I just finished my week with a set of Oppo PM-1s as part of their loaner program, and I enjoyed them quite a bit. Has anybody heard both the Omni and a PM-1/2? How do you think they compare?
It's been a while since I heard the PM-2, but from memory they are pretty different. The PM-2 was neutral with a hint of warmth, a more open/airy LCD-2f. The Omni was much less neutral with a very bassy sound, yet giving up no detail or treble to achieve the bass. I remember enjoying the PM-2 as a nice all-arounder that didn't particularly excel or fail at anything. I enjoyed the Omni as an all-arounder that excelled with some genres and didn't particularly fail at anything.
Not much help, I know, but it's the best I can offer from memory.
I just finished my week with a set of Oppo PM-1s as part of their loaner program, and I enjoyed them quite a bit. Has anybody heard both the Omni and a PM-1/2? How do you think they compare?
I also participated in the PM1 program and my main cans are Omnis. The PM1 is nice for a portable headphone, but is not a home listening headphone replacement imo. I found the PM1 to be pretty neutral, with good detail and midbass, and very nice comfort and build quality. The soundstage is smaller than the Omni and the bass generally less satisfying. The Omni has kind of a big sound that makes certain songs/genres feel epic.
If I were going to get a portable headphone to accompany the Omni, it would be the Meze 99 Classics.
New set up for the omni. Rotel cd>nm24 w/ e188cc miniwatts >LC >omni . Running balanced with a basic cable for now. Amazingly musical with better detail than I hoped for. Very engaging, I listened until 3:30 am . I couldn't find a fault in the combo as I was just enjoying some of my favorite CDs .
Interesting comparisons between the Omni and PM-1/2 -- thanks guys. What I enjoyed most about the PM-1 was the forward mids, which were front and center with any kind of music. I never thought they were lacking for bass quantity, but I did occasionally find myself wanting just a bit more impact.
In any case, I've got an Omni being assembled for me as we speak. Just figured I'd kill some time by asking for impressions while I wait!
Just some quick impressions of the Liquid Carbon with the Omni after almost a day of listening.
Everything sounds a lot more "natural" and controlled. The amp has a slight warm tinge to the sound however, which goes well with how unforgivingly detailed (and a little harsh) my Gungnir is. Listening to the Omni is indeed a treat on this, but it is missing the really clean bite and resolve that the Magni was giving me in this setup. However, it's definitely an upgrade overall and I'm quite pleased.
[size=17.03px]Disclaimer:[/size]
No mercy… though the Omni is merciful I really think the Omni can hold up to scrutiny very well. While I have been a long time customer of ZMF, I really don’t see the need to be dishonest and am confident that my opinion will be void of bias.
I may have given my opinion on a prototype but this Omni is a lot different than what I heard and I can’t really consider myself a contributor to its tuning. I ordered another pair after selling my blackwood Omni but Zach allowed me to use a pair for review while my pair was being made hence the pics of two different models through out the review.
[size=17.03px]Gear/ Software Used w/ Omni and a description of each:[/size]
iMac 27 inch late 2015 model 5k retina - “better to hear you with my dear”, “better to see you with my dear” usually I never have to use cd’s etc to use my DAC’s and even the headphone out is better than some audio gear out there. I have used the optical out and usb for different DACs below and choose to use what sounds best to me.
Cables -
20awg-Solid-Silver-RCA-Interconnect-Cable-litz-braided-cotton-connector-2ft
Solid Silver Pailiccs XLR Interconnect Cables
Single ended peptide fusion cable with Audeze connectors
Makes me want to get into cables because I can hear a difference. My TH2 was sounding less transparent than the Cayin IHA6 loaner all because of a cable. At first I thought it was because of the balanced configuration until I got the RCA cables in the same solid silver. Those emotiva RCA cables do the job but better is …better.
Tidal - Great streaming of CD quality music that while not as clear as High Res may eliminate the need for all of my MP3 files
Audirvana Plus - a little glitchy and I have no plug ins for a good EQ but sounds great!!!
