ZMF Verite Open

[Traiguen]

Interesting to see how black grill turn into "silver" when hit by light at the right spot.

I noticed that my grille does NOT have the ZMF logo in the center like yours..... strange.

 

[gugges]

I've only had my VO for a couple of days. I do love it. Don't get me wrong. I may change my mind after burn-in, but I find them to be quite different and there is a lot about the Utopia I prefer tonally. However, I'm a bit of a soundstage freak and in that respect, the VO is the winner.

For what it's worth, it took my Verite Closed the full 150 hours to really settle in. Both bass tightness and timbre really improved over time. Also, the Verite really respond well to EQ. I have added a more or less permanent bass shelf for my musical taste. Also, pads can really effect the tone, with the thinner pads having more accurate tonality at the expense of a smaller sound stage.

I haven't heard the Utopia so just curious, what do you prefer about their tone?

 

[Pharmaboy]

I recently bought a new open-back planar...another in a line of open-back planars I had hoped would rock my world (I no longer own any of them). It's not going well w/this new planar. The sound really doesn't please me; I'm pad-rolling, trying to get the great sound out of it that some report.

The other night after somewhat bright/edgy sound (& frustration) w/this new HP, I slipped on the Verite Open & plugged into the V281. Ahhhhh....there's the sonic magic!

(it was so relaxing & reassuring to hear the VO again)

 

[RobertSM]

@Pharmaboy

I agree 100% on the relaxing nature of the Verite. But I also think that they are very resolving. I feel like they really balance well between both.

I'm just in the wrapping up with the 300 hour of burn in with a new ALO Audio Studio Six -SET transformer coupled tube amp. Paired with the Verite I'm feeling like this is a peanut butter and jelly match. I'm talking full extension in the bass without being rolled off. The amp has oodles of power which the Verite is happy to put to good use. Low level listening has become a new favorite thing for me once again. I'll post a little more details on the studio six/Verite pairing as I get more time with it. But my personal opinion is that those looking for a upper tier tube amp for the Verite should check out the SS.

 

[Pharmaboy]

But I also think that they are very resolving.

IMO that's the amazing thing about the VO: it resolves like crazy, producing more detail than I've heard from any headphone that wasn't also bright, edgy, insistent, and ultimately fatiguing.

So I get the VO's beautiful tone, dimensional note quality, delicate sonic layering--plus all the resolution one could hope for. This combination is beyond unusual--I haven't heard it from any other headphone.

 

[PsilocybinCube]

For what it's worth, it took my Verite Closed the full 150 hours to really settle in. Both bass tightness and timbre really improved over time. Also, the Verite really respond well to EQ. I have added a more or less permanent bass shelf for my musical taste. Also, pads can really effect the tone, with the thinner pads having more accurate tonality at the expense of a smaller sound stage.

I haven't heard the Utopia so just curious, what do you prefer about their tone?

Hey Gugges, so, let me caveat everything by saying, my Verite is not burned-in, and I'm one of the weird people who thinks the whole idea of burn-in has merit.

Also, I don't know if the use of the word 'tone' was the right wording by me. I'll just say this:

Listening to the Utopia is more impressive. For example, the impact of the first notes when I spark up the Star Wars theme is a bigger jolt. The bass in a rock song slams harder. The details are more apparent in the treble, too. I (personally) really like that. The amp I use seems to really jive well with the Utopia. Maybe the Utopia is slightly V-shaped and that works well with me. It's a possibility.

Regarding the Verite, in my limited few hours of use, it doesn't have as big of an 'impact' as the Utopia when I listen to it. The bass is not as impactful, the details feel more recessed. However, I much prefer the soundstage of the Verite. It sounds bigger and more lifelike than the Utopia. I also think the music sounds more natural and lifelike than the Utopia.

Here's a good example - the Verite is standing a few feet away from the musicians. The Utopia is sitting in the seat of the celloist.

Which is right? Which is wrong? Neither. They are just different. If you want to hear the sound of the bow on the cello, buy the Utopia. If you want to hear the actual tone coming from the cello, buy the Verite. Both of those are compelling reasons to buy their respective headphones, and both are good for different preferences.

BTW, the HD800 is sitting comfortably in the first row of the balcony sipping fine wine and enjoying our conversation.

I very well may change my thoughts after listening for awhile. And I look forward to that journey.

On the plus side, I do feel that the Verite cooperates much better with a variety of amps. However, I personally find the Utopia to be very picky about amps. The Utopia is underwhelming with all but the best of amps IMO (I'm looking at you @Paladin79) whereas the Verite has shined with everything I've thrown at it. Though I should say, tubes seems to be best with the Verite. My BHC has never sounded better than with the Verite. Obviously, the BHC doesn't even work well with the Utopia. It's a muddy mess.

I'm using a 421a power tube and dual Tungsram CV1932 driver tubes in my amp FWIW.

Pads are the Universe leather that ship stock. I also have the Universe hybrid that I plan to try.

I'm not knocking the Verite, hell, I've only had a few hours with it and adore it. I'm just saying that the Utopia holds its own. It costs $4k so it should. And it's made by French auteurs...where have I heard that word 'auteur' before?

 

[AudioPowerHead]

IMO that's the amazing thing about the VO: it resolves like crazy, producing more detail than I've heard from any headphone that wasn't also bright, edgy, insistent, and ultimately fatiguing.

