[Seazer]

I've not just tried both, I own both ... RAD-0 #12 ("Graffiti") ... had both Pheasantwood and Ziricote Vérité, sold the Pheasantwood to get another Ziricote (aesthetic preference, not sonic), but wound up ordering a Cocobolo Vérite instead (so I still have two Vérité ... which puts them in pretty rarefied company, with only the Utopia, HD650 and very briefly two variants of the Abyss being something I've owned two of at once).

They are different cans. Not everyone will like the same things. You should worry less about what others like and go with what moves you.

If I had to choose between the Vérité or the RAD-0, I'd take the Vérité. I, personally, generally favor dynamic cans over planar. But it's a bit like that old (future) adage ... "Well, I would go with Wilma, but I'd be thinking about Betty".

Happily I don't have to choose, so I have both a Vérité and a RAD-0 sitting in one of my rigs, and other than maybe adding a closed-back to that rig, it's missing nothing I really care about that anything shy of the SR1a can do anything about.

I would have loved to hear the Verite. I'm generally not even the biggest planar fan, I usually like dynamics more, but something about the Rad-0 sucked me in. They seem to be pretty much direct competitors though being both around $2600. I listened to the ZMF Autuer and Atticus and I liked the Atticus more. I doubt you could go wrong with either the Rad-0 or Verite though

 

[DecentLevi]

Torq excellent input, thanks. I wasn't necessarily concerned that they like the Verite, but just feeling like they should try the Rad-0 before proclaiming it the way they were. Now that I've read your post, I'm starting to be a believer and would like to try the Verite someday. Would you mind to post some basic comparisons on the sound between the two?

 

[Seazer]

Actually guys I was going through my pictures of the event I was at and apparently I did listen to the verite along with the auteur. It was good but personally not as mind blowing as the Rad-0. The only headphones there that gave me a lasting impression WOW factor and really stood out were the Rad-0 and the new Audeze LCD-i3 IEM

 

[marcusd]

Our review is now published

"The RAD-0 is in my top 3 headphones I have tested and heard to date for this year. It has a beautifully balanced sound signature with a very impressive treble tuning and a sweet-sounding instrumental and vocal timbre."

https://headfonics.com/2019/08/rosson-audio-design-rad-0-review/

 

[LCMusicLover]

Well, I'll give a thorough RAD-0/Empy comparison.

Spoiler: Comparison mechanics

I'm in A/B heaven right now, since I can feed two rigs with the same source. SU-1 splits USB input to two DACs, Hattor preamp has two inputs and provides remote switching. It also has two outputs, and right now I have two Liquid Platinum amps with 2 pair Brimar CV-2492 tubes (which I like best with Empy and will probably be great with RAD-0).

So to A/B, all I have to do is volume match the two amps and simply swap cans. About the only un-controlled variable is cabling, and both Empy and RAD-0 are going to be run with silver cables from headphonelounge.com. All balanced from DACs to headphones.

I'll probably be able to post some comparisons early next week.

Turns out Empy / RAD-0 comparison is really close. I was surprised to hear just a bit more ‘tissshhh’ from Empy (e.g., cymbal decay).

RAD-0 bass is a little cleaner when the Empy bit of thump sounds slightly blurred/bloated. But these are very small differences.

Overall, it’s hard to come up with significant differentiators. Empy seems slightly warmer, RAD-0. maybe a little brighter (despite that bit of elevation in Empy’s last half octave). RAD-0 headstage is somewhat more open, with a little more depth. RAD-0 also has a bit more immediacy. Bottom line, I’d call Empy slightly more laid back, and RAD-0 a little more present. Really small differences.

Female vocals area bit smoother on Empy — you get a bit more grit from RAD-0 (say on ‘White Winged Dove’).

I guess I could pick out which is which if faced with blind comparison between RAD-0, Empy & Ether 2. But if you asked me to pick a favorite, I’d say ‘which track?’ Or, even, which aspect of the track?

BTW, George is correct, Empy wins comfort contest easily, although I will say that the RAD-0 pads certainly feel luxurious.

Empy definitely more comfy for me. W/ RAD-0 I’m trading off between too much clamping force and a hot spot on top of my head. Noticeable after a couple hours.

