[iamoneagain]

So I just tried the setting for the Caldera Suede and to my surprise, I like it more than stock. It opens up the sound more with airier highs, clearer mids, and snappier bass while still keeping all the texture. It’s quite impressive. Location of instruments is very precise. It does all this while still keeping what I love about the suede pads, euphoric mids. I tested it on all the tracks the Expanse and Caldera stock pads with ASR EQ gave me trouble. They all passed and sounded better than stock suede. I still like stock sound but think I’m keeping this EQ for now.

Here’s that link:
https://github.com/jaakkopasanen/AutoEq/tree/master/results/Kuulokenurkka/over-ear/ZMF Caldera (suede earpads)

Edit: so I remembered not liking new Foo Fighters new album on suede pads as much as stock. So even with this EQ setting on suede, stock pads and stock sound is better. I haven’t loaded up the stock pads EQ settings to see how those sound. But it is interesting the EQ suede come closer to stock pads in the highs now. It’s just they still don’t hit as hard in the bass. Stock pads just hit harder with tighter bass.

So when I tried the EQ for the stock pads I prefer Zach’s stock sound. The bass has more oomph and the vocals are just right. The EQ doesn’t seem to add anything but make it’s slightly less warm and thinner sounding. I think the EQ may work better for the suede since that’s not how the Caldera was tuned, so might balance it out a bit. Next up, trying the thick pads with their EQ. I always felt mids were too recessed for my taste but liked the layer effect sometimes.

Edit: got the thick pads EQd and it does bring up the mids but it’s almost too sharp. So after all this I find I prefer the stock pads with stock sound. And the EQ for suede is better than stock but would need extended listening to confirm. And thick with stock is too recessed in mids but too sharp with EQ. So thick pads are not for me.

 

[angan]

My first post on Headfi! Caldera with the Grand silver palladium cable is simply outstanding.

 

[zach915m]

My first post on Headfi! Caldera with the Grand silver palladium cable is simply outstanding.

Congrats and welcome! Lovely combo, I've been flattered how much people like the Palladium wire.

 

[angan]

Congrats and welcome! Lovely combo, I've been flattered how much people like the Palladium wire.

Thanks! You’ve made an amazing, amazing cable. And not just with the Caldera, even with the Verite Open it’s fantastic. Even my wife who is not into this hobby could clearly notice a significant improvement and she asked if the cable is making music!

 

[ng5921]

My first post on Headfi! Caldera with the Grand silver palladium cable is simply outstanding.

Show us pics!

 

[angan]

Show us pics!

Sure, will do soon!

 

[Benesyed]

im resisting the urge to get another caldera for collection purposes haha

 

[AcousticMatt]

More thoughts I've had the last couple days on why I prefer the WA-23 over the Envy....:

After watching @GoldenOne review of the WA-23 and also reading @Torq impressions of the N8 (single ended) vs N8ii (balanced), a light bulb went off for me: the two tube amps that I prefer out of the three I have are the WA-23 and the WA8. Both are single ended, which apparently, as I'm learning, means more 2nd order harmonics. The Envy is balanced, which means those 2nd order harmonics are less, or maybe even cancelled out. I don't quite know enough to know the exactness of this, but it was fascinating reading these things because it clicked with what I've been hearing and absolutely loving - the WA8 and the WA-23 both have something sonically so right sounding to my ears. I actually enjoy listening on both (yes, I prefer the $1900 WA8 over the $8000 Envy!) over the Envy. Envy is amazing in other categories, but the drawback is that it just doesn't have the timbral pull that the other two do, ultimately leading me to not want to listen as long. Just interesting. Both these Woo amps really sound fantastic on all my headphones (ok, Susvara aside - WA8 is not enough power), but I'm convinced they're particularly a great match with ZMF headphones like the Caldera because of how great it is technically and timbrally. I remember going to a seminar with Justin from Ampsandsound and him saying something close to "we like tubes because the sound is closer to the sounds found in nature" and I think this applies here - single ended 2nd order harmonic tube sound with ZMF headphones is a great match.

Pretty cool. Up next, late night musings on the meaning of life... haha!

 

[betula]

It might be just me, but I like to keep things simple. I buy audio gear when I enjoy the sound, regardless any curves and anyone's opinion. I dare to say, Caldera is my favourite headphone so far.

 

[goldwerger]

My first post on Headfi! Caldera with the Grand silver palladium cable is simply outstanding.

Welcome!

You started at the top, way to go

 

[goldwerger]

More thoughts I've had the last couple days on why I prefer the WA-23 over the Envy....:

After watching @GoldenOne review of the WA-23 and also reading @Torq impressions of the N8 (single ended) vs N8ii (balanced), a light bulb went off for me: the two tube amps that I prefer out of the three I have are the WA-23 and the WA8. Both are single ended, which apparently, as I'm learning, means more 2nd order harmonics. The Envy is balanced, which means those 2nd order harmonics are less, or maybe even cancelled out. I don't quite know enough to know the exactness of this, but it was fascinating reading these things because it clicked with what I've been hearing and absolutely loving - the WA8 and the WA-23 both have something sonically so right sounding to my ears. I actually enjoy listening on both (yes, I prefer the $1900 WA8 over the $8000 Envy!) over the Envy. Envy is amazing in other categories, but the drawback is that it just doesn't have the timbral pull that the other two do, ultimately leading me to not want to listen as long. Just interesting. Both these Woo amps really sound fantastic on all my headphones (ok, Susvara aside - WA8 is not enough power), but I'm convinced they're particularly a great match with ZMF headphones like the Caldera because of how great it is technically and timbrally. I remember going to a seminar with Justin from Ampsandsound and him saying something close to "we like tubes because the sound is closer to the sounds found in nature" and I think this applies here - single ended 2nd order harmonic tube sound with ZMF headphones is a great match.

Pretty cool. Up next, late night musings on the meaning of life... haha!

Single ended topology = harmonic bliss

 

[Code Red]

Also new to head-fi, but thanks goldwerger for pointing me to the Caldera thread. Already, posted some pics to the November thread but here's one more.

Got them in today and in the process of burning them in. First impressions they sound amazing. A tad bright on the occasional female vocal track. I also got the thick pads and mesh and might try that if mind burn in ends up being insufficient. Definitely not something I'm worried about though. Can definitely say they sound amazing on tubes!!!

 

[goldwerger]

Also new to head-fi, but thanks goldwerger for pointing me to the Caldera thread. Already, posted some pics to the November thread but here's one more.

Got them in today and in the process of burning them in. First impressions they sound amazing. A tad bright on the occasional female vocal track. I also got the thick pads and mesh and might try that if mind burn in ends up being insufficient. Definitely not something I'm worried about though. Can definitely say they sound amazing on tubes!!!

I think you got the perfect course of action here.

that aside - wow, these are gorgeous!!! congrats!

 

[ng5921]

Also new to head-fi, but thanks goldwerger for pointing me to the Caldera thread. Already, posted some pics to the November thread but here's one more.

Got them in today and in the process of burning them in. First impressions they sound amazing. A tad bright on the occasional female vocal track. I also got the thick pads and mesh and might try that if mind burn in ends up being insufficient. Definitely not something I'm worried about though. Can definitely say they sound amazing on tubes!!!

Lovely! What tube amp are you running them off?

 

[Code Red]

Lovely! What tube amp are you running them off?

The ampsandsound red october. Super happy with how it has been sounding with the Caldera. Definitely going to picking up some other ZMFs to try with it.