ZMF Bokeh - Open Back Headphones

[AnyDave]

Wow. It’s been a while since I dived under the 1k mark.

Are there any LE launch releases to mark the Bokeh? How about a bundle with one other orders?

The initial release will be the two stock color options. Limited edition woods always come later. For a recent example, the Caldera Closed launched roughly around the middle of '24 and the stabilized options showed up for the first time in the recent drop. There were some limited edition woods before that, but not at launch.

 

[Funklefi]

Following this thread - if the open are in the same league as I can read the bokeh closed are, this is truly something special. Do you also have the caldera and how they compare? There are no where to listen to them where I live. But I'm about to buy the caldera resin (if lucky), but could buy the bokeh open and the aegis instead. Currently have the ferrum audio wandla GSE hp and hypsos on order, should arrive soon. But only some old hifiman he-6 I think, which was bought when released. Just entering the hobby again, and stumbled upon ZMF and hard to look elsewhere

 

[theveterans]

Easy to drive, easy to use headphone that I can run out of a DAP? Normally I pick up Utopia or the B&O H100 and I'd be fascinated to see where the Bokeh sits in between. As for technical abilities, I'm running the LCD-5 out of a Hugo2 cabled to Danacable Rhapsody right now so if Bokeh compares favourably, that'd be a huge win!

I don’t think it’ll beat the LCD-5 on speed and clarity but I bet you’ll still choose it more for its realism and liveliness

 

[theveterans]

Following this thread - if the open are in the same league as I can read the closed are, this is truly something special. Do you also have the caldera and how they compare? There are no where to listen to them where I live. But I'm about to buy the caldera resin (if lucky), but could buy the bokeh open and the aegis instead. Currently have the ferrum audio wandla hp and hypsos on order, should arrive soon. But only some old hifiman he-6 I think, which was bought when released. Just entering the hobby again, and stumbled upon ZMF and hard to look elsewhere

Open is significantly better than closed to me. Closed lacks a special sauce to me that open has especially macro and micro dynamics aspect while open has those a step or two levels better than closed

 

[zach915m]

Hey guys sorry haven't popped over here in a while! Here's some logistics and I'll make sure to get as much Bokeh Open content going this week as I can!

This week's drops:

• December 2nd: Stabilized Resin Atrium/Caldera Models will be available.
• December 6th: Bokeh Open and Salire releases.

Plenty of action going on over in the ZMF November Megathread, I'm sure a lot of you already know that:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf-november-2024-schedule-announcements-and-megathread.974608/

The Bokeh Open will indeed be a 250 unit "drop" for the discount at $899 usd, which indeed is $100 off the msrp.

There will be two looks available, I'll post pics and full details on that soon.

As for sound, @AnyDave and I have really perseverated over all the minute details of the tuning on this one! As you know we don't tune to price point or anything, we just make it as good as it can be and I think these will by far be the best value open back we make, especially when you factor in that you don't need a crazy amp for it, it's 89 ohm impedance and 100+ sensitivity make for an easily drivable experience.

This and an Homage (on discount until Xmas for $699), an HA 2a (discounted to 999 when bought as a bundle and in black! - or one of the new Element 4's from JDS gets you a serious setup for under 2K.)

The sound is very full and present and immediate, the LCP driver is really excitable and you can get that lively nature from the headphone without a high impedance source.

You can also drive them from a laptop or something really messy in a pinch and get enough volume (maybe not as much timbre.)

Lastly - we do have full Vegan options available now for the Bokeh series so that's exciting as well!

I'll be back with more info and videos this week to help describe what we did with Bokeh acoustics and aesthetics and what to look forward to in the future with it as well.

 

[vsg28]

Word of the day = perceverated

In more news, looks like Bokeh Open demo unit should be delivered tomorrow so I'll try to share photos at least before the drop next Friday.

