ZMF New Headphones: Vérité and Aeolus

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

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Posting this speculative stuff because I think Zach has an ear for tuning his headphones... anyone should feel free to post images or more information.

    Vérité:

    Vérité was named after Cinema Vérité, a style of filmmaking that is defined by a natural, almost documentary-like approach. Likewise our new flagship has been engineered with the intention of presenting recordings with an unfiltered lifelike candor. The ZMF Vérité is acoustically tuned for enjoyment in a natural manner, splitting the difference between linear and musical.

    The Vérité features a 300 ohm vapor deposed Beryllium driver in an open enclosure. Our design incorporates a precise balance of wood to open space so that the resulting timbre benefits from the specific density of the wood species utilized in production.

    Our driver is made of 85% PEN (polyethylene naphthalate) with 15% Beryllium coated on the surface to achieve a punchy, revealing, never harsh sonic spectrum. The driver we developed is 50mm, 300 ohm, and was tuned with our preferences in mind. We utilized a lighter voice coil, a thinner membrane, and a stiffer rubber surround for a headphone that boasts the fastest response and lowest distortion of any ZMF model to date.

    The chassis for the Vérité is made of pure magnesium with a steel grille influenced by the naturally compelling golden mean design. With a focus on function and form, we achieved a design that is our lightest yet weighing in at under 450 grams.

    List Price: $2499 in stock woods; $2,199.00 Preorder on November 16th.​


    Aeolus:

    Aeolus is a Greek god who was revered as the divine keeper of winds. We thought this an apt name for a headphone born a descendant of Atticus in an open headphone design. The ZMF Aeolus utilizes the same PET 300 ohm driver as the Atticus but uses all the benefits of an open design to access a more spacious sound stage, greater extension on both ends, and a swelling of the warm, detailed sound with punchy mid-bass that the Atticus has been praised for.

    Unique to the high end headphone market, the Aeolus, much like the Atticus, doesn't try to be neutral. It is defined by a warm inviting nature, with just the right amount of treble for clarity and head-stage.

    List Price: $1199 in stock woods; $999.00 Preorder on November 16th

    I pee'd in my pants based on what I've heard about the Vérité - source(s) will remain confidential for now.
     
  2. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    Here are the pics of the Verite that Zach uploaded on Head-Fi. I think this is the Oxidized Silkwood that will be standard.

    download_20180928_161703.jpg download_20180928_161701.jpg download_20180928_161657.jpg download_20180928_161656.jpg
     
  3. Torq

    Torq MOT: Headphone.com

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    My trip to RMAF was going to be pretty much dedicated to people.

    Now, between the Vérité (I'm assuming they'll be there) and the Ether Flow 2, I might actually have to find some listening time ...
     
  4. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    Well, Zach is good people so 2 birds!
     
  5. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    These ZMF cans are the ones I kept hinting about in the RMAF thread and my profile posts. Don't want to inflate this thread with too much hype, but the hype is strong here.

    We'll have demo pairs for audition soon after they start taking pre-orders if all goes as planned. So an opportunity to hear before purchasing exists for those in SoCal who won't be able to audition them at RMAF. We're trying to work out something with Mr. Speakers and their new products as well.

    Side note - Zach was mentioning over on HF the possibility of once again producing cowhide pads, this time for the Verite. That's an exciting development for all the pad rollers out there given cowhides different profile vs sheepskin / velour. I assume they'd fit the other ZMF dynamics as well. Hope they offer a significantly different profile vs Eikon / Ori / Auteur pads.
     
  6. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

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    Am I the only one a bit more excited about the Aeolus? An open Atticus sounds like just what I need in my life.
     
  7. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    Looks like cool options!

    f**k headphones are expensive!
     
  8. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    I guess compared to previous headphone releases its cheaper but sexier. It just becomes a problem when you realize it costs a lot more than a oled screen or a decked out gaming comp, or even the lucidrous iphone x max(like wtf expensive).....it makes me wonder if the audio consumer base(myself included) can be called sane Lol. Its not like you can squeeze the max performance without the support of a good dac and a amp. And there goes my kidney...ouch Lol.
     
