[Pharmaboy]

Great reading this. I have V281’s smaller sibling i.e. V280 and V850 dac. Currently rocking with the VO and Aeolus. Can’t wait to try the Caldera soon.

The V280 uses the same internal amplifiers as the V281, though with a different power supply and in a smaller case. The amps are sonic twins and just about the best SS sound I've heard.

I'm getting my head all turned around by a very fine sounding transformer-coupled tube amp, the Icon Audio HP8. Tube rolling that and my Woo WA3 have me focusing more exclusively on tube amps than at any time in this career. But every time I take the same headphone (my beloved silkwood VO) back to the V281, I get a reminder of how good really well done solid state can sound. And the V281 is hands down the best amp I've yet heard for planars. I would be shocked if that didn't hold true for the Caldera, as well.

"Can’t wait to try the Caldera soon." (you have so much company here!)

 

[AudioPowerHead]

The V280 uses the same internal amplifiers as the V281, though with a different power supply and in a smaller case. The amps are sonic twins and just about the best SS sound I've heard.

I'm getting my head all turned around by a very fine sounding transformer-coupled tube amp, the Icon Audio HP8. Tube rolling that and my Woo WA3 have me focusing more exclusively on tube amps than at any time in this career. But every time I take the same headphone (my beloved silkwood VO) back to the V281, I get a reminder of how good really well done solid state can sound. And the V281 is hands down the best amp I've yet heard for planars. I would be shocked if that didn't hold true for the Caldera, as well.

"Can’t wait to try the Caldera soon." (you have so much company here!)

Hahaha there you go again Pharmaboy. Tempting me to walk the “dark side” of tube amps. But always great to read your audio journey.

So much tempting lately with Monsterzero’s new thread on amps (tubes) for ZMFs and Zach’s video introductions on Cayin tube amps like the HA-3A etc. I am telling myself to resist(for the moment) all these and conserve money for the Caldera !

 

[kumar402]

I’m happy with my Ironwood VC and Ziricote VO. I’m so heavily invested amp wise for dynamic driver that Planar is a risky proposition for me. Will definitely be part of some loaner for it. May be I will swap VO with Atrium to have more flavor then VO and VC

 

[ckhirnigs113]

@kumar402 I imagine your ECP DSHA-3F should do well with the Caldera. I know it was @LCMusicLover ’s favorite amp he tried with the Meze Elite, which is a relatively easy to drive planar. I’ve never used the amp, but it’s on my bucket list for sure.

I have used my Quicksilver, a transformer-coupled tube amp with relatively low output impedance, with all my ZMFs as well as my Meze Elite. It drives them all with ease. The only SS amps I’ve actually considered picking up are the two upcoming releases from Nitsch, the DSHA-3FN and Magni Piety. I predict both will drive dynamics and planars equally well.

If the Caldera is in my future, I would have to sell my Elite. That would be really hard for me to do at this point, but I’m considering it. I love ZMF as a company and always like to support them. It would also be great to have a lifetime warranty on planar drivers!

 

[Zachik]

Today, I had a "playdate" with an audiophile local buddy, and I took the loaner Caldera with me to test with his various amps.
Synergy with his tube amp (2A3 Moth amp, unobtanium) was not great. Nothing wrong, but a little too warm (at least to his taste).
Moving on to my DIY Korg NuHybrid - proved to be a MUCH better pairing to the Caldera!
Best pairing of the day was with 2 solid state amps... The Drop LCX and a prototype of Magni Piety. We both were amazed by the tiny $150 amp

I know... some people would roll their eyes when they hear we auditioned a $150 amp with $3K headphones...
Will other (high end) solid state amps make Caldera sound better? probably. But THIS pairing was quite nice!
More in the coming days......

