[Pharmaboy]

It better be good, you got stiff competition!

Damn!

Somebody else got there first...same thing happened with PULP FICTION and JAWS.

 

[zach915m]

@zach915m does the various mesh options decrease the 3Dness on the Atrium?

Not that I can hear (it just adjusts the treble peaks to my ears) but I'm not one to say anything absolute!

 

[PrestonSturgesEnthusiast]

I’m into extreme metal and was seriously thinking about buying either the Atrium or the VC, but then you guys started relating that neither of them would be a good fit for faster/heavier metal and that got me worried.

So, just to be sure I’m getting the gist of what you guys are saying, when you criticize the ZMF’s performances with these genres, you mean that:

a) there are better headphones for that or
b) the performance is actually not good.

Because I would be perfectly fine with the “a” scenario, since these cans seem to be amazing in every other respect and I won’t be listening to metal all the time anyway. So far I’m considering either a ZMF or a LCD-5.

I’m a long time lurker, first time poster and would greatly appreciate your take on this.

P.s.: I already own a Clear and like it fine, but I bet there is better stuff out there. I also own a Monarch mk1 and like its performance better. So, if you guys think the VC or the Atrium would be at least as apt as these cans handling faster metal, that would be good enough for me.

 

[heliosphann]

Not that I can hear (it just adjusts the treble peaks to my ears) but I'm not one to say anything absolute!

I agree. I've experimented with a lot of frontal dampening on old HiFiman planars in the past and you're mainly just attenuating the higher frequencies.

Many DCA headphones come with tuning inserts which basically do the same thing.

 

[Monsterzero]

I’m into extreme metal and was seriously thinking about buying either the Atrium or the VC, but then you guys started relating that neither of them would be a good fit for faster/heavier metal and that got me worried.

So, just to be sure I’m getting the gist of what you guys are saying, when you criticize the ZMF’s performances with these genres, you mean that:

a) there are better headphones for that or
b) the performance is actually not good.

Because I could live perfectly well with the “a” scenario, since these cans seem to be amazing in every other respect and I won’t be listening to metal all the time anyway. So far I’m considering either a ZMF or a LCD-5.

I’m a long time lurker, first time poster and would greatly appreciate your take on this.

"Extreme metal" is a bit ambiguous. What genres/ bands are you referring to?

For me, I like the Atticus for traditional metal. I like the VC for faster metal, but the mids could be more prominent. The resolution of the VC makes a lot of metal unlistenable. Out of the right amp, the Atrium does most metal genres up through thrash and perhaps some melodeath very well.

I have not heard the LCD-5, but based upon comments regarding its tuning, it doesnt sound to me like it would be a top tier metal headphone.

I know a lot of people love the Abyss 1266 for metal, but I havent heard it in many years and do not recall much about it.

 

[DAPpower]

The Atrium tuning reminds of my Burson GT amp with stock op amps, it's not the most resolving amp and has one or two roll offs but the soundstage sounds so expansive and fluid that it becomes such a pleasure to listen to no matter what cans you throw at it.

 

[PrestonSturgesEnthusiast]

Just complementing, I already own a

"Extreme metal" is a bit ambiguous. What genres/ bands are you referring to?

For me, I like the Atticus for traditional metal. I like the VC for faster metal, but the mids could be more prominent. The resolution of the VC makes a lot of metal unlistenable. Out of the right amp, the Atrium does most metal genres up through thrash and perhaps some melodeath very well.

I have not heard the LCD-5, but based upon comments regarding its tuning, it doesnt sound to me like it would be a top tier metal headphone.

I know a lot of people love the Abyss 1266 for metal, but I havent heard it in many years and do not recall much about it.

Mainly technical/brutal death metal. Bands like Gorguts and Suffocation, as well as more traditional thrash stuff like Slayer, Morbid Angel etc. Some doom too (Electric Wizard).

I’m also into alt-rock (I always test MBV on new gear), jazz, kraut rock, classic rock, some hip-hop, Brazilian 70’s music. I suppose I have a schizophrenic taste, go figure.

I guess that I would rather have a great headphone overall than a specialist, providing it doesn’t underperform too much with some of my favorite stuff.

thanks for your answers!

 

[Kevintj604]

Not having any luck selling the Arya.

Looking for a second opinion as there's a bit of me that thinks I should list my Olive VC to buy an Atrium. I really want a Koa Atrium and honestly I would love a stabilized VC this upcoming November so I would only be missing my VC for 8 months or so.

Would I be crazy to do that?

 

[Raidersfan8118]

Just complementing, I already own a

Mainly technical/brutal death metal. Bands like Gorguts and Suffocation, as well as more traditional thrash stuff like Slayer, Morbid Angel etc. Some doom too (Electric Wizard).

I’m also into alt-rock (I always test MBV on new gear), jazz, kraut rock, classic rock, some hip-hop, Brazilian 70’s music. I suppose I have a schizophrenic taste, go figure.

