ZMF New Headphones: Vérité and Aeolus

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

  1. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Likes Received:
    8,973
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Denver CO
    Home Page:
    Nice!

    Mine are black. You know what they say, once you go black, you never go back.

    And yes, the pads should have little underwear tags sewn on to them with what pad they are. Hehe
     
  2. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,026
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rapallo, Italy
    So Veritè arrived, and now I have one box labeled "suede" and honestly those are to tell, and then 5 more sets of very similar ones, including one helpfully labeled "Be 2"
    :drunk:

    I shot zach an email to figure out what's what, and I might label them on the underside with a silver marker or something ..

    Le Edit: Zach tells me Be 2 is a new pad in between Veritè and Universe. Brother, there is such a thing as paralysis by too many options ... also whoever is measuring that might wanna annoy zach for a set. @purr1n do you still have your pair?
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2019
  3. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,517
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Haha that's why we have't "released" it yet. I may just keep it as a "secret menu" option for owners as I'm not sure it's necessary - but something fun for your tour and all that.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

     
  5. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    9,589
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Home Page:
    Will there be a pad with suede in the ear cavity, cowhide in the back, lambskin in the front, a gradient of foam firmness from back to front, and perforations only covering 1/3 of the surface area?

    I jest. But I appreciate the level of potential variation available.
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    That would be a great pad for HFMs.
     
  7. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    9,589
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Home Page:
    I know. I'm actually going to be making something like this pending funds. Shhh, don't let anyone beat me to the punch.
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,778
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Shameless ZMF plug: So when @zach915m shipped the headphones to me for evaluation many months ago, there was some stuffing material in the box. Well, it turns out that this stuff material was a T-shirt and sweatshirt in a bag! My wife discovered this only a few weeks ago. I assume this is a gift and that I can wear it?

    It's definitely welcome in this usually cold and wet SoCal winter.

    00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190307112457792_COVER.jpg

    ZMF gets a free sponsor logo on the side for a bit.
     
  9. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,026
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rapallo, Italy
    Measurements pending? :)

    That reminds me of the hideously complicated pads on the Vali, of which I picked up 6 spares when @Drakkard left the company.

    P. S. I want that sweatshirt.
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2019
  10. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

    Staff Member Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    12,285
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Colorado
    Home Page:
    @zach915m I demand you send me ZMF lingerie!
     
  11. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,517
    Trophy Points:
    93
    I actually meant to send you these months ago - this is a good reminder. I'll get a set out today.

    We actually do use two types of foam in the pads - I think to do a gradient you'd have to adhere a bunch of different foams together, but then you'd have all the glue in between all of them. Sounds cool though.

    Hahha yes it's yours.

    My wife is all about expanding the ZMF clothing line. I'll run it by her and you can have the first (unworn) set.
     
  12. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,408
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    Can I get the first worn set?

    I'm actually at about the point that I want a set of ZMF headphones, but I have no idea which one.

    I like moar sub-bass plus HD650s. Halp?
     
  13. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

    Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2017
    Likes Received:
    9,589
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Home Page:
    @Luckbad Eikon has the most satisfying sub-bass and laid back upper mid presence to my ears. Little tiny lift in the lower-mid treble but very smooth and inoffensive - still down in level from the bass through mids, so doesn't stick out or feel remotely bright. From what I've read of your previous content I suspect these would be the ZMFs for you.

    I pretty much wear Eikons all day at my desk until someone has to talk to me or wants to demo them.

    edit: If you ever find yourself in East LA area feel free to come in and take a listen (or I can take some for a meet whenever something like this gets put together).

    We have all 5 dynamic models to listen to at any time and a bunch of amps (or you can bring your own).
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2019
  14. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,474
    Trophy Points:
    93
    If you want a super HD650, probably Aeolus. It's very similar to a HD650 that didn't skip leg day.
     
  15. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,026
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rapallo, Italy
    Tav's mental image of the day: shouting gymbro - GET SWOLE! - yutoob vidja, only its an Aeolus cup with comically buff arms & legs.
     
  16. PacoTaco

    PacoTaco Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,474
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Alright, this isn't going to be a review just yet, but this is my impressions after a week (though five days of listening) to the Verite on my lowly Modi 2U and THX 789:

    I need a better DAC.

    Jokes aside, it is a seriously fast headphone. Bass hits quick, treble is handled as well as the HD800, and the mids are good. It resolves as well (if not better) than the HD800 and the microdynamics are out of this world. I quite like it, even better than the HD800 (which is my favorite - or was - headphone.)

    That said...I keep reaching for the Auteur more. Auteur, while not having the same amount of clarity, resolution or speed, has that magical combination of just enough technicalities and a fantastic FR (which is why I would compare it to a swole HD600.)

