ZMF New Headphones: Vérité and Aeolus

I will probably stick with the amp for now and upgrade a little later. I will upgrade the DAC though. I don't have a $2500 budget because I will ultimately sell the Aeolus. So buying the DAC and the amp later is already stretching it - though I fully intended to do this a bit later. I'm just reversing the pattern: purchasing DAC first and then perhaps still the VC.

I'm glad the VC is flatter and I believe the FR also reflects this. I suppose we'll see if my ears pick up a mid-range recession.

 

You really need a much better amp (and DAC) in the system before bringing a Verite in. You're getting way ahead of yourself. Even if Aeolus isn't your forever headphone, they're amazing headphones and you have not heard anything near what they're capable of.
Get the Bifrost 2 that basically everyone in this thread is telling you to get, then get a much better amp. Bathe for awhile in what your Aeolus ACTUALLY sounds like once you finally get to hear it.
Then, after absorbing that, figure out your next move.
As far as which amp to get, lurk around for awhile reading as many threads as you can around here (whether they have anything to do with ZMF or not), and you'll start to get a feel for what will play well with ZMFs in general (a lot of people around here have them so you'll get impressions even in seemingly non-related threads.)
In general, lurk and learn, and listen when people give you advice. Especially when basically the same advice comes from a bunch of different people.

 

I likely am ahead of myself haha. But I can’t really afford this hobby. The VC is available to me at a very good used price. Hence, this post and hence me wondering I should upgrade.

Because of the advice on this thread I’ve been on the lookout for good used DACs, notably the BiFrost 2. While Schiit products usually sell quite fast I’m hopeful I’ll find something. As far as amps go, I’ll likely purchase a bottlehead crack (a used one popped up) soon.

I know these will not take the Aeolus or the VC to its full potential, but this is the most I can spend right now.

 

Without good amp and DAC, VC is not going to transform your listening experience and will
Sound boring. This is coming from someone who is stuck with THX789 and VC for past few months and as a result I’m listening more to Mojo and FDX01.

I know it’s boring because I have heard it on DSHA-3F And ZDT jr with Metrum Onyx and know what VC is capable of.
Try to snag ZDT jr and any good R2R NOS DAC if you like warm sound signature and enjoy Aeolus out of it.

 

I will likely purchase a bottlehead crack or a Schitt Jotunheim. Currently just researching which would suit my tastes better. I'm a little biased towards the bottlehead as that's almost universally praised for synergy with high impedance dynamic headphones.

Most R2R DACs are unfortunately out of my budget. I'm just watching "For Sale" threads like a hawk here and elsewhere for a BiFrost 2. I found the original Benchmark DAC 1 for sale but it lacks a USB input and unfortunately newer Macs don't have a Toslink output anymore.

 

My experience with the VC is the treble is not as bothersome for me..I wound up getting a Verite open to compliment the Aeolus. I'm more aligned with @Pharmaboy in that the mids don't sound recessed to me but they are definitely more subdued which I think is my preference. I can totally understand why it could be a deal breaker for @crenca and others.

In the end obviously it's up to you. I get it...there is a definite lure to a good priced used headphone, but upgrading "the chain" will reap future benefits to just about whatever headphone you wind up with. There's a lot of solid advice here and I don't think that there's a "right" answer.

Again, good luck!

 

If this costs more than a Fulla, then just no!

 

My friend @Jinxy245 had the Gungnir Multibit (non-multibit) and had the choice of paying to upgrade it to multibit status; or get a used Bifrost. He chose the Bifrost (not sure if it's 2 or what that means). Anyway, I hear zero regrets coming from him.

So IMHO, the Bifrost 2 is a sane choice of affordable DAC...which your VC would no doubt appreciate (you'll hear everything upstream of that revealing but very musical headphone).

 

(sounds like you're exactly where most of us are--on the edge of too much)

 

One, I like the BF2 irrespective of which headphone its used with. I’ve read a good bit of comentary that the BF2 sounds warm but I think it just does a great job producing clean, controlled and energetic bass with a slightly smoothed treble. If that is something you feel is missing than it will probably help.

Two, I’m a big fan of SET amps with ZMF headphones so I think the SW51+ will sound great with either headphone. Having never heard or read much about the SW51+ or LP can’t really express much opinion beyond that.

Three, it’s taken me years to accept that more expensive and technically superior doesn’t necessarily translate into more enjoyable. Nothing wrong with preferring the Aeolus if it suits your tastes better. People get way too focused on minor differences in technicalities when it’s all about engagement and enjoyment.

 

There is real wisdom here...

 

Thanks for your feedback. My Bifrost 2 will be delivered next Monday and what you said is exactly what I'm missing or what I don't like about the Ares II.

My SW51+ will not be shipped before 2-3 months, so I will have to be patient, because I'm not planning to replace the Liquid Platinum for now.

I totally agree with your third point, and I'm not proud of myself because after having spent 25 years in this hobby, I should have known better that it was necessary to buy another pair of headphones since I was 99.9% happy with the Aeolus.

 

So say we all. How else do you know what you like best if you don’t at least try all the rest?

 

Good point. It's hard to know your limits in this hobby without trying the more expensive headphones. Especially in my case, since I'm living in a region where it's difficult to trial the new products on the market.

 

This hobby can be a pain in the a.. sometimes!

I have received my Bifrost 2 yesterday and after having tested the VC with the Auteur leather pads 5-6 hours so far, I can confirm that the slight harshness in the mids and the highs is entirely gone. I wanted to test with the Auteur leather pads first, because I never heard any harshness with the Auteur hybrid pads when I'm using the Ares II. But now, I cannot go back to the Auteur hybrid pads because I find the Auteur leather pads more fun and exciting with the Bifrost 2. I have reconnected the Ares II (OS slow filter) in my chain just to make sure that I'm not hallucinating, and after trying a few songs the slight harshness was still present with the Auteur leather pads.

I don't know what to say because I never had any issues with the Ares II when I'm using the DAC with the Aeolus or my speakers (Heresy IV).

Now I'm almost feel bad for Zach because of my previous comments about the Auteur leather pads. I still like the Auteur Hybrid pads, but now I much prefer the sound with the Auteur leather pads with the Bifrost 2. The highs are smoother, and the bass is also much better controlled and defined with the Bifrost 2.

 

Would you say you still miss the Aeolus or are you entirely happy you bought the VC?

 

Hahaha, the Aeolus are still one of my favorite headphones, but now I'm finally starting to understand the hype (on other forums) about the Verite Closed

 

Yeah, I was flip-flopping between the Ares II and Bifrost 2 for the longest time. The reported accentuated highs of the Ares II and its supposedly less accurate timbre compared to the Bifrost 2 made me reluctant to pull the trigger, in addition to the fact that I would have to ship it back to Vinshine in Singapore if anything went awry. In the end I decided to go with the Bifrost 2 (hey, Schiit is just up the freeway 30-45 minutes from me). Glad I did since the BF2 seems to pair well with my LP, and the two make for a nice combo for my orthos outside of the HE-6.

 

Haha you're not making this easier. I'm going to buy a liquid platinum based on your suggestion along with a BiFrost 2. I think I'll still buy a VC if funds permit. And then make the decision of which one to keep.

 

Good choice. I also have the HE-6SE and they sound much better now with the Bifrost 2. I never thought that a DAC could make a difference like that..