ZMF November 2024 // Schedule - Announcements and MEGATHREAD!

[OnlySoMany]

We certainly are "wood-rich" with the Black and White Ebony. I'm excited for the owners to get their Amboyna sets too.

I may need a BW Verite open at some point . There was only one in the last drop.

 

[zach915m]

I may need a BW Verite open at some point . There was only one in the last drop.

One insane thing my wood lord told me is that the black and white ebony in Laos that he procures is fallen and on the forest floor and that many times he will talk to the locals (he is a local as well) and if he doesn't harvest the fallen trees, they will use them for fire wood because they love it as that since it burns so long and well. Instead he will bring them other wood to use that isn't so beautiful.

Crazy for us to think about here and different situations and all that. Makes you appreciate everything a bit more.

 

[ttys0]

IMO the best way to approach the wait is just assume it's going to be the long end of the timing estimate when buying. So if they say 2-10 weeks assume 10. That way you're not thinking as much about it, and if they do ship early, you'll be pleasantly surprised. I know how miserable it is waiting for that shipping notice. Assume the worst and try not to think about it too much until you get close to the end.

Totally agree with this approach. I usually try to "forget" that I even ordered a ZMF, though forums like this don't really facilitate that. That way when it does show up it's almost like a "surprise present".

 

[zach915m]

Maybe Zach will chime-in with some insight, but to me it seems really random.

I'm not too thrilled about the wait. Not so much about the overall time, but just that there's no way of knowing if they'll ship today, or in 6 weeks from now. If you send an email they'll just respond saying that you're within the quoted window that you agreed to at checkout.

One big goal for this year is to have more transparency built into every process. Right now, we're working with a computer/systems engineer to build out a database that's linked to Shopify so that every order will get more constant updates that trigger emails to everyone when headphones pass different stages, which promote the type of communication I would want as a potential owner. There's really nothing I won't or don't want to show about how ZMF works, so getting this more constant communication and window into what we're doing at all times will be cool.

Who knows, maybe one day we can have a "build-cam" feed or something like a headphone version of the Truman Show. But maybe I'm taking that idea too far, haha.

Edit: Sorry I just realized I didn't answer your question - It gets hard for our staff to give a really accurate estimate because we have so many stages of quality control. It happens after every step: wood block, machining, sanding, finishing, pre-assembly, subassembly, acoustic measurement, and so on. We're working to make this all more efficient and already have, but the last thing we want is to tell someone, "Your headphones will ship next week," and then flag a QC thing where a driver needs to be replaced or otherwise, and then have it ship past what we told the owners. So we always err on the side of - let's have a more open window and try our best to surprise people with being slightly faster than estimates.

 

[erics75]

One big goal for this year is to have more transparency built into every process. Right now, we're working with a computer/systems engineer to build out a database that's linked to Shopify so that every order will get more constant updates that trigger emails to everyone when headphones pass different stages, which promote the type of communication I would want as a potential owner. There's really nothing I won't or don't want to show about how ZMF works so getting this more constant communication and window into what we're doing at all times will be cool.

Who knows maybe one day we can have a "build-cam" feed or something that can be like a headphone version of the Truman Show. But maybe I'm taking that idea too far haha.

Any chance you'll move your selling process from a customer buys then you produce to a you produce and then customer buys system anytime in the future? No more drops or events, just a steady stream of production that gets photographed and put on the site as finished and available for purchase, and let the consumer keep tabs on the site and what's available? Too impractical given the nature of producing such unique items? Cashflow would take a hit at first until you get steady inventory levels up and sales kick in, but once up and running it should even out.

 

[Reputator]

Who knows, maybe one day we can have a "build-cam" feed or something like a headphone version of the Truman Show. But maybe I'm taking that idea too far, haha.

Your workers might get suspicious if you walk up to them and randomly start talking about how great Mococoa is.

 

[zach915m]

Any chance you'll move your selling process from a customer buys then you produce to a you produce and then customer buys system anytime in the future? No more drops or events, just a steady stream of production that gets photographed and put on the site as finished and available for purchase, and let the consumer keep tabs on the site and what's available? Too impractical given the nature of producing such unique items? Cashflow would take a hit at first until you get steady inventory levels up and sales kick in, but once up and running it should even out.

