ZMF x Vibro & ZMF Blackwood Discussion Thread.

[manbear]

I'm deciding what my next hp should be. I have focal spirit classic, akg q701, hd570, and amperiors. Driven by zdac, lyr and GO ;50. I would like more resolution and an aggressive approach, looking at vibro, and he-(60. Am I in the right ballpark? Not as aggressive as the amperior but more than the Qs or focals. Thanks for impressions.

Dub to acoustic but mostly beat driven or alternative music and Einsturzende Neubauten .

 


The Vibro has more bass oomph than the Q701 but aside from that, I'd call it less aggressive than the Q701. It has a very relaxed, fluid sound. It does have more resolution than the Q701 for sure but again it's less in your face with the details.

 

[coletrain104]

This is the blackwood? looks a lot nicer than what I see on the site

 

[grizzlybeast]

^ yes that is what I was saying. See even when I had the brown colored vibros on the first page, different lighting made them look different. It was easier to see the wood figure in some pictures and others it wasnt so easy. That is the case with the blackwood. Especially since its dark and gloss finished.

 

[Drsparis]

Any news on any black Friday sales? Very interested in this!

 

[grizzlybeast]

 

 

This is the blackwood? looks a lot nicer than what I see on the site

if I am not mistaken these are the same headphones under different lighting. 

 
I could be wrong about them being the exact same but this illustrates the point of how the pictures will give different perspectives.

 

[GettingBuckets]

Compared with the other Vibros, the Blackwoods look very classy.
 
On another note, I just ordered my pair of Blackwoods. Zach is a freakin awesome guy to deal with. He responds back almost immediately and answered pretty much any question I had. 

 

[kamcok]

Any news on any black Friday sales? Very interested in this!

I asked them if they're gonna have another one of those used pair on sale and Zach replied with this 

"Yeah the used sets sell pretty quick!  Most likely I will have some for sale after the black friday sale in december - or in january.  Of note though I will be running a black friday deal for a week or so coming up, so keep checking the website.  The prices will be in the "used" range for new headphones!"



On a different topic, since I haven't tried these headphones at all, I was wondering, does the pilot pad add much weight in comparison to the leather strap ?

 

[grizzlybeast]

No not much weight at all

 

[grizzlybeast]

Looks like my set is in Portland. Woop Woop!

Update:

listening now and immediately hear more space than I remember, the mids seems really even and a little less lush, more of an even sound. But still not as lean as the he560.

Also they are really dark in person. You have to hold them directly under light for the figure to pop out.

 

[Sound Eq]

Looks like my set is in Portland. Woop Woop!

Update:

listening now and immediately hear more space than I remember, the mids seems really even and a little less lush, more of an even sound. But still not as lean as the he560.

Also they are really dark in person. You have to hold them directly under light for the figure to pop out.

anymore details and how would you compare them to the original vibros do u enjoy them more, how is the bass, mds, and highs.
 
any comparison to audeze
 
did you try the sony z7, I look forward to hear more from you

 

[WhiskeyJacks]

Looks like my set is in Portland. Woop Woop!

Update:

listening now and immediately hear more space than I remember, the mids seems really even and a little less lush, more of an even sound. But still not as lean as the he560.

Also they are really dark in person. You have to hold them directly under light for the figure to pop out.

I am so jelly of you, ...Errr......I want to know what is it 200$ to upgrade the normal Vibro to the Blackwood?

 

[WhiskeyJacks]

  I asked them if they're gonna have another one of those used pair on sale and Zach replied with this 

"Yeah the used sets sell pretty quick!  Most likely I will have some for sale after the black friday sale in december - or in january.  Of note though I will be running a black friday deal for a week or so coming up, so keep checking the website.  The prices will be in the "used" range for new headphones!"



On a different topic, since I haven't tried these headphones at all, I was wondering, does the pilot pad add much weight in comparison to the leather strap ?

From what have read many people find the strap more comfortable, I do for example. But if you like the extra cushion then that makes sense. 

 

[PsiCore]

  I am so jelly of you, ...Errr......I want to know what is it 200$ to upgrade the normal Vibro to the Blackwood?

 
It seems to be 250$: http://www.zmfheadphones.com/order-the-zmf/zmf-upgrade
 
 

  From what have read many people find the strap more comfortable, I do for example. But if you like the extra cushion then that makes sense. 

