ZMFheadphones Auteur Pads

If you’d like to check out my full review of the Auteur Classic, click here: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/zmfheadphones-auteur-classic.26140/reviews

I’ve already taken far too long getting this review finished, so let me get right to the meat of the matter. For this evaluation I used an Auteur Classic in the current stock wood, Ambrosia Maple. To keep things simple, I exclusively used a ZMF OFC cable for all listening.

No equalization was utilized during my evaluation. All pads in this review are fully perforated. In general, using solid pads on an open back ZMF headphone will cause you to have a bad time. I don’t like to have a bad time, and you probably don’t as well.

Finally, I always like to remind everyone that we all hear differently and have unique sonic preferences. Not to mention our own gear chain and sources. So please think of this review as a point in the right direction. I also highly suggest auditioning these pads for yourself if possible.

Chain used: TIDAL&FLACs>Singxer SU-1>Schiit Yggdrasil A1>DNA Stratus & Glenn Super OTL>Auteur Classic





Auteur Lambskin (stock pads)

Great dynamics and nimble transient response. Bass quantity is ample, with bass quality being well balanced. Decent sub bass response. Mids are even top-to-bottom, slightly forward and never congested. Upper mids are superbly tuned. Treble response is extended, but never sibilant. Decent amount of air. Clarity and detail are excellent. Staging and imaging feel natural and accurate. Pad comfort is good, with ample pad depth (note these pads are somewhat angled).

My #1 pads

Not really that surprising considering these pads were made for and used to tune the OG Auteur. These pads really fit the Auteur Classic’s modus operandi to a tee. With the Auteur Lambskin pads, the Classic comes across incredibly well balanced, but never boring or flat sounding. Quite possibly the most appropriate stock pads I’ve ever tried on any ZMF. If you feel the need to fine tune the Auteur Classic via pads, it’s best to use these as a reference point.


Auteur Hybrid

Slightly reduced dynamics and transient attack vs the stock pads. Bass response takes a small decrease across the board. Mids feel mostly unchanged from the Auteur Lambskin pads, with the exception of feeling a little more dispersed. Lower treble still has good extension, but is smoothed out a small amount. The brilliance region is noticeably boosted, providing increased air and openness. Staging is marginally expanded over the Auteur Lambskins, while still maintaining good imaging. Comfort is upgraded by the suede on the pad face.

My #5 pads

The Hybrid Auteur pads provide subtle as well as big differences compared to the stock Auteur pads. The forefront of these changes is the less focused and increasingly expansive sound. These pads definitely come across as being more relaxed, so take note of this regarding your chain and/or listening preferences. For example, as good as these pads sound with my DNA Stratus, I enjoyed these pads more with my OTL. The tube roll I was using is a tad more dynamic, with a smaller soundstage vs the Stratus. A perfect example of how pad swapping can really help you dial in your ideal sound.


Auteur Suede

Dynamics are further reduced from the Hybrid pads. Transient response is also a little softer, but similar to the Hybrid pads. Bass quality is less defined, with some slight bloom vs the Hybrids. Bass quantity is also a step down. Mids are shifted back closer to the stock pads, if not even more forward. Upper mids are more prominent, as a result vocals sound outstanding. Treble overall is boosted, but never sibilant or strident. More added clarity and air than the Hybrids. Very open sounding pads, but they are also more diffuse, so imaging isn’t quite as accurate. These pads provide top tier comfort (unless you’re affected by a hot/humid climate).

My #3 pads

Full suede pads are usually hit or miss for me, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from these. Fortunately, these ended up being a favorite pad option of mine. They really push the Auteur Classic even further toward neutral, which some will love and others not so much. What really stands out to me is how blissful and euphonic these sound. Vocals sound amazing and instruments are pronounced, but not overly emphasized. These pads certainly create a more relaxed listen, and especially pair well with genres like acoustic, jazz, singer/songwriters and baroque pop.


Eikon Lambskin

Similar dynamics a transient response to Auteur lambskin pads. Bass quantity has increased slightly, while quality is about the same. Mids are mostly unchanged except for being more cramped and a little warmer. Treble is smoothed out a very small amount. Staging size is reduced from the stock pads, and imaging is not quite as good. Identical comfort to the stock pads.

