ZMF Caldera Closed

[ttys0]

I'm starting to wonder if I just generally prefer a darker sound. On a whim, I swapped out the red mesh for the green. The process was super easy, and Zach's video instructions are spot on. It took just a little flicking with a thumbnail at the edge to get an initial separation going, and then the whole thing peeled off with ease. I'm going to give it some time, since it may just be the "oh cool, something's different" aspect talking at the moment.

 

[jonathan c]

This is why you need two of each model… one to listen to and one to look at and rub like a Genie’s lamp …

.... save $$: get a mirror by your listening station!

 

[Exekuhtor]

I'm starting to wonder if I just generally prefer a darker sound. On a whim, I swapped out the red mesh for the green. The process was super easy, and Zach's video instructions are spot on. It took just a little flicking with a thumbnail at the edge to get an initial separation going, and then the whole thing peeled off with ease. I'm going to give it some time, since it may just be the "oh cool, something's different" aspect talking at the moment.

Interesting. If i had ordered my stabilized CC directly from ZMF, i would have gone for that full tuning set with every mesh and pad. Having mine now with just the stock (red) mesh and two pads, i can say that i'm 100% satisfied. The sound is very balanced (but coloured, in a good way), no sharpness, no shout, super pleasant and rich and musical in the midrange (vocals and guitars are just a bit below the Valkyria which is extremely high praise), it's still somewhat airy and sparkly but never as much as a Hifiman. The bass is very good in quality, but does not overstay its welcome with too much quantity. A hair more would be nice to have, but when a song needs it, it's there, in all the punchy glory the song ever needs. I also briefly swapped the pads for the other ones that were provided and the difference was minor. I'm super happy with the stock configuration. I don't skip songs with this headphone. The Caldera Closed is a really, really good allrounder, and the best thing is: It does not sound like a Closed-Back.

 

[SLC1966]

Interesting. If i had ordered my stabilized CC directly from ZMF, i would have gone for that full tuning set with every mesh and pad. Having mine now with just the stock (red) mesh and two pads, i can say that i'm 100% satisfied. The sound is very balanced (but coloured, in a good way), no sharpness, no shout, super pleasant and rich and musical in the midrange (vocals and guitars are just a bit below the Valkyria which is extremely high praise), it's still somewhat airy and sparkly but never as much as a Hifiman. The bass is very good in quality, but does not overstay its welcome with too much quantity. A hair more would be nice to have, but when a song needs it, it's there, in all the punchy glory the song ever needs. I also briefly swapped the pads for the other ones that were provided and the difference was minor. I'm super happy with the stock configuration. I don't skip songs with this headphone. The Caldera Closed is a really, really good allrounder, and the best thing is: It does not sound like a Closed-Back.

With all the ZMF headphones I have had, I end up going back to the stock pads. I will play around with pads but have always preferred the stock ones in the end.

 

[lauthoerer]

Talking about pads, where would the Caldera Suede TP (not TWP!) fit in the bright > warm lineup of the "recommended" CC pads?
(Caldera Suede TWP > Caldera Hybrid TP > Caldera Protein Thin TP > Caldera Thick Lamb TP)

Was pretty happy with the Stock Hybrid TP, then switched to the Protein Thin TP today and probably like them even better, as they give me a little more bass while retaining the overall sense of space and clarity - which is, funny enough, pretty much what the Hybrid TP did for my VC when I put them on. The new Warhaus album sounded just perfect on the CC (via Viking Weave to US5) with the Protein Thin TP.

Will keep rolling with the CC to the Thick Lamb TP next week and then back and then try the meshes... fun times with the tuning kit!

 

[AudioDuck]

Chilling with Cassandra Wilson, the Caldera Closed, and my new Norne Audio JS-16 dual-mono cable before bed… (cable is incorrect in the CC photo below, I need to get a new shot taken with it)

Running the CC with the JS-16 from the RSA Apache has wonderful timbre (table stakes for a ZMF headphone), but also tube-like holography and separation against a velvet-black background.

Ray’s amp is so dead silent, especially in balanced mode, and possesses an uncanny ability to render instruments and voices palpably.

I can’t be anything than grateful for the magic of this gear and the musicians and singers we get to enjoy.

This is even more emphasized by a week of power outages in our region that left me ZMF-less for a few days. It’s wonderful to have power back after 4 1/2 days and be in a warm home again.

Enjoy the music and have a good week, all- and a happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it!

 

[Exekuhtor]

The strap arrived and it looks sick!
Installation was not hard.
End result is super nice, this is it, my Closed-Back of choice and a super enjoyable allrounder!

