ZMF Auteur - An open back ZMF

Largely agree. Auteur seems to be the brightest (thus the most neutral) offering among ZMF family. HD800-heads (like myself) may still regard auteur as somewhat darker and warmer even with A-pads though.

 

I find this somewhat amusing since even though I will agree warmer, I found my SBAFaux modded 800S a lot less fatiguing to listen to for long periods than the Auteur with A-pads. Even though the 800 has a taller treble peak, it's wider or I forgot how they sound without the shelf liner in them. I kinda wish I read about the toilet paper mod for the Auteur before getting the loaner.

 

I realize that I am still a rando, but is there any way I could participate in the Auteur loaner?

 

^ Maybe the above was in poor taste or too greedy, but would anyone be able to point me to a store/dealer or place in southern CA where I can try them before buying? I sent 2 brief emails to ZMF about a month ago asking if they had any dealers/recommendations and didn't hear back. I've already tried a few different places in LA and OC since then, no luck.

 

Sorry if I missed your email!!! Definitely re-email me anyone/everyone if you don't get a response. I get a lot of emails and do my best!

@E_Schaaf works at Upscale audio and could definitely help you out with a demo as they carry ZMF.

We also have an auteur at Source_AV I believe!

 

Question answered thanks!

Also sent a PM asking about your product line. If others would like to chime in with a short version (I've read through the ZMF threads and website already too):
A brief summary of Eikon, Auteur, and upcoming Verite. 1-2 sentences on each is enough - just want a brief summary for when I start auditions and better to know if I should possibly hold off for a Verite pre-order (assuming I like ZMF house sound but don't find the sound I'm looking for in other products). Read through the various ZMF threads already as well

 

You have to do your own homework my friend...there are threads for each of those with tons of info. If you've read them, there's not much more that can be added. Unless maybe you have a specific question that you can't find in one of those threads?

Otherwise it'd be good to lurk & read a bit more.

And do introduce yourself here:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/new-members-introduce-yourself.17/

ZMF is a great brand though...enjoy

 

^ I initially edited comment out as it seemed like noise but I have went through the various ZMF threads already.

However, I have found that sometimes when I (or others I know) are asked to 1-2 sentence summary something they've already spoke about, it's a lot easier to just spit out my "real" underlying thoughts... not necessarily just for something is good/bad, but also something like "warm and smooth" "U/V/W/whatever shaped signature and clear/macro/micro/whatever" etc.

 

@fp627
Superbestaudiofriends is not a Mc Donalds Drive In...
There has been some new members lately who just want some answers on a silver plate.
Like @Jinxy245 says: you have to do your homework here!

There is hardly anybody who has heard all ZMF headphones with all possible pad combinations. Also there are DAC and amp synergies. I have personally heard 3 ZMF dynamic headphones. Maybe one day one of the senior SBAF members manages to start a ZMF compendium, but please understand: nobody is payed here... so don‘t expect your wishes to be fulfilled.

Still I will summarize my experience with the 3 ZMF headphones I know: Eikon, Atticus and Auteur, all with the pads which are mounted standard:

Eikon: great low bass / rumble, slightly dark, not much sparkle, definetely a closed headphone as for as air and soundstage is concerned, but better stage as most closed cans have on offer. Speed and resolution average.

Atticus: most colored of the three, warm, even sweaty latin party headphones with good dynamics and slam, elevated mid bas, but dark tilt with little air. Good not in your face resolution. Closed headphone breed cannot be denied here as well.

Auteur: most neutral in the line up. Less sub bass as Eikon, but more air. Better / nice staging. Has most treble energy of the three without becoming nasty ( I have the Blackwood version which has a little less pronounced treble). Resolution and speed good with the right dac/amp. Excellent timbre. Does well with most genres.

All three are rather heavy, but comfortable. Very nice build quality. All give weight and body to voices and instruments. I and many others prefer these headphones with a good tube amp.

 

@fp627

SBAF tip of the day : PM somebody you think very knowledgeable regarding your such "one-sentence comparison" requests.

Senior members are much, much kinder in private conversations as long as you are polite and specific. Also by doing so, you can reduce annoyance of members significantly. Unpolished noob questions in public posts are generally considered as "Noise" in this community.

In ZMF website, Zach already described how each of his product differs from others. From my experience of Eikon, Atticus, and Auteur, can confirm that Zach's assessments are VERY accurate and informative (as opposed to marketing hypes).

 

In a few weeks I'll have Verite and Aeolus on display (I believe we'll be the first dealer to place our order so we should get them earlier than most), at which point I'll do a thorough write up with the hexagon-ish comparison graphic. EDIT: I'll also be sure to roll as many pad options as possible, including some wacky combinations.

Zach's said it before and I find it to be true - none of his dynamic offerings make any of the others redundant. They each have particular strengths and none of them are direct "upgrades" or "replacements" to his other offerings.

The release of Verite doesn't make Auteur obsolete or lesser-than, for example. Still a badass headphone by all means (I'm part of the crew who prefers Auteur to Utopia). People will still have their preferences, which (especially here at SBAF) may or may not correlate with the amount of $$ spent.

