What was your order date if you dont mind asking? I Ordered on Apr 17, hope it gets made soon. but it still says its in the Wood Selection Phase.
ZMF Atrium - new open-back co-flagship
- Thread starter DeweyCH
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SlothRock
1000+ Head-Fier
Coming in here to praise the Atrium again. I figured I'd put it through its paces tonight with some fast, heavy, complex metal. A true challenge for many headphones to pull off to perfection without things sounding muddy. Atrium absolutely crushed this task. I've heard many, many details I've never heard in this song and every instrument was clear as hell to hear without ever getting muddy. I had a nice smile on throughout the entire song:
Liquid Tension Experiment - Acid Rain
Liquid Tension Experiment - Acid Rain
mvneufeld
100+ Head-Fier
If anyone is interested, I've got some Be2 Perf Hybrid pads I'd like to trade for Auteur Hybrid Perf pads.
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/zmf-be2-perf-hybrid-pads-to-trade.27150/
https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/zmf-be2-perf-hybrid-pads-to-trade.27150/
erics75
Headphoneus Supremus
The dynamic range of the Atrium is amazing. I've been fixated on this aspect for some time now. I find the Atrium mesmerizing because of it. I kept thinking why do I get so excited listening to it? I have other headphones with lots of punch and slam. But the Atrium is different somehow. It can present something like a soft hush with ethereal subtlety while simultaneously exploding into percussive mayhem at the drop of a breath. I'm not putting it into words well, but listening to the ability of the Atrium to present such a wide range of volume levels with such confidence and control impresses me. Today I spent the day on drum solos to try to better understand what I'm hearing and thinking. the below Tidal track is a decent illustration. You have these softer sounds like hand slapping the drum side, clapping, and tinkling chimes, all with varying degrees of intensity. Then out of nowhere the artist hits the deeper bass drums, and I can almost visualize the air percussing from the drum head. It's a powerful sound, with a lot of punch. Again, other headphones can do that deep slam as well, or even better, if quantity is valued over quality. But when those softer parts come in, those other headphones elevate it, so the range of volume isn't as wide. Super hard to explain, but I'm hearing it distinctly. When that proper bass drum hits man, it HITS! It's not sub-bassy, mind you. It's a taught mid-bass punch more than a sub-bass rumble. But it hits hard. Mix in the softer elements, and you have such a rich and varied cacophony of sound on such a well dispersed soundstage. Hats off to Zach, this headphone just does what I like like nothing else. I wish I could put into words what my ears perceive, this paragraph doesn't do it justice in the least.
PS I've settled on my Tuba as the amp of choice for my Atrium. Love the combo, very synergistic. Ok back to drum solos...bass goes BOOM....
PS I've settled on my Tuba as the amp of choice for my Atrium. Love the combo, very synergistic. Ok back to drum solos...bass goes BOOM....
alsorkin
100+ Head-Fier
Thanks for sharing that amazing track. I listened on Tidal with my Atrium and WA7 amp and it was just as impressive as you described.The dynamic range of the Atrium is amazing. I've been fixated on this aspect for some time now. I find the Atrium mesmerizing because of it. I kept thinking why do I get so excited listening to it? I have other headphones with lots of punch and slam. But the Atrium is different somehow. It can present something like a soft hush with ethereal subtlety while simultaneously exploding into percussive mayhem at the drop of a breath. I'm not putting it into words well, but listening to the ability of the Atrium to present such a wide range of volume levels with such confidence and control impresses me. Today I spent the day on drum solos to try to better understand what I'm hearing and thinking. the below Tidal track is a decent illustration. You have these softer sounds like hand slapping the drum side, clapping, and tinkling chimes, all with varying degrees of intensity. Then out of nowhere the artist hits the deeper bass drums, and I can almost visualize the air percussing from the drum head. It's a powerful sound, with a lot of punch. Again, other headphones can do that deep slam as well, or even better, if quantity is valued over quality. But when those softer parts come in, those other headphones elevate it, so the range of volume isn't as wide. Super hard to explain, but I'm hearing it distinctly. When that proper bass drum hits man, it HITS! It's not sub-bassy, mind you. It's a taught mid-bass punch more than a sub-bass rumble. But it hits hard. Mix in the softer elements, and you have such a rich and varied cacophony of sound on such a well dispersed soundstage. Hats off to Zach, this headphone just does what I like like nothing else. I wish I could put into words what my ears perceive, this paragraph doesn't do it justice in the least.
