I've had the Model 7-III for about 2 years and I agree with Stealth that the new 8/9/10/12 are totally different species in terms of sound. The 7s sound much slower (longer rise time and fall time) thus give them a more tubular sound. I compared them against the Nagra VPA (with Cetrons tubes, not those Chinese junks that came with the units), and the Rowlands sounded more like tubes and the Nagras sounded more like solid-states when it comes to first impression.
Model 7s are basically the bridged Model 5 and should sound similar if the load is not overly extraneous.
Model 7s are basically the bridged Model 5 and should sound similar if the load is not overly extraneous.