ZMF Atrium - new open-back co-flagship

[JackarlTwo]

After a week or so with the Caldera UP suede pads I can safely say these might be my favorite pads. An absolute blast. The fewer perforations certainly helps with bass performance, and the suede material makes the sound super lush and smooth. There's some magic happening especially with vocals and in a way reminds me of BE2 suedes, but better.

I haven't seen any official measurements but I found this. It looks like there's less bass than the Universe, but I don't perceive it like so. Suede as a material isn't as punchy as lambskin and that is noticeable. But these pads aren't far off either. I circled an area where I have noticed less upper mid-range energy, so if anyone finds Atrium too "shouty" (which I've never experienced) it might be worth trying these pads.

Happy listening!

 

[mattiastomas]

After a week or so with the Caldera UP suede pads I can safely say these might be my favorite pads. An absolute blast. The fewer perforations certainly helps with bass performance, and the suede material makes the sound super lush and smooth. There's some magic happening especially with vocals and in a way reminds me of BE2 suedes, but better.

I haven't seen any official measurements but I found this. It looks like there's less bass than the Universe, but I don't perceive it like so. Suede as a material isn't as punchy as lambskin and that is noticeable. But these pads aren't far off either. I circled an area where I have noticed less upper mid-range energy, so if anyone finds Atrium too "shouty" (which I've never experienced) it might be worth trying these pads.

Happy listening!

I got the ultra perf suedes a couple of months ago but only in the past week or so have I been really spending time with them.
I definitely prefer them over the lambskin ultra perfs. As you say you it helps with the bass performance. I still think the universe pads are bassier and a bit more punchy, but the suede ultra perfs makes up for it with staging.
I think its a good middle ground between the universe pads and the lambskin ultra perfs.

 

[JerseyD]

After a week or so with the Caldera UP suede pads I can safely say these might be my favorite pads. An absolute blast. The fewer perforations certainly helps with bass performance, and the suede material makes the sound super lush and smooth. There's some magic happening especially with vocals and in a way reminds me of BE2 suedes, but better. ]

I got the ultra perf suedes a couple of months ago but only in the past week or so have I been really spending time with them.
I definitely prefer them over the lambskin ultra perfs. As you say you it helps with the bass performance. I still think the universe pads are bassier and a bit more punchy, but the suede ultra perfs makes up for it with staging.
I think its a good middle ground between the universe pads and the lambskin ultra perfs.

I’ll chime in with a third thumbs up for the suede ultra-perf on the AO. The lamb UP was a no-go for me with its loss of bass. The suede UP sounds quite similar the the lamb perf Universe, but with maybe a wider stage.

 

[thefitz]

Edit: I'm an idiot

For fun, here's an OG pad bag

 

[zach915m]

Edit: I'm an idiot

For fun, here's an OG pad bag

I don't think we ever used protein in the older pads except for a select few - the S and P actually stood for "solid" or "perforated" for the pad style.

 

[jojothewhale]

After a week or so with the Caldera UP suede pads I can safely say these might be my favorite pads. An absolute blast. The fewer perforations certainly helps with bass performance, and the suede material makes the sound super lush and smooth. There's some magic happening especially with vocals and in a way reminds me of BE2 suedes, but better.

I haven't seen any official measurements but I found this. It looks like there's less bass than the Universe, but I don't perceive it like so. Suede as a material isn't as punchy as lambskin and that is noticeable. But these pads aren't far off either. I circled an area where I have noticed less upper mid-range energy, so if anyone finds Atrium too "shouty" (which I've never experienced) it might be worth trying these pads.

Happy listening!

ill have to try the ultra perf suedes on the atrium, but I’m usually more of a lambskin guy … the only suedes I have ever liked are the original caldera suedes with the caldera open…. The Auteur hybrid perf pads are one of the best I have found for atrium open… love them and the auteur hybrid solids on the atrium closed are fantastic ….! I really love the comfort of the auteur pads with the suedes surface on the hybrids! Offers great sound and comfort for both AC and AO

 

[jinxy245]

I think I know which ear-pad I'll be checking out next.......

