ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!

[Pharmaboy]

Oak a bit slower, lusher.

(a tap-the-heart gesture to oak for that)

My theory with ZMF woods has been that really hard woods help a headphone that is naturally somewhat warm and resonant (ie, Aeolus, Atrium Open), but might not work as well for my ears with the zippier headphones (Caldera Open, Verite O/C, Auteur, Bokeh Open). My VO is silkwood and my Caldera is coffee-stained oak. These softer woods sound so wonderful on these two headphones that I'm not about to "mess with success" by trading up to harder woods, no matter how beautiful or alluring they are.

But it's all subjective preference, at the end of the day.

 

[betula]

(a tap-the-heart gesture to oak for that)

My theory with ZMF woods has been that really hard woods help a headphone that is naturally somewhat warm and resonant (ie, Aeolus, Atrium Open), but might not work as well for my ears with the zippier headphones (Caldera Open, Verite O/C, Auteur, Bokeh Open). My VO is silkwood and my Caldera is coffee-stained oak. These softer woods sound so wonderful on these two headphones that I'm not about to "mess with success" by trading up to harder woods, no matter how beautiful or alluring they are.

But it's all subjective preference, at the end of the day.

Yes, it is all subjective preference and system synergy. That said, I don't think a Caldera exists in any wood that I wouldn't like and enjoy.

 

[GarlicBiscuit]

I am curious on whether sound differences between CO pairs comes down more to unit variation than wood density. My stabilized maple pair with thick pads seems to be somewhere in the middle between slightly lush/smooth and tight/snappy/excitable.

I've recently been rediscovering just how "complete" the COs feel in reproducing music compared to other headphones I have or previously owned. They take some aspects I really like from brands like Audezes and HiFiMans, while adding those ZMF traits that give the sound a more tangible/floating feel (likely a result of the ADS).

 

[betula]

I am curious on whether sound differences between CO pairs comes down more to unit variation than wood density. My stabilized maple pair with thick pads seems to be somewhere in the middle between slightly lush/smooth and tight/snappy/excitable.

Is that compared to other Calderas you have heard? What is the context, and your comparison point when using these relative terms?

 

[Drewligarchy]

Just as a side note, I wasn’t trading up to other woods for sonic impact. While I liked mine in Canarywood, it was a little on the heavier side with the white gold rod/grill. I put my Susvara up for sale and someone offered a deal which included tradung their Caldera redheart and I really liked the look of it, and it is way lighter. If I got on it with it better, I could sell the other one.

I anticipated very minor differences (cable), but was a little surprised that was more than that (though not crazy). I got a BBB strap for the Canarywood, so the weight is fine now. Now I have more of a decision to make because I like both of them for different reasons - some involve sound, some involve looks, and frankly I like both of them for different reasons.

So for now I’m gonna just keep both. I had been planning on taking a look at the stabilized sets anyway when they next drop, prior to- but I already have two now! Knowing myself, I may still do so - but in that case I have to sell at least one of these. It has given me additional experience, however, and I will ask Zach about the sound characteristics of any future wood or stabilized model I consider.

Anyhow, I always wondered what those guys who have like 6 of every ZMF model are doing. I don’t see myself getting quite there, but now I at least understand more what they are thinking.

They really are like different musical instruments.

While this isn’t a perfect analogy, and it certainly isn’t quite as impactful as this - it’s like listening to the same speaker in different rooms.

 

[GarlicBiscuit]

Is that compared to other Calderas you have heard? What is the context, and your comparison point when using these relative terms?

Very good question. The only other Caldera I heard was a stock oak with stock pads at CanJam Chicago 2023. It's safe to say my memory for that is limited, but I wrote that they sounded very similar to the Atrium Opens (demoed before that) in terms of being smooth/lush/relaxed, just with a bit more treble energy. If I go to Axpona in April, I can hunt down a harder wood pair and test it with music I'm familiar with and see what happens.

As for the Audeze and HiFiMan comparisons, the bass/lower mids and spatial presentation from the COs are reminiscent of Audezes (heft/impact, slight warmth, fully surrounding stage). My comparison points there are the 2021 LCD-Xs, MX4s, and 4zs, all with EQ. They're also a bit like HiFiMans in terms of increased spaciousness and upper treble energy. The main comparison there is the Susvara that I owned twice. The Calderas take preferable traits from many headphones I've tried, and they've been one of my favorites for pulling that all together so well.

