ZMF Verite Open

[folkguy]

I’m selling my ironwood VO’s and trying to figure out if it has a magnesium or aluminum chassis. How can you tell the difference?

I think the aluminum would feel stronger to the touch, like if you give it a knock or flick. And should also probably have zero sign of any blemishes or marks either.

 

[Pharmaboy]

General question: Once a person gets to this level of headphone, i.e. flagship level, is everything just personal preference? We see the Utopia, Atrium, Verite, etc. all get 10/10 reviews. I'm concluding at TOTL /flagship level, the differentiator between them is just personal preference, as build quality, performance, etc. are all off the charts good.

Even at the highest level of headphones, there are still variables that will influence how TOTL a given headphone really is for a given listener. Pure subjectivity is not the only thing driving TOTL preferences. I'm talking about variables such as:

• Closed back vs open-back: it's not just a matter of convenience (ie, need isolation so others can hear the headphone, thus get a closed back). I've found that in general, closed- vs open-back designs sound somewhat different. If you've ever heard a high-quality of pair of closed & open backs that are the same headphone (such as the Verite Open and Verite Closed), you'll know what I mean
• Driver type: Dynamic drivers don't sound all that much like planar drivers in my experience; and electrostatic drivers don't sound like either. These essential differences remain as one climbs the price & quality ladder
• Power requirements: Relatively insensitive/power hungry headphones tend to do better with different amps (different-sounding amps) than do very sensitive headphones
• Impedance: Low impedance headphones are all the rage, but high impedance headphones give one the chance to explore high impedance amps (such as OTL tubes)
• Comfort: The experience of comfort is purely subjective, but the design of comfort (ingenuity & cost the designer lavishes on features that produce comfort) varies quite a bit, even among TOTL headphones

I have a few TOTL headphones, but don't consider any one the be-all-and-end-all, to the exclusion of any other. It's not as if when a headphone get to the highest level of quality (physically and sonically), the others cease to matter.

Example: The Verite Open (high impedance open-back dynamic) is a co-TOTL among ZMF headphones (it shares that title with the new Atrium). I love my silkwood VO, just love it. The Final D8000 (low impedance open back planar) was Final's TOTL headphone before they came out with the "Pro" version; the two are nearly identical physically. I'm also nuts about my Final D8000. But these 2 headphones are so not interchangeable: they have striking sonic and physical differences, with each excelling at certain things the other does not. IMO the comfort of the VO is better than the Final, despite both having impressive build quality--because ZMF pays more attention to subtle design factors that increase comfort.

So both headphones are TOTL; yet they're nothing like each other.

 

[skhan007]

Even at the highest level of headphones, there are still variables that will influence how TOTL a given headphone really is for a given listener. Pure subjectivity is not the only thing driving TOTL preferences. I'm talking about variables such as:

• Closed back vs open-back: it's not just a matter of convenience (ie, need isolation so others can hear the headphone, thus get a closed back). I've found that in general, closed- vs open-back designs sound somewhat different. If you've ever heard a high-quality of pair of closed & open backs that are the same headphone (such as the Verite Open and Verite Closed), you'll know what I mean
• Driver type: Dynamic drivers don't sound all that much like planar drivers in my experience; and electrostatic drivers don't sound like either of those. These essential differences remain as one climbs the price & quality ladder
• Power requirements: Maybe this is part of driver type...but there's no doubt that relatively insensitive/power hungry headphones tend to require use of different amps than do very sensitive headphones
• Impedance: Low impedance headphones are all the rage, but high impedance headphones give one the chance to explore high impedance amps (such as OTL tubes)
• Comfort: Beyond the fact that the experience of comfort is purely subjective, the design of comfort (the extent to which the manufacturer lavishes ingenuity & cost on features that produce comfort) varies quite a bit, even among TOTL headphones

I have a few TOTL headphones, but hardly consider any one the be-all-and-end-all, to the exclusion of any other. It's not as if when a headphone get to the highest level of quality (physically and sonically), the others cease to matter.

Example: The Verite Open (high impedance open-back dynamic) is a co-TOTL among ZMF headphones (it shares that title with the new Atrium). I love my silkwood VO, just love it. The Final D8000 (low impedance open back planar) was Final's TOTL headphone before they came out with the "Pro" version; the two are nearly identical physically. I'm also nuts about my Final D8000. But these 2 headphones are so not interchangeable: their sonic and physical differences are striking. Each excels at certain things the other does not. And IMO the comfort of the VO is far better than the Final, despite both having impressive build quality (ZMF pays more attention to tough-the-skin comfort factors than Final does--just the facts of life).

So both headphones are TOTL; yet they're nothing like each other.

Excellent- we are on the same page. It's like I have a Ferrari, Lambo, and Aston Martin in the garage. All excellent, TOTL, with varying attributes.

 

[Pharmaboy]

Excellent- we are on the same page. It's like I have a Ferrari, Lambo, and Aston Martin in the garage. All excellent, TOTL, with varying attributes.

Exactly right!

 

[haasaaroni]

Excellent- we are on the same page. It's like I have a Ferrari, Lambo, and Aston Martin in the garage. All excellent, TOTL, with varying attributes.

Not to mention that beautiful Les Paul in your profile pic! Back in my electric guitar days I had a Les Paul ‘58 Reissue and Mark Knopfler Signature Fender Strat. They both were amazing at what they did, but one never tried to be the other.

 

[Pharmaboy]

Not to mention that beautiful Les Paul in your profile pic! Back in my electric guitar days I had a Les Paul ‘58 Reissue and Mark Knopfler Signature Fender Strat. They both were amazing at what they did, but one never tried to be the other.

