ZMF Caldera Closed

[AudioDuck]

Can you elaborate a bit in how they differ / if the difference if big etc. ?
In Wavetheorys review of a Verite Closed Stabilized he heavily criticized that the sound wasn't nearly as good as expected, when he later heard a "normal" wooden VC, he found it much, much better.
I want to buy a stabilized CC next month, hopefully the sound will not be worse than the standard model. At least there are a lot of different tuning options with the meshes + pads...
Anyone else here have an experience in a stabilized set vs a normal pure wooden set?

To my ear, the Bocote had a touch more clarity and speed, with more detail in the lower frequencies as a result. I’d estimate it to be a 5 percent or less-type of difference, so it was pretty slight.

Interesting that Wavetheory had that experience. I had a beautiful stabilized VC that I liked a lot, but traded it for an African Blackwood unit plus cash, and both the other person and I were happy with the outcome.

Blackwood is simply special, with a fast and snappy, yet rich sound. It makes sense that Blackwood is used for acoustic instruments.

 

[robo24]

Can you elaborate a bit in how they differ / if the difference if big etc. ?
In Wavetheorys review of a Verite Closed Stabilized he heavily criticized that the sound wasn't nearly as good as expected, when he later heard a "normal" wooden VC, he found it much, much better.
I want to buy a stabilized CC next month, hopefully the sound will not be worse than the standard model. At least there are a lot of different tuning options with the meshes + pads...
Anyone else here have an experience in a stabilized set vs a normal pure wooden set?

That seems odd to me. I had a stabilized VC followed by a soft Koa. I preferred the stabilized slightly, coming across as a little more exciting. I also recently bought one of the hardest woods, blackwood and honestly the differences between it and the Koa one are surprisingly minor. In fact so similar that I ended up using different pads on each to make them more different. Nothing like the differences in wood hardness on the Atrium Closed, which is the most significant I've heard on any ZMF. I don't imagine a harder wood or stabilized CC is going to sound worse. My CO is stabilized and I preferred it to the near final softer Oak CO I had before getting it.

 

[rafalc]

Hay all, I will be doing a lot of travelling with my CC, looking for best fitting, smallest possible case?
Right now I am looking at Geekria UltraShell etui.

ZMF Clamshell Cases I assume is just for Bokeh?

 

[goldwerger]

Hay all, I will be doing a lot of travelling with my CC, looking for best fitting, smallest possible case?
Right now I am looking at Geekria UltraShell etui.

ZMF Clamshell Cases I assume is just for Bokeh?

ZMF has a new case that fits all ZMF headphones -- see "full-size" option in drop-down (@AnyDave right? I think this one is meant for the bigger ZMF models?)

https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/collections/stock-headphones/products/bokeh-case

Saw them at SoCal. super flat form factor. I plan on getting a couple of those assuming they fit the larger full size models if I recall correctly

 

[AnyDave]

ZMF has a new case that fits all ZMF headphones -- see "full-size" option in drop-down (@AnyDave right? I think this one is meant for the bigger ZMF models?)

https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/collections/stock-headphones/products/bokeh-case

Saw them at SoCal. super flat form factor. I plan on getting a couple of those assuming they fit the larger full size models if I recall correctly

Yep, the black cases version will fit the full-sized headphones. For folks that want something a bit smaller than the stock ZMF hard case, I think that they are a nice option. I'm going to snag a bunch for home because it will allow me to pack them a bit tighter on my shelf.

 

[rsbrsvp]

I tried the Caldera Open standard Lambskin pads on the CC. It is another excellent option. Kind of like the protein- with brighter clearer results but less loss of depth than the protein. Some may wish to try- but as usual depends on the ear and the chain.....

 

[bluex]

I'm disappointed
Yesterday, I received an email, some stuff arrived from ZMF, to Germany
Today, another email, there is only Caldera Open and some other models. No Caldera Closed
I canceled, I asked for refund.
Very disappointed.

