The "aggressiveness/glare" and any of that stuff is very user/chain/volume level based and is going to vary so much user to user, that I don't think any finite statement can cover each listener/owner. I always recommend owners check out the Atrium with stock pads or find the pad they enjoy most, and it's easy to make a single earpad and/or mesh change either way after that which I've found has suited just about any taste in treble and upper-mid/treble aggressiveness.
Edit: One thing that I'm not sure any single reviewer can "achieve," because we are all different, but I do wish was part of reviews, is letting the audience know what volume level they listen at. Perception of sound (especially bass and upper mids/treble) varies SO MUCH based on the listening level, that if a reviewer listens at a low or loud volume, the review may be literally completely different from what a listener who listens at a different volume. Remember, a 3dB listening level change, is actually like 20+ percent louder and sound energy is like doubled (I think don't quote me!).
I 100% agree with what you said. It all depends on the listener and their chain. I watched that review and absolutely didn't agree at all. The Atrium has never been too harsh in any way with any genre for me. I have always thought that reviewers should mention what you said about volume, mention that there will be differences with different chains, and that the sound from ZMF cans are pad dependent. I think those are key points with ZMF cans that should be mentioned.
I 100% agree with what you said. It all depends on the listener and their chain. I watched that review and absolutely didn't agree at all. The Atrium has never been too harsh in any way with any genre for me. I have always thought that reviewers should mention what you said about volume, mention that there will be differences with different chains, and that the sound from ZMF cans are pad dependent. I think those are key points with ZMF cans that should be mentioned.
I 100% agree with what you said. It all depends on the listener and their chain. I watched that review and absolutely didn't agree at all. The Atrium has never been too harsh in any way with any genre for me. I have always thought that reviewers should mention what you said about volume, mention that there will be differences with different chains, and that the sound from ZMF cans are pad dependent. I think those are key points with ZMF cans that should be mentioned.
I personally do not hear the soundtsage being very large with my setup. Probabaly deep but not overally wide. Soundstage is nice though. Would want it slighlty larger. It could be from the Ferrum Oor shrinking soundstage though.
I've been impressed with macro dynamics lately. Loving the punch/slam as well. Everything sounds very natural.
Anyone else neglecting their other headphones with the Atriums in the stable?
I 100% agree with what you said. It all depends on the listener and their chain. I watched that review and absolutely didn't agree at all. The Atrium has never been too harsh in any way with any genre for me. I have always thought that reviewers should mention what you said about volume, mention that there will be differences with different chains, and that the sound from ZMF cans are pad dependent. I think those are key points with ZMF cans that should be mentioned.
It's more a "ZMF" problem than anything, but I know a lot of owners will make statements about our headphones "on solid state? or "on tubes," and what it comes down to is that with high impedance headphones even within those genre's of amps there will be differences too. So sometimes ZMF reviews are as much reviews of the setup used as they are of the headphones. Which isn't an issue, I only get concerned when reviewers/listeners make finite statements about on piece of the gear or another, without taking the chain as part of the equation.
I personally do not hear the soundtsage being very large with my setup. Probabaly deep but not overally wide. Soundstage is nice though. Would want it slighlty larger. It could be from the Ferrum Oor shrinking soundstage though.
I've been impressed with macro dynamics lately. Loving the punch/slam as well. Everything sounds very natural.
Anyone else neglecting their other headphones with the Atriums in the stable?
I am not sure what the Ferrum Oor is for output impedance, but a higher impedance will let the driver have a little more "breathing" so to speak with more decay which can help.
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I personally do not hear the soundtsage being very large with my setup. Probabaly deep but not overally wide. Soundstage is nice though. Would want it slighlty larger. It could be from the Ferrum Oor shrinking soundstage though.
I've been impressed with macro dynamics lately. Loving the punch/slam as well. Everything sounds very natural.
Anyone else neglecting their other headphones with the Atriums in the stable?
I have to reluctantly force myself to cycle through other headphones in my inventory so I can keep the Atrium magic fresh but always finish the night with the Atriums
I personally do not hear the soundtsage being very large with my setup. Probabaly deep but not overally wide. Soundstage is nice though. Would want it slighlty larger. It could be from the Ferrum Oor shrinking soundstage though.
I've been impressed with macro dynamics lately. Loving the punch/slam as well. Everything sounds very natural.
Anyone else neglecting their other headphones with the Atriums in the stable?
Lol, I have not used any other pair since I got them in. Think I got them to that exact place I would like every headphone to sound like. And now I probably won't be using anything else for a very long time to come tbh.
It's more a "ZMF" problem than anything, but I know a lot of owners will make statements about our headphones "on solid state? or "on tubes," and what it comes down to is that with high impedance headphones even within those genre's of amps there will be differences too. So sometimes ZMF reviews are as much reviews of the setup used as they are of the headphones. Which isn't an issue, I only get concerned when reviewers/listeners make finite statements about on piece of the gear or another, without taking the chain as part of the equation.
I am not sure what the Ferrum Oor is for output impedance, but a higher impedance will let the driver have a little more "breathing" so to speak with more decay which can help.
Beyond chain, it is critical to keep in mind the specific reviewer tastes and preferences. This one, for example, I've enjoyed some of his videos but found out our tastes are widely different and so I cannot use his inputs for my purpose (but those who share his preference on a couple of data points, may find his next inputs quite useful). Same as for all of us here in this community.. we all have different ears, different tastes. The more you know how much you share someone's tastes, the more context you can infer from their input and decide if they are likely to apply to your or not..
I personally do not hear the soundtsage being very large with my setup. Probabaly deep but not overally wide. Soundstage is nice though. Would want it slighlty larger. It could be from the Ferrum Oor shrinking soundstage though.
I've been impressed with macro dynamics lately. Loving the punch/slam as well. Everything sounds very natural.
Anyone else neglecting their other headphones with the Atriums in the stable?
I think that's probably due to the Auteur Hybrid pads which is what came on my Atriums from the original owner. They tend to sound more deep than wide. The Universe lambskin pads sound much wider.
I really think you need to get some tubes in the mix to hear the soundstage width the Atriums are really capable of. That would go a long way towards taming some of the elevated highs you are hearing also. ZMFs don't necessarily have to be driven off tubes but there is a very real reason so many ZMF owners do drive and recommend tube amps with them.
I think that's probably due to the Auteur Hybrid pads which is what came on my Atriums from the original owner. They tend to sound more deep than wide. The Universe lambskin pads sound much wider.
I really think you need to get some tubes in the mix to hear the soundstage width the Atriums are really capable of. That would go a long way towards taming some of the elevated highs you are hearing also. ZMFs don't necessarily have to be driven off tubes but there is a very real reason so many ZMF owners do drive and recommend tube amps with them.
For planars and low impedance dynamics thats a strong set up, assuming quality gear and tubes are used. For Atrium and other high impedance, see above.
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