ZMF Verite Closed

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by Vtory, Jul 21, 2019.

  1. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Always looking for a better closed HP I jumped on the VC loaner tour to see what the hype was about and see if they would best my "company formerly known as Mr. Speakers" Ether C's. Got to spend about a week or so with the VC's and here are my thoughts as they evolved:

    1) Wow, these are really well made. And I thought that the Audeze travel case was impressive - the Seahorse case that ZMF uses looks to be literally bombproof.
    [first brief listening session]
    2) Eh, they sound decent, but nothing to make me want to drop my EC's...
    [passing of a few days away on a trip and a few more listening sessions]
    3) WTF did I miss at first?!? These are some of the best closed HPs I've heard yet!
    [insert all the positives and details so well described by my fellow Friends on these pages about the VC's speed, resolution, slam, tonality, etc. that I won't bore you with by repeating them here.]
    4) Dang it, now I need a pair. Time to sell my ECs and also the LCD-3F's I've been keeping around for some unknown reason.
    [search listings for new/used VCs, read up on LTD woods, see wait list for said LTDs, post a WTB here on SBAF, see some options that I don't love, dig some more and find someone looking to unload their near-the-top spot on the VC LTD Ironwoods at the pre-release cost, email Zach to ensure it's legit, money sent.]
    5) Ordered!

    Thank you/curse you SBAF and the loaner program for once again feeding my habit!

    Epilogue - My wife asked me today if I had anything for her to put under the tree from her. Well yes, yes I do... :cool:
     
  2. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Divorce papers? :p
     
  3. mscott58

    mscott58 Friend

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    Ha! Nicely played.

    Not yet. But the threat is if we ever do split that she'll give me the kids...best to stay together then! ;)
     
  4. Bertrand

    Bertrand New

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    Today, after +100 hours of break-in, I did with a Friend some Pads and cable testing. Tests were done with my A&K SP1000SS + SP1000amp

    - Pads tested: Auteur v/s Universal
    - Cables tested: ZMF Copper v/s DHC Molecule Elite SP Silver 8 wires cable

    Initial set-up was Auteur pads and Copper Cable: Very good sound, with exceptional mids & hights, but... some little anowing bass rumbling. Change for the DHC Silver cable got rid of the rumbling. Problem solved ! I guess the Superbes Bass of the ZMF do not the extra help of a copper cable...

    The difference is quite noticeable between the 2 cables, much more than... between the 2 Pads. I noticed a very light difference between the pads that I cannot preciecely articulate, but prefered the Auteur Pads.

    So my final set-up becomes : Author Pads & DHC Balanced Silver cables, with the SP1000 Amp ... The Amp being almost mandatory: the SP1000 alone is really boring with the ZMF ! With the Amp added, the ZMF becomes imediatly fun and big.

    NOTE : If someone is interested to purchase my ZMF Copper cable, please PM me :dt880smile:

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
    the DHC silver cable was originaly bought for my HifiMan HE-X. Now that this silver cable is validated using a 2,5mm -> Mini-XLR adaptors, I will have the DHC cable re-terminated with Furtech Mini-xlr plugs.

    [​IMG]

    I have also found here on AMAZON for $ 15 the perfect carying case for the VC + my A&K SP1000 DAP / SP1000Amp + cable & charger. Fit is ultra tight in all 3 directions; for a case as small as possible.

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  5. Bertrand

    Bertrand New

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    After 200 hours of break-in, the combo SP1000Amp + ZMF Verite Closed get better abd better. Adicted !

    Tomorow I wil be able to compare to AK2000 + ZMF, but I doubt the AK2000 alone will drive the ZMF better than the AK1000 + SP1000 AMP.
     
  6. mkozlows

    mkozlows Friend

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    This isn't adding a whole lot of information, but since I did put in those "early impressions"/"new toy" disclaimers, I feel like it is worth following up a month later to say that those early impressions are extremely confirmed. I love these headphones, and they still provide "wow" moments on the regular.

    They're the most magical with male vocals, for whatever reason. Andy Williams Christmas music is nobody's audiophile cliche album, but it's never sounded better than with these headphones.
     
  7. Ksaurav402

    Ksaurav402 Friend

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    Have been listening to Ironwood VC for past 2 weeks and below are my Notes

    Digione Signature -> Metrum Onyx (BlueJeans Coax) -> ECP DSHA -3F -> VC (Norne Draug 3)

    1. Ironwood VC is heavy. Ziricote VO feels like feather in comparison. Something to think of when you have to decide between woods.
    2. Mids - recessed a bit in comparison to VO. My Preference is VO or 650 as far as Mids go
    3. Bass - Sub Bass and Mid Bass are more prominent as compared to mid and hence it has that thick tonality that I like.
    4. Treble - smoother then VO. I always turn up volume a bit due to recessed mid but the treble doesn’t bother me at all. Well with DSHA treble has never been as issue.
    5. Due to recessed mid the vocals sound deeper in stage. Onyx brings vocals to front and in your face but VC with DSHA-3F pushes it back and hence its nice team play at work for me.
    6. The stage is very wide for a closed back however doesn’t have the height of VO.
    7. Layering and instrument separation is great and is on par with VO
    8. Imaging is better then VO. We can pin point instruments in the mix better. Like with 650 but with more depth and better separation.
    9. Good Attack with sharp transient response. DSHA as an amp also plays a role here since it has great control on drivers.
    10. Even with IronWood there is Hall like effect
    11. Initially was missing the Bloom of VO while listening to music with Tabla but don't miss it now. Not sure if I got adjusted to it or headphone burn in has a role to play.

