[bmnathe]

Pretty simple since you answered your question yourself.
I happen to prefer the look of the teak to the blackwood myself as well.
So I wouldn't pay more for a wood I like less.

Thank you for taking me off ledge - it's rare that headphone decisions are simple - I will stick with the teak. Now I just have to waaaiiit...

 

[leftside]

If you like the teak buy the teak. If you like the blackwood buy the blackwood. I really like the blackwood + brass look so that's the one I purchased. It's also a contrast to my other headphones, and only 100 will be made.

 

[mwhals]

What will the burn-in time be with the Auteur? I am assuming around 100 to 150 hours like the Eikon.

 

[LCMusicLover]

Have you read my review on the Auteurs Item page (or whatever it's called on here?)

Interesting read and contrast to the other Taco

To me, the most significant difference is in your assessments of the Auteur mids. @givemetacos seems to like them more than you.

I really like having reviews which don't just repeat the same info/opinions. Sadly, I'll have to wait a couple months to form my own opinions

BTW, I'm now a 500+ Head-Fier. Yay me!!!

 

[givemetacos]

Interesting read and contrast to the other Taco

To me, the most significant difference is in your assessments of the Auteur mids. @givemetacos seems to like them more than you.

I really like having reviews which don't just repeat the same info/opinions. Sadly, I'll have to wait a couple months to form my own opinions

BTW, I'm now a 500+ Head-Fier. Yay me!!!

Yeah, I quite like the mids on Auteur just because they feel really natural and forward and what I am used to with HD600/HD650. I always felt the LCD-2 upper mids were slightly "off" and the HD800 mids pushed too far back in comparison to treble. I probably prefer the Atticus mids just a bit more than Auteur because the bass bleeds into the lower mids just a bit and makes vocals a bit warmer and more lush. But I really think the takeaway with Auteur is the even and neutral tonality. Pretty much every review I have read we all agree that Auteur hits that neutral sweet spot that you expect from a good reference headphone that many others often miss that mark. And sometimes I can find neutral to be boring, but I never feel that way with Auteur.

 

[LCMusicLover]

Yeah, I quite like the mids on Auteur just because they feel really natural and forward and what I am used to with HD600/HD650. I always felt the LCD-2 upper mids were slightly "off" and the HD800 mids pushed too far back in comparison to treble. I probably prefer the Atticus mids just a bit more than Auteur because the bass bleeds into the lower mids just a bit and makes vocals a bit warmer and more lush. But I really think the takeaway with Auteur is the even and neutral tonality. Pretty much every review I have read we all agree that Auteur hits that neutral sweet spot that you expect from a good reference headphone that many others often miss that mark. And sometimes I can find neutral to be boring, but I never feel that way with Auteur.

Thanks for your review and response. Maybe you should copy your review into the Showcase item.

I'm really looking forward to hearing the Auteur for myself. Once it get burned in, it'll be time to start seriously thinning the herd

 

[LCMusicLover]

If you like the teak buy the teak. If you like the blackwood buy the blackwood. I really like the blackwood + brass look so that's the one I purchased. It's also a contrast to my other headphones, and only 100 will be made.

I also went for the brass fittings. I just felt it was a more natural extension to the old-timey feel that the grills give.

Blackwood pre-orders are running close to 50-50 between black and brass fittings -- currently 31 pre-orders, 14 with black fittings, 16 with brass, and one unspecified.

 

[zach915m]

I also went for the brass fittings. I just felt it was a more natural extension to the old-timey feel that the grills give.

Blackwood pre-orders are running close to 50-50 between black and brass fittings -- currently 31 pre-orders, 14 with black fittings, 16 with brass, and one unspecified.

I am happy it's been about 50/50! We couldn't decide which to go with so I'm glad we wen't for the option of brass or black aluminum.

After I add the last few days orders and allocate what dealers have ordered we're about 50% sold out of the Blackwood LTD, I will do an updated count as we start having less and less so that everyone can see where we're at.

 

[Hansotek]

Yeah, I quite like the mids on Auteur just because they feel really natural and forward and what I am used to with HD600/HD650. I always felt the LCD-2 upper mids were slightly "off" and the HD800 mids pushed too far back in comparison to treble. I probably prefer the Atticus mids just a bit more than Auteur because the bass bleeds into the lower mids just a bit and makes vocals a bit warmer and more lush. But I really think the takeaway with Auteur is the even and neutral tonality. Pretty much every review I have read we all agree that Auteur hits that neutral sweet spot that you expect from a good reference headphone that many others often miss that mark. And sometimes I can find neutral to be boring, but I never feel that way with Auteur.

