General Thoughts on ZMF Products

[omega1990]

(thread will cover headphones, amps, and cables) (will add more products in the future) (please be patient as it takes a while to upload everything.) (Started writing this around the launch of the Caldera Closed)

Welcome everyone, around the release of the Caldera Closed (May 2024) there would be a total of 11 ZMF headphones released (with more models to come). Over the years of being on head fi and posting a few reviews myself on Zach’s headphones, I’ve gotten a few private messages every now and again asking similar questions. They would ask me for my opinion and advice on how zmfs compare to one another. What amps do I use with them? Do you have a zmf tier list? What cable would be great for the zmf I’m thinking about buying? How do flagship zmf’s compare to non-flagship zmf’s and so on. Overall, it has gotten to a point where while I do try to answer questions every now and again privately, since it’s a private conversation, I end up repeating some stuff. I don’t hate answering questions if I have time to answer them, but I felt that since I’ve enjoyed every model released so far that I decided to create my own general thoughts and impressions thread about every original zmf release that I can purchase or borrow. I even bought zmf collab amps such as the zmf pendant se, zmf/decware otl and the zmf homage. However, I immediately hit an issue when trying to create this. The issue for me when trying to get everything needed to create this thread is that I don’t have endless funds to afford everything.

While I did buy those amps as well as 3 of Zach’s premium cables and many of the zmf models released with my own money I was still missing a few headphones and so I contacted Zach. Since he was going to send me a caldera closed demo unit I thought it would be worth a try to find out if he was willing to supply me with the zmf models I was missing. Zach was gracious enough to send me demo units of the headphones I was missing, and he also sent me his production version of the Aegis amp and pro cables so thank you Zach!

ZMF is not your typical headphone brand and since there are so many headphones to choose from, I thought this general thoughts and impressions guide could be of some help to others when looking through some of what zmf has to offer. Like everyone else we tend to ask other users here or even audio reviewers on other sites including reviewers in places like YouTube about some of the questions mentioned above. Unfortunately, what happens often is that a lot of reviewers have not heard many or all models, so many responses are simply I don’t know or I’ve never heard the one you’re asking about and so on. So basically, I am going to talk about each original zmf headphone, each cable that I was able to get, and every zmf collab amp.

Before going through this ever-expanding thread keep in mind that I want to emphasize that this is just my own thoughts and impressions. I do not work for ZMF. Again, all opinions here are my own. This is just my way of organizing my own thoughts on products released by zmf. In no way is this some official authoritative view of zmf as we are all entitled to our own opinions. Lastly as mentioned up top it will take time to fill this thread up with everything that I have been writing about so your patience is greatly appreciated.

Much more to come!

 

[omega1990]

Reserved

 

[Nkam]

Id like to know more.
I think he started modding Fostex?
Why does everyone start off modding Fostex ? Lol. They must have good drivers.

I have seen some measurements and the distortion plots and tuning dont super impress me. Unless I’m missing something.
Beautiful looking headphones though.

 

[betula]

(thread will cover headphones, amps, and cables) (will add more products in the future) (please be patient as it takes a while to upload everything.) (Started writing this around the launch of the Caldera Closed)

Welcome everyone, around the release of the Caldera Closed (May 2024) there would be a total of 11 ZMF headphones released (with more models to come). Over the years of being on head fi and posting a few reviews myself on Zach’s headphones, I’ve gotten a few private messages every now and again asking similar questions. They would ask me for my opinion and advice on how zmfs compare to one another. What amps do I use with them? Do you have a zmf tier list? What cable would be great for the zmf I’m thinking about buying? How do flagship zmf’s compare to non-flagship zmf’s and so on. Overall, it has gotten to a point where while I do try to answer questions every now and again privately, since it’s a private conversation, I end up repeating some stuff. I don’t hate answering questions if I have time to answer them, but I felt that since I’ve enjoyed every model released so far that I decided to create my own general thoughts and impressions thread about every original zmf release that I can purchase or borrow. I even bought zmf collab amps such as the zmf pendant se, zmf/decware otl and the zmf homage. However, I immediately hit an issue when trying to create this. The issue for me when trying to get everything needed to create this thread is that I don’t have endless funds to afford everything.

While I did buy those amps as well as 3 of Zach’s premium cables and many of the zmf models released with my own money I was still missing a few headphones and so I contacted Zach. Since he was going to send me a caldera closed demo unit I thought it would be worth a try to find out if he was willing to supply me with the zmf models I was missing. Zach was gracious enough to send me demo units of the headphones I was missing, and he also sent me his production version of the Aegis amp and pro cables so thank you Zach!

ZMF is not your typical headphone brand and since there are so many headphones to choose from, I thought this general thoughts and impressions guide could be of some help to others when looking through some of what zmf has to offer. Like everyone else we tend to ask other users here or even audio reviewers on other sites including reviewers in places like YouTube about some of the questions mentioned above. Unfortunately, what happens often is that a lot of reviewers have not heard many or all models, so many responses are simply I don’t know or I’ve never heard the one you’re asking about and so on. So basically, I am going to talk about each original zmf headphone, each cable that I was able to get, and every zmf collab amp.