 

[funkyfish]

I'm disappointed
Yesterday, I received an email, some stuff arrived from ZMF, to Germany
Today, another email, there is only Caldera Open and some other models. No Caldera Closed
I canceled, I asked for refund.
Very disappointed.
I

Sorry to hear. My experience with the dealer was also not good… took ages for the delivery (which I only partly blame the dealer for) and I was also multiple times told my headphones would be there in x days/weeks and it never turned out that way. Now again I'm waiting for replacement pads for three months. Don't really trust that dealer anymore…

 

[bluex]

I asked for my money back
I'm looking for something else, closed back headphones
Where are you from, funkyfish??

 

[idairyou]

I'm disappointed
Yesterday, I received an email, some stuff arrived from ZMF, to Germany
Today, another email, there is only Caldera Open and some other models. No Caldera Closed
I canceled, I asked for refund.
Very disappointed.

Sorry to hear that.

Would it add a lot to the costs if you purchased directly from ZMF?

 

[bluex]

Sorry to hear that.

Would it add a lot to the costs if you purchased directly from ZMF?

I have no idea, I'd say, about the same.

 

[AudioDuck]

The Bocote looks amazing! Looking forward to your thoughts on the CC vs the AC

Well, here goes. With the caveat that the CC only has about 20-30 hours of play time on it (Kevin at ZMF recommended up to 100 hours to burn it in fully), I felt compelled to put these two incredible headphones toe-to-toe (cup-to-cup?) today as I had a day off.

Source: Bryston BDP-2 -> Sonnet Morpheus via AES/EBU (Acoustic Zen MC2).

Amp: Ray Samuels Audio Emmeline The Apache (dual-mono solid-state).

Of note, I tend to listen to my ACs with my OTL tube amp because it’s such a magical match with the dynamic driver ZMFs. However, my OTL tube amp is not ideal with planar headphones, hence I stuck with solid-state.

Cable: Norne Audio Einvaldi Reference (OCC silver/copper mix)

Headphones were volume-matched by ear, though funnily enough used a similar volume setting with my amp. The Apache was designed to work with a broad range of headphones, and I kept gain setting the same for both.

Jazz (Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson):

• The AC holds its own very, very well with vocals. Timbre is sublime with both. The primary difference lies in the fine details- the CC elicits more of the nuances: Hums from the singer before she starts a line, the “outline” of her in space, the decay of a percussion instrument. But if you own an AC and never hear the CC, you may never miss that level of detail. Then again, if you have, the realism is intoxicating- simply because it’s not intrusive on the music- it’s just there if you choose to focus on it. Yet it is simply part of the tapestry of the performance, so it never gets fatiguing or annoying.

Prog rock (TOOL):

• I find myself turning the volume up with the CC, mostly to immerse myself in the sound.
• With the CC, the cymbals and percussion instrument Danny Carey’s drum kit can be heard deep in the mix. Wow. The speed of guitars thrumming in “Invincible” is phenomenal.
• Switching to the AC: You can literally hear more drum skin movement, but the cymbals and higher-pitched percussions reveals a more bleached/emphasized treble. Bass drum KICKS though! Guitars are crunchy as well, arguably as fun to listen to as with the CC.
• Overall, though, the CC gets the nod for heavier genres because of its more gentle treble balance while retaining a great detail level- and having insane speed in the bass and upper midrange.

Pop/EDM (Daft Punk):

• AC: Awesome dynamic driver bass- deep, detailed, rumbling so you can almost feel it in your molars. Very immersive- you want to get up and let loose!
• CC: More punch, less rumble. Still very fun, but it feels more like I’d prefer to lean back and listen and tap my feet, rather than jump up and dance (maybe just as well given my limited skills). The CC has more details in the treble, loads of shimmer and sheen.

In the end the persona of the two headphones is different- the AC is the fun-loving, slightly scruffy friend that will pull you along to a great show, and you wake up the next morning almost regretting what you did- but not quite.

The CC is the ultra-polished, elegant friend you aspire to be like, but never can quite match. They do everything so darn well, and never set a foot wrong.

I used to think the ACs were my “desert island headphone” - the one I’d keep if I only could choose one. But with The Apache, the only “level playing field” I own amp-wise, the CCs have stolen that crown.

