idairyou
1000+ Head-Fier
I am definitely holding out for a stabilized drop. Especially if the grill is stabilized, and if the grill is stabilized it should make for some interesting patterns.
ZMF Bokeh - Open Back Headphones
- Thread starter JerseyD
- Start date
Quadrangulator
100+ Head-Fier
Any early comparison or thoughts of the Bokeh Open versus the 109 Pro? Thinking of selling my 109 Pro and upgrading my dynamic open back slot to the Bokeh Open.
Also, are the gray Bokeh Open's grills purple or pink? Production photos look purple but recent early review photos above look pink.
Also, are the gray Bokeh Open's grills purple or pink? Production photos look purple but recent early review photos above look pink.
Pharmaboy
Headphoneus Supremus
I will be doing this in a couple weeks.
s2kphile
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2009
- Posts
- 1,589
- Likes
- 8,947
I can share impressions once I get it.
I really thought about waiting too but the inductory price of $899 was to good to pass up plus based on the Bokeh Closed release. Probably wont be seeing stabilized open units until summer time.
Zach is offering 2 variations purple and red.
Attachments
Quadrangulator
100+ Head-Fier
The production pics looks purple but various early/reviewer pics look pink. Here's a side-by-side...
s2kphile
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2009
- Posts
- 1,589
- Likes
- 8,947
Its the lighting and angle. I am sure Zach quality control wouldnt allow him to send purple grills out looking pink.The production pics looks purple but various early/reviewer pics look pink. Here's a side-by-side...
Njychen
100+ Head-Fier
How does one go about getting the discount on Homage? Is there a coupon code?
Thanks!
If you didn’t add it on to your headphone order at time of purchase write ZMF an email.
The difference you are seeing is when the light hits it just right at a certain angle, and the pic is from my phone, so it's exaggerated more. The color changes a bit depending on the angle due to the Chatoyancy of the Purple Heart wood, of which I think is a cool effect. The grills are a bit more purple in normal lighting just like in the picture on the right. This is a natural wood though, so I imagine there will be slight variance from batch to batch.The production pics looks purple but various early/reviewer pics look pink. Here's a side-by-side...
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2013
- Posts
- 1,073
- Likes
- 5,122
Not sure about better pics, but some photos of my demo set to perhaps add more context:Waiting fot better pics, but i like a lot the reddish one
As I see, there are two types of the spectraply ear cups and two types of the wooden grilles (with associated mesh behind) available. I don't know which combinations will be used in the final release, probably the two pictured in your post. This one has the red grilles which goes from deep red when viewed directly to having some orange/red/pink hues when viewed from an angle.
Day three with the Open, and the bass has really come into it's own now, and actually slams with incredible punch and texture. These headphones just don't have a single weakness, and there is some magic in the tuning allowing for an exciting listen no doubt.
So, for those curious how the Open compares to the Closed, here are my first impressions.
First off, the Open is more open sounding, with better separation and air between the notes. Things breathe and decay more naturally with the Open. You can hear the notes longer with the Open, and with the closed the decay is a bit quicker. As for the bass, it's more middbass focused on the Closed, and with the Open you get better balance down into the subbass, and as a result a slightly fuller albeit less punchy sounding bass. They both punch quite hard, but the Closed punches a tad harder in the middbass, and the bass just sounds more balanced on the Open. As for the mids, things are a bit smoother and just a tad less lively on the Closed, and same goes for the highs. The staging is also not quite as airy and open on the Closed vs. Open. The staging sounds more intimate, like you are in a smaller concert hall on Closed, and sounds like you are in a larger cathedral with the Open. Don't get me wrong, the staging is excellent with the Closed, it's just a bit better with the Open. As for detail retrieval, I feel due to the better separation and air, it's easier to hear more with the Open, but the Closed is no slouch either. Lastly, the timbre is a bit more lifelike on the Open. That's just a quick comparison, but should give you some idea how they compare.
This comparison is right in line with how Zach usually tunes his Closed vs.Open headphones, with the Closed being a bit more warmer/smoother and less lively, but still incredible in their own right. I love both headphones and they each have their place. That being said, I actually think it's worth owning both of them for sure.
So, for those curious how the Open compares to the Closed, here are my first impressions.
