ZMF Auteur Thread

[Gym_Turtle]

Some preliminary comments..

A lot leaner than Eikon while still retaining the aspects that made me love my Eikon.

The extension is better than most other open-backs I've heard.

The leaking isn't too too bad, not K1K/HD800 level, at least.

Sounds a lot more 'even' than the Eikon does. With a fuller sound and the larger stage really helps in that aspect.

(This is all with the Neutral Auteur pads).

Ask away.

How does the Auteur respond to amps/dacs? Also, wondering what chain you’re pairing the Auteur to get your impressions from.

 

[Netherwind]

How does the Auteur respond to amps/dacs? Also, wondering what chain you’re pairing the Auteur to get your impressions from.

Sadly this isn't something I can really give detailed thoughts on.

I've only plugged it into my NFB1Amp and directly into my XPS 15, both of which sounded quite good. 1Amp obviously sounds better but the XPS drives the Auteur surprisingly well.

I've pared down my collection in recent times and all I have is my JDS Labs Element at work and my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 -> :NFB 1Amp at home.

 

[444906]

What about wheight and clamping? Does it feel lighter on your head (considering the fact that the area around the ears has more air to "breathe")?
Can it reach the Eikon's sub-bass frequencies?

 

[givemetacos]

What about wheight and clamping? Does it feel lighter on your head (considering the fact that the area around the ears has more air to "breathe")?
Can it reach the Eikon's sub-bass frequencies?

Weight is lighter than Atticus and Eikon, though that also depends on the woods of each. It feels much lighter on the head than say LCD-2. But it is definitely heavier than HD800. I don't mind the weight at all and it carries its weight really well. Clamping is actually adjustable as you can bend the headband (Zach posted a video on doing that). Because the pads are flatter than my Ori pads on my Atticus, the clamp is naturally looser to start. Pretty ideal clamp for my preferences. Overall build is just really solid, sturdy, and premium. The metal hardware instills confidence and the leather headband is nicely padded and thick.

Sub-bass is one of the best features of this headphone. I feel like Eikon is tuned with more quantity, but the same quality and extension is in Auteur. It extends as much as LCD-2 (2016) and is even punchier in those frequencies.

 

[Gym_Turtle]

What genres of music does the Auteur excel at? What does it do better than the Eikon/Atticus outside of the obvious (treble and soundstage)?

 

[givemetacos]

What genres of music does the Auteur excel at? What does it do better than the Eikon/Atticus outside of the obvious (treble and soundstage)?

Because it is pretty neutral the Auteur is a solid all rounder. The sub-bass really digs deep so it has no problems with electronic and hip hop, though it isn't particularly bloomy in the mid-bass if you prefer that sound. But the mids are very present and natural so it works well with natural instrument music quite well. I've been listening to all types of genres on it and haven't come across anything that it is weak in. My favorites so far have been alternative, pop, electronic, acoustic, and jazz.

The Atticus is completely different. It is not meant to be neutral, but rather a fun, bassy headphone. It has much more mid-bass warmth and body making it a thicker, heavier sound, whereas the Auteur is much lighter sounding and even. I personally think the Atticus works better as a complementary pair to something like Auteur, Eikon, or HD800, cans that are more reference level neutral. I have only briefly compared Auteur to Eikon at a meet, but the Eikon uses the same drivers as Auteur but is closed back. With that, they have very similar sound signatures (neutral/slight warmth) but the Eikon can have even more sub-bass quantity being closed and there can be a slight unevenness in the upper mids/presence region that can sometimes make the vocals feels a little off. But overall, Eikon is an outstanding closed back headphone, the Auteur basically builds on that being open and widens that sound and refines it while maintaining good technicalities.

 

[PacoTaco]

Well, I got everything in today (the Metrum Amethyst, ampsandsound Kenzie, and the Auteur.) So far, the Auteur has been pretty damn good. It's a lot more open and airy than the Eikon, and the uppermids got quite a nice boost over the Eikon (though they are a tad recessed compared to the HD580 still...but the whole region is smoother and works more coherently.) I'm going to save the Eikon comparison for later, as I want to wait until I get the Eikon in for that comparison.