Before going through this ever-expanding thread keep in mind that I want to emphasize that this is just my own thoughts and impressions. I do not work for ZMF. Again, all opinions here are my own. This is just my way of organizing my own thoughts on products released by zmf. In no way is this some official authoritative view of zmf as we are all entitled to our own opinions. Lastly as mentioned up top it will take time to fill this thread up with everything that I have been writing about so your patience is greatly appreciated.

Much more to come!

I don't mean to discourage you, but there are already 11 dedicated ZMF headphone threads, plus different threads for all the amplifiers (Homage, Aegis and the OTLs), plus new annual ZMF threads for every Spring/Summer/November release.
Above all these there is also a general ZMF amplifier thread and a general ZMF discussion thread which are also relatively active.

 

[omega1990]

Id like to know more.
I think he started modding Fostex?
Why does everyone start off modding Fostex ? Lol. They must have good drivers.

I have seen some measurements and the distortion plots and tuning dont super impress me. Unless I’m missing something.
Beautiful looking headphones though.

Yeah, Zach did start out modding fostex headphones. When I think about people who want to start making their own audio products they can find websites that offer schematics on making stuff like amps, but as far as making a headphone, there is probably far less to go by. I think headphones like the fostex t50rp are modded often because they are on the cheaper side of the audio market and offer a learning experience when you take them apart and start applying your own dampening materials around the driver and inside the cups, as well as switching pads on them. For this thread I am going to stick to the original zmf releases starting with the atticus. If I ever have the funds to obtain the older modded releases, I might create a separate section on them.

 

[omega1990]

I don't mean to discourage you, but there are already 11 dedicated ZMF headphone threads, plus different threads for all the amplifiers (Homage, Aegis and the OTLs), plus new annual ZMF threads for every Spring/Summer/November release.
Above all these there is also a general ZMF amplifier thread and a general ZMF discussion thread which are also relatively active.

Oh I'm not discouraged at all, lol. This is just a casual side project I've been working on for a while.

 

[omega1990]

ZMF Atticus (using default Ori Lambskin pads)

This headphone was the most affordable original closed back option from zmf (so not a modded headphone) long before the creation of the bokeh closed which generally shares the same price. The Atticus uses a TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) driver. As far as standout characteristics of this headphone, the Atticus has an emphasized midbass region, it’s on the very warm side of the zmf sound signature scale, very intimate, and rich sounding. The atticus goes all in on the fun and despite not having the subbass presence of other closed back zmfs, the punchy thicker sound of the atticus is very addictive and pleasing to the ear.

The atticus focuses mainly on the midbass and midrange, with the midbass being more prominent. This headphone is physical and dynamic, but since it’s so rich sounding, the attack is not fatiguing to my ears. Also, due to having less subbass than midbass the Atticus has a distinct pronounced punch. While it won’t create the phatter wobbly bass effects of some other zmfs, what’s here is still a good amount of bass that attacks with authority. The tpe driver is quick and when the attack combines with its rich tuning, the atticus is a type of fun that you can listen to for hours.

The midrange is forward, rich, and along with its smaller soundstage creates a more intimate presentation. This headphone commands my attention with its full sounding mids and vocals that is also easy to listen to. Even with the atticus being so musical and rich it’s not always forgiving of poorly recorded music. However, due to the amount of richness going on, imperfections that appear won’t punish the listener with fatigue. The sound is smooth, but not smooth enough to always cover recording imperfections exactly.

The treble for the Atticus is darker than more traditional headphones. With that said, even though the atticus seems tuned to rock out with its authoritative punch, I actually listen to classical and acoustic music on it every now and again. What I like here is that if a classical piece contains for example a violin conveying intense stridency which might come off as a glare effect, the atticus tuning subdues some of these effects that can sometimes annoy me.

On the technical side the atticus shows some limitations. It has a small soundstage and when compared to other zmf’s the atticus is not as seamless with its imaging and layering. What I mean is that while there is a left, right, and center to the stage, overall, the stage is not as complexly layered and seamlessly connected as many other zmf models. The sounds that are presented here will not pull off the holographic effects that many other zmfs can do, nor will it present stage depth like many other models. Another thing is that due to the thickness of its sound it won’t focus on smaller details in a recording as well as other zmfs. This one is tuned to just have fun and not take seriously imo.

Still, I have enjoyed the atticus over the years more than headphones costing several times what the atticus costs (don’t underestimate the power of personal preferences). So, for me when I originally bought the atticus, I wanted to know if I could find a headphone that does what the atticus does but better. Unfortunately, I have been unable to find a headphone that is 1 to 1 like the atticus but better (some other zmfs do remind me of the atticus, but more on that later). There is one consolation that you should keep in mind if you’re like me and you really like the atticus and that is the fact that it’s 300ohms. This impedance does allow the atticus to respond to the quality of the gear you hook it up to. That 300ohm impedance allows them to scale quite a bit. If you like this headphone or any other in the zmf lineup, you can push these headphones further with higher end gear or tube amps if you really wanted to.