    Never been fan of Heavy Metal but have been listening to “Rust In Peace” since @toddrhodes shared it on What are you listening to thread and it sounds so good on VC. Even had fun listening to Gloryhammer.

    However given an option to listen to Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan or Homecoming by America I would prefer 650 or 800s with DSA-3F
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2019
  8. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Holy crap this thing is gorgeous.

    Pictures don't do the ironwood justice.

    @zach915m which pad is closest to the open's Be2 would you say?
     
  9. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    In strict frequency response the auteur suede or hybrid, but in the idea of an in between pad from the auteur and universe pads one doesn't really exist. I guess the universe suede possibly or universe hybrid that I'll have on the site soon.
     
  10. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Oh no, purely FR nothing so philosophical.

    How would you describe the sound of the 2 Auteur pads you mentioned on the VC? Sorry if you've gone over it before.

    Suede huh ...

    I always hope hybrid meant suede walls and leather ring, even your suede isn't as nice on the skin as leather - let alone the suede on my steering wheel.*

    Also oh lord you have 3 suede Auteur pads, what a brave new world to live in, and I don't envy having to keep track of all the products.

    * I'd like to know which chucklefuck decided suede was OK in a convertible, and have a "discussion" ...
     
  11. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    ^^^ auteur suede - is all suede and will have a more diffuse presentation, less attack.

    Auteur hybrid has leather walls and suede on the skin for more attack and the comfort of suede, it's quite close to leather sound with just a slight smoothing to peaks and transients that suede gives.
     
  12. earnmyturns

    earnmyturns Smartest friend

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    I had been able to listen to my VC monkeypod for just a couple of hours after burn-in (powered by Yggdrasil A2>Phonitor XE). Back from another trip today, I tried a different combo: Yggdrasil > EC Aficionado with new Psvane ACME 2A3 tubes (still lacking burn-in, of course) listening to the recent ECM New Series recording of Bach's solo violin partitas performed by Thomas Zehetmair (96/24 FLAC digital purchase). If a headphone setup had been designed to emphasize the ECM house sound (subtle reverb that suggests a real performance space), this might be it. Great sense of space, maybe a bit exaggerated for some tastes, but no loss of violin tone and detail down to bow-string friction. Highs maybe slightly emphasized over mids, but not excessive. Low-mids are the best, though, a feeling of volume and depth that brings the performance right into focus as if I were sitting on row 10 of a Baroque music room with Zehetmair performing. Reminds me of the sound I heard last November in a strings-and-harpsichord concert at the Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin. The long rectangular room had a similar subtle reverb that filled it with clear, well-placed sound without any need for amplification (I was on row 25, actually).
     
  13. saint.panda

    saint.panda Friend

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    Had the Ironwood Verite C for a few weeks now. Very impressed and happy. Put my Focal Stellia up for sale.

    Main observations:
    - Very fast. Coupled with the Stellaris, it's almost elctrostrat-like. May not be for everyone.
    - Frequency response colored but not tilted in a bright/annoying way like so many high-end closed headphones tend to be (Focal Stellia, Aeon Closed)
     
  14. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    Just to be clear, do you mean 'coupled' or 'compared'?
     
  15. Rowethren

    Rowethren Acquaintance

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  16. nnotis

    nnotis New

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    Can anyone speak to how these compare to the 650s in regards to perceived frequency response? I see one comment about the mids being recessed relative to the 650s. Do others agree? Are there other parts of the spectrum that differ notably?
     
  17. mkozlows

    mkozlows Friend

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    I wouldn't say that the Verite have recessed mids, but they definitely have more bass than the 650, and they don't have the same recessed treble, so I guess comparatively if a headphone has more treble and bass, it definitionally has less mids...
     
  18. DEATHxMACHINE

    DEATHxMACHINE Friend

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    I was not prepared for the speed of the drivers. Great frequency response across lows, mids and treble. But they seem shouty to me and messes with my ability to interpret the sound stage. I have had to listen at lower volumes than i normally do. Great imaging and seperation. I am not experiencing the openness others have described.
     
  19. johnnypaddock

    johnnypaddock Facebook Friend

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    For me, the Auteur pads make the VC sound extremely open... It's amazing that a closed design can sound that way. From time to time I'll swap in the Universe pads and I lose that aspect altogether. With those, the sound feels somewhat claustrophobic and I have a hard time settling in and following the music. I'm sure a lot of this has to do with the rest of my chain and the shape of my melon... Just my experience so far.
     
  20. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    Is this the case out of your BW2 as well? My sense is that even though the VC does not have the same uppermid lift as the HD6xx, they do come across a bit less "smooth" with certain tracks, but then what really does quite like the Sennheisers? Sometimes I think it is just the reverberation (being closed cans), then other times I think it is something else...
     

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