 

[Funklefi]

Hey guys sorry haven't popped over here in a while! Here's some logistics and I'll make sure to get as much Bokeh Open content going this week as I can!

This week's drops:

• December 2nd: Stabilized Resin Atrium/Caldera Models will be available.
• December 6th: Bokeh Open and Salire releases.

Plenty of action going on over in the ZMF November Megathread, I'm sure a lot of you already know that:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf-november-2024-schedule-announcements-and-megathread.974608/

The Bokeh Open will indeed be a 250 unit "drop" for the discount at $899 usd, which indeed is $100 off the msrp.

There will be two looks available, I'll post pics and full details on that soon.

As for sound, @AnyDave and I have really perceverated over all the minute details of the tuning on this one! As you know we don't tune to price point or anything, we just make it as good as it can be and I think these will by far be the best value open back we make, especially when you factor in that you don't need a crazy amp for it, it's 89 ohm impedance and 100+ sensitivity make for an easily drivable experience.

This and an Homage (on discount until Xmas for $699), an HA 2a (discounted to 999 when bought as a bundle and in black! - or one of the new Element 4's from JDS gets you a serious setup for under 2K.)

The sound is very full and present and immediate, the LCP driver is really excitable and you can get that lively nature from the headphone without a high impedance source.

You can also drive them from a laptop or something really messy in a pinch and get enough volume (maybe not as much timbre.)

Lastly - we do have full Vegan options available now for the Bokeh series so that's exciting as well!

I'll be back with more info and videos this week to help describe what we did with Bokeh acoustics and aesthetics and what to look forward to in the future with it as well.

Would the Aegis be to much for the new bokeh open ?

Out of the game for so long, so back to square 1

 

[s2kphile]

Would the Aegis be to much for the new bokeh open ?

Out of the game for so long, so back to square 1

Negative. Bokeh works wonderfully with Aegis and any other tube amps. Planning to pick up the Cayin HA-2A bundle with the open when they release it on Friday.

 

[theveterans]

Would the Aegis be to much for the new bokeh open ?

Out of the game for so long, so back to square 1

No. Not in my experience at CanJam SoCal. Rather than getting more details, Aegis enhances the staging perception, imaging and a tighter bass with the Bokeh Open. It's whisper quiet with the Bokeh as well. BTW, Aegis itself is not a powerhouse where even entry level amps like the Topping L30s and Schiit Magnis have at least 50% more power output than Aegis.

 

[erics75]

perceverated

 

[Monsterzero]

I have really perceverated

 

[Wes S]

These headphones are gorgeous! I think they turned out amazing looking.

The Purple Heart grill is stunning, and I really dig the chatoyancy in the SpectraPly.

 

[jsabini1]

OMG that's great! Thank you

 

[Wes S]

Day two, and the thereness is in full effect, with fantastic timbre, detail, impact and immediacy. The notes have good weight, and texture as well. I really like how the Open version has more air and space around the notes vs. the Closed, and everything just breathes and decays more naturally. Speaking of decay, that is another thing that is really standing out, and you hear every last bit of the notes as they trail off, and it really gives you a good sense of space.

I am absolutely loving these headphones. They are such a musically engaging listen. The "one more song" syndrome, is for real with this pair. I only meant to sit down and listen for a few songs while I continue to burn them in, and hours have now gone by, and I just can't stop listening.

 

[theveterans]

Day two, and the thereness is in full effect, with fantastic timbre, detail, impact and immediacy. The notes have good weight, and texture as well. I really like how the Open version has more air and space around the notes vs. the Closed, and everything just breathes and decays a bit more naturally.

I am absolutely loving these headphones. They are such a musically engaging listen. The "one more song" syndrome, is for real with this pair. I only meant to sit down and listen for a few songs while I continue to burn them in, and hours have now gone by, and I just can't stop listening.

Yes indeed. It's very Atrium-like in that openness and staging Also, texture presentation through better sustain and decay was another huge factor for me in getting enthralled immediately