[zach915m]

What do you think of this?

https://www.amazon.com/Renaissance-XTL-8004-Wax-Polish-65ml/dp/B003AJWN62

I have a small can of this and have liked it in other applications.

That's the stuff! I slightly prefer the Liberon clear Bison wax because of the smell but they both work. The main issue is that if this stuff isn't put on with a high rate of polish, like a small random orbital sander with a buffing pad and great care, or a professional buffer then it will actually dull the finish instead of shine it. So the headphone really needs to be disassembled some to do it right, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend that.

The osmo cleaner has a similar effect but the issue is buying a giant can of it!

 

[AnyDave]

That's the stuff! I slightly prefer the Liberon clear Bison wax because of the smell but they both work. The main issue is that if this stuff isn't put on with a high rate of polish, like a small random orbital sander with a buffing pad and great care, or a professional buffer then it will actually dull the finish instead of shine it. So the headphone really needs to be disassembled some to do it right, and I wouldn't necessarily recommend that.

The osmo cleaner has a similar effect but the issue is buying a giant can of it!

I'll have to check out the Liberon as the Renaissance does stink to high hell.

 

[zach915m]

I'll have to check out the Liberon as the Renaissance does stink to high hell.

Honestly I actually like the way the Liberon smells, delicious...!

 

[AnyDave]

Honestly I actually like the way the Liberon smells, delicious...!

That sounds sketchy as hell, but I’ll wait to judge until I’ve bought some.

 

[erics75]

Honestly I actually like the way the Liberon smells, delicious...!

But how does it taste?

 

[shafat777]

I have been enjoying my new favorite zmf + OTL combination. ZMF Atrium w/ Caldera Ultra perf pads + Feliks Euforia Evo OTL + Schiit Yggy has the best synergy out of any of my zmf headphones I have ever owned. The soundstage takes the center stage of this combo, its wide, open with excellent seperation. The mids are ever so pushed back creating a round/3d staging. The bass is almost untouched compared to the stock atrium pads but its more layered. Top end has a new, hollow type of airy sound due to the caldera pads and I cant believe this pad has been a secret success that took me by surprise.

 

[goldwerger]

I have been enjoying my new favorite zmf + OTL combination. ZMF Atrium w/ Caldera Ultra perf pads + Feliks Euforia Evo OTL + Schiit Yggy has the best synergy out of any of my zmf headphones I have ever owned. The soundstage takes the center stage of this combo, its wide, open with excellent seperation. The mids are ever so pushed back creating a round/3d staging. The bass is almost untouched compared to the stock atrium pads but its more layered. Top end has a new, hollow type of airy sound due to the caldera pads and I cant believe this pad has been a secret success that took me by surprise.

Completely agree!

I myself tried the Caldera Ultra Perf pads for the first time last weekend at CanJam Chicago with the Atrium and was blown away. Took a pair home with me and, in my own chain (Decware OTL with Bricasti M3) it continued to sound as good as I heard it in show conditions. It hasn’t left the Atriums since I put them on on Monday and they never came off since.

Like you, I found better resolution in the bass, more air, and (incredibly) even better soundstage. It was like rediscovering the Atrium Open.

I put my detailed impressions of these pads near the very top my long CanJam show writeup:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/can...-june-24-25-2023.968710/page-11#post-17626581

 

[Deleeh]

Hello,

I agree with you and well described by you 2.
I got the pads recommended by Za h when I ordered my Atrium Bocote.
@shafat777 also Euforia owner here by the way, (Euforia OG)

What I noticed about the Caldera pads that I would like to mention is this.
They play a little less refined and are a little less playful, especially in the upper range.
The melting decay of the Universe is the honeypot, but it can sometimes be a touch too much, and it can be hard to hear, depending on the mood of the day.
But that's more like complaining at a high LEVEL on my part.

