Comments on Profile Post by AdvanTech

I would personally go for ZMF Auteur or Borealis. Auteur + 3F has one of the best synergy I've heard and I would take the Borealis over any Focals tbh

The 3F is targeted at the Focal's specifically. Do you have any experience with the Focal line?

I don’t, no. Both could be had for similar money and they’re both supposedly good matches for the amp.

I can' t speak to the Borealis, but the Clears are a reference for me, even though I listen to ZMF more these days. I don't even EQ them all that much, but I prefer them out of warm amps like my BW2

However, many around here hear a "metalic" timbre (I do a touch, but mostly I hear speed), choppy treble, and just don't like Focal sound.

I have both the Auteur (Blackwood) and Utopia, which I drive with the 3F. I am not sure whether it is because I have "golden pair" of the Utopias or because my pair has been burning in since launch in 2016, but they are my favorite pairing with the 3F. Auteur is also really good. I should note that I am using amorphous transformers.

If it is between Clear or Borealis, I cannot say, since I have only heard Clear on ZDS and never Borealis. I will say that I felt I would have preferred Clear on a more transparent amp; by contrast, ZDS pairs wonderfully with Utopia. It also depends if synergy of 3F with Borealis outweighs with that of Clear, which is likely to be superb.

The DSHA-3F essentially complements what the Focals do best; dynamics and transients. If you don't like the Focal timbre (some degree of metallic; Utopia is Be, Clear something else), the 3F will do jackshit about it. The Auteur might be the safer bet, because biocellulose and ZMF timbre isn't offensive to most (but cup reverb).

I have owned Eikons before, and while I enjoyed them, they were just too heavy to be able to enjoy while moving my head around or sitting/lying back.

I have Verums right now that are much easier to wear for long periods of time, bob my head to music and lie down with.

I wonder which of the Clear or Borealis can be used the same way.

@ChaChaRealSmooth and @tommytakis Can I ask which pads you preferred on the Auteur with the 3F? It is possible I do not own the right pads.

@Artasia I believe it's the Auteur leather pads that comes in stock. (Had @ChaChaRealSmooth 's for an extended loaner)

@AdvanTech Hmm I would suggest getting the Auteur with magnesium chassis for the weight, but you still won't be able to headbang with ZMFs

Auteur lambskin pads.

@AdvanTech neither Focal nor ZMF are headbang cans. Don't jerk around too much and they should be fine.

@ChaChaRealSmooth @tommytakis I may have found something that was holding the Auteur back for me, and it is not pads. I will do so more comparisons to confirm before sharing, but this sounds so much better. I cannot believe I did not think of this earlier, after years of owning this headphone. I also use Auteur lamb pads btw. Thanks.

@AdvanTech My inclination for the OP is to aim to at least try both the Auteur and one Focal with the 3F at some point. Those are known to be great pairings. The Auteur gets the most unanimous praise with the 3F. MisterRogers told me it was one of the best amp/phone pairings he's ever heard, in accord with tommytakis.

As for comfort and stability on head, Clear has more clamp than my Auteur. They also fit on the head more snuggly than Utopia, as others have noted, so it may be not all Focals are equal in this regard. I cannot speak for likes of the Borealis, other than that the headband may need to be replaced.