ZMF Caldera - New Planar Magnetic from ZMF!

[dfiled]

You don't think a flagship being released 7 months after another flagship is close in time? Respectfully disagree.

 

[LoryWiv]

We need much lighter high quality headphones from ZMF, under 400 gr please.

Forgive me if it's been answered. but do we know the weight of the new ZMF planar?

 

[zach915m]

A lot to break down here, but figured I should make some sort of statement before I start answering individual inquiries. As a lot of you know - I started with modding T50's back during 2010 and sold my first mod in 2011 and then it went from there. If interested, you can go back and check out my first websites on archive.org, it's kind of fun even for me to look at and wonder what the hell I was doing at certain times! But - my first HIFI headphone after modding the T50 for some time was an HE-500, before that it was mostly IEMs and much less expensive stuff. Getting that HE-500 was a mind blowing experience for me, and I've wanted to recreate that "wow" factor of hearing a planar for the first time ever since then, and this is basically my journey for myself to do that. The CAMS tech and Atrium damping scheme are carry over from my previous work, which was all influenced indirectly by a lot of the stuff I did with the t50's.

I realize a lot of you are asking about the timing, the price, how I run ZMF and this and that. I can promise you that there isn't some larger corporation at work here, I've never taken any venture money, ZMF is self funded, there's no investors, and our small team really cares about everything and especially public perception, as I view myself as a true headphone audiophile as I really enjoy gear and music. Making decisions about when to release and when to talk about it is tough and there's never a perfect time. I can say, that this is no replacement for anything we've ever made. I also think it's no replacement for anything that's currently on the market, it's just a VERY different approach to making a planar headphone, and is unique if nothing else. I own many non-ZMF headphone that I love and don't talk about because of ZMF - but this headphone is truly made to fill a void in my collection that I haven't found another planar to do. So I'm happy to add it, and share it with everyone, as I don't think you'll find another headphone quite like it, for better worse.

I will go into more details as I answer queries from this thread momentarily.

 

[raindownthunda]

You don't think a flagship being released 7 months after another flagship is close in time? Respectfully disagree.

Your argument might have merit if it was an Atrium V2. A flagship planar and dynamic seem like complimentary products, not anywhere close to being a direct replacement. Imagine complaining that Apple released a new iPad 7 months after a new MacBook. Different product lines have different release cadences for obvious reasons and companies don’t owe it to consumers to align on release dates.

 

[Kevintj604]

A lot to break down here, but figured I should make some sort of statement before I start answering individual inquiries. As a lot of you know - I started with modding T50's back during 2010 and sold my first mod in 2011 and then it went from there. If interested, you can go back and check out my first websites on archive.org, it's kind of fun even for me to look at and wonder what the hell I was doing at certain times! But - my first HIFI headphone after modding the T50 for some time was an HE-500, before that it was mostly IEMs and much less expensive stuff. Getting that HE-500 was a mind blowing experience for me, and I've wanted to recreate that "wow" factor of hearing a planar for the first time ever since then, and this is basically my journey for myself to do that. The CAMS tech and Atrium damping scheme are carry over from my previous work, which was all influenced indirectly by a lot of the stuff I did with the t50's.

I realize a lot of you are asking about the timing, the price, how I run ZMF and this and that. I can promise you that there isn't some larger corporation at work here, I've never taken any venture money, ZMF is self funded, there's no investors, and our small team really cares about everything and especially public perception, as I view myself as a true headphone audiophile as I really enjoy gear and music. Making decisions about when to release and when to talk about it is tough and there's never a perfect time. I can say, that this is no replacement for anything we've ever made. I also think it's no replacement for anything that's currently on the market, it's just a VERY different approach to making a planar headphone, and is unique if nothing else. I own many non-ZMF headphone that I love and don't talk about because of ZMF - but this headphone is truly made to fill a void in my collection that I haven't found another planar to do. So I'm happy to add it, and share it with everyone, as I don't think you'll find another headphone quite like it, for better worse.

I will go into more details as I answer queries from this thread momentarily.

