Verum Audio - Exciting high performance DIY planar

That new headband really does change the entire design from looking slightly weird and "DIY" to looking very professional. I actually went from disliking the look to greatly enjoying it. They look absolutely stellar now.

I also cannot wait to see more about Verum2, I saw Garu over on the Discord servers show an old style Ortho circular trace a couple months back. I always thought there was something special about the old Otholinear designs from the early days of planar magnetic design.

 

Don't know about what you're talking about, but mk2 headband has rubber rings in all pivot points and absolutely silent under normal usage,

Why not make a process of creating audio gear funny and hilarious?

First samples of Verum 2 should be finished within 1-2 month and I'll be ready to explain all tech about it.
But again : first samples don't mean mass production as you understand.

 

Are you willing to speak to your goals as far as tuning? In general and/or in comparison to Verum 1?
I'm sure I'm not the only curious one here...

 

I think Garuspik has an unordinary problem among headphone manufacturers. First version was so well tuned that he has to make a new version better in other ways. Simple retune just won't cut it. Thats what you get for getting it right at first attempt

 

Absolutely agree. That's why I moved to absolutely another tech with concentric magnets. Another tech = another sound. And I hope soon some members of SBAF will have an opportunity to hear it.

What are ways for improvement of Verum 1 soundwise?

1. Better microdetails to be closer to He-1000\LCD-4\Abyss (yes, I know their prices. But why I shouldn't have a goal to achieve same results at 1\10 of price? I'ts absolutely real.)
2. A little bit better top-end extension.
3. Less recessed mids in 1.5-4khz region.

Let's start from the #3 - it is impossible in this design. And you all see that other conventional planars with bar magnets has same problem in same region.

#1 and 2 are easily fixed but ... for this I need thinner film. I need a source material that will have such parameters:

It should be a film that is a glued combination of Pet (Mylar) + Aluminium.
Right now I use 12 µ mylar + 8 µ Aluminium. To make Verum 1 better without any changes to design I simply need thinner film. Ideal will be 6-8 µ mylar + 4-6 µ aluminium. If anybody can supply me such film I'll be more then thankfull.

 

Great to hear that. I think you mentioned very early that you selected thicker film for Verum 1 to have great durability.
I personally think that approach is very good for the users as well. I think even with Verum 2 durability is more important than sounding better with drivers that can fail after months.
I hope you give high priority to durability than sound quality with the Verum 2 as well.

 

I've made thicker traces for higher durability. In fact zero out of ~3000 Verum 1 drivers are broken. I hade only one problem in early batches - channel imbalance that was caused by bad contact between wirres and membrane. Sure it's all solved long ago, i just explain that Verum 1 tech is really durable.
But I really want to try more thin film and can't find it. If anyone from community know where to find thin PET+Aluminium - please tell me or buy it. Factory made film is dirt cheap. Maybe 5-6$ per kg.

Everything will be in balance In all senses.

 

Will u b able to maintain bass weight and impact with the thinner diaphragm?

 

Great question, and I'm curious about the resistance as well.
Final Audio D8000 which also has a "Ring Magnetic" structure has very common impedance (60Ω).

 

Did someone try Verum 1 with Geshelli Labs Archel 2.5 Pro?

 

@Garuspik is it the Verum 2 drivers on the left? the red colored driver looking thing with silver grills?

 

February' 20 updates:

Right now I'm shipping orders made at the last week of December. Delays are caused by corona virus in China. Raw material for producing rare-earth magnets that're used in Verum 1 supplied from China. It was ordered more then a month ago but we all know difficulties caused by quarantine. Factory just started working and my order is first in queue.

Many people are asking me about availability of new headbands for Verum 1 original users. The answer is: Yes! New headbands will be available as swap kits. Cost of headband and all konbs\screws\etc will be 45$ including international shipping.Check this website in a ~ 2 weeks.

 

This situation shows that earth is really a small place. I'm on another part of the world and have 2 manufacturing problems:
1. Raw material for magnets as I've already told.
2. Spring steel. I use for headbands steel that called 65mn. Guess where it is produced?

