ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!

[Renexx]

Yea the Caldera is great for rock & metal . A different taste to ZMF dynamics which sound great on an OTL. But still the Caldera shares a similar house sound combined with more technical powress.

Enjoy the music.

 

[JackarlTwo]

I've been listening to a lot of thrash and melodic death metal and the Caldera may be the king of metal(with stock pads). The speed and detail of the guitars, the slam of the drums, the natural timbre of vocals. They sound aggressive but delicate at the same time.

Love the Atrium with some trash metal. I was slightly worried it'd be too "slow" but I find them plenty fast with a ton of slam on my system. How would you compare them in this genre of music?

 

[unfitstew]

My Caldera Redwood finally came in last friday! It really matches the bloodwood salire stand I have!

 

[yolosauce]

Love the Atrium with some trash metal. I was slightly worried it'd be too "slow" but I find them plenty fast with a ton of slam on my system. How would you compare them in this genre of music?

I love metal on the Atrium as well but I have to give the edge to the Caldera because of its speed. The Caldera sounds raw and unfiltered whereas the Atrium adds it's own personality to the song which you might prefer.

 

[thecrow]

I love metal on the Atrium as well but I have to give the edge to the Caldera because of its speed. The Caldera sounds raw and unfiltered whereas the Atrium adds it's own personality to the song which you might prefer.

I was demoing the atrium and caldera a while ago and I (somewhat) easily preferred the caldera. From memory more clarity and openness to my ears

however another guy demoing these at the store strongly preferred what the atrium was giving, i guess in how the sound of the drums (and rhythm) were driving the music when listening to genres/music he preferred - 60’s and 70’s rock - he highlighted the band Heart.

even though I preferred the caldera when looking at the pros and cons of these two hps, i respected his views and have seen many similar views here

 

[Leto Dal]

Would be interesting to read in depth comparison of Atrium and Caldera. considering getting Arrium as a sidegrade at some point, wonder what to expect.

 

[shafat777]

Any peeps out here power their Caldera with a Holo Audio Bliss? I would like to know how these cans sound with SS amps. I have only used my caldera with a Cayin HA6A and IMO, thats the best sounding chain i have ever heard. Period. It bats my previous favorite of Verite Open + Feliks Elise OTL.

I listened to my caldera off my GSX Mini for a few minutes but didnt really get a chance to really appreciate it or listen critically. But now that the GSX mini is sold, i have no SS amp at my disposal until my Bliss KTE arrives in a few week. Any insight regarding caldera + ss amps would also be helpful.

 

[ardbeg1975]

Any insight regarding caldera + ss amps would also be helpful.

Similar to your experiences, I find Caldera’s best pairing to be with my tube amp. I’ve tried it with a Flux Volot SS amp and while “good”, it subtly lacked an engagement factor which returned when I moved it back to the tube amp. Conversely, exact opposite experience with, for example, my other planars like the Finals which paired better with the SS amp.

 

[KlaraKlang]

Any peeps out here power their Caldera with a Holo Audio Bliss?

yes, don't worry, the Caldera with Bliss is a perfect match.

 

[yolosauce]

I was demoing the atrium and caldera a while ago and I (somewhat) easily preferred the caldera. From memory more clarity and openness to my ears

however another guy demoing these at the store strongly preferred what the atrium was giving, i guess in how the sound of the drums (and rhythm) were driving the music when listening to genres/music he preferred - 60’s and 70’s rock - he highlighted the band Heart.

even though I preferred the caldera when looking at the pros and cons of these two hps, i respected his views and have seen many similar views here

I do prefer the Atrium for classic 70s rock like Heart, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc. The Caldera excels with fast metal like Slayer, Death Angel, Insomnium, Gojira, etc.

 

[Leto Dal]

Any peeps out here power their Caldera with a Holo Audio Bliss? I would like to know how these cans sound with SS amps. I have only used my caldera with a Cayin HA6A and IMO, thats the best sounding chain i have ever heard. Period. It bats my previous favorite of Verite Open + Feliks Elise OTL.

I listened to my caldera off my GSX Mini for a few minutes but didnt really get a chance to really appreciate it or listen critically. But now that the GSX mini is sold, i have no SS amp at my disposal until my Bliss KTE arrives in a few week. Any insight regarding caldera + ss amps would also be helpful.

Running Caldera primarily with Bliss and May. It’s a fantastic sounding system. Compared to my HA-3A (rolled tubes) there is more nuance and detail, in some tracks more punch. It’s definitely faster. HA-3A sounds more veiled and warm. Stock tubes can’t compete with Bliss, with rolled tubes there is more detail and bass punch, but quite a bit of texture and detail get lost compared to Bliss. For some recordings (vocal jazz for example) where I want more lush tube sound, I still use HA-3A.

Saying this, it’s a field of rather deminishing returns, considering Bliss would be 3k upgrade you might just as well want to save up for something like Feliks Envy, since coming from a higher end tube amp, you might prefer tube sound after all.

 

[shafat777]

yes, don't worry, the Caldera with Bliss is a perfect match.

Ma man

 

[TheMiddleSky]

One hour past midnight, currently enjoying tunes from Mindi Abair.

Midrange section is truly amazing on Caldera, very pleasant to listen the combination of saxophone and vocal, with lively yet light to listen instrument and choir at the background

 

[unfitstew]

One hour past midnight, currently enjoying tunes from Mindi Abair.




Midrange section is truly amazing on Caldera, very pleasant to listen the combination of saxophone and vocal, with lively yet light to listen instrument and choir at the background

That album bops and yes it really does shine on the Caldera.

 

[Pharmaboy]

They sound aggressive but delicate at the same time.

Perfectly stated.

I wouldn't know thrash or melodic death metal if they bit me in the ass, but I've heard other genres on the Caldera. On the more aggressive genres, the Caldera can pound like a jackhammer while somehow also conveying all the delicate sonic cues in the recording. How is that even possible?