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ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!
- Thread starter ScornDefeat
- Start date
iamoneagain
Headphoneus Supremus
So as far as using Thick pads and going back to stock, that’s me every time.
The stock has everything going for them. They are energetic, punchy, tight, nice low end warmth, rich mids, and airy highs. Decent sized soundstage with precise imaging.
The thick is tuned slightly warmer because of slight recession in the mids. The thick lose some of the bite and energy of the stock. It’s replaced with a wider and deeper soundstage with more layering. Imagine if have a bright setup, the thick would tame that a bit. I find them a little too laid back for my tastes. It’s nice to hear that big soundstage but takes away the intimacy of the stock.
I find the suede the best for mids but less dynamic and less precise soundstage. There’s a slight fuzziness to the edges of music. It’s very euphoric but if listening to something with a strong beat, it sounds weaker than the stock.
I have never listened to the thin for too long but finally gave it a slightly longer listen. I don’t care for them at all. It sounds like the mid highs are out of tune with a slight piercing sound. The soundstage is somewhat collapsed and mids are too forward.
Don’t think I’m going to spend any more money on pads at this point. I’ll see if I can try the cowhide and the ultra perforated ones at CanJam. Not sure if anything will win me over the stock.
Also reading about the Caldera Closed doesn’t sound like it will fit my preference. Seems it even falls short of the open with thick pads for mids. But I’ll have to listen for myself to be sure.
The stock has everything going for them. They are energetic, punchy, tight, nice low end warmth, rich mids, and airy highs. Decent sized soundstage with precise imaging.
The thick is tuned slightly warmer because of slight recession in the mids. The thick lose some of the bite and energy of the stock. It’s replaced with a wider and deeper soundstage with more layering. Imagine if have a bright setup, the thick would tame that a bit. I find them a little too laid back for my tastes. It’s nice to hear that big soundstage but takes away the intimacy of the stock.
I find the suede the best for mids but less dynamic and less precise soundstage. There’s a slight fuzziness to the edges of music. It’s very euphoric but if listening to something with a strong beat, it sounds weaker than the stock.
I have never listened to the thin for too long but finally gave it a slightly longer listen. I don’t care for them at all. It sounds like the mid highs are out of tune with a slight piercing sound. The soundstage is somewhat collapsed and mids are too forward.
Don’t think I’m going to spend any more money on pads at this point. I’ll see if I can try the cowhide and the ultra perforated ones at CanJam. Not sure if anything will win me over the stock.
Also reading about the Caldera Closed doesn’t sound like it will fit my preference. Seems it even falls short of the open with thick pads for mids. But I’ll have to listen for myself to be sure.
Pharmaboy
Headphoneus Supremus
Oh, sorry. I don't have Roon, Qobuz, any of that.Thank you. I was more curious about your source. Are you streaming? CDT?
On the main system (speakers) I listen mainly to low-volume/low bitrate classical streamed from Denmark. When I listen to headphones, it's sometimes to YouTube music I follow, but mainly to ~300 Gb of files (flac, wav) I ripped from CDs or purchased as downloads. Some of the flacs are hi-rez (24/96 or 24/192).
Even if I could figure out streamers, NUCs, Roon, etc (so far I haven't), I don't have room for the various new components that would involve.
- Joined
- Apr 20, 2016
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So as far as using Thick pads and going back to stock, that’s me every time.
The stock has everything going for them. They are energetic, punchy, tight, nice low end warmth, rich mids, and airy highs. Decent sized soundstage with precise imaging.
The thick is tuned slightly warmer because of slight recession in the mids. The thick lose some of the bite and energy of the stock. It’s replaced with a wider and deeper soundstage with more layering. Imagine if have a bright setup, the thick would tame that a bit. I find them a little too laid back for my tastes. It’s nice to hear that big soundstage but takes away the intimacy of the stock.
I find the suede the best for mids but less dynamic and less precise soundstage. There’s a slight fuzziness to the edges of music. It’s very euphoric but if listening to something with a strong beat, it sounds weaker than the stock.
I have never listened to the thin for too long but finally gave it a slightly longer listen. I don’t care for them at all. It sounds like the mid highs are out of tune with a slight piercing sound. The soundstage is somewhat collapsed and mids are too forward.