Amarra SQ2 - doesn’t work with Audirvana Plus but provides usable eq for Tidal
GEEK Pulse Infinity 1.0 chassis (means not the new chip that is in the 2.0 chassis and this is now gone) - I used this balanced with the Omni and while it did get enough headroom it was missing that natural sound and made the Omni bass slam less desirable than some of the below. Kind of bland for me.
MHDT Stockholm V2 (gone) -
Nice and natural sounding NOS R2R DAC that almost eliminates that digital wall you get with most DACS. Bass is not the tightest but the warm mids, spacious soundstage, and transparently fleshed out sound is everything natural. The stockholm feeding the Cayin Iha-6 is my preference over the Cayin IDAC -6. The Stockholm V2 feeding the TH2 is borderline too musical, if there is a such thing and the bass control suffers slightly but realism and natural timbre and body is about as musical as it gets.
Metrum Acoustics Musette (not here yet or used during this review) - Another NOS R2R DAC to replace the Stockholm V2. when it comes in I will update this review.
Nuprime HPA-9 (450mW into 50 ohms but very much a different design that gives a lot of headroom with the Omni) -
Warm, and controlled sounding amplifier with good space, mellow and relaxed mids, very good body and punchiness, and smooth highs. Surprisingly more than enough power to drive the Omni’s because it has more current than the usual amp. I only need to go slightly past 12 o’clock for it to play the Omni’s really loud, all while never really taking away from the soundstage. I do think that other solid state amps would make a better pairing though for those seeking a faster sound but body, tonality, transparency, and dynamics are all there. This is a very dynamic sounding amp that is not bright or airy or fast with a slight warmth down low.
JDS LABS Element (gone) - Not here during the review period but memory recalls it being a very musical pairing with enough power to make the Omni sing. Punchiness, musicality, and balance were all there even if it lacked some of the technical performance of the other gear mentioned.
Trafomatic HEAD 2 (2W into 50 ohms) -
A little overpriced and maybe not the best pairing with the Omni because I prefer solid state with the Omni to help it pick up in speed, but some may really like this pairing. I probably need some better tubes to help the Omni’s bass sound a little tighter and it pairs better with the LCD2 and HD800 (with which the bass actually does sound controlled) but its still the best amp I have had/heard. Very good space and dimension on all axis’. Neutral tonality with a touch of tube warmth yet not overly lush or dark and not particularly airy. Good body and easily the best dynamics of the amps I have used for the Omni.
Cayin IDAC-6 ( on loan from Cayin for an up coming meet and review) -
Very good and balanced DAC with tuning filters such as sharp for which I used with my gear to help the musical pairing of the Omni and Nuprime, or Trafomatic HEAD 2 have the slightest increase in its perception of crispness. Clean, nuetral with good soundstage and similar to the infinity from memory but more to my liking.
Cayin IHA-6 (7W into 32 ohms balanced in the pic above. On loan from Cayin for an up coming meet and review) -
GREAT power and pairing with the Omni. Maybe not as dynamic and full bodied in the midrange as the TH2 but it is tight in the bass, opens the Omni up and is never sluggish to further slow down the Omni. I find this an exceptional solid state pairing for the Omni and if I wasn’t curious about what my ordered Black Widow sounds like (hopefully I have the dough when the time finally arrives) I would definitely buy it right away and just for the Omni. Good soundstage, transparency, and tonality albeit on the lighter-brighter side of neutral just a tad.
AIRIST Audio HERON 5 (5w into 32 ohms, tour unit) -
For tonality this pairing is quite the treat. It is extremely open sounding for a solid state amp and has tons of power on tap. Once you get past the design issues of the pots volume and occasional static when turning the knob you have a very balanced amp that can be used with the Omni for tirelessly long listening sessions of smooth and open sound. The Heron is a bit lacking in slam, dynamics and a little lacking in separation. It is not thick or lush sounding either but has exceptional balance, good clarity and it’s power gives the Omni what it needs to open up in the mids to not only compliment the Omnis soundstage but really spread it out.
