[Lohb]

Quick cable question:
I have the very original Verum 1, with the 2.5mm cable connectors.
A cable maker told me that his balanced cable, using mono 2.5mm connectors, should work just fine (despite stock cable being 2.5mm stereo connectors).

Is he correct? Need to know before placing my order...

Thanks!

Yes he is correct, because while each seperate plug is mono 2.5"...at the headphone end combined left and right plugs, that is the reference to stereo.

 

[zeiguy17]

Verum 1 Impressions/Review

About Me: I wouldn’t consider myself a bass-head, but I am definitely a bass-head. I’ve had bass-heavy IEMs in my ears since I was a teenager, and put subwoofers in my parent’s old car the second I got my driver’s license. I mostly listen to rock music, with some reggae and “stoner rock” sprinkled in. Currently I listen to Phish pretty much all of the time, which is an excellent jam band for those of us who grew up in the post-Grateful Dead era. I have a fair amount of mid-fi gear (see below), but I’m really much more interested in the music than I am in the equipment itself.

My Gear:

Headphones: Audio Technica M50X, AKG K712 Pro, Massdrop/Hifiman HE-4XX

IEMs: Yamaha EPH-100, AKG N20U, Etymotic Research ER2XR

DAC/AMPs: JDS Labs OL DAC, JDS Labs Atom, Schiit Fulla 2, Audioquest Dragonfly Black

Why Verum 1?

I love the AKG K712 Pros, but wanted a little bit deeper/more-resolving bass. I initially bought the HE-4XX which are great, but a little bit too bright to my ears and also don’t really have the depth of bass extension that I was hoping for. I read/watched a lot of reviews and was basically deciding between the Hifiman Sundara, the Verum 1, and the Audeze LCD-2C which was a little bit out of my price range. I bought the Verum 1 because I saw that they had deeper bass extension (less roll off) than the Sundara and because I couldn’t afford the LCD-2Cs. I basically was hoping for a cheaper LCD-2C, with maybe a little more treble presence.

Unboxing/Accessories:

The headphones were appropriately packaged (bubble wrap in a large box) without any frills or extra equipment, which is honestly preferable from my standpoint. The included cable works fine but sort of feels like crap, and I will be replacing it with a 10-ft periapt cable in the near future. I ordered my headphones around Dec 25th, and I sort of got a hodge-podge of the Verum MK1 and MK2 models, in that my headphones have the old headband, the newer (lighter) headband knobs, the new pads (fenestrated real-leather), and the old 2.5mm connectors.

Comfort/Build Quality:

The build quality is excellent, and I’m not worried about breaking these headphones. It took me about an hour of playing with different headband positions to get the clamp force and the headband height setup exactly how I like it, but after initial setup I probably will never have to adjust them again. The comfort is impressive given how heavy the headphones are, and I am able to wear them for long periods of time without any difficulty.

Sound:

I bought these headphones for the sound, and I was not disappointed. The enormous planar magnetic drivers provide a very “spacious” sound, where you feel like the music is coming from all around you as opposed to being blasted directly into your ears. I’ve always preferred over-ear headphones to IEMs because of the improved spaciousness and soundstage, and the Verum is excellent in that regard. With regards to the frequency response, the Verums come across as relatively neutral to me. The highs are pronounced but not sibilant, and the mids seem slightly recessed but accurate. The bass is where these headphones really shine, and I noticed significant more extension and clarity in the sub-bass region even with the stock fenestrated pads. I did notice some roll-off of the sub-bass with the stock pads, however, which has been confirmed by the FR curves of numerous other listeners.

Given that I purchased these headphones as a cheaper alternative to the LCD-2C, I immediately started looking for ways to improve the bass response. I found several posts recommending the ZMF Ori (non-perforated) Lambskin pads as a way of improving the bass extension and soundstage, at the sacrifice of some “airiness” in the highs. Since I prefer darker/warmer headphones anyways, I purchased these pads and found them much more to my liking than the stock pads, despite the decreased prominence of the mids/highs in comparison to the stock perforated pads. I definitely prefer the warmer sound signature of non-perforated pads with this headphone, but I can also understand why many don’t.

Conclusion/Comparisons:

I am very happy with the Verum 1s, and I feel like they met my expectations with regards to providing an accurate and linear bass response without any major sacrifices. While the soundstage of the Verum 1 is definitely smaller than the K712 Pros, and the mids may potentially be less resolving/hazier, I very much prefer the bass response and impact of the Verum 1s to the point where I will not be using the K712s for music any longer. I love the soundstage and clarity of the K712s for gaming and will be keeping them for that. In comparison to the HE-4XX I feel like the Verum 1 does essentially everything better, and I will be either selling or giving away the HE-4XXs shortly.

