God the Vibro is a treat, kicks copious arse on Nu-Jazz stuff as well as downtempo and glitch stuff. I think the thing that impressed me the most was both the smoothness/fatigue free sound and the soundstage on them. Makes for a really really pleasurable experience thats for sure. I really have not fiddled with the bass dowels too much - just love the stock sound. Mine is Maple in rust, and boy does it look great. Very comfortable as expected, actually find these more comfortable than the Alpha Dog - I have the padded headband on mine. Bass is addictive and deep, but not super strong or hard hitting - making a really good balance between articulation and addictive fun factor.
Quick question Zach, for my pair you used Alpha Pads like usual right? I'm just interested because it seems these pads are made of a slightly different leather/build than my Alpha Dogs ~ alpha pads which I got late last year. The manufacture might have changed. These new ones actually seem to keep their shape better/seal easier.
Comparing the ZMF to other closed cans I own
ZMF vs Alpha Dog
ZMF ~ Has more bass with the ports opened - surprisingly my Alpha impacts harder but with less quantity with all ZMF dowels in. Both extend really well, need to do more sub bass tests to hear the full picture here. Alpha Dog in this case has no Doggie treats in or felt circles.
The ZMF seems to need slightly more juice to sound subjectively as loud as the Alpha Dogs - not sure if this is out of the ordinary.
The ZMF midrange is slightly darker, the AD seems to be thinner but more linear.
The AD has a edginess to its lower treble without the doggie treats, with them the sound is softened but I do not like the impact on the dynamics of the can - as they sound less lively overall. The ZMF has no edginess to its sound at all, smooth as its gets. The ZMF x Vibro has less treble quantity, and it comes across as being a darker can, while the AD is neutral with the Doggies.
The ZMF has better soundstage, it seems more spacious and less forward - strong depth and width here. The AD is no slouch, but its more upfront sounding. The imaging is a toss up.
The AD seems a bit quicker and snappier - could just be its brighter nature.
ZMF vs TH600
The ZMF has less bass quantity in stock form, haven't compared with dowels out yet. TH600 rumbles more, the ZMF is tighter. Neither have relentless impact, but the ZMF seems more impactful.
The ZMF mids are more forward and involved, voices are more prominent and instruments through the midrange sound more forward. The TH600 mids are a bit recessed and it carries a dry tonality overall.
The TH600 has a splashy hardness to the lower treble which grates on my nerves badly with everything that is not EDM/Electronic based. Some people don't worry about this spike much, but its really in the wrong spot to my ears.
The TH600 imaging seems to be more impressive, and the sound staging is very impressive - I find that it bests the Vibro in this regard on my system - but not by very much at all.
The ZMF seems cleaner sounding and quicker at least thus far in testing.
The TH600 is a lot lighter and for more easier on the head, but the AD and ZMF are not uncomfortably by any stretch.
The TH600 offers very little isolation and leaks strongly for a closed can so unlike the AD and ZMF I cannot recommend this aspect of them.
ZMF vs Sig DJ
The DJ hits much harder, and a lot more quantity - rumbles more as well. The DJ can be driller like to the average audiophile who is a non basshead.
The DJ mids are more recessed, but not as receded as the TH600 - the Sig DJ are bright, but not strongly so. Less bright and piercing than the TH600
The DJ has spooky imaging very 3 dimensional - cannot count how many times sounds I've turned around to sounds, dependant a bit on you own ear size and shape as mine are absolutely perfect it seems for S Logic to do its best.
The DJ is better isolating and leaks less than both of the AD and ZMF - at the cost of a tight clamp and more shallow ear pads. However they are built like tanks and are easily driven and portable if not a large can for out of the home.
ZMF vs DX1000
The DX1000 I have is the Japanese import model. The DX1000 is a slightly dark can, with deep and hard hitting bass - not as hard hitting as the DJ, but stronger than other I've mentioned yet. The DX1000 has an unbelievable soundstage for a closed can, I'd say none of the others in this group offer its massive width of stage. The DX1000 however trades off as being quite reverberant from the ear cups, also carrying a hit or miss midrange coloration. On their best moments the DX1000 shock me with their musicality, other times I don't feel them nearly as much. The DX1000 imaging is also impressive, but its not a micro detail freak. Its less detailed purely than probably every can I just mentioned. The DX1000 is very easy to drive in terms of power, I cannot comment on pairings purely for sound as I'm not terrible interested or able in trying large amounts of amps with them. The ZMF is more consistently impressive across all genres and styles. The strangest thing the DX1000 does is that it can sound very bassy and then the next album sound quite weak in bass - unlike some other cans that hit hard all the time.
The JVC isolate to an average extent for a fully sealed can, they don't leak much, but are 3rd worst behind the W1000X and TH600 (last).
ZMF vs W1000X
The W1000X has less bass, and is much poorer extended. The W1000X is a bit bright and carries a certain coloration of the mids more emphasised on female vocals, the W1000X therefore can sound a bit nasal or forward for some peoples tastes other people enjoy the extra detail in this range. The ZMF is more spacious with superior imaging - it also is quicker and deals with complex passages better. The W1000X can be hit or miss on comfort and fit, and isn't anything to really write home about in isolation. The ZMF is definitely the darker and more impressive bass can.
Listening has been done mostly through the WA7 stock (Gold Pin), Musical Fidelity HPA - M1 and the Audio GD NFB 28. None were balanced at all, and of course I did not volume match them with a meter. So as always take impressions with a grain of salt, everyones tastes are different - what I like might not suit you or your tastes. Your Mileage may vary, with whatever you might use, amps - dacs and cables. So as always its best to test yourself before you buy or attend a meet.
