ZMF New Headphones: Vérité and Aeolus

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

  1. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    @zach915m where's the pictures of the internals you mentioned?

    Asking for a friend. :p

    Also, are you going to put these perforated suede pads into production? Cause they sound interesting.
     
  2. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

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    The kinkometer scale?
     
  3. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

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    (cue spasm of headphone lust)

    that wood is gorgeous. what is it?
     
  4. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    Ziricote. My favorite wood.
     
  5. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    Perf suede is coming - only have a couple sets right now but I'll put them up on the site when they are made.

    And we're making a mini doc on our production practices and the such - I'm going to take pics during filming this thursday - and then some time after that I'll start rolling it all out on the site.

    I also plan on making a "guide" page for owners to learn about and care for their ZMF's, something I've wanted to do for a long time.
     
  6. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Bevin said @maverickronin was listening to universe perforated suede, in case anyone wants to add it to their orders before the cans ship.
     
  7. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

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    The Aeolus has grown on me quite a bit, especially since I got the THX 789. While I have sold my HD800, I do have a "unicorn" LCD 2 [2016 revision] coming in the mail here soon I'll be able to compare the Aeolus with. If it comes in on time, I'll be able to include it in my review of the Aeolus at the end of the week. It's shaping up to be what I thought the Elear was suppose to sound like back when that hype train started.

    Due to some scheduling conflicts, I may not be able to hear the Verite.
     
  8. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

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    I'll hear a pal's new Aeolus in 2-3 weeks. Can't wait! Two headphones I'm eager to compare it to are my own unicorn LCD-2 (one of the earliest pre-fazor 2.1s); and a perfect condition HEX v2 I picked up used 1-2 months ago. Both please me a lot, though in somewhat different ways.

    PS: heard the Elear twice at some length IMS & found it weirdly disappointing. There's a fine line between "dynamic" & "insistent to the point of annoyance." IMO the Elear was on the wrong side of that line.
     
  9. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    To me the Focal lineup's strength has always been the brutal technicalities, a sort of "gaze upon my metaphorical pectorals, mortal, and despair!"

    It always comes with tradeoffs in tonality or itchy treble but if you're a detail head it's sometimes worth it, the reason I don't have any are a) I'm a huge woodslut b) prices on consumables like pads are beyond insulting c) I find them deeply and instantly uncomfortable d) staging? What's that?

    The elear however isn't particularly great at that - it's not bad, there's worse, but also better - and it's voiced like a drunk monkey was drawing what became the fr.

    None of the strengths, all of the weaknesses.

    By comparison the stuff zach makes is always coherent in timbre/tonality/whatever you call it, you can padswap to like 3-4 (ZMF) pads it wasn't voiced around and it will change in character sometimes by miles and *still* be coherent...
     
  10. lcmusiclover

    lcmusiclover Friend

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    LOL!!!
    Utopia here, and I felt the same way about the itchy treble (I called it sharp). I tried a bunch of things ... got pretty happy swapping Elex pads for stock pads. But then, Lazuli Ref cable and Liquid Platinum/Genalex Gold LIons to the rescue and ... Ta Da!!! Itchy/sharp treble gone. They actually swapped positions with Blackwood Auteur in my lineup.
    b) yep
    c) not me, find them quite comfortable
    d) better with latest chain, but never bad for me. Intimate, but very precise -- 'That instrument, Right There!'

    Your ears, my ears :)
     
  11. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    Perhaps less time...They arrived today (Happy Christmas early)

    Burn in is just begun, but initial impressions are quite positive...much of what has already been said seems to apply. Decent sub bass, mid bass is accented, but not over the top, mids are beautifully lush, treble is well behaved. Decent headstage, not exaggerated but solid. I'll write more as I listen more...but I am pleased.
     
  12. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    Yes the Aeolus are keepers for me. After 75 hours or so, I think these have had enough burn in.
    I'm in no way an expert, but I'll share what I can as best as I can.
    (please liberally spice my musings with as many YMMVs and IMHOs as you see fit)

    My usual chain of HP AIO PC > Gungnir D/S via (gen 5) USB > ifi Pro iCan or MCTH
    I only have the Aeolus pads on hand.

    Overall I'd say a smooth fun sound signature. Unabashedly not neutral, but not so far gone that the music suffers...a tough trick to pull off I think, but Zach has succeeded IMO.

