ZMF Bokeh - Open Back Headphones

[MrBanana]

... the silvery area on the (in)side of a tube is normal when the 'getter holder' is to the side rather than towards the top of the tube.

Thanks for clarification. I am diving in right now.

 

[idairyou]

BO sounds equally good on my Bliss KTE and is pretty damn good for gaming as well. Has probably replaced my Sundara as my goto gaming headphone.

I am going to try to post some more pictures tomorrow. Didn't get a chance to do it last week, as I had to head to Orlando on a business trip.

 

[MrBanana]

A light in the dark...

 

[jonathan c]

Cables for Bokeh Open (LTD Stabilised Clearwater, 2025):

Fog City Audio ['Spiral Twin' weave, 'Lava Flow' sleeve pattern, Cardas copper]. I prefer all-copper cable for Bokeh Open.

The duble-pst edit (12/JUN/2025):

As much as I have enjoyed Bokeh Open Clearwater with FAW Noir Hybrid cable, that enjoyment has been notched upward:

A tinge of warmth added to the sonic palette, with nothing taken away! Delicious!

A "triple-pst" edit (13/JUN/2025):

Since it is quite warm / muggy outside in western Pennsylvania today, I wasn't in a tube mood, so:

All the liquidity, spatiality of tubes with great dynamics, impact, near vantablack sonic backdrop! Nitsch DSHA-3FN clearly brings out the best in Bokeh Open. Enthralling is as enthralling does!

 

[Traiguen]

After a few weeks enjoying my beautiful new blue Bokeh Open Stabilized and comparing it to its closed sibling and other ZMF family members... some impressions.
My ears are turning 60 this coming week so I need more treble on my cans to enjoy their sound.

My first impression from the BO (with a default mesh) comparing it to the Caldera Open (without a mesh) was of a darker sound, more punchy bass which made it a fun listen for rock music.
I listen to the BO exclusively for a while but when switching to the CO I noticed & liked the extra clarity I was getting on the Caldera, instruments sounded more "sparkly".

I removed the mesh from the BO and its sound now is as if the muffler had been removed! - more clarity as I like it - much closer to the CO sound now, very, very enjoyable.
I have been listening to all these cans with SS amps for a while so I am getting a Vali 3 to try them on a tubes and hopefully experience the "tube magic".

BC has been to me like a "son of a lesser god" for no good reason... I thought of it as a good choice whenever the open ones were not an option due to too much noise around me.... oh boy, wasn't I wrong!!! The BC is a terrific listen!, clarity is great, bass is outstanding & fun and it does not sound quite as "closed" as other close back headphones I have had.

I am enjoying very much my current ZMF family.... I hope @zach915m does not come out anytime soon with new beauties which I "might need" to have...

sound

 

[idairyou]

Finally found some time to take a few pics, as well as the ever-expanding ZMF stable.

 

[jsabini1]

Looking at his, HFA Dahlia, or even the DCA XO as a possible next choice...would love to know if anyone has any insights into relative strengths/ weaknesses. Cheers

I have the Dahlia and the Bokeh Open, and I have to say the Bokeh Open is just the better headphone of the 2 (imo of course)

The BO has faster transient response, punchier bass, and a smoother tonality overall. And its midrange is superb, it is a ridiculously good sonic value at its price point.

Both headphones can be a bit spicy in the treble initially, but I found the BO to smooth out to a greater extent than the Dahlia, which I find to be a bit aggressive in the treble even with burn in and some pad rolling.

In the case of each headphone I've rolled pads, settling on the Caldera Ultra perf lambskin for the BO, and still searching for the right pad for Dahlia. Its stock pads might be the best, but I've also tried Caldera hybrids and Caldera thin TSP on Dahlia, all with the goal of smoothing the top end and maybe giving a bit of bass boost. I haven't found quite the right combo, though I do rather like plain old Universe perf lamb pads on it. (!)

Don't get me wrong, I think the Dahlia is a good headphone, it's very comfortable, it does sound good, and it's the nicest of the DIY Peerless driver headphones. And with all the great feedback it has, I wanted to try it out. I just think the Bokeh Open sounds better in comparison to the Dahlia.

But the usual disclaimers apply, YMMV and all that as we all hear differently.

 

[AnamCeoil]

I have the Dahlia and the Bokeh Open, and I have to say the Bokeh Open is just the better headphone of the 2 (imo of course)

The BO has faster transient response, punchier bass, and a smoother tonality overall. And its midrange is superb, it is a ridiculously good sonic value at its price point.

Both headphones can be a bit spicy in the treble initially, but I found the BO to smooth out to a greater extent than the Dahlia, which I find to be a bit aggressive in the treble even with burn in and some pad rolling.

