THE WATERCOOLER HEADPHONE EDITION – Headphones, Amps, DACs, and desktop/home audio related – a freewheeling discussion of gear, impressions, music, and musings.

[betula]

This, however, is a universal TRUTH.

The world would be a pretty boring place is everyone loved the same things.

 

[AudioDuck]

The world would be a pretty boring place is everyone loved the same things.

Another universal truth.

 

[MindBreak]

Although they share some tonal similarities, the Elite and Atrium are quite different headphones. Elite sounds a lot more spacious, also they have a 'lighter' planar presentation. Elite is the ultimate relax listen, laid back and pretty. Technically (especially with the angled earpads) they are more capable than the Atrium, but also a bit more neutral. Atrium has smaller space, but very good imaging. Resolves a little less, sounds thicker with more bass quantity. Also, timbre is better, more lifelike. A bit more energetic too. Dynamic drivers and wood cups have certain magic going on which many folks here love.
I personally prefer the Caldera to the Atrium. Caldera is unlike any planar in the sense that it sounds thick, weighty, but quick at the same time with the organic and natural timbre ZMF is known for. Caldera has technical advantage over Atrium in resolving capabilities and speed which I love. Caldera to me is best of both worlds.
I still think Elite is also a fantastic listen, but from the more laid-back type. Caldera has better texture and more energy than Elite, but Elite can sound a little more refined at times. Elite also has bigger space than Caldera, but Caldera's imaging and separation is a bit superior.
I really like all three of these headphones, all are in my subjective top category. Atrium portrays wooden instruments the best perhaps with a supremely natural tone, Elite has the largest space and Caldera the best dynamics. If I had to rank them to me it would be 1,Caldera; 2,Elite; 3,Atrium but they are close and all have slightly different strengths. Also, other people would rank them differently. It is pretty much impossible to tell if you would like the Elite more than the Atrium without trying them.

The Atrium Open was my first ZMF purchase earlier this year, and while I am enjoying them I already have the Caldera Open on my short list to purchase late 2025 or early 2026. I am picking up a Yggdrasil MIB and possibly a Valhalla 3 in about 2 months otherwise I would have purchased the Caldera sooner. The idea of a planar with the ZMF sound is very tempting.

 

[G8torbyte]

The Atrium Open was my first ZMF purchase earlier this year, and while I am enjoying them I already have the Caldera Open on my short list to purchase late 2025 or early 2026. I am picking up a Yggdrasil MIB and possibly a Valhalla 3 in about 2 months otherwise I would have purchased the Caldera sooner. The idea of a planar with the ZMF sound is very tempting.

You'll love it. If I was limited to two ZMFs it would be the AO and CO. Nothing against the closed back versions, its just the open backs work better with my tinnitus.

 

[MindBreak]

You'll love it. If I was limited to two ZMFs it would be the AO and CO. Nothing against the closed back versions, its just the open backs work better with my tinnitus.

Nice, can't wait to try them on my MJ3 paired with the Yggdrasil MIB (as well as any other gear I have at the time ). Yeah, I am more of an open back guy myself, but own one pair of closed backs to use during early morning listening sessions.

 

[AudioDuck]

Nice, can't wait to try them on my MJ3 paired with the Yggdrasil MIB (as well as any other gear I have at the time ). Yeah, I am more of an open back guy myself, but own one pair of closed backs to use during early morning listening sessions.

While I’ve not specifically tried the Caldera with the MJ3, I got to try the DCA E3 with the MJ3 at CanJam SoCal, and was impressed at how the warmer Class A sound worked REALLY well with a planar.

EDIT: And Schiiit R2R DACs are WONDERFUL with ZMF headphones- real synergy! To @G8torbyte ‘s point, you’ll love it.

(I’m not trying to suggest you should get an E3 vs the Caldera- I bought a Caldera Closed at the same show and am over-the-moon happy with it, and I use it with a slightly warm-voiced solid-state amp)

 

[MindBreak]

While I’ve not specifically tried the Caldera with the MJ3, I got to try the DCA E3 with the MJ3 at CanJam SoCal, and was impressed at how the warmer Class A sound worked REALLY well with a planar.