ZMF OMNI:
The Omni is the result of two minds coming together. Zach get’s the wood housing from Luke Pighetti of Vibro labs who uses his expertise to create the ideal housing for the spacious and semi open sound of the ZMF Omni. If Vibro labs didn’t provide the housing to properly support the accoustic qualities of the Omni’s tuning it would no doubt sound a lot different in other cups. I recall having the ZMF Blackwood and sending it in to be revised and with the same driver modifications it still couldn’t come close to the Omnis spaciousness. Inside of the beautiful wooden cups are T50RP drivers that have been heavily tweaked in ways I do not know to create its unique sonic flavor that is a lightyear beyond its original sound. The headband design, sliders, gimbals are salvaged to keep it in the context of a modified Fostex and can be customized in several different ways.
The ZMF brand is one that is built around customization which is extremely unique in the realm of Full sized headphones. If you do not like the tuning you can send it back in one time for free to add more bass, tame the highs, make them brighter etc. Upon ordering you can also choose the wood, slider colors, cable configuration, headband type and even choose to eliminate the cost of its case.
I truly hope that when this brand expands its wings into proprietary drivers and headband components it will maintain its disposition on customizable full sized headphones. No doubt he will find it a struggle to keep up with the labor and demands on his own but for now I really appreciate this aspect. If you don’t like a wood then keep your eyes peeled for what is coming around the corner because Zach is always obsessing over what he can get away with for his headphones.
Build / Comfort:
To be blunt right up front… The Omni will most likely have varying opinions on how comfortable it is. I find the ergonomics to be a little hindered by the bulky (yet purposeful) cups and original housing yet in the same breathe I hold them, grab them, stare at them, and wear them with full satisfaction. The weight is quite substantial and to get a good seal on the bottom of most guys heads the headband is slightly molded by Zach to get the pads to be flush on the bottom of the ears. The first time I took them to a mini meet one of the gentlemen expressed how they sounded phenomenal but the fit was awkward for him. He continued to exclaim “ those *@# ing things sound amazing…wow…I just wish the fit was a little easer….How much do they cost?…well they sound like it!!!” This is coming from a gentleman who prefers treble and doesn’t really care about bass. He also loved the pads as do I. They are extremely soft, plush, and are of exceptional quality. Once I have a good fit on I am jamming with the ideal clamp force and pressure all around my head. The LCD2.2f w/ Vegan pads do provide even better comfort around my ears and are softer to the touch but the Omnis aren’t far behind. Both are heavy headphones and can’t compare to the comfortable design of my HD800S but I really am not the picky kind when it comes to this kind of stuff.
The pads I mentioned can be stretched, pulled, and handled without any real worries. I loved the Alpha pads ZMF used to use but they ripped and showed signs of wear in no time. The Lambskin pads are REAL leather and soft with a very deep and open cavity. The alpha pads were nice and soft but I always wanted my earlobe to fit inside like the ZMF pads do. The pilot pad is of the same quality. If you have seen videos of Luke from Vibro slamming the housing down on a table while the Omni’s stay intact you can’t help but be persuaded to trust its built to stand the test of time. I won’t dare do that with these beautiful cups but I definitely have confidence in their durability which is partially due to Fostex’s excellent utilitarian components.
[size=17.03px]Isolation:[/size]
This think does leak a copious amount of music and isolation is not the best since it is semi - open. Yet and still playing music into it at loud volumes will be a lot less annoying than an open back would to those around you. Sound does get in a bit as well but it does provide a useful amount of blockage to your surrounding environment. If my wife is talking I have to take them off when music is not playing to really understand her.
[size=17.03px]Amping:[/size]
The Omni benefits from gobs of power. It can sound great with under a watt into 50 ohms but it picks up in pace, energy, dynamics, and grace with more power. I believe that the Omni can take tube warmth to some degree without sounding too syrupy as the most important amping specs are to be in impedance, power, and low distortion. Please refer to how I feel the Omni gets along with the few amps I have tested it with above for more gear specific ideas. I will say that the Omni can be hindered by an amp that has a slower sound to it because it appreciates speed. As an addendum to the above, the reason that the Nuprime HPA9 does well in musicality for the Omni is because it has enough current, is very dynamic and full bodied with great tonal density that takes nothing away from its physicality. However the Nuprime is a little slower than Cayin IHA6 and has less raw power so it’s not as successful in opening it up and “lifting the veil” as they say.
