Mar 8, 2023 at 8:42 PM Post #7,501 of 8,930
I had not listened via Auteur for some time. So…. 18C59206-643F-48BB-9EBF-710BCE37D3F7.jpeg [ My unwillingness to send in Auteur for the ‘Classic’ update remains staunch! ]
And why is that? I share a similar uneasiness.
 
Mar 8, 2023 at 11:51 PM Post #7,502 of 8,930
And why is that? I share a similar uneasiness.
To me, Auteur was / is a ZMF milestone. I want to savour its sonic achievements - which are many - as they are. When I read about Atrium and its development, I was hooked - to try Atrium. This I did and own two of them (one is LTD) - alongside my two Auteur (both are LTD) 🤷🏻‍♂️🙂.
 
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Mar 9, 2023 at 12:22 AM Post #7,503 of 8,930
To me, Auteur was / is a ZMF milestone. I want to savour its sonic achievements - which are many - as they are. When I read about Atrium and its development, I was hooked - to try Atrium. This I did and own two of them (one is LTD) - alongside my two Auteur (both LTD) 🤷🏻‍♂️🙂.
If the Metropolitan Museum ever had a audiophile headphone exhibit, you could stock the exhibit from your collection - truly amazing stable of phones jonathan!
 
Mar 9, 2023 at 9:54 AM Post #7,504 of 8,930
To me, Auteur was / is a ZMF milestone. I want to savour its sonic achievements - which are many - as they are. When I read about Atrium and its development, I was hooked - to try Atrium. This I did and own two of them (one is LTD) - alongside my two Auteur (both are LTD) 🤷🏻‍♂️🙂.
That makes sense. I don't have an Atrium so I suppose I'm curious what its influences are on the upgraded Auteur. I don't think I'd want to make the Auteur sound similar to the Atrium if I already had one of each.
 
Mar 9, 2023 at 10:09 AM Post #7,505 of 8,930
That makes sense. I don't have an Atrium so I suppose I'm curious what its influences are on the upgraded Auteur. I don't think I'd want to make the Auteur sound similar to the Atrium if I already had one of each.
I was a huge Auteur OG fan- it was my first high end headphone. I really went back and forth on the upgrade but eventually pulled the trigger after reading a number of comments from others who did it. The consistent theme I heard was that nothing was worse with the Classic compared to the OG- but there were drastic improvements in the sub bass level and quality as well as the air and sense of space. This of course makes them more balanced and less mid-centric. But the mids are definitely not recessed at all. Having completed the upgrade I can confirm these things and I have no regrets upgrading to the Classic. It still remains my default neutral all-arounder headphone.

As far as the Atrium goes- I do not view the Atrium as just an upgraded Auteur. Here is what I had said earlier in this thread about the Atrium/Auteur comparison.
 
Mar 9, 2023 at 10:12 AM Post #7,506 of 8,930
To me, Auteur was / is a ZMF milestone. I want to savour its sonic achievements - which are many - as they are. When I read about Atrium and its development, I was hooked - to try Atrium. This I did and own two of them (one is LTD) - alongside my two Auteur (both are LTD) 🤷🏻‍♂️🙂.
Two Auteurs in your stable, and you are hesitant to upgrade one of them? Very interesting, but if you love them as is, then it makes sense.
 
Mar 9, 2023 at 12:02 PM Post #7,507 of 8,930
Two Auteurs in your stable, and you are hesitant to upgrade one of them? Very interesting, but if you love them as is, then it makes sense.
The two Auteurs sound a little different from each other: mainly in onset / decay of piano notes and chords. One is limba blackwood, the other is stabilised takwin.
 
Mar 9, 2023 at 4:08 PM Post #7,508 of 8,930
Honestly the differences between the Auteur OG, Auteur Classic, and Atrium are enough to justify having one of each if you wish.

I thought the sound of the Auteur Classic was closer to the Atrium than the Auteur OG at first. After spending some more time with the Classic it really has a sound that's distinctly its own. All are worth enjoying on their own right just like all other ZMFs.
 
Mar 9, 2023 at 4:21 PM Post #7,509 of 8,930
Honestly the differences between the Auteur OG, Auteur Classic, and Atrium are enough to justify having one of each if you wish.

I thought the sound of the Auteur Classic was closer to the Atrium than the Auteur OG at first. After spending some more time with the Classic it really has a sound that's distinctly its own. All are worth enjoying on their own right just like all other ZMFs.
I see my brilliant plan of gradually obtaining the Auteur Classic (check), the Verite open (incoming...ordered a month ago...hopefully here soon) and Atrium open (ZMF November?) and only keeping my favorite dissolving right before my eyes (and ears). At least I have a little time to come up with a good explanation for my wife!
 