So I get the VO's beautiful tone, dimensional note quality, delicate sonic layering--plus all the resolution one could hope for. This combination is beyond unusual--I haven't heard it from any other headphone.

Couldn't agree more. This is how I view(hear) my Verite.

V: Visceral
E: Euphonic
R: Resolving
I: Intimacy
T: Tri-D
E: Enjoyment

Perfect concoction of musicality and technicality. A headphone with no compromises. The sound* is simply beyond words.
Verite is now my all-time favorite. Am sure it is also the case with most of us in this thread.

* With our personal favorite ear pads

 

[Traiguen]

Couldn't agree more. This is how I view(hear) my Verite.

V: Visceral
E: Euphonic
R: Resolving
I: Intimacy
T: Tri-D
E: Enjoyment

Perfect concoction of musicality and technicality. A headphone with no compromises. The sound* is simply beyond words.
Verite is now my all-time favorite. Am sure it is also the case with most of us in this thread.

* With our personal favorite ear pads

+ the most beautiful!

 

[gugges]

Which is right? Which is wrong? Neither. They are just different. If you want to hear the sound of the bow on the cello, buy the Utopia. If you want to hear the actual tone coming from the cello, buy the Verite.

I like this analogy and I’ll definitely be on the look out to see how your impressions change (or not!) as they burn in. Happy listening

 

[Paladin79]

Hey Gugges, so, let me caveat everything by saying, my Verite is not burned-in, and I'm one of the weird people who thinks the whole idea of burn-in has merit.

Also, I don't know if the use of the word 'tone' was the right wording by me. I'll just say this:

Listening to the Utopia is more impressive. For example, the impact of the first notes when I spark up the Star Wars theme is a bigger jolt. The bass in a rock song slams harder. The details are more apparent in the treble, too. I (personally) really like that. The amp I use seems to really jive well with the Utopia. Maybe the Utopia is slightly V-shaped and that works well with me. It's a possibility.

Regarding the Verite, in my limited few hours of use, it doesn't have as big of an 'impact' as the Utopia when I listen to it. The bass is not as impactful, the details feel more recessed. However, I much prefer the soundstage of the Verite. It sounds bigger and more lifelike than the Utopia. I also think the music sounds more natural and lifelike than the Utopia.

Here's a good example - the Verite is standing a few feet away from the musicians. The Utopia is sitting in the seat of the celloist.

Which is right? Which is wrong? Neither. They are just different. If you want to hear the sound of the bow on the cello, buy the Utopia. If you want to hear the actual tone coming from the cello, buy the Verite. Both of those are compelling reasons to buy their respective headphones, and both are good for different preferences.

BTW, the HD800 is sitting comfortably in the first row of the balcony sipping fine wine and enjoying our conversation.

I very well may change my thoughts after listening for awhile. And I look forward to that journey.

On the plus side, I do feel that the Verite cooperates much better with a variety of amps. However, I personally find the Utopia to be very picky about amps. The Utopia is underwhelming with all but the best of amps IMO (I'm looking at you @Paladin79) whereas the Verite has shined with everything I've thrown at it. Though I should say, tubes seems to be best with the Verite. My BHC has never sounded better than with the Verite. Obviously, the BHC doesn't even work well with the Utopia. It's a muddy mess.

I'm using a 421a power tube and dual Tungsram CV1932 driver tubes in my amp FWIW.

Pads are the Universe leather that ship stock. I also have the Universe hybrid that I plan to try.

I'm not knocking the Verite, hell, I've only had a few hours with it and adore it. I'm just saying that the Utopia holds its own. It costs $4k so it should. And it's made by French auteurs...where have I heard that word 'auteur' before?

The Utopias have too low impedance for the BH Crack, I managed to get the Incubus working well from 50 ohm up and some use it with 35 ohm headphones. I would certainly like to read your comments in a couple weeks. You are able to compare the headphones side by side with an amp I know pretty well.

 

[Tarttett]

I noticed that my grille does NOT have the ZMF logo in the center like yours..... strange.

I consider it strange that the logos appear backwards within the grilles. I wonder why the grilles are made that way.

 

[soundchaos]

Well I’ll be joining the club in a few weeks (hopefully). Just put in an order for a VO LTD. I can’t wait! Was going back and forth on the VO or an Auteur to pair with my Aeolus.

Although I have a bad feeling that if Zach comes out with a new Auteur LTD soon I’m going to be tempted...

 

[zach915m]

I noticed that my grille does NOT have the ZMF logo in the center like yours..... strange.

I consider it strange that the logos appear backwards within the grilles. I wonder why the grilles are made that way.

That set was a pre production prototype that was then converted to a production aural performance and sold during zmf November the year the verite was released in 2018.

All the prototype Verite's had the "mis-printed" logo to denote it was a prototype non production model.

 

[kumar402]

I recently bought a new open-back planar...another in a line of open-back planars I had hoped would rock my world (I no longer own any of them). It's not going well w/this new planar. The sound really doesn't please me; I'm pad-rolling, trying to get the great sound out of it that some report.

The other night after somewhat bright/edgy sound (& frustration) w/this new HP, I slipped on the Verite Open & plugged into the V281. Ahhhhh....there's the sonic magic!

(it was so relaxing & reassuring to hear the VO again)

No need to buy any headphone once you have VO

 

[aloki]

No need to buy any headphone once you have VO

Need no... want... . I thought “no” until ZMF released the VC. My wallet fears ZMF’s ability to keep releasing amazing headphones that I want to try.