ZMF Atrium - new open-back co-flagship

[jinxy245]

I finally received my Atrium in Koa. My fingers were not fast enough to order the bubinga, but the Koa wood is very nice. Ordered mine on April 7 and got it today May 13, so wait times are certainly less than the 3 months I typically waited in the past for them. Also the seahorse case has a different looking zmf logo, neat. The latest case is the one with the black and white zmf logo as opposed the the two earlier ones that have red and white.

I noticed the mini xlr sockets to connect the cables to the headphone went in a lot easier than with my other pairs, so that's definitely something I like. Sometimes on my other zmfs, removing the cable can be a bit difficult.

As for sound, it's way too early of course, but standouts for me are the general presentation (so soundstage and imaging), and the mid range. Sounds great with live music, and the weight to the notes that this headphone has in conjunction with the midrange is something special. I've read comments about it being sort of a super aeolus/maybe a super auteur, but again its too early for me to say if I truly agree or not, but for now the atrium sounds different than any other zmf I've heard.

Another thing I took note of in these threads before finally hearing this is the question of the bass. Again its too early, and feel free to disagree, but it sounds rolled off at the very bottom and a bit rolled off at the top. This does not mean it is a bad sound, to me in these first few hours that mid range is not forward per se, but it sounds mid centric. The fullness going on in the mids is what I can't stop thinking about. It's not thick exactly, but it's juicy. This headphone also sounds more emotional (might make your eyes all watery) as opposed to my other zmfs which feel like a rush you get from drinking coffee. But again, those mids! I can't describe it any other way than to say the mids are like a well cooked sirloin steak, would make your house pet drool and cry at the same time I just wanna take a bite out of those mids.

While not the last word in sub bass extension, I found the Atrium to be quite competent. Burn in is a factor IMO, I'd wait about 100 hours at least.

 

[dougq]

What songs are you testing for sub bass.

 

[whirlwind]

I finally received my Atrium in Koa. My fingers were not fast enough to order the bubinga, but the Koa wood is very nice. Ordered mine on April 7 and got it today May 13, so wait times are certainly less than the 3 months I typically waited in the past for them. Also the seahorse case has a different looking zmf logo, neat. The latest case is the one with the black and white zmf logo as opposed the the two earlier ones that have red and white.

I noticed the mini xlr sockets to connect the cables to the headphone went in a lot easier than with my other pairs, so that's definitely something I like. Sometimes on my other zmfs, removing the cable can be a bit difficult.

As for sound, it's way too early of course, but standouts for me are the general presentation (so soundstage and imaging), and the mid range. Sounds great with live music, and the weight to the notes that this headphone has in conjunction with the midrange is something special. I've read comments about it being sort of a super aeolus/maybe a super auteur, but again its too early for me to say if I truly agree or not, but for now the atrium sounds different than any other zmf I've heard.

Another thing I took note of in these threads before finally hearing this is the question of the bass. Again its too early, and feel free to disagree, but it sounds rolled off at the very bottom and a bit rolled off at the top. This does not mean it is a bad sound, to me in these first few hours that mid range is not forward per se, but it sounds mid centric. The fullness going on in the mids is what I can't stop thinking about. It's not thick exactly, but it's juicy. This headphone also sounds more emotional (might make your eyes all watery) as opposed to my other zmfs which feel like a rush you get from drinking coffee. But again, those mids! I can't describe it any other way than to say the mids are like a well cooked sirloin steak, would make your house pet drool and cry at the same time I just wanna take a bite out of those mids.

Yeah, the mids are mesmerizing.

The bass will come around and get better also. Not bass head stuff, but it is not suppose to be.

All ZMF's I have ever heard have had great bass, it's a must

By the way, your pair is beautiful.

 

[helljudgement]

Again its too early, and feel free to disagree, but it sounds rolled off at the very bottom and a bit rolled off at the top. This does not mean it is a bad sound, to me in these first few hours that mid range is not forward per se, but it sounds mid centric.

It's as you've described. It doesn't hit as low nor does extend as high as other flagship headphones. Placed alongside it's co flagship the Verite and this becomes very apparent. The bass to me is more relating to it's dynamics but that is also a bit amp dependent in my experience. The main draw here for most is definitely it's mids and the biocell sound.

 

[soundchaos]

They have arrived!! So glad I went for koa, they are stunning in person.

 

[Renexx]

They have arrived!! So glad I went for koa, they are stunning in person.

Is this brass or steel ? Amazing headphone, enjoy

 

[Raidersfan8118]

Got my atrium today listened for 30 mins and these are legit. I can see why everyone loves these. For me personally I like these a lot better than my vc. The guitars sound better and I feel like everything is separated better and it’s not overly warm. I had my doubts that maybe it’d be too dark but I think these are great and I’m quite happy already. I like a lot of genres but rock and metal is my favorite and I think these are perfect. I’m surprised at how good they sound out of the idsd signature I have. Looking forward to trying them with tubes but I’d be happy if I just had the idsd.

 

[Pharmaboy]

They have arrived!! So glad I went for koa, they are stunning in person.

Damn, that's beautiful. Not sure what color metal I'm seeing, but that gorgeous screen really pops on your set.

 

[soundchaos]

Sorry - I’ll take a better picture later. Had to get back outside and watch the kids it’s brass on the grill.

 

[heliosphann]

Got my atrium today listened for 30 mins and these are legit. I can see why everyone loves these. For me personally I like these a lot better than my vc. The guitars sound better and I feel like everything is separated better and it’s not overly warm. I had my doubts that maybe it’d be too dark but I think these are great and I’m quite happy already. I like a lot of genres but rock and metal is my favorite and I think these are perfect. I’m surprised at how good they sound out of the idsd signature I have. Looking forward to trying them with tubes but I’d be happy if I just had the idsd.

Sometimes the hype train is real.

 

[Monsterzero]

Sometimes the hype train is real.

looks like its time to dust this one off....

 

[heliosphann]

looks like its time to dust this one off....

Elon is finishing up a prototype.

 

[KrauserX91]

looks like its time to dust this one off....

I am listening Distant Worlds from FF with the Edition XS. Wonder if the Atriums can overcome that epicness. Please Zach, make this possible , I am on the Hype Train-Plane

 

[Renexx]

Got my atrium today listened for 30 mins and these are legit. I can see why everyone loves these. For me personally I like these a lot better than my vc. The guitars sound better and I feel like everything is separated better and it’s not overly warm. I had my doubts that maybe it’d be too dark but I think these are great and I’m quite happy already. I like a lot of genres but rock and metal is my favorite and I think these are perfect. I’m surprised at how good they sound out of the idsd signature I have. Looking forward to trying them with tubes but I’d be happy if I just had the idsd.

We would love to see some pictures

This got me sold. I love rock and metal
Koa seem to turn out very differently.

 

[soundchaos]

The hype train is definitely real on these…and this is before burn in! My other headphones are going to be jealous and not get much listening time