Thanks for the thoughtful response Zach.

 

[dfiled]

Your argument might have merit if it was an Atrium V2. A flagship planar and dynamic seem like complimentary products, not anywhere close to being a direct replacement. Imagine complaining that Apple released a new iPad 7 months after a new MacBook. Different product lines have different release cadences for obvious reasons and companies don’t owe it to consumers to align on release dates.

Oh come on, Macbook and Ipad? That's an extremely flawed analogy.

 

[dfiled]

A lot to break down here, but figured I should make some sort of statement before I start answering individual inquiries. As a lot of you know - I started with modding T50's back during 2010 and sold my first mod in 2011 and then it went from there. If interested, you can go back and check out my first websites on archive.org, it's kind of fun even for me to look at and wonder what the hell I was doing at certain times! But - my first HIFI headphone after modding the T50 for some time was an HE-500, before that it was mostly IEMs and much less expensive stuff. Getting that HE-500 was a mind blowing experience for me, and I've wanted to recreate that "wow" factor of hearing a planar for the first time ever since then, and this is basically my journey for myself to do that. The CAMS tech and Atrium damping scheme are carry over from my previous work, which was all influenced indirectly by a lot of the stuff I did with the t50's.

I realize a lot of you are asking about the timing, the price, how I run ZMF and this and that. I can promise you that there isn't some larger corporation at work here, I've never taken any venture money, ZMF is self funded, there's no investors, and our small team really cares about everything and especially public perception, as I view myself as a true headphone audiophile as I really enjoy gear and music. Making decisions about when to release and when to talk about it is tough and there's never a perfect time. I can say, that this is no replacement for anything we've ever made. I also think it's no replacement for anything that's currently on the market, it's just a VERY different approach to making a planar headphone, and is unique if nothing else. I own many non-ZMF headphone that I love and don't talk about because of ZMF - but this headphone is truly made to fill a void in my collection that I haven't found another planar to do. So I'm happy to add it, and share it with everyone, as I don't think you'll find another headphone quite like it, for better worse.

I will go into more details as I answer queries from this thread momentarily.

I appreciate your response Zach, and as I've already said, I think you and your company are about as honorable as they come, but can't you understand why someone who just purchased the Atrium and who might not be able to afford multiple flagships might feel burned to find out that you had a new flagship in the works?

 

[zach915m]

I wonder if this will unwittingly become the Atrium killer.

If this ends up having Atrium-level punch and slam I’ll be pretty pissed I bought the Atrium.

Atrium and Caldera use extremely different driver tech. A lot of this will come down to subjective listening preferences and chain. I really like my headphones to adapt to the chain used, so neither will be a replacement for the other based on the different power requirements for Planar vs Dynamic and impedances.

Harman from 1.5 to 4khz hey. That's a shame! Rest looks great

I used it as a reference to check, because there's so many Harman peepers these days, but I actually have not checked the absolute final tuning to Harman. I am going to be posting measurements soon enough and will likely do so on this thread soon.

Nowadays, why would you ask 1K $ or € for a pair of headphones if you can sell them for 3 K and people buy them? (well, less people... But a lot are here)

We don't price our headphones based on "what we can get" or other marketing like factors, we literally don't have a marketing dept. so I have to use the same calculations for each model to make things work. If we had a typical dealer/distributor network the calculation comes out to around 5K, but because we don't I'm able to sell it for less. This project took me 6+ years to complete, and over 250K in R/D in filing the patents and trying out as many new things as I could to make sure I was on the right path. It's not cheap/easy/fast to make something new in this era of great planar headphones. That doesn't mean any intrinsic value should be placed on it, or that it is even worth the asking price. I'm just excited to share these with everyone, it's been a long time!

New headphone doesn’t mean Atrium is no longer the flagship. You may like Atrium more then this new one. Let’s wait and watch

Amen.

I'm sure @zach915m would have differentiated the Caldera from the Atrium and Verite at worst from the types of drivers. We'll know soon enough how different they are.

They are really quite different - although they share some FR factors bc hey, I juts like what I like.