My #8 pads

It’s no real surprise that these end up being very similar to the stock Auteur Lambskin pads. They share the same dimensions except for a slightly smaller ear cavity. While these do sound good, I find the differences between the pads pretty negligible. Unless you’re really looking for an even more focused and slightly warmer sound vs. the Auteur Lambskins, I would pass on these.


Eikon Suede

Transient response is a little slower compared to the Eikon Lambskin pads. Dynamics also are reduced by a small amount. Bass quantity is not as prevalent, but bass quality remains solid. Mids open up slightly, but are somewhat thin in the upper mids. Treble is similar to the Eikon Lambskin pads, but are more rounded off. Increased clarity over the Eikon Lambskins. Staging is larger than the Eikon lambskin pads, but not on the level as any of the Auteur pads. Imaging is very similar to the Eikon Lambskins. Most comfortable pads next to the Auteur Suede pads.

My #7 pads

These pads sound close to their sister pads, the Auteur Suedes. They are tonally close, have a better overall bass response, and are a little thicker in the mids. However, everything else feels like a small downgrade. Most notably they feel too cramped, which is where the Auteur’s really shine. Still, in certain setups, they could conceivably gel better than the Auteur Suedes. In most cases, I’d recommend checking out the Auteur Suede pads first before moving to these.


Universe Lambskin

Similar transient response compared to the Auteur Lambskin pads. Dynamics are also very close, with a slight nod to the stock pads. Bass response is reduced by a small amount in attack, quantity and subbass. Quality is a tad looser, but with more decay. Mids are pushed back vs. the Auteur Lambskins. Upper mids have a little more energy. Treble is also elevated slightly, providing more air and a smidge more clarity. Staging is shifted to a wider, but less horizontal presentation vs. the Auteur Lambskins. Imaging is on par with the stock pads. Comfort is similar to the Auteur Lambskin pads (note these are flatter pads).

My #2 pads

I feel like I’ve been in this exact same position, except with my Atrium pad review. In many ways, these are close competitors to the Auteur Lambskin pads, with the biggest difference being how the staging is presented. Depending on your listening preferences and/or gear chain, it’s possible you might favor one over the other.
Some individuals seem to have a different HRTF response due to the different pad shapes that the Auteur and Universe pads have. Personally, I really enjoy both pads, but I slightly favor the Auteur Lambskin pads over the Universe pads for the Auteur Classic. This is mostly because the stock pads really embrace what the Classic is all about. However, if you’re looking for a bigger, bolder sound, the Uni Lambskin pads might be for you.


Universe Hybrid

Small reduction in transient response vs. the Universe Lambskin pads. Dynamics are close, but a smidge less. Overall the bass quantity and bass quality are slightly reduced from the Uni Lambskin pads. Mids feel a little more robust, with the upper mids being decreased. Treble is similar to the Uni Lambskin pads, but slightly smoothed out. Staging and imaging are on par with the Uni Lambskin pads, albeit a tad more diffused. Comfort is much improved with the suede pad face.


My #6 Pads

These pads really grew on me the more I listened to them. They are exactly what you’d expect from hybrid pads. Coming from the Universe Lambskin pads, these will take the edge off and deliver an overall smoother listen. Impressively, they still manage to retain most of the technical abilities of the Auteur Classic. I can see someone enjoying these if you had a brighter chain or perhaps just want a more relaxed sound. Also if you’re like me and love to crank up the volume, these are perfect for living that loud life.


Universe Suede

Significant drop in transient response compared to the Auteur Hybrid pads. Dynamics are also noticeably reduced. Bass impact, sub bass and bass quantity are diminished. Mids are thinner vs the Auteur Hybrid pads. Upper mids get a noticeable boost. Upper and lower treble is extended, with added air, sparkle and clarity. Staging opens up slightly over the Auteur Hybrid pads, while imaging is about the same. Comfort is excellent, with only the Auteur/Eikon Suede pads as equals.

