight and fast. It is actually detailed though, so it is not missing, but with the 2k rise, can have you scratching your head. The bass is pretty well defined and if boosted you can hear how detailed and textured it is. The bass of course does not bleed into the mids at all and might be a reason this heaphone is tuned with with little bass.

Dynamics -

This is the oddest part of this headphone. Heavy compressed tracks sound downright tired and want you to turn it down. Very good tracks will want you to grab the volume knob and turn it up. You don't "feel" the heavily dynamic tracks - they can come off harsh. Also, very hard hits can sound softer than you remember. It is certainly not a "fun" headphone and one I would say is more clinical for sure in this department.

Details -

This is where this headphones shine. We all know they carry the HighRes moniker, but I am always weary of self paid for advertisements or labels. I don't find these with any detail over HD650 or a good set of planars. However, for a closed portable dynamic, it is quite impressive. They don't get complicated at all. The more complicated the track, stuff just appears in that space. The other stuff going on in the music is not affected by a new instrument or a voice appearing. It is almost scary the instruments that come out of nowhere. Very impressive and really goes into it's clinical nature.

Soundstage -

These are closed dynamic, what do you want? But for real, they are as expected. Pretty closed. You might get a sense of some room sounds, but really it is an up front sound, but with more layers to dig through to be able to switch around what you are focused on. Not very realistic, but very studio monitor like.

Comfort / Features -

I have no earthly idea why reviewers always cover this first...anyway...I digress. Not bad, but headband a bit flat in the middle and wide on the sides. I think AT thinks our heads are huge or something. Do the Tyll trick and bend them in the middle and then out a bit on the sides. The cups are cushy and spacious, but the headphones do have a bit of rattle a squeak to them in moving them around. Does not fold in, but folds flat. Makes it easy to carry in my bag with my tablet. The single entry 1/8" is great and cable looks like it is part of the headphone when plugged in and still shallow enough to allow third party options. No option for balanced, but that is no loss for me.

Conclusions -

I got this as a production headphone and general closed use and I say they fit that category nicely. They don't have the aggressive sound or aggressive V signature of the M50's. I would compare them more to closed Grado's with much less piercing happening in the high end. They really remind me of single driver or dual driver balanced armature IEM's in SQ, but with much better convenience and details. The low end can also be fixed with a slight bass boost and sounds SO much better and balanced. I am using now with my portable A3 with the bass boost on and it makes a world of difference.

So really I think these are really good suitable monitor headphone for those wanting more precision and clarity as well as isolation. I think it is funny that AT markets these headphones for the portable market seeing how brighter they are, but I also realize Japan's portable market is different than the US portable headphone market. I also think think if they added just a touch of low end, they would have a much more pleasing headphone overall.

 

My take is the polar opposite.
It has shit microdetail, it's quite mediocre at microdynamics; rather good macro detail.
It lights up edges in headstage but the flow and evenness is missing in sound projections.
It is one of the least constricted cheap headphones I have tried in terms of macrodynamics and slam.
I put it between HD650 and AKG K701 at macro slam.

It would help others to calibrate to your findings when you mentioned the amp and source.
This headphone does not play particularly well with small portable devices.

 

Good point on the source - added.

I think it works well on any source I have tried them on. They don't require much power. It even requires less power than my Denon AH-D2000's. The MCTH did make it sound more "clear". YMMV

I don't even know how to respond to the no microdetail comment. These dig deep for details and microdynamic detail. Totally falls flat on macrodynamics. I had to have a second listen to confirm. Once again, YMMV.

 

I had these. I gave them away as they are just fine, not great. I mean they’re great compared to what you’ll find in the headphones section at Best Buy but that isn’t where I set the bar these days. They were easy to drive from my phone so I’m not sure why you say they don’t play well with small devices. They were a bit thin and treble heavy for my tastes. I far prefer the Senn HD598Cs for listening at work. Better tonality and a fuller sound. More music; less telephone.

 

^For the most part yes. Thin is a good word. The more you listen, the more refined they sound. At first listen is not welcoming. A touch of bass helps.

I forget about the HD598C's. Has anyone measured those?

 

hi, just checking to see if anyone has tried the SR-9? I think it should be very similar, given the reviews I've seen. a lot of people say it's harsh, much like the MSR-7, so I wonder if it's worse or could be better in that regard.