ZMF November 2024 // Schedule - Announcements and MEGATHREAD!

[jonathan c]

Q: Nitsch DSHA-3FN + ZMF Auteur Classic (LTD B&W Ebony, 11/2024)?

A:

 

[s2kphile]

I think the OI is 5 ohms right? That is really pretty nice for the 60 ohm Caldera, and although I haven't used it lately with Caldera each time I have, I've really enjoyed it. I'd take others' impressions of planars over mine for now though as I haven't used it with planars lately. It doesn't have the power to drive something like Tungsten - but moderately hard to drive planars it will do fine with.

It will be interesting to hear at HiFiCon as thats my #1 gear I want to try out when I attend. Hopefully my ears will hear good things with the Caldera & Nitsch combo. I already enjoy them on the Pietus Maximus & Magni Piety.

 

[jsabini1]

Q: Nitsch DSHA-3FN + ZMF Auteur Classic (LTD B&W Ebony, 11/2024)?



A:

Yup!

My Auteur Classic isn't close to being burned in yet, and it still sounds great with it.

 

[Adnan Firoze]

**** I don't need more amps ... I don't need another amp .... stay strong!!!! ****

 

[AudioDuck]

Q: Nitsch DSHA-3FN + ZMF Auteur Classic (LTD B&W Ebony, 11/2024)?



A:

Sometimes it is a BENEFIT to have all 6.35mm/single-ended cables (except my Caldera Closed-dedicated cable, which is a dual-XLR for my RSA Apache).

Keeps me from temptation when I am really off the audiophile path…

 

[jsabini1]

**** I don't need more amps ... I don't need another amp .... stay strong!!!! ****

That's what I kept saying, until I bought another amp!

 

[cats4cans]

**** I don't need more amps ... I don't need another amp .... stay strong!!!! ****

That’s denial. If you skip anger and go straight to saying you’ll sell an amp to buy an amp (bargaining), you can treat your depression with retail therapy and be accepting your new amp in a week or so.

 

[jonathan c]

That’s denial. If you skip anger and go straight to saying you’ll sell an amp to buy an amp (bargaining), you can treat your depression with retail therapy and be accepting your new amp in a week or so.

.... Don't Even kNow I Am Lying ....

 

[s2kphile]

That's what I kept saying, until I bought another amp!

I am in the process of acquiring a Cayin iHA-8 from ZMF but I really want to grab the Nitsch too. If only the Nitsche had all the features the iHA-8 has then it would be a no brainer.

 

[Adnan Firoze]

Well, to be fair, I spent more on 300B tubes on my Cayin than the amp itself. The Nietsch is a much more sensible way to go I guess.

 

[ThanatosVI]

**** I don't need more amps ... I don't need another amp .... stay strong!!!! ****

For that reason I changed my Hifi furniture.
Having No space for additional amplifiers makes it easier to convince yourself not to buy any

 

[xDoritosJackedx]

Bokeh arrived! I've been looking for a closed back to use at work and seeing how this one matched the lighter wood on my Salire and Atrium matching the darker parts it was the perfect fit as both have the clear resin/gold flake going on as well. If only the Salire could be at both locations now big fan of the clamshell case, easy to transport due to size and the smoothness of the outside makes it a seamless action when placing in my bag.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Bokeh arrived! I've been looking for a closed back to use at work and seeing how this one matched the lighter wood on my Salire and Atrium matching the darker parts it was the perfect fit as both have the clear resin/gold flake going on as well. If only the Salire could be at both locations now big fan of the clamshell case, easy to transport due to size and the smoothness of the outside makes it a seamless action when placing in my bag.

That Salire is gorgeous

 

[WindSwell]

B-Stock Cherry AOs have arrived. Am using an iphone to burn in and will try to make it to at least 100 hrs before throwing them on the dedicated amp for a real listen. Wish me luck with the necessary will power. But, five minutes in, just to make sure the drivers were working, I allowed myself 10 seconds of listening.

[Shuffle-mode happened to offer up a Hermanos Gutierrez track]...

