Closed: ZMF Verite

Can't deal with these headphones anymore. Selling them for $900 not including PP. Will upload pictures in a few. They are the Pheasant headphones. The outer portion of the headphones that cover the Pheasant wood (not lacquer) has complete come off, the gimbals are chipped from the paint and the right gimbal will not stay on after a bit of coming off. Looking to trade for a Hifiman Arya or something else. It comes in a nice case.

Thanks!

 

Phantaminum, these are Verite open back (not closed) correct? From your desription it sounds like the are well used - or is the hardware worn out/damaged (at least on the right side) such that they will need to go back to ZMF for some work before they are usable?

 

The paint chipping was a known issue on early productions, seems was common, the other stuff sounds like they are falling apart physically curious on the pics because sounds like a great deal.

 

Correct. These are the Verite Open. The headphones can be used but it's just a pain to use them. You can screw the right side back in but to clarify, the right side swivels around a good amount that they just come off. I tried something that was either loctite or similar that was given to me by ZMF to secure the cup. That ate the black paint and never really held in place. I tried this two times before I gave up.

The paint or cover that is uses was also coming off. I was given a bottle to fix small issues and I applied it once but it looks so atrocious I decided to rub it off and then gave up. So the cover on the wood is on me. The right side of the Be2 pads also like to fall off. Not sure why they won't hold in place. Happens as well to the Universe pads but not as much.

They are worn but as an example, the Blackwoods that I own (before the right side gave out) are worn but are still in amazing shape. The Verite just feels....janky.

I just don't want to deal with them anymore.

 

@Phantaminum why don't you send it back to @zach915m for a refresh? Aren't you the original owner? Even if not, I know Zach always takes care of his customers. Awesome deal for buyer, but I would hate to see you lose out 50% of resale money. Just my two cents

 

It would still be around $700 to fix them. At that point I'd rather just sell it.

 

Zach definitely will, I inquired on refreshing my blackwood Aeolus. My only issue is paint chipping on mag frame and I want new mesh lol

 

What happened to them that they are in such ruff shape?

 

Without a chassis a chassis for a refinish we typically charge 400 to 500 depending on the wood and issues with chassis being slightly more. For an original owner we always take that into consideration. Email us and we can work it out, or if you decide to sell no big deal either.

Of note this finish we used on pheasant wood was the only time we ever used it, and while durable, a number of owners had issues because typical wood polish and such was used on it, and it doesn't react well to that. So we're not using that finish anymore anyways.

So yeah, while we would charge something for it, I always take multiple factors into account including ownership.

 

I mentioned this in my previous comments but the paint on the gimbals chipped off. It’s a known issue with the Mg chassis. I received replacements with some loctite or equivalent substance. I tried to put it on but if it gets any little bit on the paint it eats it. So it starts to flake off again. The white semi gloss that covers the cup was coming off. So I received a small vial and brush to reapply it. It doesn’t apply on right (or I didn’t apply it on right) and made it look worse until I got upset and tried to take it off to get to the nice wood underneath. Gave up halfway. The loctite that’s supposed to keep the right side on didn’t sit so I tried again and it came off again. So I would periodically screw it back on and at times it would just fall straight down. So after that I gave up on trying to really fix it.

I have an Auteur pair that I purchased where the wood is in rough shape but the rest of the headphone is rock solid.

 

We fixed the gimbal finish issue by changing finish and radiusing the edges of the gimbals. The last 2 years or so this has been mostly a non issue fortunately. But the magnesium gimbals remain painted, so they are more fragile than anodized aluminum.

 

I'm going to closed this thread and reach out to Zach. Thank you all for looking.

 

Great! I hope you get it sorted! There is a beautiful headphone under those issues.