[tlcocks]

Too funny but true. As long as you have a bit of money to play with and don’t mind losing some in the process it’s fun but then you need to stop for a while.

I don’t find this happens as much with me. Get good gear and then high end EQ tweak to exact sound sig taste saves me a crap ton of mula in gear swapping. Much prefer this approach. I do gradual purposeful incremental gear upgrades infrequently. Fortunately I’m already operating at technically a pretty good level.

 

[goldwerger]

I did and for overall bass impact and balanced sig if I boost treble slightly I prefer the lambs. The dynamics are a bit more immediate and intimate with the lambs as well.

Makes sense, and about 50% prefer each, so if you tried that’s good. Enjoy..!

 

[Failed Engineer]

@zach915m Any thoughts on Be2 or Verite pads with the Caldera pad perforation pattern (solid inner walls)? I like what the solid Be2 lambskin pads did and I'm an overall adherent of thinnest pads on ZMFs, but there is a loss of space with them. I'm wondering what Verite pads with solid inner walls would sound like on AC.

 

[hanumanbob]

I don’t find this happens as much with me. Get good gear and then high end EQ tweak to exact sound sig taste saves me a crap ton of mula in gear swapping. Much prefer this approach. I do gradual purposeful incremental gear upgrades infrequently. Fortunately I’m already operating at technically a pretty good level.

You’re way more disciplined than I am. I had to buy or try at least 10-12 headphones until I came on my current 2 sets. It was a difficult but fun process. Now I’ve slowed down except on my portable DAC/amp/DAP situation. I’m still trying to work that out

 

[zach915m]

@zach915m Any thoughts on Be2 or Verite pads with the Caldera pad perforation pattern (solid inner walls)? I like what the solid Be2 lambskin pads did and I'm an overall adherent of thinnest pads on ZMFs, but there is a loss of space with them. I'm wondering what Verite pads with solid inner walls would sound like on AC.

I haven't tried non Caldera pads since the R/D stage on the AC - might be worth going back to - but - the BE2 pads and Caldera thin are very similar in how they work with the earside volume, the Caldera pads are just more ergonomic and perforated differently.

Overall I'd suggest further explorations in the BOKEH pad library if looking for more textures. I'll take some measurements and maybe make another video ASAP.

 

[LXMc]

I haven't tried non Caldera pads since the R/D stage on the AC - might be worth going back to - but - the BE2 pads and Caldera thin are very similar in how they work with the earside volume, the Caldera pads are just more ergonomic and perforated differently.

@heliosphann - we're gonna need you to create a website where you can select your ZMF model and then choose from a dropdown of all available ZMF pads and you get a specific writeup about that combo

 

[heliosphann]

@heliosphann - we're gonna need you to create a website where you can select your ZMF model and then choose from a dropdown of all available ZMF pads and you get a specific writeup about that combo

Pretty, pretty, pretty good idea.

That way I could condense everything to one central location.

 

[Failed Engineer]

Is there a semi-perforated (solid inner wall, perforated outer) Bokeh pad? Or is that all Bokeh pads? And there doesn't seem to be a Lambskin version? Now I'm confused!

 

[Kimiifrit]

Is there any lambskin pad that performs similarly to Caldera Suede?

I absolutely love the balanced sound signature of the Suede, but it doesn't work along with eyeglasses very well, everytime I move my head around there would be some annoying noises from the pads rubbing against my eyeglass legs. Usually leather pads don't have such issues for me.

My CanJam purchase only came with one set of pads, so I haven't tried pads other than Caldera Suede. I would love to have a bit more upper-mids/treble presence, but definitely no more elevated bass. Is the Caldera thin still my best bet?

 

[cats4cans]

Pretty, pretty, pretty good idea.

That way I could condense everything to one central location.

You should also add in few imaginary pads that don’t exist (yet), just for fun. Snakeskin, Unicorn hide, Corinthian leather, neoprene, or sharkskin.

 

[heliosphann]

You should also add in few imaginary pads that don’t exist (yet), just for fun. Snakeskin, Unicorn hide, Corinthian leather, neoprene, or sharkskin.

Those will be the Zeos approved pads.

 

[tlcocks]

Brief th900 AC comparisons:
Fostex punchier bass with a bit more quantity. But sharper spiked treble for sure. Smaller sound stage. Image specificity falls behind a bit compared to AC. Just a tad. And while both HPs have recessed mids, the Fostex is slightly more recessed. The AC has more flat linear more formally correct mids though. Fostex mids enticing but always felt a little weird. I think because of the higher up 6 ish k treble spike, whose harmonic texture probably affects its mids lower down. If it weren’t for the treble spike I’d have happily kept the th900 and not shopped. But the treble spike is unforgivable.

 

[sp33ls]

You have to find the one that breaks the chain haha. Thats when you know.

For me it was realizing that I’d never find the “one,” but rather “the few.”
Mainly due to how most TOTL cans are specialists vs generalists.

In fact, I ended up having to buy the Verite Open and Sony Z1R a second time. It took rotating through the “latest and greatest,” to fully appreciate what I had.

I’m no longer perusing new and upcoming headphones…

 

[zach915m]

Is there any lambskin pad that performs similarly to Caldera Suede?

I absolutely love the balanced sound signature of the Suede, but it doesn't work along with eyeglasses very well, everytime I move my head around there would be some annoying noises from the pads rubbing against my eyeglass legs. Usually leather pads don't have such issues for me.

My CanJam purchase only came with one set of pads, so I haven't tried pads other than Caldera Suede. I would love to have a bit more upper-mids/treble presence, but definitely no more elevated bass. Is the Caldera thin still my best bet?

There's not another pad that sounds just like the Suede in a different material, as the material does change the sound quite a bit. The stock lambskin will add some bass for sure but it is located at a low frequency - so it may not be as obtrusive as you might think?

 

[Toonartist]

You should also add in few imaginary pads that don’t exist (yet), just for fun. Snakeskin, Unicorn hide, Corinthian leather, neoprene, or sharkskin.

Rawhide… it really brings out the atmosphere of those old western movies or, when listening to Country music!