In the case of each headphone I've rolled pads, settling on the Caldera Ultra perf lambskin for the BO, and still searching for the right pad for Dahlia. Its stock pads might be the best, but I've also tried Caldera hybrids and Caldera thin TSP on Dahlia, all with the goal of smoothing the top end and maybe giving a bit of bass boost. I haven't found quite the right combo, though I do rather like plain old Universe perf lamb pads on it. (!)

Don't get me wrong, I think the Dahlia is a good headphone, it's very comfortable, it does sound good, and it's the nicest of the DIY Peerless driver headphones. And with all the great feedback it has, I wanted to try it out. I just think the Bokeh Open sounds better in comparison to the Dahlia.

But the usual disclaimers apply, YMMV and all that as we all hear differently.

Thanks a million for the very comprehensive insights; sounds like the BO is just up my avenue...which means I am on another "saving for a headphone/ justifying another headphone" round for a while! Cheers

 

[jonathan c]

... It's back up to the Laurel Mountains, and the 'audio loft' sound tonight is quite Bokeh with me :

 

[DACattack]

@jonathan c I'm not sure I've seen anyone have a nicer collection of assorted amps and headphones. Extremely well done.

 

[jonathan c]

@jonathan c I'm not sure I've seen anyone have a nicer collection of assorted amps and headphones. Extremely well done.

.... thank you !!

 

[Old and Slow]

After a few weeks enjoying my beautiful new blue Bokeh Open Stabilized and comparing it to its closed sibling and other ZMF family members... some impressions.
My ears are turning 60 this coming week so I need more treble on my cans to enjoy their sound.

My first impression from the BO (with a default mesh) comparing it to the Caldera Open (without a mesh) was of a darker sound, more punchy bass which made it a fun listen for rock music.
I listen to the BO exclusively for a while but when switching to the CO I noticed & liked the extra clarity I was getting on the Caldera, instruments sounded more "sparkly".

I removed the mesh from the BO and its sound now is as if the muffler had been removed! - more clarity as I like it - much closer to the CO sound now, very, very enjoyable.
I have been listening to all these cans with SS amps for a while so I am getting a Vali 3 to try them on a tubes and hopefully experience the "tube magic".

BC has been to me like a "son of a lesser god" for no good reason... I thought of it as a good choice whenever the open ones were not an option due to too much noise around me.... oh boy, wasn't I wrong!!! The BC is a terrific listen!, clarity is great, bass is outstanding & fun and it does not sound quite as "closed" as other close back headphones I have had.

I am enjoying very much my current ZMF family.... I hope @zach915m does not come out anytime soon with new beauties which I "might need" to have...

sound

Beautiful ….. any thoughts on owning both the open & closed Bokeh? Got the closed on the way and already thinking about a stabilized open.

 

[ch1525i]

Beautiful ….. any thoughts on owning both the open & closed Bokeh? Got the closed on the way and already thinking about a stabilized open.

I have both, in fact I have 2 BCs: an original rubied limba (s/n 41) and stabilized, they both are fantastic headphones with enough similarity to be from the same family but different enough to make me reach for them at different times. The Open provides a more airy and larger soundstage and the Closed more visceral bass with a satisfactory but more intimate soundstage. I like the Open with Jazz, Classical (although not as much as my Verite Open) while the Closed for Classic Rock & Blues.

 

[DACattack]

@Old and Slow I too have both and they complement each other really well. In my case I bought a Bokeh Closed first because I needed something to use in my bedside system in the evening which wouldn't bother my wife. I immediately enjoyed the sound of the Bokeh Closed so much--even though it had barely broken in--that within a week I had ordered the Bokeh Opens. The Opens are the main headphones I use in my home office, paired primarily with Aegis. Like @ch1525i noted, they each provide a little different but certainly a closely related listening experience. Those LCP drivers have a fun sound signature for sure. I'm happy I have both too.

 

[spruce]

@Old and Slow I too have both and they complement each other really well. In my case I bought a Bokeh Closed first because I needed something to use in my bedside system in the evening which wouldn't bother my wife. I immediately enjoyed the sound of the Bokeh Closed so much--even though it had barely broken in--that within a week I had ordered the Bokeh Opens. The Opens are the main headphones I use in my home office, paired primarily with Aegis. Like @ch1525i noted, they each provide a little different but certainly a closely related listening experience. Those LCP drivers have a fun sound signature for sure. I'm happy I have both too.

Any primary differences between the two that stick out to you. For example, are they both equally punchy? If you had to choose one which would it be? Thanks.