 

[omega1990]

ZMF Eikon (using default Eikon Lambskin Solid pads)

The Eikon is the first closed back zmf to utilize the biocellulose driver. Speaking of which, the driver itself is one of the most important standout things about this headphone. This driver has been popular with audiophiles for a couple of decades now resulting in many popular headphones over the years. The sound of headphones that have used this driver have been described as textured, dynamic, and organic vs many other types of headphone drivers. With that said the biocellulose driver here is a custom zmf version designed to meet zmf’s sonic goals. The Eikon has less warmth than the atticus resulting in an early example of Zmf neutral (sharing that term with the original (OG) Auteur). Zmf Neutral is still a warmer sound than traditional headphones and as I eventually get to headphones like the atrium open, the term zmf neutral kind of evolves as more models are released.

Its tonal balance makes this headphone more of a genre generalist imo vs the atticus that might be argued as more of a warmer genre specialist. Another unique aspect of this headphone is that the eikon and original auteur might have been inspired by studio monitors in that they reflect what a recording provides but with an added filter of that zmf lushness.

For the bass, the eikon has more extension down low than the atticus but instead of having emphasis in the midbass region, the eikon is more even with a slight emphasis in the subbass. It has debatably the most subbass of any early original model zmf. In this case the eikon can convey the phatter subbass presence enjoyed in genres like edm for example. The subbass brings a sense of presence that in a way fills the whole stage with consistent rumbling effects vs the large focused punchy bass from the atticus. The eikon’s take on bass much like the rest of its sound reflects what is found in any given recording with a bit of added weight to the sound. So, it’s a consistently present bass that doesn’t overpower the other parts of its sound imo.

The midrange of the eikon is incredibly inviting, giving it a liquid lush sound (less rich than the atticus) that adds some body and weight to the music you play. While it is very pleasing to the ear it has more of a bite than the atticus imo, so it’s more forward on the attack and dynamics. That said, it’s sound comes off as wanting to be taken a bit more seriously than the atticus which goes all in on having fun imo. What I mean is, while leaning closer to neutrality than the atticus, the eikon seems to be more revealing of the details and imperfections found in the recording itself much like a studio monitor but again with that lush filtering for that pleasing fun texture.

The treble is significantly brighter than the atticus and has a lot more bite and shimmer to it. It’s also better extended up top bringing some added air between notes. At 300ohms, the eikon like a lot of zmfs can be sensitive to what you hook it up to and so depending on what you have this area can lead to an experience that may be more intense when used on amps that might be on the very clinical side. So whether you think its brightness done right or there is a slight glare effect up here is more chain dependent than other parts of its sound imo.

On the technical side the eikons slightly higher price tag over the atticus does yield some improvements here. It has a wider soundstage. It does not reach the overall staging capabilities of flagships, but images appear with more precision than its lower priced cousin. Also, the sound interacts with the wooden cups in a way that there is a sense of reverb that results in a noticeable increase in stage depth. Combine the unique stage effects with the amount of lushness going on here and it creates a pleasing liquid experience. Like the auteur, the eikon is another headphone that sometimes even audio critics might opt for vs headphones that follow a more traditional reference sound because of the enjoyment the eikon can put into their music.

Lastly the sense of speed is unique with headphones that use the biocellulose driver. It’s kind of a goldilocks speed. It’s not too slow but it’s also not artificially fast either. I think the secret sauce of zmfs that use this kind of driver is going to be its PRaT (pace, rhythm and timing) and timbre. Imperfections on poorer recordings will still appear on this headphone, but the lush effects prevent things from becoming truly painful. Like the atticus, its smooth but won’t cover up problems in a recording if there are any. The attack has more snap and bite and comes with a timbre that just sounds right. If you want a more fun take on a studio monitor the eikon is still a unique option in the zmf lineup.

 

[omega1990]

Zmf Aeolus (using Universe Lambskin Perforated pads)

The Zmf Aeolus is the open back counterpart to the atticus. Even though it uses the same tpe driver as the atticus this headphone had a unique beginning. Originally it launched with the Aeolus pads. They were lambskin pads which had fewer perforations than the universe pads. The original goal was to get the Aeolus close to the atticus sound but as an open back. While the Aeolus pads really helped in getting the Aeolus to sound closer to an atticus, over the course of taking in feedback the pads were changed to the universe pads as the universe pads provided a better balanced out tuning and improved its detail retrieval imo. The Aeolus pad is no longer available on the site under regular stocked pads as far as I’m aware of, but you could probably find either b stock or maybe email zmf to possibly place a special order maybe. As far as the outer cup design is concerned, like the auteur it takes more of a semi open design.

So, when talking about its sound I’ll be using the universe perforated lambskin pads. Overall, the Aeolus is still on the warmer side of the zmf scale to my ears, but its tonal balance is more even and balanced than the atticus. While the midbass hump has now been evened out with the midrange it’s still slightly more present vs the subbass which extends well but the midbass is a bit more of the focus of the bass region. Also, the Aeolus has less richness than the Atticus but is still warmer than more traditional neutral headphones. Bass is punchy but not as thick a punch as the Atticus. Subbass can convey some rumble, but won’t have the body of its biocellulose cousin, the Auteur. The bass overall while on the warm side has a more humbled harmonious presence vs the atticus’s midbass that at times sounds like it tries to fight its way to the forefront.

