ZMF EIKON & ZMF ATTICUS

Has anyone heard a tube amp that does compliment the Eikon better than a good SS? Just curious.

 

I have listened to the Eikon a ton from a lot of different sources--and from almost every amp that was at CanJam. My personal favorite pairing for the Eikon is straight out of the Chord DAVE. It did sound pretty epic out of the WA33 with the souped-up tubes attached to with $30,000 ESS DAC as well. I think it pairs well with anything with enough power to move those stiff biocellulose drivers, just like you said. It was not as sensitive to amp changes as the Atticus to me--the Atticus completely changes its character with high impedance output amplifiers (like OTL tube amps).

Anyway, I'm glad we're actually discussing the sound of the headphones and possible pairings, instead of calling each other names about our preferences in sound signatures and hi-fi equipment. I appreciate that we all have different opinions about this headphone, and I think Tyll has earned his right to put whatever he wants on his Wall of Fame. My 2 cents.

 

Show off when can I come listen some more.

 

Don't ask @Marvey where he got that. It will only end in disappointment.

 

@Marvey Where did you get that cool looking amp?

 

It seems like the issue is a result of the basic need to feel accepted. People need others to agree that what they like, and what they bought, is the best. If people can work to separate what they like from what is actually good, and realize something doesn't have to be both, they'll be a lot happier. I happen to like the Eikon with a transformer-coupled tube amp (OTL didn't do anything for me). I also happen to love the AD2k with a ss amp. Is the AD2k hi-fi? Nope. Is it even good? Nope. But I have a blast with it and thrash metal.

 

That is a cool dust cover! Where did you get that, @Marvey ?

 

Yeah, I kind of figured. Haha

 

It's a shame your equipment is so... average.

I guess I was asking as I haven't seen any really good comparisons and impressions with some of the tube amps I'd be interested in.

I've seen a reply here and there with a ZDS or the Taboo, but it's been less than detailed. Short replies like "Yeah, it's great". The csp3 kind of misses on a few features I'd like, and it's the only one I've heard briefly. The ampandsound amps seem to do better with the Atticus, and not much info with the Eikon that I recall.

I'll keep looking I guess.

Anyway, thanks.

 

Yes, and very much so. This invariably contributes only to noise, as it contains nothing of substance on the product itself. And is too much HF for the like of the locals*. If you want to brag about shipping dates, go wild in your status updates; this is what the indigens do.

* The running joke is along the lines of: "Hey, this SUPER AWESOME AUDIOPHILE Co. has just announced plans that something is going to be built!! Cool, no?! After 10 more pages of this... Oh, look, this product is likely to feature this, and is likely to ship in March!! Cool, no?! After 20 more pages of this... You can now order the thing on the website!! Go, go, go! After 5 more pages of this... I've, now ordered one!! Yay, yay! Here's my shipment nr; what's yours? After 30 more pages of this... I got it, I got it, now I'll put it through the proper burn-in of 6432 hours before I post any impressions on the product itself, and leave my brain fry in the sound of the damn thing so that half a year later I will love it, whether or not it sounds like the Awe God Damn Singularity 19."

And that, kids, is how HF threads get to 100 pages before a single product has been received by a customer.

The locals try not to be dicks all of the time, but when a certain (low) threshold of depleted patience has been reached someone will get the ire for ALL those past transgressions from all other unsuspecting users. The luck of the draw, I guess.

 

I know @Marvey has, but have you tried using the Jot with an Atticus at all? The Atticus seems to do well with the NFB-11 (where as the Eikon really doesn't, and I think that's the amp's fault more than anything,) but I'm starting to consider the Jot and Valhalla 2 as a future purchase. Though, probably semi-far into the future, as my wife is going to start reigning in my purchases soon as my daughter gets closer to being born, haha.

 

I have not had the pleasure of hearing the Atticus but I certainly hope to at some point.

I think if anything the Night Blues Mini has shown me what a good tube amp can bring to the table in terms of plankton, microdetail and lushness without losing much in those areas that are traditionally the strong points of solid state. If I could find an amp (for a reasonable cost - I know that ToTL tube amps exist and are available) that sounded like the NBM but just had more "ooomph" to really get those biocell drivers moving then I think the Eikon would be one happy camper.

 

Sounds like a hybrid amp like Mjo2 et al. would be a good fit with these 'phones.

 

I just realized one overwhelming oversight detail that explains everything for me to reconciliate my observations,
from Tylls subjective and measurment observations,
which I simply did not encounter to agree with the Eikon I had for a week.

The underlying secret....
A Shocking revelation..
Ready?

He had the cherry. ..


I had the pauduck...


Now I can have excuse in forgiving and apologizing for the pitchforkin around.


That's my story I'm sticking with..

 

Looks like it might be one of these.

 

One of those with a hydraulic strut would be just perfect. I'd get a kick out of just watching it close gently all by itself

 

Sorry my good man, we must continue until the horse is paste!

 

Imma stop you there, Taylor. Sadly most cheap tube amps don't sound as nice as the NBM- it's a bit of an outlier. How does the Eikon pair with the Mjo 2, balanced out, I wonder? It's bound to be mentioned somewhere in this sprawling thread.