[Deleeh]

It'll be shipped as a "repair" and the value marked as the actual cost paid.

Upgrades won't be available through dealers.

Thanks for all the information in the last few days and also for the upcoming video for all the effort and hard work that went into it.
Also thanks to the whole ZMF team for their great cooperation.

 

[zach915m]

Thanks for all the information in the last few days and also for the upcoming video for all the effort and hard work that went into it.
Also thanks to the whole ZMF team for their great cooperation.

The sentiment is greatly appreciated!

Also just a note, so nobody stays up all night in anticipation - the auteur classic release video will go live in the AM I believe at 7:30AM CST, with our email going out at 9:45AM CST and then the upgrade program and classic going live at 10am CST. We are going to limit the upgrades to 20 units to start to see how it goes. Then will reopen the upgrade program when those sets are done.

 

[haasaaroni]

Good luck to all those wanting the upgrade tomorrow! I’m kinda bummed I parted ways with mine recently, especially with the renewed lifetime driver warranty. But that new grill is so beautiful I need to get a new pair eventually just for that

 

[Durkelphone]

For anyone worried about these not sounding like the OG auteur's please don't, it's the OG auteur with a little more resolution, more clarity, more stage and slightly lower THD and also a little more dynamic. The sound signature absolutely is not altered though, and these are all incremental upgrades in the classic. I do want to point out though, if you're expecting some kind of all new headphone, and you love your OG auteur, an upgrade isn't necessarily mandatory. I really detest audio upgrades where the company continuously comes back at you year after year asking you to open up your wallet because they kept making the product "better and better." This is the same headphone, with some improvements from what I've learned over the last few years, our patent pending damping applied, and an all new driver and airflow system. But it does NOT turn it into some revelatory different headphone, juts incrementally "better." We ran out of OG drivers, and I wanted to make a few changes to the new batch of drivers along with the other stuff, so it just made sense.

And also - I GREATLY appreciate your empathy. This is still my hobby, just a LOT more of it and the part I love the most is making and listening to headphones. I'm so lucky to be able to do it. The most important part to me aside from the headphones is our employees and you guys! So right back at you and thank you!



Good questions and concerns, but lets definitely not try to get ahead of ourselves and answer hypothetical questions that can't be answered yet, or that need to be answered by each individual. I will paste the upgrade details below so you have more info.

I think when you're just on the consumer side it's easy to think companies are just fleecing you "trying to get what they can," and trust me, I buy audio equipment all the time, and being on the side of it that I am, I try to think about it from both sides.

Regarding our price, one has to realize that when we're doing an upgrade, aside from the R/D, parts, man power, QC and other customer communication, that the process ends up taking more logistics than a new headphone. I hope this doesn't come off as harsh, but it's a miracle we're able to do any upgrades at all given how our processes and logistics are. I am adamant about doing it, albeit to the detriment of the business side, because I don't believe an owner who loves their wood cups, or other parts of their headphone, should have to discard that headphone. I as well spent a lot of time making each and every one of these.

I agree! The downside is there won't be as many options for the stock model. Thank you!

I for one and am truly looking forward to this upgrade. No matter the reason for its existence, it sounds like a literal wish list come true for the Auteur IMO.
Furthermore, for audiophiles and ZMF converts like me that purchased ore-loved ZMFs, it’s chance to have ZMF put their stamp of approval on my headphones while improving it simultaneously, win-win.

And the willingness of Zach as the owner to be fully transparent with the community and owners about the process is appreciated and almost unheard of in this hobby.

Much appreciated Zach & ZMF Team!

 

[Natarian]

I am going through the upgrade page and can't get past the chassis, headband and extra pads fields as it's required but there is no "no thanks" option to select.

 

[DenverW]

I am going through the upgrade page and can't get past the chassis, headband and extra pads fields as it's required but there is no "no thanks" option to select.

@zach915m yep!

It made me select an extra chassis and add on pads in order to move forward. I was not planning on adding these as I love mine as they are. I went ahead and completed the sale because I know it will be fixed; it cost a bit additional.

 

[zach915m]

@zach915m yep!

It made me select an extra chassis and add on pads in order to move forward. I was not planning on adding these as I love mine as they are. I went ahead and completed the sale because I know it will be fixed; it cost a bit additional.

Everything should let you select that you don't want an upgrade for certain parts now, sorry about that. Send an email to support@zmfheadphones.com if you need something removed and we will refund.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

If PayPay Credit didn't exist, I probably would have held off, but it does, so I'm upgrading my Ash Auteur to make it a Classic! Plan on keeping it forever now that I'll have a lifetime warranty on the drivers! Thanks @zach915m!

 

[Durkelphone]

Yeah I was able to order everything I wanted so issues here. Obviously, ZMF/Zach will fix any issues that come up!

 

[omega1990]

Yeah I placed an order for the upgrade a few minutes ago. I got my blackwood auteur second hand, so I ordered as many upgrades as I can get to make it look brand new again. Can't wait to see and hear the results of the upgrade!

 

[DenverW]

Anyone else having the issue where you have to select upgrades to move forward? I’m quite aware of the possibility that I am a knucklehead and was doing something wrong. I was using my phone, so possibly that may be a culprit as well. For me, I could not leave chassis upgrade and pads blank; I would get a pop up if it was on “please select” and the only selectable options I could pick were paid upgrades. Hmmm!

I’ll shoot an email later today, things are probably pretty busy for Zach over the next few hours.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

Anyone else having the issue where you have to select upgrades to move forward? I’m quite aware of the possibility that I am a knucklehead and was doing something wrong. I was using my phone, so possibly that may be a culprit as well. For me, I could not leave chassis upgrade and pads blank; I would get a pop up if it was on “please select” and the only selectable options I could pick were paid upgrades. Hmmm!

I’ll shoot an email later today, things are probably pretty busy for Zach over the next few hours.

Yeah, there were issues at first where you could not opt-out of the add-ons like chassis, Crescent Strap, and pads. It was fixed before I place my order. If you placed an order with stuff on there you didn't want, Zach said to email them and they will refund you.

 

[zach915m]

Anyone else having the issue where you have to select upgrades to move forward? I’m quite aware of the possibility that I am a knucklehead and was doing something wrong. I was using my phone, so possibly that may be a culprit as well. For me, I could not leave chassis upgrade and pads blank; I would get a pop up if it was on “please select” and the only selectable options I could pick were paid upgrades. Hmmm!

I’ll shoot an email later today, things are probably pretty busy for Zach over the next few hours.

I added a "No Thanks" option - sorry about that. Should be all set now. If you need to refund anything you purchased because of this shoot an email to support@zmfheadphones.com

 

[Durkelphone]

Anyone else having the issue where you have to select upgrades to move forward? I’m quite aware of the possibility that I am a knucklehead and was doing something wrong. I was using my phone, so possibly that may be a culprit as well. For me, I could not leave chassis upgrade and pads blank; I would get a pop up if it was on “please select” and the only selectable options I could pick were paid upgrades. Hmmm!

I’ll shoot an email later today, things are probably pretty busy for Zach over the next few hours.

Yeah when I tried through the ZMF site, it did the same but when I clicked through the provided link on head-fi, it worked fine.

 

[cacacacaciiiiii]

I recently bought the Auteur from a dealer - the mesh seems to have come from underneath the grille and looks 'white' like glue. Anyone else have this? Any chance I was sold B stock?