Agreed, but he requested a Harman tuning, so…
Maybe you’re using the stock Aeolus pads? The universe suede pads nudge them further towards neutral.
When I had them I used the Universe pads. Still didn’t sound like that graph suggests.
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I have a little over 100 hours on my Aeolus and absolutely love it. Couldn’t agree more with your characterization that it “makes music come alive.”
Most of my listening thus far has been on the stock “braided cable.” I like it much more than the ZMF OFC Upgrade, which seems to have 3 major shortcoming: stiff and kinks; detracts from the “musicality” of the Aeolus; and also detracts from the weight/fullness of its sound.
So I’m looking for an aftermarket cable that would be a step up in sound quality but doesn’t kink or detract from musicality or weight/fullness. How does your ForzaAudioWorks Noir HCP stack up in those regards?
Also, what are the other two cables you mentioned, and what would you say are their attributes.
Thanks…Lee
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Congratulations on owning a terrific headphone! And BTW, you may have even a slight bit more sonic improvement ahead of you (I routinely burn in all dynamic HPs 150+ hrs).
The ForzaAudioWorks Noir HCP is one of the best, most affordable TOTL pure copper cable around. I have 2 of them and love that high-end copper sound so much. I also love the lock of these sturdy black cables. They’re also very flexible, easy to handle, never seem to kink, and have zero microphonics. A lot to like in these FAW cables.
If you feel like spending ~1/3 more and getting a slightly higher-end copper cable that’s also quite pretty, try Norne Audio’s Drausk. I only compared the Norne vs Drausk briefly/informally. Sonic differences are small, a matter of the same thing/only slightly better vs revolutionary changes. This is another cable that’s big/sturdy but easy to handle, bends easily, and seems to have no microphonics.
I know many people rave about pure silver or hyrid copper silver. I never cared much for silver, to the extent I could actually hear these differences (show conditions are tough for subtle sonic distinctions). I have a ZMF silver cable, not sure which one, and I’m getting subtly good/better sound on my beloved Ori, a planar that shows a little more resolution w/that silver cable than others.
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arrived on time. Love the sound 
and the wood grain I was looking really close at my Cocobolos and saw that there are specks of greenish grey colored parts in the pores of the wood grain. It’s definitely inside the wood and it looks really really cool. @zach915m do you have any info about this? I really think it’s cool and it’s very hard to pick up in my pictures via a phone. I just got a camera and will try to take better pictures.
Super cool!!
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New shoots? A bit of sunshine, some warmth, and ample water every three days and you’ll have a second ZMF in no time!
Joking aside, it is lovely to admire the subtleties of the grain in ZMF woods.
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It’s likely the pore filler we use - which although is supposed to be black - kind of reacts differently with different woods, especially oily and resinous ones. It also could possibly be just a neat piece of cocobolo wood too. =)
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Sharing my notes with the community; First amp impressions pairing ZMF Aeolus amplifier pairings
Blew my mind
- Ray Samuels Emmeline II The Raptor$1,200 - milky smooth tube amp
- Ray Samuels Emmeline HR-2 $900 dark, full, Sounds like the Darkvoice but mids are like flowing molten gold, and all brightness is removed, a fatter fuller bodied bloated XP-7
- Darkvoice 336SE $200 - tube amp with overwhelming envelopment, full bass, however it does have recessed mids
Sounds Better than good
- Ray Samuels Emmeline XP-7 $700 - Treble oriented more full bodies
- Singxer SA-1 $540 - (select switch to low z bias) mids oriented sound
Sounds Good
- Questyle CMA Twelve DAC/amp - $1,500
- Headamp Gilmore Lite Mk 2 $800 - heightened image separation
- Schiit Lyr 3 $500 tube hybrid
- Drop LCX + SDAC $220 really good performance, like a Singxer SA-1 with slight decrease in detail
- Drop x Alex Cavall Tube Hybrid $250 - good performance for cheap, but slightly anemic yet emotional presentation is still there
- Drop THX AAA 789 $200 First time this amp has moved above not good
Not good, but some credibility notes
- Headamp Gilmore Lite Mk 1 (discontinued) good for when I want less focus on bass, clear highs but avoiding sparkle
- Asgard 3 $250 - Nice for a non-harsh listening session, overly mellow muffle
I did not enjoy these
- Jotunheim 2 $400 This amp usually pairs well with most every headphone, WTHeck???
- RebelAmp $500 - This is usually my favorite amp, what is going on here???
- Beyerdynamic A20 ($500 discontinued) Wide soundstage but lacks dynamics, soft delivery
- SMSL SP200 $260 Narrow soundstage
I haven’t gotten around to some discontinued amps and none of the $100 amps yet. Many of these impression are subject to change when I get more listening in. I am only on day 2 of listening. However, I just wanted to get an overall initial listening impression on where my amps stand with the ZMF Aeolus and thought I would share.
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Different tastes, that’s what makes the hobby interesting. I tried my Aeolus (perf. suede) with JDS EL AMP II, Jotunheim 2, iFi Pro iCAN, Micro iDSD, Topping A90, SA1 and Mojo and Jot 2 was definitely one of my favorites. Maybe because of different pads? Honestly compared to my older HEXv2, T1.2, HD800 and some IEMs I don’t think Aeolus is amp picky at all.