The midrange is pretty evenly forward with the midbass. However, the immediate difference that separates itself not just here but throughout its sound is that since its less full sounding than the atticus, its transients and leading edge have an easier time coming at the listener in a slightly more aggressive way. So, it ends up conveying sound with more bite and sharpness that when combined with a thinner layer of richness (not overly rich like atticus), leads to a tightrope walk between a pleasing and lively presentation. The sound can be dynamic and since the soundstage is smaller than other zmf open backs, it brings that excitement right to your face. Keep in mind that like the atticus it still won’t reach the dynamics of biocellulose zmf’s. Vocals are so direct and intimate, but less full than its closed back sibling.

The treble is not as dark as the atticus but it is still subdued. Its zippy transients adds some life into the treble region but it’s not the focus of the Aeolus sound. Similar to the eikon I have felt that some of the treble is affected by gear and may make the Aeolus seem pickier with certain gear vs the Atticus imo. Being semi open does allow the Aeolus to breath more and better separate its images, but due to having such a small soundstage, its still more of an intimate listen vs other zmfs. The soundstage is also not as deep and as well layered as other zmfs but it works well enough that images won’t blend into one another.

The universe pads do help the aeolus show more detail as the original aeolus pads sounded like it was masking some information to prioritize the sound profile to be more like an atticus. With that said, detail and resolve capabilities are acceptable since its priced to be an entry level option, it’s just not a standout feature when compared to other zmfs imo. Also, despite being as warm as the aeolus is, its tuning does not hurt its timbre to my ears, as instruments still sound believable. Its speed is quick, but it’s not the fastest in the zmf lineup. When listening to music its speed and its take on transients come together to create an excitable pep to its step.

Keep in mind though that it also has the 300ohm impedance, so the use of tube amps and its ability to scale allows the user to push some of its capabilities. If you like the sound of the Aeolus, tube amps or better gear can increase the technical side of things and depending on tube choice and gear you can also add even more richness if that’s what you’re looking for. Overall, the Aeolus comes off at times as an Atticus with the gloves taken off (so more of bare-knuckle approach) and its take on sound shows how nimble and zippy the tpe driver can really be.

 

[G8torbyte]

Zmf Aeolus (using Universe Lambskin Perforated pads)

Keep in mind though that it also has the 300ohm impedance, so the use of tube amps and its ability to scale allows the user to push some of its capabilities. If you like the sound of the Aeolus, tube amps or better gear can increase the technical side of things and depending on tube choice and gear you can also add even more richness if that’s what you’re looking for. Overall, the Aeolus comes off at times as an Atticus with the gloves taken off (so more of bare-knuckle approach) and its take on sound shows how nimble and zippy the tpe driver can really be.

The Aeolus was my first ZMF acquired in 2021 and I did enjoy it right away as I naturally progressed to ZMF after liking the performance of biocellulose drivers in a Fostex. Then when Zach developed the Atrium Damping System (ADS) in 2022 I bought the first run of Atrium Open and it really opened my eyes to nice staging, imaging and decay. Now I have six different ZMFs and the Caldera Open (w/thick lambskin perf pads) are my favorite with the planar precision/resolution while having some aspects of a dynamic character using the ADS damping.

The AO and CO were my primary HPs until I recently received the Decware CSP3 amp. It was a 2.5 year build-to-order wait time with Decware but worth the wait to me. The 300 Ohm ZMF dynamics sound wonderful on it. I'm enjoying rotaing different HPs on it and the Aeolus is getting a lot of play time on the Decware. The Aeolus has an addictive tone and tuning for me that opened up with the Decware.

 

[omega1990]

Introductory thoughts on ZMF Flagships

Ok, so now that I’ve covered some of the earlier original zmf releases minus the original Auteur since I’ve upgraded mine to the classic, let’s talk about flagships. When it comes to many audiophile brands, there is usually one product marketed as that company’s totl (top of the line) or flagship model. In some cases, a company will make an open and closed flagship. There are also cases where they offer both flagships and an additional statement piece that is sometimes released in limited quantity or is priced to be prohibitively expensive.

Take for example, Sennheiser. As of 2024 the totl is still the HD800s for the open back and the closed back counterpart is the HD820. Then there is an expensive statement piece called the Sennheiser HE-1. Brands like Hifiman do very similar things in the form of the Hifiman Susvara being a planar flagship and the Hifiman Shangri la being their electrostatic flagship/statement piece. So basically, one or two headphones that are a flagship model and maybe one halo product. In the case of zmf, if we include the Caldera Closed, there will now be a total of 6 flagships…

With that said, there are some brands that have what we could call a flagship lineup but they are not common. Take Stax for example, they have what is known as their Omega series. This included models like the original Sr-Omega (long discontinued with a very small number of units made), 007 (which had many revisions), the 009 (discontinued), 009S (a revision of the 009), and most recently the X9000. What is unique here besides the wide range of price points is that each one has a different sound vs one another making each one a unique statement of Stax’s sound and how its changed over the decades.

For Zmf, no flagship has been discontinued yet (as of 2024) and their dynamic flagship models share the same price. While each zmf flagships closed back counterpart tries to generally capture what the open back model does, in execution the closed back model differs in its take on sound to an extent that they could be argued to be their own distinct thing. In other words, the closed back flagships are more than simply a closed version of a zmf flagship.

Another thing to take into consideration is that several brands have this kind of linear path of choices you could upgrade to. That is when some customer’s buy cheaper models and then decide they want to upgrade from it within the same brand, there is sometimes a clear sense of an upgrade path. I remember when I had my first hd600 (I am on my second one now) and I enjoyed what it did enough that I wondered where I could go to get better performance while having a similar reference neutral like tuning. I saved up the funds to eventually buy a used HD800 and I basically felt it was a proper upgrade from my hd600.

