ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!

[AudioDuck]

Ah perhaps my ESL has failed me,

You know you are in an audiophile forum when the first thought of one of your readers (me ) was (Quad) ESL(-63 loudspeakers), instead of English as a Second Language…

(Me: “What?! Their Quads failed?! That’s terrible!”)

 

[MillionAntz]

I’m super excited to receive my Calderas tomorrow! I bought them from another Hi-Fi’er. I’m trying to decide between a Flux Mentor & Gustard R26 or maybe something like a Cayin HA-6A. If anyone has any input I’m all ears! I could possibly stretch my budget for an Aegis but it’s all up in the air lol

My sig says what music I listen to, I generally like a clean, detailed sound with punchy bass/mid bass.

 

[idairyou]

I’m super excited to receive my Calderas tomorrow! I bought them from another Hi-Fi’er. I’m trying to decide between a Flux Mentor & Gustard R26 or maybe something like a Cayin HA-6A. If anyone has any input I’m all ears!

My sig says what music I listen to, I generally like a clean, detailed sound with punchy bass/mid bass.

In terms of just general bad-assery, the Flux Mentor and R26.

If you go tubes, I would slot the Aegis in there instead of the HA-6A. I'm not being impartial either as I own the Aegis and it's a fantastic amp.

 

[krude]

I’m super excited to receive my Calderas tomorrow! I bought them from another Hi-Fi’er. I’m trying to decide between a Flux Mentor & Gustard R26 or maybe something like a Cayin HA-6A. If anyone has any input I’m all ears! I could possibly stretch my budget for an Aegis but it’s all up in the air lol

My sig says what music I listen to, I generally like a clean, detailed sound with punchy bass/mid bass.

HA6a is also a great amp, owned it for 2 years. Especially worth it if you get a good offer. 6a will be excellent for your music taste as well, it's very dynamic and full of character :> I think it will pair great with Caldera as it allows for a lot of tweakability to get the sound just as you want it.

Having said that, if there's not a huge price difference to get the Aegis then I'd try that as it's getting glowing reviews (haven't heard it personally).

 

[AcousticMatt]

Good to see you dude!
I like to describe the Caldera as having all the benefits of a planar with the timbre and flowing midrange of a dynamic.

Precisely why they're my favorite headphones! Still, though, I just got an Aeolus for the first time, which I'm very much enjoying, but then switched back to the African Blackwood Caldera set tonight and it feels like coming home. I so enjoy this headphone and it's become a very familiar sound.

On the talk in this thread of the Caldera being bright - I can see where some listeners are coming from. There seemed to be a transparency and almost a tilt towards the upper mids and treble that was unlike anything I had heard before, let alone anything ZMF. But, overall, it sounded like a warm treble tilt nonetheless (which may sound oxymoronic, but that's how I hear it) compared to headphones like the Utopia or Susvara. It's like you're peering into a crystal clear beautiful lake. It's not once been fatiguing to me, but those other two have, especially the OG Utopia. I do remembering listening to an album on the Caldera that I had listened to on every one of my headphones though (Young the Giant's Mind Over Matter) and thought it sounded thinner that what I was used to coming from the Audeze or Meze sound. Now to me, it sounds more lifelike and true-to-source versus the others while still having a tone to die for (or to tear up for occasionally, more accurately in my case!) Having played with pads (have yet to roll mesh), any pad sounds good to me on this headphone, but the suede most definitely takes the edge off the upper mids and treble to my taste pretty much perfectly.

Now having the African Blackwood set, and doing a bunch of A/B-ing between it and my stabilized Maple set, it's amazing to me how much smoother the upper mids and treble are on the African Blackwood. I'm surprised people don't make a bigger deal out of the different woods. I was listening to a jazz album (Tord Gustavsen Quartet's Extended Circle) and I was missing the mids from the maple set, so I switched to it and there they were - it's part of what made me fall in love with this headphone and that's part of it that's become so familiar. There's a strong emotional pull for me with this headphone, more than any other I've heard or owned, and I think that the mids have a lot to do with it, which are more apparent on the stabilized maple set.

 

[krude]

Precisely why they're my favorite headphones! Still, though, I just got an Aeolus for the first time, which I'm very much enjoying, but then switched back to the African Blackwood Caldera set tonight and it feels like coming home. I so enjoy this headphone and it's become a very familiar sound.

On the talk in this thread of the Caldera being bright - I can see where some listeners are coming from. There seemed to be a transparency and almost a tilt towards the upper mids and treble that was unlike anything I had heard before, let alone anything ZMF. But, overall, it sounded like a warm treble tilt nonetheless (which may sound oxymoronic, but that's how I hear it) compared to headphones like the Utopia or Susvara. It's like you're peering into a crystal clear beautiful lake. It's not once been fatiguing to me, but those other two have, especially the OG Utopia. I do remembering listening to an album on the Caldera that I had listened to on every one of my headphones though (Young the Giant's Mind Over Matter) and thought it sounded thinner that what I was used to coming from the Audeze or Meze sound. Now to me, it sounds more lifelike and true-to-source versus the others while still having a tone to die for (or to tear up for occasionally, more accurately in my case!) Having played with pads (have yet to roll mesh), any pad sounds good to me on this headphone, but the suede most definitely takes the edge off the upper mids and treble to my taste pretty much perfectly.

