If you've been listening to the Atriums for several months your brain will need to adjust to the bass of the Caldera. Certain songs will sound light on bass only because the Atrium added so much of it. I used dirac to make my speakers flat from 20hz to 300hz and they are very similar to the Caldera. Extremely accurate and slams hard when the song was recorded that way.
The bass is really a stand out for me as it seemed more fleshed out, like it has shape to it and seems at different heights. There might be a bit more quantity in the Atrium, but I'm preferring the Caldera bass (well everything really). I'm also noticing more punch and slam off the solid state Ragnarok 2 than I am the Pendant which has my most bass heavy tube combo in it.
The bass is really a stand out for me as it seemed more fleshed out, like it has shape to it and seems at different heights. There might be a bit more quantity in the Atrium, but I'm preferring the Caldera bass (well everything really). I'm also noticing more punch and slam off the solid state Ragnarok 2 than I am the Pendant which has my most bass heavy tube combo in it.
I prefer the Caldera via solid state as well. Even though tubes really liquify the mids more than they already are, the speed and punch of solid state really work in the Caldera's benefit IMO.
I prefer the Caldera via solid state as well. Even though tubes really liquify the mids more than they already are, the speed and punch of solid state really work in the Caldera's benefit IMO.
The Mogwai SE drives my Caldera very well, plenty of bass on my warmer tube roll and lots of headroom. It’s a different sound from my solid state amp to be sure. Not quite as fast, but so liquid in the mids as monsterzero mentioned
I’ve given it and my iha6 equal head time on the caldera, as I like what each of them do to it’s sound
The Mogwai SE drives my Caldera very well, plenty of bass on my warmer tube roll and lots of headroom. It’s a different sound from my solid state amp to be sure. Not quite as fast, but so liquid in the mids as monsterzero mentioned
I’ve given it and my iha6 equal head time on the caldera, as I like what each of them do to it’s sound
I prefer the Caldera via solid state as well. Even though tubes really liquify the mids more than they already are, the speed and punch of solid state really work in the Caldera's benefit IMO.
And this is why I am dying to hear more about the JDS labs + ZMF collab for an element with switchable impedance… even though I already have an Element 3… with a nerd fandom emblem I put together with photoshop in the center knob though their free engraving
The iha6 is just super clean with a hint of warmth. It doesn’t really color the sound much in my opinion, but isn’t lifeless either. Its strength is its neutrality and extension. Bass digs deep, and the treble is extended and detailed. Transients are fast and clean too. If you want slam, this is your amp. The only slammier headphone amp I’ve heard is the burson soloist, but that is more colored, has noise floor issues as well as has fried peoples headphones due to poor protection (the iha6 has a protection relay).
The Mogwai is less clean of a sound, but somehow lends additional coherence to the sound. Everything sounds in its place, more so than the iha6 even. I wouldn’t say the soundstage is much bigger on the Mogwai, maybe slightly, but it does imaging in a very natural way that’s hard to describe. Vocals are rich, realistic, and intimate. It’s a bit slower of a sound, so you don’t get as crisp of transients but it also adds a nice decay to the sound. Bass is not quite as well extended but it has an added sense of weight and fullness that’s never overbearing on caldera (on atrium it was a bit in certain tube combos, Mogwai is great for tube rolling as you can really change the sound with a few tube swaps).
The caldera on the Mogwai sounds closer to the atrium on the iha6 in some ways. It’s hard to say which is better, but I think everyone should have a good solid state amp even if you get into tube amps. So in that case I’d recommend grabbing the discounted iha6 from Zach as it’s a steal at that price, and looking into the Mogwai SE down the line (or even saving up for a bigger Ben or nautilus ).
It’s hard to say which is better, but I think everyone should have a good solid state amp even if you get into tube amps. So in that case I’d recommend grabbing the discounted iha6 from Zach as it’s a steal at that price, and looking into the Mogwai SE down the line (or even saving up for a bigger Ben or nautilus
I wonder and hope @zach915m can chime in or perhaps other Caldera users about the importance of clamp force with Caldera. Wondering how people tune the clamp force, comfort or tight oriented, is there a rule of thumb somewhere? The pads are stiffer than other previous ZMFS.
but I think everyone should have a good solid state amp even if you get into tube amps. So in that case I’d recommend grabbing the discounted iha6 from Zach as it’s a steal at that price, and looking into the Mogwai SE down the line (or even saving up for a bigger Ben or nautilus
I prefer ZMF dynamics via my Airmid, but the IHA 6 flat out kills it with the Caldera. If you havent seen my review of the Cayin yet, check it out on my channel.
I wonder and hope @zach915m can chime in or perhaps other Caldera users about the importance of clamp force with Caldera. Wondering how people tune the clamp force, comfort or tight oriented, is there a rule of thumb somewhere? The pads are stiffer than other previous ZMFS.
I would recommend checking this video out for how to adjust the clamping force and just general adjustment advice.
I found the clamping force of the caldera to be on the stronger side out of the box. It is still comfortable especially with the thick stock pads, so I haven’t tried to bend the headband yet.
I prefer ZMF dynamics via my Airmid, but the IHA 6 flat out kills it with the Caldera. If you havent seen my review of the Cayin yet, check it out on my channel.
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