  9. Sniperpr5

    Sniperpr5 Acquaintance

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    I can’t wait for these to get in the hands of some people here so we can get some detailed reviews, measurements and comparisons.

    I love my Auteur and was interested in getting a pair of Utopia in the future. The Vérité look like a possible mid point between the two.
     
  10. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Ahhh, something came up and I can't take my trip to RMAF + CO mini-cation (yes, I would be one unknown random guy wandering around the show)... looking forward to hopefully trying these soon (or really most of the ZMF line).

    Now a more serious question:
    Given natural variation in wood, any word on how big of a role the individual wood cups will play on the sound signature? Ex with various closed wood backed Fostex sometimes there seems to be a slightly different sound per channel or per headphone depending on the type of wood or individual cup. Versus on Audeze LCD2 the wood trim appears to be largely decorative and I can't hear a difference between their different wood trims on LCD2.
     
    Last edited: Oct 3, 2018
  11. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    They are like flat little cowhide pancakes!

    Seriously though, I am unsure whether they are worth making or not, will be interested in any and all thoughts on the Cowhide pancake pads at RMAF.
     
  12. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    I can imagine cowhide pancakes sounding glorious with something like the HE-6. So if you end up making them, I'll be first on your list.

    Have you tested the cowhides on your other headphones?
     
  13. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    I have only used them a couple times, haven't even measured them actually. I basically have put them on for a few minutes and thought, hey - that sounds better than I thought it would!

    Spent all my time with the lambskin pads trying to make sure they sound/measure "right." When I get back from RMAF I'll check out the cowhide more as a third pad option.

    Happy to donate a pair of cowhide's to you to try on your HE headphones. I can hand them over at RMAF.
     
  14. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

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    2499USD is extremely expensive for two small drivers sitting next to your ears along with a bit of wood. Was it truly necessary to match Hifiman/Audeze/Focal/... with their insane price tags?

    I can only hope Verite can justify it with out-of-this-world sound quality since physical appearance and ergonomy still appears to be way behind Headphones like HD650, PMx2 or Ethers (including the current E2).
     
  15. bengo

    bengo Friend

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    Consider Be drivers are expensive (e.g. Utopia) and these were custom ordered for ZMF in tiny volumes compared with Focal.
     
  16. pure5152

    pure5152 Friend

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    Zach mentioned on head-fi that the Be coated PEN drivers were actually more expensive than pure Be drivers:

    See: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf-verite.890270/page-5

    (Also, this is my first post in the forums, hi everyone!)
     
  17. loki993

    loki993 Facebook Friend

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    I'm more ok with Zach charging prices like this because I know what kind of work and craftsmanship he puts into these things. You have to make the effort worth your while or you don't stay in business for long. Add in the fact that these use exotic woods and are made in comparatively tiny numbers I can see how the price is justified.

    Can I afford a pair..not really...but the price doesnt bother me. Id rather give Zach my 2k+ anyday before I gave it to Hifman or Audeze or Focal...
     
  18. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

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    My $1,250 GPU is challenging is killing that theory. Haha, Vram is now twice as expensive as it was last generation, Ram in general is twice as expensive, and the tariffs are hitting some of the cheaper options.

    Back on track though...

    The wood is expensive, the labor is on the slow side due to being hand-assembled, and the drivers are expensive. I don't think he could avoid that. His RnD costs are quite large for his size of business also. That's why I understand even the Ether 2 being $1,999.

    I mean, the Aeolus (shit, we just need an i and we'd have all the vowels in that name) is price at what I'd expect it to be. That price is reasonable. But, at the same time as far as the more expensive flagships go, they have to compete with the fact that an HD800 under a grand isn't rare at all. And it took a company releasing a four grand headphone to do what it does as well.
     
  19. TMRaven

    TMRaven Friend

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    Zach can't churn these out cost efficiently on a mass-produced assembly line in a big factory like Focal or Sony can. I won't comment on the 2500 dollar price tag, but it does make sense that a small boutique vendor has to sell a product at a higher price than a major corporation that has the luxury of mass production.
     
  20. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Your $1250 GPU means you may be challenged. What are we gonna do with you? I just don't know...

    Also, I can't help but keep thinking "Areolus" for the headphone name. I'm sure it will be a fine headphone nonetheless.
     

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