EDIT: And Schiiit R2R DACs are WONDERFUL with ZMF headphones- real synergy! To @G8torbyte ‘s point, you’ll love it.

(I’m not trying to suggest you should get an E3 vs the Caldera- I bought a Caldera Closed at the same show and am over-the-moon happy with it, and I use it with a slightly warm-voiced solid-state amp)

I am tempted by many things I read in this forum, but I always try to use my best judgment in the end ( key word is try).

I am enjoying my BF 2/64 with the setup right now so I agree with you on ZMF pairing well with Schiit Multibit DACs .

 

[normie610]

Ciggy listens to music I dont listen to and I can completely understand why he is loyal to the 1266 given his listening habits...I do not pass judgment when I listen to anything at canjam due to the noise and all the other difficulties...when I first listened to the sr1a at canjam I was unimpressed but when I got it home I fell in love with it...the Immanis is a great all arounder to me great with dylan or sinatra or led zep but oh my it is extraordinary with acoustic jazz

Very true. Accoustic jazz and classical is phenomenal with Immanis. I can totally understand that it may not be suitable for a specific genre e.g. death metal of which 1266 TC could be a more compelling choice.

 

[chrisnyc75]

Very true. Accoustic jazz and classical is phenomenal with Immanis. I can totally understand that it may not be suitable for a specific genre e.g. death metal of which 1266 TC could be a more compelling choice.

Althought it may be an unpopular opinion of late, I am very much of the opinion that there are absolutely headphones or amps or even DACs that work better for one genre or another than another headphone/amp/dac. In a perfect world there would be one headphone/amp/dac to rule them all, but in reality audiophilia is a game of comparatives: this headphone only sounds "better" compared to that headphone, and this amp is only "better" than that amp insomuch as any particular chain makes it so. But any headphone/amp/DAC that outperforms the competition in any particular arena is definitely well worth consideration.

 

[AcousticMatt]

Fun story, when she & Guy did Frou Frou, my best friend was their a&r guy, and we followed them around NYC on their promotional tour to like 10 venues, including one where it was just us, Imogen & Guy, and like 3 more people in a Barnes & Noble. She is my absolute pick for the least appreciated artist worthy of WAY more attention than she gets. I hope this new project gets it for her!

Here's her autograph of "Details" to me with a snail crawling up her arm, because why not?

Ah man, this is so cool to see. That Frou Frou album and Imogen's albums is some of my favorite music to test new gear on and also remains some of the most emotive music that I enjoy listening to often.

 

[chrisnyc75]

Ah man, this is so cool to see. That Frou Frou album and Imogen's albums is some of my favorite music to test new gear on and also remains some of the most emotive music that I enjoy listening to often.

She is a musical genius on the level of Prince, no less. Despite how unappreciated she is.

 

[Hiker816]

I can totally understand that it may not be suitable for a specific genre e.g. death metal of which 1266 TC could be a more compelling choice.

Could very well be. But I love the Immanis for my technical instrumental metal.

 

[goldwerger]

The SAEQ Armageddon is another overly hyped amp? Seems so based on the above information.

I never heard it, so I couldn’t possibly comment on whether I’d love it or not (was hoping to demo it). Just passed the industry gossip live as i learned it..

 

[Frankie D]

Have you heard it?

I was asking the question based on the info from Danny. Unfortunately Eyal was not able to audition it. I do like Danny, but trust Eyal.

 

[normie610]

I never heard it, so I couldn’t possibly comment on whether I’d love it or not (was hoping to demo it). Just passed the industry gossip live as i learned it..

I was told by our mutual friend in my country (you know who ) that the Armageddon creates quite a buzz here as a lot of people love the sound with various headphones. I was offered to do a home demo but I’ll be away in the next 2-3 weeks so I declined for now.