PS I've settled on my Tuba as the amp of choice for my Atrium. Love the combo, very synergistic. Ok back to drum solos...bass goes BOOM....
That's awesome - do we happen to know what DAC Steve paired the amp with?For the sake of science I bought these. I'll let you guys guess which pad is stock and which is the Brainwavz.
The Decware amp is in it's bones a CSP3 - but when you look under the hood there's a lot of stuff going on and some insane mods/additions I didn't even know could be on the table. I just sent Steve an early Atrium and then 6 months later he came back with the amp. The CSP3 is an amazing amp as well Steve is really an incredible amp designer/builder. I will have the final prototype at CanJam.
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That's a good question! I'll ask him more details about his process and testing when I pick up the first batch of amps, maybe I can get him to tell us on video.
L
Lovely impressions.The dynamic range of the Atrium is amazing. I've been fixated on this aspect for some time now. I find the Atrium mesmerizing because of it. I kept thinking why do I get so excited listening to it? I have other headphones with lots of punch and slam. But the Atrium is different somehow. It can present something like a soft hush with ethereal subtlety while simultaneously exploding into percussive mayhem at the drop of a breath. I'm not putting it into words well, but listening to the ability of the Atrium to present such a wide range of volume levels with such confidence and control impresses me. Today I spent the day on drum solos to try to better understand what I'm hearing and thinking. the below Tidal track is a decent illustration. You have these softer sounds like hand slapping the drum side, clapping, and tinkling chimes, all with varying degrees of intensity. Then out of nowhere the artist hits the deeper bass drums, and I can almost visualize the air percussing from the drum head. It's a powerful sound, with a lot of punch. Again, other headphones can do that deep slam as well, or even better, if quantity is valued over quality. But when those softer parts come in, those other headphones elevate it, so the range of volume isn't as wide. Super hard to explain, but I'm hearing it distinctly. When that proper bass drum hits man, it HITS! It's not sub-bassy, mind you. It's a taught mid-bass punch more than a sub-bass rumble. But it hits hard. Mix in the softer elements, and you have such a rich and varied cacophony of sound on such a well dispersed soundstage. Hats off to Zach, this headphone just does what I like like nothing else. I wish I could put into words what my ears perceive, this paragraph doesn't do it justice in the least.
PS I've settled on my Tuba as the amp of choice for my Atrium. Love the combo, very synergistic. Ok back to drum solos...bass goes BOOM....
Just received my KOA Atrium and it is burning in- first of all, thank you so much, it looks and feels great! Decware has also always tickled my fancy. Do you know whether the Decware will also be available in 230 V?For the sake of science I bought these. I'll let you guys guess which pad is stock and which is the Brainwavz.
The Decware amp is in it's bones a CSP3 - but when you look under the hood there's a lot of stuff going on and some insane mods/additions I didn't even know could be on the table. I just sent Steve an early Atrium and then 6 months later he came back with the amp. The CSP3 is an amazing amp as well Steve is really an incredible amp designer/builder. I will have the final prototype at CanJam.
One of the many great things I like about the Atrium is how it somehow makes live recordings sound more "live".
I was testing out a new (for me) tube roll and Roon randomly played me this. For 20 minutes I was transported to the front row of this show.
Warren Haynes makes everything sound better, and the Atrium made it sound more live.
Highly recommended.
I was testing out a new (for me) tube roll and Roon randomly played me this. For 20 minutes I was transported to the front row of this show.
Warren Haynes makes everything sound better, and the Atrium made it sound more live.