Oh wow, the timbre is startlingly good. Timbre and tone density were the selling points on this blind/deaf purchase. I'd read and watched every review the internet has to offer on the Atrium several times. So, I knew what to expect. And still, using only a humble iphone minutes into the burn-in phase, I am quite impressed. The timbre has rightly been described as 'natural' and 'raw' around here but, I'd add on by saying it is 'unvarnished.' The lack of 'gloss' is really impressive and something I'm not used to. The guitars playing on the track just sounded 'right' in an effortless way. The timbre on these things can't be overstated.

***As a side note, as someone who has watched every review that exists on the Atrium, I have a bone to pick with some youtube reviewers who say that 'it lacks in technicalities.' Clearly, I haven't burned these in and listened with a proper setup to vouch for resolution, separation, holography, etc but, how is timbre not considered a technicality; let alone the most important technicality that should be strived for? Over the years, just for fun and with no intent of making a purchase, I've listened to quite a few very expensive 2 channel setups at dealerships and walked away unimpressed despite their touted 'excellent technicalities'. Technically Impressive? Sure, but they just didn't sound 'right.' Sometimes, after a dealership visit, I even found my factory car speakers a more enjoyable listen. Fresh out the box, the AO sounds absurdly 'right.' [rant over]

 

[Adnan Firoze]

B-Stock Cherry AOs have arrived. Am using an iphone to burn in and will try to make it to at least 100 hrs before throwing them on the dedicated amp for a real listen. Wish me luck with the necessary will power. But, five minutes in, just to make sure the drivers were working, I allowed myself 10 seconds of listening.

[Shuffle-mode happened to offer up a Hermanos Gutierrez track]...

Oh wow, the timbre is startlingly good. Timbre and tone density were the selling points on this blind/deaf purchase. I'd read and watched every review the internet has to offer on the Atrium several times. So, I knew what to expect. And still, using only a humble iphone minutes into the burn-in phase, I am quite impressed. The timbre has rightly been described as 'natural' and 'raw' around here but, I'd add on by saying it is 'unvarnished.' The lack of 'gloss' is really impressive and something I'm not used to. The guitars playing on the track just sounded 'right' in an effortless way. The timbre on these things can't be overstated.

***As a side note, as someone who has watched every review that exists on the Atrium, I have a bone to pick with some youtube reviewers who say that 'it lacks in technicalities.' Clearly, I haven't burned these in and listened with a proper setup to vouch for resolution, separation, holography, etc but, how is timbre not considered a technicality; let alone the most important technicality that should be strived for? Over the years, just for fun and with no intent of making a purchase, I've listened to quite a few very expensive 2 channel setups at dealerships and walked away unimpressed despite their touted 'excellent technicalities'. Technically Impressive? Sure, but they just didn't sound 'right.' Sometimes, after a dealership visit, I even found my factory car speakers a more enjoyable listen. Fresh out the box, the AO sounds absurdly 'right.' [rant over]

Congrats! You are in for a treat. And as someone who loves the AO (I bought two - which I never do for headphones - I mean I did sell something only to buy again but nothing except the AO is something I had two of simultaneously), and watched all the reviews - I can somehow answer from my opinion within the ZMF space about technicalities. In my view, that technicality some reviewers talk about are only how "loud" smaller detail of recordings are. A good example can be made with a comparison with the Caldera. I have a fantastic Caldera and when I switch to that, I do hear "more" in the music but which one do I long for to listen? The Atrium for me, sir. To that point of timbre and tone, absolutely! The point of contention you raised about reviews out there, is more like "how many of things" vs. "how good of something" (a little more nuanced than quality vs. quantity). Also, soundstage! I think the AO has the most unique staging of any headphone imo. (including the Caldera, HD800, Abyss stuff, OG HE-6 and so forth). So, yes, I feel like the technicality they are talking about are "hey, I didn't know that cowbell hit was there in that Porcupine Tree song I know and love."

Hope I have piqued your interest even more to listen to the AO now. That said, hey man - how can you resist that? I just get it out of the box and on my head - and off to the races. I will say though, my first AO sounds noticeably mature than the new one I got less than a month ago. And yes, those drivers DO break in, in the nicest of way! But I would just listen to it through the journey. That said, your approach is likely better since it will get you there sooner if you play something overnight.

Again, congrats on the AO. It's fantastic!