[erics75]

I just realized that blue box in the midst of all that beautiful wood is the JDS prototype! Love the color! One of my favorite aspects of DNA is that awesome blue color. Excited to see others follow suit. So many black boxes out there, lets get some color and wood! Now the tough question, do I buy the wood panel or painted steel model... Assuming of course the color and wood options will be available I'd love to see vibrant purple and candy apple red options!

 

[zach915m]

I just realized that blue box in the midst of all that beautiful wood is the JDS prototype! Love the color! One of my favorite aspects of DNA is that awesome blue color. Excited to see others follow suit. So many black boxes out there, lets get some color and wood! Now the tough question, do I buy the wood panel or painted steel model... Assuming of course the color and wood options will be available I'd love to see vibrant purple and candy apple red options!

Oh - that's a 3d printed prototype! But - the production units will have likely richlite panels for stock and stabilized for special editions.

The wood ones we have at the show are final prototypes before we try richlite.

Thanks for the prompt I should have filled that info in!

 

[AnyDave]

ZMF Flanders....

Are those left-handed headphones?

 

[KlaraKlang]

We will be showing our un-named // un-released thousand dollar-ish closed back that I've been working on since 2019 at Canjam Chicago as it's finally at a place where we are closer to having the infrastructure as well as all parts designed and produced for them on hand.

Some basic details and photo's:

• New Oval form factor with a new chassis design
• Closed Back - Wood/Metal/Leather Build
• 50mm N52 ZMF Designed Proprietary LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) Driver
• 103 dB/mW - Can be driven by just about anything
• Patent Pending Atrium Damping System
• 1/8" Jack inputs

Things that are not final:

• Stock Wood
• Accessories and Case etc
• Final Tuning
• Final Pads

So I'm feeling good enough about them to take scrutiny, and usually I wouldn't open myself up to critique like this, but - I'd like to get a general consensus on the headphones, and as such I've tuned them with my 711 coupler closer to the Harman Curve than anything we've done (yes ofcourse I used our B/K 5128 extensively too). Through all my work, I have found that lower impedance drivers do sound better to my ear when tuned closer to the Harman, but I am a staunch believer that every driver needs to be tuned specifically to it's own properties to sound best regardless of listener preference or driver characteristics.

I am mainly considering tuning in a touch more mid-bass, but, I want to see how everyone feels about it at Canjam!

So thanks in advance for listening to them - we will have three sets there.

---

Secondly we will also have the also Un-named final prototypes of the ZMF x JDS Labs amp, and will have the amazing company of JDSLabs' own John Seaber in the room with us on saturday. Quick details of that guy are:

• Quad Balanced to Single Ended Design
• XLR and 4.4 mm out
• VU Meter
• 1 and 47 ohm outs
• 4 Watts (2W per channel)

EDIT: I should also mention, while we will have many beautiful ZMF's for sale, we are not producing either of the above for sale yet and these are all prototypes. The amp will be available likely within 1-2 months. Thew headphones are a late 2023 or early 2024 release expectation.

The Bocote one looks amazing, i am in Love

ZMF Floki would be a good name

 

[erics75]

Oh - that's a 3d printed prototype! But - the production units will have likely richlite panels for stock and stabilized for special editions.

The wood ones we have at the show are final prototypes before we try richlite.

Thanks for the prompt I should have filled that info in!

Oh man I never thought of stabilized panels, that would look insane!!!!! Just take my money!

 

[ericpalonen]

Update: As of this writing @Sennheiser is down to one HE 1 listening session. We will have a scannable QR code at the booth in case there are any cancellations, which we can adjust for in real time.

[Update] we are fully booked! As mentioned above, we'll have a standby sheet and backup options if there are dropouts, so don't be discouraged if you didn't get a slot yet.

 

[Akathriel]

Hi everybody,

I'd like to come on Sunday but I don't have a car. Is there a chance anybody is driving from the North Side or Evanston? I'd be happy to chip in for gas/parking. Alternatively, is there a better place to list this?

