r/ZMFHeadphones

I've had the ZMF Auteur og for a couple months at this point. I decided to go with the auteur mostly because it seemed like the safest option and if I wanted different, I could use it as a reference since it's so neutral. Well after messing with 3 different damping meshes, 3 different pairs of pads and a good amount of listening, I know what I want. Let me preface by saying I listen to a lot of extreme music consisting of blackened death metal and industrial rock. My source is a bryston bcd 1 cd player going through a bottlehead mainline. At first I listened with the stock pads but thought they were a bit fatiguing so I put on the eikon perforated lambskin ones. I enjoyed the sound of those more, as they were a bit warmer and easier to listen to. but the bass was too much and the soundstage became really in my face so it was the same amount of fatigue, really. I tried the suede eikon pads and didn't really like the sound of those, sounded over damped. Basically what I want going forward is a really smooth and warm sound without the awful soundstage of the eikon pads. Looking around the other (cheaper) zmf options, I think aeolus would be a much better fit for my tastes and system. Don't get me wrong, the auteur was absolutely amazing for my classical and orchestral but I really liked the sound of the eikon pads' tuning and the lack of fatigue when I tried to ignore the claustrophobic space. Do you guys think aeolus would be a better fit? I am in need of wisdom. thanks!

Well it's hard to try ZMFs other than Bokeh here. Yes I digged so many threads on ZMFs comparison but I wanna hear more subjective intuitive Bokeh based comparison impressions from owners. Everybody says ZMF housesound but to what extent will the ''lushness'' dark tone on bokeh closed preserved in ZMF lines? Considering AC,VC,CC,Ori3.0

(first post using reddit btw, sorry if something was wrong.)

Some backgrounds...

I have EmpyreanOG right now as my desk setup, I know this one is considered as ''warm'' but for me it's like meh kinda neutral maybe bit lean toward warm. Separation and lushness? is not enough in this can, feels like a bit thin overall. Speed is not enough for listening to J-rock and IDM, for J-pop and chamber pop it's fine tho. My daily playlist is pretty much mixed up. Sometimes listening to hiphops, too.

I happened to listen to bokeh closed at a shop and omg I loved it and ordered a pair for portable listening and I thought I should get some ZMF for my desk setup, too. Also I realized I often start doing tasks midnight so closed is better(but I want somewhat wide soundstage...).

Preferences...

I will only write some impressions on other headphones so that you can understand my preference relative to your preferences.

I tried some LCDs, the same shop had LCD-X, 2,3,5(no closed at all sadge) and 2,3 was fine, liked 2 better than 3. I felt like in 3 high mid becomes so lush compared to 2 but I wish that was low mid. X and 5 was not my favorite.

I have owned and tried almost every Meze, ofc loved empyOG the most, elite was fine, 109pro was good but in the ''warm'' vector and not enough resolution.

Ugh loved Focal stellia and dt1990promk2, but too agile and fatiguing. Loved clear mg pro, too, but idk about that two speakers inside-type sound. Other focals except for Utopia I haven't tried yet, not my favorite.

I recently struggle with the difficulty of figuring out my preference is... I cannot say which is my favorite, DD or planar, cannot say what warm means to me... aaand my playlist is a mess, lol.

Ordering the Bokeh closed and would like to get a tube amp to pair with it. This is going to be my first ZMF headphone and tube amp. I want the best tube sounding experience for the money, willing to buy used/new. I currently have a A90D/Modious with a HE1000SE. What tube amp would you recommend under $1,000?

Hi,

So I need some advice from ZMF owners.

I am looking to replace my ageing T5 gen 3... Yes I know, not universally liked. It's always been OK enough for me but I tried the Caldera Closed recently and umm my T5s just sound like mud to me now XD

So, I demo'd the Caldera Closed. They had great bass rumble, and sounded great, but female vocals sounded a little to set back in the mix for me. My favourite artist is Aurora, such a beautiful voice, and on the caldera it just sounded recessed in the mix to me. There was something overall about the sound in the treble that sounded off to me also, not bad, just muted. Removing the mesh made them come alive, but also made them too aggressive for more than a shirt listen. Perhaps different pads or mesh might have helped but I only had the stock pads to try.

Most of the music I listen to has female vocals, Aurora, EDM, I also enjoy rock from classic like acdc to system of a down and rammstein. I have a very eclectic taste, music from the 60s through to the 90s in addition to more modern electronic stuff.

I am usually listening at my desk through a Neumann Mt48 interface. It can drive pretty much anything and the signal is pretty transparent so doesn't colour the music much.

I have spent HOURS on YouTube and HeadFi etc. trying to decide if something like the Atrium Closed would be a good idea for what I listen to. Half of what I read suggests it would be a great choice and give lush female vocals, the other half says the kids can be a bit recessed which might push female vocals back in the mix, which is the issue I had with the caldera.

Some advice from people who have listened to these would be very much appreciated. Atrium Closed? Bokeh, Verite (I can get a hold of them still I think).

For context I did enjoy the Caldera, I just didn't love how they handled my favorite artist. I have also tried the DCA E3 which I did not enjoy, very harsh to my ears with aggressive treble. The Focal Stellia I enjoyed but they were very uncomfortable with excess clamp and they got super hot.

I'm this close to pulling the trigger on the AC with a magnesium frame and BBB (caldera had a regular strap which felt a little heavy after an hour or two).

But I don't want to spend so much and find the AC aren't a good match for my music.

I live in Scotland so it's quite a commitment. There are some dealers I might be able to try and demo them at first, which I'll try to do, but it's not easy over here to access ZMF as they aren't as commonly stocked.

Thanks for your help :)

UPDATE: Well ZMF just did a LTD edition drop and I quite liked the English Oak AC and may have just accidentally ordered the LTD Edition English Oak Atrium Closed (Mg + BBB optioon) 👀 Thank you all for your advice. I was quite torn but I think on balance, and especially with feedback from AC owners in this thread on the good vocals I should be quite happy with the AC. I will let you all know how I get on with them!

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My auteur pads are very worn; they are crumbling and falling apart as we speak. when will the pads be up for sale again!?