[GCTD]

A while back when I was ogling at the wood finish options for Fischer Audio's FA-003 Ti headphones, this detail little detail on one of the wood options got me intrigued. 

 
Quote:

...A separate feature of mahogany is that it is positively influenced by its age. There is a popular belief that its sound becomes more and more colorful every year.
 

 
 


 
Quote:

The particular quality of Mogano that the age of wood is exerts positive influence for sounding. So it sounds better and better, year by year.
 

 

 
 
 
My question is, does the same apply for your wood cups, zach915m? Or, does the thickness of your earcups negate the sound characteristics of aging wood?

 

[zach915m]

Looking back at the November sale for the Zebrawood Omnis and I noticed the grain looked identical to mine. Then it finally dawned on me that those are probably mine because I asked to not see pictures before it got delivered! 

oh yeah - those are yours! Although I made myself a pair after I ssent yours out because I had to have one.

 

[zach915m]

A while back when I was ogling at the wood finish options for Fischer Audio's FA-003 Ti headphones, this detail little detail on one of the wood options got me intrigued. 


 






My question is, does the same apply for your wood cups, zach915m? Or, does the thickness of your earcups negate the sound characteristics of aging wood?

I think palisander is used interchangeably as a term for rosewood, different rosewoods do have quite different structures. What they are describing there sounds like Honduran rosewood.

As far as the mahogany, this would be true in a musical instrument that vibrates more freely, but I have a hard time believing a headphone that should use wood that is more than 3mm thick like an instrument will benefit greatly just from age. What could happen is that the wood may dry out more with age allowing it to vibrate more freely, but I am not sure in a headphone that should be super stable after it is built will benefit from wood age.

It sounds like in their statement they are taking a statement from a different context and applying it to headphones.

Personally I do believe in burn in to an extent, but I don't think it's just the drivers, I think the mechanical parts of
the headphone as a whole loosen up slightly causing a greater ease of sound.

 

[GCTD]

I think palisander is used interchangeably as a term for rosewood, different rosewoods do have quite different structures. What they are describing there sounds like Honduran rosewood.

As far as the mahogany, this would be true in a musical instrument that vibrates more freely, but I have a hard time believing a headphone that should use wood that is more than 3mm thick like an instrument will benefit greatly just from age. What could happen is that the wood may dry out more with age allowing it to vibrate more freely, but I am not sure in a headphone that should be super stable after it is built will benefit from wood age.

It sounds like in their statement they are taking a statement from a different context and applying it to headphones.

Personally I do believe in burn in to an extent, but I don't think it's just the drivers, I think the mechanical parts of
the headphone as a whole loosen up slightly causing a greater ease of sound.

 
Ah gotcha! Speaking of mahogany, will that be a wood you'd be interested in making cups? Or, do you already have a wood option with similar characteristics?

 

[jelt2359]

I would say that is pretty accurate, and I would also add that the Atticus seems to gain a significant bit of extra magic when you get a little extra bloom in the bass and mids from an OTL tube amp.

I have two OTL amps, and personally from what Zach stated (particularly that the Eikon is more linear in the treble, and that the Atticus has more boom) I went for the Eikon as a better match for my OTLs.

 

[Hansotek]

I have two OTL amps, and personally from what Zach stated (particularly that the Eikon is more linear in the treble, and that the Atticus has more boom) I went for the Eikon as a better match for my OTLs.

I have spent time with both on solid state and tube amps. It is not by any means universal in opinion. I know Zach and I both have a bit of a fondness for the way the Atticus sounds on an OTL. Great synergy. However my good friend AxelCloris, whose opinion I hold as second only to my own ears, prefers the Eikon on OTLs. It is certainly very subjective.

FWIW though, I have been considering buying a tube amp for the specific purpose of driving an Atticus. It is complete overload on romantic euphony - the point where too much of a good thing becomes a great thing. Just my two cents on it. YMMV.