Thanks,
B

 

[cizx]

I hate most wood trimmed things, but everything ZMF just looks so good.

 

[listenerwww]

Hey man! Super exciting news, been waiting for this for what feels like an eternity.

Just a quick few questions about that squiggly line:

Is this a measurement from your 5128? or the AP ear-and-cheek sim? What's that target?

Thanks!

 

[NyanNyanNyan]

We will be showing our un-named // un-released thousand dollar-ish closed back that I've been working on since 2019 at Canjam Chicago as it's finally at a place where we are closer to having the infrastructure as well as all parts designed and produced for them on hand.

Some basic details and photo's:

• New Oval form factor with a new chassis design
• Closed Back - Wood/Metal/Leather Build
• 50mm N52 ZMF Designed Proprietary LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) Driver
• 103 dB/mW - Can be driven by just about anything
• Patent Pending Atrium Damping System
• 1/8" Jack inputs

Things that are not final:

• Stock Wood
• Accessories and Case etc
• Final Tuning
• Final Pads

So I'm feeling good enough about them to take scrutiny, and usually I wouldn't open myself up to critique like this, but - I'd like to get a general consensus on the headphones, and as such I've tuned them with my 711 coupler closer to the Harman Curve than anything we've done (yes ofcourse I used our B/K 5128 extensively too). Through all my work, I have found that lower impedance drivers do sound better to my ear when tuned closer to the Harman, but I am a staunch believer that every driver needs to be tuned specifically to it's own properties to sound best regardless of listener preference or driver characteristics.

I am mainly considering tuning in a touch more mid-bass, but, I want to see how everyone feels about it at Canjam!

So thanks in advance for listening to them - we will have three sets there.

---

Do you have any plans to release a stabilized version of this product as well?

I'm curious. I hope the headphones weigh less than 400g.

 

[Phoggy]

I hate most wood trimmed things, but everything ZMF just looks so good.

So then, you not too excited about the new Arya Organic? At least, in terms of looks?

 

[zach915m]

Is this a measurement from your 5128? or the AP ear-and-cheek sim? What's that target?

This is from our AP rig - which is really a Larson Davis Aec 206, which is a 711 coupler and equivelant to a Gras 45CA.

The target shown is the Over ear Harman target. Which isn't what I use as a goal for our headphones (my goals change based on the system and format as well as listening), but is used as an illustration as I feel many people currently use it as a baseline/guideline for a general understanding of tuning.

Do you have any plans to release a stabilized version of this product as well?

I'm curious. I hope the headphones weigh less than 400g.

Not sure yet! One note- these will be heavier than the final version due to 3d printed baffles. We are still finalizing the baffle material. They will not be 3d printed in production. I think these are around 475g currently.

 

[cizx]

So then, you not too excited about the new Arya Organic? At least, in terms of looks?

The only HiFiMan I've heard is the original HE-6, so no...

 

[third_eye]

EAR Micro will be hosting a media event on Friday, June 23 from 2pm-5pm and have graciously invited CanJam Chicago attendees as well! The event will take place at Happy Camper in Old Town, Chicago and will feature private live-audio demonstrations of the T10 Bespoke In-Ear Computers, as well as personal audio listening sessions. Pizza, appetizers, and drinks will be provided. Space is limited, and to RSVP to the event please visit: https://t10bespokechicago.splashthat.com

 

[Jimmyblues1959]

I just realized that blue box in the midst of all that beautiful wood is the JDS prototype! Love the color! One of my favorite aspects of DNA is that awesome blue color. Excited to see others follow suit. So many black boxes out there, lets get some color and wood! Now the tough question, do I buy the wood panel or painted steel model... Assuming of course the color and wood options will be available I'd love to see vibrant purple and candy apple red options!

I really like the blue color too. If this headphone amplifier sounds as good as it looks I'm sure it will be a winner. Speaking
of DNA, my Starlett is due to be delivered sometime next month after an 18 month wait. Keeping fingers crossed.