ZMF Eikon Measurements and Review

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Mar 17, 2017.

  1. AMW1011

    AMW1011 Friend

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    I can't tell if this is your actual opinion, or a caricature of SBAF itself.
     
  2. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I smell... sex and taco meat. The smell of VICTORY!

    FWIW, I vastly prefer my Eikon to my HD650s.
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2017
  3. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    Your avatar needs to squint harder.
     
  4. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    Boy I sure hope that whole diatribe was based on more then just a 5 minute listen at a meet...
     
  5. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    Gear used is so important for things like this as well. I have seen well known people disqualify gear all because of what they had upstream. Also I have seen people praise it because of the same reasons (having crap upstream). Especially with these headphones that crave tube amplifiers and system synergy. If heard at a meet on a good tube though some of those opinions can hold water....heck just because they are closed those opinions still hold water.

    One thing is for sure though, there is something about an open back dynamic headphone that a closed one just can't compete with. Each aspect about a headphone holds it's own merit but the aspect of sounding 'closed' to some folks is just as much of a turn off as bloated and weak bass, or bright and scratchy highs. The 'I hear you BUT' feeling I have with @Psalmanazar point of view is that it didn't to provide relativity for those who do not see sounding 'closed' as a deal breaker. Some people do hear lot's of details with closed back headphones and discern more fidelity from something like a TH900 than an AKG K712. His perspective doesn't work across the broader view of what is really out there in the market. Some people like @GelockS have really grown to appreciate closed back headphones. To psals point, a lot of that has to do with circumstances. But in order to contribute more meaningfully for those who are not 'hung up' on the lack of openness than other closed backs have to be the point of reference.

    Honestly though, it doesn't read like his intentions were to contribute but just state an honest opinion which is indirectly contributing because his honesty is very well appreciated. As much as I love the Eikon and Atticus, I would also like to see what areas people find them to do poorly in.

    "
    That was a very important statement of his. But he got baited into a debate to defend his position there. Hearing details easier through an open back actually makes sense due to less resonances and soundwaves cancelling out each other when being reflected. But take something like the LCD-X which does sound open but is missing details compared to some cheaper open back headphones. I actually hear the Eikons as higher fidelity than the Senns because they do sound cleaner and less 'dirty' which is an aspect of accuracy that holds high merit from my perspective. But hearing details easier from an open back is an aspect of fidelity that holds high merit for him and I respect that and can't argue that principal based on physics. I also would be lying if I said that I have heard way more details from the Eikon than from the HD650. I can say the imaging grander, and the sound purer with better bass extension (not because it's closed) but less openness.

    Now...

    Considering what is on the market for closed back. The Eikon and Atticus do clarity, dynamics, and fidelity much better than the likes of the Ether Flow C. Bowers and Wilkins p9, and THX00 and scale higher. My wife likes it when I unplug the 650 and put on the Atticus because it bothers her less. When I do so, the things I appreciate about my music switches focus in a few aspects and more aspects about my music are appreciated. Though losing 'openness' always seems like a compromise. That is why these are my 'Closed back' Unicorns.
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2017
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I came in believing Eikon was going to take the crown in terms of transient response, micro-dynamics, etc. because of the well deserved reputation of bio-cellulose, at least when done right, and also because of "word" on the various forums. But after direct comparison, the Atticus just edged the Eikon out in these attributes. I too would choose Atticus, despite Eikon having more correct frequency response, better controlled cup reverb, and tauter less blurry bass. The Atticus has just that small extra bit of immediacy, at least on my toob setup compared to much more modest Jotunheim / Modi Multibit setup. These things are of course very personal decisions that may be dependent upon the rest of the chain.
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2017
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I've held off writing anything definitive about "technicalities" (that is sonic attributes beyond frequency response) for a while because I wanted to spend some time comparing the Eikon and Atticus to the HD650 (KISS modded) on my vinyl / toob setup.

    But I would disagree to those who say these headphones don't only a candle to the HD650 or that they are good only because they are closed headphones that at least don't sound screwed up. Both the Eikon and Atticus are much more than that. Neither will beat an HD650 for treble smoothness or refinement, but they come close, and they are far better than most other closed headphones in terms of not having any treble fuckery. The Nighthawk, TH-X00, TH900, Ether C Flow, any or closed Beyer are worse in terms of treble. In fact, my preference for these headphones is for a more honest, less warm or laid-back sounding chain. Running either headphone from the Jotunheim was fine for my ears, so that speaks volumes about the treble.

