ZMF Atrium - new open-back co-flagship

[Quadrangulator]

Thanks for the comparisons of the AO and 109 Pro.

I love the 109 Pro's warmth and recessed mids, and it's spicy upper treble doesn't bother me since my hearing tapers off around 12 to 13 KHz anyways.

As for purchasing another ZMF, I'm a little gun shy after I purchased the Atrium Closed since the forward upper mids make for a difficult listen for me.

Would the Atrium Open, or even the Caldera Open, have the upper mid forwardness problem of the Atrium Closed?

Another thing I noticed about the Atrium Open is the driver grill looks like it sits above the ear cup, making for less ear depth in the ear pad than the Atrium Closed or Calderas, the grills of which air flush to the cup. Is this correct? If so, I'd have to roll with the Caldera thick pads.

 

[thefitz]

Thanks for the comparisons of the AO and 109 Pro.

I love the 109 Pro's warmth and recessed mids, and it's spicy upper treble doesn't bother me since my hearing tapers off around 12 to 13 KHz anyways.

As for purchasing another ZMF, I'm a little gun shy after I purchased the Atrium Closed since the forward upper mids make for a difficult listen for me.

Would the Atrium Open, or even the Caldera Open, have the upper mid forwardness problem of the Atrium Closed?

Another thing I noticed about the Atrium Open is the driver grill looks like it sits above the ear cup, making for less ear depth in the ear pad than the Atrium Closed or Calderas, the grills of which air flush to the cup. Is this correct? If so, I'd have to roll with the Caldera thick pads.

Caldera thick pads on the AO will add probably an 18db midbass shelf

 

[Quadrangulator]

Caldera thick pads on the AO will add probably an 18db midbass shelf

18 decibels? That kind of sounds like fun.

 

[thefitz]

18 decibels? That kind of sounds like fun.

You know what, if the shelf was lower, it could be

 

[JackarlTwo]

As for purchasing another ZMF, I'm a little gun shy after I purchased the Atrium Closed since the forward upper mids make for a difficult listen for me.

Would the Atrium Open, or even the Caldera Open, have the upper mid forwardness problem of the Atrium Closed?

Atrium Closed is definitely less mid-forward than the Atrium Open (in the 1KHz-3KHz area), but I also had some issues in the presence region with the closed back. It was too forward to me so if you're like me the AO might sound a bit more natural. Closed backs can be a hit or miss for me. I really need to crank the volume loud to get any kind of shoutness that bothers me out of the AO.

Ear pad depth shouldn't be an issue. You can always put a paracord between the pad to increase ear depth. You really don't wanna use the Caldera thick pads or any pads with solid interiors unless you like a crazy sound haha.

 

[Honeypot]

Thanks for the comparisons of the AO and 109 Pro.

I love the 109 Pro's warmth and recessed mids, and it's spicy upper treble doesn't bother me since my hearing tapers off around 12 to 13 KHz anyways.

As for purchasing another ZMF, I'm a little gun shy after I purchased the Atrium Closed since the forward upper mids make for a difficult listen for me.

Would the Atrium Open, or even the Caldera Open, have the upper mid forwardness problem of the Atrium Closed?

Another thing I noticed about the Atrium Open is the driver grill looks like it sits above the ear cup, making for less ear depth in the ear pad than the Atrium Closed or Calderas, the grills of which air flush to the cup. Is this correct? If so, I'd have to roll with the Caldera thick pads.

Well, if you consider the AC upper mids forward, the AO will be harder for you...

Caldera thick pads on the AO will add probably an 18db midbass shelf

Yes, it does lower it, but not to change completely it's profile, it's more like fine tuning than a change of character.

Atrium Closed is definitely less mid-forward than the Atrium Open (in the 1KHz-3KHz area), but I also had some issues in the presence region with the closed back. It was too forward to me so if you're like me the AO might sound a bit more natural. Closed backs can be a hit or miss for me. I really need to crank the volume loud to get any kind of shoutness that bothers me out of the AO.

Ear pad depth shouldn't be an issue. You can always put a paracord between the pad to increase ear depth. You really don't wanna use the Caldera thick pads or any pads with solid interiors unless you like a crazy sound haha.

I feel closer to this approach.
To me the AO were the most pleasant and neutral-natural? (can't figure out the right word), that I've found to the moment. Definitely lesser mid forward than AC.
By the way, the whole perception is individual and subject to HRTF!!

This is my opinion and only

Oh, my favorite pads for zmf:
Auteur lamb perf for AO
Caldera TS lamb thick for CO
Caldera TP lamb thick for AC

Enjoy the ride and good luck

Peace everyone

 

[JackarlTwo]

Well, if you consider the AC upper mids forward, the AO will be harder for you...

Yes, it does lower it, but not to change completely it's profile, it's more like fine tuning than a change of character.

I feel closer to this approach.
To me the AO were the most pleasant and neutral-natural? (can't figure out the right word), that I've found to the moment. Definitely lesser mid forward than AC.
By the way, the whole perception is individual and subject to HRTF!!

This is my opinion and only

Oh, my favorite pads for zmf:
Auteur lamb perf for AO
Caldera TS lamb thick for CO
Caldera TP lamb thick for AC

Enjoy the ride and good luck

Peace everyone

Linear/ natural with some delicious warmth is how I'd describe Atrium.

Everything in this hobby is super individual of course.

 

[Knee Deep In Epoxy]

Got my Caldera Suede UP pads.... the short answer is I prefer the sound of the Caldera Lamb UP for focussed listening, but prefer the suedes of passive background listening... they take the edge off but lose a bit clarity, punch and openness...

The Caldera Suede UP pads are an interesting substitute for the Uni Lambs... again the suedes take off some of the edge in the treble and upper mids compared to the Uni lambs and I guess the reduction in the highs leads to a perception of more more bass in the Caldera Suedes compared to the Caldera Lambs, making the Suede bass sound closer to the Uni Bass than I would have assumed....

My big takeaway from all of this is that I think I can finally say I prefer the Caldera Lambs above all other pads with the Atrium, including the Uni Lambs... I used to perceive a bigger stage with the Uni Lambs... somehow that is no longer the case. the Caldera Lamb comes out top of the pile in the staging department as well as having the cleanest and most detailed bass (how I like it).

Has anyone been able to measure the Uni lambs vs Caldera Suedes and Lambs? I'd love to see those graphs.