Mar 9, 2023 at 4:51 PM Post #7,510 of 8,930
I see my brilliant plan of gradually obtaining the Auteur Classic (check), the Verite open (incoming...ordered a month ago...hopefully here soon) and Atrium open (ZMF November?) and only keeping my favorite dissolving right before my eyes (and ears). At least I have a little time to come up with a good explanation for my wife!
Yep I believe you are going to need a good explanation because if you are like myself, none are going back! Lol!
 
Mar 10, 2023 at 12:37 AM Post #7,511 of 8,930
Yep I believe you are going to need a good explanation because if you are like myself, none are going back! Lol!
…. and woe from the spouse who recalls the lyrics to Taxman …. “There’s one for you, nineteen for me” …. 🙎‍♀️ ….
 
Mar 10, 2023 at 12:50 AM Post #7,512 of 8,930
I see my brilliant plan of gradually obtaining the Auteur Classic (check), the Verite open (incoming...ordered a month ago...hopefully here soon) and Atrium open (ZMF November?) and only keeping my favorite dissolving right before my eyes (and ears). At least I have a little time to come up with a good explanation for my wife!
I miss my Verite Open. It just had such a magical sound for certain recordings, it was kind of unbelievable. At first I thought it would replace my Aeolus (certainly not my Auteur!), but it was its own thing...which is really the genius of ZMF headphones. I only let it go because I was determined to only own 2 ZMF's at a time, and stuck with my Auteur and Aeolus, which are both more all-rounders. But man, what a special headphone.
 
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Mar 18, 2023 at 6:16 PM Post #7,513 of 8,930
I was determined to only own 2 ZMF's at a time
Sometimes determination trips over itself...feels right, then really isn't.

I feel a vague unease when I have too many headphones (though not amps--never amps). I suppose it's a residue of puritanical thinking. But it never takes the form of "too many ZMFs" -- just "too many headphones" (period).

I could never be w/o my VO.

Zach posted a rather brilliant statement on one of the threads recently to the effect that every ZMF headphone is different from every other because he doesn't apply a "ZMF house sound" when voicing them (ie, same voicing for every one)--but instead voices each according to the design & driver. So what we call "voicing" really = optimiizing the particular sound of a given driver in wooden earcups of a particular design. IMO that's brilliant because it handily explains why ZMF headphone sound somewhat alike, yet also sound rather different from each other.

PS: Tomorrow night I'll finally get to hear the Auteur Classic, a headphone I'm curious about.
 
Mar 18, 2023 at 6:41 PM Post #7,514 of 8,930
Sometimes determination trips over itself...feels right, then really isn't.

I feel a vague unease when I have too many headphones (though not amps--never amps). I suppose it's a residue of puritanical thinking. But it never takes the form of "too many ZMFs" -- just "too many headphones" (period).

I could never be w/o my VO.

Zach posted a rather brilliant statement on one of the threads recently to the effect that every ZMF headphone is different from every other because he doesn't apply a "ZMF house sound" when voicing them (ie, same voicing for every one)--but instead voices each according to the design & driver. So what we call "voicing" really = optimiizing the particular sound of a given driver in wooden earcups of a particular design^^. IMO that's brilliant because it handily explains why ZMF headphone sound somewhat alike, yet also sound rather different from each other.

PS: Tomorrow night I'll finally get to hear the Auteur Classic, a headphone I'm curious about.
^^ similar to the ideal of optimising the sound of particular woods in a Guarneri violin 🎻.
 
Mar 21, 2023 at 2:16 PM Post #7,515 of 8,930
Hello,
It was almost a year ago that Zach announced that the Og would no longer exist in this form.
And I was one of the lucky ones who was able to get one.
The order was placed about a year ago and I received it at the beginning of May.
It has been in my possession for 10 months.

In the beginning I had to get used to it and do the burn in.
My old Dac still slowed it down, which I changed in January with the Gustard R26.
Paired with the Feliks Euforia, which I've had for a while.

And every time I put on this Ambrosia Maple it's a real pleasure to listen to it.
And it always grounds me anew.

Even after the night shift the other day, I was still hyper, so I treated myself to a little whisky with the Auteur Og and after an hour I calmed down and was able to sleep.

And even if you haven't heard it for 2-3 weeks or the tubes are rolling, everything is fine.
It always takes a while to get used to it, then it works wonderfully.

I still use the Auteur Lambskin pad.

I hope to expand my Zmf headphones soon with the beautiful Atrium Bocote as a counterpart.

I still enjoy the Auteur and never get bored with it, which is not how I know it.
Especially from the headphones that are on the market.Was the joy and boredom after 6 months through and looked around,but not with Zmf.
I just love these headphones and hope they will accompany me forever and always be faithful.

Have fun to all who have an Auteur whether OG or Classic or other Zmf headphones.✌️✌️✌️✌️
 

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