Verum 2 Review and Measurements

Yeah, yeah, yeah, there is some baggage with this, discussed in another thread. I've said it before: we need to acknowledge the dumbassery (including against SBAF members) yet at the same time admit that this dude makes good stuff. TBH, I don't want to hear apologists making excuses for bad behavior; but at the same time, people deserve second chances. He's still on thin ice and I won't hold anything against people for not wanting to support Verum.

Igor asked if I wanted to check out the the Verum 2 a while back and I answered, sure why not. The design is kind of blingy, at least this particular unit. It's a departure from the DeLaurentis version of Dune styled Verum 1. The Verum 2 with its ornamentation reminds me a bit of the St. Michael's Golden Domed Monastery in Kyiv.



I took a quick listen of the Verum 2 from my bedroom setup (ET3->MILF DAC->MJ3) and I thought: damn this is good! Included with the headphone was two sets of pads. One set was very slightly thinner and pleather all around with a vent. The other one was slightly thicker but thinner things, a velvet felt face, and pleather on the sides, and no vent. I think the first one with the vent was flatter but with a maybe a slight rise in the highs. I decided to do with the second set of pads without the vent, which sounded mid-centric to me. There's definitely a small bump in the mids, but otherwise I found the tonal signature quite flat and eerily similar to the ETA Mini C. Generally I would say that setups that synergized with the Mini C seemed to work well with the Verum 2. I preferred darker sounding DAC/amps.

In other respects, the Verum 2 sounds like a more mature version of the Verum 1. Things are tighter (as opposed to loose) with snappier transients and focused delivery. The possible downside is that the presentation is a bit drier. The Verum 2 also scales much better with better gear. (It was a let down coming from the MILF/MJ3 to the MMB1/Piety). Another thing I should mention is that while there was decent bass extension, the Verum 2 differs from well-known orthos such as Audezes in that it doesn't quite have that monster bass heft. Heck, the Verum 2 doesn't slam like the HFM HEKs either, but on the other hand, the lows are very controlled and do not exhibit the bouncy-bounce bass of the HEKs. I just wanted to expectations properly. The bottom line from a night of listening is that I found myself lost into the music, and that I could care less about describing it's sound or paying attention to technical aspects.



I will return with frequency response measurements tomorrow.

 

Usual deal...

Verum 2 - Hybrid Pads (no vent)
Frequency Response
Comp'd to DF


Verum 2 - Hybrid Pads (no vent)
Frequency Response
Comp'd DF to 1db/Octave Downward Slope


These were with the hybrid pads with no vent. As I mentioned earlier flattish with mid-emphasis. The bit of reticent slam (compared to other orthos known for this) is not indicated in the frequency response here. We can see that the lows track Audeze headphones well, but these just don't slam or have that massive bass heft.

(UPDATE, vented pads = more slam - https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...iew-and-measurements.14130/page-2#post-423969)

Interestingly, there's a bit of peak at 7kHz. I didn't detect a treble sharpness or sizzle. At times I would say the Verum 2 could be overall bright, but never nails in my ears. So this is what I mean by that I prefer a darker sounding setup with the Verum 2, e.g. MMB1 as darkish source with neutral amp or MJ3 darkish amp with MILF DAC.

I would be curious to examine the CSD so see what's up in the highs. That peak is there on the frequency response, but I just hear don't it as needles.

 

No idea.

Maybe Verum is designing a portal to send Putin into hell?

 

No idea. I'd have to defer to @Garuspik.

Yeah, the Verum 2 is definitely a change in presentation. Again, I didn't have any problems getting involved into the music, it certainly scales more than the Verum 1 with better upstream components. However, although the Verum 1 was hardly a tour-de-force with regards to technicalities (e.g., wasn't super resolving, a bit loose sounding,), I just loved the Verum for as you said, it's mellowness, easygoing nature, and especially timbre. The Verum 1 with all its entry level warts was just charming. (A member's family loved by Verum 1 so much that I let them keep it - and I do miss the Verum 1).

With respect to the Verum 2's bass, I found that it can be more explosive with less seal. Will measure the pads with the vent next as well as impedance.

 

Verum 2 CSD Lch


Verum 2 CSD Rch


There are the typical ortho ripples. Bump between 1-2kHz (which is audible). Small ridge at 7kHz (which didn't some off as sharp or objectional to me). Also 12kHz - which I'm probably at the age where I can't hear much.

 

Sneak peak at distortion near 100db SPL. Wow. A bit of second order, but look at the lows. No distortion. Probably why I mentioned it's a bit drier, less slammy, but more taut and articulate than other orthos.

I will do distortion surface later.