 

I'm guessing that's because of the mids, they seem more 'present' I think, though I've only demoed the HD800. I think I'm more sensitive to mids than treble myself. When I demoed the Auteur at CanJam NYC, I was quite surprised that I wasn't digging them. At least until the 2nd time I stopped by to say hi to Zach (taking advantage of an uncharacteristic lull in the traffic at his table). I was expressing my surprise when he said...'you have to try them with the Eikon pads then'. That changed everything for me.

I have @captkirk 's loaner now (many thanks yet again) and these are incredible for me with the Eikon pads. The mids are a bit more accentuated than my preference but they are still more than listenable and very addictive IMO. The extra mids might even have something to do with the Gungnir D/S, but I obviously can't confirm that.
I'll give some quick impressions to the best of my limited ability.

The chain is JRiver from my AIO PC - Gungnir (Gen5 USB) - iCan Pro or MCTH. I did all my listening with the Eikon pads.
(It's amazing to me what a difference an earpad can make)

Although I can hear the family resemblance, it seems this is more than just an open Eikon. Whatever veil the Eikon is accused of is all but gone. Clarity is more evident, while retaining the trademark ZMF smoothness or organic presentation (or whichever adjective you prefer for this hard to describe aspect of the sound).

Sub bass seems to extend at least as far, maybe a touch less, but the lowest of the lows are not as emphasized as the Eikon. The mid bass has a similar feel to the Eikon, which I think can be described as elevated from what many consider 'neutral', but the bass as a whole sounds like my kind of neutral. Definitely, unabashedly present when called for, well extended and tight, zero bleed into the mids. Overall full and rich without being overly lush...a pleasure.
For reference I'd say more sub-bass but less mid-bass than the stock 650.

The mids are about as detailed as I can handle, not strident but energetic. With some lesser/more aggressive recordings guitars can have a bit too much buzz for my ears, some vocals can edge toward shouty, but that's the exception not the rule. This is where I found the Auteur pads to push the balance towards fatiguing in my initial demo. I have a suspicion that mid-heads will love these (especially with the Auteur pads).

Treble is where I have some problems (personal that is. read: hearing loss) but I found it well behaved, extended and airy. No aggressive peaks, no annoying valleys. Cymbals and the like had lots of detail and I never thought they sounded over represented...no sense of false detail.

Detail was exceptional but not 'in your face'. It's all there, and in this way I thought it was similar to the 650. The micro isn't obvious, but it's there. I'm guessing the better your gear, the more you'll hear, but in my chain there was a much detail as I've heard with any other headphone.

Moderate headstage, similar to the Eikon (I find them both better than the 650, but as always YMMV) which is somewhat intimate, but never constrained good width, height & depth but not exaggerated either. Obviously the open back helps the air flow and makes everything sound more natural than a closed back so the Auteur has an advantage there, but the size & shape of the 'stage' struck me as similar overall.

One pleasant surprise was how well the Auteur sounded with the affordable (at least in the audio world) MCTH. It sounded equally good from the ifi, just different, and no less enjoyable. For whatever reason I found the Auteur to pair better here than my Eikon. I think they both sound really good with the MCTH, but it adds a bit too much in the mid-bass on some recordings (not always, and not horrible but I notice it sometimes) for the Eikon, and I didn't have that experience at all with the Auteur. The mids were more lush on the MCTH (I likey!) and that tube magic was evident. I only wish I had an OTL to try.

Thanks again to the Captain for his generosity...an opportunity like this is priceless in our hobby. I am thoroughly enjoying these. At the risk of sounding too much like a ZMF fanboy, I'd say Zach hit it outta the park again. I have an order in for the Aeolus already, otherwise I'd likely be saving my pennies for one of these.

 

Happy to say that now this baby is mine!

1. Wood matters way more than I expected.
2. Auteur scales and resolves way more than I expected.
3. dsha-3f + Auteur .. holy shit.

Hugely confused because of 1+2+3 (can't exactly attribute now).

Anyway I feel urged to revise every impression posted before. My previous evaluation (loaner unit) was dragged by poorer source, lesser amp, and softer wood.

More impressions to come later.

 

Welcome to one of the worlds most synergistic headphone/amp combos, ever. Period.


... and shit.

 

I’m still trying to think of somewhere to go with the “soft wood” comment.....

 

It just requires a little extra attention!

 

Haha. Low-density or low-janka (both are not identical though) wood might be more accurate expression.

Years ago (when ordered cherry eikon) I thought wood difference would be too subtle to notice (almost non-existent), because afaik headphone cups do not use acoustic resonance as proactively as wood instruments. Now I'm thinking perceptual delta is rather close to 650 dynamat mod (vs 650 stock): still subtle but meaningful.

 

Blame iphone camera (and poor cameraman myself). These wood cups look much more beautiful in person.

Purchase decision partly came from my strong desire toward African blackwood. It will definitely contrast well with ziricote verite .

Not surprisingly, it's heavier than teak auteur.
The loaner unit of teak auteur weighed 1.03 lb (467g) and my bw auteur weighed 1.26 lb (572g).