To anyone on the fence, I would definitely recommend the Verum 1s with the caveat that you are willing to try some pad rolling if you are interested in a darker/warmer sound signature. Thank you Garuspik for your excellent work on these headphones, and I am excited to see what you come up with in the future!

 

[moriez]

@Garuspik

I sent two messages last month by means of the Contacts page on your website. Can you check if they landed in your spam folder and/or reply please? Thanks.

 

[lambdastorm]

Last time I checked the Verum definitely doesn't look like what's showing on the website now. What's with the design change?

 

[omniweltall]

Last time I checked the Verum definitely doesn't look like what's showing on the website now. What's with the design change?

Do you like it? It's mostly the same headphone with better aesthetics and comfort.

 

[HiFiVee]

Having received my Verum 1's last week, here are my initial impressions. These impressions are based on using the Verum 1s connected to the 3.5mm port of a THX AAA 789 amp (on high gain via a 34-ohm impedance plug) and with an Airist R-2R as the DAC, streaming TIDAL HiFi from a laptop via USB.

One word – TONALITY!! I love the way the Verum 1s convey music to my ears, without any EQ. I use Sonarworks Reference 4 for most (but not all) of my the other headphones (18 in all) and the production is near perfect. The midrange is exquisite, and the upper midrange and treble ranges (extension and clarity) are very, very good. My only slight qualm is the bass, both from an extension and depth perspective when compared to the likes of Audeze LCD-X. I need to do a closer comparison against the LCD-X and Fostex TR-X00 to compare bass quantity – I am sure the quality of the bass produced by the Verum 1s may surpass the LCD-X (I know it does the TR-X00), I just wish there was a bit more slam but retaining its accuracy at the same time. If there is a reason to EQ the Verum 1s, it will only be to boost the lower and sub-bass frequencies, but it would have been nice to have to not resort to EQ and run the risk of making the bass bloated and muddy.

From what I hear so far the Verum 1’s soundstage is not too bad but it will be interesting to see how much it differs when compared to my benchmark that is the Sennheiser HD 800 S, which I haven’t listened to in a while. Although I don’t expect the Verum 1s to match the HD 800 S, if it comes even remotely close then the Verum 1s will be my go-to allrounder.

The only issue I have faced so far is that the male 3.5mm jack terminating the provided cable is not compatible with the Blackberry KEY2’s headphone socket (i.e. the jack pops out without staying firmly connected) – looks like the connector is a touch shorter than required by the KEY2. I will see how it is when plugged into a Radsone EarStudio ES100, which I tend to use as my portable HiRes rig.

@Garuspik, all in all very pleased with the Verum 1. Very impressive, so hats off and well done to you – keep up the good work! When are you planning on releasing the Verum 2? I would love to have further details on the new version.

 

[Beagle]

I find that a spacious sound is one of the Verum 1's strong attributes.

 

[SilverEars]

I find that a spacious sound is one of the Verum 1's strong attributes.

Really, spacious? I didn't find Verum to be spacious at all. It doesn't have as much as headphones that are much more open. The way Verum is designed, it's fairly enclosed acoustically.

I would recommend the designer to try to make the next headphone as open as he can make it. Letting it breath will make the sound airy, and will improve imaging. It just sounded a bit closed for my taste, and the imagining suffers as result. If he can do this with a good tonality, I would probably digg it. Airiness for imaging is quite important for a lot of people.

Good attack with good open-ness and air helps for good imaging. Attack and decay to the open-ness.

 

[chrolls]

Really, spacious? I didn't find Verum to be spacious at all. It doesn't have as much as headphones that are much more open. The way Verum is designed, it's fairly enclosed acoustically.

I would recommend the designer to try to make the next headphone as open as he can make it. Letting it breath will make the sound airy, and will improve imaging. It just sounded a bit closed for my taste, and the imagining suffers as result. If he can do this with a good tonality, I would probably digg it. Airiness for imaging is quite important for a lot of people.

Good attack with good open-ness and air helps for good imaging. Attack and decay to the open-ness.

Really? There seems to something of a variance in people's opinions on this. Would you say the stage is even wider than the HD6x series at least?

 

[SilverEars]

Really? There seems to something of a variance in people's opinions on this. Would you say the stage is even wider than the HD6x series at least?

No way. Like I said, it's more enclosed. I think the frequency causes perceptiom of distal sounds, but that's different from real open airy sounds.

 

[omniweltall]

Really? There seems to something of a variance in people's opinions on this. Would you say the stage is even wider than the HD6x series at least?

I would say width-wise, about the same as HD6xx. Depth goes to the Verum. I also felt it's a bit closed in. I think the HD600 is airier.

To me, the Verum's strengths would be timbre, bass, and macro dynamics.

No way. Like I said, it's more enclosed. I think the frequency causes perceptiom of distal sounds, but that's different from real open airy sounds.