Sound Signature/Frequency Response summary:
The short story is that what you get from the Omni is a wonderfully musical sound of rich, dense and pure tones that are never fleeting but ever planted in a robust foundation. There is a rise in the sub bass a slight hump in the mid bass for weighted kick, and an even and smooth midrange that is followed by good presence in the upper mids and neutral/slightly tinted highs.
[size=17.03px]The guts: [/size]The bass of the Omni is pretty unique in that it anchors every song down to earth but doesn’t really hinder its sound quality by being too intrusive into other frequencies. It is always controlled, a lot of times slams pretty hard, but is never lacking. Whilst the Omni does have a good amount of mid bass it’s closer to the lower end of the mid bass in the spectrum. Upper bass is pretty flat but the Sub bass is elevated. I listen to my music a lot of the times around my family and whenever I play my bass heavy songs (which is becoming less often lately) I crank the music up without ever feeling the need for more or less bass. The Omnis definitely allow me to rock out but if they are underpowered the macro dynamics that are responsible for producing those hard thumps won’t be as strong. Below are some comparisons for further impressions and as you will see I believe the Omni’s bass presentation is exceptionally well. I have had a pair of Alpha Dogs, Mad Dogs, heard the Nickerfields, tried the Vibros and Blackwoods and not only do the Omni’s pull off more in quantity but quality is better as well. Bass fanatics can rejoice with the Z.O’s for sure! But I won’t trick you into expecting a super fast , clean, and snappy bass. Instead expect a weighted, controlled, and firm foundation that despite not being super fast can still keep up in speed when needed to so you can hear those double drums properly. Is it basshead levels of low end? I am not quite sure. I would be more apt to say its not bass head in level but I doubt anyone can genuinely say it needs more without including “for me” in the same sentence.
[size=17.03px]The glory: [/size]If the Omni’s didn’t have a good midrange then you can be sure it would have a lot more negative reviews. I am definitely not going to call the midrange perfect but there is a lot of treasure exposed in your recordings by how the Omni does the midrange. There are antonyms that come to mind while describing the Omni in the midrange; thin, dry, and boring would be some of them. The opposite is true of these headphones. While playing Ben Harper’s “Picture of Jesus” I thoroughly enjoy the African harmonies of the back ground singers with these headphones. There is such a richness and serene wholesomeness that really pulls out the essence of the song without contention. Positionally I find that sometimes the vocals can be a little more distant than average which materializes the impression of a venue a little more than other headphones in its price range do. The upper midrange is fairly present and a tinge of aggression can come forth but never with any real concern of fatigue. The meat of the recording is “matter of fact” with the ZMF Omni, and while I do hear that one of the headphones below in my comparisons section best it in tonal balance, the Omni is weighted, rich, and has a sweetness to its timbre that is the golden nugget of it’s characteristics; unique to it alone. The separation of these rich and full-midrange notes is a real treat as well. I do get some reverberations from the cups and bit of extra decay compared to my HD800S which is quite dry in comparison (and a little out of context in this review) but even that contributes to the Omni’s articulation of naturalness. Sometimes that adds to the inviting sound of these cans because they not only sound really open and spacious but also intimate and inviting in its own paradox of sonic performance. Open but intimate; precise transients but with a more natural decay; colorfully balanced; smooth but confidently assertive and bold. I will confess though that at times I prefer the non-ortho assortment of headphones for micro and macro dynamics. The Omni sometimes doesn’t sound as nimble or nuanced in the flickerings, clicks, and snaps as is often the case with traditional dynamic drivers. Luckily for these headphones they have a really good weight, texture and body to slot them among the best in musicality.
