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ZMF Verite Open
- Thread starter heliosphann
- Start date
My Verite is officially team Caldera Suede Ultra-Perf. I've been using Universe suede & occasionally BE2 suedes, but after some back and forth with the Universe today, these strike me as tonally very similar but just much more open sounding. They've also become my preferred pad on the Atrium and Aelous and have similar effects on those. On all 3 going back to the Universe suede everything is just slightly muffled in comparison. I love how I can get better sound out of headphones I've had for years! I see why Zach has said Caldera pad variants are what he plans to use on future models.
Ma' man. I swap between the caldera ultra perf variants with my VO and AO and I have ended my research on Suedes on VO and Lambskin on the AO.My Verite is officially team Caldera Suede Ultra-Perf. I've been using Universe suede & occasionally BE2 suedes, but after some back and forth with the Universe today, these strike me as tonally very similar but just much more open sounding. They've also become my preferred pad on the Atrium and Aelous and have similar effects on those. On all 3 going back to the Universe suede everything is just slightly muffled in comparison. I love how I can get better sound out of headphones I've had for years! I see why Zach has said Caldera pad variants are what he plans to use on future models.
Seems like this is the pad to try next. Thanks for sharing your experience.My Verite is officially team Caldera Suede Ultra-Perf. I've been using Universe suede & occasionally BE2 suedes, but after some back and forth with the Universe today, these strike me as tonally very similar but just much more open sounding. They've also become my preferred pad on the Atrium and Aelous and have similar effects on those. On all 3 going back to the Universe suede everything is just slightly muffled in comparison. I love how I can get better sound out of headphones I've had for years! I see why Zach has said Caldera pad variants are what he plans to use on future models.
I have been using Uni Suede pads on both my VO and Aeolus in past years. I have the Caldera Suede pads but didn’t really like them much as it takes away some degree of clarity, resolution esp. on the VO although there was an enhanced boost in the mid and sub-bass. Since the Ultra perf suede has holes in the inner lining, it may sound totally different with more air and staging.
That's how I felt about the regular Caldera suede too--liked them at first but it just took away too much of the VO magic. The ultra-perf are really what I'd hoped they would be!
@robo24 @shafat777
Good nudging from your sharing guys. Order placed for the caldera suede fully perforated pads for my VO.
I think you ll appreciate the openness of these pads without having to compromise any aspect of the sound.@robo24 @shafat777
Good nudging from your sharing guys. Order placed for the caldera suede fully perforated pads for my VO.
Such bad influences. I’ve been delaying buying the new pad even though I know I want it. Maybe I can rationalize getting a new pad (and maybe a Pro cable as well) because I showed such restraint by not buying a stabilized set. The lamb ultra perf is almost permanently on my VO. I don’t think I’ve really given the other pads much of a chance. They just aren’t even close. I should probably pick up a few pad bags as well.
Swapped to the Caldera Ultra Perf lambs on my VO recently. There's just something so right about this combo, especially for classical / soundtracks.
I have been so happy with the lamb Be2 pads on my VO, I have had no desire to swap. Now y'all got me wanting to try the Caldera Ultra perf lamb and suede for myself. I have the lamb (currently on my AO). Will try it on the VO. No suedes have hit me just right on any open ZMFs yet. If more of you think the Caldera Ultra Perf suedes are great on the VO, I'll have to buy some.
heliosphann
Headphoneus Supremus
The Caldera Ultra Perfs are really good on the VO, but due to their design, they do change things up more than going from BE2/Universe/Auteur pads.
BE2 lambskin is still my favorite, but I could easily see some people preferring the Caldera Ultra Perfs. I'll be trying the Suede Caldera Ultra Perfs soon, ears permitting.
Received my set of Caldera suede ultra perf pads. Wow ! My VO becomes a lot more spacious sounding with no discernible compromise to the sonic traits that i am very familiar with when using it with the uni suede pads. The only small adjustment I have to make is to turn up a small little step on volume knob to compensate for the slightly more distant mids due to the open sounding change.
For just USD80, I get to expand the sound stage of my system, with more mid/sub bass impact while keeping the overall wonderful tone of my VO. What not to like ?
For just USD80, I get to expand the sound stage of my system, with more mid/sub bass impact while keeping the overall wonderful tone of my VO. What not to like ?
Having a first listen to my VO with the Caldera Lamb Ultra Perf ("CLUP" 
).
Is it me, or are the Caldera pads more difficult to put on than the Universe and Be2?
Sometimes I'll try a new pad after loving the sound with another, and all it takes is 30 seconds to say, "Nope!" and switch it back. Not the case here.