There is a path to upgrade from what you have within the same brand that is more or less pretty straightforward. With ZMF though, Zach has said that he sells headphones like a collection, each being literally their own unique statement. For example, some customers have said they wanted an upgrade to the Auteur. Basically, an Auteur but with better technicalities. While zmf does not have a flagship level Auteur, we did get the Auteur classic which improved the technicalities and resolution, but as of 2024 there is still no true flagship equivalent imo.

So, I guess the question is, if every zmf is a statement, what makes a statement a flagship (lol)? Well, the best analogy I can think of is if you’ve ever played a super mario game. You know sometimes, you come across a hidden exit or pipe and it warps you to a secret world like the star world or special world from Super Mario World. Levels in there are generally more challenging to the player and they sometimes subvert our expectations for how the levels are designed. In other words, they kind of challenge conventional levels design and encourage the player to think outside the box to complete them. In the case of zmf, I could imagine someone asking Zach, hey why don’t you just make a headphone that conforms to the predictable trends going on in the market? Imo doing so would really reduce what makes zmf unique, and so what I think zmf’s answer to this is, instead of giving you what you think you might want, have you ever considered this other possibility?

Zmf flagships to me, generally challenge what we might expect from a flagship headphone, giving them a unique competitive edge that cannot be captured by the competition. I have personally gone out of my way to create setups that I thought would force another more expensive headphone to sound closer to my zmfs, but I was not successful. There are more things going on here than what a frequency response might hint at. For example, some might think that when a headphone is on the warmer side of things that it gives up technicalities. In the case of the zmf verite open, its sound tilts to the warm side and yet it’s still very technically capable and resolving.

Lastly you might have come across some reviewers even mentioning that they spend more time with a zmf headphone vs other headphones they have costing double or triple the price of a zmf. Just another reminder to not underestimate your personal preferences.

We all have different preferences, so you could think of zmf having many flagships as their way of catering to a wider range of customer needs. Each flagship has its own unique traits so you could also think of having this many flagships as a pick your own adventure in how you want to enjoy your music. While I want to own all of them eventually, I would encourage newcomers who want a flagship zmf to simply focus on the flagship whose sonic traits best match your preferred take on sound and needs as to whether you want it to be open or closed.

In any case, it’s nice that zmf goes out of its way to cater to so many different kinds of audiophiles. So, lets start talking about some of these flagships.

 

[omega1990]

Zmf Verité open (using Universe Lambskin Perforated pads)

When the Zmf verité open came out the product line was as followed: Atticus and Aeolus at the entry price point using the TPE driver. The Eikon and Auteur (now known as Auteur OG since it was later replaced with the Auteur classic) were a little more expensive using the Biocellulose driver. The Verite open uses what the zmf website calls an “Ultra-thin PEN driver vapor deposed with 20% Beryllium” and came with quite a significant jump in price. Personally, I have had a love/hate relationship with Beryllium over the years. Despite my feelings about it I have recognized this material leads to some desirable acoustic properties. This lightweight material creates a very fast sound that is very precise and detailed. The downside for me was that it creates a very metallic timbre and some examples that use pure beryllium were to my ears overly aggressive and fatiguing. So unlike headphones that use pure beryllium, using a smaller amount of it does let the Verite gain its benefits but reduce its downsides imo.

At this point I feel the need to summarize the ZMF house sound thus far. Versus more traditional headphones, zmfs are generally warmer and richer/lusher. Some models are clearly warmer and lusher than others, and even models that are called zmf neutral are still a little warmer than what could be considered a stereotypical reference. The underlying theme though is that zmf had advertised itself as trying to be taken a little more seriously than just being a brand with warm sounding headphones. Sure, the Atticus went almost all in on the fun side, but as you move up the product line, each headphone is increasingly more technically capable. The Verite is an early attempt from zmf to compete with more expensive summit fi flagships while charging a lower price than typical summit fi headphones.

The verité’s overall tuning is closer to zmf neutral than much warmer zmf’s like the Aeolus and Atticus. In terms of bass, it’s very clean, punchy and tight. Subbass is present but not boosted. This headphone imo is even more punchy than what the frequency response might indicate due to how I perceive its unique take on transients and attack but more on that later. There is a linearity here that extends to the bottom giving it a bit of a planar vibe, but the way in which it executes its overall tonal balance reminds me of something else entirely.

For the midrange I want to mention a unique sound quality that is displayed in its presentation. The midrange is very detailed and along with its treble/air frequencies, it presents itself in an ethereal way. What I mean is that this headphone reminds me of an electrostatic headphone. Beryllium is a very lightweight material that makes the sound move very fast with microscopic precision with how it images things. Sounds appear within a super black background that makes the images very distinct almost like the recording is being dissected. The soundstage is wider than previous zmf’s and comes with an additional sense of depth. This overall results in a very holographic presentation that wants to put the listener in a front row seat of their music. Meaning it wants to bring the listener very close to all the details in their music. This headphones 3d like presentation along with its speed creates a sound that is reminiscent of an electrostatic headphone for me. The mid-range also holds onto its lushness and adds a layer of weight over the music vs a typical neutral headphone that comes off as thinner to my ears. While it won’t add meat to the bone like an eikon would, the verité’s take on warmth makes for a slightly weighty sound that never holds its technical performance back allowing for smooth transitions in how images can seamlessly travel its soundstage.

