ZMF Verite Open

[AcousticMatt]

For those that own or have heard a Burmese padauk VO, how does the sound compare to something like silkwood or african blackwood?

I'm wanting one - I find the burmese padauk to be the coolest looking, but find what I've heard of the silkwood more decayed sound to be I think what I'd prefer, sound-wise.

 

[Rollnrock]

For those that own or have heard a Burmese padauk VO, how does the sound compare to something like silkwood or african blackwood?

I'm wanting one - I find the burmese padauk to be the coolest looking, but find what I've heard of the silkwood more decayed sound to be I think what I'd prefer, sound-wise.

Hi, my VO is Burmese Padauk, but I haven't compared it to other woods. What I would say is that another variable to take into account, in addition to the hardness of the wood, is porosity.

According to wood-database.com, the hardness of Burma Padauk Janka is 2,150 lb, but the “grain is usually interlocked, with a coarse texture and fairly large, open pores.” I think the large pores also contribute to dissipating sound waves and somehow compensate for the high hardness of the wood, making this wood a good middle ground between harder and softer woods. but just my opinion. And I agree with you, for me one of the best-looking VO woods

Edit.- To my ears, the note decay of the Padauk VO is very pleasant, it's not fast by any means, and it's wonderful for the main genres I listen to, such as classical, jazz, and acoustic.

 

[MindBreak]

FTFY

I hope to find that out for myself eventually, but for now I will continue to enjoy my new AO.

 

[AcousticMatt]

Hi, my VO is Burmese Padauk, but I haven't compared it to other woods. What I would say is that another variable to take into account, in addition to the hardness of the wood, is porosity.

According to wood-database.com, the hardness of Burma Padauk Janka is 2,150 lb, but the “grain is usually interlocked, with a coarse texture and fairly large, open pores.” I think the large pores also contribute to dissipating sound waves and somehow compensate for the high hardness of the wood, making this wood a good middle ground between harder and softer woods. but just my opinion. And I agree with you, for me one of the best-looking VO woods

Edit.- To my ears, the note decay of the Padauk VO is very pleasant, it's not fast by any means, and it's wonderful for the main genres I listen to, such as classical, jazz, and acoustic.

Thanks for the reply! Good to know. The decay is the characteristic that I'm most interested in getting right for my taste since I've found I really like the longer decay on other models.

P.S. - what kind of BP is your VO? Like barn aged, etc...

 

[Rollnrock]

Thanks for the reply! Good to know. The decay is the characteristic that I'm most interested in getting right for my taste since I've found I really like the longer decay on other models.

P.S. - what kind of BP is your VO? Like barn aged, etc...

Hello, yes, mine is Barn Aged Burmese Padauk. I have added a picture. Zooming it you can see the large pores

I remembered reading something from Zach about the large pores in wood also affecting sound, and I have found it on Posts #2592 and #6.942. In that case he was talking about the large pores in the Pheasantwood (if you want to have a look)

 

[AcousticMatt]

Hello, yes, mine is Barn Aged Burmese Padauk. I have added a picture. Zooming it you can see the large pores





I remembered reading something from Zach about the large pores in wood also affecting sound, and I have found it on Posts #2592 and #6.942. In that case he was talking about the large pores in the Pheasantwood (if you want to have a look)

Love that set! To me the barn aged is super cool in a rustic way, and then the others that look more orange are cool in a more vibrant, Pixar kind of way.

And, thank you. I searched, but only for BP, so this will be helpful to read straight from Zach on a wood that has similar pores.

 

[AcousticMatt]

Thanks all to those who have chimed in with the their experience with the different woods on the VO.

I'm now looking to get two sets, ha! I've really been wanting to try an African Blackwood set for awhile after reading so much about it. My other top contenders are Redwood, Silkwood, Camphor Burl and Burmese Padauk. I've been emailing Zach about the difference here and what he's got, inventory-wise, but I'm curious if anyone's got any insight on what Camphor Burl offers and Burmese Padauk? (Feel free to chime in if you're stoked about any other wood though, be that look or sound-wise). I've seen less talk about these woos in the thread and the most talk about Silkwood and Blackwood - seems people are really stoked about both of those for different reasons!

One reason I have found is that, after owning a Walnut AC and a stabilized AC, the sound is indeed different. It may not be a huge difference, but the attributes of the stabilized AC are ones I prefer every single time. It's darker, stages a little bigger, and has a bigger bass. Walnut in contrast has an airier soundstage, a little more decay, and a more tamed bass. On paper, I thought I'd prefer the Walnut, but it's been the opposite. There's a certain synergy happening with the stabilized wood that makes it pretty magical to me. This is part of why I think it'd like the Burmese Padauk - could potentially be a great balance between hard and soft woods.

Of course, people have commented on wood mattering more for the AC than headphones like the VO, but my guess is that it still makes a difference to someone like me.

Plus, it's fun honing in on this kinda thing....!

 

[JerseyD]

Thanks all to those who have chimed in with the their experience with the different woods on the VO.

I'm now looking to get two sets, ha! I've really been wanting to try an African Blackwood set for awhile after reading so much about it. My other top contenders are Redwood, Silkwood, Camphor Burl and Burmese Padauk. I've been emailing Zach about the difference here and what he's got, inventory-wise, but I'm curious if anyone's got any insight on what Camphor Burl offers and Burmese Padauk?

My VO is “ambered” camphor burl, which is one of the softer and lighter wood offerings. As you have learned, there is debate on whether Verites benefit more from soft wood which lends decay and reverberation to the fast drivers, or hard wood which leans into the speed. My decision was based purely on theory, as I had never heard either. Still have not listened to a hardwood VO outside of the noisy ZMF room at CanJam, so I’m not really able to help - other than to say that they sound great, especially with instrumental music. For vocals, I prefer the Atrium. And, hey, any excuse to post a photo of my beauties!

