ZMF Verite Open

[erics75]

I don't know if my hearing is changing, or what is going on, but for the past year I was convinced that the Verite was my champ for instrumental music (jazz and classical) and the Atrium was my pick for vocals (rock, folk, blues). Lately though, the Atrium is somehow rubbing me the wrong way. There's a frequency somewhere in the upper midrange/lower treble that sounds hashy to me. ( I installed the solid mesh, but it still doesn't sound just right. ) So, lately when I get frustrated with that hashiness, I'll switch to Verite (open) and love whatever it was I was playing regardless of genre. This very moment, Peter Gabriel's latest album is sounding fantastic on the VO. Anyone else have both models? What's your take?

If the period of time you're experiencing this has been short, give it time. I have days where I swear someone swapped out a particular headphone for something else. They just don't sound right. After a few days or weeks I go back and it sounds like how I remember it. My guess is maybe those off days with my hearing I'm fighting an ear infection, or i'm congested, or maybe wax buildup, etc. So far thankfully those days don't stretch on long, and after time things seem to settle back to where I remember them, sonically.

A funny story... awhile back I thought my AC was broken. While listening I kept hearing this plastic like clicking sound randomly. All day I kept hearing it while working. I thought for sure the driver on my AC was clipping or doing something unusual. That night having dinner I heard it again, but no headphones on. It was my jaw clicking! Sure enough thinking back I was chewing on mints all day, which was causing the clicks. But the sound sounded like it was inside my head. Hearing is such a mystery to me...

 

[Pharmaboy]

There's something quite enchanting about this headphone that makes me keep grabbing it. It probably isn't the last word in technical ability and it has a really quite quirky tuning (partic on universe lamb pads which I use 99% of the time), but it is very special. I've enjoyed the Atrium Open whenever I've tried but, but compared to this it feels a bit "safe"...even pedestrian?

Curious to know, which cable are folks using with the VO lately?

The original 16-wire/17.7 awg OCC litz Drausk cable from Norne. The sound is beautiful, and so is the look (I love big copper cables!).

 

[jonathan c]

.... Curious to know, which cable are folks using with the VO lately?

Norne Audio Vykari (intertwined copper / silver).

 

[tedacura1]

Norne Drausk v2 pure copper occ cable.

 

[Rollnrock]

Curious to know, which cable are folks using with the VO lately?

Forza Audioworks Noir HPC Mk2 in my case. Pure occ copper cable. Very nice in both sound and feel, and at a reasonable price

 

[dbull12]

Curious to know, which cable are folks using with the VO lately?

Using an Arctic Cables Vector (silver/copper hybrid) and I love it! Originally ordered a Talos V2 from them but it was heavier and stiffer than I was hoping, but also one of the channels wasn't working. Their customer service was incredible and they let me upgrade to the Vector for no additional cost. Any headphone cables I get in the future will definitely be from them.

Before the Vector I had a FAW Noir Mk2. I also had interconnects and a USB cable from FAW, but the USB cable had a grounding issue and I could never get responses to my emails to them. I think it was probably just a hectic time for them and I know many others are very happy with their cables from them, but unfortunately I couldn't say the same.

 

[Pharmaboy]

Forza Audioworks Noir HPC Mk2 in my case. Pure occ copper cable. Very nice in both sound and feel, and at a reasonable price

It's my favorite big copper cable: very good sound & feel, also relatively affordable. Have 3 of them....

 

[JackarlTwo]

If the period of time you're experiencing this has been short, give it time. I have days where I swear someone swapped out a particular headphone for something else. They just don't sound right. After a few days or weeks I go back and it sounds like how I remember it. My guess is maybe those off days with my hearing I'm fighting an ear infection, or i'm congested, or maybe wax buildup, etc. So far thankfully those days don't stretch on long, and after time things seem to settle back to where I remember them, sonically.

A funny story... awhile back I thought my AC was broken. While listening I kept hearing this plastic like clicking sound randomly. All day I kept hearing it while working. I thought for sure the driver on my AC was clipping or doing something unusual. That night having dinner I heard it again, but no headphones on. It was my jaw clicking! Sure enough thinking back I was chewing on mints all day, which was causing the clicks. But the sound sounded like it was inside my head. Hearing is such a mystery to me...