I guess that I would rather have a great headphone overall than a specialist, providing it doesn’t underperform too much with some of my favorite stuff.

thanks for your answers!

I’m kind of a noob but I can try to give you my reasons for not loving vc with all metal. I think it doesn’t do enough justice for guitars and sound isn’t quite sharp enough. I’m probably in the minority and I prefer a more clear sound that lets in the crap from recordings. To me personally I feel like the vc is very forgiving on bright tracks with sibilance. To me it struggles a bit on the early 90s death because that stuff can be like a wall of sound and muddied together. Guessing from impressions I might prefer atrium with perforated mesh. One thing about vc is it is the least fatiguing headphone and most comfortable headphone I own. I’ve heard lcd 5 is a detail monster and can sound harsh not sure that’d mix with that death metal either. Vc absolutely shines with newer metal though like 2010+ and up.

 

[erics75]

Not having any luck selling the Arya.

Looking for a second opinion as there's a bit of me that thinks I should list my Olive VC to buy an Atrium. I really want a Koa Atrium and honestly I would love a stabilized VC this upcoming November so I would only be missing my VC for 8 months or so.

Would I be crazy to do that?

If you're not super attached to the wood of your specific set I'd say go for it. ZMFs sell pretty fast usually and hold their value. If you don't mind buying again later it's an easy flip. And doing so would give you an alternative experience in the Atrium. One of the two should resonate with you strongly (hopefully) so you'll have better clarity into what's best (vs reading reviews and guessing).

 

[Kevintj604]

If you're not super attached to the wood of your specific set I'd say go for it. ZMFs sell pretty fast usually and hold their value. If you don't mind buying again later it's an easy flip. And doing so would give you an alternative experience in the Atrium. One of the two should resonate with you strongly (hopefully) so you'll have better clarity into what's best (vs reading reviews and guessing).

Honestly it might sound crazy but I really want to buy new from ZMF.

I'm the second owner of the Olives and I'm not fully attached to them. I'd rather have the year to save up for a pair that I absolutely love like a Stabilized or Epox set. I haven't had any issues but the $250 driver replacement for second hand is a dreadful thought as well.

 

[Pharmaboy]

"Extreme metal" is a bit ambiguous. What genres/ bands are you referring to?

For me, I like the Atticus for traditional metal. I like the VC for faster metal, but the mids could be more prominent. The resolution of the VC makes a lot of metal unlistenable. Out of the right amp, the Atrium does most metal genres up through thrash and perhaps some melodeath very well.

I have not heard the LCD-5, but based upon comments regarding its tuning, it doesnt sound to me like it would be a top tier metal headphone.

I know a lot of people love the Abyss 1266 for metal, but I havent heard it in many years and do not recall much about it.

I still don't know thing-1 about metal...but FWIW:

• At the moment I'm listening to BE2 pads on the Atrium via the Monoprice LGX. I'm on my 3rd straight live rock and/or blues guitar cut featuring telecasters & strats (with some distortion dialed in) by master players.
• Guitar notes are snapping like a whip. It's that "hurts so good" feeling

This headphone definitely gets more aggressive w/BE2 pads on a SS amp. No idea if that makes this a decent metal headphone, but it sure gets my blood flowing on other guitar genres.

 

[erics75]

Honestly it might sound crazy but I really want to buy new from ZMF.

I'm the second owner of the Olives and I'm not fully attached to them. I'd rather have the year to save up for a pair that I absolutely love like a Stabilized or Epox set. I haven't had any issues but the $250 driver replacement for second hand is a dreadful thought as well.

I hear you, I did the same with the Auteur. I started with a used Teak, sold it and purchased a new Wenge model from Zach. I lost a small bit, but it was worth it to me to have that new set, being the only owner.

 

[YtseJamer]

I still don't know thing-1 about metal...but FWIW:

• At the moment I'm listening to BE2 pads on the Atrium via the Monoprice LGX. I'm on my 3rd straight live rock and/or blues guitar cut featuring telecasters & strats (with some distortion dialed in) by master players.
• Guitar notes are snapping like a whip. It's that "hurts so good" feeling

This headphone definitely gets more aggressive w/BE2 pads on a SS amp. No idea if that makes this a decent metal headphone, but it sure gets my blood flowing on other guitar genres.

You should try this song with the Atrium. I'm always using this song when I'm testing new headphones, so this way, I can know from the get go if they can reproduce the raw power of the electric guitars correctly.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

@zach915m I may have missed this info, but will the new damping be available as an upgrade to the original Auteur if we send it in to you? It’s my understanding that the Auteur Classic will have the new Atrium damping system and possibly a new driver, so I wasn’t sure if the OG Auteur could benefit from the improved damping system.

I’m really satisfied with my Ash Auteur at the moment, but I might consider upgrading it if this becomes an option in the future.