I also have the strap and find it pretty comfortable. I would call the alpha pads less comfortable than the strap.

 

[DoctaCosmos]

I got to hear the blackwood yesterday and I enjoyed them. Dark, non fatiguing in any way, dynamic as can be, great bass and that haunting detail and micro dynamics that seem to come from black nothingness and just get splashed at you elegantly and musically. The texture is remnant of the wood used and the attack is the most neutral I think I've ever heard. Not bordering soft and not bordering sharp. Just kind of like a 90 angle I guess where a soft headphone would have a curve and a sharp headphone would exceed past its goal and then drop back down. I'm positive you will not find a better headphone for edm. I'm about to repeat myself but it's the only way to explain it. I listened to bullet train by Stephen Swartz and when joni fatora starts singing your attention goes from the critique mindset to noticing the hairs on your arms raise and at the same time you notice the goosebumps, you're grabbing your chest as your body knows it's about to go on a hellacious ride. Is this really about to happen? And as the seconds go by you're reassuring yourself that it is because it's only giving you more and more of those truly audiophile ques that make a great headphone and then it does. So eerily focused and dynamic and detailed. The beat drops and the bad boy comes out of the closet. The bass drops and you take the headphone off....
Yep you take it right off and smile at everyone around and give them the look like "that didn't really just happen right?." sure did. Here take my money....
Thanks for the listen ZMF.

 

[grizzlybeast]

 

Looks like my set is in Portland. Woop Woop!

Update:

listening now and immediately hear more space than I remember, the mids seems really even and a little less lush, more of an even sound. But still not as lean as the he560.

Also they are really dark in person. You have to hold them directly under light for the figure to pop out.

anymore details and how would you compare them to the original vibros do u enjoy them more, how is the bass, mds, and highs.
 
any comparison to audeze
 
did you try the sony z7, I look forward to hear more from you

 
 

 

Looks like my set is in Portland. Woop Woop!

Update:

listening now and immediately hear more space than I remember, the mids seems really even and a little less lush, more of an even sound. But still not as lean as the he560.

Also they are really dark in person. You have to hold them directly under light for the figure to pop out.

I am so jelly of you, ...Errr......I want to know what is it 200$ to upgrade the normal Vibro to the Blackwood?

I have yet to try the z7. Based on impressions from cute and others the original Vibro is better sounding than the z7 but almost similarly tuned. This blackwood will sound nothing like the z7(I hate to comment on what I haven't heard but I am pretty sure of it.)
 
This blackwood is def of a higher quality sound than the Vibro in technicalities. In the upgrade you are getting a harder, more expensive exotic wood, but also a little more speed, better imaging, tighter bass, and a slightly more polite, smooth, and sophisticated sound captured in a more breathable sound space.
 
While I will say its better than the Vibro and worth the 200-250, It definitely doesn't sound like a total replacement to it. The Vibro and it will most likely occupy separate lanes.
Upon a first listen the ZB sounded flawless and very neutral like a good set of studio monitors. The ZB to the ZV from memory:
 

1. A little less punch and impact than the Vibro.
2. less forward mids (I need some time here to get a grip on them to explain them)
3. Cleaner highs but not bright either. Similar to the Vibro in quantity.
4. Less edgy and a more refined sound, smoother than any t50 mod I have heard.
5. Better imaging and separation. The sound space is wider for sure. I didn't listen for depth or height. 
6. The sub bass reminds me of the he560 but has less force and similar quantity.
7. The mid bass is more flat and linear into the midrange.

 
If it sounds like I am quoting the site well its because the description is accurate. A lot of the changes are very welcomed. I do however prefer the balance of the original Vibro just like I prefer the original Vibro FR balance to the he560. Although, preference alone, I still prefer the Blackwood balance to the he560.
 
These are all pre brain and headphone burn in without the Vibro right next to it. 
 
 
- IMO Vibro owners that want to upgrade will instantly hear their money's worth. It's less subtle of a difference than I was expecting. pretty different from eachother imo.
 
BUT I also don't know if current Vibro owners will miss the juicy tuning of the original Vibro. Most will definitely prefer the Blackwood over all though. Hip hop heads will prefer the Vibro most likely. 

Edit: after listening to more songs I think this is brighter than the vibro but the treble is cleaner.