Many times we only realize stuffs when we compare things side by side. For people who has been using some headphones, the Verum might sound open.

 

[Beagle]

Really? There seems to something of a variance in people's opinions on this. Would you say the stage is even wider than the HD6x series at least?

Much more spacious and wide. More panoramic.

 

[ngoshawk]

Thought I would copy/paste my review from earlier last year here. I ended up purchasing a pair late last fall from @Todd . I really like the Verum 1, and may invest in the new headband system, when available. There are some changes to the grill, and headband as well as the leather band. Shipment delays due to Coronavirus, according to @Garuspik (passing this on, he can add more if needed). They look more mainstream now, but quite nice. Review is from last July, but I still feel the same. These are really, really good.


Thought I would rekindle the love for the Verum 1 here, since there are some changes. Spoiler alert, I bought a pair:


Pros:
Build.
Gorgeous wood.
AFFORDABLE.
Adjustable system.
Sound with quite good clarity.
Future purchase...

Cons:
Adjustment is a bit convoluted.
No case.
Thin cable.
Hello Kitty look when wearing (could be a positive to some...)
Can't wait for V2...

Verum Audio Verum 1: The story of one. ($349)

Verum 1 website: https://www.verum-audio.com/products
TTVJ site: https://www.ttvjaudio.com/Verum-1-Planar-Headphone-p/ver0000001.htm

I thank Todd for yet again coming through on a loaner tour for a product. He is a fabulous benefit to the audio community, and the Verum 1 is a very nice unit (not giving too much away yet…).

A Kickstarter project started as a result of one man deciding “he would do that differently,” the Verum 1 is the fruition of that vision. The first product from Verum Audio by Roman from the Ukraine, the Kickstarter funded well from Aug-Sept, 2018. Running independently now, the Verum 1 is sold direct or through TTVJ. The model sent is of Zebrano wood, replete with silver cup covers. And to be honest, look the best from the pictures of the three options. Good choice.

After taking some critiques from owners over the heat content of the pads, Roman designed and now sells perforated, angled lamb’s wool pads for an additional $25. Early reviews point to those being positive. Distribution problems tend to be diminishing as more are sent out. A positive Kickstarter with a (mostly) happy ending.

Specifications:

• 82 mm membrane made from 8 um mylar film
• 116 dB\V or 96 dB\mW sensitivity
• 520 grams
• 8 ohms

Gear used/compared (all prices USD unless specified otherwise):

Campfire Audio Cascade ($800)
HiFiMan Ananda ($999)
Mr. Speakers Ether C Flow 1.1 ($1600)
Sendy Aiva ($599)

Thebit Opus #2
Questyle QP2R
MBP/iFi Pro iDSD
XDuoo x10t ii/iFi xDSD

Songs used:

Coldplay-All I Can think About Is You
Coldplay-A Message
Coldplay-White Shadows
Dona Onete-Sonos de Adolescente
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (en Espanol)
twenty one pilots-Trees
twenty one pilots-Car Radio
twenty one pilots-Heathens
Damian Marley-Everybody Wants To Be Somebody
Damian Marley-So A Child May Follow
Damian Marley-The Struggle Discontinues
Ziggy Marley-Lighthouse
Ziggy Marely-See Dem Fake Leaders
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado

The new twenty one pilots album, Trench
Big Head Todd-Beautiful World
Tedeschi Trucks Band-anything

Unboxing:

Well…no offense but there isn’t one. The headphones came bubble wrapped along with the cables. That’s it. So, make it a surprise when you order. No case comes with them that I know of, but the unit should fit comfortably into a Mr. Speakers or equivalent case.


Fit-n-Finish:

Other than the Zebrano wood, my first look was at the cup holding metal strap. Sturdy, but looking like an old fogy imitating that Japanese music video of the young lass wearing cat-strapped headphones, thankfully the fit is good, and sound is better than those dime-store catphones. The metal strap is thick and serves to cant-in the headphone giving good pressure upon ones ears. Not overly pressurized, but on the snug side. Not as much as the Campfire Cascade, but snug. And, not quite as comfortable as my Sendy Aiva either. That said, long sessions worked and worked well.

A tensioning bolt mechanism on top serves to allow the two sides to swivel independently, giving good fore/aft swivel and fit. MUCH better than that abhorrent HiFiMan modeling. Free to swing on the horizontal point 360 degrees (without the cable), gives more fit comfort as well. This is a snug comfortable fit, with the pads fitting well over my ears. The overall unit is fairly heavy, but the fit allows one not to feel it like you would expect.

