Verum Audio - Exciting high performance DIY planar

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by cskippy, May 24, 2018.

  1. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2017
    Likes Received:
    10,961
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Philippines, The
    Never really get to listen to speakers; renovations (and the new cat turning my room into her personal sanctuary complete with litter box, toys, scratch posts, etc. because the other one keeps bullying her) scuppered my plans to set up a rig in my room, though I'm still keeping an eye out for parts on the cheap so I can DIY something for the exp. That said the handful of times I've gotten to store demo nice sets make it hard for me to insist that headphones can put up a fair fight, even in suboptimal conditions. Eh, living conditions.

    Missed the MJ2, my bad! And I can see how the Verum might be hard-pressed to put up a fight against those cans, though I'm only tangentially familiar with them.
     
  2. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 6, 2018
    Likes Received:
    3,316
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ukraine
    Thanks for praise, but infortunately not. Verum ar far behind Abyss 1266. Especially in plankton. Yep, they're hard to drive but those headphones are really epic.
     
  3. BenjaminBore

    BenjaminBore Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,842
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    London, UK
    Admittedly I did not compare them directly, and have not yet spent enough time with Verum 1. So everyone should take those comments with a pinch of salt, until I’ve done a proper write up. But, to put it lightly, I did not hold the 1266 in such high esteem as yourself. They were incredibly poor in a number of key ways. This was the original version, without the fenestrated pads:
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...s-ab-1266-v2-incoming.4163/page-5#post-244870
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...s-ab-1266-v2-incoming.4163/page-6#post-252466

    Purr1n’s comments are also pertinent re. the 1266: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...s-ab-1266-v2-incoming.4163/page-7#post-252502
     
    Last edited: Apr 17, 2019
  4. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 6, 2018
    Likes Received:
    3,316
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ukraine
    I like 1266 very much. But only from REALLY powerful amp.

    (as a MOT i still can say good things about others? :D )
     
  5. Dzerh

    Dzerh Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    425
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    San Ramon, CA, US
    My thoughts about perception of Verum 1 resolving capabilities at this moment:
    1. Confirmation bias: Relatively efficient planar with heavy diaphragm? - Sure it has to be less resolving then XXX. Right?
    2. Amp picky: my understanding that to make them really shine you need an amp with high current ceiling able to move that heavy diaphragm fast, - to get slam and details out of Verum 1.

    From my personal experience Verum 1 is very easy to drive to make them sound pleasantly, but I don't think I managed to get them to a full potential with Jot balanced (which was more controlled than Jot SE) which is the most powerful headphone amp I have at this moment. When I have time I'll make a cable to connect them to a speaker amp. I'm too not missing micro-details and just want to see can I get more slam, especially in sub-bass.

    To my pretty limited hearing Verum 1 is less resolving than HD600 and more resolving than HE-400. But I'm not used to critical listening (actually I'm avoiding listening critically and trying to measure things in this hobby by a level of emotional involvement. I understand it is not much help to others, sorry) so may be Verum shifting my attention from micro-details to other things.
     
  6. Suppa92

    Suppa92 New

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2019
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Sri Lanka
    Is it practical? I mean speaker amps have tons of wattage, doesn't that blows the headphones as soon as you turn volume knob in like 10 degrees?
     
  7. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 6, 2018
    Likes Received:
    3,316
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ukraine
    No, it's not gonna work in such way. I listen to Verum 1 on exposure 3010 on 9 oclock. It's rather loud but not very.
     
  8. Suppa92

    Suppa92 New

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2019
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Sri Lanka
    I'm have zero knowledge in electronic engineering, so I didn't expect it's possible. Is there any Pros when driving Verums with speaker amp rather than headphone amp?
     
  9. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,026
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rapallo, Italy
    Pretty much all planars love power, and, everything else being equal, they get more authoritative/controlled the more power you give them. Veils get lifted and all that good stuff.

    Now, finding a 50+wpc amp that's quiet enough - in terms of noise floor - for headphones can be a little tricky, but if you really love planars it's that or a Schiit Ragnarok.

    Just be aware that cheapo class-dead amps don't cut the mustard, so you're usually (but not always, thankfully) looking at big-boy tube amp money or close to it for a speaker amp that ticks all the boxes.
     
  10. Suppa92

    Suppa92 New

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2019
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Sri Lanka
    So if the budget is limited, speaker amp is not good choice, right?
    I'm limited to something cost less than one grand. under $500 is much better.

