What I appreciate about your reviews, as someone who's heard many headphones, is that you make lots of comparisons whereas most other reviewers will only focus on the one the review is about. Really brings things into perspective.
I found the universe pads to have less recessed mids. The be2 and Verite pads have a thicker foam/mesh backing. I think that thicker foam has a lot to do with the recession. The universe pads have a thin backing and to me, open up the vocals.
You nailed it!. I own these for almost a year now and I fully agree except I think the air region is boosted rather than neutral or maybe I am sensitive to that region 🤷♂️. Great review as always
@@Stralnikov Its a unique sound. Personally i got an Aeolus but didn't like it so i ended up with the clears. The Aeolus didn't sound worth its price for me. The soundstage was narrower than anything i ever heard including gaming headsets and the imaging was average. The response was rough with strange dips and peaks. This was an Aeolus perhaps the Vert is much better and definitely the Auteur is more neutral.
@@mariodrv I own an Arya and it's a very good planar headset - my best friend has a HE1000SE and it's a totally different sound / listening experience but to me whereas the HE is far superior in details and speed, I prefer the Arya for the warmth and wideness. Now it's a personal experience, as always with headsets... We managed to get hands on a Vérité Open and a Closed, an Auteur, a Diana2 ... both Hifiman were better (again for us) that all EXCEPT the ZMFs. As a result we ordered ONE EACH (VO for both of us but with long hesitation for my friend on the VC). The VO is SUPERIOR to the Arya in everything but I still love my Arya - in the end they're quite close in the sounding to me, but the VO does everything better and that includes details (which Arya lacks sometimes) and also better trebles (not that the Arya is bad). To my friend the VO was a little under the HE1000SE in term of details but better for all the rest, esp rendering of voices (too cold on the Hifiman). Now we both think that the ZMFs are endgame for us... till next treasure !!! ;) -- we'll receive them in 4-6 weeks, no idea of a precise date yet. PS: we are in France, there's only one official ZMF retailer: Headonist.fr (thank you Pierre :))
I have had my VO for 5 days - I've burned them 24/24 and it's not even finished yet. A couple days more to go I think. I had to refrain myself listening them this week, I was very rude, but that's the price to pay to not be disappointed of how they sound when they're "brand new". To burn them, a mixture of fully random HQ tracks played through my streamer (which has a small good quality amp built-in) and burn CD from Jean-Marie Raynaud (namely, the Magic CD) that I used to burn my speakers, initially. After 5 days we're half the recommended duration for burn. However I couldn't resist to listen to several tracks and I can tell already the sound is absolutely SUPERB on all frequencies, I haven't heard any failures so far and dynamics and incredible. Very detailed headphones. Much more than my Arya which lacked some details sometimes, esp on large soundstages and 'complex' tracks. Voices are superb. You get emotion, you get enjoyment. You hear pain, you ear joy, sadness. However, while the VO is indeed SUPERIOR, I stay in my initial observation: the Arya is one of my favourite headphone, and will ever be. It is however a bit harder to drive than the VO, which, even at 300 ohms is incredibly easy to drive, probably due to the nature of its drivers. Anyway, if you have the money got for the Verité, Open or Close, you won't be disappointed, in any case.
@@benzekat7581 thanks a bunch for the detailed write up dude. So the VO bests the Arya in every category? Even soundstage and imaging? Treble, midrange, and bass as well?
Wow.. HD800 is more detailed. Interesting take. Was thinking of getting verité to replaced my hd800 as my go to dynamic driver but I guess I need to go after utopia.
HD800/S techincality is grade S... And Verite technicality is grade S- according to Crinacle... crinacle.com/rankings/headphones/ So Max and Crinacle agree HD800/S has better technicality... If you go Utopia, then say goodbye to airy soundstage... 😃😃😃
@@rhodey2952 I haven't heard the verité. However, I once had both HD800 and HD800S and always find that HD800 has better detail than the S version. Not to mention HD800 is more capable in technical abilities. The S version can't handle EQ the way the original HD800 can. Hence selling the S version and up to now still have the HD800.
