ZMF New Headphones: Vérité and Aeolus

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Oct 3, 2018.

  1. Pampers

    Pampers New

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    there's probably a good reason why F1A uses DHL as their logistics partner. pretty certain you can be at ease knowing that if your courier can handle transporting hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars worth of equipment globally on a regular basis, they will take care of your customers just fine and keep them happy =)
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2020
  2. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    We're working on a DHL option right now, hopefully we will have it on the site in the next couple weeks.
     
  3. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    You mean in addition to the tens of millions of dollars DHL pays F1 for the sponsorship? Depending on who you believe, DHL spends between $30-60M per year for the honor of being F1's logistics partner.

    Not to say that DHL is bad, but just to make sure people know the partnership is not solely merit based.
     
  4. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

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    I must be missing something. What is "F1" & "F1A"?

    (I kinda doubt it stands for Formula One)
     
  5. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    I indeed meant it as Formula One, and assume @Pampers did as well since DHL is their logistics partner. Wasn't sure what the "A" was in F1A though...
     
  6. Pampers

    Pampers New

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    indeed i meant Formula 1, F1A as in Formula 1 Association
     
  7. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    DHL now included on the website, on average is about $10 more than Fed-Ex. Sorry for taking so long to have DHL and thanks for letting me know that it would be helpful.
     
  8. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    Thank you for following through!!!
     
  9. Inoculator

    Inoculator Friend

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    I will be working from home for the rest of 2020, so ventured into the office to retrieve my Liquid Platinum and some odds and ends today. Decided to put my Liquid Platinum and MJ2 head-to-head specifically for driving my Verite. Here is my findings so far, I generally like to list thoughts on each amp focusing on contrasting the differences as I listen, with then some brief final conclusions. These are my thoughts after about 3 hours of listening to my collection on shuffle. Disclaimer, I am a novice, I did not do super technical volume matching, and this is written as a stream of consciousness.

    Chain for testing: MusicBee FLAC Exclusive mode -> Gungnir Multibit A2 via Unison USB -> Freya S Balanced Passive -> MJ2/LP -> Verite with Suede Universe Pads (about 150 hours burned in)

    Liquid Platinum (original version) with NOS 60's Telefunkens (these tubes really take the LP to another level, significantly more dynamic and technical):
    • Smoother and MUCH slower...liquid/syrupy/lush for lack of a better way to put it.
    • Soundstage feels more natural and significantly larger. MJ2 soundstage feels decently large put still confined in a way that makes you acutely aware of the fact that you are wearing headphones. LP is creating more of that spooky large soundstage that takes you out of your headphones and removes the edges of the stage.
    • Bass is boomy and much less precise. Plenty of bass quantity though, just doesn't have that ultra precise slam that seems unique to the MJ2.
    • Mids a bit more recessed but a lot more natural. Reminds me more of the Auteur/Eikon timbre to vocals, something I have been sorely missing being new to the Verite.
    • I prefer the detail presentation on the LP. For example on the track "Get it Wrong Get it Right" by Feist, there is a bunch of jingly auxiliary percussion in the background, and they are present but kind of just background noise with the MJ2 and hard to place, with the LP it is like someone is shaking that percussion in my ear and it really isolates it in space. Significantly improved separation.
    • Side note on that Feist track, it has some lo-fi haze that is really evident with the MJ2, and is almost completely gone with the LP. Probably means overall the MJ2 is more resolving/accurate and the LP is smoothing that over, worth noting either way
    • Blacker background
    • Better plankton
    Mjolnir 2 with GE JAN 5670:
    • Soundstage wise it may be less expansive, but it does do a better job of putting you in a very specific space in relation to the music. With the Liquid Platinum you get more of that sense of listening to a recording as things are all around you/all encompassing. MJ2 puts you in a seat in the audience and music feels more forward.
    • I have tried a handful of different tubes with the MJ2, and while neither amp completely changes its character based on what tube you are using, the MJ2 seems less susceptible to tube rolling changes. WE 396A tubes were the closest I got to a lush presentation from the MJ2, but at the cost of a lot of the technical prowess IMO.
    • Vocals get a really interesting holographic treatment from the MJ2, but sometimes that can come across as a bit pf an echo effect from the Verite. Vocals slower but a lot tighter/more natural from the LP. Vocals sound airy from the MJ2 and breathy from the LP if that makes sense.
    • No contest, this baby slams. Bass quality is so satisfying, and somehow still not fatiguing. Clean, technical, accurate, not boomy...love it. Better microdyamics to the bass as well. For example, around 2 minutes in "Vincent" by Car Seat Headrest there is a driving bass line in the background that feels really recessed in the mix. On the LP this bass line is flubby and not dynamic at all, makes it an afterthought. With the MJ2 that bass line comes alive in the mix, is tight, present and satisfying. Also in that track, starting at 4:27 there are some drum fills that just come out of space and smack you across the face like you are watching live with the MJ2. Just a quality that gets you going and hyped. From the LP they certainly are presented accurate, but polite and without nearly the same energy and drive.

