I've had my 44"-Z9+ since late December but owing to travelling and some shortcomings in my site I am only just now starting to print more heavily and experience the printer with different papers. I had a 7900, which eventually became clogged and I was unwilling to spend more money on it to try and un-clog it...so it's gone. My main reason for purchasing the Z9 was to have an enjoyable, large-format printing experience without constantly fighting clogs after returning.
I ran my first 44x48" print last week, 44" Epson Cold Press Natural (CPN), and hung it and was fairly satisfied with it.
That being said, I am at the point now where I can compare some of the gamuts from Epson's ICC profiles to the ones generated on the printer and they are different. I do have a stack of mounted 24" prints from the 7900 and I intend to re-print (some of) those files on the Z9, with only a profile change, on CPN and have a look. But, as Mark says, that's a bit academic because the Z9 is what I have now, and will live with, so the difference is what it is.
I've been printing (all) Epson CPN, enhanced matte and Lustre 260...as I finish up some stocks and today I will roll canvas on it for the first time.
My early observations about the paper handling capability of the Z9 is that the Epson was much easier to load and handle - both roll and sheet. Loading rolls and sheets on the Z9 takes longer, the spindle is very awkward and roll changes on the spindle, a "snap" on the 7900, are a chore on the Z9. I have had real trouble loading a roll of CPN that has about 50% left to go. The paper is stiff and the printer keeps rejecting the load or cancelling the print because it thinks it's tugging at the end of the roll. More investigation on this today and likely a call to tech support because this shouldn't happen and while CPN is thick - it's nowhere near the printer's limit by spec for thickness.
Anybody in the Toronto area is welcome to contact me if they want to drop by and 'play'.