This is why I never looked back once I got the Bokeh suede. They have one more edge (outer) that's solid than the Caldera, but same shape and larger stage than the Auteur with little loss of bass vs. the lambskin stock pads. Have them on both my ACs. When I get the ones for the Caldera Closed...

Definitely the best bang for the buck 6J5. I'd get them if I didn't already have 7.

Quad+1 Fivre 6C5G from Langrex Black base About 200 hours on them Paid about $275 for them. Originally one seemed more noisy so bought another so I'd have 4 more quiet ones but the one I've marked as noisy now isn't. These have a reputation for not being dead silent but are certainly worth it...

4 Sylvania 6BX7GT all seem quiet Came with my Glenn OTL but weren't used by original owner and I only used them briefly as I have 6 other RCA and they all kind of sound the same anyway $40 shipped for all 4. 2 boxes are good and 2 are falling apart

Chatham 6336 pair These came with my Glenn OTL and were barely used by original owner or myself as I prefer Cetron $45 total for both, shipped!

Pair of Tung Sol 5998 I bought these separately for $360 total about 6 months ago. However, using a dB phone app both cups are at the same volume on pink noise and I have never heard a channel imbalance. One plate is a little more charcoal than grey but that's the only difference I can see on...

Got these June 2023 from Parts Connexion, not ebay or Aliexpress where they're cheaper (and possibly lesser performing) https://partsconnexion.com/products/tube-new-shuguang-treasure-300b-z Currently sell for $280+ shipping on sale. I paid $355 shipped for them. Both are $225 shipped! Box...

Wonderful transaction! Straightforward, fast shipping, cable exactly as described. Highly recommend Drue!

Melz 1578/6N8S/6H8C from 1982 Labeled 6H8C but is actually a 1578 as I confirmed with the experts here when I bought it and exactly matches the 1578 shown below with specific features that only 1578s have Has a couple hundred hours on it at most. Best 6SN7 variant I've heard (and sound the same...

$575 shipped with insurance for matched pair or $310 for a single. Won't consider selling as a single until ad has been up a couple weeks. Purchased in January 2024 and have about 100 hours on them. This is by far the best 12A-7 series tube I've heard. Also had one when I had ZMF Pendant SE and...

Personally I enjoy them as a totally different experience from all my other headphones which are warmer. Haven't heard the noire except maybe a very brief listen at a show. I certainly wouldn't recommend a blind buy and not having heard the E3, what I've read about it makes me suspect I'd prefer...

In case you don't know, there's a whole thread on amp pairings with ZMFs so you're likely to find some suggestions there. https://www.head-fi.org/threads/the-un-official-amp-thread-for-zmf-headphones.965309/ You definitely don't need something like the Lina to thoroughly enjoy the Caldera...

If you haven't and have some, try the paracord trick where you put it inside of the pad under the foam part so it lifts the pad a bit and move your ears maybe enough not to touch. It's what I do on my pads.

I have the ultra perf suede and never even considered using it for the Caldera because I understood it was primarily for the dynamics. It's become my preferred pad on the Atrium, Verite, and Aeolus and I'd presume the lambskin version would also sound great with those 3. That's a finished...

Mine has native 6J5 sockets and I've not noticed an issue with the 6S2S in them, but never tried using 2 and adapter on my 6SN7 socket. Check with WesS because I think he was using those in his HA-300b at one point. The 6S5S if you can get them sound even better than the 6S2S/6C2C in both my...