Don’t think I’m going to spend any more money on pads at this point. I’ll see if I can try the cowhide and the ultra perforated ones at CanJam. Not sure if anything will win me over the stock.
Also reading about the Caldera Closed doesn’t sound like it will fit my preference. Seems it even falls short of the open with thick pads for mids. But I’ll have to listen for myself to be sure.
Yeah, I think there's no substitute for listening and forming one's own opinion.
One thing Zach and I have discussed a lot, is that there seem to be a lot of comparisons of the CC vs the CO. If one is deciding between an open and a closed back planar, then that's a pretty obvious and useful comparison.
But it is important to remember that the CC, as a closed back headphone, is going to be a bit different than the CO and it's just as valuable to compare it's sonic qualities vs other closed backs, which is really what it is competing against.
Pharmaboy
Headphoneus Supremus
I'm in the early stages of comparing a loaner Caldera Closed to my Caldera Open. I'm still using the CC's stock pads; the CO has my lambskin thicks on, which I can't bring myself to take off, even for review purposes.Seems it even falls short of the open with thick pads for mids.
Too early to conclude much, but even w/o putting the CC's lambskin thick pads on in place of stock, I'm not hearing striking differences between them. The family resemblance is very strong--a good thing IMO.
I've swapped in the thick pads on numerous occasions and I do really enjoy the sound they bring to the CO - but what always ends up with me back on the suedes is comfort (which is surprising because I'm always griping about thinner pads squishing my ears so I would've thought the thick pads were a sure thing). Having fairly heavy (600+ grams) Calderas is probably a factor but the thicks always feel just a bit less secure and stable to me than the stock/suede pads and it ends up bugging me enough to swap back. I really enjoy the suedes (w/mesh) though - they do soften the transients and give the CO a very slightly more diffuse sound but I quite like the warmth they add to it and it's still absolutely no slouch on the speed and snappiness.
I think, the CC is getting compared to the CO for three reasons:Yeah, I think there's no substitute for listening and forming one's own opinion.
One thing Zach and I have discussed a lot, is that there seem to be a lot of comparisons of the CC vs the CO. If one is deciding between an open and a closed back planar, then that's a pretty obvious and useful comparison.
But it is important to remember that the CC, as a closed back headphone, is going to be a bit different than the CO and it's just as valuable to compare it's sonic qualities vs other closed backs, which is really what it is competing against.
1, both are Calderas
2, ZMF closed backs are actually able to compete with open backs
3, CC just destroys pretty much all other closed backs.
I am sure, by time we will see more closed back comparisons. But honestly, which closed backs exactly? Stellia? Stealth? Rögnir? To me there is simply no competition between those and the CC.
iamoneagain
Headphoneus Supremus
This makes complete sense. I generally prefer open back headphones and my current situation allows for them. Plus the Caldera Open is pretty much giving me everything I’d want in a headphone. The closed back version is more of a curiosity is all. I did enjoy the closed back AT L3000 for about 12 years, so I can really enjoy a closed back when done right.Yeah, I think there's no substitute for listening and forming one's own opinion.
One thing Zach and I have discussed a lot, is that there seem to be a lot of comparisons of the CC vs the CO. If one is deciding between an open and a closed back planar, then that's a pretty obvious and useful comparison.
But it is important to remember that the CC, as a closed back headphone, is going to be a bit different than the CO and it's just as valuable to compare it's sonic qualities vs other closed backs, which is really what it is competing against.
Yeah, I think there's no substitute for listening and forming one's own opinion.
One thing Zach and I have discussed a lot, is that there seem to be a lot of comparisons of the CC vs the CO. If one is deciding between an open and a closed back planar, then that's a pretty obvious and useful comparison.
But it is important to remember that the CC, as a closed back headphone, is going to be a bit different than the CO and it's just as valuable to compare it's sonic qualities vs other closed backs, which is really what it is competing against.
I agree
I have a bunch of closed backs on hand - CC, AC, Rognir planar, L5000, L3000, AWKG - and when I get around to doing a more comprehensive writeup, I’ll try to drop some comparison notes. I think, for most folks, the distinction between the CC and AC, which have some very clear characters and relative advantages, may be the most informative.