[ksorota]

Wes, yes you do, the VC is my favorite headphone of all time (for now), Joe Louis Walker’s rocking my world presently! After I get my review written, and if can bear to be without them, shoot me an IM me, and perhaps we can work out a loan.

Wow... Loaner tour, that's very generous, sign me up!

 

[zach915m]

I've always enjoyed the visceral feel of speakers and ZMF HF's's come closest to recreating that in HF's. With speakers, based purely on causal inference rather than knowledge, I've surmised that the speaker elements' excursion contributed to this physicality, and perhaps the analogy to baffle movement holds. On the flip side, does this slight movement rather than firmly fixed position potentially jeopardize the permanence of the baffle staying in exactly the desired optimal position versus slowly migrating with repetitive movement? Knowing Zach's design rigor and diligence, I suspect that's been addressed but the topic is so interesting I thought I'd ask.

Maybe I shouldn't have used the word "movement", as the thinning of the wood in the area around the driver isn't meant to actually allow the driver to move out of and back into place, it's meant to allow movement in the way a guitar soundboard can be graduated towards its edges to allow the strings to vibrate certain parts of the soundboard more naturally. I guess you can think of it as calculated vibrations that don't compromise the overall structure in any way.

The driver is firmly in place and as stable as it should be on any headphone.

 

[Wildcatsare1]

agreed. I also feel like Zach straddles this interesting line between headphone enthusiast and musical instrument creator.

I play banjo, guitar and djembe drum and there is amazing wood work and craftsmanship that go into those instruments. I feel like Zach’s creations have that same spirit in them.

We’ll said, and exactly how I feel, Zach’s headphones are musical instruments, recreating the event in time (the recording) in a compelling manner.

 

[Wildcatsare1]

For something a bit different than the usual fare on this Thread, check out the “Brothers Osborne, LIVE, at the Ryman” (I am a Kentuckian after all). It’s available in high res on Qobuz.

 

[LoryWiv]

Maybe I shouldn't have used the word "movement", as the thinning of the wood in the area around the driver isn't meant to actually allow the driver to move out of and back into place, it's meant to allow movement in the way a guitar soundboard can be graduated towards its edges to allow the strings to vibrate certain parts of the soundboard more naturally. I guess you can think of it as calculated vibrations that don't compromise the overall structure in any way.

The driver is firmly in place and as stable as it should be on any headphone.

Very helpful, makes good sense. Your understanding of musical instruments, both in terms of what underlies the nuanced sound they produce "live" as well as how aesthetically beautiful they can be, distinguishes ZMF from the pack.

I saw the Who last week in SF, and apart from the fact that these geezers (Daltry and Townend are both mid-seventies) aren't just trading off their names but really still invest passion into these iconic songs, the other two things that struck me were:
1. There are intangibles hearing live music that I suspect can't be replicated just by picking the right driver material and basic design, but require deeper understanding of how notes are produced, interact with the environment, and are perceived by the human ear.
2. Instruments are often gorgeous to behold, be it the gleam of a tuba (they had orchestral backing for the Overture from "Tommy") or the sensuous curves / inlay of an acoustic guitar. Visual aesthetics, engaging multiple senses, definitely add to the enjoyment of music.

Zach, thank you for the quality of both sound and aesthetics ZMF brings to the table.

 

[smeksime]

Welp, I think my journey is at its end. The final piece to my ZMF collection has arrived today and are going straight to burn-in mode. Shout-out to Zach and Bevin. You guys are the best!

 

[Bonddam]

Welp, I think my journey is at its end. The final piece to my ZMF collection has arrived today and are going straight to burn-in mode. Shout-out to Zach and Bevin. You guys are the best!

you own 2 of the VO? So do you flip a coin to see which one you'll use?

 

[kumar402]

Welp, I think my journey is at its end. The final piece to my ZMF collection has arrived today and are going straight to burn-in mode. Shout-out to Zach and Bevin. You guys are the best!

Top quality amp , DAC and headphones
But why 2 VO?

 

[mkozlows]

We have about 20 of each (Ltd and stock) in production that will be finished and shipped in the next 10 - 14 days.

Out of curiosity, did you hit any major obstacles that changed this timeline, or just the usual one-thing-after-another delays?

 

[zach915m]

Out of curiosity, did you hit any major obstacles that changed this timeline, or just the usual one-thing-after-another delays?

We've shipped 27 so far - and have about 15 going out tomorrow - I realize the order list has only decreased by 13 so far, this is because we owed a number of units to Acorn Audio whom was our first dealer and the first place to buy any units and then we had some review units we owed as well. Fortunately everything has gone well in production and the sets have been incredibly consistent and I think all the new owners have been really happy as well! I'm really excited to get more and more out!

If you have any time-constraints, shipping concerns or questions etc definitely hit us up at contactzmf@gmail.com and we will be as forthcoming as we can!

 

[mkozlows]

All good! Not trying to be a jerk about it, was just curious, among my ten times a day refreshes of the spreadsheet...

 

[smeksime]

Top quality amp , DAC and headphones
But why 2 VO?

Long story short, the Ziricote was suppose to be my Pheasantwood. Zach accidentally made my VO in the wrong wood. Kept both this far but will most likely sell one.

 

[Rowethren]

We've shipped 27 so far - and have about 15 going out tomorrow - I realize the order list has only decreased by 13 so far, this is because we owed a number of units to Acorn Audio whom was our first dealer and the first place to buy any units and then we had some review units we owed as well. Fortunately everything has gone well in production and the sets have been incredibly consistent and I think all the new owners have been really happy as well! I'm really excited to get more and more out!

If you have any time-constraints, shipping concerns or questions etc definitely hit us up at contactzmf@gmail.com and we will be as forthcoming as we can!

I for one am certainly glad Acorn jumped on the orders so quick

 

[teknorob23]

something i'd been looking forward to almost as much as the VCs' is the new Floating Points Album. Neither disappoints and together resulting sum of said parts is sublime. One word and its got to be "Visceral"

 

[Magol79]

Hey @Monsterzero

It's almost weekend and I think it's time for you to put on your VC's and fall into a Darksynth delirium.

Wice - Vendetta


Occams Laser - The Rapture


This is what I will do when my VC's arrive.