ZMF Caldera Closed
- Thread starter goldwerger
- Start date
Yeah I was suprised to not hear more difference in the 2 VCs because part of why I also wanted a Blackwood VC was on the VO, my Blackwood I like significantly more than the early Silk one I had initially. I expected for closed the difference to be even greater. Who knows. I'll try comparing my 2 VCs again with the same pads and maybe I'll hear more difference now that I've had them both for more time. Overall though when I've had hard and softer woods of the same model on hand I always prefer the harder wood. I'd love to hear opposite end of spectrum hardness CCs too.All fair points, of course, and we all hear differently.
My only VC comparison was between stabilized Maple and African Blackwood, and I definitely preferred the latter.
With the CC, I gave the nod to the harder Bocote, but certainly the Redheart and Ash sounded lovely too. Horses for courses and all that…
dguitarnut
100+ Head-Fier
My CC B&W ebony has finally reached awesomeness…..break-in was painfully long but now rivals my CO in sound deliciousness. I had my doubts it ever would. On some songs one sounds better than the other……..now just trying nail down what.
Very cool, congrats! How long did the break-in take?
[Runs off to start burning in the new CCs]
Listening to my CC B&W right now with the WA23 Luna I got after CanJam SoCal. That's just a ridiculously lush treat. Loving every minute..
dguitarnut
100+ Head-Fier
The 150 hour break-in for my ears made it ok……but I would say double that or more to get in the same league as my CO. I am running the stock pads,
jojothewhale
100+ Head-Fier
Those are all awesome really love the natural woods! My favs!Finally got some “glamour shots” completed of my three ZMF sets: Caldera Closed (LTD Bocote), Atrium Closed (LTD Red Mallee Burl), and Verité Closed (LTD African Blackwood). Apologies for including all three here, but I’m posting all three for context.
To say I’m happy and proud to own these gems is an understatement.
Next up: Listening comparisons!
bluex
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2016
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Which do you like best ?Finally got some “glamour shots” completed of my three ZMF sets: Caldera Closed (LTD Bocote), Atrium Closed (LTD Red Mallee Burl), and Verité Closed (LTD African Blackwood). Apologies for including all three here, but I’m posting all three for context.
To say I’m happy and proud to own these gems is an understatement.
Next up: Listening comparisons!
Thank you, that’s most helpful. I’m used to the looooong burn-in of biocellulose drivers in particular (never, EVER judge an Atrium Closed before 150 hours of use!), but haven’t burned in a planar since I had an LCD-XC years ago.
Well, I’ve got the CCs running now and they are about 10 hours in, plus the ~20+ hours they had already… onward!
That’s not quite as hard as choosing between pets or your children, but not easy either.
With a solid-state amp: Likely the CC- I posted a some comparison notes yesterday.
But if I can use my OTL amp with the tubes I have, the AC wins.
I’m just fortunate to have all three. I don’t think I’ll need any other headphones for the rest of my days… and I certainly won’t sell them. I consider them part of my kid’s inheritance.
OK, so after about 75 hours of constant burn-in (Walkman DAP on “All Songs”, plugged to a wall outlet), I tried my Caldera Closed again tonight with The Apache… (I’d done that a day or two ago as well, so this isn’t the first try)
HOLY &@$*!
The CC has taken on a new level of air/bloom and natural, organic sound with that burn-in time. While I know there is probably a bit more to go- I’m going to let the CC run for another ~50 hours- I’m quite gobsmacked.
Somehow Zach and Co. paired the best qualities of the biocellulose drivers (organic, beguiling sound) with planar clarity and air/space, of of course, the fastest bass West of Pecos…
I can’t wait to see what the next week brings.
My sincere thanks to @zach915m @BooUrns , and the rest of the ZMF crew (especially Kevin, who went out of his way to find my LTD Bocote!) for bringing this special headphone into the world. I can’t recommend the CC enough.
I have been experimenting with numerous combinations of pads and meshes and no mesh. So many mixes.
For those who want less decay/lush, faster response, protein pads with black mesh have been recommended several times and this option does the job very well. I just tried thick CC pads with no mesh. Result: Even faster, less decay- and without the loss of as much depth as from the protein pads. Just a possible option for those looking for less lush, colder, faster, harder hitting, less dacay option. It is a bit brighter with no mesh- but I have a DSD dac which is very thick sounding, and along with the thick pads (which also thicken things a bit) this option is quite enjoyable and to my tastes not overly bright. In fact- tonally quite close to CO with these pads. Just putting it out there for those who seek this type of tuning. It's all personal of course and those with neutral systems may find it to bright. My system is tuned thick and dark ans dense, and so the "no mesh" option is on the table for me.
For those who want less decay/lush, faster response, protein pads with black mesh have been recommended several times and this option does the job very well. I just tried thick CC pads with no mesh. Result: Even faster, less decay- and without the loss of as much depth as from the protein pads. Just a possible option for those looking for less lush, colder, faster, harder hitting, less dacay option. It is a bit brighter with no mesh- but I have a DSD dac which is very thick sounding, and along with the thick pads (which also thicken things a bit) this option is quite enjoyable and to my tastes not overly bright. In fact- tonally quite close to CO with these pads. Just putting it out there for those who seek this type of tuning. It's all personal of course and those with neutral systems may find it to bright. My system is tuned thick and dark ans dense, and so the "no mesh" option is on the table for me.
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funkyfish
100+ Head-Fier
The german retailer sent me a pair for testing. I don't drive them appropriately (currently using an RU6 connected to my Macbook), but omg this thing sounds absolutely lovely… It just sounds so perfectly balanced to me. I keep switching back and forth between my AO and the CC and somehow — what I really did not expect — the CC sounds a bit more relaxed to me?! I can listen with my AO forever, but I have the feeling the CC is even more relaxed to my ears.
The tuning is really… chefs kiss!
The tuning is really… chefs kiss!
TheMiddleSky
Headphoneus Supremus
Yes, CC is more relax for me as well when compared to AO. CC (with Shedua wood) is the true definition of "butter smooth" sounding headphone.
erics75
Headphoneus Supremus
I got a pair of the Caldera Closed Thick Lambskin Top Perf Only pads (CCT for short going forward) and really like what they're doing with the CC. I was previously splitting time between the stock hybrid pads and the thick lamb top and side perf pads. The CCT pads are listed on the website as the warmest pad for the CC, and my ears definitely concur. I notice a subtle lift of the subbass, but much more significant lift of the midbass with the CCT pads. I always thought the bass on the CC was well done, tight and impactful, but lacking the weight of the AC or Atticus. The CCT pads bring it much closer to those bassy models. It's still fast, tight, and impactful. But there seems to be an added decay/linger, that allows for the impression of more weight and heft. I still think the AC and Atticus are still weightier sounding, but the gap is smaller. Mids other than the bass seem pretty similar. I had no complaints with the older pads, and the CCT are every bit as good. Once you get to the upper mids/treble though I do notice a slight increase in transient attack, making them sound slightly harsher. When listening to the first track with the CCT pads I kept going back and forth with this and the bass. I kept noting how nice the bass was with the new pads, but also how energetic the top end was. I run the red mesh, FYI. I wouldn't say the highs are harsh outright, just not as smooth as the older pads. All in all i'm a huge fan of the CCT pads. I doubt i'll pad roll much any more. Oh one more thing to add last minute. The CCT pads give you a slightly more intimate stage. It's not closed off sounding, just not as large as the other pads. I personally like that, if the stage is too big it starts to lose musicality to me.
