[Monsterzero]

So, worth the cost of the upgrade, in your opinion?

I mean yeah IMO, but I know there are members in this thread who absolutely prefer the OG version.
In my chain/ears I hear the classic as a Atrium open Jr., more or less. I hear a better stage, more midbass and a slightly warmer overall sound vs. the OG. That being said Ive read others mention that they prefer vocals on the OG, so pick your poison.

 

[bagwell359]

Cup your ears over the circular driver back vents of your Auteur and you basically have an Eikon in an instant.

It'll go on my short list for closed backs along with the E3.

 

[ext23]

ZMF is launching a new, rebranded Eikon, the Eikon(ic) 2024 (link below). The drivers are those used in the Auteur Classic. At first that seems a bit alarming (new drivers! unfamiliar sound!), until you remember the Eikon was the closed-back biodynamic that preceded its open-backed sibling, the Auteur. So I'm guessing the Eikon(ic) will sound even a bit better than the OG Eikon, which was pretty amazing.

If you have an Eikon or Eikon(ic), you will have a new bass champion, better in every way (including far better comfort) than the TX-00. I had a mahogany TX-00 from Massdrop, then a somewhat similar but even better-sounding (IMO) E Mu Teak. The OG Eikon vaulted right over them.

Not sure if anyone has the Eikon(ic) yet, so maybe no reviews. But they'll be forthcoming.

(oops ... forgot the link) https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/products/eikon-classic

Right! That's an interesting new option. BUT...I just don't think I want a closed headphone to be my one-and-only. I'm still fairly sure I'll be getting the Auteur Classic in November.

BTW. The Auteur Classic retails for US$1500. What are the November sale prices like?

 

[skhan007]

Man, my OG sound so good! I’ll give the update/upgrade some thought, but these sound great in stock form.

 

[haasaaroni]

BTW. The Auteur Classic retails for US$1500. What are the November sale prices like?

I think $1299 for B-stock sets? Some of the B-stock sets looked amazing last year too. Crazy grain and ambrosia stripes. Tempted me to buy another set lol

 

[jonathan c]

Man, my OG sound so good! I’ll give the update/upgrade some thought, but these sound great in stock form.

.... Auteur OG and Auteur Classic each have their own magic! OG 'updated' (note this wording!) to Classic = OG Lost [ John Milton, ].

 

[haasaaroni]

Man, my OG sound so good! I’ll give the update/upgrade some thought, but these sound great in stock form.

There's really nothing like Auteurs on tubes!

 

[cats4cans]

Right! That's an interesting new option. BUT...I just don't think I want a closed headphone to be my one-and-only. I'm still fairly sure I'll be getting the Auteur Classic in November.

BTW. The Auteur Classic retails for US$1500. What are the November sale prices like?

I’m waiting for Zach to come out with a convertible headphone. Have a lever on the ear cup controlling a vented iris where the simple grill is now. The amount of venting is user controlled on the fly ranging from fully open back to nearly closed. Maybe have a few extra bits and bobs for tweaking the damping as well. People get pad rolling overload now. Can you even imagine?

 

[ckhirnigs113]

I probably would have upgraded my OG to a Classic by now if it was cheaper. I wish Zach would consider discounting the upgrade once or twice a year for secondhand owners. I simply can’t justify it at $600, but at $400 I’d surely have done it by now.

 

[oldmankensey]

I’m really on the fence about upgrading. I don’t know that I want to change the tonality, but would appreciate the bigger soundstage, etc.

 

[skhan007]

I'm in agreement with the above two posts. The other thing that makes me take pause with the update of my OG, is the total investment in these headphones. I'm guesstimating that after I spent the money for the update, shipping, etc., I'd lose a lot of money on my resale in the future, as my total investment in these headphones would exceed the cost of brand new ones.

 

[haasaaroni]

I'm in agreement with the above two posts. The other thing that makes me take pause with the update of my OG, is the total investment in these headphones. I'm guesstimating that after I spent the money for the update, shipping, etc., I'd lose a lot of money on my resale in the future, as my total investment in these headphones would exceed the cost of brand new ones.

Yeah, I honestly don’t know what I’d do personally. You could always see if this Auteur sells and then pick up a used Auteur Classic for a 2-3 hundred bucks more. The benefit of getting the upgrade from ZMF is that they’ll inspect the headphones and even give you the lifetime driver warranty as they do for the original owner.

 

[pbui44]

I probably would have upgraded my OG to a Classic by now if it was cheaper. I wish Zach would consider discounting the upgrade once or twice a year for secondhand owners. I simply can’t justify it at $600, but at $400 I’d surely have done it by now.

This and hearing from others with the Classic that the Original is really the sweet spot between the HD650 and HD800 with tonality and soundstage with the Classic leaning towards the HD800. Besides, the Classic sounds like it is more approaching the Klipsch Heritage HP-3 and I still have those.

 

[oldmankensey]

I'm in agreement with the above two posts. The other thing that makes me take pause with the update of my OG, is the total investment in these headphones. I'm guesstimating that after I spent the money for the update, shipping, etc., I'd lose a lot of money on my resale in the future, as my total investment in these headphones would exceed the cost of brand new ones.

That’s the other issue: I’ll have shelled out $2K for a $1500 headphone.

 

[skhan007]

Exactly.