[Mrstump5]

The Verite in general shines through speed/detail/stage regardless of wood, what you get with the Pheasant is more of that "weight" to each note at the cost of a slight ethereal decay. The Be driver is so fast that switching between woods changes the weight and impact more than anything.



The silk does vary a bit, I forget how dark the set we sent Zeppelin & Co, but the Silk seems to vary from dark caramel/amber to deep amber. I'll try to get more pics posted soon. When ordering if you state a preference for how dark you want the wood we can get as close as we can.

Thanks zach you're the man! Pheasant must sound lovely then.

 

[Monsterzero]

Brilliant impressions as always @Monsterzero. Look forward to your full review. My only question at this stage is how they compare to the other ZMFs (differences/similarities), particularly the co-flagship Auteur.

Edit: would also be great to get impressions of the Verite from a solid state amp (and preferably one that doesn’t cost $2000).

Thanks gLer.

I will have an Auteur here in a short while and will share my thoughts on how they compare.

Yep on on the solid state amping. Will give them some time thru my old Sansui 881 as well as a Gilmore Lite Mk ll

 

[LCMusicLover]

The Verite in general shines...

So, who won the give-away -- enquiring minds???

 

[Monsterzero]

Thank you sir, was wanting a nice report on these headphones using Glenn's gear....great report actually as i like a lot of the same music.
Thanks again, much appreciated!

You're welcome!
For the record I used:

C3g x2
RCA 6BX7 x6
Mullard GZ32

This combo is too bright for some of my headphones,but I had zero listening fatigue or spikes with the Verite.

 

[Monsterzero]

After seven hours of pink noise,im back with more thoughts. Today im starting out running the Verite thru my Gilmore Lite Mk ll.

A note on the comfort...VERY comfy. Notably lighter than the Atticus.

The Gilmore Lite Mk ll can def drive the Verite very well. I have the volume set between@ 11:00 & 12:00 for a good,comfortable volume level.

First and foremost the bass slam isnt coming in with nearly the same force as on the GOTL. Its still present and not bass lite,but it has a much more neutral,linear presentation. Same can be said for the guitar emphasis I heard last night. Again the sound is much more linear. Now whether that is due to the 7 hours of burn-in(Zach told me 12 hours is when the most change occurs) or the solid state vs. tubes I cant say yet.

A few more off the cuff thoughts~ all tracks are 16/44.1 lossless unless otherwise noted.

Doors-"Soft Parade" Instruments and Morrison's vocals hang in the air. Good clean sound,excellent imaging.

Edgar Winter- "Frankenstein" LOL,what a trip! The synth just sort of hangs in space front and center. Drums @2:10 have good weight,super quick. Synth @3:16,damn wheres the Psilocybin when you need it?!

Fleetwood Mac-"Rhiannon" Trod Nossel studio bootleg(If youve never heard this version before youve never heard Rhiannon correctly) Again the guitar emphasis is gone,its now much more in line with everything else. Stevie Nicks' vocals @4:46 are screaming. My head is bopping.

Foghat-"Stone Blue" Good bass thump,but not forceful as on the GOTL. Guitar solo @3:40 is on top of my head slightly to rear. Bass sounds a bit muddled during solo.

Hall & Oates- "Lady Rain" Excellent imaging and separation,very distinct 3D depth. Crystal clear acoustic guitar notes. Violins are sharp and vibrant in a good way. Man,why did Hall and Oates sell out in later years?!? This song is epic.

Heart "Crazy on You"~ 24/192 Very good slam when bass and drums kick in and throughout. Acoustic guitar is distinct. Flute kinda hangs in space in the rear.

Reggae

Wailing Souls "Love the One Youre With" Heavy tight bass. Keyboards are rear right. Holographic instruments.

Burning Spear "We Are Going" Good clean and tight. Excellent sense of depth.

Bob Marley "Bad Card" Bob always sound brilliant thru headphones and this is no exception. Stunning separation and staging,sounds coming at you from all angles and depth.

Blues

Howlin' Wolf "Smokestack Lightning" *Howlin Wolf Album version*320mp3 vinyl rip(sorry) Good bass weight,flutes are distinct.

Otis Taylor "Hey Joe" Deep tactile bass. Very good instrument separation,again the sounds attack from all angles.

I need to go back to the GOTL to confirm the differences but it seems that once again Zach has designed a headphone that prefers OTLs. The Gilmore Lite does an excellent job and is a very good pairing,but its a clear step down from the Glenn. Less bass weight and attack,but cleaner and tighter.

Im going to continue burn-in with music throughout the day. By the end of the night I will have over 20 hours.

EDIT: This headphone is kicking solid rear thru my Sansui 881,which I bought for $75.00

 

[Pink Freud]

Yeah Im really into hoops as well. I used to be able to dunk a volleyball back in the day,which aint easy being white and 5'7"
You need to get out to a CanJam. Met David "The Admiral" Robinson at Zachs booth a cpl years ago in NYC.