    For me personally, the Liquid Platinum is the clear winner in this matchup. With the LP I just can't pull myself away from listening, and that is really what it is all about right? Like, it makes me love my whole collection, I never want to skip a track on shuffle, it all sounds so dang enjoyable. Does that mean maybe the LP is just glossing things over with some seductive Cavalli house sound and the MJ2 is more accurate and resolving? Probably, but I know which one I want to be listening to regularly with my Verite.

    Despite these sweeping generalizations I made above, these amps are really more alike than they are different, and people would be really well served with either of them driving the Verite. You want a drier and more accurate/resolved presentation with a truly unique and satisfying bass slam? Snag the MJ2. You want a more lush presentation with an expansive/deep stage and great detail separation? Grab the LP.

    I really did not expect this result, as members on here and on Head-fi have warned of poor synergy between the LP and the Verite, so I really think it comes down to the tube selection for the LP. When I owned my Auteur I went through about half a dozen different tubes in the LP before I get my hands on the telefunkens and had that "Ah ha!" moment. It was like it brought the Auteurs to life compared to all other tubes I tried with that amp. Speaks to that particular tube being a good match for enhancing the ZMF house sound, but also a testament to the value of tube rolling in the LP.

    Happy to answer any questions or do other comparison tracks if people are interested. Thought this might help other Verite owners looking for a reliable under $1k amp option.
     
    Last edited: Jun 4, 2020
  10. Zeus+Leto

    Zeus+Leto New

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  11. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Only thing worse than empty words is an empty post!

    Only thing worse than an empty post is one from a Rando.

    Only thing worse than an empty post from a Rando is one where it's their first post.

    Okay, I'm being harsh, so could be somewhat understanding if said Rando was having a hard time figuring out our system (not that it's too complicated).

    Still disliking the post for not following the guidelines posted on every page of introducing yourself, how to post, etc.
     
  12. Zeus+Leto

    Zeus+Leto New

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    Hello & thanks for your great review and for sharing your experience with the Verite.
    I just pulled the trigger on a Verite and I'd love to hear if you have tried it with the Eddie Current ZDT Jr.
    I am no expert, (actually very far from it...), and my music journey has taken me to have several ZMF headphones such as the Aelous first and then the Atticus. Even though I though both were great, each time I compared them to my Fostex TH-X00 (Mahogany) I was disappointed not to find the ZMF cans way, way better than my TH-X00 - as far as fun to listen to. I had the HD800 and sold it because I though it was very plain & boring, so I concluded that I like bass, that's the only explanation why I keep going back to the X00. (Sorry for the long story...)... So I wanted to ask your opinion on the Verite's bass & slam, would you say it slams similar to what I am used to with the Fostex?
    Thanks
     
  13. Zeus+Leto

    Zeus+Leto New

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    I am sorry, I didn't mean to not follow your guidelines.
     
  14. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Folks from NY don't follow the rules, trust me, I know.

    I just wish Zach can make his stuff weight less.
     