@@vincenthusvh Detail and technicalities are about on par, the presentation and timbre tho are different. Verite has a bigger soundstage and the bass goes deeper, has a slight tilt in the lower highs. You have to try them to see what you like more.
@@vincenthusvh I purchased the VO (not received yet but obviously had one in hands to listen) and what I also like is the easiness to change pads - so I ordered the Universe Suede, BE² Hybrid and Vérité Lambskin pads :) easy way to adapt the listening experience to my moods... NB: I never heard the Utopia but was disappointed somehow by the Elegia (not it was bad, but really a Closed one) while already used to Opens with my Grado.
@@rafael6693 you're right :) Vérité are 15% I think - that doesn't mean that Focal is ~7x better ;) -- I think the ZMFs have a SOUL, like Grados for instance
@vvvVFANGSVvvv He said the timbre was very good and natural compared to e.g. the Utopia, just slightly less so than other ZMF headphones due to a *slight* metallic twinge... hardly a major departure from the general consensus. Given how major psychoacoustics can be though and how Max Settings appears to have believed the driver was pure beryllium (unless he merely misspoke), that may be the reason, though generally speaking people seem to be using timbre qualities like plasticky and metallic without much consistency, so people may understand the idea differently.
@@rhodey2952 impedance is not linear and actual impedance at frequency response varies, so nominal impedance as provided by manufacturers at 1mW is not all
@@benzekat7581 hence why I said about the same. The Verite, HD800S, and HD650 all are 300ohm. When listening, they're all about the same volume position on the mz3. Certain tracks will call for an adjustment, but again, they're pretty close. And the Verite may come off not as detailed to some vs the HD800S but that's that's probably due to their signatures. The hd800S is brighter and many people tend to think brighter as more detailed. An example is the dt1990. It's brighter and some find it very detailed but it does it in a way where it fakes the detail. And I didn't find the dt1990 anywhere near the level of the hd800S. The Verite is very detailed. It has a way of presenting layering and textures of the notes better than many headphones. I like both the hd800S and Verite, but I wouldn't say the HD800S is more detailed.
Why don't you put time stamps in your videos?? We get that it's par of the course to talk about everything other than sound first, but how many people do you think really need to hear a 8-12 minute thesis on build and comfort? Also why not be that guy to buck the trend and help literally everyone out by talking about sound first.
@@benzekat7581 So would you recommend ZMF Eikon/Autuer/Aeolus over the new Focal Clear MG or even the Radiance. I currently have a HD660s. Just want wider soundstage and the "air" feeling. Don't like how sibilant and bright the 660s were with stock pads. I order 3 pairs of different types from dekoni and they helped alot. I suppose I should get a closed back for now so have to decide between the Focal Radiance (Stellia is out of budget range) and the ZMF Eikon or Atticus, what would you suggest? Oh btw I had the Anandas but returned them as the mids seemed too far away vs the rest and it was bright and harsh sometimes, not to mention the earpads were far too big. Plus didn't want to risk the hifiman quality control issues that seem rampant.
The drivers are beryllium-coated PEN, not wholly beryllium. Enjoyed the video
I wonder if the Aeolus has the same driver but just not coated which would explain why people like it so much.
Zach's a literal badass for providing all those pads for a review
What I appreciate about your reviews, as someone who's heard many headphones, is that you make lots of comparisons whereas most other reviewers will only focus on the one the review is about. Really brings things into perspective.
I found the universe pads to have less recessed mids. The be2 and Verite pads have a thicker foam/mesh backing. I think that thicker foam has a lot to do with the recession. The universe pads have a thin backing and to me, open up the vocals.
You nailed it!.
I own these for almost a year now and I fully agree except I think the air region is boosted rather than neutral or maybe I am sensitive to that region 🤷♂️.
Great review as always
When you buy a ZMF headphone you buy it for its unique sound so trying to get it to be neutral defeats the point of picking them over other options.
I’m considering buying these headphones. I currently own a Focal Clear. How would you describe the ZMF sound?
@@Stralnikov Its a unique sound. Personally i got an Aeolus but didn't like it so i ended up with the clears. The Aeolus didn't sound worth its price for me. The soundstage was narrower than anything i ever heard including gaming headsets and the imaging was average. The response was rough with strange dips and peaks. This was an Aeolus perhaps the Vert is much better and definitely the Auteur is more neutral.