 

[betula]

Very good question. The only other Caldera I heard was a stock oak with stock pads at CanJam Chicago 2023. It's safe to say my memory for that is limited, but I wrote that they sounded very similar to the Atrium Opens (demoed before that) in terms of being smooth/lush/relaxed, just with a bit more treble energy. If I go to Axpona in April, I can hunt down a harder wood pair and test it with music I'm familiar with and see what happens.

As for the Audeze and HiFiMan comparisons, the bass/lower mids and spatial presentation from the COs are reminiscent of Audezes (heft/impact, slight warmth, fully surrounding stage). My comparison points there are the 2021 LCD-Xs, MX4s, and 4zs, all with EQ. They're also a bit like HiFiMans in terms of increased spaciousness and upper treble energy. The main comparison there is the Susvara that I owned twice. The Calderas take preferable traits from many headphones I've tried, and they've been one of my favorites for pulling that all together so well.

In this case I wonder what makes you think that there is unit variation with Calderas as opposed to slight sonic differences due to wood density.

 

[GarlicBiscuit]

In this case I wonder what makes you think that there is unit variation with Calderas as opposed to slight sonic differences due to wood density.

There's always a chance that different units of the same headphone measure slightly different from one another on the same testing rig (and with the same positioning), mainly through the treble. Audeze and HiFiMan are actually two of the more notable examples where this can happen. I'm not sure how much variance ZMFs have in that regard. Whether the differences someone hears between pairs are from the wood, subtle treble differences, or some combination is worth looking into.

 

[betula]

There's always a chance that different units of the same headphone measure slightly different from one another on the same testing rig (and with the same positioning), mainly through the treble. Audeze and HiFiMan are actually two of the more notable examples where this can happen. I'm not sure how much variance ZMFs have in that regard. Whether the differences someone hears between pairs are from the wood, subtle treble differences, or some combination is worth looking into.

As far as I know, driver/transducer tolerance limits at ZMF are pretty tight. Different woods alter the sound, this is a pretty well-known fact about wooden-cup headphones regardless of what brand we are talking about. Assumptions without evidence are dangerous, that is often how misinformation starts spreading. The reported differences so far were between Calderas made of various wood types. We can only test your theory with Calderas made of the same wood. I did hear a few oak Calderas, but not right next to each other. I couldn't recall any difference between them, but perhaps there are other folks who heard multiple pairs of Calderas that were made of the same wood, at the same time.

 

[robo24]

As far as I know, driver/transducer tolerance limits at ZMF are pretty tight. Different woods alter the sound, this is a pretty well-known fact about wooden-cup headphones regardless of what brand we are talking about. Assumptions without evidence are dangerous, that is often how misinformation starts spreading. The reported differences so far were between Calderas made of various wood types. We can only test your theory with Calderas made of the same wood. I did hear a few oak Calderas, but not right next to each other. I couldn't recall any difference between them, but perhaps there are other folks who heard multiple pairs of Calderas that were made of the same wood, at the same time.

I'd also think even different cuts of the same type of wood could have differing density and impact on sound

 

[up late]

As far as I know, driver/transducer tolerance limits at ZMF are pretty tight. Different woods alter the sound, this is a pretty well-known fact about wooden-cup headphones regardless of what brand we are talking about. Assumptions without evidence are dangerous, that is often how misinformation starts spreading. The reported differences so far were between Calderas made of various wood types. We can only test your theory with Calderas made of the same wood. I did hear a few oak Calderas, but not right next to each other. I couldn't recall any difference between them, but perhaps there are other folks who heard multiple pairs of Calderas that were made of the same wood, at the same time.

assumptions without evidence are just that and not necessarily dangerous, especially in an online forum where they abound. and i doubt that @GarlicBiscuit's conjecture that he has expressed in a reasonable manner, will give rise to the spread of misinformation.

 

[betula]

I'd also think even different cuts of the same type of wood could have differing density and impact on sound

Sure, but I think those differences are probably negligible, especially in open back headphones.

 

[Honeypot]

One way or another the CO it's such an amazing headphone.
Peace

 

[SteveM324]

As far as I know, driver/transducer tolerance limits at ZMF are pretty tight….

What does pretty tight mean without data?

 

[betula]

What does pretty tight mean without data?

I am sure, ZMF can help with the exact numbers, if you reach out.