Curious if this has been tested with the HA-3A @zach915m ? Lots to learn between now and November!

Works great with HA-3A, it's 95 dB/mW - but not that hard to drive, I did a zoom meeting out of my laptop with them the other day and they worked fine even, but probably not recommended to critical listening.

A very limited number for purchase at the show!

Should have 8 sets or so.

Guys I am so curious and hyped for this release. Really interested to see how this compares to the Susvara. If it can compete technically but have the tonality and DAT BASS that ZMF’s are known for it will be a real winner. Also releasing in November might mean some fun stabilized versions will be around for the launch.

No LTD editions or Stabilized version this year. Going to concentrate on stock OAK which will have a coffee staiin for on eversion with Coffee Gold grille and then another version with Natural Oak and Black. Should look nice with the Feliks Envy we will have at CanJam.

Ha! Imagine.

My guess is 580g+

Carbon fibre brought in because it was getting quite heavy?

I'm getting around 550g on the aluminum and 520 on the Mag +- 10 grams or so.

The hardest working man in the bizz?

I'm gonna wait for Caldera v2 though. It will be quite a bit better ; ) (as usual)

Our product cycle is about 5-6 years per headphone it's turning out. I can't imagine figuring this all out again, I can tell you I certainly didn't rush it!

 

[Kevintj604]

I think I can speak for most of us here and although it might be annoying that a wide percentage of the full size headphone releases in the last two years are in the summit-fi price point that doesn't mean you have to purchase them. If the R&D has taken Zach years and years to develop the price point would have to be a reflection of that as time and effort has a cost.

I don't see anyone in the other threads complaining about the cost of any of the other products that are being released this year at CanJam.

DCA Expanse is $3999
Focal Utopia 2022 is $3999

We still don't know the price of the second headphone that Focal is releasing on Saturday as well as any of the other releases that haven't been announced or leaked yet.

If the Caldera is an awesome experience i'm sure it'll sell well regardless of its price point.

 

[Disco3]

We also don't even know the exact release date, other than November, which puts it 7 months after the Atrium and I don't find that particularly close timewise. Any industry with evolving tech is always going to have something new and possibly better 6-12 months later. When I saw the price I assumed it was going more for Abyss & Susvara territory. I'd already told myself if I love the Susvara or one of the Abyss models I'd spend in the $3500 range for a used one. If I can get something new with a warranty, and presumably better looking, more comfortable, and better build quality than those others for less than what those used ones sell for then it's ultimately a better deal.

There's so many unknowns with developing a new product. Especially with supply chain issues. I'm sure they had a target date internally. Had he came out and said "Yeah we're working on a planar set, looking to release it a year from now" and then for whatever reason the project falls through, people would've been upset " Wth I would have bought the Atrium a year ago if I knew the planars weren't coming out!" lol. Can't win sometimes.

 

[Qna89]

I think I can speak for most of us here and although it might be annoying that a wide percentage of the full size headphone releases in the last two years are in the summit-fi price point that doesn't mean you have to purchase them. If the R&D has taken Zach years and years to develop the price point would have to be a reflection of that as time and effort has a cost.

I don't see anyone in the other threads complaining about the cost of any of the other products that are being released this year at CanJam.

DCA Expanse is $3999
Focal Utopia 2022 is $3999

We still don't know the price of the second headphone that Focal is releasing on Saturday as well as any of the other releases that haven't been announced or leaked yet.

If the Caldera is an awesome experience i'm sure it'll sell well regardless of its price point.

Problem is that Zach is trying to be good seller and want to be fair to their clients. If You are too good and too polite ppl will take advantage of You. Nowadays ppl are spoiled and will complain about everything. You can’t Please everyone. Its sad because Zach seems to be a nice guy and he always find time to answet question and solve ppl problems on forum. He doesn’t have to. He could live web adress and link to contac form and write down “if You have question pls contact us. Somebody from a client support department will contact You” and that’s all. It is sad that ppl doesn’t appreciate it and his time.

 

[dfiled]

It is sad that ppl doesn’t appreciate it and his time.