The verité goes for a thrilling sound that wants to excite the listener with high quality recordings, bringing you closer to all the detail and resolution they offer. The downside that may be noted in some reviews is that in the presence region, I want to say around 3k is lower than many typical headphones like an hd600 would have it at. Since it is lower this imo creates a mellowing effect. Now keep in mind as far as my opinion goes, I think the midrange is very accurate. Imagine someone taking a volume knob and lowing the volume in this particular area. I think this headphone was tuned carefully in a way that vocals are clearly heard and are not muted or overwhelmed by surrounding sounds. This headphone is so detailed and resolving that intelligibility of vocals and some electric guitars are not the issue here. The presence region is an area that our ears naturally amplify, so whether it is too present or not present enough is the concern imo. The verité to my ears takes the safe route of trying to mellow it to prevent sibilance or harshness found in some vocals or maybe an electric guitar, but some might prefer more shout (more forward energy) or for lack of a better term, more presence in this region depending on how your ears perceive this region.

Another thing to keep in mind is that its transients while fast and forward have rounded edges to my ears. Think of the attack like if someone is surprise attacking you with a knife. At first you think what’s about to come at you will hurt you, but upon impact, it turns out the knife is a fake and doesn’t pierce your skin. The verite wants to give you the excitement of fast, forward, snappy, punchy transients but without hurting you. With that said it does allow me to listen to it for a long period of time vs headphones that are much brighter or more aggressive. I think this take on transients and the mellowing of the presence region are the characteristics that led to some polarization as some users prefer more forward vocals and/or more aggressive transients. Overall, the mids are tilting to the lush and warm side following a similar tightrope walk like the aeolus of being between pleasing or exciting but executing this balance with a much higher level of technical finesse and resolution.

As for the treble, it has a unique glass like clarity. The swift leading edge brings the excitement of something that might be considered sharp, but the very edge of the attack is rounded. So, you get the thrill of the forward brilliance and sparkle but less fatigue. The combination of its glassy clean texture, sense of air and 3d imaging is again reminiscent of an estat imo. Combine this take on treble with its ambient sense of depth and high resolution, the sounds comes off as free floating which I find impressive about this headphone.

The Verité was created before zmf’s atrium dampening system (ADS) was introduced and even though it might have a mechanism or part inside that might be similar to the ADS system, it is not truly ADS from what I understand. Before the Atrium open introduced ADS, Zach imo really wanted the wooden cups to play a more significant role since he was inspired by instruments like guitars. So, depending on which wood you get a verité in, the wood could make the sound more ambient with softer woods or tighten up the sound with denser woods imo. Either way I have enjoyed the verité and its sibling verité closed regardless of wood density as this influence is noticeable, but I want to go a step further here. The soundstage on this headphone is unique in that its at times ambient. While sounds appear closer to the listener giving that front row seat effect, it’s almost like they are decaying in a larger space. Depending on what music you play, your music might fill out this ambient sense of space more than others. So, the soundstage is bigger than how it might present itself at first.

Zach went as far as he could to get as much performance out of this model as he could get while still maintaining a zmf sound and this leads to a unique experience even in zmfs 2024 lineup years after its release. If you ever see one in person, you will notice that there are many small vents around the grill and many various sized vents going from the back and over the top of the cups. Personally, I have never seen a headphone use so many vents. You could say as far as zmf designs go, the verité resembled a wooden musical instrument more so than any zmf released before it and as of the caldera closed and bokeh closed I have still not seen another zmf with such a unique design.

When this headphone came out, it was compared to headphones costing about twice its price. This headphone has the right balance of technical performance to generally compete with headphones costing significantly more money. The verité open was zmfs most serious sounding headphone released up to that point and functions as zmf’s take on a totl sound. I think the verité tried to challenge the idea that headphones don’t have to be neutral or bright to have a totl sound.

Since its initial launch some of the competition’s headphones have dropped in price while others have only gone up (some companies claim inflation) and yet the verité’s price has continued to remain the same. With its capable technical performance and unique presentation all while tilting to the warm side in tuning, the verité still remains a competitive product even in zmfs current 2024 lineup.

 

[omega1990]

ZMF Verité Closed (using Universe Lambskin solid pads)

After the verité open was released the lineup of zmfs got all sorts of reviews, but if there was one model that had slightly polarizing reactions it was the verité. Most reviews spoke positively, but some claimed that the dips around the upper mids and parts of the treble might not have sounded correct on their setup. Since the verité’s continued to use 300ohms, their sensitivity to one’s setup remains and depending on a user’s amp output impedance, it could lead to a different experience than an amp someone else might be using. With the reviews and customer feedback from multiple websites taken into consideration, you could view the verité closed as a slight revision of the verité opens frequency response.

What’s impressive from the start was that Zach and his team were successful in essentially making a verité but closed. It maintains the hallmarks of the verité open such as the planar bass extension, that estat glass like treble, and instruments still appear to be floating with a clean background. However, the tuning adjustments throughout the sound result in a closed back headphone that is still distinct from its open back counterpart.

