ZMF Atrium - new open-back co-flagship

[ColSaulTigh]

What other pads are you comparing them to?

Universe Lamb, Universe Hybrid, and Auteur Lamb.

 

[Mike C]

Just a quick addendum: the stock coupling cap is a Solen on these amps. It's both very easy to get to in this amp and there is room around them for a larger replacement cap. Very simple and worthwhile upgrade on the HP8.

Very worthwhile! Most Solens are not very good sounding.
I have tried a whole lot of coupling caps including Mundorf SGO (very good indeed), Jupiter, teflon, russian PIO, other PIO, many more.
I now have a new favourite that I prefer to all the above and can give it a strong recommendation; VCAP ODAM.
As well as highly transparent, I find it the most natural sounding cap I have ever used. Note well.
Also it is very small size so is easy to fit.

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

I'm looking to try Universe Suede pads with the Atrium based on the descriptions here. I assume most people here who have commented on the Universe Suedes are talking about Suede perforated pads but would be great if that could be confirmed.

Also if anyone can share impressions on the non-perforated Universe Suede with the Atrium that would be much appreciated.

 

[YtseJamer]

Also if anyone can share impressions on the non-perforated Universe Suede with the Atrium that would be much appreciated.

Non-perforated pads are for closed headphones.

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

Non-perforated pads are for closed headphones.

I thought it was as straightforward as that but then I read this from the ZMF Pad advice page which suggests that non-perforated also work well with open headphones, adding bass.

I'm wondering if solid suede universe pads would add a tasteful bass lift to the Atrium without overdoing or muddying the rest of the frequency response (as I imagine solid lambskin universe pads would) and without narrowing the stage in the way the BE2 pads seems to.

 

[heliosphann]

I thought it was as straightforward as that but then I read this from the ZMF Pad advice page which suggests that non-perforated also work well with open headphones, adding bass.



I'm wondering if solid suede universe pads would add a tasteful bass lift to the Atrium without overdoing or muddying the rest of the frequency response (as I imagine solid lambskin universe pads would) and without narrowing the stage in the way the BE2 pads seems to.

I've tried quite a few non-perf pads on open back ZMFs and they all sounded... not good.

 

[ColSaulTigh]

I've tried quite a few non-perf pads on open back ZMFs and they all sounded... not good.

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

Guess I'll be sticking with perfs. Thanks!

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

Last night, i finally tried my Universe Suede pads on my Atrium and the results are not what i was hoping for. The sound seemed bloated in the mid bass which then bleed into the mids and vocals, turning the sound a lot darker than i was hoping for. It still retained the wide, open soundstage of the universe lamb, but some of the fun, sparkly aspects of the Atrium sound was gone. Overall the sound became veiled.

I honestly dont know whats going on here, as peeps from this forums have had good experience with the Universe Suede pads, unfortunately, thats not the case for me. Going to back to Universe lamb for the moment, might experiment with BE2 pads today.

Are your suede pads perforated or solid?

 

[shafat777]

Are your suede pads perforated or solid?

I only use recommended pad type for zmf. Solid for closed back, perf for open back

 

[zach915m]

I thought it was as straightforward as that but then I read this from the ZMF Pad advice page which suggests that non-perforated also work well with open headphones, adding bass.



I'm wondering if solid suede universe pads would add a tasteful bass lift to the Atrium without overdoing or muddying the rest of the frequency response (as I imagine solid lambskin universe pads would) and without narrowing the stage in the way the BE2 pads seems to.

I've tried quite a few non-perf pads on open back ZMFs and they all sounded... not good.

I think that's a typo on our site, I'll correct it! Definitely DO NOT used solid pads on the open headphones and vice versa. Unless you like crazy sound.

EDIT: I think this section of the site is talking about "headphones" in general, not just ZMF's as some open headphones do use solid pads, like Audeze. I have changed the wording and made that more specific. Sorry about that!

 

[zach915m]

Just a reminder, the Cocobolo Atriums will be available for the next 24 hrs or so and then we are going to take them down, we only have about 5 or so sets of wood left for this run that haven't been machined. So if you want a Cocobolo Atrium, now is the time!

https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/collections/hot-cup-summer/products/atrium-ltd-cocobolo

 

[KrauserX91]

@zach915m dont know if it is also a bug, but I bought the bloodwood Salire because when I selected the Purpleheart in dropdown it goes grey and some options disapear, its because out of stock?

You can try, it still showing purpleheart but when selected weird thing happening.

 

[zach915m]

@zach915m dont know if it is also a bug, but I bought the bloodwood Salire because when I selected the Purpleheart in dropdown it goes grey and some options disapear, its because out of stock?




You can try, it still showing purpleheart but when selected weird thing happening.

Oh - sorry about that, yes a gray box that doesn't allow you to add it means out of stock. We are making more purple hearts asap.

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

I think that's a typo on our site, I'll correct it! Definitely DO NOT used solid pads on the open headphones and vice versa. Unless you like crazy sound.

EDIT: I think this section of the site is talking about "headphones" in general, not just ZMF's as some open headphones do use solid pads, like Audeze. I have changed the wording and made that more specific. Sorry about that!

Thanks! Got the Universe Suede Perforated on the way to try on the Cocobolo Atrium