That's a lame and unfounded thing to say, New Head-fier. I do appreciate the time and effort he puts into things -- which is why I've bought many of his headphones and have promoted and defended him vocally online -- but that doesn't make my concerns (which I assume at least some people share) invalid.

 

[zach915m]

I've yet to try a seller from inside the EU. I only bought directly from ZMF. Unfortunately there is no way to avoid VAT on it but in the end it's worth it. Warranty is also super easy to handle even if you are in the other side of the globe.

Yeah - unfortunately we have no say in VAT costs, but we do talk with dealers to make sure that they are not adding unnecessary costs. You can always buy from us and we ship direct via Fed-Ex or DHL. Then you'll pay for just the VAT costs plus any DHL or Fed-Ex fees. I know there may be other ways to import from the USA as well.

WOW! This is insanely exciting news! I can't wait to hear more about it, and I am really looking forward to a closeback version. . .

Absolutely, I'm looking forward to the closed back version too! Next year will likely be the year (or two) of the closed back for ZMF, with the Atrium C - Caldera C and the unnamed less expensive ZMF Portable(ish) dynamic headphone. I am working on that BTW, and it's closer than ever, but still not imminent to this year etc. This will be our last release of this year.

And should be a monster with your Cayin HA-300B…

It's a beast!!! 300B is a lovely amp for the Caldera and all else.

I wouldn't be too upset about this, Verite Open is still ZMF's best headphone by a fair margin in my opinion.

Also, planars and dynamics driver headphones bring different strengths and weaknesses to the table.


Can't wait to hear Caldera next week!

VERITE GANG! I'll listen to Atrium a lot and then go back to Verite and remember why I made it, and why it's so unique and musical and fast.

Great news. I tried to convince myself to a DD but planar is my love. I hope they will sound great. I wonder how soundstage will be lookin.

And how bass will look like on the graph. Is it going to be linear and go way deeper and lover than 20 hz maintain it linearity and what THD will look like

@zach915m Is there a chance to see measurements in nearest future, before sell out starts?

Will post some stuff later today. Hopefully, or at least soon.

Looks amazing but another flagship price point is kinda disappointing. The price of these put them in second hand Susvara territory so I'll have to get some headtime with them before I pull any triggers.

I guess this now makes the Caldera ZMF's flagship?

I don't think if it in terms of flagship or now, price is certainly more due to the crazy costs of the proprietary driver and tech, but Atrium/Verite are still our dynamic Flagships, and they can't be replaced by any Planar!

If, as reported, the nominal impedance for the ZMF planar hp is 65 ohms, the Euforia might be OK with that hp. Also, the more linear / flatter impedance / frequency curve of a planar hp vs a dynamic hp should really be of help in terms of power transfer. And if, as reported, the sensitivity of the ZMF planar hp is 95 dB/mw (==> 106.9 dB/v), that should also help.

I've tried a few OTLs with Caldera, and while they do make for a more euphonic experience, they certainly sound amazing with the right music etc. I'll be interested in those who try them out at CanJam with OTL's how they like them.

I have to say, I don’t think it was so cool releasing the Atrium without giving ZMF’s loyal customers (of which I am one) a heads-up that there was a planar on the way. Sure, plenty of people would have bought the Atrium anyway but I have a feeling a lot of people would have held off and waited to hear reviews of the new planar before buying a new expensive flagship dynamic. I know I would have.

I think @zach915m is a standup guy and I give him the benefit of the doubt, but if I didn’t feel that way I would say the way these were rolled out feels like a cash grab.

I think Zach has tried to create a different kind of company that caters to loyal customers who will come back again and again. ZMF might be starting to operate more like a typical business that is trying to generate as much revenue as it can (which is its right) but that risks pissing off some customers who have been loyal to the brand. I for one feel pretty unhappy about how this played out.

To be fair, I am not one who subscribes to many capitalist assumptions, so I get that some people think I’m just being a naive pinko.