First off, the Open is more open sounding, with better separation and air between the notes. Things breathe and decay more naturally with the Open. You can hear the notes longer with the Open, and with the closed the decay is a bit quicker. As for the bass, it's more middbass focused on the Closed, and with the Open you get better balance down into the subbass, and as a result a slightly fuller albeit less punchy sounding bass. They both punch quite hard, but the Closed punches a tad harder in the middbass, and the bass just sounds more balanced on the Open. As for the mids, things are a bit smoother and just a tad less lively on the Closed, and same goes for the highs. The staging is also not quite as airy and open on the Closed vs. Open. The staging sounds more intimate, like you are in a smaller concert hall on Closed, and sounds like you are in a larger cathedral with the Open. Don't get me wrong, the staging is excellent with the Closed, it's just a bit better with the Open. As for detail retrieval, I feel due to the better separation and air, it's easier to hear more with the Open, but the Closed is no slouch either. Lastly, the timbre is a bit more lifelike on the Open. That's just a quick comparison, but should give you some idea how they compare.
This comparison is right in line with how Zach usually tunes his Closed vs.Open headphones, with the Closed being a bit more warmer/smoother and less lively, but still incredible in their own right. I love both headphones and they each have their place. That being said, I actually think it's worth owning both of them for sure.
Last edited:
idairyou
1000+ Head-Fier
I wonder if ZMF will sell the grills separately with different patterns, so you can swap them out if you want too.
Looks like they are held with 4 screws.
Looks like they are held with 4 screws.
erics75
Headphoneus Supremus
Well the journey begins! BO in the house! I'll be adding pics to this shortly. First off these smell good! hahaha I know it's weird but I'm weird, deal with it. This is some fragrant BO! Second, these things are so lighting dependent to see the full colors. In strong light they're quite colorful and vibrant. Under normal office lights though they have a more blackish/obsidian look. I personally love it. And when you rotate them in hand to change the angle of the light, it really changes the vibrancy and color. I spent the first few minutes just messing with them under bright lights, quite mesmerized by the changes. So does this mean the BO qualifies as a fidget toy too? 
I could totally see myself bored in a zoom meeting playing with them like I do a tiger eye worry stone I have.
The demo package contained all the usual stuff, extra pads (one set are hybrid, the others suede), 3 cables, extra meshes, and some earpad retainer rings. Something new to me, those be! I'll get some pics up of them, but Zach said they go under the pads between the baffle and pad to help the pads retain their shape. As someone with some very worn out protein pads from my BC, this could indeed be a game changer. Those oval cups tend to really stretch out the pads near the bottom where you plug in the cable. My BC pads just fall off now at the slightest touch from it. Hopefully these new rings will rectify that issue. Love how Zach is always innovating.
I'm like 30 mins in to my first listen so no sound impressions yet. Tonight maybe, I will have the rest of the day to get a handle on the sound. I can say now nothing sounds weird or off to me. Sometimes you know you won't like something on first listen, that isn't the case here. What I'm curious about is how will it hold up to my beloved BC? I know it's going to be tuned a bit different, but will it have it's personality and soul? Time will tell. Bare with me on the pics, my phone isn't cooperating today (crappy signal).
I could totally see myself bored in a zoom meeting playing with them like I do a tiger eye worry stone I have.The demo package contained all the usual stuff, extra pads (one set are hybrid, the others suede), 3 cables, extra meshes, and some earpad retainer rings. Something new to me, those be! I'll get some pics up of them, but Zach said they go under the pads between the baffle and pad to help the pads retain their shape. As someone with some very worn out protein pads from my BC, this could indeed be a game changer. Those oval cups tend to really stretch out the pads near the bottom where you plug in the cable. My BC pads just fall off now at the slightest touch from it. Hopefully these new rings will rectify that issue. Love how Zach is always innovating.
I'm like 30 mins in to my first listen so no sound impressions yet. Tonight maybe, I will have the rest of the day to get a handle on the sound. I can say now nothing sounds weird or off to me. Sometimes you know you won't like something on first listen, that isn't the case here. What I'm curious about is how will it hold up to my beloved BC? I know it's going to be tuned a bit different, but will it have it's personality and soul? Time will tell. Bare with me on the pics, my phone isn't cooperating today (crappy signal).
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 3, 2013
- Posts
- 1,073
- Likes
- 5,122
LOL maybe we should not use BO to refer to the Bokeh Open 
Those rings are more to help pad swap on the Bokeh platform, especially as fitting them can be less than trivial. I have a previous version of them which came in very handy in my Bokeh Closed review. These newer rings are not as oval as those, so I might actually still prefer the older ones depending on how it goes.
Those rings are more to help pad swap on the Bokeh platform, especially as fitting them can be less than trivial. I have a previous version of them which came in very handy in my Bokeh Closed review. These newer rings are not as oval as those, so I might actually still prefer the older ones depending on how it goes.
Last edited:
Users who are viewing this thread