  15. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Since you have good taste in HPs, this fellow Verite owner (and 917 area code holder) will let it slide, given you do read and follow the directions in the two threads below:

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/what-is-sbaf-10-articles-for-behavior.5555/

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/new-members-introduce-yourself.17/

    Cheers all and have a great (and safe/healthy) weekend
     
  16. Zeus+Leto

    Zeus+Leto New

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    Thank you!
    Let me try again...

    Hello, I am new to this forum, I have enjoyed reading your comments so I decided to "step in" and share my experience and....I screwed up, so I hope to do better now.

    I live in an apartment so speakers were not an option, patience with a noisy neighbor is not common in NY.... so I bought my first headphone (Hifiman HE-400s) about 3 years ago. I did not know anything about headphone amps, DACs or headphone brands. Actually, I did not know anybody who had one before I got into this hobby.

    Thanks for sharing your opinions and experiences, they are very helpful for newbies like me to make better decision on how to begin exploring this super fun world of HiFi Audio.

    Regards.
     
  17. fastfwd

    fastfwd Friend

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    I have. It sounds good: much better than through the Benchmark DAC3 HGC's built-in headphone amp, and somewhat worse than through the Eddie Current Aficionado (both tube amps were fed by a Bifrost 2). I don't have any other amps set up at the moment, so that's the limit of my comparative testing.

    Edit: I should note that my "ZDT Jr." is actually a Night Blues Mini -- but as far as I know, the two are identical.
    I actually like the HD800 a LOT now that I have amps that suit it (in fact, I'm still not sure whether I prefer it or the Verite) so my impressions might not match yours. That said, I think Verite's bass is fantastic. Realistic, not boosted, although I guess you could change that with EQ if you wanted to.
     
    Last edited: Jun 9, 2020
  18. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    VO owners,

    since I got the Co-Pilot with the Auteurs, I can actually do Zach headphones for now on. This is making me curious on the Verite Open (VO as I'll say going forward).

    The more I read this thread over and over, the more I'm not too sure if the W-Sound is right for me. However, I'm trying to keep an open mind since I had my opinions changed over the years.

    I'm very curious on what type of records/albums might be a better fit on a VO over an Auteur, and trans-versa? I have a feeling that a live recording that be better over the darker treble of the VO, and maybe something like electronic or something along those lines might be better on VO.

    The more I read this thread, the more I get confused about this headphone. On my end the Auteur doesn't really slam, soundstage is more closer to you, and some might say it could be too neutral. Then again, I think the Auteur's strength is neutralness of the headphone that doesn't have IMO a true serious flaw, and it is a jack-of-all trades but master or none. I wouldn't really use this long term for electronic or fast based music, but for Boz Scaggs IMO it is perfect.
     
  19. lagadu

    lagadu Facebook Friend

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    Generally speaking I use my VO for heavier music, mostly modern rock and derivatives, the dark tilt it has (I use be2 pads) makes it more of a "lay back and relax" headphone. The Auteur I use for blues and more vocal stuff, while I tend to relax more with the VO, I constantly find myself super amazed at the sheer balance in the Auteur's presentation, it's just gorgeous but doesn't bring attention to itself. I like both for different reasons but while I'll happily recommend the Auteur to anyone, I wouldn't do the same for the VO.
     
  20. A Child of the Jago

    A Child of the Jago Facebook Friend

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    When I was uhmming and ahhing with Zach about which of the Verite and Auteur to buy he asked me about my music tastes (almost exclusively electronic) and he said Verite 100% (because of its bass quality) so I bought one.

    I then bought an Auteur about 3-months later and I have hardly used them. Once I'd had a tase of the Verite's detail, speed, texture, sense of realism and musicality I found the Auteur to be foggy, dark, slow and woolly in comparison and I just couldn't get into to it - and I like dark headphones - that's not to say that you will prefer them of course but the difference is night and day.

    It will depend on your chain too and I can't vouch for your own personal predilections but the Verite, in Zach's own words, are his best headphone, and I suppose its price reflects that.

    Edit: I missed Lagadu's response whilst writing my own and I didn't mean to sound quite so contrary to his own very good observations..

    Double edit: adding my chain: Tidal->Eitr-> Modi Multibit->DSHA-3F->VO/Auteur
     
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2020

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