I have been perfectly happy with the Be2 pads on the VO and am doubtful they can be beat for my preferences in my system. That said, the CLUPs sound pretty darn good. Everything is a little further away and a bit more spacious, but it was the directness and intimacy of the Be2 that I liked about them. Maybe the Be2 leans into the VO's strengths as I hear them - that rock solid and meaty sound. It's a little disorienting hearing the VO veer slightly toward Atrium-land with the CLUPs. If I want that sound, I'll listen to my AOs. However, I can't deny that things are sounding very good. The separation on the drum kit elements is excellent. Piano sounds real.
Bass with the CLUPs is slightly reduced and less defined. Not sure I can live with that. Maybe I'll try a touch of EQ. There. Still not quite as engaging as I'm used to.
Mids and treble are very nice (solid reviewer-speak right there...). I think I'll leave these on for a couple weeks and see how I take to them. That ought to be enough time to get used to them, then switch back to the Be2 and see how I feel.
). Is it me, or are the Caldera pads more difficult to put on than the Universe and Be2?
Sometimes I'll try a new pad after loving the sound with another, and all it takes is 30 seconds to say, "Nope!" and switch it back. Not the case here.
I have been perfectly happy with the Be2 pads on the VO and am doubtful they can be beat for my preferences in my system. That said, the CLUPs sound pretty darn good. Everything is a little further away and a bit more spacious, but it was the directness and intimacy of the Be2 that I liked about them. Maybe the Be2 leans into the VO's strengths as I hear them - that rock solid and meaty sound. It's a little disorienting hearing the VO veer slightly toward Atrium-land with the CLUPs. If I want that sound, I'll listen to my AOs. However, I can't deny that things are sounding very good. The separation on the drum kit elements is excellent. Piano sounds real.
Bass with the CLUPs is slightly reduced and less defined. Not sure I can live with that. Maybe I'll try a touch of EQ. There. Still not quite as engaging as I'm used to.
Mids and treble are very nice (solid reviewer-speak right there...). I think I'll leave these on for a couple weeks and see how I take to them. That ought to be enough time to get used to them, then switch back to the Be2 and see how I feel.
heliosphann
Headphoneus Supremus
I think the fluted design of the Caldera pads make them a little more rigid than the Uni/Be2/Auteur pads. I assume they're also brand new? Newer pads are always a little less pliable at first.Having a first listen to my VO with the Caldera Lamb Ultra Perf ("CLUP"
Is it me, or are the Caldera pads more difficult to put on than the Universe and Be2?
Sometimes I'll try a new pad after loving the sound with another, and all it takes is 30 seconds to say, "Nope!" and switch it back. Not the case here.
I have been perfectly happy with the Be2 pads on the VO and am doubtful they can be beat for my preferences in my system. That said, the CLUPs sound pretty darn good. Everything is a little further away and a bit more spacious, but it was the directness and intimacy of the Be2 that I liked about them. Maybe the Be2 leans into the VO's strengths as I hear them - that rock solid and meaty sound. It's a little disorienting hearing the VO veer slightly toward Atrium-land with the CLUPs. If I want that sound, I'll listen to my AOs. However, I can't deny that things are sounding very good. The separation on the drum kit elements is excellent. Piano sounds real.
Bass with the CLUPs is slightly reduced and less defined. Not sure I can live with that. Maybe I'll try a touch of EQ. There. Still not quite as engaging as I'm used to.
Mids and treble are very nice (solid reviewer-speak right there...). I think I'll leave these on for a couple weeks and see how I take to them. That ought to be enough time to get used to them, then switch back to the Be2 and see how I feel.
Very similar to how I think the Caldera Ultra Perfs compare to the Be2's. There's usually always some pluses/minuses when switching to a new pad, but these are on par with the Be2's. It just depends on what aspects of the VO you're really wanting to highlight more.
I actually have to disagree a little. Compared Caldera Ultra Perf Sueds to BE2 Lambskin, Verite Lambskin, Universe Lambskin and Universe Sued.
Of all the mentioned pad options the Caldera Ultra Perf Sueds definitly reduce the sense of dynamics and impact by a huge margin compared to the Verite Pads and also by a substantial margin compared both Universe Pad options.
So its not like you gain a much bigger stage and better instrument seperation and lose "almost nothing" imho....
Using a VO Camphor Burl with Feliks Audio Euforia Klassik LTD.
Actually, I am really on the fence if I like the Caldera Ultra Perf Sueds on the VO. It sounds very balanced, spacious and very well seperated (and also is very comfortable). But at the same time it also sounds a litte "dead" to my ear due to the lack of said dynamics.
My favourite sounding VO pad still is the Verite Pad, but man is it uncomfortable.
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