 

[jelt2359]

I have spent time with both on solid state and tube amps. It is not by any means universal in opinion. I know Zach and I both have a bit of a fondness for the way the Atticus sounds on an OTL. Great synergy. However my good friend AxelCloris, whose opinion I hold as second only to my own ears, prefers the Eikon on OTLs. It is certainly very subjective.

FWIW though, I have been considering buying a tube amp for the specific purpose of driving an Atticus. It is complete overload on romantic euphony - the point where too much of a good thing becomes a great thing. Just my two cents on it. YMMV.

I bought the Eikon Padauk with the primary goal of using them with my Apex Teton and my Glenn OTL, and hopefully by then I'll compare against some other high impedance phones: HD800, etc. The list is short for OTL owners looking for a "best match" headphone. I do also have a Focal Utopia on the way although that has a much lower impedance. Still a dynamic though. Given what Zach has said about how the Eikon are tuned I have a suspicion they'd go great with my Eddie Current amp, that's supposed (it's not here yet, been waiting a year now) to be clearer and more holographic in comparison to the Apex. I'm the type of listener who prefers the HD800 over the HD800S on my Teton, and the HD600 over the HD650 on the same amp- so that's where this is coming from. I also love the DT880/600 on the Teton, which I guess is probably as far away as you can get from the Eikon sound. But we'll see.

I've been interested in Zach's offerings for a while but already owning both the Paradox and Paradox Slants I could not justify another T50 mod. For what it's worth, these days what's getting the most ear-time for me is my Code-X so that probably tells you where my interests lie (clean, neutral, fast, planar bass).

None of my cans (or amps or dacs) are review units so I'll be waiting patiently along with everyone else, and will report back on the synergy with my amps then if anyone is interested.

I was a bit unsure whether to get on the bandwagon at this early stage but Zach provides among the best customer service I've seen (and I interact with plenty of manufacturers) so I felt I have to support him.

Good luck with the launch Zach

 

[Hansotek]

I bought the Eikon Padauk with the primary goal of using them with my Apex Teton and my Glenn OTL, and hopefully by then I'll compare against some other high impedance phones: HD800, etc. The list is short for OTL owners looking for a "best match" headphone. I do also have a Focal Utopia on the way although that has a much lower impedance. Still a dynamic though. Given what Zach has said about how the Eikon are tuned I have a suspicion they'd go great with my Eddie Current amp, that's supposed (it's not here yet, been waiting a year now) to be clearer and more holographic in comparison to the Apex. I'm the type of listener who prefers the HD800 over the HD800S on my Teton, and the HD600 over the HD650 on the same amp- so that's where this is coming from. I also love the DT880/600 on the Teton, which I guess is probably as far away as you can get from the Eikon sound. But we'll see.

I've been interested in Zach's offerings for a while but already owning both the Paradox and Paradox Slants I could not justify another T50 mod. For what it's worth, these days what's getting the most ear-time for me is my Code-X so that probably tells you where my interests lie (clean, neutral, fast, planar bass).

None of my cans (or amps or dacs) are review units so I'll be waiting patiently along with everyone else, and will report back on the synergy with my amps then if anyone is interested.

I was a bit unsure whether to get on the bandwagon at this early stage but Zach provides among the best customer service I've seen (and I interact with plenty of manufacturers) so I felt I have to support him.

Good luck with the launch Zach

Given your tastes, the Eikon was probably the right choice. You really can't go wrong with that one. I've been listening to the review model nearly nonstop since it arrived!!

I'm jealous of your Teton, that is one of the finest amps on the planet. Very nice choice.

 

[jelt2359]

Given your tastes, the Eikon was probably the right choice. You really can't go wrong with that one. I've been listening to the review model nearly nonstop since it arrived!!

I'm jealous of your Teton, that is one of the finest amps on the planet. Very nice choice.

Thanks. There are OTLs and then there are OTLs. The Teton is the first OTL amp I've ever owned. I must admit I could not fully appreciate it until I got the Glenn OTL to compare. I have simply not heard a more musical, smooth and romantic amp to date- but it doesn't work with everything... So if those reading this thread are thinking "hey I gotta get an OTL amp now", do try to audition first before acting. There's a very distinctive OTL sound that's very much love-it-or-hate-it.

