ZMF BOKEH - Closed Back (Semi-Portable)

[JackarlTwo]

Question for those who enjoy classical music or acoustic jazz. I've found that the Bokeh Closed really does well with multiple genres and from what I've read Bokeh Open may be even a more capable generalist headphone. Thoughts on which of the high impedence cans work best with those genres? (I find they're the most difficult genres to do superbly.) From the product descriptions on the web site I'd guess it's one of the Verités? I'm a little skittish because they use the beryllium drivers. When I've heard beryllium tweeters on speakers the treble seemed too sharp to me.

I don't listen to much classical but I do like some acoustic jazz. I absolutely love Atrium with some Pat Metheny, or pretty much anything with acoustic guitars. I haven't heard the VO, only the Verite Closed and I thought it was excellent too with pretty much anything I threw at it. I liked it so much I almost bought a pair myself but then Bokeh happened. I've heard people preferring Verite over Atrium for jazz and classical specifically, but I don't know if that's universally true for everyone. Hard to tell unless you try them.

 

[LowBrass]

The new limited edition ZMF headphones look really nice. Bokeh closed in canary wood .

 

[JackarlTwo]

Last night I wanted to listen to a couple of Black Sabbath tracks and it shouldn't take more than half an hour right? I ended up listening for hours. These are "just one more track" kind of cans. I had to compare them to my Atrium and Atrium is clearly on a higher level across the board but you're jumping up a significant price level. What the Bokeh's are capable of is astounding. Dollar per value is off the charts.

Also the finish of the cups is just great (they still smell like they just came out from the shop). Like you're picking up a piece of wood.

 

[JackLeville]

Indeed. People talk about the fentanyl crisis, but Bokehs should be forbidden too. Only ZMF's business model is less developed as it concerns a one-time purchase. But perhaps they want to lure us into the rest of the offerings.

 

[StokeNewingtonJohn]

Indeed. People talk about the fentanyl crisis, but Bokehs should be forbidden too. Only ZMF's business model is less developed as it concerns a one-time purchase. But perhaps they want to lure us into the rest of the offerings.

I'm afraid that you only need look at the multiple ZMFs mentioned on fellow Head-Fi users' profiles to see that, whatever your first ZMF pair is, it's very much a 'gateway' to more...

 

[Daniel59]

I'm afraid that you only need look at the multiple ZMFs mentioned on fellow Head-Fi users' profiles to see that, whatever your first ZMF pair is, it's very much a 'gateway' to more...

I can certainly agree with this statement. I was so enamored over my very first pair of ZMF’s (Bokeh Closed), I ended up ordering 3 more (CC Ltd Cocobolo, Aeolus Ash, and Auteur Ltd Ziricote). Can’t get enough of that smell of fresh cut wood each time I open up my BC case. It stimulates the senses, and places one’s mind in the proper mood for a very enjoyable listening session.

 

[jonathan c]

Can’t get enough of that smell of fresh cut wood each time I open up my BC case. It stimulates the senses, and places one’s mind in the proper mood for a very enjoyable listening session.

.... and if you put your ZMFs back in their case after each listen, that 'fresh cut' / 'fresh stabilised' aroma lasts & lasts

 

[DACattack]

Man, I feel I am sooooooooo late to the party. Listening to Steps Ahead Smokin' in the Pit on Qobuz on my Vali 3 into my Bokeh Closed. I think I've crossed another threshold. They are still new--probably no more than 50 hours of listening time since I've gotten them--and this is the very best they've sounded so far. (It probably helps that I added a Pro cable since it arrived a couple of days ago too.)

Egads, if they continue to improve, well, what the hell have I been missing? I've been in this hobby for 20 years, and headphones for 10, content with my Senns (which are, don't get me wrong, lovely headphones) but this Bokeh Closed is spectacular. I can't wait for my Bokeh Opens to arrive. Looking lovingly at the Aeolus in the limited release, but I have to hold tight until the end of the year so I can jump at an Atrium or Verité. Must save my pennies, but Zach and company make it so damn hard to resist. This sound is incredibly addictive.

Again, well done, ZMF, well done.