 

[jojothewhale]

I know this is Atrium open thread so forgive me in advance …but since we are on topic of pads.. I’m listening right now to my Atrium closed cocobolo with… “universe all solid lambskins” and oh boy are they bass cannons … I put them on a few months ago half joking because I thought they weren’t going to sound good and I can’t take them off .. lol they actually sound really good!

 

[JackarlTwo]

I’ll chime in with a third thumbs up for the suede ultra-perf on the AO. The lamb UP was a no-go for me with its loss of bass. The suede UP sounds quite similar the the lamb perf Universe, but with maybe a wider stage.

I agree. I still keep them around because I think they really push the 'technicalities' to the fullest, such as staging, detail and overall treble presence. For acoustic heavy music, vocals, some jazz and orchestral they're really great. When I switch to blues, R&B, rock, metal or anything with some bass I always feel like I'm missing that extra bit of punch of the Universe/ Auteur pads. The caldera suedes fills that last piece quite nicely, to my ears!

I know this is Atrium open thread so forgive me in advance …but since we are on topic of pads.. I’m listening right now to my Atrium closed cocobolo with… “universe all solid lambskins” and oh boy are they bass cannons … I put them on a few months ago half joking because I thought they weren’t going to sound good and I can’t take them off .. lol they actually sound really good!

Beautiful cups!

 

[goldwerger]

I think I know which ear-pad I'll be checking out next.......

I think I may need to try the suede ultra perforated as well, you guys are all making me curious..

 

[thefitz]

I don't think we ever used protein in the older pads except for a select few - the S and P actually stood for "solid" or "perforated" for the pad style.

Thanks, Zach! I caught my assumption and edited my post. If you could confirm the differences between Verite and BE2 pads, that would be appreciated!

 

[baseball8793]

i'm thinking of trading my Atrium Open for a Verite Open--I have the Redwood Burl Atrium Open but I plan to buy another Atrium open down the road if I trade but I am worried that i love the sound so much that if I do not get Redwood Burl back--will there but much of a sound difference on a different Atrium Open? Can someone who has heard a Redwood Burl Atrium compare to another Atrium open if they have heard 2?

 

[K3cT]

Thanks to the helps of my friends @Noir7 and @TheMiddleSky I have been trying various combinations of solid / radial vented meshes and lambskin universe / auteur / caldera ultra perforated pads. Right now I am gravitating towards the solid mesh / lambskin caldera ultra perforated pad combo because they seem to make the Atrium airier, snappier, more technical and at the same time calming the upper mid / low treble unevenness that I am hearing with the stock radial vented mesh / universe pads. However I am not 100% satisfied yet because right now the sound is a bit thin and I could use a touch more mid bass.

You guys talking about the suede ultra perforated pads make me kinda curious though but honestly I never have good experience with ZMF suede pads in the Verite and Caldera because they seem to take away too much energy. What do you guys think?

 

[JerseyD]

Thanks to the helps of my friends @Noir7 and @TheMiddleSky I have been trying various combinations of solid / radial vented meshes and lambskin universe / auteur / caldera ultra perforated pads. Right now I am gravitating towards the solid mesh / lambskin caldera ultra perforated pad combo because they seem to make the Atrium airier, snappier, more technical and at the same time calming the upper mid / low treble unevenness that I am hearing with the stock radial vented mesh / universe pads. However I am not 100% satisfied yet because right now the sound is a bit thin and I could use a touch more mid bass.

You guys talking about the suede ultra perforated pads make me kinda curious though but honestly I never have good experience with ZMF suede pads in the Verite and Caldera because they seem to take away too much energy. What do you guys think?

The suede caldera ultra perf on the Atrium is the first (and so far only) suede pad I have liked, and I like it a lot!

 

[idairyou]

The suede caldera ultra perf on the Atrium is the first (and so far only) suede pad I have liked, and I like it a lot!

I ordered suede Ultra Perfs with my BO. Looking forward to seeing if they can dethrone my current goto lamb Ultra Perfs.