ZMF BOKEH - Closed Back (Semi-Portable)

[Wes S]

Dang! I bought the RU7 on a whim, and just wanted to try it out for testing purposes and I was planning on returning it, but with what I am hearing right now it's here to stay.

For those wondering about the RU7 pairing it's incredible, and I will share more after some more time with it and burn-in. As it stands right now, this dongle has headroom for days, and really makes the Bokeh sing.

Cayin and ZMF know good sound no doubt, and are my two favorite companies for a reason.

 

[TommehHiFi]

Look what just showed up. It's time to try out a dongle with the Bokeh.



This should be interesting. . .

The RU7 shouldn't even have to stretch to get good sound out of the Bokeh! I use it with my Atrium and VC all the time and it's my favorite dongle I've tried (of many). I do think it sounds much better (less congested, more dynamic) in my m1 macbook air than my samsung galaxy phone though. I think the RU7 is a better sounding DAC (line out) than many full size delta sigma implementations (such as my O2 DAC/amp, xduoo ta30 ess9038q2m, and geshelli j2 akm.

Blew my load on an AC this holiday season with a move coming up this month, but judging by the improved bass graphs since I listened to the work-in-progress Bokeh at CanJam Chicago 2023 (sorta bass light but already liked em), they're still on my list to get one day. Might take a crazy limited wood (snakewood plz ) to get me off the fence next year.

 

[Turb0Yoda]

I don’t typically make rush purchases.. this was one of them. Can’t wait!

(Also please please send pequods)

 

[SolidSlug]

Is this a new system to attach the pin to the yoke? I seem to notice a screw under there. That would fix my first and only gripe with the build of these ZMFs.

 

[ozziegurkan]

Just ordered mine as well. Has anyone compared this to the Auteur Classic?

 

[LXMc]

Just ordered mine as well. Has anyone compared this to the Auteur Classic?

@OnlySoMany mentioned in his review that the Bokeh feels like the love child of the Auteur and Atticus. Once mine shows up I can see about offering some comparison as well.

 

[AudioDuck]

Blew my load on an AC this holiday season

Sir, this is family forum. Please keep it PG-rated.

 

[Alenotta]

Bokeh is a vocal mid lovers closed back. There is a lovely softening or blending to the upper vocal region. (Caveat, I'm still using the packaged burst mesh so that I'm sure is doing some of that.) The softening of that region gives vocals a really organic sound that I'm loving. I think that is a large part of what gives these an analogue soulfulness.

 

[LXMc]

Bokeh is a vocal mid lovers closed back. There is a lovely softening or blending to the upper vocal region. (Caveat, I'm still using the packaged burst mesh so that I'm sure is doing some of that.) The softening of that region gives vocals a really organic sound that I'm loving. I think that is a large part of what gives these an analogue soulfulness.

Hearing stuff like this is part of what cinched the deal for me. I've been eyeing the AC because I wanted a fun bass-y closed back, but I listen to a lot of alternative-pop type stuff (Glass Animals, Valley, etc) so vocals are just as important to me as good bass. Not that I doubt the AC has great vocals, but what you and others are saying about the vocals on the Bokeh (even likening them to the Auteur) makes it seem like potentially a better fit for me. Even if it doesn't have the technicalities of the AC, I've already got a technical monster in the Caldera.

 

[ng5921]

BOKEH on the way

 

[texx2818]

Monday. Monday. M O N D A Y!
Can’t wait to do a direct compare on my AC and these.

 

[zach915m]

Look what just showed up. It's time to try out a dongle with the Bokeh.



This should be interesting. . .

Dang! I bought the RU7 on a whim, and just wanted to try it out for testing purposes and I was planning on returning it, but with what I am hearing right now it's here to stay.

For those wondering about the RU7 pairing it's incredible, and I will share more after some more time with it and burn-in. As it stands right now, this dongle has headroom for days, and really makes the Bokeh sing.

Cayin and ZMF know good sound no doubt, and are my two favorite companies for a reason.

Oh I should've remembered this but forgot, we have like, 6 or 7 RU7's in stock ready to ship, but I forgot to get them on the site trying to get the BOKEH done. We also have some C9's as well that I'll have up soon. PM me for a bundle deal with the RU7 if anyone is interested. I quite like mine as it stays on my desk as my DAC to whatever else to save space, I just like that it was a line out mode.

 

[TommehHiFi]

Sir, this is family forum. Please keep it PG-rated.

What's limba? Is it hard or soft wood?

heh.

 

[robo24]

The suede BOKEH Caldera pad is a great pad for the Atrium Closed, and they all will work on the Atrium Closed in some capacity and I'll post a video on that soon. Although some of them may be too bassy on Atrium Closed.

Will the Bokeh pads be available sometime soon? I must have another suede set for my AC! Haven't tried the protein on the AC, but the suedes aren't too bassy for my tastes and bring it much closer to what I liked about the stock lambskin Caldera pads on the AC.

 

[Alenotta]

What's limba? Is it hard or soft wood?

heh.

It is a softer wood which is what @zach915m said he personally preferred with the Bokeh. He is going to do some LTD wood runs of various hardness in the future. I've only heard this Limba set I have here and the Bocote set at CanJam SoCal. That Bocote set sounded good, but I think they made some tuning adjustments since then. I am personally gunning for a Bocote Bokeh at some point for both the aesthetics and fun alliteration. The Limba looks really nice. I like this stain and I actually really liked it sans stain too at CanJam or also as seen in the Bokeh YouTube walkthrough.