For the bass it’s still well extended but trades the linearity of the open back for an increase in the overall bass giving it this thicker bass impact and increase to subbass rumble. The midrange while slightly weighty like the verité open is where another noticeable change occurs. The vocals that were mellow on the verité open are now a little more present to my ears bringing a little more forward energy. The verité closed slightly fills in the presence region but still tries to be mellower than a traditional neutral headphone. The treble is emphasized a bit more with some additional sense of air. The treble is not bright but tries to toe the line of being more forward and engaging. For a closed back the treble still manages to maintain that glassy clean appearance.

The overall re-tuning going on here makes the verité closed have more of a w-shape frequency response pushing excitable parts of the frequency response forward vs the verité open being more mellow and linear to a degree overall. They both fall within the zmf neutral range but changes to the tuning in the verité closed make it slightly less warm overall than the verité open. Yes, I know the verité closed has more of a boosted bass, but what I mean is that how the overall frequency response functions the verité open having a more mellow upper mids and a more relaxed treble make the verité open have an overall slightly warmer tuning than the verité closed. Some might interpret the verité closed as a more excitable or more dynamic verité.

As of 2024, both verité’s are still some of most micro detailed focused zmf’s. Resolution and detail continue to standout. While still not containing the ADS system, the verité closed represents the best of what Zach could do with utilizing the resonances of the wooden cups. If you like a concert hall reverb effect especially in classical music the verité closed shows off that liquid effect.

Another impressive feat is that while being a closed back the sound doesn’t appear to be hitting a wall. What I mean is that it sounds more like an open back headphone than typical closed back headphones. Stage width is some the widest in the zmf closed back lineup and with the added stage depth and resolution it is still able to achieve a holographic presentation. The thrill of a forward attack with a slightly rounded edge is maintained to create a lively presentation that won’t punish the listener. A key difference in how it stages is how it coveys the ambient effect. Being a closed back, the verité closed traps the sound and so it plays music with a constant ambient and large stage whereas the verité open is more selective in what music sounds more ambient to my ears. Since the verité open is an open back, it has an easier time with how it controls air flow and so its stage has more freedom vs the closed that is trying to make sure it sounds more like an open back so it emphasizes air and liquid effects more.

Like the verité open, it still has one of the most unique presentations in the zmf lineup and at 300ohms, it also welcomes tube amps. If you listen to a lot of high-res music these headphones are quite a treat as they try to find an equilibrium of being technically very capable but still maintain enough warmth to bring that element of fun.

The verité closed would be slightly better received by critics despite being so incredibly close to its open back counterpart. Tonality wise, both verité’s appear somewhat close to one another, but the changes in tuning show how users have different preferences. Some users may prefer a more mellow tuning or maybe prefer a more forward tuning. The timbre of both verité’s is less organic than biocellulose zmfs, but I think the tuning and their take on transients helps in suppressing the downsides of using beryllium on its drivers. Overall, the verité closed starts the trend of zmf flagship closed backs being more than just a closed back counterpart.

 

[chesebert]

I can sum up all ZMF headphones in one sentence: known first for their stylish wood designs and colored sound signatures, with a couple of models offering a more neutral tuning suitable for hi fidelity sound reproduction.

 

[yrstruly]

Zmf Verité open (using Universe Lambskin Perforated pads)

When the Zmf verité open came out the product line was as followed: Atticus and Aeolus at the entry price point using the TPE driver. The Eikon and Auteur (now known as Auteur OG since it was later replaced with the Auteur classic) were a little more expensive using the Biocellulose driver. The Verite open uses what the zmf website calls an “Ultra-thin PEN driver vapor deposed with 20% Beryllium” and came with quite a significant jump in price. Personally, I have had a love/hate relationship with Beryllium over the years. Despite my feelings about it I have recognized this material leads to some desirable acoustic properties. This lightweight material creates a very fast sound that is very precise and detailed. The downside for me was that it creates a very metallic timbre and some examples that use pure beryllium were to my ears overly aggressive and fatiguing. So unlike headphones that use pure beryllium, using a smaller amount of it does let the Verite gain its benefits but reduce its downsides imo.

At this point I feel the need to summarize the ZMF house sound thus far. Versus more traditional headphones, zmfs are generally warmer and richer/lusher. Some models are clearly warmer and lusher than others, and even models that are called zmf neutral are still a little warmer than what could be considered a stereotypical reference. The underlying theme though is that zmf had advertised itself as trying to be taken a little more seriously than just being a brand with warm sounding headphones. Sure, the Atticus went almost all in on the fun side, but as you move up the product line, each headphone is increasingly more technically capable. The Verite is an early attempt from zmf to compete with more expensive summit fi flagships while charging a lower price than typical summit fi headphones.

The verité’s overall tuning is closer to zmf neutral than much warmer zmf’s like the Aeolus and Atticus. In terms of bass, it’s very clean, punchy and tight. Subbass is present but not boosted. This headphone imo is even more punchy than what the frequency response might indicate due to how I perceive its unique take on transients and attack but more on that later. There is a linearity here that extends to the bottom giving it a bit of a planar vibe, but the way in which it executes its overall tonal balance reminds me of something else entirely.

