ZMF EIKON & ZMF ATTICUS

Weight aside, I'm curious how much of a difference the wood choice makes in terms of the sound.

 

I couldn't tell a difference in meet conditions. IIRC, on the website Zach recommends choosing based on looks and claims you really can only pick out differences between the hard and soft woods, if you have both right there comparing back and forth

 

Really would like to bit the bullet on a closed pair that seems to be pretty positive overall. A lot of money to gamble I'd even like these though ($1900CAD)!

 

There's only a 25% return fee. Surely $475CAD isn't too much to risk! You'd only spend it on legal weed anyway.

 

What a bargain! By comparison Pass Labs charges $1000 USD for mailed auditions.

 

That's one of my gripe with ZMF, their return and cancellation policy is not consumer friendly. You can't cancel once you put in the order, even if the wait is longer than what you're expecting, or before your headphone enters production. 25% for return is also a bit much. Haven't said all that, I'm still looking forward to getting the Atticus and Eikon, they will be my first ZMF headphones

 

You can sell your preorder spot though, that is how several people (including me) got their ZMF's. Email Zach and he will transfer the spot if you want to get out or had a change of heart.

 

It's hard for someone like Zack who doesn't have the capital to build orders only to be cancelled. It's an insurance policy, kind of like some of the other amp builders out there, Cavalli comes to mind.

 

Yupp. You're basically commissioning an artisan to build something for you. Try getting a full refund on a custom suit.. works about the same.

 

Tyll really outdid himself this time...
I am quite amazed really...

Both the Eikon and Atticus reviews are deserving more of a dam blowtorch, than a pitchfork.

I am not a fanboy of any headphone, but will accept what is best regardless what I feel...

To me Tyll totally and "indirectly" sh*tted on both ZMF headphones..

Wow..
I could post a slew of points I consider outright BS in terms of many things he said.

To me, the bottom line is these are one of the best closed cans,
no matter if they don't hold up to a Utopia in clarity,
Which instead should be noted that it could be the natural euphoric wood tuning choice,

And even the resolving Utopia bass doesn't outright scare at all,
with depth and impact like the Eikon bass does. ..

The trebles I have noted are one of best for lack of sibilance,
And it just screams foul play that Tyll would downplay these cans in his review.
Really, what closed can out now would you choose over this?

Oh well...

 

I think the issue is that Tyll used the wrong amp for his review. The Moon really isn't an ideal pairing and the Bottlehead (no offense to anyone who owns one) is probably holding the headphones back in terms of technicalities despite the tonal improvements. He should have used the Teton or something equivalent in the tube realm. Sterile SS gear really doesn't cut these headphones loose. At least he mentioned that owners are getting superior results out of high end tube gear.

 

agreed. even off the jotun, either ZMF headphone will take a dump on the ether flow c and even blow the dick off the wall-of-famer elear with its tonal aberrations (but i'm partial to the Zack Efron or Trey Aiken or whatever).

p.s., elear comment pertains to stock form, not sure about after pad swap, would be good to compare
p.p.s., i know the elear comparison is apples to oranges kinda but whatevs

 

I'm using the Project Solstice with the output resistance @ 31R and I don't hear any extra bass boost or rolled of treble with the Atticus. (With the Sovtek 6H30P)

 

I'm curious to hear the Eikon out of my Jot. I think the areas that the Jot are strong in will play nicely with the Eikon. That being said, once I clear up some International Customs issues (don't ask) I should be receiving the Night Blues Mini and that's the amp that I really want to hear with the Eikon.

Still, I am surprised that Tyll didn't give a little more time and take a little more care with the his review of the A & E in terms of amplification.

 

@Marvey, do you think the GO2A balanced out might be competent with the Eikon as it is with the HD6x0?

 

Not in my view...
When he calls the ZMF top heirloom model an "experiment", and use a Utopia to put it down,
and then bring in a POS PM3 portable to compare to, instead of the other supposedly top cans he has on his wall.

He can't compare as he can't offend the other guys, but still, thats not acceptable to shit on these cans.

The competition must be scared.
The Elear and Ether Flow are the wonky signatures.

It's obvious he playing favorites
Which is his prerogative.
What I don't like is how he try play these cans down.

He open the headphones, takes the fiber out of the way just to zoom in at what looks like "shelf-liner", instead of focus on the quality..
He try to push the idea of them being so DIY "handmade". Since when is that bad?

So I made point of that in his video comments.
The well regarded "Code-X" also uses same "self-liner" material as well.
It is not any more "lowly"..

The bottomine is that we finally have a "closed" headphone which is well tuned, and superior to almost all the cans on his WOF,
With exception for the obvious greater midrange clarity of the" big3" (Utopia/HD800/HEKV2)...

The ZMF should have instantly went up on his WOF Instead of those other crazy wonky expensive headphones.

Zach was genius to make two signatures that most users gravitate to.
He raised the bar for all closed cans.

Give the man his due credit..

 

I'm a bit disappointed as well as expect more from IF. Comparing to a much much more expensive product and a much much cheaper product is a well known tactic that reviewers use not to piss anybody off. Not having anything else on hand isn't a valid excuse. I'm sure if he had asked the SBAF community would've provided all the competitors at similar price points.

 

This is getting really political. Let's see here...

1) For what it's worth I've never taken Tyll to be an underhanded kind of guy. Maybe I'm completely out of the loop here but I've always seen him as a pretty straight shooter from his point of view. Which is also why I like watching his reviews!

2) The review he made wasn't bad, seriously! Go and read it again. It is not a bad review! Maybe it wasn't his favorite headphone but that is completely his choice to make. No one has to *adore* everything. If you expect a reviewer to be *honest* don't expect him to *adore* everything, that's just stupid. A reviewer who *adores* everything is the one you shouldn't trust. Seriously. At this level personal taste is a big factor in this hobby, you should know.

3) We are on frigging SBAF. Stop getting you panties in a twist. You like something you like it. Someone else doesn't like it.. who friggin cares? You like it be happy.

As always... my 2 cents. Feel free to tell me to eff off. I can take it.

 

He's a bit older, has a preference for bright cans, and was hearing these cans on a system that would make them less bright. At least his opinion makes logical sense from his POV even if you think he should have used different amps. Not every user is matching amps for synergy, so using what's on hand isn't outlandish. My overall takeaway is to read his reviews with the understanding that his preferences will make more sense for older ears and less sense for younger ears, all other things being equal.