[mixman]

A cheaper tube amp from xDuoo will sound better with ZMF dynamics than any sub $1k solid state amp I've found. IMO obviously.
Like even the hybrids are a noticeable improvement (ta 20 plus, ta 22, ta 30). Haven't heard the OTL ta26 which gets mixed reviews for how much tube flavor it truly adds but there's also the newer ta84 coming out. Tube rolling NOS tubes even makes a difference in these cheaper amps. Lots of people swear by the feliks echo or you could go the bottlehead crack route or used/classifieds route. Guess you weren't impressed by the Liquid Platinum since you list it as "gone", which I haven't heard, but I have heard it is less tubey than the xDuoos.

You'll probably want something higher end for the Caldera with tubes. The Caldera sounds hideous on my hybrid xDuoo TA30 lol and OTL is not a great idea. IMO Caldera shines with one of the various SET 300b amps (Cayin HA, Feliks Envy, etc; I mean if you're already spending Caldera money...) that add a bit of perceived note weight to the "thinner" planar sound. Plus better clarity and resolution which is necessary for getting the most out of the Caldera. I could listen to my VC all day on the warmer/fuzzier lower end xDuoo but it's also clearly improved on higher end stuff.

The cheaper tube amps I have heard tended to be noisy, which took away from the benefits of that tube goodness at least for me. Do agree that I will probably have to spend a little more to get a good tube amp. If I do get the Caldera, then I will have a mix of planers and dynamics so OTL will not be a good idea and I am running out of room on my desktop so I would prefer maybe two good amps.

Wasn't a LP fan and correct I did not find it very tubey sounding despite changing the tubes. It was l also less detailed than my THX. So I figured what's the point?

 

[jinxy245]

Personally I'm overly cautious with superlatives and other extreme adverbs in this hobby. I sincerely doubt that a cheaper tube amp would sound better than "any" sub 1k SS.

I'm honestly not trying to call anyone out, it's just that was the last example here. As far as noisy amps, I've heard that the Garage series and the Schiit Vali2+ (or whatever version they're on) can be extremely quiet, and the Nitsch Piety punches way above it's price. Personally I've not tried either, but that's just a couple of more data points that I've heard (data points are like earlobes, everyone has a couple).

It also raises the question of what's important to you. The noise floor doesn't bother everyone, especially with music playing. Are you trying for speed, bass slam, airy highs, wide staging? For me, this hobby is rarely that simple. Finding gems, especially in the lower price brackets takes a bit of digging IME.

There are lots of reviews out there, some contradictory which makes it even harder. The best bet if you can't demo is to find people whose opinion you trust and have as many conversations as you can. It's a process, but worth it.

 

[eugene2]

What about Geshelli Labs I have no experience with them but have heard good things about them

 

[crakers7]

Atriums sounding magnificent tonight ; McChanson Ultimate Amp , Denafrips Pontus 2 DAC and some nice tubes

 

[JerseyD]

What about Geshelli Labs I have no experience with them but have heard good things about them

Not sure this is the right thread for this, but I have the Geshelli J2S DAC with Sparkos op-amp and AKM 4493. This is a great example of a product punching far above its price point. Personally, I don’t think it makes sense to try to match dacs with particular headphones, as opposed to amps (which does make sense). Synergy between amp and dac is important, so I guess it’s all connected in the end.

 

[jonathan c]

Posted on the Icon Audio HP8 thread in the Amplifiers (Full Size) forum; it is Atrium topic:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/icon-audio-hp8-mp-3.492604/post-17770968

 

[Haidar]

I would love to hear from others about how the Atrium sounds relative to the Sennheiser HD 660S2

 

[TommehHiFi]

I would love to hear from others about how the Atrium sounds relative to the Sennheiser HD 660S2

Similar overall tone and speed. The 660s2 I think is the closest to the Atrium of the 6series. Atrium pulls away with better bass quantity and quality, more detail in treble and bigger soundstage. I'd say the two are the most similar sounding of the headphones I have. Back to back you can also appreciate the way the wood contributes to the sound on the atrium which can be a good or bad thing depending on preference. Both are a bit dark to me, but the Atrium has better separation and that better treble making up for it. Both scale well on higher end gear but the Atrium will go further.
Money in consideration, the 660s2 achieves much of what the atrium does but forgetting about that, the Atrium is in a different league when you critically listen.

 

[erics75]

I would love to hear from others about how the Atrium sounds relative to the Sennheiser HD 660S2

Agree 100% with what TommehHiFi said. I'll add the Atrium has a bigger stage and the sonics can be altered easily via pad and mesh swapping. I love what Senn did with the S2, it absolutely sounds like a kid brother to the Atrium. But the Atrium is still in another league overall. I also think the mids are more forward on the Atrium.

