ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!

[iamoneagain]

I thought I’d revisit the thick pads since I’ve gotten the ZMF Aegis. Since the Aegis has much sweeter and richer mids than my Naim HE directly, thought it may help with issues I’ve had with the thick pads in the past. And for the most part it solved the problem. The thick pads do sound really good with the Aegis. And since Aegis also has a better soundstage, the thick show this off even better. Excellent display of space and layering. With all this said, I’ll have to see if I enjoy the thick better than the stock with the Aegis over a few days. The stock pads have been wonderful with this amp. Only thought of trying the thick because my son said everything seemed too close when he listened with stock. Also said was too loud for him. Kids today.

 

[K3cT]

I thought I’d revisit the thick pads since I’ve gotten the ZMF Aegis. Since the Aegis has much sweeter and richer mids than my Naim HE directly, thought it may help with issues I’ve had with the thick pads in the past. And for the most part it solved the problem. The thick pads do sound really good with the Aegis. And since Aegis also has a better soundstage, the thick show this off even better. Excellent display of space and layering. With all this said, I’ll have to see if I enjoy the thick better than the stock with the Aegis over a few days. The stock pads have been wonderful with this amp. Only thought of trying the thick because my son said everything seemed too close when he listened with stock. Also said was too loud for him. Kids today.

I have also been rotating between stock and thick pads in the last couple of months. Lately I seem to feel that the thick is more balanced overall because like you said, they sound more spacious. However there are peaks somewhere in the higher treble that bothered me (which are absent with the stock pads) which only EQ can seem to solve so far.

 

[Pharmaboy]

ately I seem to feel that the thick is more balanced overall because like you said, they sound more spacious. However there are peaks somewhere in the higher treble that bothered me (which are absent with the stock pads) which only EQ can seem to solve so far.

I've had the thick pads on exclusively ever since trying all the pads as part of my review of the Caldera Open. The thicks immediately sounded better, more interesting, spacious & atmospheric.

I've heard the CO w/thick pads on a very good TC-tube amp (Icon Audio HP8), as well as various good SS amps (V281; V280; Liquid Carbon v2; Wells Milo) and 3 NOS DACs. I'm happy to say I don't hear anything "off" in the higher treble. That's a good thing because I'm quite sensitive to edgy treble.

Of course, it could just be hearing degradation (talk about not wanting to know). Either way, the sound of this headphone + thick pads is wonderful for
me.

P:S: Not sure how I could forget this, but I did: I also did a lot of listening to the CO on the ZMF Aegis with stock tubes--spectacular sound. That amp also played a role in my review of the Caldera Closed, which required lots of comparison to the Caldera Open. That amp is quite amazing with these planars (all planars I tried).

 

[iamoneagain]

For me, the issue was the slightly recessed mids compared to the stock. They’re a little more relaxed sounding compared to the stock as well. Just started listening to the thick again today and will see if I miss any of that energy or if Aegis is able to compensate. But the Aegis has such a great use of space with the thick pads. Just so open but still dynamic. But in the past it was around day 3 that I’d start to miss the stock pads. I guess I can try the suede again too but those are just not tight enough for more drum based music. Wonderful mids but lost of impact does it for me. But maybe the Aegis can compensate that too. Doesn’t hurt to try.

 

[iamoneagain]

I have also been rotating between stock and thick pads in the last couple of months. Lately I seem to feel that the thick is more balanced overall because like you said, they sound more spacious. However there are peaks somewhere in the higher treble that bothered me (which are absent with the stock pads) which only EQ can seem to solve so far.

Oh so I think I’m hearing your issue. Just tried Foo Fighters - Rescued off their latest album. Something’s off with the thick. The vocals have a little bit of high treble issue and the mids are little recessed. Sounds v-shaped. Back with stock pads, it all sounds balanced and vocals are not pitchy. So normally with the thick I like them until I find a song that sounds off. I never get that with stock. Same happens with suede. This song hasn’t worked with suede in the past. The drums lose that forward momentum. About to give them a try with the Aegis. Have feeling even with new amp, I’ll end up back with stock pads, which is fine since I love their sound

Oh, so surprisingly the suede with the song off the Aegis still sounds great. Very close to stock with maybe richer mids. The bass is still sounding very dynamic and punchy. In the past it’s had a slightly softer, less tight sound. I guess I’ll keep the suede on until I run until trouble.