The goal is to make the stock headphones more "singular" in their SKU's and readily available to ship within a week. Then still have "drops" and then open up the custom shop. That's the dream at least, wish us luck!

Your workers might get suspicious if you walk up to them and randomly start talking about how great Mococoa is.

Hahaha touché. So many emotions and confusion.

 

[erics75]

The goal is to make the stock headphones more "singular" in their SKU's and readily available to ship within a week. Then still have "drops" and then open up the custom shop. That's the dream at least, wish us luck!

Hahaha touché. So many emotions and confusion.

I have no doubt you'll get it all up and running as you want it, it's the nature of a growing and evolving business. And by the time those things are done new issues will come up

 

[ch1525i]

The goal is to make the stock headphones more "singular" in their SKU's and readily available to ship within a week. Then still have "drops" and then open up the custom shop. That's the dream at least, wish us luck!

Hahaha touché. So many emotions and confusion.

Having gone through my first "drop" and ZMF November, I hope that doesn't change. The wait can be frustrating to some but the thrill of the chase is really unique. I picked up 3 sets and only have received 1 but it was an exciting 2 weeks.

 

[zach915m]

I have no doubt you'll get it all up and running as you want it, it's the nature of a growing and evolving business. And by the time those things are done new issues will come up

Having gone through my first "drop" and ZMF November, I hope that doesn't change. The wait can be frustrating to some but the thrill of the chase is really unique. I picked up 3 sets and only have received 1 but it was an exciting 2 weeks.

Yeah it's really hard to hit that "perfect" amount for a wait. I'm as guilty as anyone of enjoying the amazon dot com world we live in. Although once I did wait 7 years for an acoustic guitar from a luthier, I did get it though!

 

[s2kphile]

Th

My B&W Ebony AO’s just arrived!

I was one of the unlucky ones who got a double sold unit.

This was the unit I thought I was buying.



I asked for a unit to match as closely as possible.

This is the end result.




Am super stoked how it turned out!

Thanks to the ZMF team for making the best out of an unfortunate situation.

That looks amazing! Honestly, I think those look better than the original ones. Congrats! Make sure to burn them in before giving impressions as the sound significantly improves for the better.

 

[mattiastomas]

Th

That looks amazing! Honestly, I think those look better than the original ones. Congrats! Make sure to burn them in before giving impressions as the sound significantly improves for the better.

Am currently burning them in. My ACs sounded much better after 100 hours burn in so am planning for that.

Out of the box though it already sounds really good. Guitars just sound wonderful on it. Love the holographic sound on it.

 

[djkindred]

Looking back on those crazy days of releases, I really wish I went for at least 1 BW Ebony or Amboyna set. My attention was too focused on the following stabilized releases. What could have been! Until the next one....

 

[Orange5o]

One big goal for this year is to have more transparency built into every process. Right now, we're working with a computer/systems engineer to build out a database that's linked to Shopify so that every order will get more constant updates that trigger emails to everyone when headphones pass different stages, which promote the type of communication I would want as a potential owner. There's really nothing I won't or don't want to show about how ZMF works, so getting this more constant communication and window into what we're doing at all times will be cool.

Who knows, maybe one day we can have a "build-cam" feed or something like a headphone version of the Truman Show. But maybe I'm taking that idea too far, haha.

Edit: Sorry I just realized I didn't answer your question - It gets hard for our staff to give a really accurate estimate because we have so many stages of quality control. It happens after every step: wood block, machining, sanding, finishing, pre-assembly, subassembly, acoustic measurement, and so on. We're working to make this all more efficient and already have, but the last thing we want is to tell someone, "Your headphones will ship next week," and then flag a QC thing where a driver needs to be replaced or otherwise, and then have it ship past what we told the owners. So we always err on the side of - let's have a more open window and try our best to surprise people with being slightly faster than estimates.

Any ballpark timeline for the Mega Salire shipments?

 

[zach915m]

Any ballpark timeline for the Mega Salire shipments?

Our Biesse CNC needed some love in the last week. We have a majority of the uprights finished but are not finishing the bases. My hope is to ship the majority by the end of the month, but we will see!