I've had days and when nothing sounds good, or even enjoyable. It happens rarely but when it does you know. When it happens I feel fine otherwise but I suppose it could be related to stress, anxiety and so many factors we're not aware of. And suddenly a couple of days later it's all back to normal. Our brains are really weird when it comes to audio.

Just the other day I had this "clicking sound" in one channel whenever there was strong bass and I thought for sure something was broken. Tried different amps etc. It wasn't until I took off the headphones off and I still had that same clicking when moving my jaw around. Turned out I had a bit of water stuck in my hear!

 

[RollinHard843]

I don't know if my hearing is changing, or what is going on, but for the past year I was convinced that the Verite was my champ for instrumental music (jazz and classical) and the Atrium was my pick for vocals (rock, folk, blues). Lately though, the Atrium is somehow rubbing me the wrong way. There's a frequency somewhere in the upper midrange/lower treble that sounds hashy to me. ( I installed the solid mesh, but it still doesn't sound just right. ) So, lately when I get frustrated with that hashiness, I'll switch to Verite (open) and love whatever it was I was playing regardless of genre. This very moment, Peter Gabriel's latest album is sounding fantastic on the VO. Anyone else have both models? What's your take?

I've actually had kinda the opposite experience, where Verite Open is a GREAT headphone most of the time, but occasionally I would find recordings that it wasn't a good match with. Some modern metal, occasionally certain rock/pop albums. Sometimes, it's just crash cymbals that start to get weird and unconvincing on the Verite. However, when I first heard the Atrium, it was actually kinda tough to notice the headphone itself, just because everything sounded so effortlessly good.

For me, the Atrium Open is ZMF's best headphone. Verite is probably one of the most interesting headphones, but it's not always right IMO. It's not bright, but it IS intense on all frequencies.

I'm currently using the Caldera Lamb Ultra Perf pads on the Verite Open, and I love the sound. It's more linear and brighter, but the sound still avoids fatigue and has all the space/imaging it does with Universe pads. It's a balance that I'm liking more overall, helps ensure that hi-hats and ride cymbals don't disappear in the warmth

 

[Pharmaboy]

Maybe I'm the exception here--but my VO never once let me down. I've never had a bad or unsatisfying listening session with it.

I have many amps, and had many others in the past. The VO sounded wonderful on all present/past amps except one, the Monolith Cavalli Liquid Gold X--and that amp was well known for favoring planars vs dynamics. But even on the LGX, the VO sounded pretty good ... just not as wonderful as usual.

I just love the sound of the VO. Tonight I'll hear it on the Icon Audio HP8 vs the Violectric V280. I've done this before. The comparison is very interesting, because I get 2 different flavors of wonderful VO sound (differences are subtle but meaningful). But I could live w/either amp as my only amp for the VO.

 

[LE9000]

I spent some time with the Taboo MKiii and VO lately. It really is much better than I remembered.

I used to only use the taboo with Audeze.

Out of XLR and old lucid mode activated - wow. I love it.

 

[LXMc]

I spent some time with the Taboo MKiii and VO lately. It really is much better than I remembered.

I used to only use the taboo with Audeze.

Out of XLR and old lucid mode activated - wow. I love it.

Ever experiment with pre-amping the EVO into the Taboo?

 

[LE9000]

Ever experiment with pre-amping the EVO into the Taboo?

Not yet. I had a CSP2+ that I used to preamp my previous Taboo. That was stunning.

I definitely need to try the Euforia too.


Edit:

Yes yes. Wonderful system synergy right here. The Euforia Evo is simply expanding the stage of the Taboo even further. Really good result.

Points for the first to notice my favorite musician in the background

 

[genius753]

Hi fam...

I have to receive a zmf verité open tomorrow and I wonder what would be the best amp under the $ 1000 mark...I have a dac in ess 9039 mspro...I only listen to electronic music (house/teck house/drum & bass)...I'm not closed to tubes but I would prefer an ss amp...what choice would you make? thank you in advance to the participants

 

[s2kphile]

Hi fam...

I have to receive a zmf verité open tomorrow and I wonder what would be the best amp under the $ 1000 mark...I have a dac in ess 9039 mspro...I only listen to electronic music (house/teck house/drum & bass)...I'm not closed to tubes but I would prefer an ss amp...what choice would you make? thank you in advance to the participants

Nitsche Pietus Maximus. It's the closest to being tube sounding under $1000 or you can grab a tube hybrid like the Apos Gremlin with Select tubes for under $300.