VZR Model One
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(The following text is translated from Chinese to English by GPT-4, so might be a little bit weird)
VZR Model One is not a pair of headphones, it is a Dolby Cinema. Put it on, start your favorite game or movie, and start enjoying the most immersive audio experience.
VZR Model One debuted in North America in 2021, entering the Hi-End gaming headset market with its superior audio technology. (However it only entered the view of Chinese gamers like me after October 2023
. Due to supply issues, I've been waiting for the delivery since September 1st, for almost TWO FxxKing MONTHs till I got them 
) As a gaming headset, the VZR Model One offers audiophile-level gaming and film experiences and powerful sound localization capabilities.Thanks to its team of acoustic engineers, Apple is considered by many to have the best spatial audio technology yet. Victor Tiscareno, Apple's former leading audio engineer, launched a sound processing technology called CrossWave™ and founded VZR. This technology shoots sound into the ear canal through conduits, greatly improving the sense of space in the sound and thus making the VZR Model One a headset with unparalleled sound localization capabilities (imaging accuracy). Some audiophiles believe that CrossWave™ technology and Ultrasone's S-LOGIC® technology are similar in reshaping sound, both aiming to optimize the soundstage and imaging accuracy of headphones, while also producing the same volume perception at lower sound pressure levels to protect hearing.
However, I don't think this headset is suitable for enjoying most types of music. Its exaggerated bass harmonics (Chinese Audiophiles call it 低频泛音. I'm not sure if this translation is accurate) are not designed for Fundamentalist High-Fidelity. The VZR Model One is designed as a gaming headset, with tuning that emphasizes bass to create a sense of immersion in the scene, which is a stark contrast to the "correct sound" of traditional HiFi headphones like the hd600, dt880, or k701, etc.
Limited by the level of development in sound driver technology, many traditional audiophile headphones have weak low-frequency extensions (Chinese Audiophiles call it 低频延展. I'm not sure if this translation is accurate), which cannot compete with the low-frequency performance of larger speakers. The VZR Model One, however, not only emphasizes low frequencies but also adds a lot of bass harmonics (~), yet misses out on many sound details in the mid and high frequencies. For gaming and movies, this headset is undoubtedly excellent. However, when listening to music, many sound details are incorrectly presented. For example, when playing competitive games and communicating with teammates, you can feel this headset's "unique" treatment of human voices. Overall, the VZR Model One unprecedentedly approaches the feeling of watching a movie in a cinema, has excellent sound localization performance, and is very suitable for gaming and film enthusiasts, but I don't think it is suitable for Fundamentalist High-Fidelity.
The VZR Model One uses a rigid shell reinforced with carbon fiber and a metal head beam. The build quality is very good, it looks solid, but this also leads to its heavy weight (430 g, without cable and microphone). However, the elastic headband of the VZR Model One can greatly disperse the pressure on the head, and it doesn't feel heavy. I can wear it for a long time without feeling tired.
Low-resistance, high-sensitivity closed headphones are usually suitable for wearing out, but the portability of VZR Model One is restricted by a very peculiar factor — wind noise. Although VZR Model One does not have Active Noise Cancellation, its distinct angular exterior (unlike the smooth dt700prox) produces severe noise while in the wind. Unfortunately, for those hoping to find a versatile pair of headphones, the high weight and wind noise make it unsuitable for outdoor use.
In terms of power requirements, according to VZR official's response on Reddit, although the VZR Model One has low impedance and high sensitivity, a better amplifier can still significantly improve "transient response, phase performance, etc". Emm... BUT, deer VZR team, do you know that 99% of amps don't support in-line microphones? Or is it that you want us to give up on the inline microphone and buy another 4.4mm balanced cable, just like what we audiophiles do with other HiFi headphones that have dual 3.5mm AUX interfaces? Honestly, I wish they didn't add a microphone to it. The microphone not only makes it heavier but also makes it impossible to apply a normal cable to the headphones without disabling the microphone function.
Look at the cable interfaces of VZR Model One, all of them are 3.5mm. TRRS-(TS+TRRRS)
In conclusion, VZR Model One is a very worthwhile purchase for audio and video entertainment headphones, but there are some compromises in the design. It is recommended to use it with a 3.5mm "Little Tail" (USB-C to AUX audio adapter).
Suitable for: Players pursuing the ultimate movie and gaming acoustic experience, extreme pursuers of sound localization, Bass-heads.
Not suitable for: HiFi, those with weak neck muscles, outdoor use.
Rating: 3.5
Great for gaming and movies, but its use is very limited in scope
dougms3
No offense to anyone that likes this headphone but I feel like everyone who reviews this headphone tries to sidestep and "church" up the negative about it. They constantly try to explain that its a "gaming" headphone as an excuse for the poor execution of the sound. I've been a gamer since the 90s, no a gaming headphone is not different from a regular headphone, whenever a headphone doesn't meet audiophile standards, they slap a mic on it and its labeled as a gaming headphone, marketing...
I will try to put it as delicately as I can. Its really bad.
It sounds artificial and worse than something like an m50x with windows sonic filter. The bass is super bloated and flabby without any texture or detail. The resolution and detail retrieval is extremely poor. Vocals sound veiled and muffled.
I just wanted to put this out there so that people have fair warning before being ripped off of their hard earned money. I'd price this headphone at about $60 going by sound only.
I will try to put it as delicately as I can. Its really bad.
It sounds artificial and worse than something like an m50x with windows sonic filter. The bass is super bloated and flabby without any texture or detail. The resolution and detail retrieval is extremely poor. Vocals sound veiled and muffled.
I just wanted to put this out there so that people have fair warning before being ripped off of their hard earned money. I'd price this headphone at about $60 going by sound only.
I’ve had the Model One since shortly after their release and I enjoy them very much, other than the cable (please note that I prefer a bass-heavy sound signature).
I had Google translate 低频泛音 and it says “low frequency overtone.” I think this may be the equivalent to the English terms of “warm” or “dark.”
I like to think of them as “fun.”