[qua2k]

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.

Oh man.

 

[Death_Block]

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

A flagship of 2 different drivers? My opinion is that's totally awesome. But that's just me

 

[zach915m]

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.

This is so true. Honestly, and @warrenpchi knows this as I still feel guilty for the rush; I got all the final parts I needed to complete the headphones for CanJam last tuesday, pulled an all-nighter into weds, and overnighted him the headphones so he could finish the CanJam video. I didn't even know if the final parts would be good until we finished them monday/tuesday. It's been a crazy week, but you know, gotta make them ready for CanJam SoCal if you can! Not many opportunities come up like this for mass impressions this quickly.

 

[jonathan c]

…. 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.

Bravo, Zach! The essence of a truly artisanal endeavour. It renders irrelevant a discussion / speculation about product timing or about deliberate vs inadvertent product obsolescence.

 

[Disco3]

This is so true. Honestly, and @warrenpchi knows this as I still feel guilty for the rush; I got all the final parts I needed to complete the headphones for CanJam last tuesday, pulled an all-nighter into weds, and overnighted him the headphones so he could finish the CanJam video. I didn't even know if the final parts would be good until we finished them monday/tuesday. It's been a crazy week, but you know, gotta make them ready for CanJam SoCal if you can! Not many opportunities come up like this for mass impressions this quickly.

I'm really happy and excited for you guys! Really cool you got everything done just in time for CanJam. Can't wait to hear people's impressions.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Some people may "understate" the differences of basic characters between Planar and Dynamic driver in real life experience. So hard to compare them as apple vs apple.

Set aside from that, nowadays we see "The Rise of Planar" in flagship territory, a lot excellent Planar has released, and yet, Verite and Atrium still find sweet places in people's hearts.

I wouldn't worry too much about Caldera, yeah it should be awesome because release by Zach, but don't forget that Verite and Atrium are now competing with no less than excellent Planar Headphones from other brand too.

 

[cdanguyen08]

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.

Awesome! That'll give me time to save up for a LTD edition.

 

[goldwerger]

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.

@zach915m I’m still amazed by the miracle of VC. I have a few really nice closed back headphones, but the VC is uniquely tuned and makes you forget you have a closed back headphone on. No bad reverbs or in-your-head effect. If you manage to pull this off with the Atrium (and I’ve no doubt you will), it would be such an exciting thing to wait for! Keep this up

 

[SlothRock]

I’m interested to see how Zach is gonna differentiate the looks for the Verite closed, atrium closed and Caldera closed! Easy to do on the open backs as you just put a new a grille design but you can’t do that for the closed backs so it’ll be fun to see how that gets pulled off

 

[zach915m]

I’m interested to see how Zach is gonna differentiate the looks for the Verite closed, atrium closed and Caldera closed! Easy to do on the open backs as you just put a new a grille design but you can’t do that for the closed backs so it’ll be fun to see how that gets pulled off

I will try to start leaking some info on the closed backs soon as I can. I have some work to do on Atrium Closed now that the planar is wrapped up. The cup is designed, and I tried to get "weird" with it to set it apart somewhat, there's some interesting angles on it that are fun.

 

[jonathan c]

Figures, just 2 days after I get the shipping notice for my Atrium. Whoops. Didn't think I'd have to have another headphone Battle Royale so soon. Which will stay, which will go? Will I finally be brave enough to sell a ZMF or will I just keep adding every headphone they release until I'm buried by Pelican cases??

….when the time comes, buried in a custom Pelican case?….…

 

[stormcloud64]

I personally can't wait to hear reviews and ultimately hear myself Zac's take on a planar. I am making room for this by shortly selling my LCD5, Focal Utopia and Aeon Noire. I love the Atrium and reach for that almost 100% of the time when I listen.

 

[Barone Birra]

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.

Likewise LCD5 and CRBN for Audeze...

 

[L0rdGwyn]

Caldera grill is my favorite yet, I love the art deco pattern. I usually go for steel grills on my ZMFs, but I think bronze or gold is the move here to fit the theme, gorgeous

 

[ufospls2]

I don't know if it was intentional, but the Caldera grill sort of looks like the off shoots of a volcano's main exit tube. Or maybe its just art deco and
im crazy, lol.