[Nick-s-f]

@Wes S, I noticed you have both the Aeolus and Atticus. Are they that different enough sounding (in a good way), or do you like to keep a closed-back variation of an Aeolus; I know the Atticus came first, but I really would appreciate your feedback having a lot of listening time with both headphones.

(A little voice has been in my head for 2+ years to get an Atticus).

I own both the Atticus and Aeolus as well and can offer some input.

Atticus has wider stage but is also slightly peaky in comparison. I use Ori Suede pads, fwiw. Perceivable detail is staggering and it feels like the headphone you want to use to examine your music with, sort of like a microscope.

When I go back over to Aeolus it is a completely different and unique experience. More cohesive, realistic and makes you forget you are wearing headphones.

They may not have too-different of sound signatures, but they present music in two entirely different ways.

Atticus = examine your music
Aeolus = enjoy the music

 

[Wes S]

@Wes S, I noticed you have both the Aeolus and Atticus. Are they that different enough sounding (in a good way), or do you like to keep a closed-back variation of an Aeolus; I know the Atticus came first, but I really would appreciate your feedback having a lot of listening time with both headphones.

(A little voice has been in my head for 2+ years to get an Atticus).

They are different enough to have both regardless of open vs. closed in my opinion. They do both have the ZMF house sound in the mids, and the Atticus is my number 1, and I absolutely love them. The Atticus has more midbass punch, and a bit more forward and immediate sounding mids, and especially vocals. The Aeolus is more diffused sounding and has more of a subbass focus, with better extension up top. I listen to a lot of acoustic guitar and jazz and the Atticus is perfection. However, the Atticus is more picky with amps, and the Aeolus sounds great on everything. The Atticus sounds tight and neutralish on solid state amps, and really opens up and comes alive with an OTL. The Atticus is more of a specialist and a damn good one at that, vs. the Aeolus being a better all around set.

 

[Wes S]

I own both the Atticus and Aeolus as well and can offer some input.

Atticus has wider stage but is also slightly peaky in comparison. I use Ori Suede pads, fwiw. Perceivable detail is staggering and it feels like the headphone you want to use to examine your music with, sort of like a microscope.

When I go back over to Aeolus it is a completely different and unique experience. More cohesive, realistic and makes you forget you are wearing headphones.

They may not have too-different of sound signatures, but they present music in two entirely different ways.

Atticus = examine your music
Aeolus = enjoy the music

Amps and DAC make a big difference with the Atticus, and I agree with almost everything said. However, I would not say the Aeolus sounds more realistic than the Atticus with my setup. Maybe it's the music I listen to, but Agnes Obel, Ottmar Liebert, and Punch Brothers all sound just as realistic or more with my Atticus than with my Aeolus. I would just say it's more like being on stage or front row with the Atticus and it's like sitting several rows back with the Aeolus. I am there at the show, with both headphones.

I use stock Ori leather pads on Atticus and U. Suede Perf on my Aeolus for reference, by the way.

 

[Wes S]

@Nick-s-f if you have not already, I suggest trying your Atticus on an OTL. I just have the Valhalla 2 at the moment, and with some pretty special tubes in it, I have never heard my Atticus sound so good.

The Atty sounded pretty darn good on the Bottlehead Crack, but the V2 with some special tubes is insane. If anyone is looking for an affordable tube amp, that will make the Atticus sing, I suggest picking up a Valhalla 2 and some Brimar CV4033 tubes and adapters from Tubemonger. The tubes cost $90 for a pair, adapters cost $50 for a pair, and take this little amp to another league of performance.

I had a "hot rodded" Liquid Platinum with better caps, and tubes, that has been said to rival $1500 to $2000 amps from people that owned both, and my V2 is so much better, that I sold off the LP.

Synergy is real.

 

[Nick-s-f]

@Wes S Been using all my hps on the Jotunheim 1 running balanced. I used to have a V2 back in 2016 but preferred the simplicity of a solid state amp.

