ZMF Compendium

It is basically just a guess based on a bit of interpolation. I find the Sennheiser HD800 to be comfortable, in part because they are light - stated weight is 330g, but I’ve seen elsewhere that the actual weight is closer to 375g, while, like you, I can’t tolerate wearing my 12 year-old LCD-2s at ~550g for extended listening anymore.

It’s good to know that you find ZMF headphones to be more comfortable than Audeze.

 

Hello, My amp rolling notes
Headphone: AMF Aeolus with Monoprice M1570 velour pads:

A+
Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2 - blows everything else out of the water. Blows my mind how full sounding this pairing is! AD825 opamps installed

A
Ray Samuels Emmeline II The Raptor Tube amp second place now, tube fun!

A
Darkvoice 336SE - tube amp with overwhelming envelopment, full bass

B+
Ray Samuels Emmeline XP-7 - Treble oriented more full bodied. Also installed AD825 opamps.

B+
Questyle CMA Twelve Tall Cathedral like stage not as wide as others, just a tad bit narrow for me, pretty good depth

B+
Jotunheim 2 - Pairs better than good. Especially with highs tamed with Gain switch set to low, high gets fatiguing fast but fun while it lasts, first time EVER for me to have low gain usable on good sounding headphones.

Mortals C passing
Schiit Lyr 3 - gain high setting, nice bright highs not airy but fluid
Drop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp (CTH) much better than thx
Singxer SA-1 - needs more bite in the treble in order to come alive, but mids flow smoothly, fuller rounder compared to Cavalli Hybrid
Headamp Gilmore Lite Mk 2 - most neutral of all amps, lively sterility, fuller upper bass and low mids offers some sense of clarity to male vocals
Drop THX AAA 789 high treble energy adds lively energetic presentation
LCX +SDAC reduced detail resolution compared to thx 789, stage is less wide than THX 789
RebelAmp - Sounds just good. Too dull and polite just as it is with the Focal Elegia

D not up to par
Headamp Gilmore Lite Mk 1 (discontinued) good for when I want less focus on bass, clear highs but loses sparkle
Asgard 3 - Non-harsh listening session, overly mellow muffled

F as in fail
Beyerdynamic A20 (discontinued) Wide soundstage but lacks dynamics, soft delivery
SMSL SP200 Narrow soundstage

 

I've been thinking about amps for my Eikon, and keep coming back to Lyr 3. However, it's noted in the Amp Pairings post here as probably a bad match for Eikon, and elsewhere as maybe not the best for a Bifrost 2 either.

What characteristics make the pairing not work? Is it just that those are both sort of relaxed and adding them together takes it too far?

If it helps, I think the Eikon really does work well from the Magni 3+. Maybe slightly rough highs, but really that's only compared to a 6XX - no complaints otherwise for my tastes, even the headstage is fine. It's just that I suspect I can do better (yet keep finding reasons to not buy any of the actually available options), I'm sure lots of you know the feeling.

 

Honestly, when it comes to ZMF amp pairings, I've found that it heavily depends on taste (as with most headphones), but bear with me.

A lot of people, myself included, love to pair ZMFs with tube amps for a very different listening experience, as well as a Solid State for the times you want a more analytical and linear experience. Though I was also a fan of the Magni 3+ for its solid price/size/performance, I definitely think you should look to either something like a Topping A90, THX AAA 789 (I own one currently myself), and/or some beginner tube amps to A/B with against the SS ones if you feel like only keeping one main amp.

I have stuck with the 789 and a Little Dot MKII with Voshkod tubes as my two for now, using the 789 daily at my desk, and the tubes when I am sitting back for a musical/holographic session (love my Voshkods). I really think you just have to go through some tests and see what you like, as unfortunately, nobody can truly tell you what you will like best

 

This is in praise of the verite pads, but you need to have money or they'll treat you like shit

 

I read through most of this. If you love the Atticus, would the Verite Closed be the upgrade path? Everything points to yes, but there are really three flagship ZMFs and I am not in a position to ever audition anything.

 

What do you want from your upgrade? I tend to find each ZMF is it's own thing not counting the open/closed versions of each (though that does add some variety too) and I wouldn't say there is a ZMF flagship that is the Atticus but better.

 

I would say not really because the V is beryllium coated and sounds differently to the Atticus.

As @loadexfa says they’re all different. And really I don’t think there are any flagships…the ones I tried stand on their own.

 

Greetings , long time no see.

I am definitely not getting back into the hobby of trying all of these different kinds of gear and swapping reviewing, selling and all that. I finally got into the place I always knew I would get to one day. Where I find a TOTL hp, good DAC, and clear amp I like, and just chill for a while. Use them to make music, and give feedback to the engineer on things I am hearing after I get my mix. And to create, be engaged, as well as inspired, also, hear new details and nuance in my favorite songs.

After much research, I believe I have landed on buying a Caldera.

I want LCD-4 OG level details, base slam, and openness. I used to prefer dark headphones but now I feel for my purposes, having more neutral treble, good bass, and good sound stage is more suitable for my purposes.

I LOVE tube amps, But I really don’t want to go back down that rabbit hole just yet.

I first started thinking the Atrium was it, then the Verite, then Finally the Caldera. I would prioritize, bass slam and details above all else though right now.

Is the Caldera a good choice?

 

Have you hear the Caldera? I will also recommend Abyss Diana DZ. They sound different and have different strengths but both are good all rounders with above average resolution.

 

No, I have not heard either.

 

I dunno if this belongs here or in one of the individual headphone threads, but anyone know how long a run the limited wood options have been getting lately? (any kinda timeframe guesstimate would be useful) And/or for how long have Canary (Bokeh) & SpectraPly Merlot (Atrium) been an option?

I'm moving soon but I'm really drawn to those particular options (more than many I've seen in the past) so I'm just wondering if I should order ASAP or if I've got time to do so later in the year...

 

From what I recall it varies and your best bet is probably emailing them.

 

Over the past couple of years, ZMF seems to have offered limited runs in November, the spring, and then in the hot cup summer special releases, so there may not be much time left for the current ones - as @loadexfa wrote, it's worth asking!

 

I did so and I got an AI response, which I'm not complaining about as I know Zach and the team are really busy and it does say they're monitoring those but y'know...

Hmm, I didn't know the limited woods were coinciding with the sale events they do at those times, they end up in separate parts of the store... I know during those times he has all the resin/stabilized stuff and a bunch of one offs and some deals but the limited section (1 wood per headphone) seems to run separate from that and has been around longer AFAIL.

Edit: I realized later he did time it all together after a pause on limited releases for a while, found the April post/email where it was all announced so I guess Canary hasn't been around that long (plus it's the Atrium Closed stock wood now).

Anyway thanks, much appreciated!