The Zebrano wood looks stunning. Coupled with the silver face plate, the look is quite elegant, belying the price point. The brushed aluminum face plate does show scratches, but if this was my pair, it would not. I akin this to the handling and shipping from the tour. Quality is good, very good. A mix of industrial and nouveau, the dark wood offsets the silver well, with the black hardware tying all together. A thick pleated black leather headband fits underneath, cradling the cranial matter well. By adjusting the bolted-on knobs up you are dropping moving the headband up, and thus the cups down. Not much movement, but I was comfortable with and without a hat at the same spot. I do wish the cups had a bit more of that gorgeous wood, but the brushed silver is not offensive in the least.

A thinner-than-normal cable rounds out the wares. 2.5mm plugs on the headphone lead to a looonngg separation above the splitter. No cinch strap, but I do not mind. Rubberized above, and fabric-wrapped below, the cable ends in a stout plug of the 6.35mm variety, complete with screw-off part changing it to a 3.5mm single end. Instead of the typical plastic protective sleeve, there is a 1” long bendable spring material as strain relief. A nice tough. The cable tangles a bit, but never in the way. Nice work.

Sound (including initial):

Upon arrival, I immediately hooked them up to my Shanling M5s to check all was OK. It was, and quickly I realized the Verum 1 needed more power. Harder to drive than many headphones I have heard, I could get it to work with DAP’s, but it really needs an amp in that situation. Plus, there is little isolation (it is open after all…) so I could hear the TV intrusion more so than the sound coming out to the outside world. An interesting if annoying twist.

Further thy dwell:

Once I had time for a longer listening session, I began to appreciate the sound. Bass is present enough to make you understand that while this might be a planar, it is there. Not Cascade-like, but respectable. Mellow mids bring forth a warmer-mid of which I like. No stress up top either. All seemed to be good, save the cat ears as supports. One could arguably craft some cat ears like you see at budget stores and put on the supports. I personally would not mind, since the sound is what I am after. Plus, this is not one I would take out and about. Since it isn’t portable, I would not recommend it anyway, so who cares!!

I find the sound intimate and narrower than many I have heard of late. I do not find this bothersome, but it can be claustrophobic to some. This would not bode well for orchestral movements, which almost require cavernous-sized sound stages to appreciate. It isn’t bad mind you, but others have mentioned the narrowness, so I would be remise If I did not. I still like it, and that narrow stage did not bother me. I focus on other aspects, which help me more.

Layering is pretty decent for a sub-$400 headphone, and planar as well. Not as good as the more expensive models tested below, but again that smooth mellowness shines through. This is not a headphone, which would be used to pump you or your attitude up. No, it is for those mellower times where you have a quiet place in which to listen as well as the appropriate music. Blues, Jazz, Reggae, and others will suffice as they all sounded superb through the Verum 1. I appreciated Artie Shaw through Tidal on the 1’s. I listened to Ziggy and it was good. I liked how Big Head Todd & The Monsters sounded on Boom Boom with John Lee Hooker and of course Crazy Mary. All was well and good, and quite presentable.

Comparisons:

Verum Audio Verum 1 ($349) v Campfire Audio Cascade ($800):

I’m not sure this is a valid comparison, but I did it anyway. The connection? Both companies approach the audio market with a passion to innovate and provide a top-quality product at an affordable price. Albeit different price-points, but the comparison is valid for that passion. The Cascade is a bass-heavy closed-back headphone of which I am very fond. That thunderous bass can overwhelm for sure, but it draws you in completely. That bass surrounds you and envelopes you. Of course, part of that could be the clamping pressure as well. That is about the only fault I can find.

I find that the Cascade has a bit better clarity as well. Maybe a better description would be separation of layers are more easily picked apart. Not that the Verum is off or bad, but you can definitely tell the price difference here. Plus, the stage is a bit wider on the Cascade. Intimate comes to mind with the Verum, but that isn’t bad. Both have their values, and I appreciate both approaches. Mids on the Cascade are a bit more forward and could become tedious at louder volumes to some. The Verum is definitely the more laid back of the pair.


Verum Audio Verum 1 ($349) v HiFiMan Ananda ($999):

From memory this one will be. The Ananda was my first foray into full-sized headphones from HiFiMan. I will openly admit I do not like the fit. Period. To not have some sort of rotational adjustment along the vertical plane of the gimbel is to me unacceptable. You ruin the evenness of pad pressure, and unless the pads are built for that extra pressure up front, the whole chamber of sound changes (I am not sure and might be openly criticizing something of which I do not know…). Parenthetical aspect aside, I find the Ananda acceptable sound wise, but not something that overly excites me the way the Verum does. When one considers the price, I can definitely accept the Verum, and spend the extra cash on a quite good amp.

The Ananda did have a bit better clarity as well, with a bit lower reach of bass. I count this to the design and history of making planar’s as the deciding factor. Wider of stage as well the Ananda would be more appealing to me at the $500 price point.