    Both Eikon and Atticus have clearer bass and lower mids and better extension than the HD650. Yes, they are closed, so there is penalty for that. But that's what you get for closed headphones.

    The Eikon almost meets or maybe does meet the HD650 (on my vinyl / toob) in terms of microdynamics, plankton, resolution. The Atticus meets or possibly beats it. Yes, they are that good. Too close for me to definitely call, even after more than a week. Both slam harder than HD650 too. Bottom line is that I found myself wanting to grab them and listen to them for these last 10 days or so. I've been through so much gear that it's rare this happens. No, the Eikon and Atticus are not perfect, but they have many interesting unique qualities that makes me want to listen to them. The last headphone I did this with was the Utopia (no, not comparing to Utopia) and that was a while ago.
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2017
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    If you feel this to be the case, call them out: "pictures or it didn't happen", or ask specific questions (recordings used, amps, sources, etc.) This doesn't happen as much anymore, but it still would not be inappropriate to do this.
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2017
  9. Vent

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    Marv, sorry to troulbe you, but earlier you mentioned the Slants and Atticus/Eikon are closed cans done right. Do you recall the Slants well enough for a rough comparison to these new ZMF cans?
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    T50RP mods cannot compete.
     
  11. FlySweep

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    Marv.. how does the Eikon's & Atticus' timbre compare to the HD650? More interested in how the Atticus stacks up because it should theoretically have a tougher time (being more colored).
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Eikon doesn't have much of the "bio-cellulose" sound as I expected. Timbre really does seem more HD650 than X00,TH900, Nighthawk, CAL. Maybe a mix of both, but very similar to HD650. Atticus is a bit different. I hesitate to say better even though I want to. I really dig the sound of the Atticus. (Read up on Atticus Measurements thread to see what I wrote about it). Perhaps @gbeast can add to this.
     
  13. LauSing2

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    Relative to closed back headphones like the TH900, how is the isolation of these cans?
     
  14. AMW1011

    AMW1011 Friend

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    Better than the TH900 for sure. They isolate decently with music playing, and don't leak a lot.
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    TH900 / X00 only have partial isolation. Good in environments where you don't want to bug your neighbors, but still need to hear if someone is addressing you. With the Eikon / Atticus, I can't hear anything in the outside environment. When my wife talks to me when I am wearing these cans, I piss her off by making talkie talkie hand signs and a shrug. Despite the slots, the people around you can't really hear what you are listening to either - you've got to really crank it up.
     
  16. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    This is admittedly a more difficult aspect to describe for me.

    EIKON:
    • Silky, light-medium density(body/tone heft), focused, rounded, sweet, pure,
    HD650
    • Slightly sharp, focused, granular, dry/natural, light-medium density(body/tone heft)
    ATTICUS
    • Round, dense, smooth, mellow, medium to heavy density(body/tone heft), resonant, bold
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2017
  17. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    What are the other options for true closed back? Ether Flow C? The Sony Z1R seems not as good as either & are even more expensive.
     
  18. Boogie6301

    Boogie6301 New

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    The comparisons here are quite consistent with online reviews except for the LCD-XC that had good reviews as a cloved can.

    I currently have the Purpleheart as my closed can and it's great for the price. Our agree the TH-900 is too bass heavy got my taste. Still I feel the bass on the Purpleheart quite omnipresent.

    I have the LCD3 and HD800 and considering the Atticus or Eikon. I'm wary of the Eikon 5khz spike mentioned in other reviews bit based on the FR charts here it shouldn't be an issue vs. the prominent spike of the HD800

    I think the Eikon would have good synergy on a warm amp. I currently have the WA6SE. If I'm looking for a blend of LCD3 and HD800 SQ will the Atticus be a better choice or the Eikon?
     
  19. brencho

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    paradox doesn't get much love anymore but they can be found more cheaply than the ZMF by a few hundred bucks at this point and still sound pretty great. agreed on the Z1R being way too expensive for the sound quality you get. lovely build tho!
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Best to think of the Eikon's 5kHz spike not as a 5kHz spike, but as a depression from 2-4kHz. The peak amplitude of said 5kHz spike is no higher than the mids from 500-1500Hz.

    I don't consider the Woo WA6SE to be an inherently warm amp. It's actually one of my favorite Woo amps (in addition to a fully decked out WA5) because it doesn't sound like overly warm goo. Maybe a little bit "wet" or possessing inner warmth. It depends upon tubes. As for a blend of LCD3 and HD800, you will need to be specific on which aspects. I can't think of two very different headphones. And you'll also need to qualify if the LCD3 is a Fazor or older non-veiled version.
     

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