 

[YtseJamer]

@Wes S but preferred the simplicity of a solid state amp.

I ordered the Jotunheim 2 and I will probably sell my LP if the Jot 2 is a good match with the Aeolus and the VC. Every time I buy a new tube amp, I end up spending more money on tubes than on the actual amp.

 

[JCANs]

What about the RME ADI-2? Would that also be a good option for the Aeolus? I suppose the headphone out would be powerful enough to drive the hp.

 

[Pharmaboy]

Once you start the tube game you will lose alot of money while increasing your tube collection.

I never believed in tubes before I tried it myself. You will love the increased soundstage, lush mids and soft treble. It's really a wet sound and has a nice synergy with Zmf headphones.
After changing tubes it feels like you just bought a new amp that's awesome.

Still eagerly waiting for my Zmf Vérité in desert ironwood to be shipped so I can enjoy it on the euforia
Hopefully that will be my personal endgame.

Pls post pictures when it arrives. Desert ironwood messed up my head, it's so beautiful...

 

[Pharmaboy]

Exactly, one of the reasons I love the Aeolus is because it ISN'T neutral. But I can understand why someone might want to push Aeolus a little towards neutral - everyone's tastes are different, after all.

The most neutral I've heard the Aeolus sound (still sounding very good & like its playful self) is with Verite lambskin pads. That mid-bass hump is almost (not quite) gone, and overall the frequencies are flatter. That's still a fun & musical sound, but quite well behaved.

My preference is the universe perf. suede, but now & again the Verite pads make a nice change of pace.

 

[NickT23]

They are different enough to have both regardless of open vs. closed in my opinion. They do both have the ZMF house sound in the mids, and the Atticus is my number 1, and I absolutely love them. The Atticus has more midbass punch, and a bit more forward and immediate sounding mids, and especially vocals. The Aeolus is more diffused sounding and has more of a subbass focus, with better extension up top. I listen to a lot of acoustic guitar and jazz and the Atticus is perfection. However, the Atticus is more picky with amps, and the Aeolus sounds great on everything. The Atticus sounds tight and neutralish on solid state amps, and really opens up and comes alive with an OTL. The Atticus is more of a specialist and a damn good one at that, vs. the Aeolus being a better all around set.

well said

 

[CoFire]

I have many, many notes on Aeolus and the ear pads. Does anyone have any experience AB'ing the Universe Suede Perforated and the Universe Hybrid Perforated pads on the Aeolus? I'm torn between the two! Thanks.

 

[YtseJamer]

I have many, many notes on Aeolus and the ear pads. Does anyone have any experience AB'ing the Universe Suede Perforated and the Universe Hybrid Perforated pads on the Aeolus? I'm torn between the two! Thanks.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf-aeolus-impressions-thread.890441/page-245#post-16137046

I'm not sure it's a good idea to go with the Universe Hybrid pads.

 

[Renexx]

What about the RME ADI-2? Would that also be a good option for the Aeolus? I suppose the headphone out would be powerful enough to drive the hp.

The RME is a nice combination for the Aeolus. More than enough power for a good price and small form factor.
I also tested the Ifi pro Idsd and Ican pro for 5 times the price and the RME performs on the same level with the Aeolus.

I found it was only worth to go into tubes to tailor sound more to your liking than upgrading my solid state amp.

 

[ColdsnapBry]

I thought this soid state vs tubes on the Aeolus discussion were interesting. I have had my eyes on the Aeolus for a bit, but I like the simplicity of solid state. I was a bit worried this might limit my enjoyment with the Aeolus, as I hear it sounds really good with OTL tube amps.

I have a schiit asgard 3 with the built in AK dac.

 

[PopZeus]

Yeah, I powered the Aeolus with a solid state amp for almost a year and when I finally found a tube amp (not OTL) that I could use without much fuss, the whole thing clicked for me on another level.