    Of course, this could end up like the Aeolus where I just need a couple of weeks and I end up loving it. IIRC, @Mystic went through the same thing with his review Verite.

    Auteur has always been that headphone that does everything well (and some things exceptionally.) But Verite does most things well, but some things at the top of its class. Kinda like how the Auteur took all the AP courses in high school and got a 4.0 doing everything well and being well-rounded, while the Verite got a 4.2 because, while it did worse than the Auteur in some classes, it absolutely dominated the classes it did better in.
     
  17. Phantaminum

    Phantaminum Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1,978
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Dallas, TX
    I felt the same way about the Verite and Auteur. The Auteur really has a balanced FR where it’s all there for you while the Verite, as other members have stated, has a W type sound signature. I kept reaching for the Auteurs but after 150 hours on the Verite evened out and closed the gap. There are still areas that the Verite is recessed compared to the Auteurs but once broken it’s not as noticeable as you’re enjoying everything else it offers.
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2019
  18. Magnetostatic_Tubephile

    Magnetostatic_Tubephile Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    957
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    GoogleChrome, EU
    Whatever you send our way as part of the loaner will get measured and documented on SBAF at least by me. ;)
     
  19. Babbage78

    Babbage78 New

    Joined:
    Dec 24, 2018
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Florida, United States
    I just received my pair of Aeolus yesterday and thought I would share my very initial impressions on them.

    At first glance the headphone is absolutely gorgeous. I bought the Ziricote version and the wood grain and finish on the wood cups is nothing short of perfect. On the other hand, it looks like whoever is assembling these over at ZMF has never before used a screw driver, seeing as all the screws that keep the plate on the cup are coming out at strange angles and it can clearly be seen that the screws were forced in, damaging the areas around the screw holes on the plates. Also, the pair of stock Aeolus pads that I received were already fraying on the back of the pads and one of them had already lost about half of all the stitching on the back end of the pad. These are all details that I noticed once I was really inspecting them up close. In my opinion, this lack of attention to detail and fit/finish is completely unacceptable for such an expensive product.

    In terms of sound, things become more positive....eventually.

    When I first plugged them into my Arcam rHead (fed by a Schiit Modi Multibit + Eitr) I hands down hated what I was hearing. The vocals and treble sounded metallic, bass was flabby, and subbass was MIA. I honestly felt like maybe I had bought a pair of fakes somehow or something. These definitely changed with an hour or so of use, and didn't really start to sound like they currently do until 3-4 hours of use.

    Today they sound nowhere near what they did out of the box, thankfully. Bass is no longer flabby but is instead full and detailed, sub-bass can actually be heard/felt, vocals are insanely forward and clear/crisp with an organic tone, and treble is very detailed with no sign of sibliance. Sound stage isn't all that large but seems larger due to how impressive the imaging is out of these cans.

    To me it seems like these are doing some kind of weird voodoo magic with music that is kind of hard to explain. Mid-bass, Vocals, and treble are fully apparent in the mix and achieve a level of clarity I had never experienced before, yet they maintain this calm/confident characteristic to the sound, almost like they aren't even trying. Sounds that I'm used to hearing in certain songs are either much more apparent or barely audible at all (an aspect of the headphone that I find interesting but don't really know how to discuss). Vocals especially are so forward to the point where I'm still not sure how I feel about it. On one hand its amazing hearing all these throat sounds and lips parting and stuff like that, but I'm having a hard time setting a volume level because I keep wanting to raise the volume on instrumentals but by a certain point vocals are just too loud. These really pull vocals out of a song and presents it in a different sphere from the rest of the music. I own a pair of Sennheiser 58X's and EMU Teaks and although I always thought they had great mid presentation they are absolutely veiled compared to Aeolus.

    The only real weakness I can think of so far is that these do not have the sub bass growl and presence that I've grown accustomed to as an EMU Teak owner.

    I also think that Aeolus is very special when it comes to sound stage and imaging as I mentioned earlier. The soundstage is not what I would consider sprawling but I think that the imaging of sounds is so pinpoint accurate that it makes the fairly shallow soundstage feel wider because you can still easily tell where every sound is within that smaller space.

    That's all that I've got to say for now. I was thinking of listing a few listening notes for specific songs once I've had a bit more time to get a feel for them. I can also post pictures of them if someone wants to see them.
     
  20. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2016
    Likes Received:
    5,733
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Montgomery, New York
    The physical issues you mention sound very odd to me, definitely not indicative what I've experienced from ZMF.

    Definitely reach out to @zach915m I'm sure he'd want to know & I'd be surprised if he didn't make it right. I would be curious to see pics of the screws in particular.
     

Share This Page