My #9 pads

Unlike the Auteur Suede pads, I didn’t find these to be a great match with the Auteur Classic. The sound overall was too anemic and laid-back. Acoustic music and singer/songwriters were about the only music that I enjoyed with these pads. It’s not that these sound bad, but there’s nothing these really do better over the Auteur Suede pads (which I do highly recommend).


Caldera Ultra Perforated Lambskin

Excellent transient response. Bass quality is accurate and controlled, with very little decay and reduced sub bass. Less bass quantity compared to the stock Auteur Lambskin pads. Midrange is thinner and not as focused. Upper mids get a big boost vs. the Auteur Lambskins. Increase in lower and upper treble provides more air, clarity and sparkle compared to the stock pads. Staging is expanded horizontally and vertically, but not as deep as the Auteur Lambskin pads. Comfort is adequate and similar to BE2 pads due to pad depth.


My #4 Pads

Due to their fluted construction, these pads are the biggest outliers I tested, and they certainly sound like it. There was a lot I loved about the Ultra Perfs, and a few things that I didn’t. My biggest issue with these pads is they pushed the upper mids to my comfort level. The mids are also noticeably thinner than most of the other pads I tested. However, when I switched from my Stratus to my OTL, they had a much better synergy and many of those issues improved.

The Caldera Ultra Perfs remind me of the BE2 Lambskin pads, but with much better staging. The standout feature of these pads is the fantastic transient attack, and how lively and articulate instruments and percussion sound. The more I listened to these pads, the more I was impressed by them. I could easily see the Ultra Perfs being used as go to pads for users who really want to push the Auteur’s even further to neutral territory. Just beware, these pads could be hit and miss depending on the individual.




BE2 Lambskin

Snappier transients compared to the stock Auteur Lambskin pads. Similar, if not slightly better dynamics. Bass quality is excellent, with a small drop in bass quantity vs. the Auteur Lambskins. Bass impact is also on par with Auteur Lambskins. Mids are a little thinner and more cramped vs the Auteur/Universe pads. Upper mids see a small boost from the stock Auteur pads, while treble is largely unchanged. Staging is smaller in width and lacking in depth. Imaging also isn’t as good as the Auteur/Universe Lambskin pads. Comfort is also a step backwards from the Auteur/Universe Lambskin pads, but still adequate.


My #1 Alt pads

I wasn’t sure what to expect with these pads. I love the BE2 pads on the VO, but wasn’t a huge fan of them on the AO. These pads further push the Auteur Classic towards neutral. By moving your ears closer to the drivers, these pads really highlight the technical prowess of the Classic. The trade off is you lose some of the expansive staging and 3D aspects that the Auteur/Universe pads provide. While you won’t get booming bass from these, the bass response is punchy, accurate and has very little decay. I found myself coming back to these pads, and enjoyed them with genres like electronic, pop and hip hop. If you’re looking for a more aggressive listen from the Auteur Classic, you might want to try out the BE2 Lambskins.


BE2 Hybrid

Small reduction in transient response from BE2 Lambskin pad. Still dynamic sounding, but a slight step back from the BE2 Lambskins. Bass is less defined, looser and boomy. Significantly more bass quantity and sub bass extension. Mids are thicker, but feel somewhat uneven. The upper mids are noticeably reduced from the BE2 Lambskins. Lower treble is also substantially lowered. Upper treble is smoothed out, but has good extension. Staging is opened up, especially horizontally. Imaging is on par with the BE2 Lambskins. Comfort is improved over the BE2 Lambskins.


My #4 Alt pads

Ah, the BE2 Hybrid pads. I’ve had odd experiences with these before, and once again they continue to befuddle me. Despite their small pad depth, these pads will deliver big bass if you're looking for that. That also begs the question, do you really want booming bass from the Auteur Classic? That aside, I can’t help but feel these pads are a little too unbalanced throughout the FR. After listening to a wide range of songs, some tracks sounded good, while others sounded really off. However, I know that some users quite liked these pads on other ZMF headphones, so I’d label these as very YMMV.