I'll be getting my impressions in order over the three weeks I have these, but...here's some main points:

1) It scales up with gear as well as the HD6x0 does (which are known to be one of those rare headphones that get better and better with greater gear.) In fact, it revealed a lot about the differences between the Amethyst and Mimby (the Mimby had quite a bit of detail missing that the Amethyst had.) It performs incredibly well with the 600 ohm output of the ampsand Kenzie, though the gap between it and the Magni 3 (both out of the Amethyst) is smaller (but not too much smaller) than the difference between the two dacs (which I found incredibly interesting.)

2) The Auteur pads make this, by far, the brightest and most neutral ZMF can Zach has ever made. The warmer pads make it more in-line with his house sound. I'll go more into the differences as I can listen to them, as I don't want to jump the gun and give the wrong idea.

3) These are crazy light compared to how heavy the Atticus and Eikon were.

Anyway, since this post refuses to let me post the picture, here's the imgur link to it: https://imgur.com/shBxmc4

 

[Gym_Turtle]

Because it is pretty neutral the Auteur is a solid all rounder. The sub-bass really digs deep so it has no problems with electronic and hip hop, though it isn't particularly bloomy in the mid-bass if you prefer that sound. But the mids are very present and natural so it works well with natural instrument music quite well. I've been listening to all types of genres on it and haven't come across anything that it is weak in. My favorites so far have been alternative, pop, electronic, acoustic, and jazz.

The Atticus is completely different. It is not meant to be neutral, but rather a fun, bassy headphone. It has much more mid-bass warmth and body making it a thicker, heavier sound, whereas the Auteur is much lighter sounding and even. I personally think the Atticus works better as a complementary pair to something like Auteur, Eikon, or HD800, cans that are more reference level neutral. I have only briefly compared Auteur to Eikon at a meet, but the Eikon uses the same drivers as Auteur but is closed back. With that, they have very similar sound signatures (neutral/slight warmth) but the Eikon can have even more sub-bass quantity being closed and there can be a slight unevenness in the upper mids/presence region that can sometimes make the vocals feels a little off. But overall, Eikon is an outstanding closed back headphone, the Auteur basically builds on that being open and widens that sound and refines it while maintaining good technicalities.

Thanks for the detailed answer!

 

[chocomel167]

For those who've tried the auteur how is the isolation?

 

[PacoTaco]

Better than most openbacks, but not on the level of a closed back. Think TH900 level of isolation.

 

[chocomel167]

How about leakage, also similar levels as e.g. the th900?

 

[jmk720]

Better than most openbacks, but not on the level of a closed back. Think TH900 level of isolation.

How about the bass in comparision with th900?

 

[Hansotek]

How about the bass in comparision with th900?

The TH900 does not fare very well against it head-to-head. The subbass on the TH900 will always be a ton of fun, but the treble is sharp and uncontrolled in comparison and the frequency response is significantly colored, relative to the Auteur's more even-handed approach. The Auteur is also a bit more spacious and detailed, being an open back headphone.

 

[shenanbay]

I'll try my best with text.

Eikon is pretty thick in the bass/midrange area.

Auteur feels more airy and relaxed in that area, the extension and the hard hits are still there but it feels more open in a sense.

It feels like it gives the treble more room to breathe.

This is likely mostly a side effect of moving from Closed to Open with the same driver.

how would these sound with a genre like metal ? I mostly listen to metal, jazz and classical. I have the hd6xx right now and I want something with a bit more bass and sound stage

 

[Hansotek]

how would these sound with a genre like metal ? I mostly listen to metal, jazz and classical. I have the hd6xx right now and I want something with a bit more bass and sound stage

Dude, these are highly, highly metal approved! The Atticus and Eikon are both fantastic as well, and this is a step up from both. Auteur still has the powerful hammering bass impact (like Abyss/Fostex-level power), plus even better staging, clarity and tone. It's an extremely visceral headphone.