 

[mattiastomas]

Man, I feel I am sooooooooo late to the party. Listening to Steps Ahead Smokin' in the Pit on Qobuz on my Vali 3 into my Bokeh Closed. I think I've crossed another threshold. They are still new--probably no more than 50 hours of listening time since I've gotten them--and this is the very best they've sounded so far. (It probably helps that I added a Pro cable since it arrived a couple of days ago too.)

Egads, if they continue to improve, well, what the hell have I been missing? I've been in this hobby for 20 years, and headphones for 10, content with my Senns (which are, don't get me wrong, lovely headphones) but this Bokeh Closed is spectacular. I can't wait for my Bokeh Opens to arrive. Looking lovingly at the Aeolus in the limited release, but I have to hold tight until the end of the year so I can jump at an Atrium or Verité. Must save my pennies, but Zach and company make it so damn hard to resist. This sound is incredibly addictive.

Again, well done, ZMF, well done.

Welcome to the wonderful world of ZMF! I highly recommend checking out the Atrium Open. If I could only keep one ZMF it would be the Atrium Open. There’s something really special about it

 

[Daniel59]

If I could only keep one ZMF it would be the Atrium Open. There’s something really special about it

What music genres do you listen to with your Atrium Open?

 

[DACattack]

Welcome to the wonderful world of ZMF! I highly recommend checking out the Atrium Open. If I could only keep one ZMF it would be the Atrium Open. There’s something really special about it

Thanks! I really think that's the one I'll end up with next, honestly. I imagine it would be a fine pairing with my Folkvangr. Have you heard the Closed?

 

[mattiastomas]

What music genres do you listen to with your Atrium Open?

I mainly listen to pop / rock. Sometimes jazz. So far I haven’t heard a genre that didn’t sound good with the Atrium Opens.

Thanks! I really think that's the one I'll end up with next, honestly. I imagine it would be a fine pairing with my Folkvangr. Have you heard the Closed?

I personally haven’t heard the Folkvanger but I’ve read good things about it with ZMFs.
I do have both the Atrium Open and Closed.

 

[andrewchoppa]

.... and if you put your ZMFs back in their case after each listen, that 'fresh cut' / 'fresh stabilised' aroma lasts & lasts

Oh my Lordy Wordy!!!!!!!!!! I want what you've got!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[DACattack]

I also have a Mjolnir 3 on order from Schiit. Now scheduled to be shipped mid-May. We'll see (it's been pushed back a couple of times). So I'm thinking both amps should drive the Bokehs very well; and when I graduate to the next level of ZMFs, that the Folkvangr should drive the Atrium Open especially well, and the Mjolnir 3, the Caldera. (It's fun to dream, anyway. But at least I have a plan!)

So cool you have both Atriums. And by your sig, the Caldera Open too? Wow! And Aegis, CSP3, V281, Homage, and Nitsch Magni Piety? That's a spectacular lineup of headphones and amps! And the Yggdrasil+ MIB? Dude! (I have the Yggy A2 and Gungnir 2 as my main DACS.) I'm insanely envious of your equipment. Very, very nicely done!

How would you compare AO vs. AC?

 

[mattiastomas]

I also have a Mjolnir 3 on order from Schiit. Now scheduled to be shipped mid-May. We'll see (it's been pushed back a couple of times). So I'm thinking both amps should drive the Bokehs very well; and when I graduate to the next level of ZMFs, that the Folkvangr should drive the Atrium Open especially well, and the Mjolnir 3, the Caldera. (It's fun to dream, anyway. But at least I have a plan!)

So cool you have both Atriums. And by your sig, the Caldera Open too? Wow! And Aegis, CSP3, V281, Homage, and Nitsch Magni Piety? That's a spectacular lineup of headphones and amps! And the Yggdrasil+ MIB? Dude! (I have the Yggy A2 and Gungnir 2 as my main DACS.) I'm insanely envious of your equipment. Very, very nicely done!

How would you compare AO vs. AC?

Thanks! Took me a couple of years to get em all. At canjam I did hear my AC on the Mjolnir 3 / Gungnir 2 and it sounded really good.

Don’t want to derail this thread any further since it’s a BC thread. But I recommend checking this review. It does compare both.
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/zmfheadphones-atrium-closed.26353/review/30248/