Are you going to be able to review the abyss headphones?(either the Diana v2, phi, or ab 1266)
Thanks! Been waiting for this one
Dear Lord, that's a beautiful pair of cans.....
Did you think the Verite is mostly superior to the Arya? Or are they vastly diffrent cans?
Absolutely superior, I own both the HE1000SE and the Verite and I prefer the Verite strongly over the SE.
@@mariodrv I own an Arya and it's a very good planar headset - my best friend has a HE1000SE and it's a totally different sound / listening experience but to me whereas the HE is far superior in details and speed, I prefer the Arya for the warmth and wideness. Now it's a personal experience, as always with headsets... We managed to get hands on a Vérité Open and a Closed, an Auteur, a Diana2 ... both Hifiman were better (again for us) that all EXCEPT the ZMFs. As a result we ordered ONE EACH (VO for both of us but with long hesitation for my friend on the VC). The VO is SUPERIOR to the Arya in everything but I still love my Arya - in the end they're quite close in the sounding to me, but the VO does everything better and that includes details (which Arya lacks sometimes) and also better trebles (not that the Arya is bad). To my friend the VO was a little under the HE1000SE in term of details but better for all the rest, esp rendering of voices (too cold on the Hifiman). Now we both think that the ZMFs are endgame for us... till next treasure !!! ;) -- we'll receive them in 4-6 weeks, no idea of a precise date yet. PS: we are in France, there's only one official ZMF retailer: Headonist.fr (thank you Pierre :))
I have had my VO for 5 days - I've burned them 24/24 and it's not even finished yet. A couple days more to go I think. I had to refrain myself listening them this week, I was very rude, but that's the price to pay to not be disappointed of how they sound when they're "brand new". To burn them, a mixture of fully random HQ tracks played through my streamer (which has a small good quality amp built-in) and burn CD from Jean-Marie Raynaud (namely, the Magic CD) that I used to burn my speakers, initially. After 5 days we're half the recommended duration for burn. However I couldn't resist to listen to several tracks and I can tell already the sound is absolutely SUPERB on all frequencies, I haven't heard any failures so far and dynamics and incredible. Very detailed headphones. Much more than my Arya which lacked some details sometimes, esp on large soundstages and 'complex' tracks. Voices are superb. You get emotion, you get enjoyment. You hear pain, you ear joy, sadness. However, while the VO is indeed SUPERIOR, I stay in my initial observation: the Arya is one of my favourite headphone, and will ever be. It is however a bit harder to drive than the VO, which, even at 300 ohms is incredibly easy to drive, probably due to the nature of its drivers. Anyway, if you have the money got for the Verité, Open or Close, you won't be disappointed, in any case.
@@benzekat7581 thanks a bunch for the detailed write up dude. So the VO bests the Arya in every category? Even soundstage and imaging? Treble, midrange, and bass as well?
@@znick77 oh yeah and design, made quality too
HD800 and Borealis are both 1k or under. Maybe make some kind of evaluation on price vs performance too? Cheers once again for a cool video!
Does the pad fit well for hd800? Do you take the stock pad off?
Thank you for the review.
Wow.. HD800 is more detailed. Interesting take. Was thinking of getting verité to replaced my hd800 as my go to dynamic driver but I guess I need to go after utopia.
For what its worth, I disagree. Had the hd800S and found the Verite more detailed. Also never found the Verite having a metallic sound...
HD800/S techincality is grade S... And Verite technicality is grade S- according to Crinacle...
crinacle.com/rankings/headphones/
So Max and Crinacle agree HD800/S has better technicality...
If you go Utopia, then say goodbye to airy soundstage...
😃😃😃
@@rhodey2952 I haven't heard the verité. However, I once had both HD800 and HD800S and always find that HD800 has better detail than the S version. Not to mention HD800 is more capable in technical abilities. The S version can't handle EQ the way the original HD800 can. Hence selling the S version and up to now still have the HD800.
Skeith Leon according to Crinacle...haha
@@rhodey2952 Verite is not about techincality and accuracy...