    Sub bass is solid, if not as prominent as my cherry Eikon (no surprise there), and very satisfying overall. EDM, pipe organs and upright basses were all well served. It reaches plenty deep and rumbles satisfyingly when called for, but the sub bass definitely takes a backseat to the mid bass.

    Mid bass is definitely elevated but didn't feel obtrusive. Those craving neutrality will likely be turned off a bit, but if you enjoy a bit of low end oomph you won't be disappointed...I sure wasn't. (If you want a little less down low, the Verite pads are supposed to tame the bass a bit...I'm going to have to get me a pair.) My favorite rock tracks, 80's/90's dance music and anything with a good beat had my toes a tapping.

    Mids are wonderfully lush with no lack of detail. I'm sensitive to spikes in the midrange, and there was nothing that bothered me here at all. Male & female voices sounded natural, strings sounded vibrant, alive and tonally correct to my ears. If I'm picking nits, there seems to be a slight bass bleed into the mids, but it didn't sound overpowering to me...very slight, and all but unnoticeable on most tracks.

    I thought the treble was very well behaved, nothing jamming spikes into my head, nor glaring omissions. Airy and detailed, cymbals and such are a pleasure. I am detecting something harsh around the mid/treble transition, but I have a feeling it has more to do with the D/S DAC than the headphones themselves (It's time for a multibit upgrade I think).

    Headstage sounds intimate to me, without feeling confined. Good width, decent height & depth. That could also be the ifi, which has been said to have a more narrow stage. Again, I never felt it was confining or overly small but those looking for HD800 style grandeur should look elsewhere.

    I found very little to complain about so far, except maybe wanting to turn it up a bit too much far too often. They have an addictive sound, at least to me, and I find Aeolus to be a very engaging pair of headphones.

    Nope they're not going anywhere.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2018
  13. RedLipstick

    RedLipstick Acquaintance

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    If one finds the hd800 too clinical and enjoy the lcd2c but crave for a bit more clarity would the aelous make more sense to purchase than the Aeuteur?
     
  14. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    When I woke up this morning I had no idea by the end of the day I'd get a home demo with the Verite. Christmas came early this year.
    Will use the same tubes Zach had in the GOTL so I can hear what you guys did. My goal is to find if they're indeed an HD650 upgrade.
     
  15. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    You didn't mention anything so I'm gonna go ahead and assume you're running the default pads on the 2C, bizarro audeze treble cliff and all.

    And to answer your question ... maybe?

    Auteur is like a cross between an HD650, an HD600, and a little of the treble of an HD800. If you swap pads (multiple options, cskippy has measurements on this site somewhere) you can remove the 800-ness and make it closer in tonality (darker) to an HD650.

    Is something like an HD650 polite enough in the treble for your tastes? Its going to be a very different presentation from the 2C, and for that money I really suggest you audition it if you're not sure.
     
  16. Resolve

    Resolve MOT: Headphones.com

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    Is your audition unit burned in? or brand new out of the box.
     
  17. Pharmaboy

    Pharmaboy Friend

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    NICE!
     
  18. RedLipstick

    RedLipstick Acquaintance

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    The only problem I have with HD650 treble is that sounds rolled off and slowish. Unfortunately there is no dealer on my country so buying is the only option.
     
  19. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    HD650/600 are nice and all, but the elephant in the room with both is the bass imo. Does the Auteur/Aeolus perform better there in terms of subs, slam and EQ-ability? 600-series Senns get all mushy when boosting the low regions unlike HD800.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2018
  20. Pharmaboy

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    Haven't yet heard the Aoelus, but have heard the Auteur--also both stock & modded HD650s, and briefly heard a modded HD600. The answer to your question is YES. The bass on the Auteur is clearly in a different league than both Senns; there is real sub-bass, as well as taut dynamics & instrumental timbre. I like HD650 bass. It's tuneful & quite pleasing to the ear, though not especially impactful or deep.

    The Auteur, and its closed brother, the Eikon, have a rather different overall sound than either Senn--big dynamics, soundstage, and very present (but not bright) treble, in addition to top-notch bass.

    From everything I hear/read, the Aeolus will sound closer the the HD650 than the Auteur does. Can't wait to find out for myself...
     

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