Whaaaat? David Robinson is an audiophile?? And he knows Zachary?

 

[zach915m]

So, who won the give-away -- enquiring minds???

@Mickes66 was the winner!

Whaaaat? David Robinson is an audiophile?? And he knows Zachary?

David has an Eikon, I believe he uses it a lot as he's gotta have closed backs for his house. He and @BooUrns always have a lot to talk about too with his philanthropy work and my wife's social work experience. But yeah he's definitely an audiophile and he comes to CanJam every once in a while!

 

[zach915m]

Hey all - doing an AMA tonight on Reddit at 8PM EST/5PM PST!!!!

AMA = Ask Me Anything.

 

[LCMusicLover]

@Mickes66 was the winner! ...

Wait!

What!!

I DEMAND a recount!!!

 

[gLer]

I need to go back to the GOTL to confirm the differences but it seems that once again Zach has designed a headphone that prefers OTLs. The Gilmore Lite does an excellent job and is a very good pairing,but its a clear step down from the Glenn. Less bass weight and attack,but cleaner and tighter.

Honestly this was my biggest fear with the new headphones. I’m not a big fan of tube amps (I get the appeal, they’re just not for me), and if I need one to get the best out of a certain headphone, it’s not the right fit.

I’m sure the Auteur also has an affinity for tubes but every time I’ve heard it it’s been on a solid state and sounded absolutely sublime. Not so the Atticus, for example, which lost some of its magic without tubes in support.

All that said, it’s great that Zach sticks to his principles, and I’m sure most of his fans (and hey, I’m one of his biggest) have tubes at the ready for the new toys in town.

 

[zach915m]

Honestly this was my biggest fear with the new headphones. I’m not a big fan of tube amps (I get the appeal, they’re just not for me), and if I need one to get the best out of a certain headphone, it’s not the right fit.

I’m sure the Auteur also has an affinity for tubes but every time I’ve heard it it’s been on a solid state and sounded absolutely sublime. Not so the Atticus, for example, which lost some of its magic without tubes in support.

All that said, it’s great that Zach sticks to his principles, and I’m sure most of his fans (and hey, I’m one of his biggest) have tubes at the ready for the new toys in town.

Haha well - lately I've been using GSX MK II (solid state) half the time and (insert tube amp x here) half the time, and my wife @BooUrns and some others prefer the GSX. I wouldn't take @Monsterzero saying they sound better on the Glenn as saying they won't sound good on solid state, I think it's just that @2359glenn makes an incredible amp.

 

[pippen99]

I certainly hope this to be the case as I recently sold my Woo WA5 and now exclusively listen via my Cavalli Liquid Gold. I really enjoyed the Blackwood Auteur on the Lau and am hoping for great sound from the Verite.

 

[gLer]

Haha well - lately I've been using GSX MK II (solid state) half the time and (insert tube amp x here) half the time, and my wife @BooUrns and some others prefer the GSX. I wouldn't take @Monsterzero saying they sound better on the Glenn as saying they won't sound good on solid state, I think it's just that @2359glenn makes an incredible amp.

Oh I have no doubt they'll sound amazing on the GSX! When I say the Atticus didn't sound it's best on solid state, I mean it still sounded better than any other closed headphone in its class - but not the very best I know it can sound. The Auteur on the other hand is simply magic on the solid state amp I personally use (Audio-gd R-28), and, well, looking forward to your email Zach

One day I may be fortunate enough to hear the Verite. Until then I'll just enjoy it vicariously through reviews and impressions...

 

[Monsterzero]

Honestly this was my biggest fear with the new headphones. I’m not a big fan of tube amps (I get the appeal, they’re just not for me), and if I need one to get the best out of a certain headphone, it’s not the right fit.

I’m sure the Auteur also has an affinity for tubes but every time I’ve heard it it’s been on a solid state and sounded absolutely sublime. Not so the Atticus, for example, which lost some of its magic without tubes in support.

All that said, it’s great that Zach sticks to his principles, and I’m sure most of his fans (and hey, I’m one of his biggest) have tubes at the ready for the new toys in town.

A couple things that need to be factored in.

1. comparing my GOTL to a Gilmore Lite Mk ll isnt really fair. GLMll is a mid-fi SS amp vs an amp that slays other OTLs costing 3-4 times more. Perhaps @Hansotek can weigh in with his Wells Milo,or as Zach said above

ately I've been using GSX MK II (solid state) half the time and (insert tube amp x here) half the time, and my wife @BooUrns and some others prefer the GSX. I wouldn't take @Monsterzero saying they sound better on the Glenn as saying they won't sound good on solid state, I think it's just that @2359glenn makes an incredible amp.

It also depends on what it is youre seeking from the sound. I think the GLMll sounds cleaner,so the detail comes thru better thus far.

 

[ProfFalkin]

But yeah he's definitely an audiophile and he comes to CanJam every once in a while!

I ran into him at RMAF 2017. Literally. It's rather akward when you're nose to stomach with a legend.