pkcpga
1000+ Head-Fier
I’ve used my VC’s with my Fiio m15, but only to sit outside on my deck. The m15 powers them well in over ear mode with low gain, definitely not as well as the pendant but still enjoyable. I’ve also tried the mojo with the VC’s, liked the m15 better with the VC’s, but both powered it. Mojo with the VC seems to get muddy in the bass region for my personal taste.One of the greatest. But..
Now enough time has passed to write some lines on the cans.
ZMF Verite Closed
Shou Sugi ban Manchurian Ash burst
The looks
Most angels – perfect.
Specific angels – horrible.
Selling a set of can for the price of a small village needs to be perfect. They who do not agree has lower expectations than me. Light untreated parts of the dark looking can showing thru is unacceptable. Fix the small detail and the can reaches 10/10 on looks.
ZMF is not a six year old kid selling cookies and earning her first bucks. With multiple employees and sales at the million per year we need to have expectations on that level. Sure – small business but surely able to meet high expectations on all details.
Without the fix I can stop thinking of a drawing from kindergarten were happy parents saying falsely “oh, that is reaaally beautiful..”.
Comfort
Suede straps and headband looks really awful in my taste. But comfort is 10/10.
The leather is so much nicer but with many hours per week comfort is important. More important than we think in most cases.
I guess I stay with the suede strap even if my eyes are bleeding.
Sound
Nothing to fuss about. They are one of the few up at the top.
Vocals are stunningly good! Vocals are for me 80% of the total in listening to music.
They do vocals the way I want them. (to understand MY taste - Hifiman Edition X V2 has superb vocals as well. But a tad to dark/warm/lush in general.)
Some might like the tuning and other not, probably most people will enjoy them. Not the most “airy” so if that is your cup of tea maybe look elsewhere.
Works well for most music – for classic/symphony I do prefer open backs but that is like 3 % of my total listening time. The other 97 % works really well on VC. As said – vocals are as good as it gets.
Golden ears are for others, some might hear thing I do not. I like the old saying “use equipment to listen to music, do not use music to listen to equipment..”.
With these cans I listen to the music with joy - with a smile on my face.
9-10 of 10 is probably what most will give them. Me too.
Closed back vs. open back
Sure, open back Focals has a other feeling with them. Better? I do not know.
For me it is like a “I do not care if THESE cans are closed or open – they sound really good”.
Listening late at night with family members trying to sleep and/or having kids running around always gives the upper hand to closed back. Finding a good closed back is for many individuals more useful than same sound quality on open back.
Pads
One thing that I feel gets way to much attention on ZMF cans. All this talk about different sound signatures and so on like it is some kind of a holy ZMF grail to be able to swap pads. Come on – that is for all cans and has been for many years. The pads are way(!) to expensive from many manufacturer.
Measurement
I really would like this can to have a go with Amir.
To see the measurement and after that say “oh, that is a good curve and should sound this good” OR “oh, that curve looks bad but I don´t care cause the sound good”.
Is this the greatest?
Maybe. I think our personal taste is more of the verdict than facts.
Given the price it should be up there. And it really is.
Do I recommend them?
If money is no issue – buy them.
If 4 000 euros (for me with taxes to Sweden) is “a lot” then there are other can for you.
If you are looking for an end game closed back and feel that saving up a year or two is worth the wait – then start saving.
For you in the US (lower price) – a no brainer, buy if you can afford them.
A final question
Is there any DAP out there that can justify the VC´s on the move?
Sure it needs to be a day without rain and maybe it is a really bad idea to use them on the move but has anyone tried it?