ZMF Verite Open

[JLoud]

I have been told I have a hard head!

 

[murphythecat]

Let the debates begin!

I don't own the Susvara (maybe I need one), but I do have the Utopia and VO. The VO is certainly more mid-centric and the Utopia is more treble-focused (or you could refer to this as detailed). However, I find that the Utopia has better bass response than the VO. Maybe it's that the bass is just a lot tighter, but it seems to slam harder, too.

Listening to the Utopia and VO back-to-back makes me feel like Utopia is slightly v-shaped and the VO is has a little mound in the mids but is more neutral overall. This isn't the usual take on this headphone (referring to a v-shaped Utopia), but it's my impression.

The VO is absolutely much smoooother. It sounds more like live music with the cups reverberating a bit in the way the edges of a room might bounce sound back. The Utopia sounds more like being in a studio. The pad swaps on the VO do make a difference, though. Listening to it today with the BE2 instead of the Universe pads (Universe come stock) has made it significantly more neutral. I wanted that neutrality when I bought the pads...and now I think I might go back to the Universe for its warmth. The VO does absolutely have so much potential to create synergy with the combo of amp, tubes, and pads. And since the journey never seems to end in audiophilia, it's fun to have something to tinker with.

Just my two cents!

very cool comparison, thx for that. Ultimately, which cans do you prefer, Utopia or Verite?

 

[shafat777]

Just got a notification from ZMF...My Desert Ironwood VO has been shipped and is on its way.

 

[PsilocybinCube]

very cool comparison, thx for that. Ultimately, which cans do you prefer, Utopia or Verite?

Well, my opinions have changed somewhat in regard to the Utopia and Verite. The burn-in on the Verite seems to really be the real deal. When the VO was brand new I feel like I was hearing the bass and treble drop off with a strong accentuation on the mids. However, after probably 60 hours of use so far (still plenty of burn-in needed) I can easily hear the lower and upper frequencies having a much stronger presence.

The VO is a really special headphone. It is a very atmospheric headphone creating a great stage for the music. It's a relaxing headphone while still having incredible detail.

The Utopia is not a relaxing headphone but it sounds so damn good. Everything is so precise and clear, it's amazing.

If I had to pick which I prefer today...I don't know. Honestly, they are so different, I think there's a good argument to own both. I'll post some updated impressions once the VO has closer to 100 hours on them.

 

[swissheadphonelover]

Did some more pad rolling on my VO. I very much like the Universal Suede perf. Compared to my favourite BE2 leather perf pads I got the fascinating 3D impression back together with a slightly more neutral sound image and less reverb in the high mids compared to the Universe leather perf. Pads. Pad rolling on the verite is nearly as much fun as tube rolling on the Euforia and significantly less costly. Remains the question which could be my next headphone, Utopia, Empyrean or the VC. Looking forward to see the stabilized wood VCs coming up on 4/30. Enjoy your Sunday.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Olive wood on verite closed! This guy is killing me with beautiful wood...

 

[PsilocybinCube]

Olive wood on verite closed! This guy is killing me with beautiful wood...

I'm thinking of getting those for my wife as a gift.

If she doesn't like them, I have a backup plan.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

I'm thinking of getting hose for my wife as a gift.

If she doesn't like them, I have a backup plan.

Probably just me but it feels like that post needs a slight edit

 

[CaptainFantastic]

Olive wood on verite closed! This guy is killing me with beautiful wood...

They look amazing. But I have a quick question. Am I missing something on this statement?

"This special LTD Edition Olive-wood batch, is the first ever at ZMF utilizing this extremely rare, beautiful, and dense wood."

Extremely rare? Olive?

Unless it's not an olive tree wood and Olive Wood means something else in the U.S.?

Also, being very dense, how come it weighs 490 grams +/-, same as stock which is far less dense?

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Yeah I guess it depends where you are and how big olive blocks you can get. I have not seen big pieces of clean olive stock such as what must have been required for ear cups. I saw some olive wood smoking pipes but they had other woods (cork) in the pipe. It leads me to believe big chunks of furniture grade olive are not so easily obtained.

So maybe it is the application that is rare rather than just the tree. But you could ask

 

[zach915m]

They look amazing. But I have a quick question. Am I missing something on this statement?

"This special LTD Edition Olive-wood batch, is the first ever at ZMF utilizing this extremely rare, beautiful, and dense wood."

Extremely rare? Olive? What?

Unless it's not an olive tree wood and Olive Wood means something else in the U.S.?

Also, being very dense, how come it weighs 490 grams +/-, same as stock which is far less dense?

Yes to clarify - we are just talking about kiln dried olive wood in this size and the use of it in headphones, and our headphones to be specific.

I also have updated the weight to be correct, thank you!

 

[CaptainFantastic]

Thanks Zach. I guess you're thinking, sorry for not updating everything instantly on a Sunday.

Having the weight info on each model page is great. Appreciated.

 

[PsilocybinCube]

Probably just me but it feels like that post needs a slight edit

Whoops.

Yes, 'those' not hose.

 

[PointyFox]

Whoops.

Yes, 'those' not hose.

Lol I thought you were buying her pants.

 

[Strayngs]

Today I am packing my Camphor Burl open up and sending it to William Murdock from The Headphone Experience for review. Keep a lookout for it!