BE2 Suede

Further reduced transient response from BE2 Hybrid pads. Dynamics also come across as slightly lower. Bass quantity is substantially less than the Hybrids. Bass quality is slightly better, with not as much bloom. Sub bass is even lower than the BE2 lambskin pads. Midrange is pushed back, and isn’t as thick as the Hybrid pads. Upper mids sit somewhere between the BE2 Lambskin and Hybrid pads. Treble is smoother than the Hybrids, but noticeably lower compared to the BE2 Lambskins. Staging is slightly opened up, but feels unfocused. Comfort is great, but not quite as good as the deeper Suede Auteur/Universe pads.


My #3 Alt pads

These pads were another surprise. I was hoping that these would be similar to the BE2 lambskin pads, but with the edge taken off. Alas, that wasn't the case. While they are more relaxed sounding than the Lambskin pads, they’re almost TOO relaxed. In fact, everything just sounded kind of “meh” with these pads on. Not great, but not horrible. The staging also comes across a little strange, despite opening up over the Lambskin pads. In the end, I didn’t find overall cohesion with these pads. For that alone, I’d definitely stick with the Suede Auteur/Universe pads.


Verite Pads (Lambskin)

Transients not as fast as the BE2 Lambskins. Bass quantity is also a tad less. Bass impact/weight takes a step down from the BE2 Lambskin pads. Mids are more forward and overall thinner. Upper mids are ever so slightly boosted. Lower and upper treble is increased. Staging is more wrapped around the head, along with adding vertical height. Imaging is not as good as the BE2/Auteur/Uni pads. Very shallow pads, not great comfort.


My #5 Alt pads

Yet another surprise, or rather more of a disappointment. I was expecting the Vertie pads to be similar to the BE2 Lambskin pads, but turned up to 11. They are definitely not that. In fact, in a lot of ways they go in the opposite direction of the BE2 pads. The weighty notes and snappy transients don’t pop nearly as much, and the overall sound is flat and disjointed. Part of this is due to the staging, which is almost bubble-esque, but with very little depth. In this case, the ears are too close to the driver, which throws everything off. I can’t really recommend these unless you already own a pair and want to try them on the hell of it.


Ori Lambskin

Close transient response to Auteur Lambskin pads. Bass quantity and impact are slightly improved. Sub bass is noticeably more substantial vs. the Auteur Lambskin pads. Mids are pushed back, but otherwise very similar to the stock Auteur pads. Treble is also very comparable, but has more energy in the lower treble. Staging is wider, yet overall more closed in with less vertical height. Imaging is on par with the Auteur Lambskin pads. The pad depth and smaller ear cavity size make these a little less comfortable than the Universe and Auteur Lambskin pads.


My #2 Alt pads

I did not see this coming. While I expected these pads would turn the Classic into a bass monster due to the pad depth, I did not think they’d sound good overall. If there’s one negative to these, the staging is very vanilla. Just like Eikon pads, these have much smaller ear cavities vs. the Auteur and Universe pads, giving them a more closed in sound. Still, these work really well with bass heavy music and I found myself jamming out to some bassy electronic and pop tracks. Unless you’re a basshead who really wants to get the most BASS out of your Classic, I wouldn't recommend you go out of your way to pick these up. However, if you just so happen to have a set lying around, I suggest you roll them on and they might put a smile on your face.


Conclusions

While not exactly a sexy pick, the stock Auteur Lambskins pads are my top pad choice for the Auteur Classic. I feel they’re the most balanced pad available and they deliver an experience in line with what the Auteur Classic is all about.

I also really love the Universe Lambskin pads, and could see some owners preferring them to the stock pads. The Auteur Suede pads really shift the Classic to a more dreamy, laid-back listen. I could honestly see myself keeping these pads on for extended periods of time. The BE2 Lambskin pads were a nice surprise, and I was excited how they squeezed the most out of the Classic’s drivers. The new kids on the block, the Caldera Ultra Perf pads, were perhaps the most interesting of the lineup. They took the BE2 sound to the next level and really transformed the Classic.


Final Thoughts

The Auteur Classic is truly a jack of all trades, and its prolific pad swapping abilities is further proof of that. It also reinforces what I said in my review about the Classic being one of the best bang-for-your-buck deals in high end headphones. With so many excellent pad choices for the Auteur Classic, there should be a “perfect” pad (or four) for everyone.