If you want a wired over-ear headphone with a 70mm dynamic driver and a balanced cable in the box, choose Sony MDR-Z7M2; if you need an open-backed planar design with interchangeable plugs and earpads, choose FiiO FT5. For glasses wearers, the choice comes down less to a promised comfort advantage and more to which construction and listening setup fit your routine.
Sony MDR-Z7M2 vs FiiO FT5 at a Glance
• Sony MDR-Z7M2: A 70mm dynamic driver, a 4.4mm balanced cable, and an unusually broad stated frequency range are its main draws. The trade-off is that it is wired and offers no noise control.
• FiiO FT5: A 90mm planar magnetic driver, an open-backed design, and swappable audio plugs make it the more adaptable fit for a compatible listening setup. Its open design also means it is not intended to provide noise isolation.
• For glasses wearers: Sony specifies ergonomic earpads and upgraded comfort and stability; FiiO includes two earpad materials, but neither specification guarantees how the fit will feel with a particular frame.
• Choose Sony if you want the included 4.4mm balanced connection and a dynamic-driver design.
• Choose FiiO if you want an open planar headphone and flexibility in how you connect it.
The Sony MDR-Z7M2 is an over-ear wired headphone built around a newly developed 70mm dynamic driver. Sony lists a frequency range of 4–100,000Hz and describes a diaphragm that combines aluminum with liquid crystal polymer. The idea behind that construction is to manage resonance and keep sound consistent across the range. Those details make this a considered option for someone whose priority is a substantial driver and a wired listening setup.
The included cables are a practical part of its appeal. Along with a headphone cable, the box contains a balanced-connection cable with a 4.4mm plug and a Uni-match plug adapter. That gives the buyer more than one connection route, provided their source equipment supports the relevant connection. Sony also describes the balanced cable as separating left and right signals. It is a useful feature to consider when choosing a compatible system, not a reason to assume every source will benefit equally.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
For glasses wearers, Sony calls out ergonomic earpads and upgraded comfort and stability. That is relevant, but it is not a fit guarantee: frame arms, head shape, and personal pressure sensitivity all affect comfort. I would consider the MDR-Z7M2 if its pad design and cable options match your needs. I would skip it if you require Bluetooth, noise control, or a headphone explicitly designed to work as an earbud. It has no listed noise control and is wired.
Its open-backed design is the defining everyday consideration. FiiO presents the open construction as a route to a more natural, musical presentation. In practical terms, an open-backed headphone is a poor match for someone who needs to block surrounding noise or keep listening private in a shared space. This model has no noise control, so it is better suited to listening environments where sound leakage and outside noise are acceptable.
The FT5 may suit glasses wearers who want to experiment with pad feel: the package includes protein-leather earpads and suede earpads. That gives more choice than a single listed pad option, but it does not establish which material will sit more comfortably over glasses. The package also includes swappable audio plugs, a 4.4mm plug pre-installed, and adapters for other connections. I would look closely at the FT5 if an open planar design and connection flexibility are priorities. I would pass if you need a closed listening experience, wireless use, or noise reduction.
• Best fit for a dynamic-driver preference → Sony MDR-Z7M2. Its newly developed driver is 70mm and uses a diaphragm combining aluminum and liquid crystal polymer.
• Best fit for a planar magnetic preference → FiiO FT5. It uses a 90mm planar magnetic driver with a thin diaphragm and an aluminum-silver alloy coil.
• Best for a stated very broad frequency range → Sony MDR-Z7M2. Its listed range is 4–100,000Hz, compared with 7Hz–40kHz for the FT5. A broader specification alone does not establish which headphone sounds better.
• Best for an open-backed listening setup → FiiO FT5. Its open design is central to its construction and intended listening character.
• Best if you want more earpad material options in the box → FiiO FT5. It includes protein-leather and suede earpads, with the suede pair pre-installed.
• Best if you want a balanced cable included → Sony MDR-Z7M2. Its package includes a 4.4mm balanced-connection headphone cable, alongside a regular headphone cable and a plug adapter.
• Best for changing connection plugs → FiiO FT5. Its package includes swappable audio plugs and adapters, offering several connection configurations for compatible equipment.
• Best for noise-sensitive places → Neither. Both list no noise control. The FT5 is open-backed, while Sony’s sheet also does not claim noise reduction.
The two models also answer different questions about source equipment. Sony provides a balanced cable with a 4.4mm plug, while FiiO includes interchangeable plugs and adapters. If you already own a source with a particular output, check that the included connection arrangement matches it. A cable option is only useful when it works with the equipment you actually plan to use.
My Verdict
I would choose the FiiO FT5 if I wanted an open-backed planar headphone and valued the included choice of earpads and interchangeable plugs. I would choose Sony MDR-Z7M2 instead for its 70mm dynamic driver and included balanced cable. For glasses wearers, my recommendation is the FT5 only when open-back listening suits the room; the Sony is the more sensible alternative if its ergonomic earpad design is the stronger draw. Neither is a solution for noise canceling or wireless listening.
Neither specification sheet establishes a guaranteed fit with glasses. Sony specifies ergonomic earpads and upgraded comfort and stability; FiiO includes protein-leather and suede earpads, giving you two materials to consider.
No. Both list no noise control. The FiiO FT5 is also open-backed, so it is not the right pick when you need an enclosed, noise-reducing listening experience.
The Sony MDR-Z7M2 lists 4–100,000Hz, while the FiiO FT5 lists 7Hz–40kHz. Those figures describe the manufacturers’ stated ranges; they do not prove that one will sound better to every listener.
No. Both are wired, over-ear headphones, not Bluetooth earbuds. If you are searching for the best bluetooth bluetooth earbuds for glasses wearers, these two models do not match that wireless earbud category.
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