 

[heliosphann]

Today, I had a "playdate" with an audiophile local buddy, and I took the loaner Caldera with me to test with his various amps.
Synergy with his tube amp (2A3 Moth amp, unobtanium) was not great. Nothing wrong, but a little too warm (at least to his taste).
Moving on to my DIY Korg NuHybrid - proved to be a MUCH better pairing to the Caldera!
Best pairing of the day was with 2 solid state amps... The Drop LCX and a prototype of Magni Piety. We both were amazed by the tiny $150 amp

I know... some people would roll their eyes when they hear we auditioned a $150 amp with $3K headphones...
Will other (high end) solid state amps make Caldera sound better? probably. But THIS pairing was quite nice!
More in the coming days......

 

[kumar402]

Today, I had a "playdate" with an audiophile local buddy, and I took the loaner Caldera with me to test with his various amps.
Synergy with his tube amp (2A3 Moth amp, unobtanium) was not great. Nothing wrong, but a little too warm (at least to his taste).
Moving on to my DIY Korg NuHybrid - proved to be a MUCH better pairing to the Caldera!
Best pairing of the day was with 2 solid state amps... The Drop LCX and a prototype of Magni Piety. We both were amazed by the tiny $150 amp

I know... some people would roll their eyes when they hear we auditioned a $150 amp with $3K headphones...
Will other (high end) solid state amps make Caldera sound better? probably. But THIS pairing was quite nice!
More in the coming days......

We all run HD6X0 series out of $$$ amp so nothing wrong in trying something similar but other way round. Few things in this hobby punch way above their price point.

 

[DenverW]

If it sounds good, it sounds good.

 

[Alenotta]

Are the Caldera easily driven or do they only shine with a strong tube amp like how the DCA Expanse needs it?

They sound great on the Mojo 2. Today I tried Ghostbusters on ps5 and they are driving out of the playstation controller lol.

 

[heliosphann]

I've spent such a large amount of time listening to dynamic driver headphones this year (Auteur Classic and Atrium in particular), I forgot how nuanced and precise a good planar can be. Playing this subtle and sparse ambient track by Autechre, the Caldera picks up on every detail and inflection, especially in the bass. Me likey.

https://song.link/i/281109021

 

[Pharmaboy]

I've spent such a large amount of time listening to dynamic driver headphones this year (Auteur Classic and Atrium in particular), I forgot how nuanced and precise a good planar can be. Playing this subtle and sparse ambient track by Autechre, the Caldera picks up on every detail and inflection, especially in the bass. Me likey.

https://song.link/i/281109021

"this subtle and spare ambient track" (indeed!)

 

[heliosphann]

"this subtle and spare ambient track" (indeed!)

I actually meant to say sparse, but I suppose spare works as well. lol

 

[Smallpie]

I've spent such a large amount of time listening to dynamic driver headphones this year (Auteur Classic and Atrium in particular), I forgot how nuanced and precise a good planar can be. Playing this subtle and sparse ambient track by Autechre, the Caldera picks up on every detail and inflection, especially in the bass. Me likey.

https://song.link/i/281109021

Yep, that’s what I’ve said as well. Lots of subtle details in bass. The outlines of each instrument are very clear and bold bringing about a transparency that is intoxicating while still sounding very natural. About as far towards in the analytical direction as I would go. This is all with tube amps as I veer towards a warmer neutral sound as my happiest baseline.

 

[Smallpie]

I think the addition of the Caldera with my other DD Zmf’s makes my audiophile soul fulfilled!! It completes my collection with a perfect bow. It’s amazing how each zmf is in such a world of its own sonic wise. What a lovely business model! For me It will take Zmf something different or big to add to this from here.(don’t doubt it will happen!) I can’t imagine what it will be but I am fulfilled atm but at the same time think about what’s up their sleeve moving forward. I can’t imagine the next flavor zmf comes up with and how different it will be compared to the others, outside of closed versions of known models. If they put nothing else out though I would be happy with what I got and I didn’t feel this way until I got the Caldera.
I envision this will be a big seller among zmf owners. I can see a lot of people choosing the Caldera and one previous dynamic driver because any model with the calderas equals a perfect connecting sonic mold.

If I had only two to pick it would either be:

Aeolus and Caldera
or
Atrium and Caldera

I don’t know how to review headphones well but I do know when I hear something special and this headphone is definitely it!

 

[Pharmaboy]

What a lovely business model!

I have to agree...