Also I haven’t tried an OTL tube amp yet, maybe xDuoo TA-26 (better DarkVoice?)
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I think I am the only person using velour pads. So could be. Also, these are all likely to change once I get more listening in. Being only day 2 of listening, I have to make certain on my follow up sessions that I have my gear set up properly and EQ’s squared away.
I absolutely disliked the xDuoo TA-26. The wildly unbridled open high end of the Darkvoice 336SE is what creates magic for me. However, with the TA-26 that feature characteristic was neutered in favor of reducing the tube hum complications of the Darkvoice. Also, the characteristics of each tube are expressed to a much lesser degree on the TA-26 compared to the Darkvoice.
.
Some (Zeos) are calling it a better Darkvoice and I can see why some like this better as there are improvements with more prominent mids and a tighter low end on the TA-26. And, of course less tube hum on NOS tubes. I for one cannot enjoy these slight improvements when everything else that I loved about the Darkvoice are not present on the TA-26.
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I’d revisit the Jot 2 with Aeolus combination as I think it’s one of the best I’ve heard. To my ears the Aeolus can sound a bit too sleepy sometimes. Jot 2 really ‘wakes it up’ as it seems to control the driver extremely well making the Aeolus pretty slammy and fast sounding, but with a natural sound that’s non fatiguing. It’s a great combo and one of my main preferences with the Jot 2. This is all out of balanced in and balanced out on the Jot 2.
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Thanks to all that are pointing their experiences that are contrary to my posted ones. I definitely need to set up and revisit the Jotunheim 2 and RebelAmp to see what is going on. Don’t be surprised if I had thrown one of the wrenches into my system in haste to rapidly listen to so many amps. I do much of my listening after a long day at work and can often be found bent over in my chair asleep with headphones on my head. I am going to be very thorough and meticulous on the next round of listening and will likely take many weeks to come to final verdicts.
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I didn’t like the Aeolus on my Jot 2 either when I first got it about a year ago, preferring the Burson Soloist 3XP, and never tried it again. I’ve since changed pads and cables, so I should give it another listen to see if I changed my mind.
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My impressions are on new stock Aeolus pads (lambskin perf univ pads) and old stock Aeolus pads (Aeolus pads). Maybe worth a shot!
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Yes, on second visit with the Schiit Jotunheim 2 it does sound very good. However, the gain switch must be turned to low gain, which changes the sound drastically.
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I have concluded my tube rolling of 12AU7 (and equivalent tubes) for the ZMF Aeolus headphones (velour pads). These are my favorites tubes thus far:
RCA 12BH7A tall tube is thick dreamy. Super smooth, round fat bloated mid and lower-mid stage. This tube and my Aeolus just might be endgame for me. This tube is usually too thick and syrupy to listen to, but it works with this headphone. All the other tubes are second place to this one.
Raytheon 12au7A/ECC82 Sounds like a Mullard ECC82 but with added wetness. Almost as clear in high frequency as Mullard ECC82.
Military spec tubes Sylvania 6189 and GE Electrons JAN-5963/12AU7A mil These sound great all around and very clean. These are inexpensive tubes. If one is after a closer to solid state linear presentation, this is the tube.
Amperex ECC82/12AU7 Holland D Foil Getter Sounds similar to Amperex Holland ECC82/12au7 Bugleboy but crisper highs increased separation.
Beckman Clear Top and Honeywell Clear Top side getter These tubes are high frequency dreamy, extra extra wet. More intimate than Mullard ECC82, less textured than Mullard ECC82.
JJ ECC82 Warm full round bloated bass heavy presentation. Not overly wet but some wetness.
I have now entered into a new realm of headphone music reproduction. I am not Wowed by this change. Instead I am experiencing dreamy refined sensations of wonder. I don’t want to take my headphones off of my ears because it is so pleasing. One day, when I do, I shall have to compare this setup with my HifiMan HE6SE V2 to see which is better.
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The biggest thing I struggle with on the Aeolus is selecting which pads stay on. I think it’s the only ZMF where I like every suggested pad combo - Perf Univ Suede, Perf Univ Lambskin and Aeolus pads.
I really sound like a fanboy here, but I don’t have a single major complaint on any of the pads and with that selection the headphone is extremely versatile. They are all well balanced too and I can see anyone choosing either to go as their endgame.
Think the Aeolus sounds a bit muffled and muddy? Slap on the Perf Univ Suede and put it on a SET tube amp and to me the mids beat out the legendary HD 650 (black silk).
Not enough bass and slam for you? Slap on the Perf Univ Lambskin and put it on a powerful solid state and report back how it can rival the slam of a Utopia.
Is that setup too aggressive? Then pop on the Aeolus pads and plug it into whatever the heck you want, because anything sounds amazing and warm on these pads and you can’t get this sound from any other headphone on the market - truly unique.
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I think most of us on this thread are probably fanboys anyway 
I’ve had mine about a year, and just got around to trying my alternate pads, the U suede perf. I left them on 4 or 5 days, and went back to the U lambskin perforated, I just like them better. Yes the U suede sounded brighter and more “neutral”, but that’s not what I want from the Aeolus! They’re more fun stock. Never had the Aeolus pads though.
If I want brighter I’ll listen to my Focal Clear OG 
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