 

As always, big thanks to @ChaChaRealSmooth for letting me borrow his Verum 1 <3

Just to preface this, I don't have much experience with planars and tbh haven't heard that many planars that really impressed me. One of the few if any that impressed me was @E_Schaaf 's modded HE-6. I've heard various Audeze line ups from stores and Canjam but was never a fan of the sound. I'm a die hard fan of the Sennheiser 6x0 tuning (as many of you) and could not get used to the sucked out upper mids/lack of presence that most planars have despite their excellent bass extension. Suffice to say, Verum 1 is...a very VERY impressive headphone. It's really a well-rounded headphone with no major flaws that I can think of.

Listening Rig: Pi2AES > Bifrost 2> Black Widow 2 > Verum 1| JAR650 | JAR600

- Most of my listening was done with the perforated pads. I can see why some might prefer the stock leather pads with linear bass extension, but for me, I very much prefer the treble presentation of the perforated pads even if it means I lose out a bit on the bass linearity.
- has excellent tonal balance. Looking at it from macroperspective, I would say FR wise, it's a more complete headphone than the 6x0 series from bass to treble. However, I would say I still prefer the smoother mids on the 650.
- I don't think I hear any major timbre issues that planars are notorious for.
- Stage presentation is wide and diffuse compared to the 650 which is a more intimate and cozier experience. I won't say which is better, but I do appreciate having the option both switching between headphones
- I think the clarity is a bit better on my JAR650 even though its imaging capabilities suck ass. It was much easier to pick out each instruments on the Verum thanks to its wider stage presentation.
-one nitpick would be the microdynamics... Not sure if this is an innate planar thing, but compared to my JAR650, it fell short in the micro-aspect. I noticed this especially when listening to jazz and classical. Verum 1s lack the weight, impact, and the nuance of 650. piano keys hit very soft with little impact and violins don't sound as visceral as on the 650. Sometimes this took a bit away from the sense of realism like 'you are there' kind of feeling that I get with the 650s. You can fault the 650s for lacking bass extension, but through mids and highs it sounds more cohesive and nuanced, as long as it's amp'd properly with good synergy. Verum's still a great headphone and I actually have one ordered already and now I can't wait to have my own pair as a complement to my JAR650
- I could not put down the Verum 1 until many hours of listening passed by. Verum 1 is truly a value product, well-deserving of the golden schlong award. Hypothetically I would be content with just owning the Verum 1 as my only headphone with it being a jack of all trades. I've heard shittier headphones that cost way more than the Verum. Listening to the Verum, it's evident that @Garuspik has poured his heart and soul into this, similar to Zach with his ZMFs. I'm very excited to see what he can come up with on his Verum 2!

 

@tommytakis nothing to add or to subtract
Agree with everything.

 

How does the clamp on the new headband compare with the old one?

 

@Garuspik when can we expect to receive orders made on the end of December? I've tried to PM you but to no avail. At least let us know if they've been shipped. Thanks.

 

@Sean Ng orders placed at the end of December should be shipped within 10-14 days.
Because of coronavirus I have 2 problems:
1. I still haven't received raw material for bar magnets. That raw material is made directly in China.
2. Special spring steel for new headbands 65mn is also a chinese steel.

What is current status:
1. I've bought all raw materials for magnets n52 (almost highest grade rare-earth magnets) left in Ukraine and already produced about 20 pair of cups. That will help to ship all orders till the middle of January.
2. I've finally bought enough spring steel sheets and made parts for 100 headbands. Now I'm bending and hardening them.

When they'll be ready i'll make an announcement and everyone who wants will have an opportunity to upgrade headbands.

p.s. I'm sorry for delays, but now it's literally a collapse in many areays because of this virus ;(

 

For those who own the HD6xx stuff and the Verum, how's the weight and comfort on the Verum? Lighter the better, but the only real heavy headphone that works for my head is the LCD2C.

 

Weight is heavier. Noticeable at first, but after about a week my neck muscles rose to the challenge and I stopped noticing. Comfort is, weight aside, good. Takes some fiddling though to dial it in just right.