[size=17.03px]The the grace: [/size]The lower treble is a little tough to push into a territory of splashiness and most usually the transients respond consistently clean, fast, and intelligible even on busy passages. The tuning sometimes sounds as if it brushes up on the territory of sibilance encroachment. This may be because I get a little sensitive in that area at times, yet I definitely conclude the Omni’s to be revealing and balanced in the lower treble all while not being really offensive if offensive at all. In fact, it would be better to attribute any problems to the recording itself. I won’t call the textures of the treble soft either, nor really hard and the glare has been tempered into naturalness though there still remains an inkling of flare. The Omni’s, would for some, belong to the darker side of neutral while for me I actually believe them to be closer balanced to a pair of monitors. Subjectively speaking and from personal experiences in studios etc (listening to playbacks of mixes) I often find a lot of audiophile gear to be unnaturally boosted in the treble and sensibly so since most audiophiles crave to be stunned by the most minute details that usually occur higher up in the frequency range. My HD800S has the treble peak tamed to a pleasurable balance but sometimes I still ( again my personal perspective) find it to sound a little thin since the treble for me still keeps it in the bright category of headphones. The Omni is tuned to have a solid amount of precision up with it’s slight peak in the mid treble but would still cater more to the natural and warm crowd who would prefer to hear high definition without excessively boosted treble. The treble extension is decent especially considering most t50 mods struggle in treble extension. Sometimes while listening I hear the treble as cleaner than the midrange even but this could just be a feeling more than an observation during listening.
[size=17.03px]Headstage: [/size]Soundstage in spades…Call a spade a spade yo… The Omni has you covered here and can cast an image in front of you and around you like few others in it’s price range. Of course it’s no HD800 and the Dharma sounds more spacious as well but for a semi open back headphone it seems as if I can hear unusually deep into the layers of the recording with separation that is effortlessly discernible. It is more wide than deep and there is only a slightly cavernous effect from the reverberations of the cups. Coming from the ZMF Blackwood, those reverberations in these Omni cups are a lot less pronounced and makes it even easier to hear the instruments in their own space. Despite the Omni being so robust in nature it is able to be very holographic. Me likes!
Comparisons:(Build will be left out since I find the Omni's more premium built than all of the below, yet comfort is only bested by the LCD2.2F's for me. Those who don't like weight will prefer some of the below over the Omni)
[size=17.03px]VS LCD2.2F (modded):[/size]
The LCD2.2F places the vocalist closer and it sounds more open(less restricted from the housing which is not to be confused with soundstage size). The omni has more of a smooth and silky texture. The LCD2 is slightly less thick. The bass is less solid on the LCD2.2F w/ vegan pads. Resolution is very similar with the LCD2 maybe having slightly more in the mids but a less textured treble. The Omni has way better separation of instruments and imaging. Vocals on the Omni have more space around them as well even if the midrange is a little more even with the LCD cans. Listening to “John Henry “ by Harry Belafonte you can hear how his voice is more believable as the textures and rasp of his voice is better revealed on the LCD2.2F. However, like mentioned above there is this smooth, dense, and inviting tone on the Omni that the LCD2’s don’t have. Some of the old remastered songs tend to have audible air in them and the Omni kind of makes it more dismissible because the added depth makes it seem more atmospheric whereas the LCD puts the air/hiss closer to the singer because dimensionally the LCD produces a flatter image. On the Omni male vocals have more weight but never sound flabby. With Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black” - both reveal the poor mixing of her vocals on that track. Its a remastered album of 24/96 kHz Stereo and with that song there definitely is something off with her mic or and how she was recorded or maybe they made the recording to have an old school sound to it. It is nasally even on the Omni but less so than on the 2F. I kind of like to hide this with the Omni when I listen to that song. But also there is less blending of the higher pitched instruments which can sound more of a mess on the LCD2. The Omni helps the recording out a bit and not just because her voice is less annoying but because the separation is better and the instruments keep their boundaries and tonal weight. I give midrange purity to the LCD2.2 but bass cleanliness, texture, and soundstage to the Omni. The Omni has better slam and rumble for EDM when it is called for and also less decay.
