ZMF Aeolus Measurements

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Aug 24, 2020.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Pretty much what @hand's said.

    HD650 like along with its thickness in the lows, but extension all the way down to 20Hz, more clarity in lower mids, and with some edge enhancement in the highs. From tube amps, even solid-state sounding tube amps like the custom 45 Studio, the highs aren't an issue. Magni 3+ may result in some edge and sharpness, but well within tolerance. I prefer a more incisive sound anyway. Mid to high treble are smooth (I think the FAC measurements up there are more representative of what I'm hearing in the highs). Timbre is similar to but calls less attention to itself than biodyna drivers. However TPE driver has biodyna's agility and liveliness. Bass is actually flat and not emphasized in low/mid bass like Verite. Of the ZMFs, has least amount of cup reverb and resonance play. Scales really well with better gear, but resolution and transient snap still a bit behind the Verite. If Auteur was of compared to a ZMF take on unf-'d modded HD800s, then the Aeolus would be the ZMF interpretation of the HD650.

    Stop asking me more questions lest I change my mine decide not to let them go to Asia! :)

    P.S. I should make a ZMF headphone guide. Oh wait, I think @Vtory @ChaChaRealSmooth already did that here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/zmf-compendium.9044/#post-293624
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2020
  2. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    I'll just go ahead and respond here, because I don't feel it's necessary to add a full review, but the notion that Aeolus is ZMFs attempt at a super-HD650 is completely inline with both my subjective impressions as well as my preferences. Although I sort of lust after VC, i think ultimately it's not quite honest enough to source (despicable and enticing sins of commission), despite my limited time with either VC or VO. Don't get me wrong, the VC signature is intoxicating, but "reference" it is not, imho. I'd love to spend more long-term time with either VO or VC, but can't justify the cost of having both just to determine that Aeolus isn't pretty super-good. I still get the tingles with Aeolus, so maybe that's enough. But, I dunno, I'm still a relative newb on stuff like teasing apart differences between near TOTL and TOTL. All i know is that Focal Utopia Be drivers and I don't get along.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    You pretty much got it. Aeolus is "ZMF" but less "ZMF" noting @ChaChaRealSmooth's "ZMFness" rating of 6 whereas Verite Closed or Open VC/VO are full ZMF, a rating of 10/9. VC/VO are interpretive rather than reproductive.
     
  4. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    But, boy, does that ZMF-ness make things sound so freaking good.
     
  5. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    Hmm, in light of new information, I think I may go back and change some of the ratings. I originally heard the Auteur as being the "least ZMF-sounding" minus the biodyna timbre (and the pervasive 2nd order harmonic distortion), but measurements and subjective thoughts do not support this. I thought I might have heard differently when I auditioned, but perhaps what I was really hearing was the 4 kHz ring (what I really need to do is audition the Aeolus again without suede pads, which I dislike on ZMFs immensely).
     
  6. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Haven't read anything beyond here, just a quick reply.

    As I've discussed with @Lyander, no problem shipping to me first via my US-based forwarding service. After I'm done, I'll send them to him via his method of choice (i.e. whichever logistics company seems to be the least fucked up in the Philippines). FedEx/UPS/DHL from Taipei to Manila will be significantly cheaper than from the CONUS, and my forwarding service is very reasonably priced, as well as being reliable.
     
  7. murphythecat

    murphythecat GRU-powered uniformed trumpkin

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    is it possible to juxtapose auteur and aeolus measurements
    Because as im trying to compare auteur measurements to the aeolus, the auteur seem to measure darker then the aeolus?
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Taking the dips (7kHz for Aeolus and 12kHz for Auteur) with a grain of salt, I'd say the Auteur is just very slightly brighter. If anything, using FPC FR, it's too close to call.

    upload_2020-8-24_23-2-17.png
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Aeolus CSD
    [​IMG]

    Auteur CSD for comparison
    AuteurR.jpg
     
  10. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    The first Auteur I heard was similar to the Aeolus, but with a slightly less pronounced low end and a slightly brighter high end.

    Later iterations I've heard are more linear in the bass, compared to the Aeolus's fairly strong bass boost, while still retaining a bit more brightness than Aeolus. But it's always hard to tell how much of this is due to pads, some unit-to-unit variation, possible changes over time (first pair I heard was production prototype, I think), and so on.
     
  11. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    FR is way too close to call. CSD shows similar tonal response but different excitation. Burst envelope may be interesting, but I hadn't invented the visualization yet when I had Auteur. Ultimately measurements can only tell us so much.

    The thing with ZMF cans is that they all measure somewhat similarly. I think it's best to have one** as a starting point for a reference, and then ask @zach915m or any of the members what direction they want to go: more neutral, more highs, more bass, more cup effect, less cup effect, snappier transients, more resolution, cleaner lows. The last three, what we term "technicalities" tend to increase the price. :)

    ZMF appeals to right brain*. Throw left brain away.

    *And to some people not at all. Also, it's why I've personally gone all-out on @ChaChaRealSmooth's ZMF-ness indicator.
    **Best to collect them all, like Pokemon.
     
    Last edited: Aug 25, 2020
  12. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    Thanks for putting it this way. It helps me realize that what I want is the transients, resolution, and clean lows of the Verite Closed, but with the (less) cup effect and neutral FR direction (we all know ZMF's are not "neutral" per se) of the Eikon - all in a closed can because IMO ZMF-ness just naturally "fits" into a closed can. If I want open technicalities, resonance, etc. I go with Focal, Sennheiser and the like. I wonder if Zach does custom commissions...
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 25, 2020
  13. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    It's interesting to me how similar they really are up to 1k/2k...that may very well be a portion of that ZMF-ness we're talking about.
     
  14. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    Impedance at a particular frequency can be thought of as the resistance to persuading the driver to oscillate away from that frequency. The drivers in most dynamic headphones have their primary resonant frequency in the bass, and hence impedance is highest there. When on the head (or coupler), the driver resonance is damped because of the pressure-chamber effect so it's less difficult to move it away from its resonant frequency.
     
  15. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    @purr1n Did you try them with the Universe Suede perforated pads? I recall reading a post by @Vtory saying that those pads changed the Aeolus towards a more neutral, tight and controlled sound and that they were his preferred option. It would be nice to know your opinion too, plus some measurements with those pads.

    PS: awesome work as always!
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Maybe next time around. I've sent them off already. I need to get a set of Universe Suedes too.
     
  17. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Finally caught up ...
    Glad they're now back at the mothership for a checkup before heading WAAAAAY out west. Looking forward to hearing these. I bought Focal Clear as an "upgrade" to HD650, so it'll be interesting to hear the ZMF take on this.
     
  18. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    My biggest issue with the Auteur was mostly solved by the Aeolus. I thought Auteur did almost everything really nice, but felt over-dampened in the areas that are important to me. The Aeolus brought back some of that life with the trade-off with some of the bite. The Verite takes it up a notch and is like some sort of of confused HD650 / Utopia type thing. I end up preferring the Clear / Utopia and wishing they had a more correct (for my tastes) timbre. Supposedly the Borealis might bridge the gap??
     
  19. Ruined

    Ruined HD700 ruined my ear holes

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    Never heard a ZMF but this might be interesting place to start. How does soundstage compare to hd650?
     
  20. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    If you give the HD650 a F in stage, the Aeolus almost gets a D- but is still short of a "not F."
     

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