Verum Audio Verum 1 ($349) v Mr. Speakers Ether C Flow 1.1 ($1600):

This one is another throw in due to passion. The Ether-C is a passion of closed back headphones as the Verum is the passion of someone who wanted better in a headphone; much the way the Cascade is the passion of Campfire Audio. Therefore, I believe the comparison is again valid.

The Ether-C defines to me what a TOTL closed back should sound like. Clear, layered, sparkle, and exemplary vocals of either gender. Superb is not to be thrown around lightly, but that would most definitely fit. To me these are the finest I have tried this side of the Empyrean. I do not get to listen often enough, and when I do, I wish I had a single malt in hand and a fine Cuban. This is drawing room stuff on the order of a full-fledged home system (to me), and one can easily see the passion that sprouted from the want of raising an already pretty decent Fostex range to TOTL territory. And here again is where I can see and feel the vision of Verum. One man’s passion at sending us his vision, so that we may see the future at hand and wonder what would be next. THAT is the Verum…it gives us a glimpse into a music designer’s mind, much the way a ZMF or Mr. Speakers does. And that isn’t bad in my book.

Listening to Please Don’t Tell Her through the Opus #2 and Ether-C pretty much defines why I love the combination. Clarity, bass which defies what should be there and the sweet melodic voice and guitar. That solo alone is enough to melt. What a combination. The Verum represents itself well, but not as clear. A more mellow sound, one that fits a laid back evening is quite nice as well.

A bit bass- shy for me, I take care in the Ether-C quality of sound, for it is my reference of headphones, which sustains me. And in that vein, all is good. The Verum is an excellent try, and I wonder what will come down the road to either be more affordable (which the Verum 1 is already!) or move upscale.



Verum Audio Verum 1 ($349) v Sendy Aiva ($599):

The closest of the comparisons, the Sendy was much to do earlier this year as the Verum is now. Both affordable, both from small vendors trying to branch off and make a name, and both overall gorgeous at which to look. I will openly admit the look alone drew me into the Aiva. And through a good listening session, I verified that I did indeed like the sound and found it quite acceptable.

A more veiled sound in the mids hinders what is a pretty awesome package overall in the Sendy. I really fell for this when I first heard it. Call it “new car syndrome.” Once the newness wore off, I started to pick apart what could be better. It is a bit heavy, with clamp pressure of too light variety for me. Bass is “almost there.” Vocals fall behind others in this category, sliding behind the music. Not quite sparkly, but treble of good quality. Good, not great. That said, I find the Aiva laid back in the same manner as the Verum. Wider of stage, but slightly less clear than the Verum; nonetheless the Sendy is a marvel of beauty and sound. If this sound were in a package that cost under $400, this would be a steal. Oh…wait… No, the price is due to the intricate craftsmanship and to me worth it overall. I still really like the Aiva and pull it out often for comparative purposes or a listen with that single malt.

Finale:

You might think that the comparisons listed above were unfair, unjust or plain wrong. Well, that is your right as a reader, but I must disagree. In this day, when a newcomer makes the scene, they are expected to compete with the big boys, whether they like it or not. As such, one is certainly justified in comparing to the big boys. Others have made comparisons to manufacturers of which I have little experience. Therefore, it was my due diligence to fill in the missing blanks. And do so, I hope I did.

Comparing with models above can also give reference to where the new company might go or might aim. And in the case of the Verum 1, they have largely succeeded already. This is a very fine unit, regardless of price. And when one brings price into the equation, quickly vaults the Verum to the top echelon of headphones and certainly planar’s…more accordingly affordable planar’s. To think that this can be had for less than $400usd, you would think yourself crazed. There are other offerings at this price, especially ones I may not have experience; but for my experience, the Verum 1 is most definitely one of the top performing models in the sub-$500 price and definitely the sub-$400 market. Off-hand I cannot think of another, which brings all of what the Verum 1 brings to the fight. Excellent build, top quality sound, affordable price, and that quirky cat-support system make for a thoroughly enjoyable unit. One I will miss and may have to find some Hello Kitty pads to go over the gap, should I purchase a pair. It would be worth it.

Thanks again to Todd from Todd The Vinyl Junkie for a glorious opportunity to try gear. He is top notch, and a stellar representative of the audio world we call a “hobby.” Thank you, Todd! And a thank you to Verum for making such a fine affordable representative of the planar variety. Give it a try, I do not think you will be disappointed.

Big Head Todd & The Monster’s Please Don’t Tell Her closes my time, and this could mean “don’t tell my wife, that I may have purchased yet another pair of headphones”…

 

[conquerator2]

Yes, I continue to maintain that the Verums has one of the best tonalities in a headphone, period. Reference sounding, accurate timbre, with that hint of smoothness to prevent it sounding harsh or abrasive like some headphones like to do. I'd say they still sound somewhere in between; not super intimate neither very spacious but this is something I am very picky about and so still find them sufficient to not complain about it :]

So definitely still an all fingers recommendation from me; I wish companies bring back affordable headphones again though I am not holding my breath. Good that there's Verum 2 coming! I am also excited for the improved headband to become available for purchase!