 

[Patmach]

After 1 month of using the Caldera ultra perf (very good) I returned to the Universe Pads. For the rumble, the bass, the vocal presence... what made me love the Atrium in the end. So yes the sound scene is different, closer and more intimate. I'll try the solid mesh with the ultra perf but I'm hesitant... Another compromise to make? Nothing obvious when you are looking for both a larger scene and a warm proximity

 

[RestoredSparda]

which type of ear cushion has the most sub and mid bass for the atrium? and which one is in second place?

Auteur leather perf.

 

[JackarlTwo]

which type of ear cushion has the most sub and mid bass for the atrium? and which one is in second place?

Auteur lambskin perforated has the most sub bass to my ears, followed closely by Universe lambskin perforated. I was just comparing them more directly this morning. They're pretty close in amplitude, but I think the Universe is a little bit tighter and Auteur is more loose (not in a negative way), with Auteur giving it a warmer character.

 

[AcousticMatt]

A lot of talk about the Atrium on solid state vs tubes and thought I'd share a great experience I had listening to the Atrium last night...

I spent the evening rotating through all of my gear to see what I want to sell. I tried to get out of critical mode and into "what is actually moving me" mode, and the Atrium on my Woo WA-23 was so moving it made me just appreciate getting into this hobby and talking to you all about what we love. The sound was so damn good. I then listened to the Atrium on both my Oor and Enleum amps (decided to sell this for an Envy), and while they both were great in their ways - the Woo just brings a breath, a life to the sound that enhances all of the biocellulose driver's traits. So good in atmosphere, spacing, dynamics and a hard hitting yet breathing, lifelike bass that just moves.

I keep exploring other sounds, other headphones, all of which I feel I enjoy initially technically, but the Woo/Atrium (oh - I was using the iFi DAC - more atmosphere there vs. Qutest!) combo just moves me so much. Fun and emotional. Extra fun to appreciate a ZMF headphone after my always good experience meeting people in the ZMF room at CanJam SoCal and also talking with Zach, Bevin and Alex and Kevin there. This is the experience and sound I chase! Grateful.

 

[squashi]

Crossposting part 1 of my shootout:

I have owned all of these headphones concurrently:
Susvara: stock cable
Atrium: ZMF OFC cable
Utopia: Black dragon cable
Bravura: Full electrostatic system with Sonoma m1 energizer/DAC, connected to DAP with coax
HEKSE: stock cable with EQ (Poweramp EQ) If you are younger, far too bright without EQ; I can't listen to it without EQ. My EQ adds a tiny bit of bass and tames the highs.
LCD-5: ZMF OFC cable with EQ (Poweramp EQ), when the result is different I also compare the kilobuck cable viking weave ansuz (no EQ). I prefer no EQ + kilobuck cable! Without cable, I prefer my EQ, which adds a bit of bass, and adds to the 2 dips in upper mids/highs. if you don't want to customize your chain or try EQ, don't get LCD-5 IMO.


"Glossary"
My ~$3k chain: apple music on dx320 (using internal ROHM DAC to lineout on modded amp12exn-s module) -> iFi 4.4 to xlr cable -> iFi Pro iCan Signature (solid state). Approximating DAC price to other desktop DACs I know it compares to.
My DAP: apple music on dx320 with modded amp12exn-s (with opamp upgrades). Quite powerful class A amplifier, Similar to a ~$1.5 desktop chain.
Susvara ~$24k chain: extended listened to: Tidal -> unknown streamer -> Chord Dave -> AVM A 6.2 ($10k speaker amp) (unknown connecting cables, but easily kilobuck+)

I am not doing a ranking here, since I think words are more nuanced. for reference: amazing > great > good > ok > bad. Keep in mind these terms are relative to the headphones I am comparing. Also good/great means between good and great. If I don't specify chain, then that rating applies to all chains from DAP to my $3k chain.
money no object winner highlight
$3k chain winner highlight
DAP winner highlight

resolution/separation (excluding bass):
Susvara - amazing+ with a ~$24k chain (dave+speaker amp), great with ~$3k chain, good/great on my DAP (incredibly, but rest of susvara suffers)
Bravura - amazing
LCD-5 (probably a contender for top place will update after trying Chord Dave) - amazing+? with ~$?? chain, great/amazing with my ~$3k chain, good straight from DAP
Utopia - good/great with my ~$3k chain, good on my DAP
Atrium - always ok/good
HEKSE - always good/great

