ZMF New Headphones: Vérité and Aeolus

The glen otl with two 6336 for 120W dissipation 10 amps and ts bgrp might have something to do with it. You won't need heating over the winter with that baby.

 

Price looks good for both. Very curious about the Verite and how it compares to the Auteur. Loving the look, and the prospect of Be materials is seriously exciting. I'm also curious how it compares to the Utopia. As much as the Auteur was a Utopia killer in all areas except resolution, this may be the headphone that dethrones it in that respect too.


I'll have to get myself on production google sheet when it comes available. Super excited!

 

First off, I don't like the Utopia, so pretty much all of Zach headphones are preferable to me over those.

My initial comparison on the Verite vs Auteur is as such: V is much more full and rich sounding on the lower end than the Au. The mids sound great on both, and it's hard for me to really recall which one had more emphasis or was more neutral in that regard. The A definitely has a more neutral treble presentation, where the V is a touch dark, but not veiled or lacking in detail.

@Hands was giving feedback to Zach when I arrived, and Zach started removing a mesh screen over the drivers of all of the Verite headphones as a result, as apparently the mesh toned the treble down even more. The two or three pairs that I heard did not have this mesh. I'll bet dollars to donuts that Zack takes this feedback and continues to tweak the sound of it, so I wouldn't count on my impressions being valid when the production units start shipping. I think Hands' preferences align very closely with my own, but I might be more of a closet-basshead than he is. With that said, my feedback to @zach915m would be not to raise the treble too much more, and definitely keep the bass and mids right where they are. They sound freaking amazing.


Initial impression of the Verite is that it sounds much closer to the Eikon than the Auteur does. I love it. I freaking love the openness and tonal sound signature it has, but damn the $ is gonna hurt. That's a me issue though, not a Zach issue.

Pics or it didn't happen:

 

.... damnit. I hate all of you and your reportages.

Totally unrelated to the above:

@zach915m what would you consider to be the pad that gives the most Atticus-like sound to the Aeoreluealouslesrelauaouous?

Asking for a friend >_>

 

id love to know too. I was hoping for an open upgrade to my nighthawk with similar liquid warm mids but without the dip on the upper end. im also not thrilled at any more trebble aggressiveness because im super sensitive. Thats just me though.

 

More pics:





Quoting (paraphrasing, actually) Zach here... Verite will ship with two pads. A "Verite" pad (left side) and a Universe Pad (maybe he meant universal?). I preferred the Verite pads as the treble seemed more linear and transitioned into the mids better. The Universe pads had a bit wider stage, but sounded a bit sharper and bassier.

 

Iirc the universe pads are the even flatter/thinner ones he released sometime after Auteur.

 

They are thinner than his other pads, but the Verite pads are thinner than those.

Zach showed me a prototype cowhide pad that was even thinner than the Verite pad, but I didn't get a chance to try it. I might like them, wish I could.

 

anyone else have more to say about the Aeolus? i feel like not as much has been said about it as i would have expected.

 

It sounds like an open back Atticus. It basically is an open Atticus. I think it has less of a midbass hump. For my preferences that's a good thing. It has a very nice, sweet, and rich tone, and a smooth and unobtrusive treble presentation. It's great. It's just not what I prefer, tone wise. Considering the pre-order price is just $999 I think it's the best $800-$1000 dynamic headphone you can get your hands on.

I'd rather listen to that than the Ether 2, LCD2C, LCD3, Focal anything, HD800, etc...

 

What do you most prefer tone-wise, just for reference?

 

Sounds like my kinda tone

Plus it has build quality and gorgeous look to boot. Id rather spend my money on Zach's phones than some brands out there.

 

Alright, I'm dumb and confused. Which is the "open backed Atticus", Verite or Aeolus?

 

Aeolus

 

The Eikon /Auteur fall more in line with my preference.

 

Well I had been planning to save up for a focal clear but given the driver issues.. I guess it's Aeolus or bust.

 

Those driver issues are highly situation-dependent. I listen fairly loud, but not super loud, and have never had over-excursion issues. They're very resolving cans with great bass definition and a nice tonal character. But like I said, I don't drive them to the edge of their power handling ability

 

You know what Hands? f**k you for making me want another headphone so soon. I was going to mind my own business and go about with a HD800 or something for awhile, but never f'ing mind. My wallet already jumped out of my pants pocket and it's smacking itself on the screen.

On a serious note, it kinda sounds like...well, an open Atticus, which is what I want every time I put that headphone on.