Highly recommended.
helljudgement
500+ Head-Fier
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Your impressions pretty much mirrors my experience. When I first got it the first thing that strikes me was how dynamic and explosive this sounds. Probably the most natural drum rendition of any headphones.The dynamic range of the Atrium is amazing. I've been fixated on this aspect for some time now. I find the Atrium mesmerizing because of it. I kept thinking why do I get so excited listening to it? I have other headphones with lots of punch and slam. But the Atrium is different somehow. It can present something like a soft hush with ethereal subtlety while simultaneously exploding into percussive mayhem at the drop of a breath. I'm not putting it into words well, but listening to the ability of the Atrium to present such a wide range of volume levels with such confidence and control impresses me. Today I spent the day on drum solos to try to better understand what I'm hearing and thinking. the below Tidal track is a decent illustration. You have these softer sounds like hand slapping the drum side, clapping, and tinkling chimes, all with varying degrees of intensity. Then out of nowhere the artist hits the deeper bass drums, and I can almost visualize the air percussing from the drum head. It's a powerful sound, with a lot of punch. Again, other headphones can do that deep slam as well, or even better, if quantity is valued over quality. But when those softer parts come in, those other headphones elevate it, so the range of volume isn't as wide. Super hard to explain, but I'm hearing it distinctly. When that proper bass drum hits man, it HITS! It's not sub-bassy, mind you. It's a taught mid-bass punch more than a sub-bass rumble. But it hits hard. Mix in the softer elements, and you have such a rich and varied cacophony of sound on such a well dispersed soundstage. Hats off to Zach, this headphone just does what I like like nothing else. I wish I could put into words what my ears perceive, this paragraph doesn't do it justice in the least.
PS I've settled on my Tuba as the amp of choice for my Atrium. Love the combo, very synergistic. Ok back to drum solos...bass goes BOOM....
One other aspect that's not often mentioned is how great it sounded with live albums. More specifically live rock/blues. One of my favorites with this headphone is BB King's Live at the Regal album. The wail of the guitar and how the crowd and drums surrounds you is mesmerizing.
Erwinatm
100+ Head-Fier
Allow me to add this classic jazz. Atrium delivers it superbly.
IMHO, this piece is the best of all other Take Five.
https://tidal.com/track/1785933
Hey, don't put yourself down, you have put it into words very well indeed.The dynamic range of the Atrium is amazing. I've been fixated on this aspect for some time now. I find the Atrium mesmerizing because of it. I kept thinking why do I get so excited listening to it? I have other headphones with lots of punch and slam. But the Atrium is different somehow. It can present something like a soft hush with ethereal subtlety while simultaneously exploding into percussive mayhem at the drop of a breath. I'm not putting it into words well, but listening to the ability of the Atrium to present such a wide range of volume levels with such confidence and control impresses me. Today I spent the day on drum solos to try to better understand what I'm hearing and thinking. the below Tidal track is a decent illustration. You have these softer sounds like hand slapping the drum side, clapping, and tinkling chimes, all with varying degrees of intensity. Then out of nowhere the artist hits the deeper bass drums, and I can almost visualize the air percussing from the drum head. It's a powerful sound, with a lot of punch. Again, other headphones can do that deep slam as well, or even better, if quantity is valued over quality. But when those softer parts come in, those other headphones elevate it, so the range of volume isn't as wide. Super hard to explain, but I'm hearing it distinctly. When that proper bass drum hits man, it HITS! It's not sub-bassy, mind you. It's a taught mid-bass punch more than a sub-bass rumble. But it hits hard. Mix in the softer elements, and you have such a rich and varied cacophony of sound on such a well dispersed soundstage. Hats off to Zach, this headphone just does what I like like nothing else. I wish I could put into words what my ears perceive, this paragraph doesn't do it justice in the least.
PS I've settled on my Tuba as the amp of choice for my Atrium. Love the combo, very synergistic. Ok back to drum solos...bass goes BOOM....
What's more you are very perceptive in that true dynamics is more than just slam, it affect the realism right through the volume range. I hinted at that in my recent comments; you get it as well.
And your long paragraph does do it justice; well done.
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