I appreciate your response Zach, and as I've already said, I think you and your company are about as honorable as they come, but can't you understand why someone who just purchased the Atrium and who might not be able to afford multiple flagships might feel burned to find out that you had a new flagship in the works?

I totally get this as I am always having the same feelings as I am a hobbyist and gear lover at heart. So this is totally valid and I totally get it! I also think the FOMO factor is real (it is for me at least!), and the way I try to communicate how I present ZMF is of a longer term commitment. We only come out with improvements of headphones after 4-6 years so far with the dynamics, as we're just starting to do that as with auteur classic which was originally released in 2017. I would think a typical business might do things with a "good, better, best" type selling point, I don't do that, and never will. There is also still time to mull everything over, including reviews and impressions before the November release for Caldera.

ZMF is a collection of my work, different headphones need to be priced differently because of the cost of parts and the labor it takes to make them. While I freely admit I have to run ZMF as a business to be sustainable, you also have to appreciate anything to may see as "a business play" as being a business is the only thing that has allowed me to release the Caldera. Without a business, it simply would never happen, as the immense costs of R/D and the time it took to make this would simply have never happened if ZMF wasn't sustainable. That doesn't mean with-holding information or being dis-honest, that isn't me. I hope with the head-up for the release in November that this is enough time to find out more info before deciding if you want to keep the Atrium for it or not. Fortunately because of our price structure and demand, ZMF's keep value well on the market.

I'm really excited that you want to hear and check out the Caldera, I think it's a great headphone, but so is the Atrium, and I hope you love that one too. Neither of them are going anywhere for a long time.

 

[Kevintj604]

Problem is that Zach is trying to be good seller and want to be fair to their clients. If You are too good and too polite ppl will take advantage of You. Nowadays ppl are spoiled and will complain about everything. You can’t Please everyone. Its sad because Zach seems to be a nice guy and he always find time to answet question and solve ppl problems on forum. He doesn’t have to. He could live web adress and link to contac form and write down “if You have question pls contact us. Somebody from a client support department will contact You” and that’s all. It is sad that ppl doesn’t appreciate it and his time.

Yeah. I fully agree with this. People are going to find something to complain about regardless of how the communication of the rollout occurs.

Do I wish the Caldera had a cheaper price point? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean Zach is wrong in pricing it the way that he has.

@dfiled While I understand your frustration I really don't understand your logic. If you're at all unhappy with the Atrium you can sell it and put that money into the Caldera. The second hand market is bursting with perfect ZMF products that are there for upgrading to more expensive ZMF products.

 

[dfiled]

I totally get this as I am always having the same feelings as I am a hobbyist and gear lover at heart. So this is totally valid and I totally get it! I also think the FOMO factor is real (it is for me at least!), and the way I try to communicate how I present ZMF is of a longer term commitment. We only come out with improvements of headphones after 4-6 years so far with the dynamics, as we're just starting to do that as with auteur classic which was originally released in 2017. I would think a typical business might do things with a "good, better, best" type selling point, I don't do that, and never will. There is also still time to mull everything over, including reviews and impressions before the November release for Caldera.

ZMF is a collection of my work, different headphones need to be priced differently because of the cost of parts and the labor it takes to make them. While I freely admit I have to run ZMF as a business to be sustainable, you also have to appreciate anything to may see as "a business play" as being a business is the only thing that has allowed me to release the Caldera. Without a business, it simply would never happen, as the immense costs of R/D and the time it took to make this would simply have never happened if ZMF wasn't sustainable. That doesn't mean with-holding information or being dis-honest, that isn't me. I hope with the head-up for the release in November that this is enough time to find out more info before deciding if you want to keep the Atrium for it or not. Fortunately because of our price structure and demand, ZMF's keep value well on the market.

I'm really excited that you want to hear and check out the Caldera, I think it's a great headphone, but so is the Atrium, and I hope you love that one too. Neither of them are going anywhere for a long time.

That is a very fair and thoughtful response @zach915m . Thank you. I have tried to be clear from the beginning that I have immense respect for you and your company. The fact that you bothered to respond to my bitching speaks volumes about your vital role in this community.