But I’m immensely fortunate to not have to choose between these two friends- I can hang out with either, depending on my mood. And I can pair our down-and-dirty friend, the AC, with my OTL tube amp to REALLY let it cut loose. Let’s go!

 

[LXMc]

Well, here goes. With the caveat that the CC only has about 20-30 hours of play time on it (Kevin at ZMF recommended up to 100 hours to burn it in fully), I felt compelled to put these two incredible headphones toe-to-toe (cup-to-cup?) today as I had a day off.

Source: Bryston BDP-2 -> Sonnet Morpheus via AES/EBU (Acoustic Zen MC2).

Amp: Ray Samuels Audio Emmeline The Apache (dual-mono solid-state).

Of note, I tend to listen to my ACs with my OTL tube amp because it’s such a magical match with the dynamic driver ZMFs. However, my OTL tube amp is not ideal with planar headphones, hence I stuck with solid-state.

Cable: Norne Audio Einvaldi Reference (OCC silver/copper mix)

Headphones were volume-matched by ear, though funnily enough used a similar volume setting with my amp. The Apache was designed to work with a broad range of headphones, and I kept gain setting the same for both.

Jazz (Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson):

• The AC holds it on very, very well with vocals. Timbre is sublime with both. The primary difference lies in the fine details- the CC elicits more of the nuances: Hums from the singer before she starts a line, the “outline” of her in space, the decay of a percussion instrument. But if you own an AC and never hear the CC, you may never miss that level of detail. Then again, if you have, the realism is intoxicating- simply because it’s not intrusive on the music- it’s just there if you choose to focus on it. Yet it is simply part of the tapestry of the performance, so it never gets fatiguing or annoying.

Prog rock (TOOL):

• I find myself turning the volume up with the CC, mostly to immerse myself in the sound.
• With the CC, the cymbals and percussion instrument Danny Carey’s drum kit can be heard deep in the mix. Wow. The speed of guitars thrumming in “Invincible” is phenomenal.
• Switching to the AC: You can literally hear more drum skin movement, but the cymbals and higher-pitched percussions reveals a more bleached/emphasized treble. Bass drum KICKS though! Guitars are crunchy as well, arguably as fun to listen to as with the CC.
• Overall, though, the CC gets the nod for heavier genres because of its more gentle treble balance while retaining a great detail level- and having insane speed in the bass and upper midrange.

Pop/EDM (Daft Punk):

• AC: Awesome dynamic driver bass- deep, detailed, rumbling so you can almost feel it in your molars. Very immersive- you want to get up and let loose!
• CC: More punch, less rumble. Still very fun, but it feels more like I’d prefer to lean back and listen and tap my feet, rather than jump up and dance (maybe just as well given my limited skills). The CC has more details in the treble, loads of shimmer and sheen.

In the end the persona of the two headphones is different- the AC is the fun-loving, slightly scruffy friend that will pull you along to a great show, and you wake up the next morning almost regretting what you did- but not quite.

The CC is the ultra-polished, elegant friend you aspire to be like, but never can quite match. They do everything so darn well, and never set a foot wrong.

I used to think the ACs were my “desert island headhone” - the one I’d keep if I only could choose one. But with The Apache, the only “level playing field” I own amp-wise, the CCs have stolen that crown.

But I’m immensely fortunate to not have to choose between these two friends- I can hang out with either, depending on my mood. And I can pair our down-and-dirty friend, the AC, with my OTL tube amp to REALLY let it cut loose. Let’s go!

I feel similarly between my AC and CO - Both immensely good, but the Caldera is just that next level on details and immersion.

 

[AudioDuck]

That seems odd to me. I had a stabilized VC followed by a soft Koa. I preferred the stabilized slightly, coming across as a little more exciting. I also recently bought one of the hardest woods, blackwood and honestly the differences between it and the Koa one are surprisingly minor. In fact so similar that I ended up using different pads on each to make them more different. Nothing like the differences in wood hardness on the Atrium Closed, which is the most significant I've heard on any ZMF. I don't imagine a harder wood or stabilized CC is going to sound worse. My CO is stabilized and I preferred it to the near final softer Oak CO I had before getting it.

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…

 

[bluex]

Is this one the Red Heart??