 

[Zojokkeli]

I'm starting to wonder if I just generally prefer a darker sound. On a whim, I swapped out the red mesh for the green. The process was super easy, and Zach's video instructions are spot on. It took just a little flicking with a thumbnail at the edge to get an initial separation going, and then the whole thing peeled off with ease. I'm going to give it some time, since it may just be the "oh cool, something's different" aspect talking at the moment.

Briefly tried the green filters, but even though I consider myself a fan of darker sound in general, to my ears Calderas lost some of the soundstage and instrument placement magic they have with stock filters and earpads.

 

[lauthoerer]

Talking about pads, where would the Caldera Suede TP (not TWP!) fit in the bright > warm lineup of the "recommended" CC pads?
(Caldera Suede TWP > Caldera Hybrid TP > Caldera Protein Thin TP > Caldera Thick Lamb TP)

@zach915m @AnyDave would you be able to answer that?

 

[zach915m]

@zach915m @AnyDave would you be able to answer that?

They'd be the brightest, similar to the suede TWP but a couple dB less bass.

 

[dthong]

I have a Caldera Open and Atrium Closed at the moment, love both, but tend to spend more time with the CO with a bit of bass boost via my Ferrum Wandla DAC.

Would purchasing a Caldera Closed be complementary (noting that the CC is essentially a love child of the two) or insane on my part?

 

[betula]

I have a Caldera Open and Atrium Closed at the moment, love both, but tend to spend more time with the CO with a bit of bass boost via my Ferrum Wandla DAC.

Would purchasing a Caldera Closed be complementary (noting that the CC is essentially a love child of the two) or insane on my part?

Buying more ZMF headphones is never an insane idea. That said, I have a feeling that you might sell your AC after getting the CC. CC tuning is warmer and a bit softer compared to the CO, in a way closer to the more typical ZMF dynamic headphone tuning. Yet, as a planar sounds more technical than Atrium/Verité. Plus, neither CO or CC sound like a 'typical planar' in a sense that they are both thicker, weighty and organic yet speedy and energetic. (Unlike the airy and 'light' sound many people associate with planar sound.)

 

[smutnyjoe]

Buying more ZMF headphones is never an insane idea. That said, I have a feeling that you might sell your AC after getting the CC. CC tuning is warmer and a bit softer compared to the CO, in a way closer to the more typical ZMF dynamic headphone tuning. Yet, as a planar sounds more technical than Atrium/Verité. Plus, neither CO or CC sound like a 'typical planar' in a sense that they are both thicker, weighty and organic yet speedy and energetic. (Unlike the airy and 'light' sound many people associate with planar sound.)

I was already going to buy Bokeh because I want something that sounds great from mobile player like mojo2 but then I go to forum and I want to buy CC now. Fortunately, a few days are left to change my mind 50 more times

 

[dthong]

I was already going to buy Bokeh because I want something that sounds great from mobile player like mojo2 but then I go to forum and I want to buy CC now. Fortunately, a few days are left to change my mind 50 more times

I keep flipping between Aegis or CC

 

[jojothewhale]

Buying more ZMF headphones is never an insane idea. That said, I have a feeling that you might sell your AC after getting the CC. CC tuning is warmer and a bit softer compared to the CO, in a way closer to the more typical ZMF dynamic headphone tuning. Yet, as a planar sounds more technical than Atrium/Verité. Plus, neither CO or CC sound like a 'typical planar' in a sense that they are both thicker, weighty and organic yet speedy and energetic. (Unlike the airy and 'light' sound many people associate with planar sound.)

I agree with everything you said …those are my top 4 ZMF headphones … but I guess we are all just different in our own preferences… my rankings of those are 1) Atrium open w universe pads 2) Atrium closed with auteur solid hybrid pads 3) Caldera open w co thick pads 4) Caldera closed with cc thick pads… also there’s a cost consideration of 1000 more for each of the Calderas … I don’t know I just find my self reaching for my Atriums more day after day after day … but in the end you can’t go wrong with any of them… I think we can sometimes fool ourselves into thinking the differences are greater among them than they actually are in real life listening applications … I personally know I would probably fail a blind test miserably for all 4 in real life …I would never be able to probably tell them apart if I didn’t know what was on my head with exception maybe the atrium closed (because it has the most unique bass)…. and I don’t think you’re missing too much if you have any of the above 4… even throwing the verities in as well… all great! I have never once been listening to my calderas and wished I had my atriums on for a particular song or listening to my atriums and wished I had the calderas on they all present music in a fantastic way…