[Pharmaboy]

Great report @Pharmaboy!

How are your new Verite sounding? All burned in? I know you had mentioned listening to them on your soild-state amps and being very happy with the results. I'm glad to hear that your also loving your Verite with tubes. I'm not surprised...I sometimes think the Verite was actually designed to pair with quality tube amps.

VO is all burned in and basically knocking it out of the park every time I listen to it. The VO kills on every amp I try; like the Aeolus, this is an extremely non amp-picky headphone.

Tonight I split time between the WA3 w/that NOS power tube and the by-now fully burned in xDuoo TA-20 hybrid amp. Talk about an over-achiever: the TA-20 has real finesse, top-to-bottom composure -- sound far above what I would expect for the low cost. Next time I'll use the V281, the best SS match I have for the VO (really a wonderful combination).

The VO is the through-line here. It has a truly beautiful sound, what I keep calling "tonal purity" because I can't think of a better description. Listen to large scale classical or choral music on the VO and you'll be swept away...ravishing sound. Yet it's as revealing as any headphone I've ever heard. All the little sonic nuances come through so clearly with the VO, yet it never sounds forced or edgy.

IMO the VO is ZMF's TOTL -- a testament to how high the "ZMF house sound" can go.

 

[jinxy245]

Dissenting viewpoint: @jinxy245 found this WA3 to be somewhat "polite," which is probably him pulling his punches when he really meant, "it bored the shtt out of me."

Actually, no I really did mean polite (I know I'm a sarcastic bugger, but not all the time!) I thought it wasn't a particularly dynamic amp, but definitely not offensive...not boring either. It's charms were more subtle to my ear, but not absent. Glad the new tubes are paying sonic dividends!!

 

[MRHiFiReviews]

Couldn't agree more. Desert ironwood really speaks to me.

I already have a VO (silkwood--lovely sound) but still feel the temptation of this new wood.

remind me later today (crashing out now) and I will post up a bunch of pics of the Verite Open I am reviewing in Desert Ironwood with stainless hardware it’s a beauty, heavy yes but worth the weight in look and feel. The wood grain is like nothing I have seen before.

 

[KcMsterpce]

I had two friends come over to listen to my stuff. I fired up the DNA Stratus, and let them rip with the Eikon and VO. Both ended up gravitating to the VO. They also disappeared from the party for an hour or two each. It was basically their first time listening to headphones that weren't Airpods.
Now one of them has been asking me a lot about amplifiers that he should look into, and where to look.
I consider that a "win" for the headphone world!

 

[Pharmaboy]

That's good to know. I just bought a used mint condition v280, having miss the v281 three years ago because I chose the Ragnarok over it.

What do you think of the V280?

I have the V281 and totally love it. Also have the Lake People G109-A, a very nice sounding, relatively powerful single-ended amp. My experience is that all ZMF headphones I've tried here--including high impedance dynamics--do extremely well on Violectric/Lake People SS amps.

 

[Pharmaboy]

remind me later today (crashing out now) and I will post up a bunch of pics of the Verite Open I am reviewing in Desert Ironwood with stainless hardware it’s a beauty, heavy yes but worth the weight in look and feel. The wood grain is like nothing I have seen before.

Please send those pictures! I need to feel that gnawing compulsion to own a headphone I ALREADY OWN, but in a different wood. For some reason, I need that a lot...

(therapy candidate? you bet!)

 

[UntilThen]

What do you think of the V280?

I have the V281 and totally love it. Also have the Lake People G109-A, a very nice sounding, relatively powerful single-ended amp. My experience is that all ZMF headphones I've tried here--including high impedance dynamics--do extremely well on Violectric/Lake People SS amps.

My v280 was just send out in the express post yesterday. I expect it to arrive today or tomorrow.

I'll compare it to my Ultrasonic Studio Oblivion, Woo Audio Wa22, La Figaro 339 and Questyle CMA Twelve using all my headphones.

 

[Pharmaboy]

My v280 was just send out in the express post yesterday. I expect it to arrive today or tomorrow.

I'll compare it to my Ultrasonic Studio Oblivion, Woo Audio Wa22, La Figaro 339 and Questyle CMA Twelve using all my headphones.

Wow--you have some excellent amps already! I had a WA22 at one time, heard many good things about the LF 339.

I'm guessing the sonic contest (more of an apples-to-apples comparison) will be between the V280 & Questyle.

Pls post your impressions once you'e had a chance to check out the V280.

 

[UntilThen]

Wow--you have some excellent amps already! I had a WA22 at one time, heard many good things about the LF 339.

I'm guessing the sonic contest (more of an apples-to-apples comparison) will be between the V280 & Questyle.

Pls post your impressions once you'e had a chance to check out the V280.

I will but can I borrow AUD$59500 from you because I so need to buy this ????? Please ??????
https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/to...he-1-orpheus-ii/?tab=comments#comment-4682140

I promise I will compare it to the V280.

 

[MRHiFiReviews]

Please send those pictures! I need to feel that gnawing compulsion to own a headphone I ALREADY OWN, but in a different wood. For some reason, I need that a lot...

(therapy candidate? you bet!)

hahahah will post up here in a few!

 

[Pharmaboy]

I will but can I borrow AUD$59500 from you because I so need to buy this ????? Please ??????
https://www.stereo.net.au/forums/to...he-1-orpheus-ii/?tab=comments#comment-4682140

I promise I will compare it to the V280.

Sure, why not? I have some money in a drawer somewhere here (sound of Pharmaboy counting spare change).

Uh, sorry--I came up $59498 short.

 

[pippen99]

Mega Millions is $432M tomorrow night!

 

[Pharmaboy]

Mega Millions is $432M tomorrow night!

Now, that's my problem--I've obviously been playing Micro Millions.

 

[UntilThen]

Sure, why not? I have some money in a drawer somewhere here (sound of Pharmaboy counting spare change).

Uh, sorry--I came up $59498 short.

A Chord Dave just sold for AUD$9000 on the same classified. I shouldn't be looking at that classified too much.

After all the v280 is almost here. What else do I need ! but thanks for $59498.

 

[Traiguen]

I almost pulled the trigger on that as well but it seems heavy. At 600g its pretty close to my LCD-X which does a number on my neck and shoulder after couple hours of use. But as for looks, its up there with the most beautiful ones that ZMF has ever made.

I pulled the trigger on the Ironwood VO... it is just too beautiful to miss... when this LTD is gone who knows when it will come back.
With all magnesium it is supposed to be 575grams....