Honestly, all 3 of these work very well for me. And they’re close enough that it would be crazy to own all 3.

Wait ... what?

 

[mixman]

Turns out Empy / RAD-0 comparison is really close. I was surprised to hear just a bit more ‘tissshhh’ from Empy (e.g., cymbal decay).

RAD-0 bass is a little cleaner when the Empy bit of hump sounds slightly blurred/bloated. But these are very small differences.

Overall, it’s hard to come up with significant differentiators. Empy seems slightly warmer, RAD-0. maybe a little brighter (despite that bit of elevation in Empy’s last half octave). RAD-0 headstage is somewhat more open, with a little more depth. RAD-0 also has a bit more immediacy. Bottom line, I’d call Empy slightly more laid back, and RAD-0 a little more present. Really small differences.

Female vocals area bit smoother on Empy — you get a bit more grit from RAD-0 (say on ‘White Winged Dove’).

I guess I could pick out which is which if faced with blind comparison between RAD-0, Empy & Ether 2. But if you asked me to pick a favorite, I’d say ‘which track?’ Or, even, which aspect of the track?

Empy definitely more comfy for me. W/ RAD-0 I’m trading off between too much clamping force and a hot spot on top of my head. Noticeable after a couple hours.

Honestly, all 3 of these work very well for me. And they’re close enough that it would be crazy to own all 3.

Wait ... what?

Good comparison. I think you made the call when you said the Empy are more comfortable. I was interested in these until I read heavy and high clamping force. I don't want to go down that road again. It seems that they fixed the sound issues with Audeze headphones but not the ergonomics issues.

 

[Seazer]

Good comparison. I think you made the call when you said the Empy are more comfortable. I was interested in these until I read heavy and high clamping force. I don't want to go down that road again. It seems that they fixed the sound issues with Audeze headphones but not the ergonomics issues.

They are heavy but the clamping force isn't too high imo. Plus the pads are super comfortable (I love the alacantra touch) and the foam at the top of the headband is very thick and plush

 

[mhamel]

I was about to pull the trigger on a pair of B-stock LCD-4, but these caught my attention. Out of what I was able to find that's still in stock, I ended up ordering the Woodstock design.

 

[HeadAmpTeam]

No I listened to an Auteur next to it and the Rad-0 was better. I don't think I heard a verite but like I said the Rad-0 was my favorite of all the headphones I tried.

The amp it was plugged in to was a HeadAmp GS-X mk2. The DAC might have been a Chord Qutest. Not 100% sure about the dac since there were several amps and headphones. A Qutest was definitely there, with a Hugo M Scaler connected to it.

Thanks for the great impressions, and we're glad you were able to enjoy the event!

The GS-X mk2 was connected to the XLR outputs of Mytek Liberty DAC. The Chord Qutest/M-Scaler was connected to the Blue Hawaii.


We have a couple of our first RAD-0's left at HeadAmp.com, but Alex is hard at work building more of theses beauties as soon as parts come in. I just visited their lab on Friday, and they have some really cool cups coming up, including one that immediately made me think "I am Iron Man! "

 

[musicman59]

[QUOTE="Female vocals area bit smoother on Empy — you get a bit more grit from RAD-0 (say on ‘White Winged Dove’)[/QUOTE]
Are you referring to Stevie Nicks’s “Edge Of Seventeen”?

 

[justin w.]

I was sad to see this Tropical Canopy pair of RAD-0 go because I was going to keep it for myself...

 

[musicman59]

This is the one I ordered... Orange Sapphire

 

[MacedonianHero]

I was sad to see this Tropical Canopy pair of RAD-0 go because I was going to keep it for myself...

Your loss is my gain! Love them so far! Especially wth the GS-X Mini. Thanks again Justin!

 

[Bonddam]

I wish Rosson would put pictures of their headphones broken down. I like internal pics. I wonder what their tech is.

 

[JP281]

I wish Rosson would put pictures of their headphones broken down. I like internal pics. I wonder what their tech is.

I second this. If not pictures then a video. The outer shell of my unit feels like marble, makes sense why it's so heavy.