[size=17.03px]VS THX00: [/size]
(loaned of member Soundsgoodtome)
The Omni is more revealing of upstream gear than the THX00 which shows less changes to different gear but sounds great out of anything. Without a good DAC in place the TXH00 comes a lot closer to the performance of the Omni that is not as snappy but a little more detailed. Give the Omni a clean background and it will be more revealing while the THX00 shows only little improvement. This does mean that the THX00 sounds good out of more gear than the Omni though and actually sounds worse with too much power. The Massdrop champion is brighter and has more roughness and splashiness in the highs that the Omni doesn’t exhibit which can make it a little more annoying than the Omni when handling sibilants. They seem to trade off qualities and merits and give grounds to each other in a lot of areas. The Fostex seizes the song with a fast and forward (positionally) sounding midrange, that while a little v shaped can still sound nicely clear, clean, and fast. The Omni on the other hand is a lot more seductive. It is similar in balance and portrays a more even-handed and maturely developed timbre that is slower but more resolute and full-bodied. The Fostex THX00 has a wide soundstage but is not as close to as wide or deep as the Omni. Even though the TH can do better at engaging the listener with speed and dynamics it has an even flatter image than the LCD2.2F and also is less detailed. The imaging separation differences between them is almost night and day with the Omni being the morning sun. The Omni can still get a little frustrated on busy passages but its better transient response and imaging keep it in check. In comparison the THX00 can quickly get a little messy. Drums snap and kick with more intension on the THX00 and is a very coveted quality of mine when I listen to headphones. The Macro dynamics and bass presence on the Fostex help it slam harder. The THX00 also has a more pervasive rumble and while not as focused as the Omni is a bit quicker and rumbles harder. There have been a couple of songs where I felt the Omni gave me a just about the same amount of thump and rumble but it was still consistently the THX00 that proved to hit harder. Extension down low is a toss up. THX00 is more dynamic overall lively but I usually find dynamics to out do orthos for that anyway. The Omni is easily the more controlled, articulate, high fidelity, and textured sounding headphone of the two though.
[size=17.03px]VS Beyer DT1770:[/size]
gelocks loaner pair of dt1770's COMFORT: TOSS UP (because I have the heavy wood, the other woods beat the dt1770 with a solid win for the OMNI) LEAKAGE: DT770 (easy win) BASS PRESENCE: TIE BASS EXTENSION: ZMF OMNI (only by 1 1/2 db @ 20-30 hz ) BASS TIGHTNESS / SOLIDITY: ZMF OMNI ( easier to make rumble but distorts quicker ) MID RANGE: ZMF OMNI (easy win but would be tough for any closed/semi closed back I have heard to date beat) LEAST LOWER TREBLE GLARE PROBLEMS: DT1770 ( For some reason, probably the treble peak being boosted as well as the presence region, the Omni is being outshone here. I have my hand on the volume knob a bit more often then I do with the dt1770, this made my joy of the Omni take a little hit. When bells and things swell in volume through a recording the Omni is more resolving of dynamic range yet also more relentless and penetrating) MID TREBLE: ZMF OMNI (solid win for clarity) UPPER TREBLE: LOL SORRY CAN'T TELL lollll PROBLEMS WITH SPLASHINESS AND KEEPING COMPOSURE WITH BUSY SONGS: DT1770 (solid win) SOUNDSTAGE: ZMF OMNI (easy win, mostly wider than the DT770) OPENNESS: ZMF OMNI (easy win) IMAGING: ZMF OMNI (not so easy) INSTRUMENT SEPARATION: slight edge to OMNI DETAIL /TEXTURE: ZMF OMNI (solid win)
VS DX1000:
(please note that the JVC has more bass in one cup than the other. Below has some speculation based on what I am able to hear with the JVC in this condition)
Both sound similar in speed with the Omni having better texture and precision. The DX1000 is just as organic sounding if not just a tad more so. The JVC also is the only other headphone in this comparison section that has a comparable soundstage. Sometimes when I switch from the JVC to the Omni I hear how the Omni has a tighter and slightly more compact presentation. However, the Omni has better instrument separation. The JVC on the other hand is more dynamic and punch. It's probably more comparable to the THX00 in dynamics yet without the odd balance in the treble and the glare that the THX00 has. While this comparison exhibits yet again the differences in dynamics between orthos and planars I prefer the Omni’s higher resolution. The JVC has even more reverberations than the other two in its soundstage but is larger than all of the others in size, inching out the Omni just a bit. Transparency goes to the Omni as well as bass control. While the JVC is the more fun sounding headphone, The Omni is the more High fidelity listen. I would definitely rank the JVC closer to the Omni’s than the THX00 though and consider the DX1k's easily one of my favorite headphones I have had here. I will probably revise this section with better impressions once the bass is equal in both drivers.