For the midrange I want to mention a unique sound quality that is displayed in its presentation. The midrange is very detailed and along with its treble/air frequencies, it presents itself in an ethereal way. What I mean is that this headphone reminds me of an electrostatic headphone. Beryllium is a very lightweight material that makes the sound move very fast with microscopic precision with how it images things. Sounds appear within a super black background that makes the images very distinct almost like the recording is being dissected. The soundstage is wider than previous zmf’s and comes with an additional sense of depth. This overall results in a very holographic presentation that wants to put the listener in a front row seat of their music. Meaning it wants to bring the listener very close to all the details in their music. This headphones 3d like presentation along with its speed creates a sound that is reminiscent of an electrostatic headphone for me. The mid-range also holds onto its lushness and adds a layer of weight over the music vs a typical neutral headphone that comes off as thinner to my ears. While it won’t add meat to the bone like an eikon would, the verité’s take on warmth makes for a slightly weighty sound that never holds its technical performance back allowing for smooth transitions in how images can seamlessly travel its soundstage.

The verité goes for a thrilling sound that wants to excite the listener with high quality recordings, bringing you closer to all the detail and resolution they offer. The downside that may be noted in some reviews is that in the presence region, I want to say around 3k is lower than many typical headphones like an hd600 would have it at. Since it is lower this imo creates a mellowing effect. Now keep in mind as far as my opinion goes, I think the midrange is very accurate. Imagine someone taking a volume knob and lowing the volume in this particular area. I think this headphone was tuned carefully in a way that vocals are clearly heard and are not muted or overwhelmed by surrounding sounds. This headphone is so detailed and resolving that intelligibility of vocals and some electric guitars are not the issue here. The presence region is an area that our ears naturally amplify, so whether it is too present or not present enough is the concern imo. The verité to my ears takes the safe route of trying to mellow it to prevent sibilance or harshness found in some vocals or maybe an electric guitar, but some might prefer more shout (more forward energy) or for lack of a better term, more presence in this region depending on how your ears perceive this region.

Another thing to keep in mind is that its transients while fast and forward have rounded edges to my ears. Think of the attack like if someone is surprise attacking you with a knife. At first you think what’s about to come at you will hurt you, but upon impact, it turns out the knife is a fake and doesn’t pierce your skin. The verite wants to give you the excitement of fast, forward, snappy, punchy transients but without hurting you. With that said it does allow me to listen to it for a long period of time vs headphones that are much brighter or more aggressive. I think this take on transients and the mellowing of the presence region are the characteristics that led to some polarization as some users prefer more forward vocals and/or more aggressive transients. Overall, the mids are tilting to the lush and warm side following a similar tightrope walk like the aeolus of being between pleasing or exciting but executing this balance with a much higher level of technical finesse and resolution.

As for the treble, it has a unique glass like clarity. The swift leading edge brings the excitement of something that might be considered sharp, but the very edge of the attack is rounded. So, you get the thrill of the forward brilliance and sparkle but less fatigue. The combination of its glassy clean texture, sense of air and 3d imaging is again reminiscent of an estat imo. Combine this take on treble with its ambient sense of depth and high resolution, the sounds comes off as free floating which I find impressive about this headphone.

The Verité was created before zmf’s atrium dampening system (ADS) was introduced and even though it might have a mechanism or part inside that might be similar to the ADS system, it is not truly ADS from what I understand. Before the Atrium open introduced ADS, Zach imo really wanted the wooden cups to play a more significant role since he was inspired by instruments like guitars. So, depending on which wood you get a verité in, the wood could make the sound more ambient with softer woods or tighten up the sound with denser woods imo. Either way I have enjoyed the verité and its sibling verité closed regardless of wood density as this influence is noticeable, but I want to go a step further here. The soundstage on this headphone is unique in that its at times ambient. While sounds appear closer to the listener giving that front row seat effect, it’s almost like they are decaying in a larger space. Depending on what music you play, your music might fill out this ambient sense of space more than others. So, the soundstage is bigger than how it might present itself at first.

Zach went as far as he could to get as much performance out of this model as he could get while still maintaining a zmf sound and this leads to a unique experience even in zmfs 2024 lineup years after its release. If you ever see one in person, you will notice that there are many small vents around the grill and many various sized vents going from the back and over the top of the cups. Personally, I have never seen a headphone use so many vents. You could say as far as zmf designs go, the verité resembled a wooden musical instrument more so than any zmf released before it and as of the caldera closed and bokeh closed I have still not seen another zmf with such a unique design.

When this headphone came out, it was compared to headphones costing about twice its price. This headphone has the right balance of technical performance to generally compete with headphones costing significantly more money. The verité open was zmfs most serious sounding headphone released up to that point and functions as zmf’s take on a totl sound. I think the verité tried to challenge the idea that headphones don’t have to be neutral or bright to have a totl sound.

Since its initial launch some of the competition’s headphones have dropped in price while others have only gone up (some companies claim inflation) and yet the verité’s price has continued to remain the same. With its capable technical performance and unique presentation all while tilting to the warm side in tuning, the verité still remains a competitive product even in zmfs current 2024 lineup.

Great write-up. Very well put.

On the VC, notwithstanding the (extremely) slight tuning differences between VO and it, I actually hear the VO as more dynamic on my chain. VC seems politer somehow. Weird!