 

[whirlwind]

 

I have spent time with both on solid state and tube amps. It is not by any means universal in opinion. I know Zach and I both have a bit of a fondness for the way the Atticus sounds on an OTL. Great synergy. However my good friend @AxelCloris, whose opinion I hold as second only to my own ears, prefers the Eikon on OTLs. It is certainly very subjective.

FWIW though, I have been considering buying a tube amp for the specific purpose of driving an Atticus. It is complete overload on romantic euphony - the point where too much of a good thing becomes a great thing. Just my two cents on it. YMMV.

I bought the Eikon Padauk with the primary goal of using them with my Apex Teton and my Glenn OTL, and hopefully by then I'll compare against some other high impedance phones: HD800, etc. The list is short for OTL owners looking for a "best match" headphone. I do also have a Focal Utopia on the way although that has a much lower impedance. Still a dynamic though. Given what Zach has said about how the Eikon are tuned I have a suspicion they'd go great with my Eddie Current amp, that's supposed (it's not here yet, been waiting a year now) to be clearer and more holographic in comparison to the Apex. I'm the type of listener who prefers the HD800 over the HD800S on my Teton, and the HD600 over the HD650 on the same amp- so that's where this is coming from. I also love the DT880/600 on the Teton, which I guess is probably as far away as you can get from the Eikon sound. But we'll see.

I've been interested in Zach's offerings for a while but already owning both the Paradox and Paradox Slants I could not justify another T50 mod. For what it's worth, these days what's getting the most ear-time for me is my Code-X so that probably tells you where my interests lie (clean, neutral, fast, planar bass).

None of my cans (or amps or dacs) are review units so I'll be waiting patiently along with everyone else, and will report back on the synergy with my amps then if anyone is interested.

I was a bit unsure whether to get on the bandwagon at this early stage but Zach provides among the best customer service I've seen (and I interact with plenty of manufacturers) so I felt I have to support him.

Good luck with the launch Zach

I can't wait until I have enough money saved up to buy one of these cans.
 
I am so excited to hear either one of these cans with my Glenn OTL.
 
I could sell my omni to help fund the purchase of one of these headphones, but I just can't part with it...it is way to much fun.
 
I will be eagerly waiting to hear your impressions of these headphones with the Glenn OTL  

 
 
I have been waiting for another 300 ohm headphone to finally come along, and now two of them have.

 

[mwhals]

zach915m

I sent an email to ZMFheadphones@gmail.com and don't know if you received it.

 

[zach915m]

zach915m

I sent an email to ZMFheadphones@gmail.com and don't know if you received it.

I think I may have missed a few emails and pms from the last few days - I'm going to get the order sheets done today and then after will go through all messages and apply any changes needed and respond to all other inquiries, sorry for the delay!

 

[zach915m]

   
Ah gotcha! Speaking of mahogany, will that be a wood you'd be interested in making cups? Or, do you already have a wood option with similar characteristics?

 
Mahogany would be an option, I just always assumed people would find it too boring and it would sit around like Walnut did a little bit.  It's a great wood and I have a special appreciation for it because of those old Martin D18 guitars I love so much.

 

[mwhals]

I think I may have missed a few emails and pms from the last few days - I'm going to get the order sheets done today and then after will go through all messages and apply any changes needed and respond to all other inquiries, sorry for the delay!

Thanks. I wanted to add the Atticus to my order if it doesn't move me down the order list. Details are in the email.

 

[zach915m]

Thanks. I wanted to add the Atticus to my order if it doesn't move me down the order list. Details are in the email.

 
Oh yeah - a think someone else inquired about this as well.  If you order the Atticus or Eikon later than your first order - you will be refunded the $150 for ordering both - plus $5 extra shipping charges and keep your place in line.  Sorry again for anyone whose email hasn't been responded to yet, we're cleaning the shop now and I'll get to emails and the order sheet this afternoon.