[Monsterzero]

So, did anyone ever make a definitive list? I'm really interested in the ZMF offerings.

What list are you wanting to see?

Youre in Brentwood. I believe Source AV,which is in Torrance,is or was,having a pretty decent sale on ZMF headphones. Might be worth a trip down the freeway?

 

[vipervick]

What list are you wanting to see?

Youre in Brentwood. I believe Source AV,which is in Torrance,is or was,having a pretty decent sale on ZMF headphones. Might be worth a trip down the freeway?

 

[Monsterzero]

Apparently theres more than one Brentwood in California. Who knew.

 

[vipervick]

Apparently theres more than one Brentwood in California. Who knew.

Down in LA it's a neighborhood, not a city.

 

[vipervick]

And by list, I mean like a top 10 Headphone list for Metal. A list or chart that describes each one and what they do best. A consolidated list in one spot for easy reference instead of reading through 10,000 posts.

 

[NZtechfreak]

And by list, I mean like a top 10 Headphone list for Metal. A list or chart that describes each one and what they do best. A consolidated list in one spot for easy reference instead of reading through 10,000 posts.

There is a list in the first post, but I think not updated for a while.

 

[vipervick]

There is a list in the first post, but I think not updated for a while.

Yeah, first post was 5 years ago.

 

[NZtechfreak]

Yeah, first post was 5 years ago.

A lot of the information still relevant though.

 

[gazzington]

Id love a new list too. Perhaps have top ten closed, open, portable etc

 

[monkey4054]

Hi everyone, I recently took a trip to a high-end headphone shop and listened to a bunch of headphones. I will write a quick summary below if anyone is interested:

Headphones I demoed:

Audeze LCD2C, X
Focal Elegia, Clear, Stellia
Hifiman Sundara, Ananda, Susvara
Fostex TH-610, 900
Campfire Audio Cascade
Final Audio Sonorous VI

Test Tracks:

Lamb of God - Blood of the Scribe, Broken Hands
Gojira - Toxic Garbage Island, Esoteric Surgery, Wolf Down the Earth
Death - Crystal Mountain, Spirit Crusher, Symbolic
Pig Destroyer - The Diplomat
Coheed and Cambria - Welcome Home
Between the Buried and Me - Mordecai
Nasum - Scoop
Sikth - *****foot
The Black Dahlia Murder - What a Horrible Night to Have a Curse, I'm Charming
Trivium - Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Sugar Coated Sour
Pantera - 5 Minutes Alone
August Burns Red - Marianas Trench
Nails - You Will Never Be One Of Us
All That Remains - Whispers
Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction
At the Gates - Blinded By Fear
Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God


Listening was done through a Simaudio Moon 430HA

Preference based purely on sound quality:

Focal Stellia > Clear > Elegia > Susvara > Cascasde > TH-900 > TH-610 > Ananda > LCD-X > LCD2C > Sonorous VI > Sundara

The Focal Elegia and Campfire Audio Cascade stand out the most for their incredible value. The difference between the Elegia and the flagship Stellia was so subtle and minuscule that I can't imagine ever being able to justify buying the Stellia, at four times the price of the Elegia.

I have to point out that the Audeze's were very, very disappointing for me. Not that they were bad, I can definitely see why people love them so much. But going back and forth between the LCD-X and the Clear, it was just so apparent how much clearer (no pun intended) the Clear was in comparison. Yes, the Audeze had a bit more bass, and if you prefer a smoother, more "laid-back" sound, you will prefer the Audeze. But if you want your metal to sound "ballsy", "aggressive" and "in-your-face", then the Focal is where it is at!

The Focal Elegia is probably what I'm going to buy. It was dynamic, punchy, forward/aggressive, superb mids, nice, non-sibilant highs etc. All of the people claiming that these sound thin or bass-light are insane! This is coming from someone who currently has a Fostex TH-600!!
The bass is definitely slightly set-back and could definitely use some more quantity overall, but it's still very good! Please check out the Focal line if you haven't already. You might be pleasantly surprised like I was.

 

[NZtechfreak]

I don't know the IEMs there as I don't do IEMs, but I would guess the Susvara easily outclasses all the other headphones listed when driven well, the 430HA doesn't have the power get remotely get near the best the Susvara has to offer. Volume will be usable I expect, but it won't sound as it should. EDIT: actually I think I misread the spec for the MHA, it should have power for the Susvara, whether it is a good pairing though I don't know.

I'm not an Audeze fan either, the only one I've liked so far is the 4.

 

[monkey4054]

I don't know the IEMs there as I don't do IEMs, but I would guess the Susvara easily outclasses all the other headphones listed when driven well, the 430HA doesn't have the power get remotely get near the best the Susvara has to offer. Volume will be usable I expect, but it won't sound as it should. EDIT: actually I think I misread the spec for the MHA, it should have power for the Susvara, whether it is a good pairing though I don't know.

I'm not an Audeze fan either, the only one I've liked so far is the 4.

Hey, don't get me wrong, the Susvara sounded great. Yes, they are probably the hardest headphone to drive as well. I just think the price is insane, and they didn't exactly blow me away. Much better 'value' hahah in a Stellia or Utopia.....

 

[NZtechfreak]

Hey, don't get me wrong, the Susvara sounded great. Yes, they are probably the hardest headphone to drive as well. I just think the price is insanse, and they didn't exactly blow me away. Much better 'value' hahah in a Stellia or Utopia.....

You'd probably appreciate their merits more with time, headphones that do basically nothing wrong tend not to have that wow! effect. But yes, they're pretty far up the diminishing returns spectrum (like the last stop before the insanity of some of the estat setups).

 

[vipervick]

Ok hi all,

As far as ZMF, which pair would be best for my tastes? In top order:

1. Doom
2. Stoner/Psychedelic
3. Symphonic
4. Death/Grind/Core
5. Black

 

[Hansotek]

Ok hi all,

As far as ZMF, which pair would be best for my tastes? In top order:

1. Doom
2. Stoner/Psychedelic
3. Symphonic
4. Death/Grind/Core
5. Black

If you want maximum bass slam, as you mentioned before, go with the Atticus. Aeolus is similar, if you want open. Atticus might slam a pinch harder being closed. Both are phenomenal.