TheMiddleSky
Headphoneus Supremus
Yeah, nothing wrong about them paired together. However by add HA-3A to the chain, will elevate sound significantly.
ZMF Atrium - new open-back co-flagship
- Thread starter DeweyCH
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Yeah, nothing wrong about them paired together. However by add HA-3A to the chain, will elevate sound significantly.
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Yeah, I'm quite fond of using them with my HA-6A.
JackarlTwo
100+ Head-Fier
Another album recommendation. "Mari Boine - See The Woman". It's not for everyone, but I think it sounds incredible on Atrium. Deep thumpy bass, spacious and crystal clear, smooth vocals.
https://tidal.com/browse/album/301959406
https://tidal.com/browse/album/301959406
Thanks for this and I do love my HA-3A ... Just want a portable source to be able to listen outside.
Failed Engineer
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I've had the opportunity to borrow a Caldera for about a week to largely compare it to the Atrium. It has a impressive clarity to it in comparison to the Atrium but for me (I'll say it again, for me!) the Atrium is pretty clearly the preference. The Caldera, while very impressive timbrally for a planar, does not meet the ease of natural-ness of the Atrium. The Atrium also has a more spherical 3D headstage compared to the Caldera's more expansive, but flatter presentation. I can see why others would prefer the Caldera's staging but I find the Atrium more magical. The difference in transient speed I think tricks a listener into thinking the Caldera is more detailed but I think after some back to back listening I think this is just a presentation difference to me. Atrium is no slouch with details. The Atrium is more visceral in the bass and I feel like does better with both macro and micro dynamics.
Back to back, the Atrium could be heard as "hazy" but it doesn't take long to re-adjust. I find the Caldera an interesting take in the sea of high end planars and I'd like it for an occasional changeup in my lineup but $4000 is too much for such a headphone in the stable.
I'm not going to write an extensive comparison vs. the CA-1a but overall (for me, again!) the Caldera does nothing better than the CA-1a, even if not all that far behind in any one area.
At this point for me a headphone has to supplant either the Atrium or CA-1a which is a tall task.
This is just one listener's (with a heavy bias for dynamic driver headphones) opinion.
The Atrium is just so damn good and one of my favorite headphones I've heard/owned.
Note: I listened to Caldera with the stock lambskin pads. My Atrium configuration is very atypical. I have a very high janka set and run no mesh with Verite Ultra Perf Lambskin pads to lift treble almost as much as possible with mesh/pads.
Back to back, the Atrium could be heard as "hazy" but it doesn't take long to re-adjust. I find the Caldera an interesting take in the sea of high end planars and I'd like it for an occasional changeup in my lineup but $4000 is too much for such a headphone in the stable.
I'm not going to write an extensive comparison vs. the CA-1a but overall (for me, again!) the Caldera does nothing better than the CA-1a, even if not all that far behind in any one area.
At this point for me a headphone has to supplant either the Atrium or CA-1a which is a tall task.
This is just one listener's (with a heavy bias for dynamic driver headphones) opinion.
The Atrium is just so damn good and one of my favorite headphones I've heard/owned.
Note: I listened to Caldera with the stock lambskin pads. My Atrium configuration is very atypical. I have a very high janka set and run no mesh with Verite Ultra Perf Lambskin pads to lift treble almost as much as possible with mesh/pads.
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Hifiearspeakers
Headphoneus Supremus
“Note: I listened to Caldera with the stock lambskin pads. My Atrium configuration is very atypical. I have a very high janka set and run no mesh with Verite Ultra Perf Lambskin pads to lift treble almost as much as possible with mesh/pads.”
Whoa! You can tolerate some treble! So did you find the Caldera harsh or shouty at all compared to your Atrium? @Failed Engineer
Whoa! You can tolerate some treble! So did you find the Caldera harsh or shouty at all compared to your Atrium? @Failed Engineer
helljudgement
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@Failed Engineer thanks for sharing. Having heard the Caldera fairly recently, I've come to the conclusion that the ZMF dynamics are more suited for my ears as well. The Caldera is one of the best planar I've heard to date and in terms of value it is one that I think is worth it's asking price in the current pricing landscape. Personally speaking I don't think it replaces any of the ZMF dynamics flagships so it is kinda hard to justify owning a 3k headphone along side two other flagship headphones for me. With regards to your views on resolution, the Atrium is no slouch in this area and can definitely keep pace with Caldera in terms of resolution. The key difference lies in presentation. The latter does have better clarity and is overall more refine in it's delivery. Both loses out in overall mid range resolution to the OG Utopia imo. I think there are still merits in getting dynamic headphones and I'm glad companies like ZMF are still innovating this driver tech.
wizzman121
100+ Head-Fier
So based on the previous chatter about the new Caldera Ultra Perforated pads in this thread, I picked up a set to try on the Atrium. Up until now I have had a strong preference for the stock Universal Perforated Lambskin pads on the Atrium. I swapped on the new Caldera Ultra Perforated this past Saturday with high hopes as I much prefer the fit and comfort of this new style pad on my Caldera. Well, about five hours later around 2AM I had to call it a night... These pads are fantastic on the Atrium! Here are a few quick observations, some echoing what others have said:
- These make the Atrium sound even more open but not more distant- everything actually sounds a little more present
- In a weird way I hear what the pads are shaped like- the tone is the same but the Universals sound like I am just a bit further from the drivers and like I am hearing the sound through a large opening while the Ultra Perf pads sound significantly more open like nothing is in the way (I liked that someone else said they sound even more "Atrium")
- Besides the added openness I am most happy to hear slightly less mid-bass bloom which was always my biggest nitpick with the Atrium. I appreciate the warm colored signature of the Atrium but they could be a tad boomy with some recordings. These pads seem to reduce that bloom and balance things out ever so slightly.
- I always felt that the Atrium was deceptively detailed but these pads seem to let those details shine a tad more.
- Some may feel this takes away some of what makes the Atrium so unique but these pads are game-changers for me. This is the first time I have preferred a non-stock pad on a ZMF.
- The Atrium still has that romantic natural timber that makes them so addicting but the added openness and slightly more balanced sound just takes them to the next level for me.
- I did swap back to the Universals for a short period to verify what I am hearing. The Ultra Perforated pads will be staying in permanently however.
- If you are purchasing a new or used Atrium make sure you pick up a set of these!
JackarlTwo
100+ Head-Fier
Been listening to TH900 for a bit, another biodynamic, and yeah it's fun for certain genres and surprisingly open sounding for a closed back. But wow, coming back to Atrium you realize how well tuned the Atrium is. It just sounds so rich. It's been said many times before but every note feel like they have a weight behind them. Now I really want another closed back and I've been going back and forth between VC and AC for a while. Hopefully I get to demo them both one day and I can make a better decision of what I want, but one thing's for sure: Atrium Open will stay in my collection for a very long time.
The AC are just fantastic. Highly recommended! You'll get much of what you love with the AO, coupled with couple of unique attributes, such as one of the best sub-bass in any headphone.