yeah your setup is actually fairly legit. I'm not entirely sure what the difference is between 5 and 7 ply. As I've said before, 7 plys are usually thicker, so have less flex. If they are the same thickness, 5 ply usually has less flex as the core will be thicker. but this is rare. Mostly, 7 ply adds a new dimension to the game adding more combinations controlling flex and energy output. But overall, there will be less flex making top spin harder but blocks and smashes easier. like the septear by nittaku is unusual being a all around/off- blade at 7 ply. It is stiffer, a bit stiff for it's class but uses soft outer plies so it has perfect control on blocks and smashes but still has enough flex for good close to the table topspin play. it really is different blade to blade. they are usually heavier as well. As a PHer, i'd stick to 5 ply, but the nittaku 7 plys are supposedly excellent, and stiga clipper is a classic. My recommendation based on what you had is yasaka ma lin EO, or something lighter with Stiga intensity or infinity. both stiga's are fast and under 85 grams meaning you have a bit more flexibility with your rubbers. The Infinity is what the PH coach at my club uses. He even says my setup is heavy....I'm probably gonna get one so I can stick a heavier BH rubber on. Nittaku Violin i've heard is hand's down the best PH blade but it costs a lot. will probably feel like an upgrade to your Ma Lin EO.
when it comes to rubbers, I stand by the fact that you should go with what you are used to. Typically, chinese penhold being Chinese, you will have a Chinese rubber as your FH. I LOVE chinese tacky rubbers and believe that they have properly evolved the chinese technique and are a prime reason why they are a cut above the rest. but absolutely not necessarily. if you're going for a fast Euro style rubber, Tenergy 05, what you had Andro, Donic Bluefire, Tibhar MX-P...the list goes on. There will be a lot of people on TTD that can help you find a Euro FH rubber, but i'm not the best for this tbh. There's a lot more shopping for the tensory-like rubbers than Chinese ones. But I do think you need something lighter on your BH. This is why I personally think your last setup was unbalanced. I use Friendship Focus III Snipe which is super super light and spinny and fast enough for what I want. It also costs next to nothing. But there are next gen rubbers like Donic Acuda S3, Desto F3 Big Slam, Vario Big Slam, Tibhar Aurus Sound, Nimbus Sound, Sinus Sound. For cheap there's also Giant Dragon Superveloce V12 FX, which so long as you don't get one that instantly falls apart is very good and the cheapest euro style tensory rubber. If you want to go Chinese for your FH, DHS is the only really consistent company unfortunately, apart from Sanwei Target National, a great rubber. DHS makes four really great tacky FH rubbers Hurricane II NEO and Skyline TG 3 NEO for slightly faster, flatter hitting and Hurricane III and Skyline TG 2 NEO for more Spin. the Hurricane III also has the advantage of being available in provincial and national versions, which are higher quality and you can choose your hardness. Tacky rubbers are spinnier on chops, loops and serves and have better control in the short game, but are slower and require full-body (feet, legs, hips, arm, wrist) technique to get good speed. I personally just love spin, which is partly why I play PH. Chinese tacky rubbers are very instrumental in getting the spin I love.
))*price is not an issue* i was recommended by a previous thread i made... to buy a stiga blade with hurican iii for fh and a sriver fx for bh ... but i need more deatails because equpmient tend to be a bit pricey and i dont wana buy something that doesnt fit me ... 
