I'm sorry to hear that, you story is very touching. If
@zach915m could do some magic, like giving you the chance to buy a demo or a b-stock version, I would be willing to contribute and cover the shipping fees for you.
I'm very grateful for the gesture, but even if this was a possibility, I haven't done anything at all to deserve anything like that - and while I should have some extra euros in my hands later this year once my insurance company finally pays up, it'll be a few hundred max and until then I'm making "rent vs everything else" type of decisions every month. I'm sure there are people here who'd be actually deserving of something like that - honestly, I'm not.
I forgot to include this; Bevin, knowing my then-starting health struggles included in my suede headband order a ZMF coaster with a hand-written get well soon -message on the backside. How many companies do you know of that do something like that? You constantly get the feeling that they genuinely care. Rarely is customer support actually just really supportive.
Not to sound like a total shill, but I also know of a friend who bought I think an Atticus pair 2nd hand, which then proceeded to have a driver issue. Despite the warranty not being transferable,
@zach915m still respected it and offered to fix the headphones free of charge. That sort of stuff makes it easier to buy headphones costing over a thousand € - knowing that ZMF has your back. Also noteworthy I think, is that I've yet to hear a single horror story about ZMF. Just about every other company has atleast a few bad experiences that you hear about. With ZMF, it's just people telling me how nice the people at ZMF are, and how good the support is. The worst I've heard is people complaining about having to wait a few weeks, but that's not exactly a shock considering it's handmade artesan headphones we're talking about here.
On another note, this might be known to everyone already - but to anyone thinking of getting the Aeolus; please get universe perforated suede pads! I think the pad change really unleashes the Aeolus' hidden potential. I was personally shocked by how much detail and resolution the headphones were hiding. If nothing else, you'll have access to a more balanced and detailed listening experience at your disposal at the change of a pad - two headphones in one!
I swear I'm done kissing Zach's bottom for good now! I've been wanting to say all this for a while now, but my mind's been preoccupied with just survival and trying to find the right headphones for people I know. The Aeolus and Zach & Bevin helped me get through some pretty awful stuff, including some pretty bad diagnoses, and left a huge impression on me that I'll carry with me until the end. Even my "once-I-win-the-lottery" dream set has gone from Susvara to a Verite C ltd & Pendant. I've gone full-on fanboy!
Edit: fixed pad recommendation
I did not think it would make such a difference, but the sound is night and day. Clear, adequate treble extension without the sibilance. Vocals are even more natural, the timbre has improved and i can't stop bouncing my head with the music. In the Auteurs defense it still excels in it's neutrality, and i might need to buy a B-stock or demo once november comes around.