 

[kintsaki]

Thought I would copy/paste my review from earlier last year here. I ended up purchasing a pair late last fall from @Todd . I really like the Verum 1, and may invest in the new headband system, when available. There are some changes to the grill, and headband as well as the leather band. Shipment delays due to Coronavirus, according to @Garuspik (passing this on, he can add more if needed). They look more mainstream now, but quite nice. Review is from last July, but I still feel the same. These are really, really good.


Thought I would rekindle the love for the Verum 1 here, since there are some changes. Spoiler alert, I bought a pair:


Pros:
Build.
Gorgeous wood.
AFFORDABLE.
Adjustable system.
Sound with quite good clarity.
Future purchase...

Cons:
Adjustment is a bit convoluted.
No case.
Thin cable.
Hello Kitty look when wearing (could be a positive to some...)
Can't wait for V2...

Verum Audio Verum 1: The story of one. ($349)

Verum 1 website: https://www.verum-audio.com/products
TTVJ site: https://www.ttvjaudio.com/Verum-1-Planar-Headphone-p/ver0000001.htm

I thank Todd for yet again coming through on a loaner tour for a product. He is a fabulous benefit to the audio community, and the Verum 1 is a very nice unit (not giving too much away yet…).

A Kickstarter project started as a result of one man deciding “he would do that differently,” the Verum 1 is the fruition of that vision. The first product from Verum Audio by Roman from the Ukraine, the Kickstarter funded well from Aug-Sept, 2018. Running independently now, the Verum 1 is sold direct or through TTVJ. The model sent is of Zebrano wood, replete with silver cup covers. And to be honest, look the best from the pictures of the three options. Good choice.

After taking some critiques from owners over the heat content of the pads, Roman designed and now sells perforated, angled lamb’s wool pads for an additional $25. Early reviews point to those being positive. Distribution problems tend to be diminishing as more are sent out. A positive Kickstarter with a (mostly) happy ending.

Specifications:

• 82 mm membrane made from 8 um mylar film
• 116 dB\V or 96 dB\mW sensitivity
• 520 grams
• 8 ohms

Gear used/compared (all prices USD unless specified otherwise):

Campfire Audio Cascade ($800)
HiFiMan Ananda ($999)
Mr. Speakers Ether C Flow 1.1 ($1600)
Sendy Aiva ($599)

Thebit Opus #2
Questyle QP2R
MBP/iFi Pro iDSD
XDuoo x10t ii/iFi xDSD

Songs used:

Coldplay-All I Can think About Is You
Coldplay-A Message
Coldplay-White Shadows
Dona Onete-Sonos de Adolescente
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (en Espanol)
twenty one pilots-Trees
twenty one pilots-Car Radio
twenty one pilots-Heathens
Damian Marley-Everybody Wants To Be Somebody
Damian Marley-So A Child May Follow
Damian Marley-The Struggle Discontinues
Ziggy Marley-Lighthouse
Ziggy Marely-See Dem Fake Leaders
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado

The new twenty one pilots album, Trench
Big Head Todd-Beautiful World
Tedeschi Trucks Band-anything

Unboxing:

Well…no offense but there isn’t one. The headphones came bubble wrapped along with the cables. That’s it. So, make it a surprise when you order. No case comes with them that I know of, but the unit should fit comfortably into a Mr. Speakers or equivalent case.


Fit-n-Finish:

Other than the Zebrano wood, my first look was at the cup holding metal strap. Sturdy, but looking like an old fogy imitating that Japanese music video of the young lass wearing cat-strapped headphones, thankfully the fit is good, and sound is better than those dime-store catphones. The metal strap is thick and serves to cant-in the headphone giving good pressure upon ones ears. Not overly pressurized, but on the snug side. Not as much as the Campfire Cascade, but snug. And, not quite as comfortable as my Sendy Aiva either. That said, long sessions worked and worked well.

A tensioning bolt mechanism on top serves to allow the two sides to swivel independently, giving good fore/aft swivel and fit. MUCH better than that abhorrent HiFiMan modeling. Free to swing on the horizontal point 360 degrees (without the cable), gives more fit comfort as well. This is a snug comfortable fit, with the pads fitting well over my ears. The overall unit is fairly heavy, but the fit allows one not to feel it like you would expect.