Verite is about colored and pleasing sound...
If you like it, that's good...
I dissagree with them being less detailed than the HD800 or the Utopia.
Is the Vérité better than the Utopia? They cost around the same in where I live.
They're different. Utopia is more detailed with a more agreeable FR, but the Verite has better soundstage and timbre
@@vincenthusvh
Detail and technicalities are about on par, the presentation and timbre tho are different. Verite has a bigger soundstage and the bass goes deeper, has a slight tilt in the lower highs.
You have to try them to see what you like more.
@@vincenthusvh I purchased the VO (not received yet but obviously had one in hands to listen) and what I also like is the easiness to change pads - so I ordered the Universe Suede, BE² Hybrid and Vérité Lambskin pads :) easy way to adapt the listening experience to my moods... NB: I never heard the Utopia but was disappointed somehow by the Elegia (not it was bad, but really a Closed one) while already used to Opens with my Grado.
Beryllium or beryllium coated? They're not even close to the same thing.
Verite is coated
utopia and stellia driver are made of full beryllium, not coated, correct me if i am wrong
@@rafael6693 you're right :) Vérité are 15% I think - that doesn't mean that Focal is ~7x better ;) -- I think the ZMFs have a SOUL, like Grados for instance
Those look beautiful 😍😍😍 if I could I would get the zmf vérité blackwood
What amp and dac were used? And what tube amp? Find it odd that the hd800S layered better than the Verite.
@vvvVFANGSVvvv He said the timbre was very good and natural compared to e.g. the Utopia, just slightly less so than other ZMF headphones due to a *slight* metallic twinge... hardly a major departure from the general consensus. Given how major psychoacoustics can be though and how Max Settings appears to have believed the driver was pure beryllium (unless he merely misspoke), that may be the reason, though generally speaking people seem to be using timbre qualities like plasticky and metallic without much consistency, so people may understand the idea differently.
and the Vérité are EASY to drive, which isn't the case with the HD800(S) etc
@@benzekat7581 they're about the same. Both have an impedance of 300 ohms.
@@rhodey2952 impedance is not linear and actual impedance at frequency response varies, so nominal impedance as provided by manufacturers at 1mW is not all
@@benzekat7581 hence why I said about the same. The Verite, HD800S, and HD650 all are 300ohm. When listening, they're all about the same volume position on the mz3. Certain tracks will call for an adjustment, but again, they're pretty close.
And the Verite may come off not as detailed to some vs the HD800S but that's that's probably due to their signatures. The hd800S is brighter and many people tend to think brighter as more detailed. An example is the dt1990. It's brighter and some find it very detailed but it does it in a way where it fakes the detail. And I didn't find the dt1990 anywhere near the level of the hd800S.
The Verite is very detailed. It has a way of presenting layering and textures of the notes better than many headphones. I like both the hd800S and Verite, but I wouldn't say the HD800S is more detailed.
Why don't you put time stamps in your videos?? We get that it's par of the course to talk about everything other than sound first, but how many people do you think really need to hear a 8-12 minute thesis on build and comfort? Also why not be that guy to buck the trend and help literally everyone out by talking about sound first.
They're so gaudy that they have to sound amazing.
they really are beautiful in person and one of the most comfortable cans i have ever owned. One of the few headphones i havent sold off over time
@@jross1798 very comfortable indeed, only the Sennheiser may be even more - Focals are clamping too strong IMHO and I don't have a large head !
@@benzekat7581 So would you recommend ZMF Eikon/Autuer/Aeolus over the new Focal Clear MG or even the Radiance. I currently have a HD660s. Just want wider soundstage and the "air" feeling. Don't like how sibilant and bright the 660s were with stock pads. I order 3 pairs of different types from dekoni and they helped alot. I suppose I should get a closed back for now so have to decide between the Focal Radiance (Stellia is out of budget range) and the ZMF Eikon or Atticus, what would you suggest?
Oh btw I had the Anandas but returned them as the mids seemed too far away vs the rest and it was bright and harsh sometimes, not to mention the earpads were far too big. Plus didn't want to risk the hifiman quality control issues that seem rampant.