    I already have THX 789 headphone amp, but bit scared of ordering Verums because there low impedance might overheat it's internal circuits or damage it in long run. Have heard some issues that channel balance start to change and even total sound cutoff after 45mins or so operation.
     
  11. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2017
    Likes Received:
    3,026
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Rapallo, Italy
    No idea if there's anything *new* around atm that cheap and good for planars, speaker-amp wise.

    Pass ACA DIY will do it, but then you need to a) build it and b) find a nice preamp.

    Headphone amps are pretty crappy preamps, with the exception of a few that were designed as speaker amps or preamps first - and I don't know of any that are cheap.

    One way is a vintage stereo integrated, but I have 0 knowledge about what's good there.

    They work great with the Jotunheim we have here, and some of my tube amps, but I have no idea about the 789.
     
  12. MarteM

    MarteM New

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2019
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Slovenia
    Hello everyone, I have just made my account and this is my first post on SBAF. I have been folowing this thread since the launch of the Verum one Kickstarter campaign. I will be getting my headphones soon and will be posting my impressions from the perspective of someone who does not own realy high end gear. This post is just to say hi.
     
  13. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2017
    Likes Received:
    1,042
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Asia
    Welcome! Looking forward to hear your impressions on the Verum. Please do state you gears too when you do, so that we can understand better.
     
  14. Some1

    Some1 New

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2019
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Israel
    They look huge.
    They are also heavier than my other headphones (HD6xx and ESP95X).
    I would have wanted them otherwise.
     
  15. Puspa

    Puspa New

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2018
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Erie PA
    Do you guys think JDS atom will power verum one good enough! I have it plugged into it and is sounds veiled and muddy, with fio e10k as a dac.
     
  16. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2016
    Likes Received:
    5,731
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Montgomery, New York
    You might want to give an introduction here before posting around...nobody knows you. Because of that, speculating about the weight doesn't really help here. It's like walking into a bar and saying to some random person "gee that shirt is ugly".

    Say hi & ask some questions...let us get to know you.
     
  17. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

    Pyrate MZR
    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tempe, Arizona
    Got the perforated pads @Garuspik sent to me. For those of you that feel Verum 1 is too dark, the perforated pads should make you happy. They reduce the level below 1kHz by ~3dB and keep a bit of a low bass bump before dropping off at the lowest octaves. Transient response is much better as well as stage, air and for me, comfort.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Stock pads are in red, perforated in green:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  18. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    667
    Trophy Points:
    93
    One thing I noticed. The non-perforated pads, while sounding warmer and having longer bass decay with more mass, had a tendency to cause extreme congestion when the music got busy or loud, like the transients start going all over the place, splashy while not even being resolving, extremely fatiguing. The perforated pads have bass that's very quick and light and transients remain clean at least within comfortable volumes. I'm guessing this has to do with ear-side pressure building up with the non-perforated pads better seal. The perforated Verums do gain back the slam with more power however, at least subjectively. So normal Verums are good at lower volumes with lower powered gear, while perforated Verums scale higher and are more transient with still great slam. Also if you wear glasses or have long hair the choice is obvious, the seals not gonna hold up even with normal pads so might as well go with perforated for better ventilation and comfort.
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2019
  19. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    May 6, 2018
    Likes Received:
    3,316
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Ukraine
    I listened to community and made those pads. I've used the most thin and expensive goat skin I've found in Ukraine. It's a goat skin that is usually used for premium gloves. Also they're angled and improve soundstage a bit.

    What was the goal?
    1. Many mebmers asked for brighter sounding headphones. How can I achieve this? Can I bring up the treble? Sure no. But I can... lower the whole region before 3 Khz
    2. When using perfo leather I've solved one main problem - I've leveled air pressure on both sides of membrane.
    3. Comfort wise - real leather is much more comfortable especially in summer.
     
  20. Ryanr1987

    Ryanr1987 Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    234
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    UK
    I have to say Garuspik is what every company in the headphone game should be. When I've finally got the funds I know where my money is going. I have debated for a while being an LCD-2C owner if it was worth it. Even if it isn't and it's a side I know my money has gone to someone that has phenomenal customer service, cares about the product and the level of involvement in the community.

    Besides I'm in love with the booginga look!
     

Share This Page