Value:
I am not going to call the Omni’s a bargain or affordable high end sound. They are a little bit expensive but in my opinion fit exactly where they should in price. I have bought and tried so many headphones that I am a little ashamed of my finicky personality but as a consequence I have had the opportunity to really get a grip on price to performance ratios and where the Omnis sit. I would say that at the current price of the HE560, a used HE-6 and a used HE-4, that those have to be the best performing cans for the price. However, the Omni’s are not only tuned more to my liking but are very sensibly priced and especially for not being fully open backs. I have yet to hear a closed back or semi open headphone in its price range perform better and closer to my tastes. I am certain that the price of the Omni has a lot to do with the exotic wooden cups. If we weren’t paying for wooden cups and could get the same sound (not possible) then the Omnis would be a real bargain. Truly the Omni is priced just right and you get what you pay for.
Conclusion:
I love to have beautiful exotic wooden cups in my stable. I feel like I have one of the most premium made headphones out there. Luke of Vibro labs @taiden seems to have designed the perfect enclosure for the T50 driver to sounds its best. Beware though, you most likely will see another kind of wood pop up that makes you wish you had that wood instead. No worries, the Omni’s have become a popular and coveted headphone with good resale value incase you want to switch. Also, I can send these bad boys in to be tuned to my liking. Some qualities of the t50rp drivers cannot be overcome but some who have become familiar with T50rp headphone modifications have been totally surprised by how good ZMF can make them sound after hearing the Omni’s. What is there to conclude but to only hope that the Omni’s are not the conclusion of ZMF and Vibro labs collaborations. I hope they make even more headphones with their own drivers and gorgeous wood enclosures.
I also do not want to list this review in the review page and give it a star ranking since it is clear there that the Omni is an exceptional headphone.
@grizzlybeast
Really nice review! It was fun reading it (and very informative)
I have my pair coming up soon (my cousin's bringing them to the old continent).
I'm also preparing a DIY balanced cable (RSA 4pin) and a TRS-TRS 3.5mm bridge to use exclusively with the Omni (it got my DIY building side 100% up and running again
I received my Cocobolo Omni's yesterday. I took them out of the box, plugged them in and have had a difficult time removing them from my head since. I don't know that I have enough deep head-fi experience or eloquence to write a in depth review of them, but I will give a few thoughts. First; WOW! I love these phones. I'm running a gumby into a Vali 2 right now, and they sound magnificent. I was previously using my Grado RS1e's, and while I really liked the sound of those, these are just plain better. The first thing that jumped out to me was the soundstage being larger by a good bit. It feels like my music has more space and room to breathe than with the Grado's. I've tried the HD800s XLR and from memory, that was the biggest soundstage I've ever heard, and the Omni's aren't quite there, but I was still pleasantly surprised with the sound stage gains, especially going from an open backed phone to a semi-open.
Second, COMFORT. While these are hefty headphones, they just float on my head with no hotspots at all. I'm using the pilot pad (I ordered the buffalo strap as well based on some recommendations in this thread and the Vibro one, but I've yet to feel the need to attach it). I'm currently running the lambskin pads (I haven't pad rolled yet), and they are supremely comfortable. I do get a little bit of heat and humidity after a while, but that's the ONLY comfort complaint I have, and it's a very minor "princess-and-the-pea" type annoyance. I wouldn't even mention it, but if you are the type of person who demands open, vented, breathing phones, you may want to audition these and see if they are for you.