The Zebrano wood looks stunning. Coupled with the silver face plate, the look is quite elegant, belying the price point. The brushed aluminum face plate does show scratches, but if this was my pair, it would not. I akin this to the handling and shipping from the tour. Quality is good, very good. A mix of industrial and nouveau, the dark wood offsets the silver well, with the black hardware tying all together. A thick pleated black leather headband fits underneath, cradling the cranial matter well. By adjusting the bolted-on knobs up you are dropping moving the headband up, and thus the cups down. Not much movement, but I was comfortable with and without a hat at the same spot. I do wish the cups had a bit more of that gorgeous wood, but the brushed silver is not offensive in the least.

A thinner-than-normal cable rounds out the wares. 2.5mm plugs on the headphone lead to a looonngg separation above the splitter. No cinch strap, but I do not mind. Rubberized above, and fabric-wrapped below, the cable ends in a stout plug of the 6.35mm variety, complete with screw-off part changing it to a 3.5mm single end. Instead of the typical plastic protective sleeve, there is a 1” long bendable spring material as strain relief. A nice tough. The cable tangles a bit, but never in the way. Nice work.

Sound (including initial):

Upon arrival, I immediately hooked them up to my Shanling M5s to check all was OK. It was, and quickly I realized the Verum 1 needed more power. Harder to drive than many headphones I have heard, I could get it to work with DAP’s, but it really needs an amp in that situation. Plus, there is little isolation (it is open after all…) so I could hear the TV intrusion more so than the sound coming out to the outside world. An interesting if annoying twist.

Further thy dwell:

Once I had time for a longer listening session, I began to appreciate the sound. Bass is present enough to make you understand that while this might be a planar, it is there. Not Cascade-like, but respectable. Mellow mids bring forth a warmer-mid of which I like. No stress up top either. All seemed to be good, save the cat ears as supports. One could arguably craft some cat ears like you see at budget stores and put on the supports. I personally would not mind, since the sound is what I am after. Plus, this is not one I would take out and about. Since it isn’t portable, I would not recommend it anyway, so who cares!!

I find the sound intimate and narrower than many I have heard of late. I do not find this bothersome, but it can be claustrophobic to some. This would not bode well for orchestral movements, which almost require cavernous-sized sound stages to appreciate. It isn’t bad mind you, but others have mentioned the narrowness, so I would be remise If I did not. I still like it, and that narrow stage did not bother me. I focus on other aspects, which help me more.

Layering is pretty decent for a sub-$400 headphone, and planar as well. Not as good as the more expensive models tested below, but again that smooth mellowness shines through. This is not a headphone, which would be used to pump you or your attitude up. No, it is for those mellower times where you have a quiet place in which to listen as well as the appropriate music. Blues, Jazz, Reggae, and others will suffice as they all sounded superb through the Verum 1. I appreciated Artie Shaw through Tidal on the 1’s. I listened to Ziggy and it was good. I liked how Big Head Todd & The Monsters sounded on Boom Boom with John Lee Hooker and of course Crazy Mary. All was well and good, and quite presentable.

Comparisons:

Verum Audio Verum 1 ($349) v Campfire Audio Cascade ($800):

I’m not sure this is a valid comparison, but I did it anyway. The connection? Both companies approach the audio market with a passion to innovate and provide a top-quality product at an affordable price. Albeit different price-points, but the comparison is valid for that passion. The Cascade is a bass-heavy closed-back headphone of which I am very fond. That thunderous bass can overwhelm for sure, but it draws you in completely. That bass surrounds you and envelopes you. Of course, part of that could be the clamping pressure as well. That is about the only fault I can find.

I find that the Cascade has a bit better clarity as well. Maybe a better description would be separation of layers are more easily picked apart. Not that the Verum is off or bad, but you can definitely tell the price difference here. Plus, the stage is a bit wider on the Cascade. Intimate comes to mind with the Verum, but that isn’t bad. Both have their values, and I appreciate both approaches. Mids on the Cascade are a bit more forward and could become tedious at louder volumes to some. The Verum is definitely the more laid back of the pair.


Verum Audio Verum 1 ($349) v HiFiMan Ananda ($999):

From memory this one will be. The Ananda was my first foray into full-sized headphones from HiFiMan. I will openly admit I do not like the fit. Period. To not have some sort of rotational adjustment along the vertical plane of the gimbel is to me unacceptable. You ruin the evenness of pad pressure, and unless the pads are built for that extra pressure up front, the whole chamber of sound changes (I am not sure and might be openly criticizing something of which I do not know…). Parenthetical aspect aside, I find the Ananda acceptable sound wise, but not something that overly excites me the way the Verum does. When one considers the price, I can definitely accept the Verum, and spend the extra cash on a quite good amp.

The Ananda did have a bit better clarity as well, with a bit lower reach of bass. I count this to the design and history of making planar’s as the deciding factor. Wider of stage as well the Ananda would be more appealing to me at the $500 price point.


