ZMF Auteur - An open back ZMF

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by PacoTaco, Sep 18, 2017.

  1. Erikdayo

    Erikdayo Friend

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    That's one of my favorite aspects of ZMF headphones. It's not the end of the road if someone is not content with the sound from a certain pair of pads because all of the ZMF originals have at least 2 or 3 good pad options that might help tune the sound to one's liking.
     
  2. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Thank you @zach915m for the awesome customer service. Loving my Teak pair so far. If they're being held back in some way by the Lyr 3, can only imagine how much better they'll be out of a TOTL tube amp.

    Still running through different genres of music to get a feel of strengths/weaknesses, but I haven't found a need to reach for my trusty HD600 - these really take things up a considerable notch. If there's bass to be heard in a decently mastered track, you will hear it. I would not compare it to planar low frequency performance, but I hardly ever feel it's lacking (if it is present in the track to begin with).

    Very musical, as has already been written about by reviewers better equipped to express it than I, and is balanced from low to mid to high frequencies with a nice full-bodied sound, with a slightly warmish tint.

    There may be some qualities in which the HD6X0 are slightly better, maybe with Classical music, but I haven't really gotten around to that part of my catalog to judge for myself.

    I haven't gotten a chance to try the Clear or HD800, so no comment on those comparisons. But from what I've heard so far with these, I'm no longer interested in trying either of them. Nice primary complement to my LCD-X w/vegan pads, and makes the LCD2C redundant for my purposes.

    Using CD/Eitr -> Gungnir Multibit -> Lyr 3 w/Tungsol

    I will say that the OFC upgraded cable seems to make a difference in that it t provides a slightly more refined sound compared to the stock cable. Subtle, but noticeable in higher frequencies. For me worth the $60.

    Cool that it's a custom handmade product, awesome that it fulfills what's promised.
     
  3. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

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    Do they smell kind of like roses?
     
  4. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Yeah, roses kind of, but definitely there is a mild non-offensive odor. The wood itself or maybe some kind of varnish/treatment coating?

    Forgot to add they are very comfortable, I appreciate the adjustability of the headband, and I've only used the Auteur pads.
     
  5. Ray

    Ray Friend

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    B623F565-5FB4-4AD4-BAB6-C41049C1DC62.jpeg C4DE6934-08CE-48FD-8AB0-9D947A088333.jpeg My auteurs arrived today. Well balanced and seems to do everything right. Can’t wait for my tube amp to arrive to give these a proper listen.
     
  6. captkirk

    captkirk Khan's BFF

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    What tube amp do ya have in play Ray?
     
  7. Ray

    Ray Friend

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    It will be a ecp amplifier
     
  8. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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  9. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    It's like he is expecting his room to flood at any moment, but his gear will be safe because of the life rafts he built for them.
     
  10. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    ... and putting the pc on vibration damping somehow works around the fact that the case is open and spewing all its noise right at him?

    :drunk:
     
  11. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    Last edited: Jul 11, 2018
  12. Erikdayo

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  13. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Price is interesting, bordering on the deadzone between 1kish and bigboy tube amps.

    12A** tube is an automatic dislike from our purring overlord I believe :D
     
  14. Resolve

    Resolve MOT: Headphones.com

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    I've been waiting for that amp to be announced. I'll probably jump on the pre-order if funds allow and then throw up a review/impressions asap.
     
  15. ampsandsound

    ampsandsound MOT - Ampsandsound

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    I think Zach will be following up with more info shortly. That said, if not I can expand on it Friday.
    I will disclose that it required all 100% new iron specific to the Pendant.
    Single ended, moderate feedback, ultralenear, huge power supply even for us, high and low z set to make it compatible with low impedance headphones all the way up to the 300ohm family.
    2 inputs, 1 preamp out.
    We sent multiple prototypes which had only 1 variation and evaluations were done by ZMF to select the sound and performance they wanted.
     
  16. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    You can't imagine my face when i read that Zach was working with Justin Bieber...took me seconds to close and reopen my eyes to read it right.

    I can't say i am particularly interested (i dislike some of ZMF's policies) but i am curious to see how it will play out.
     
  17. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    @Mystic was kind enough to send me perforated Suede Auteur and Eikon pads to measure and listen on Auteur. I really enjoyed the perforated Suede Auteur pads. They fixed some of the slight congestion between 400-1200Hz that the stock pads exhibit. They also tame the 6kHz peak by ~3dB. Measurements show a deep dip at ~7400Hz, I don't think it's that bad in reality. The only downside to the Suede pads is less air compared to the perforated lambskin Auteur pads.

    The perforated Suede Eikon pads have the same effect that the perforated lambskin Eikon pads have compared to the perforated lambskin Auteur pads. They raise the area between 200-1000Hz and reduce the peaks and dips in the treble at the expense of treble quantity. I used my Auteurs with brighter tubes to compensate for the Eikon pads inherent darkness.

    The Suede pads have a very plush feel to them. They conform to your face better than the leather, at least initially, and aren't scratchy like Hifiman velour pads.

    If you want your Auteur to be a little more neutral, possibly less fun? then give the perforated Suede Auteur pads a try.

    [​IMG]
    Perforated Suede Auteur pad:
    [​IMG]
    Perforated Suede Eikon pad:
    [​IMG]
    Perforated Lambskin Auteur pad:
    [​IMG]
     
  18. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    @cskippy do these measurements, or Auteur measurements in general, apply to the Teak (wood) Auteur only?
    or applicable to other variants such as Blackwood, Ash, Silk ?
     
  19. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    The overall changes will be the same. I found the woods to have a tilting effect to the sound. The denser the wood the darker the tilt. This also comes with a more solid image and blacker background. The lighter more porous woods tend to add a resonance that can reinforce the sound and make it both exciting and ethereal but it's not quite as true and pure IMO.

    I would still use the measurements as a reference point for what the pads do to the other models. BTW, these measurements were performed on a Blackwood.
     
  20. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Hmm, the Auteur version looks interesting.

    I really should pick up a pair ... I'll probably wait for September as Italian postage is likely to have anything arriving in August sit in a warehouse for months :confused:
     

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