Third, sound quality. First, I was expecting to get smashed with sub woofer like bass, and that hasn't happened. What I have noticed is a very pleasantly balanced set of cans that don't ignore the bass, but don't over emphasize it either. They have much more than my Grado's, but I wouldn't call it sub woofer like. That being said, I haven't tried to pad roll for more bass yet, so I know there is still more in reserve. The bass level kind of reminds me of a nice pair of large 2 way speakers with no sub. The detail is another step up. When I went from my V-Moda M100's to my Grado's, there was a big jump in detail retrieval that to me was jaw dropping. Well, after going from RS1e's to Omni's it's not as large of a jump, but it's still respectable. I usually listen to Alabama Shakes Sound and Color as a control when I upgrade something (female vocals, acoustic and distorted guitars, organs, bells, just a good cross section of instruments). This upgrade was no different, and I was noticing new passages on the drums I hadn't heard before, which blows my mind every time it happens. Every time I think I've heard every little detail of that record, I drop lots of dollars and hear a bit more (I think its the head-fi creedo). Like I said, I haven't A/Bed these to anything other that my Grado's, so I'm not going to try to sound like an expert, but I noticed a sizable difference in bass quality, quantity, and detail retrieval right out of the gate. I'm sure once I eventually upgrade my amp I will get to relive this "oh wow" moment again, and I look forward to it, but for now I'm just enjoying my current music high.
Fourth, build quality. This is one most people would probably put first on their list because it's most obvious, but I just didn't get around to it until fourth. The wood is very striking. I asked for a curvy grain and what I got fit the bill. People throw around terms like "heirloom quality" and I can see why, they just feel solid, hand made, not off an assembly line. The sliders, the pilot pad, the case, the ear pads, and especially the cups, everything feels like quality. Hell I even appreciate how the gimbals articulate to get the cups at just the right angle for my head to provide a perfect fit. It's like staying at a really fancy hotel, and you walk around and notice the counter-tops, the fixtures, the soaps, the robes, the sheets, the bedside tables, the lamps, the hangars in the closet, every detail has been carefully thought out and has been purposefully upgraded. The one option that could use an upgrade is the cable, but Zach offers two different upgraded cables that I just chose not to buy, so that option is there. I'm really leaning towards a new balanced tube amp in the future (really looking at Woo WA22, but wallet likes MJ2 better) and I wanted to wait to spend money on cables until I'm sure what kind of cable I need. There is nothing wrong with the stock cable, but cans this luxe cry out for a nice braided cable.
So those are my initial impressions. I will learn more as I continue to burn these guys in, and maybe even get around to taking some pictures. Right now all I can say is if you are on the fence about getting Omni's, do it. You won't have regrets.
Oh, and the customer service from @zach915m is top notch. This isn't the first time I've ordered something to my spec custom built (gun parts, hot rod parts, stuff for house, custom guitar, etc) and most small shops that are making stuff for you appreciate your business, in my experience. However Zach really does go above and beyond. For instance when he ran out of the inlayed coins and only had the etched, he got a hold of me immediately and showed me how the etched looked (in my cans), apologized profusely, and included another set of pads as way to make amends. The etched look fantastic, and I couldn't be happier, but I could see a lot of other businesses just making me wait until more stock came in. Zach worked with me and threw in a free bonus he didn't have to. Excellent customer service, you will not regret giving his company your business. Thanks Zach!
Excellent reviews @grizzlybeast and @Mumbles06! A few more days and Zach should be shipping my Omnis. The wait seems like forever now that I've read these great reviews.
Excellent reviews @grizzlybeast
and @Mumbles06
! A few more days and Zach should be shipping my Omnis. The wait seems like forever now that I've read these great reviews.
You have the blackwoods so you def have a healthy taste of what the Omni is all about. To my confusion I have heard of someone preffering the blackwoods. For me even the Omni prototype was technically better, but not by a whole tier. However the final tuning is much better than the prototype I heard and I haven't compared them directly. Since you will have both I look forward to reading your comparison
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