ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!

[NovaFlyer]

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

She's great, I have many of her albums. Also give Candy Dulfer a listen if you haven't already...she's another awesome sax player.

 

[G8torbyte]

Speaking of multi-talented....I'm in awe of Gunhild Carling from the Post Modern Jukebox series:

 

[idairyou]

Here's question...

How many of you would pay for a pair of headphones you could eat afterwards.

 

[XVampireX]

Sounds great on Caldera:

 

[Renexx]

Can someone compare the suede to stock pads with the mantle mesh applied ?

I'm quite happy with the stock pads right now, while the thick pads are too muted with the mesh.

 

[Lyssky]

2 Questions;

1)Can Caldera take EQ well? Since I’m used to LCD-XC, I like airy treble, would it work if I boost my Mojo2’s EQ at the treble region?

2) Would I see a noticeable difference in sound if I use say something like IFi black label, signature or diablo as amp and Mojo2 as Dac?

 

[godmax]

1)Can Caldera take EQ well? Since I’m used to LCD-XC, I like airy treble, would it work if I boost my Mojo2’s EQ at the treble region?

Unlike my LCD-XC I never felt EQ to be required with the Caldera - and there was no urge to try EQ yet

2) Would I see a noticeable difference in sound if I use say something like IFi black label, signature or diablo as amp and Mojo2 as Dac?

You mean in comparison using the Mojo 2 as DAC+amp alone with the Cladera? Worth trying together with an additional amp, since Caldera seems be a little picky on the amp used to show its true potential (not a question of output power).

 

[Lyssky]

Unlike my LCD-XC I never felt EQ to be required with the Caldera - and there was no urge to try EQ yet

Thank you. But if I wanted to apply? would it affect the sound in a bad way you think?

 

[Lyssky]

You mean in comparison using the Mojo 2 as DAC+amp alone with the Cladera?

Yea, that was the intention of my question

 

[iamoneagain]

Thank you. But if I wanted to apply? would it affect the sound in a bad way you think?

Doesn’t the mojo 2 have non destructive EQ? It’s up to you how you like the sound. Believe Zach tuned it with the stock and OFC cable but just as different pads give you different effect, EQ can be applied as well. I personally don’t like using EQ. I’d rather just find a headphone I like that doesn’t need further adjustments.

I’m finding the Caldera best with stock pads but I do have the ZMF silver cable. I bought it more for length than sound but do think it’s gives an airier, more resolving sound than the OFC cable. And the single end stock doesn’t even compare.

 

[joshua1122]

1)Can Caldera take EQ well? Since I’m used to LCD-XC, I like airy treble, would it work if I boost my Mojo2’s EQ at the treble region?

I did try to PEQ the dips at 6500Hz and 9500Hz and I suppose it does make it closer to the the airy treble tuning that HiFiMan is typically known for. I don't have an XC so I don't know what that sounds like (and my 2021 X doesn't really sound airy to me). It doesn't seem to really ruin the overall response with the modest bumps. I typically only add a bass shelf and I like the rest of the default tuning just fine, so I didn't see it as an upgrade necessarily. But if that's the sound you want, it certainly did fine – it didn't give me treble fatigue or sound weird.

YMMV depending on your chain and its coloration.
Mine today was Bifrost2 -> 6J1P-EV tube preamp -> Jot2 -> ZMF Atmos Silver cable -> Kingwood Caldera/no mesh/stock pads.

 

[Lexingtonian]

Kind of an antithesis of the "Fire Red February" models but I'm loving my Caldera- another homerun for ZMF!

 

[DAPpower]

Kind of an antithesis of the "Fire Red February" models but I'm loving my Caldera- another homerun for ZMF!

Dayummm

 

[ardbeg1975]

Kind of an antithesis of the "Fire Red February" models but I'm loving my Caldera- another homerun for ZMF!

Shiny

 

[Lyssky]

Kind of an antithesis of the "Fire Red February" models but I'm loving my Caldera- another homerun for ZMF!

“Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice…”