Verum Audio Verum 1 ($349) v Mr. Speakers Ether C Flow 1.1 ($1600):

This one is another throw in due to passion. The Ether-C is a passion of closed back headphones as the Verum is the passion of someone who wanted better in a headphone; much the way the Cascade is the passion of Campfire Audio. Therefore, I believe the comparison is again valid.

The Ether-C defines to me what a TOTL closed back should sound like. Clear, layered, sparkle, and exemplary vocals of either gender. Superb is not to be thrown around lightly, but that would most definitely fit. To me these are the finest I have tried this side of the Empyrean. I do not get to listen often enough, and when I do, I wish I had a single malt in hand and a fine Cuban. This is drawing room stuff on the order of a full-fledged home system (to me), and one can easily see the passion that sprouted from the want of raising an already pretty decent Fostex range to TOTL territory. And here again is where I can see and feel the vision of Verum. One man’s passion at sending us his vision, so that we may see the future at hand and wonder what would be next. THAT is the Verum…it gives us a glimpse into a music designer’s mind, much the way a ZMF or Mr. Speakers does. And that isn’t bad in my book.

Listening to Please Don’t Tell Her through the Opus #2 and Ether-C pretty much defines why I love the combination. Clarity, bass which defies what should be there and the sweet melodic voice and guitar. That solo alone is enough to melt. What a combination. The Verum represents itself well, but not as clear. A more mellow sound, one that fits a laid back evening is quite nice as well.

A bit bass- shy for me, I take care in the Ether-C quality of sound, for it is my reference of headphones, which sustains me. And in that vein, all is good. The Verum is an excellent try, and I wonder what will come down the road to either be more affordable (which the Verum 1 is already!) or move upscale.



Verum Audio Verum 1 ($349) v Sendy Aiva ($599):

The closest of the comparisons, the Sendy was much to do earlier this year as the Verum is now. Both affordable, both from small vendors trying to branch off and make a name, and both overall gorgeous at which to look. I will openly admit the look alone drew me into the Aiva. And through a good listening session, I verified that I did indeed like the sound and found it quite acceptable.

A more veiled sound in the mids hinders what is a pretty awesome package overall in the Sendy. I really fell for this when I first heard it. Call it “new car syndrome.” Once the newness wore off, I started to pick apart what could be better. It is a bit heavy, with clamp pressure of too light variety for me. Bass is “almost there.” Vocals fall behind others in this category, sliding behind the music. Not quite sparkly, but treble of good quality. Good, not great. That said, I find the Aiva laid back in the same manner as the Verum. Wider of stage, but slightly less clear than the Verum; nonetheless the Sendy is a marvel of beauty and sound. If this sound were in a package that cost under $400, this would be a steal. Oh…wait… No, the price is due to the intricate craftsmanship and to me worth it overall. I still really like the Aiva and pull it out often for comparative purposes or a listen with that single malt.

Finale:

You might think that the comparisons listed above were unfair, unjust or plain wrong. Well, that is your right as a reader, but I must disagree. In this day, when a newcomer makes the scene, they are expected to compete with the big boys, whether they like it or not. As such, one is certainly justified in comparing to the big boys. Others have made comparisons to manufacturers of which I have little experience. Therefore, it was my due diligence to fill in the missing blanks. And do so, I hope I did.

Comparing with models above can also give reference to where the new company might go or might aim. And in the case of the Verum 1, they have largely succeeded already. This is a very fine unit, regardless of price. And when one brings price into the equation, quickly vaults the Verum to the top echelon of headphones and certainly planar’s…more accordingly affordable planar’s. To think that this can be had for less than $400usd, you would think yourself crazed. There are other offerings at this price, especially ones I may not have experience; but for my experience, the Verum 1 is most definitely one of the top performing models in the sub-$500 price and definitely the sub-$400 market. Off-hand I cannot think of another, which brings all of what the Verum 1 brings to the fight. Excellent build, top quality sound, affordable price, and that quirky cat-support system make for a thoroughly enjoyable unit. One I will miss and may have to find some Hello Kitty pads to go over the gap, should I purchase a pair. It would be worth it.

Thanks again to Todd from Todd The Vinyl Junkie for a glorious opportunity to try gear. He is top notch, and a stellar representative of the audio world we call a “hobby.” Thank you, Todd! And a thank you to Verum for making such a fine affordable representative of the planar variety. Give it a try, I do not think you will be disappointed.

Big Head Todd & The Monster’s Please Don’t Tell Her closes my time, and this could mean “don’t tell my wife, that I may have purchased yet another pair of headphones”…

Thank you for a great review.

I could not have said it better my self.

The Ether C flow is also my reference headphone.

I think it will be easy and inexpensive for @Garuspik to top it
by 1) using a pleated diafragm like the one that Dan Clark uses and
2) adding an optional outer cup
that can be attached to it using a magnetic ring like the one in the pads.

I have alrready done number 2 myself with astonising results.