The bass is also a bit tighter with the Caldera pads and a bit more to the point.
The nice thing is that the pads are so neutral that you don't have any problems with thick warm tubes that it is too thick.
6080 Mullard+5692 Rca with the Euforia is a real peak of everything.
It's warm,thick enough,deep playing with all the details.
And the vocals remain focused in all respects.
It has a little touch of the Auteur Og in its forward voice reproduction, but more subtle.
And it remains musical without being annoying, it is relaxed and invites you to enjoy.

 

[goldwerger]

The melting decay of the Universe is the honeypot, but it can sometimes be a touch too much, and it can be hard to hear, depending on the mood of the day.
But that's more like complaining at a high LEVEL on my part.

The bass is also a bit tighter with the Caldera pads and a bit more to the point.
The nice thing is that the pads are so neutral that you don't have any problems with thick warm tubes that it is too thick.

well put.

Listening right now this wonderful album on the Atrium with the Caldera Ultra Perf pads.

On my Decware/ZMF OTL I currently have rolled in -- output tubes: Tung-Sol 5687 for output tubes (with adapters; a recent discovery, highly recommended), input tube: RCA 6BQ7A black Plate, rectifier: Miniwatt GZ34 brown base

It is all coming through super clean, transparent, and musical - airy while retaining lots body. Blisssssssssss

 

[Failed Engineer]

I'd be interested in the Caldera ultra perf pads. I picked up some pairs of B-stock Verite Ultra Perf pads in the November sale that Zach hasn't otherwise put on sale because he didn't like how they sounded. I'd initially bought them for some RAAL CA-1a experimentation but out of curiosity tried them on the Atrium and I was floored by what I heard too. They have not come off. The Atrium with the Verite Ultra Perf pads is my favorite headphone I've ever heard. Period.

Wonder what is the shape difference between the Caldera and Verite pads.

 

[goldwerger]

Pics of Caldera pads from ZMF's website - note that the seam of the Caldera pads is meant to face the bottom (instead of the front):

https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/products/calderapads?variant=43218218844323

 

[Failed Engineer]

The earpad cavity opening is definitely bigger and more circular than the Verite ultra perfs. The walls touching your face are much wider on the thinner side on the Verite's than the Caldera pads. The pad thickness seems constant around the Verite pad vs. angled nature of the Caldera (from the picture). The perforation density seems the same.

Very curious now!

 

[Coran]

Completely agree!

I myself tried the Caldera Ultra Perf pads for the first time last weekend at CanJam Chicago with the Atrium and was blown away. Took a pair home with me and, in my own chain (Decware OTL with Bricasti M3) it continued to sound as good as I heard it in show conditions. It hasn’t left the Atriums since I put them on on Monday and they never came off since.

Like you, I found better resolution in the bass, more air, and (incredibly) even better soundstage. It was like rediscovering the Atrium Open.

I put my detailed impressions of these pads near the very top my long CanJam show writeup:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/can...-june-24-25-2023.968710/page-11#post-17626581

This sounds incredible, I might need to grab a pair. I find the comfort on the Caldera pads to be better than the Universe pads in general, so adding this to my Atrium sounds heavenly.

 

[goldwerger]

This sounds incredible, I might need to grab a pair. I find the comfort on the Caldera pads to be better than the Universe pads in general, so adding this to my Atrium sounds heavenly.

let us know what you think!

 

[Deleeh]

I forgot to mention one more thing.

The Universe are also good, but not only in terms of sound.
But in comfort they seem slightly claustrophobic to me.
But that's more to do with my ear because they're big.
With the Caldera ultra Perf I have enough space inside and still some air in between.
And the comfort is also very good.

The pads are definitely worth it for Atrium.

What I can't say is how they are on SS amplifiers.
It can vary depending on the amp tuning.
I would say for warm amps they are good, for more neutral amps probably not so much.
Because they are a little less warm and more neutral.

For tube amps there is no problem because you can adjust and counteract the whole thing with the tubes if you have the tubes for it.
Just as an additional side note.
You have to be aware of that before you buy them.

They don't change the signature immensely, but there is a difference between Universe and Ultra perf.