I never thought I’d say this, but I think after comparing them head-to-head, I actually like the mids better on the Auteur that the Atticus. They still have most of that sultry intimacy of the Atticus (just a hair less) but they also have some extra sweetness and sparkle in the upper mids that add a different layer of emotion to the music.

YMMV, and that doesn’t make the Atticus any less incredible, but to me the Auteur does a great job of delivering a midrange that is a little “wet” without sacrificing its linearity.

 

[LCMusicLover]

I never thought I’d say this, but I think after comparing them head-to-head, I actually like the mids better on the Auteur that the Atticus. They still have most of that sultry intimacy of the Atticus (just a hair less) but they also have some extra sweetness and sparkle in the upper mids that add a different layer of emotion to the music.

YMMV, and that doesn’t make the Atticus any less incredible, but to me the Auteur does a great job of delivering a midrange that is a little “wet” without sacrificing its linearity.

Fine, one more opinion to further whet my appetite.

C'mon @zach915m , I'm starving here -- when will dinner be ready?

I know, I know, sometime in January -- I might starve by then.

@Hansotek: I'm curious as to what your review will say regarding comparisons with the Utopia and the Ether Flow. Utopia because it's your benchmark for tonal perfection, and EF because you rate it highly as a value proposition (per your Utopia review).

I look forward to reading your Auteur review.

 

[Hansotek]

Fine, one more opinion to further whet my appetite.

C'mon @zach915m , I'm starving here -- when will dinner be ready?

I know, I know, sometime in January -- I might starve by then.

@Hansotek: I'm curious as to what your review will say regarding comparisons with the Utopia and the Ether Flow. Utopia because it's your benchmark for tonal perfection, and EF because you rate it highly as a value proposition (per your Utopia review).

I look forward to reading your Auteur review.

I didn’t do a lot in the way of comparison to the Utopia, but from memory, I can tell you:

Bass is more present and satisfying on the Auteur, unless you have a warm amp like Cavalli, etc... in which case there will still be less quantity on Utopia, but it’s pretty damn satisfying.

Mids are wetter/sweeter/more musical on Auteur and more straightforward/revealing on Utopia. Also more straightforward on EFO. Super subjective as to which people prefer between the two (or three). Mids on Utopia w/ the wrong amp can be a bit fatiguing. Same with EFO, plus the cable becomes a bigger concern w/ brighter gear.

Treble is more detailed on Utopia- really only beaten by SR-009 on BHSE, possibly MrSpeakers Electrostatic, and mega flagships like Sennheiser HE1. Treble on Auteur is balanced to a good level and relatively close to HD800/S and EFO from a technical standpoint - maybe just a teeny, tiny pinch behind those and a pinch ahead of Focal Clear. So hard to say on an absolute level because one headphone will be more detailed in one area and then less detailed in another. No shortage of detail on any of those headphones though. Auteur is also more forgiving and less fussy about sources, amps, cables, etc. in the treble, so that can be a plus if you don’t want to get all OCD with your chain.

 

[zach915m]

What will the burn-in time be with the Auteur? I am assuming around 100 to 150 hours like the Eikon.

Usually after a couple days of hard playing they seem good enough for me, but I usually suggest 100-150 hours before they feel fully settled. I like pink noise and music at the same time.

 

[heliosphann]

Usually after a couple days of hard playing they seem good enough for me, but I usually suggest 100-150 hours before they feel fully settled. I like pink noise and music at the same time.

I like noise and Pink music at the same time.

 

[zach915m]

What about pink listening to pink and pink noise while wearing pink ZMF's to burn them in? Anyone want a photoshop project lols.

 

[zach915m]

SO!

I wanted to give a shout out to two ZMF dealers who are taking pre-orders of the Auteur as well as selling the LTD edition Atticus and Eikons:

We are exclusively sold in Singapore by Zeppelin and Co, which I have spoken about in the Atticus/Eikon thread as they are a neat headphone shop that also is a top quality coffee shop at the same time. They have the Auteur in and will be taking pre-orders and then will have continuous stock. @Kristy Song is the owner and has a great staff that can help you out. I have gotten a few emails from people asking why you can't order ZMF Auteurs off our site in SIngapore and that's because you can only buy them at Zepp! Info can be found on Zeppelin's facebook page. To show the Teak set they have here are a few pics of it. This also shows some of the variance from the set on our website:



Also - Canadians! Do make sure to check out Hivemind Cables, we sell headphones through them as they are our sole Canadian dealer: https://www.hivemindcables.com/

Jerrold also bundles his awesome cables at discounts with ZMF's, so if you're looking for a nice upgrade cable AND a ZMF and live in Canada (or beyond!) that would be a great route to go.