ZMF Bokeh - Open Back Headphones

[jinxy245]

BOKEH OPEN, BOKEH OPEN, BOKEH OPEN. I want to hear this headphone.

What he said... I'm dying to hear this one in my system

It’s got the special sauce! Very engaging and enjoyable sound signature!

Color me jealous... I don't think I'm overstepping by saying we're all looking forward to your impressions!

 

[theveterans]

Color me jealous... I don't think I'm overstepping by saying we're all looking forward to your impressions!

Don't expect too much from my impressions lol. My writing vocabulary is rather limited hence why I can never write elaborate reviews on anything thus I like to keep things short and simple hehe

 

[jinxy245]

Don't expect too much from my impressions lol. My writing vocabulary is rather limited hence why I can never write elaborate reviews on anything thus I like to keep things short and simple hehe

You're better than you think IMO. Still looking forward to it!

 

[erics75]

Don't expect too much from my impressions lol. My writing vocabulary is rather limited hence why I can never write elaborate reviews on anything thus I like to keep things short and simple hehe

You've added a lot of great info and content, don't sell yourself short.

 

[andrewchoppa]

Yes--but only if one's seeing eye dog is a trained driver/bodyguard/chauffeur.

And now a return to thread relevance: BOKEH OPEN, BOKEH OPEN, BOKEH OPEN. I want to hear this headphone.

I heard them a couple of weeks ago at the Melbourne Hifi Show in Oz. I own the BCs. Show conditions (b ut early in morning so not may people around.... LOVED them!!!!!

 

[Pharmaboy]

I heard them a couple of weeks ago at the Melbourne Hifi Show in Oz. I own the BCs. Show conditions (b ut early in morning so not may people around.... LOVED them!!!!!

(Pharmaboy turns into Wolfman, howls at the moon)

 

[Quadrangulator]

From ZMF Facebook:

Now does one grab the LTD version or wait for the stabilized resin drops?

The gray cups look great. But pink and yellow? I hope they offer alternate colors, preferably something neutral or at the very least not pink.

 

[idairyou]

The gray cups look great. But pink and yellow? I hope they offer alternate colors, preferably something neutral or at the very least not pink.

The last time I wore pink was when Miami Vice was on the air.

I would put on my pink shirt and listen to Phil Collins.

 

[ttys0]

I suppose this means the Bokeh Open release video will need to use Sussudio as the background music?

 

[dbull12]

I had been thinking about getting an Atrium to complement my Verite when I want a more forgiving presentation for poorer recordings, and also a bit more bite to electric guitars. But I still think the Atrium might be a bit more forward in the upper mids than what I'm looking for, and I don't know why I didn't consider the Bokeh Open as a complement to the Verite until today. I think they'll make a ton of sense as a more forgiving listen that can be a great all-rounder when I just want to get lost in the music without getting the last bit of resolution, speed, and microdynamics, and I think they probably won't be quite as forward in the upper mids as the Atrium while still having a nice balanced and "perceived warm/neutral" tuning. I heard an early prototype of the Bokeh Open one time when I was fortunate enough to get the chance to visit ZMF and listen to a bunch of stuff, and I was super impressed in that short time with them. I think that was before they were at any CanJams so I know they've only been refined and improved since then.

I think they might be an immediate purchase for me on December 6th. Only issue is I really want to get a Nitsch DSHA-3FN when the next run is available around the end of the year, but I won't be able to get both. I think the Bokeh Open would probably bring a bit more joy though (not to mention it's quite a bit cheaper), and hopefully the 3FN remains available for quite a while this time around.

 

[Deleeh]

I had been thinking about getting an Atrium to complement my Verite when I want a more forgiving presentation for poorer recordings, and also a bit more bite to electric guitars. But I still think the Atrium might be a bit more forward in the upper mids than what I'm looking for, and I don't know why I didn't consider the Bokeh Open as a complement to the Verite until today. I think they'll make a ton of sense as a more forgiving listen that can be a great all-rounder when I just want to get lost in the music without getting the last bit of resolution, speed, and microdynamics, and I think they probably won't be quite as forward in the upper mids as the Atrium while still having a nice balanced and "perceived warm/neutral" tuning. I heard an early prototype of the Bokeh Open one time when I was fortunate enough to get the chance to visit ZMF and listen to a bunch of stuff, and I was super impressed in that short time with them. I think that was before they were at any CanJams so I know they've only been refined and improved since then.

I think they might be an immediate purchase for me on December 6th. Only issue is I really want to get a Nitsch DSHA-3FN when the next run is available around the end of the year, but I won't be able to get both. I think the Bokeh Open would probably bring a bit more joy though (not to mention it's quite a bit cheaper), and hopefully the 3FN remains available for quite a while this time around.

Ouuff difficult.
The nitsch in particular is attractive but will certainly come back, and of course amp pairing is also important.
Is this the Verite open or closed you're talking about?
The Atrium open, if you get used to it, can be really laid back and enjoyable, it's the perfect opposite of the Verite, it's more neutral, faster and more open.
The Atrium is warmer, more enveloping and also slower compared to the Verite because of the biocellulose driver, more relaxed and also transparent at the same time, more air in the room of course.
It rather depends on your listening preferences, but if the BO was already sufficient for what you are looking for then yes, but it will also be slightly below the class of the Verite and not quite have the range of it, you should be aware of that.
Also because the Bokeh is still a mobile headphone whether open or closed.
About the amplifier, if it is so limited and has a long waiting time, it might be more of a priority than headphones as you can order from Zmf any day as soon as you are ready for it.