Two of the best-sounding guitars I ever heard live are the Gibson Thunderbird (played by Kal David) and the Gibson Flying V (played by Albert King). Yet both guitars are rather uncomfortable, particularly the Flying V.

I also love the sound of those big acoustic Selmer guitars used by manuoche players--but they're described as beasts to play.

TOTL, but not like other guitars...

 

[Monsterzero]

the Gibson Flying V (played by Albert King)

The Flying V is one of the most oft used guitars in metal music, both Rudolph Schenker (Scorpions) and Michael Schenker(UFO,MSG), K.K. Downing (Judas Priest), Dave Mustaine (Metallica, Megadeth) amongst others play them.

I got into metal way before I discovered the blues, so in my mind the Flying V is a metal guitar, so you can imagine my confusion when I saw a promo photo of Albert King holding a Flying V. To this day when I watch videos of Albert playing one it looks weird to me, but man, that dude could play!

 

[skhan007]

Not to mention that beautiful Les Paul in your profile pic! Back in my electric guitar days I had a Les Paul ‘58 Reissue and Mark Knopfler Signature Fender Strat. They both were amazing at what they did, but one never tried to be the other.

You’re talking to the right guy, when it comes to guitar collecting. That’s my 2013 Custom Shop Joe Perry R9 in my avatar. And since you mentioned 1958, I have a 100% stock 1958 Les Paul Junior in my collection, as well. Too many other guitars and tube amps to list, but you get the idea. Audiophile gear is one area where I haven’t gone hog wild with gear collecting (yet).

 

[Pharmaboy]

have a 100% stock 1958 Les Paul Junior in my collection

I seriously hope that's insured. Way too much value there to ignore.

I can't play guitars, but I love everything about them.

 

[Pharmaboy]

The Flying V is one of the most often used guitar in metal music, both Rudolph Schenker (Scorpions) and Michael Schenker(UFO,MSG), K.K. Downing (Judas Priest), Dave Mustaine (Metallica, Megadeth) amongst others play them.

I got into metal way before I discovered the blues, so in my mind the Flying V is a metal guitar, so you can imagine my confusion when I saw a promo photo of Albert King holding a Flying V. To this day when I watch videos of Albert playing one it looks weird to me, but man, that dude could play!

Albert was a big man. That guitar looked like a toy in his hand. He got the most authoritative, dense blues sound of it that I've ever heard.

I'm crazy for Gibson's sound....don't even get me started on the ES335 and all its permutations.

 

[shwnwllms]

This thread has me wanting to plug in my Gibson SG (which has been neglected lately) to pass the time until my VO arrives.

 

[chrisnyc75]

I've been 100% Universe lambskin with the VO over the last year or so, maybe longer. For me, the BE2 sacrifices too much in head stage. Agreed that it's nice to have options, of course.

100% agreed. Universe lambskin is where it's at; doubles down on everything that's unique and beautiful about VO.

Well, the VO has won another battle. I posted earlier in this thread my brief comparison of the Utopia and VO, in which I stated the VO makes me want to sell the Utopia; today, I listed Utopia for sale! I had a brief moment of seller's remorse, but then I put the VO on my head and all worries were washed away.

Whoa there, I don't know about all that. VO is my sidepiece, but Utopia is my everything. I think there's room for both, they are very different flavors. Glad you found your forever love, though.

 

[steve468]

100% agreed. Universe lambskin is where it's at; doubles down on everything that's unique and beautiful about VO.



Whoa there, I don't know about all that. VO is my sidepiece, but Utopia is my everything. I think there's room for both, they are very different flavors. Glad you found your forever love, though.

But see, in the end I wasn't so convinced they were all that different. The VO were way more clear, detailed and punchy than I was expecting. Everything that is a strength for the Utopia also, to my ears, is a strength for Utopia. Most people seem to agree that Utopia is overall the more balanced and even sounding headphone, but I could only tell when putting them on back to back without giving my ears a chance to adjust. Again, my ears and all that.

Anyway, I'm not trying to pit Utopia against VO, just saying that at least to one person, the VO belongs in that upper echelon (in which Utopia obviously also deserves a place). Which is not the impression I personally got from reading about the two before I heard VO.

And who said anything about forever love? I've already placed an order for an Atrium and am making plans for a Susvara

 

[haasaaroni]

Two of the best-sounding guitars I ever heard live are the Gibson Thunderbird (played by Kal David) and the Gibson Flying V (played by Albert King). Yet both guitars are rather uncomfortable, particularly the Flying V.

Very uncomfortable indeed! I remember trying to play a Flying V sitting down and just wondering "How does this work??" But yes, fantastic sound. The ES-335's as well!

You’re talking to the right guy, when it comes to guitar collecting. That’s my 2013 Custom Shop Joe Perry R9 in my avatar. And since you mentioned 1958, I have a 100% stock 1958 Les Paul Junior in my collection, as well. Too many other guitars and tube amps to list, but you get the idea. Audiophile gear is one area where I haven’t gone hog wild with gear collecting (yet).

Wow that's amazing! I was inspired by Knopfler's instruments, which is why I had the '58 reissue along with the strat. Hearing the sound of those guitars live when he was still touring (out of a pair of Komet amps I believe) was the most thrilling experience in guitar tone imaginable. I've given up hope that any sound system - headphone or 2-channel - can replicate that experience.

 

[haasaaroni]

100% agreed. Universe lambskin is where it's at; doubles down on everything that's unique and beautiful about VO.

Haha ok y'all have me switching back to the Universe Lambskin pads again to give them another shot. I think I agree. These pads seem to do what the Verite does best. With the hybrid be2's, the VO almost became a super Aeolus, but without the Aeolus "magic." With the Uni Lambskins they a super Verite, with all the Verite magic.