Verum : a wonnabe-a-brand planar headphones

Discussion in 'Product Announcements' started by Garuspik, May 7, 2018.

  1. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

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    Hello SBAF! I'm a complete newbie on this forum, but not a complete newbie in personal hi-fi.
    About 2 years ago I've started a work with one goal - make an affordable and good sounding planar headphones and in case of success produce them in series. Yep, nothing new.
    Finally project has left refinement stage and moved to "look what I've managed to produce" ;)
    [​IMG]
    If people here will show some interest I'll show in details the heart of headphones: membrane and magnetic system, explain some small design tricks or answer any questions concerning these headphones.

    p.s. The name of this project Verum - truth from Latin. By giving this name I don't only mean true sound but truth in client-manufacturer relations. So feel free to ask any question, no commercial secrets here.
     
  2. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Well, the surface finish has my attention. Is that wood? Is it as thin as it looks? What connectors are you using on the cups?

    I dig the abyss looking suspension, hopefully it's more comfortable and not as expensive :)
     
  3. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

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    No, it's not wood. It's polycaproloctam (very durable and hard plactic) with aquaprint on the surface. Here is another wood texture:
    [​IMG]
    Also I've experimented with carbon texture.
    Cups after CNC router:
    [​IMG]
    Wall thickness is 2 mm.
    I'm strictly against wood in headphones. And it's not because of price. To make cups from real wood would be even cheaper for me ( about 3x times less time on CNC, +-same price as polycaproloctam for walnut, beech etc). But to make cup durable it should be thick. At least 8 mm wall. So it's already minus 16 mm for diameter of transducer. And the main feature of these headphones is an oversized membrane with diameter of 82 mm.
    Connectors are quality Germany made 2.5 mm sockets.
    Suspension may look like Abyss but completely different:
    [​IMG]
    Also I have a pivot point at the top:
    [​IMG]
    With adjustable pressure on ears:
    [​IMG]
    p.s. Round things that look like metal are from metal ;) It's titanium.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Love the look. When is expected availability and what is the price?
     
  5. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    I like wooden headphones but as you say you have to make the walls thick or you end up with the Audeze/HFM issues.

    Picture of the yuuge drivers? :)

    Is the suspension strap animal or pu? I found the PU one on my LDC-2C too be too stretchy.
     
  6. spoony

    spoony Spooky

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    @Garuspik has a very interesting making-of thread over at head-fi, he's been refining this for a while, glad to see it's reaching completion. Welcome to SAF! BTW: You can trust the seniors here to provide very sincere impressions with a variety of gear if you're interested.
     
  7. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

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    What kind of sound signature are you aiming for? Are you inspired by any particular headphones or brands in existence sound-wise? Why planar magnetic drivers?
     
  8. Resolve

    Resolve MOT: Headphones.com

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    I wish I had the wherewithal to do something like this. It looks great! How does it sound?
     
  9. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

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    What looks like leather is natural leather ;) The only trick is with "wood".
    Membrane (early prototype. now it's the same but with even traces)
    [​IMG]
    And mounted inside the cup with double sided magnet system:
    [​IMG]
     
  10. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

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    Sure before building some sort of equipment that is already exists you need to spend a lot of time with best samples. Among all headphones I've listened to I like Audeze LCD series and Hifiman He-1000.
    Why planar driver? Cause I think that in planar technology I can make some improvements in comparison with what we have on market. But I can't build better dynamic driver than already exists.

    I don't want to speak about the sound of my headphones. Sure I think that they're great. Otherwise this thread won't be started.
     
  11. Ray

    Ray Friend

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    Subscribed
     
  12. SineDave

    SineDave Friend

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    Following with interest. I hope @Garuspik can share estimated street price soon.
     
  13. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

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    250-300$. But to achieve such price I need special equipment - moulds, stamps etc.
     
  14. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    ^ Given how much work you've invested I think I speak for some others too when I say I was expecting worse. If you manage to stick to that price, I'll be ecstatic (and might be able to scrounge up the funds to have a pair shipped to the Philippines, pending impressions)!

    I will say I rather like the look of the headphones. They've got a bit of a classic 50s (?) look to em that you don't get too often. I agree that sharing your own impressions of the sound might poison the well, so to speak, so good call on keeping those to yourself for now. Would be interested in hearing what headphones you have to compare them against, though, as well as amps/source/etc :)
     
  15. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Have you considered kickstarting this or massdrop? This seems like something people would donate to, especially since you already have a great looking and possibly sounding product
     
  16. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Also, another design question. How are the pads attached? Adhesive, mounting tabs, magnets?
     
  17. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Honest impressions: I don't like the look. If it is made from plastic (and there is nothing wrong with plastic when used correctly) then I prefer a more simple black/grey/silver color palette.

    It's ok if it looks like it's made from plastic. Fake wood always looks like fake wood, and fake things often look cheap. Things that look cheap do not garner my attention or money, generally speaking.
     
  18. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

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    Ha! One of the samples are already on Philipinnes ;)


    Yes, I'm thinking about Kickstarter. But before asking for support I want people to listen to my workk and give honest reviews.

    Magnets to make earpad rolling fat&simple. Look at video:


    "Wood" is only an option. Usually it's a one tone color.
     
  19. Skyline

    Skyline Double-blindly done with this hobby

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    The R/L knob/buttons are a little too on-the-nose in terms of retro styling. The pattern in the grill accomplishes what you're going for, I think.

    I worry about the adjustability on the top of the headband. Feels like it would come loose and cause more problems than it solves.

    The intended price point is great, and (obviously) it all comes down to the sound.
     
  20. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

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    Some random observations based on my (end user) experience with planar magnetic technology in headphones throughout the years:
    • Earpads are extremely important - materials as well as dimensions, soundwise as well as ergonomically. Look at Audeze - they've already spent many years revising them. Getting closer to a great design but still not there IMHO. From many tens of pad designs I encountered so far, only like two or three became my true favourites.
    • Outer interior and grill design can make or break a planar magnetic headphone too. Unless fully confident you can make this right, better to target for as open design as possible.
    • Overall fit on your head is very important too, soundwise and ergonomically speaking. Customizable designs (like yours, based on images of headband/top section) are very much welcome. It seems possible to do this right even with traditional headband designs but only in rare cases I actually saw this happening in practice with planars.
    • AudioZenith PMx2 could be a great headphone to inspire from. Alex nailed all of the above with his product.
    The estimated price is of course fantastic. Try to meet it and as you gain more experience, you can go for more advanced/perfected designs.

    Btw, what I would like to see more on the market is a clear differentiation of products based on what actually characterize the headphone, soundwise or designwise. 'Verum' seems to be a good example of what I am talking about, kudos.
     

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