ZMF Verite Open

[SteveM324]

I've been reaching for my VO more and more lately. The VO happens to be the oldest headphone in my collection and also the least expensive. I bought my LTD edition shortly after the VO was introduced. A lot of headphones have come and gone during the time I've owned them including the VC, Aeolus, HEK SE, Utopia OG, and the LCD 4z. I also went to Axpona in 2023 with the intent of buying the CO but I walked away disappointed in the lack of midrange body compared to my VO (I want to give the CO another try because it may have been the pads and mesh combination that didn't match my preferences).

I've always liked my VO but something changed recently.... for the better. Less than a year ago I bought the Linear Tube Audio Microzotl Reference Preamp with level 2 upgrades to use as a preamp in my speaker system. Since I already had some pretty good headphone amps, I had no intention of using the LTA preamp as a headphone amp. About a month ago, I decided to try my VO with the LTA amp since I hadn't been using the VO much and I wanted to see if it was worth keeping. Wow, this is a synergistic match made in heaven. I listen to a lot of female jazz vocals and this pairing gets it right even more so than the other headphones in my collection. Listening to the VO, I feel like it's brand new all over again.

For reference, I use the Universal perforated pads and a Double Helix Complement C cable. My source is an Aurender W20SE streamer/server or a PS Audio SACD transport into a Holo May KTE DAC.

 

[SSJ3TM]

Anyone else having some kind of residue/film building up on the drivers over time? I’ve had these since 2020, and I’m starting to wonder if this is normal or if it could be a problem.

 

[erics75]

Anyone else having some kind of residue/film building up on the drivers over time? I’ve had these since 2020, and I’m starting to wonder if this is normal or if it could be a problem.

Is that buildup or the beryllium coating flaking off? Hard to tell from the pics. @zach915m @AnyDave any ideas on this one? Now i'm dying to get home after work to see if my VC has the same issue.

 

[SSJ3TM]

I'm not sure. Good point. Maybe it's the coating flaking off.

 

[eTHE2]

Anyone else having some kind of residue/film building up on the drivers over time? I’ve had these since 2020, and I’m starting to wonder if this is normal or if it could be a problem.

Just checked my older Blackwood VO's ca. 2021 - nothing like that on the driver at all.

 

[mjstealey]

Anyone else having some kind of residue/film building up on the drivers over time? I’ve had these since 2020, and I’m starting to wonder if this is normal or if it could be a problem.

Circa 2021 African Blackwood VO - similar in age to yours (photo below)
Is there anything environmental in your area that might be the culprit? (extreme humidity, live near the ocean, etc.)

 

[AnyDave]

Anyone else having some kind of residue/film building up on the drivers over time? I’ve had these since 2020, and I’m starting to wonder if this is normal or if it could be a problem.

I'll discuss with Zach, but I haven't seen this before. And, I can't say definitively, but my first reaction to the photo is that it looks more like something deposited on the diaphragm vs parts of the driver flaking off.

It almost looks a bit like the dust that I used to see deposited on gear back when I used to run ultrasonic humidiifers (years ago) before switching to evaporative. As others have commented, there could be other environmental factors at play as well.

I'm not making any definitive statements here, just pontificating a bit.

 

[SSJ3TM]

For the record, I live in the midwest. Somewhat dry winters, somewhat humid summers, but not especially so.

 

[AnyDave]

I'll discuss with Zach, but I haven't seen this before. And, I can't say definitively, but my first reaction to the photo is that it looks more like something deposited on the diaphragm vs parts of the driver flaking off.

It almost looks a bit like the dust that I used to see deposited on gear back when I used to run ultrasonic humidiifers (years ago) before switching to evaporative. As others have commented, there could be other environmental factors at play as well.

I'm not making any definitive statements here, just pontificating a bit.

OK, I spoke with Zach about it and he said that he's seen this before and it's likely moisture build-up (typically from sweat). It can be carefully cleaned by the user with alcohol or it can be sent in and we can give it a clean-up. @SSJ3TM, if you want to send it in for us to clean-up, please email support@zmfheadphones.com and we'll get you sorted.

 

[Pharmaboy]

I'm not making any definitive statements here, just pontificating a bit.

Damn. You just described my entire adult life....

 

[SSJ3TM]

OK, I spoke with Zach about it and he said that he's seen this before and it's likely moisture build-up (typically from sweat). It can be carefully cleaned by the user with alcohol or it can be sent in and we can give it a clean-up. @SSJ3TM, if you want to send it in for us to clean-up, please email support@zmfheadphones.com and we'll get you sorted.

If I wanted to try cleaning it myself, how would you recommend I do it? Would a Q-tip work? How gentle do I need to be?

 

[AnyDave]

If I wanted to try cleaning it myself, how would you recommend I do it? Would a Q-tip work? How gentle do I need to be?

I'm actually not sure what we use at the factory to clean those. A Q-tip *could* work, but you have to be very, very gentle. The key is to make sure that you don't push in the center of the driver. If it does get pushed in, you may be able to pop it back out, but it's better to avoid it in the first place.

If you are at all nervous about it, I would recommend sending it in. At the very least, I would email support for the official recommended process.

 

[SSJ3TM]

I'm actually not sure what we use at the factory to clean those. A Q-tip *could* work, but you have to be very, very gentle. The key is to make sure that you don't push in the center of the driver. If it does get pushed in, you may be able to pop it back out, but it's better to avoid it in the first place.

If you are at all nervous about it, I would recommend sending it in. At the very least, I would email support for the official recommended process.

Ok. I definitely don't feel comfortable doing this myself. I'll contact you guys about cleaning these when the timing is right. Thanks for the help!

 

[zach915m]

Ok. I definitely don't feel comfortable doing this myself. I'll contact you guys about cleaning these when the timing is right. Thanks for the help!

We will use "clean room wipes" as they are lint-free and then alcohol. It's definitely safe to do yourself, or we're happy to do it as well.

If you want to send it in fill out this product page - the shipping paid is the return shipping to get it back to you.

https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/products/zmf-repairs

 

[erics75]

We will use "clean room wipes" as they are lint-free and then alcohol. It's definitely safe to do yourself, or we're happy to do it as well.

If you want to send it in fill out this product page - the shipping paid is the return shipping to get it back to you.

https://shop.zmfheadphones.com/products/zmf-repairs

Could you do a video of a cleaning? And the specific alcohol used? Like % (70%, 90% etc) and type (isopropyl or ethanol)? Touching the drivers is pretty scary, but seeing someone do it in action would help alleviate the fear IMO.