instrument naturalness, most are ranges since it depends on the instrument:
Susvara - great/amazing on $24k chain (mid range shines), good/amazing on my $3k chain (lack bass impact), and ok on DAP due to sounding weird and lacking bass
Bravura - good/great: bass forward instruments won't have impact, realistic but never fully immersive
LCD-5 - good/amazing usually, but great/amazing with my viking weave ansuz cable. Especially drums and other bassy instruments
Utopia - ok/amazing metallic: amazing for some instruments, just ok for most instruments
Atrium - good/amazing, due to long decay it varies a lot for each instrument
HEKSE - good/great has impact and realistic but never fully immersive

vocal texture + tone:
Susvara - great/amazing
Bravura - good realistic but never fully immersive
LCD-5 - good, but great with viking weave ansuz cable. Tone suffers without EQ or proper chain
Utopia - ok/good sometimes metallic
Atrium - great/amazing + lush vocals (may be positive or negative for each song/preference)
HEKSE - good realistic but never fully immersive

vocal placement:
Susvara - usually in the background with instruments, but sometimes brought closer
Bravura - brought up front and close
LCD-5 - in the background with instruments
Utopia - in the background with instruments (but feels upfront due to small stage)
Atrium - brought up front and close
HEKSE - in the background with instruments

stage size:
Susvara - great/amazing
Bravura - good/amazing variable on track (heavy bassy tracks are closer)
LCD-5 - good, but good/great with viking weave ansuz
Utopia - ok/good
Atrium - good/great
HEKSE - amazing

energy level:
Susvara - chill/effortless: like mac and cheese, smooth and rich, can't stop eating
Bravura - in the middle: like pizza, strong but lowkey
LCD-5 - very energetic: like wagyu, amazing but how long can you endure the fattiness
Utopia - energetic: like foie gras, rich, overly fatty
Atrium - mostly chill: like grits, mostly smooth but with punch at times
HEKSE - in the middle: like bacon, nothing crazy but noticeable

imaging:
Susvara - on $24k chain: great/amazing. on $3k chain: great. DAP: ok
Bravura - good/great
LCD-5 - on $3k chain: great/amazing, but incredibly amazing with viking weave ansuz cable. On DAP: good/great
Utopia - on $3k chain: great. DAP: good
Atrium - always ok
HEKSE - always good/great

bass texture/resolution:
Susvara - on $24k chain: great/amazing. on $3k chain: good. on DAP: bad
Bravura - great/amazing
LCD-5 - on $3k chain: amazing On DAP: great
Utopia - on $3k chain: great. DAP: good/great
Atrium - always ok/great: decay is great, resolution is not
HEKSE - always great

bass impact:
Susvara - on $24k chain: great. on $3k chain: ok/good. on DAP: bad
Bravura - ok (great for an estat!) but, depending on volume, very high bass impacts seem to "shock" the headset, which very slightly "muddies" those milliseconds
LCD-5 - on $3k chain: amazing. on DAP: great. Can suffer without EQ or right chain
Utopia - on $3k chain: great/amazing. DAP: great
Atrium - always great
HEKSE - always great

MSRP:
Susvara - on $24k chain: $30k. on $3k chain: $9k. on DAP equivalent desktop: $7.5k
Bravura - full system $6k
LCD-5 - on $3k chain with viking weave ansuz: $8.5k. on $3k chain: $7.5k. On DAP equivalent desktop: $6k
Utopia - on $3k chain: $7k. On DAP equivalent desktop: $5.5k
Atrium - on $3k chain: $5.5k. On DAP equivalent desktop: $4k
HEKSE - on $3k chain: $5k. On DAP equivalent desktop: $3.5k

-I think EQ'd HEKSE is very underrated a bang for buck option (remember not comparing stock HEKSE). I also think Bravura is an amazing all-rounder which is unbeatable for the price!
-I have tried my best to be music genre agnostic in this comparison!

In my part 2 of this review, I will compare all of these headphones in the following genres of music:
vocal heavy pop
"trashy" pop
hiphop
metal
progressive rock
opera
orchestra
classical
choral and a capella
any other genres?

 

[Deleeh]

Atriums sounding magnificent tonight ; McChanson Ultimate Amp , Denafrips Pontus 2 DAC and some nice tubes

The picture is just porn.
I am slightly jealous of this beautiful Atrium and the Golden Ultimate, it looks really golden.
And we both know how golden the Ultimate sounds .
You can definitely be very proud of the great look between Atrium and Ultimate.
I'm happy for you that you got a beautiful Atrium from the HoSob.
Hope you are happy with it and the Ultimate?