 

[Pharmaboy]

My VO is “ambered” camphor burl, which is one of the softer and lighter wood offerings. As you have learned, there is debate on whether Verites benefit more from soft wood which lends decay and reverberation to the fast drivers, or hard wood which leans into the speed. My decision was based purely on theory, as I had never heard either. Still have not listened to a hardwood VO outside of the noisy ZMF room at CanJam, so I’m not really able to help - other than to say that they sound great, especially with instrumental music. For vocals, I prefer the Atrium. And, hey, any excuse to post a photo of my beauties!

That wood is just stunning.

 

[AcousticMatt]

My VO is “ambered” camphor burl, which is one of the softer and lighter wood offerings. As you have learned, there is debate on whether Verites benefit more from soft wood which lends decay and reverberation to the fast drivers, or hard wood which leans into the speed. My decision was based purely on theory, as I had never heard either. Still have not listened to a hardwood VO outside of the noisy ZMF room at CanJam, so I’m not really able to help - other than to say that they sound great, especially with instrumental music. For vocals, I prefer the Atrium. And, hey, any excuse to post a photo of my beauties!

That is indeed a beautiful looking set. The one I heard last was a Camphor Burl set at CanJam NYC and it was great - I was listening to an instrumental track with the acoustic guitar as the main layer and it sounded pretty amazing. So much texture and realism.

 

[Leonarfd]

Finished my review on Lavricables Grand Line V2, been using it with ZMF Verite Open Silkwood for a month now. Best cable I have used together with Verite, highly recommend if your looking for a high end cable for your headphone. Transparent and silky transients, highly resolving with a full bodied sound.

Compered it with the ZMF OFC cable and also a Clan Audio Type 6 Litz Copper 8W, the changes are subtle with cables but its nice to get the last refinement.

Feel free to read if your interested, cheers.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/la...-multistrand-litz-version.26552/review/34730/

 

[AcousticMatt]

Finished my review on Lavricables Grand Line V2, been using it with ZMF Verite Open Silkwood for a month now. Best cable I have used together with Verite, highly recommend if your looking for a high end cable for your headphone. Transparent and silky transients, highly resolving with a full bodied sound.

Compered it with the ZMF OFC cable and also a Clan Audio Type 6 Litz Copper 8W, the changes are subtle with cables but its nice to get the last refinement.

Feel free to read if your interested, cheers.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/la...-multistrand-litz-version.26552/review/34730/

Really nice review and of interest to me since I'm looking into getting a cable (have been considering Viking Weave, but Lavricables is new to me).

Gorgeous photos, by the way. The headphone and cable looks amazing. I dig the buddha in there, too. That's my kind of vibe.

 

[dbull12]

I'm weighing my options for an amp upgrade for my Verite and I'm kind of constrained to solid state amps which makes things more difficult. I currently have a Cayin iHA-6 and am hoping for an upgrade that provides better dynamics and imaging/separation. Seems like the DSHA-3FN is the endgame solid state amp pairing with Verite, but I was wondering if anyone knows of solid state amps around $1-1.5k that would synergize well with the VO and that would also be an upgrade from the iHA-6 rather than a sidegrade. ZMF Homage seems like an obvious choice but there's a surprising lack of impressions and reviews online so it's hard to tell how it would compare to my amp and whether the 3FN is still head and shoulders above the Homage and would be worth saving for. I know there probably aren't people who have heard the iHA-6, Homage, and 3FN with the Verite, but I'd appreciate any insights that could help me triangulate how these three (or other amps) might compare!

 

[Leonarfd]

I'm weighing my options for an amp upgrade for my Verite and I'm kind of constrained to solid state amps which makes things more difficult. I currently have a Cayin iHA-6 and am hoping for an upgrade that provides better dynamics and imaging/separation. Seems like the DSHA-3FN is the endgame solid state amp pairing with Verite, but I was wondering if anyone knows of solid state amps around $1-1.5k that would synergize well with the VO and that would also be an upgrade from the iHA-6 rather than a sidegrade. ZMF Homage seems like an obvious choice but there's a surprising lack of impressions and reviews online so it's hard to tell how it would compare to my amp and whether the 3FN is still head and shoulders above the Homage and would be worth saving for. I know there probably aren't people who have heard the iHA-6, Homage, and 3FN with the Verite, but I'd appreciate any insights that could help me triangulate how these three (or other amps) might compare!

The iHA-8 also seem like a good upgrade from yours, talked with one who had it on loan who preffered it over some other nice amps.

But you know what they say tubes + ZMF Also without tubes now until I move, and I'm missing the power and synergies with Verite and Echo.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

I'm weighing my options for an amp upgrade for my Verite and I'm kind of constrained to solid state amps which makes things more difficult. I currently have a Cayin iHA-6 and am hoping for an upgrade that provides better dynamics and imaging/separation. Seems like the DSHA-3FN is the endgame solid state amp pairing with Verite, but I was wondering if anyone knows of solid state amps around $1-1.5k that would synergize well with the VO and that would also be an upgrade from the iHA-6 rather than a sidegrade. ZMF Homage seems like an obvious choice but there's a surprising lack of impressions and reviews online so it's hard to tell how it would compare to my amp and whether the 3FN is still head and shoulders above the Homage and would be worth saving for. I know there probably aren't people who have heard the iHA-6, Homage, and 3FN with the Verite, but I'd appreciate any insights that could help me triangulate how these three (or other amps) might compare!

Personally, rather then top end solid state amp, I prefer "mid end" tube amp such Cayin ha-2a for verite. If solid state amp is a must, actually Burson also made great amp that synergise well with Verite (using V6 or V7 Classic opamp). Other nice pairing is amp from Violectric.