 

[dbull12]

Ouuff difficult.
The nitsch in particular is attractive but will certainly come back, and of course amp pairing is also important.
Is this the Verite open or closed you're talking about?
The Atrium open, if you get used to it, can be really laid back and enjoyable, it's the perfect opposite of the Verite, it's more neutral, faster and more open.
The Atrium is warmer, more enveloping and also slower compared to the Verite because of the biocellulose driver, more relaxed and also transparent at the same time, more air in the room of course.
It rather depends on your listening preferences, but if the BO was already sufficient for what you are looking for then yes, but it will also be slightly below the class of the Verite and not quite have the range of it, you should be aware of that.
Also because the Bokeh is still a mobile headphone whether open or closed.
About the amplifier, if it is so limited and has a long waiting time, it might be more of a priority than headphones as you can order from Zmf any day as soon as you are ready for it.

I have the Verite Open. I got the ZMF Homage pretty recently and I like my current chain quite a bit, but it hasn't killed my curiosity about the 3FN and the performance it can bring out of the Verite since it's considered one of the best solid state amps for ZMFs, especially the Verite and Auteur OG (and of course Focals).

I listen to a ton of music that isn't of the highest recording and production quality like a bunch of different alt rock and especially stuff like shoegaze, black metal, noise rock, etc. I actually don't agree with many of the impressions I've read about the Verite being a genre specialist and being incredibly unforgiving of poor recordings. I still find that I enjoy all my music with them and never feel like they're punishing me, but of course the biggest "wow" moments with the Verite come when it's given high quality recordings. For those poor recordings I do think it could be beneficial to have a different, less resolving flavor that's just plain fun. I think that having less separation and layering ability can probably lead to a more cohesive image of music that is more "lo-fi". It seems like the Bokeh line might be the best fit for this as I so often see it described as having such a fun sound that leads to the listener just enjoying their music rather than thinking about technicalities. Atrium is definitely also described this way pretty often, but maybe Bokeh is a bit more agnostic when it comes to recording quality? Of course we don't know exactly how the open model compares to the closed one yet but I imagine it retains a similar philosophy.

But yeah since I still find my Verite to be a good all-rounder I could just get the 3FN to try to have an "ultimate" chain for the Verite (without going to tubes). There's something to be said for just having one pair of headphones and not having to think about which pair of headphones would best fit which music, which you're currently in the mood to listen to, etc. Of course that's not a bad problem to have either though haha. Tough decisions

 

[jsabini1]

I'm sure you are aware that both companies will definitely make more, even if you don't grab one or the other now.

It seems like CeeTee has had greater difficulty by far producing the DHSA-3FN recently, where Zach should generally have the Bokeh (or Atrium) available anytime, in some version.

 

[Pharmaboy]

I have the Verite Open. I got the ZMF Homage pretty recently and I like my current chain quite a bit, but it hasn't killed my curiosity about the 3FN and the performance it can bring out of the Verite since it's considered one of the best solid state amps for ZMFs, especially the Verite and Auteur OG (and of course Focals).

I listen to a ton of music that isn't of the highest recording and production quality like a bunch of different alt rock and especially stuff like shoegaze, black metal, noise rock, etc. I actually don't agree with many of the impressions I've read about the Verite being a genre specialist and being incredibly unforgiving of poor recordings. I still find that I enjoy all my music with them and never feel like they're punishing me, but of course the biggest "wow" moments with the Verite come when it's given high quality recordings. For those poor recordings I do think it could be beneficial to have a different, less resolving flavor that's just plain fun. I think that having less separation and layering ability can probably lead to a more cohesive image of music that is more "lo-fi". It seems like the Bokeh line might be the best fit for this as I so often see it described as having such a fun sound that leads to the listener just enjoying their music rather than thinking about technicalities. Atrium is definitely also described this way pretty often, but maybe Bokeh is a bit more agnostic when it comes to recording quality? Of course we don't know exactly how the open model compares to the closed one yet but I imagine it retains a similar philosophy.

But yeah since I still find my Verite to be a good all-rounder I could just get the 3FN to try to have an "ultimate" chain for the Verite (without going to tubes). There's something to be said for just having one pair of headphones and not having to think about which pair of headphones would best fit which music, which you're currently in the mood to listen to, etc. Of course that's not a bad problem to have either though haha. Tough decisions

Discount appropriately because I'm a Violectric fanboy--but you could go a long way with your $$ by getting the SE V202 or the balanced V222, both often described as hewing to the slightly warm & spacious solid state wing (descended from the Violectric V281).

I have the V281 and its preamp-less sibling, the V280, and I'm here to tell you, both light up my silkwood Verite Open. I never feel the urge to switch amps when I plug into either one. They're also SOTA with any planar.

And FWIW, I completely agree with this: "I actually don't agree with many of the impressions I've read about the Verite being a genre specialist and being incredibly unforgiving of poor recordings." Yes the driver is fast and resolving, but the voicing of this headphone is pure "ZMF house sound," which to me means it sounds musical on pretty much any amp and any recording. I have both systems voiced in that direction to begin with (NOS DACs, a couple of which have tube outputs), so maybe I'm lost in the wilderness and just don't know it. But I've really never heard a harsh note out of my VO.

 

[theveterans]

I really wish Violectric make interconnects again. I'm glad I had grabbed two rca premium cables before they stopped making them. The braiding, feel and the connectors they use are very high quality