 

[K3cT]

I found a measurement of stock vs thick pads from the other site, I'm not sure if @zach915m ever posted it before here. Stock is solid red line, thick is dotted brown.

 

[iamoneagain]

Ok, so think I’m going back to stock. After some back and forth with suede I’ve got a sense of the differences. The suede has a slightly thicker sound to it. Still has beautiful mids but there’s just a little bit less air than the stock. With the Aegis, the dynamics are very close to stock. It just think it’s in the treble where I’m hearing the difference. The stock is a little clearer and with the tubes, clear highs are a great thing. I still could easily live with the suede but think enjoy the stock just a bit more for the extra air.

 

[Lakerfreak]

hi, a quick q - I bought a pilod pad for the caldera to better distribute weight. Where / how do you install the pilod pad? I tried to wrap around the B.B.B strap, but the strap is too wide. thanks for your help.

 

[idairyou]

hi, a quick q - I bought a pilod pad for the caldera to better distribute weight. Where / how do you install the pilod pad? I tried to wrap around the B.B.B strap, but the strap is too wide. thanks for your help.

I don't think the pilot pad is made to work with the BBB strap. You need to put the stock strap back on for the pilot pad to work. Unless you got a special edition that came with the BBB strap. At that point you need to buy a stock strap to use the pilot pad.

The BBB strap and the pilot it's either use one or the other. For me the BBB strap is better for the weight distribution than the pilot pad and I don't know if combining the two would improve it any better than if you chose one or the other.

 

[Lakerfreak]

Hmm, i might have a pilot pad that i don't need and up for sale! Never been used. Let me know if anyone's interested...

 

[AcousticMatt]

I've had the suedes on for months now, but just went back to the stock lambskin the other day and now the thicks. The thicks I think are still my favorite - the atmosphere and stage is amazing with them on this headphone. Especially my stabilized set - the blackwood doesn't quite have the same airy lift and longer decay even with the thick pads. Listening to this right now on the Envy and it's audio nirvana. Moments like this are worth the time.

 

[harris4crna]

I'm a suede guy for my listening. Suede thins for the Caldera and thicks for the AC. They sound organic and warm. Plus it brings down the analytical tone of the MDave. I may as well sale all my other pads. Don't foresee ever using them.

 

[chrisnyc75]

I found a measurement of stock vs thick pads from the other site, I'm not sure if @zach915m ever posted it before here. Stock is solid red line, thick is dotted brown.

This reads true to life IMO. Notice the slightly lower energy ~1k and the consistently slightly lower upper mids + lower treble. In practice, this yields a slightly warmer more relaxed presentation with slightly wider & deeper soundstage. Just enough variance from neutral to give it a distinctive flavor that is truly something special. There are many pads, a flavor for everyone, but on average I think the thick pads are the crowd favorite.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Something’s off with the thick. The vocals have a little bit of high treble issue and the mids are little recessed. Sounds v-shaped. Back with stock pads, it all sounds balanced and vocals are not pitchy. So normally with the thick I like them until I find a song that sounds off. I never get that with stock.

Exactly what I heard as well. Due to this I much prefer standard caldera earpad.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

Exactly what I heard as well. Due to this I much prefer standard caldera earpad.

I had the Caldera for a week-long demo, and I also very much preferred the stock pads. My big ears did enjoy the comfort of the thick pads, but when it came to sound, I found the stock to sound better overall. The thicks seemed to take away some of the magic for me. I remember switching back to stock pads after spending some time with the thicks, and it was like everything clicked back into its proper place, sonically speaking.

I know different ears and preferences could easily lead someone to like the thick pads better. Luckily for us, ZMF offers tons of pad and mesh options to fine-tune the sound to our own personal ideal.