ZMF x Vibro & ZMF Blackwood Discussion Thread.

[Sound Eq]

   
 
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 punchy and impactful than the Vibro
2. less forward mids (I need some time here to get a grip on them to explain them)
3. clearer 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.
 
I am VERY EARLY in these and have heard headphones before and changed my opinion later. 
 
to be accurate I need more time and the Vibro side by side.
 
- 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. 

so for edm what i conclude is that the original vibro is more suitable

 

[GettingBuckets]

Grizzly, I'm assuming so far that you would consider the blackwoods more neutral than the original Vibros?

 

[grizzlybeast]

   

so for edm what i conclude is that the original vibro is more suitable

No conclusions here yet for me. I think the blackwood has tighter sub bass as well as better panorama that electronic music very much benefits from. But you may be right. Need to hear both together.
 
I know hip hop and edm need bass but IMO hip hop doesn't need as much sound soundstage as a lot of experimental electronic music and EDM. 
 

  Grizzly, I'm assuming so far that you would consider the blackwoods more neutral than the original Vibros?

 yes. 

 

[Drsparis]

No conclusions here yet for me. I think the blackwood has tighter sub bass as well as better panorama that electronic music very much benefits from. But you may be right. Need to hear both together.

by head-fi's standards of neutral, yes. 

I'm very serious here... As opposed to what other neutrality scale lol and how do they differ?

 

[grizzlybeast]

listening to some edm right now and it sounds pretty good.

 

No conclusions here yet for me. I think the blackwood has tighter sub bass as well as better panorama that electronic music very much benefits from. But you may be right. Need to hear both together.

by head-fi's standards of neutral, yes. 

I'm very serious here... As opposed to what other neutrality scale lol and how do they differ?

Don't read too much into that. I will actually let it go and edit my post as well. Feel free to pm me if you would like. I probably should have said by most. There are always different opinions of what neutral is.

 

[grizzlybeast]

Hip hop vs EDM example.

(the soundcloud version sounds better btw)
the above requires more soundstage, speed, and imaging than below:
 

 

[RiddleyWalker]

Hey Grizzly (or anybody else with Blackwood impressions) - I have a question about the difference between OG Vibro and the Blackwood Vibro.  I listen to a lot of vinyl rips from older records, and the sound quality isn't always the greatest (especially for more obscure stuff).  So I guess I could say I'm looking for a "forgiving" headphone.  Would you recommend the OG or the Blackwood in my situation?
 
Thanks!

 

[Ishcabible]

A few teaser pics:

 

 

 

 
The first picture with the ZxV and ZB is with whatever light was in the room (I wish it were natural light but today was crummy outside). The later ones that show off the grain needed the be blasted with a lamp. They're much darker in person.
 
As far as the sound goes, there's a pretty notable difference in presentation. While the ZxV can err towards aggressiveness/brightness (well, as far as ZMF headphones go), the ZB goes back to a rather laidback sound signature. There's a little more refinement, better sub bass, but they're definitely slightly different flavors rather than a full out upgrade. I'd probably equate these to an inverse HD600/HD650 situation in a way, where the ZB is more like the more neutral headphone (though with better bass presentation), the ZxV is unashamedly less neutral but more fun.
 
These are super preliminary impressions out of an OTL, so these aren't being amped correctly. The EHHA is out of commission for a bit.

 

[grizzlybeast]

Hey Grizzly (or anybody else with Blackwood impressions) - I have a question about the difference between OG Vibro and the Blackwood Vibro.  I listen to a lot of vinyl rips from older records, and the sound quality isn't always the greatest (especially for more obscure stuff).  So I guess I could say I'm looking for a "forgiving" headphone.  Would you recommend the OG or the Blackwood in my situation?

Thanks!

Imo there is no obvious choice. While I dont have both at the same time like ishcabible to affirm my impressions of the differenced being less subtle, I would say that both can be considered forgiving and detailed in the same breath.

I would stand by for more impressions. For me, the differences become a lot more obvious after time. This time I remember the vibro being different upon a first listen but my memory can be faulty. But I can get them both together and be back to square one until I listen more.

 

[DoctaCosmos]

It's all good grizzly! I personally didn't comment on the sound too much and rather tried to poetically and in no way being over zealous, depict my experience with the blackwood for the simple fact that not only was it deservingly so, the ZMF website (thanks a lot for this zach) literally describes both headphones in perfect detail as to how they sound. I really wish All companies would do this but a lot of headphones aren't driven properly to achieve their best sound where the zmf 's need little to achieve close to optimal sound.... Like a boss

 

[grizzlybeast]

It's all good grizzly! I personally didn't comment on the sound too much and rather tried to poetically and in no way being over zealous, depict my experience with the blackwood for the simple fact that not only was it deservingly so, the ZMF website (thanks a lot for this zach) literally describes both headphones in perfect detail as to how they sound. I really wish All companies would do this but a lot of headphones aren't driven properly to achieve their best sound where the zmf 's need little to achieve close to optimal sound.... Like a boss

+1

 

[Ishcabible]

Got the EHHA working and goodness I forgot how much of a difference an amp makes. I've been out of the game for a bit and haven't listened to music really critically since like August. The Oppo PM2 was nice, but didn't really move me too much other than that it just sounded nice. But the ZB is different. It's pulled me in and might keep me after just one song.
 
The ZxV is a good headphone; there's no doubting that, but there's always been this slight nasal quality to it that's kind of put me off from it. It's great and exciting and sounds fine, but it hasn't gotten all that much use compared to the PM2 and even HE500, which has a similar nasal quality.
 
But the Blackwood shaves off that nasal quality just enough for me to be able to forgive it, adding in a bass presentation that's pulled me in and not engulfed me, but engaged me in a way few headphones have. The midrange is warm, as expected, and the treble is a far cry from the "meh" treble the PM2 has, yet not too bright like the ZxV was for me at times. I have more to write, but I'll put it all in my review that should come out next week.
 
Though I will say one thing. I've had a rough couple of months, but these are one of the few material objects that have made me happy enough to lie down and forget everything, even for just a few minutes. 

 

[Billyb52]

I'm very interested in buying a pair of Blackwoods, but I'm a little unsure about the cable and ZPEX options. Can anyone give a comparison?  For example, is the extra $ for the OCC Braided worth it? I'd appreciate any comments or views. Thanks.

 

[grizzlybeast]

Havent had a chance to compare the newer cables myself.

Now is a good time to buy though because there is a sale going on 100 off for the blackwood, 70 off of the Vibro, 30 off of the master model.

 

[PsiCore]

Now is a good time to buy though because there is a sale going on 100 off for the blackwood, 70 off of the Vibro, 30 off of the master model.

 


But the upgrade option is still 250 bucks