Now having the African Blackwood set, and doing a bunch of A/B-ing between it and my stabilized Maple set, it's amazing to me how much smoother the upper mids and treble are on the African Blackwood. I'm surprised people don't make a bigger deal out of the different woods. I was listening to a jazz album (Tord Gustavsen Quartet's Extended Circle) and I was missing the mids from the maple set, so I switched to it and there they were - it's part of what made me fall in love with this headphone and that's part of it that's become so familiar. There's a strong emotional pull for me with this headphone, more than any other I've heard or owned, and I think that the mids have a lot to do with it, which are more apparent on the stabilized maple set.

Not sure if you tried Utopia from a high end tube amp, but if you haven't, try it when you have an opportunity, it changes into something completely different than on solid state.

I've heard this comment about stabilised ZMFs sounding hotter and less even from WaveTheory on YouTube in one of his ZMF reviews. I love the look of some stabilised sets but I opted to go for wood because of that. I mean it would make sense that wood has a different resonance characteristic.

Or it can just be meer coincidence due to random unit variation

 

[betula]

In terms of just general bad-assery, the Flux Mentor and R26.

If you go tubes, I would slot the Aegis in there instead of the HA-6A. I'm not being impartial either as I own the Aegis and it's a fantastic amp.

I am biased, but I would definitely go with 6A or Aegis if you can stretch that far. Mentor is a great SS amp for the money: very clean, detailed, neutral, but to me a little polite and uninteresting long term. Those tube amps on the other hand bring endless fun and engagement, especially if you dip your toes into tube some tube rolling too. (Tube rolling can be a bit costly, but with these amps you can actually find reasonably priced tubes and if you are also just a little responsible, you'll be safe. )

 

[Wes S]

I’m super excited to receive my Calderas tomorrow! I bought them from another Hi-Fi’er. I’m trying to decide between a Flux Mentor & Gustard R26 or maybe something like a Cayin HA-6A. If anyone has any input I’m all ears! I could possibly stretch my budget for an Aegis but it’s all up in the air lol

My sig says what music I listen to, I generally like a clean, detailed sound with punchy bass/mid bass.

Fun times ahead!

If you like clean, detailed and punchy, the Aegis does that to perfection (with the right tubes). I can't imagine a better pairing with the Caldera.

The Aegis is a forever amp, as the sound is very unique and capable. The amount of tube rolling possibilities to change things up are pretty much endless.

 

[Iffy]

You guys are evil! All this months looking for small/compact amps and dacs, and when I was almost decided for the Icon Audio HP8 with wonderful reviews and recommendations here.... now I want the Aegis again xD

Any european favorite webs for buying tubes, and if possible outside UK?

 

[Pashmeister]

You guys are evil! All this months looking for small/compact amps and dacs, and when I was almost decided for the Icon Audio HP8 with wonderful reviews and recommendations here.... now I want the Aegis again xD

Any european favorite webs for buying tubes, and if possible outside UK?

I guess you’re not going to get a compact amp then!

 

[Iffy]

I guess you’re not going to get a compact amp then!

Hahahaha, I think I'll do! Aegis is tempting me but would take a lot of space... have to do a picture of my desk, put some stickers, and see where it goes with one and the other.

 

[up late]

enjoying the caldera as i type. so resolving and fatigue free - to my ears anyway.

 

[leftside]

Hahahaha, I think I'll do! Aegis is tempting me but would take a lot of space... have to do a picture of my desk, put some stickers, and see where it goes with one and the other.

Build a shelf

 

[Pharmaboy]

Hahahaha, I think I'll do! Aegis is tempting me but would take a lot of space... have to do a picture of my desk, put some stickers, and see where it goes with one and the other.

I compared the HP8 vs Aegis in my system when I reviewed the Aegis. The HP8, despite its compact size & smaller tube count, gets rather close to the Aegis overall, though as they say, "the devil is in the details."

That comparison did nothing to lower my appreciation for the HP8, which also responds very well to tube rolling. I can't imagine selling it.

 

[chrisnyc75]

Depends on the perspective you could see Caldera as a lesser TC, or as a better TC. It has maybe 80% of bass quantitiy, but with better quality (did you experience Susvara bass? That kinda bass that you can "see" with all of the details and movement? TC has more of an omnipresent bass in comparison, while Caldera has Susvara bass, but with 80% of TC impact ... so way way more than Susvara itself).

Very well put! This is why I've held for some time that Caldera has the best bass of any headphone. Not necessarily the MOST bass, but the BEST bass. If you just want the MOST bass, Beats & Eris are there for you.