My plan is to have 3x sets each with its own pad setup…each color/finish will have its own sound associated…really looking forward to it.
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Just took delivery of the Aeolus! Terrific. Not as wide a presentation as the HD650, but much much fuller sound. Wow do they kick!
Pic:
Aeolus w/Quicksilver Amp, Holo Spring KTE DAC, DIY Pass Labs amp, Hotroded Golden Tube Audio SE-40, PS Audio Power Regenerator, all in a DIY cabinet.
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Very cool set up, I bet that sounds fantastic!
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It really does sound nice. The speakers are a pair of Magnepan 1.6QR’s.
The PS Audio Power Regenerator is no joke. The benefit is measurable and sonically easy to detect when it’s in or out of the system. The gain is what people hope for when they buy power cables.
All the speaker wire and interconnects are Mogami with DIY assemble. I must have made a dozen sets for people after they listen to it. So inexpensive with very low capacitance.
Sample DIY Interconnects:
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I’ve been listening to the Aeolus for about a week and they are a bit too warm with the Universe pads. Can’t imaging them even warmer with the standard Aeolus pads! I’ve ordered a set of Veritas pads and just waiting on ZMF to manufacturer.
Going back and forth between the HD650 and the Aeolus has been interesting. The Aeolus definitely carry more sonic weight which is terrific. The physical comfort is freaking great. This was after a week with a friends Audeze LCD-4z. LOVED the LCD-4z, but they are heavy at 560grams; and coming off my HD650’s at 260 grams and now the ZMF’s at 430 grams.
The ZMF just carries the weight so well that at least for me comfort is on par with the HD650. Through the 650’s still get the slightest edge for comfort, especially with new factory ear and headband pads added 2 weeks ago.
Using EQ I steered the sound from very warm to much more neutral and they are much more enjoyable. Looking forward to the ZMF Veritas pads arriving in a month.
Band 1: 40hz -1.9db 0.5Q
Band 2: 144hz -0.9db 0.2Q
Band 3: 1000hz 0.3db 0.5Q
Band 4: 4200 0.8db 0.3Q
Band 5: 15000 2.2db 0.3Q
I’d appreciate thoughts and comments.
It will be interesting to hear what you think when you get the Verite pads on it, you went all in towards neutral with those pads! Try them without eq when you switch the pads.
I got the Universe suede for mine, which noticeably pushed them more towards neutral. In the end I went back to the std Universe lambskin perf pads, I just preferred Aeolus with them. The Verite by comparison is a more neutral warm presentation, and much more resolving. The Aeolus is just a fun listen, rewarding but not demanding your close attention in the way some headphones can.
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Your observations are helpful for tuning. One pleasant surprise was just how flat the frequency response is with the Aeolus. It’s just overly warm for me with the Universe pads coming off the HD650’s by comparison.
The remix/remaster of The Rolling Stones Goats Heads Soup Deluxe edition and Get Yer Ya ya’s Out astonishing improvement over the original. Listening to “Live with Me” or “Midnight Rambler” on Ya Ya has an on stage presence and the Aeolus feels like it’s connect to the amps on stage.
Still need to mess around with the EQ for closer tuning, but looking forward to returning to dead flat to the Veritas pads.
Edit: Pic of listening room with Quicksilver HPA and Aeolus, driven by Holo Spring 3 KTE DAC.
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Aeolus Follow-up:
Took delivery of a pair of ZMF Verite pads. WOW! what a transition from the Universe perf suede pads.
Amazing how a different set of pads changes the character of the headset so dramatically. the Verite pads are much more neutral as ZMF claims. The biggest physical difference between these pads seems to be the interior shape. Verite pads are thinner on one side opening the ear cup chamber. The sound is less inside my head and less muddy or what many would describe as warm.
So far listening for an hour with EQ dead flat, where for my preferences the Universe pads the EQ was tipped in a straight line from -2db @20hz to +2db @20K shown in the above post.
The only early criticism of the Aeulos with Verte suede pads is the sound seems drier. Again, without any EQ.
Having years with the HD650’s and a week with a friends new LCD-4z, the ZMF is the most comfortable. My wife agrees too. She greatly prefers how the ZMF’s carry the weight and rest around the ears.
Anyone else running this pad combo?
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Glad to hear that you are liking them with the new pads!
I have some verite pads in the perf lambskin, I should try them and see.
I agree that zmf headband and pads are super comfortable, I got the new band with the verite and it’s amazing!
I believe the Verite suede are the BE-2 suede. I really enjoyed them on the Aeolus when I had it. It seemed a bit like a Verite-lite as they became more detailed compared to the Universe suede, more than I would have thought possible from them.
ZMF confirmed the Verite suede and BE-2 suede are the same pads. I was amazed as well how much the character of the Aeolus changed with this pad swap, Universe suede to Verite pads.
I might even dare say the Verite suede/BE-2 suede might be too neutral. It more open & wider presentation than the Universe pads, at the expense of some punch.
Perfect would be somewhere in midway between these pads. It is very good as-is.
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Update: Realizing the need for a longer headphone cable, Just finished building a 12’ cable from the ZMF DIY parts package.
A-B the factory original and the new ZMF Atmos C DIY cable, the new cable is sonically much nicer. The sound is more airy, open, crisper. Went looking for a longer cable and wound up with improved SQ. Seriously happy.
I’m now listening to the HD650’s on steroids. The Aeolus with Verite Suede pads, Atmos C Cable and a slight amount of EQ is fantastic.
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Heeeeeeey, you got your Aeolus!! How you like them so far? Do they suit your preferences for what you were looking for?
I think I can see why you didn’t like the Aeolus on the Jotunheim 2 very much. The new updated Aeolus pads are a world of difference for this combo. I just received mine today and that heavy, thick sound is gone.
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I did find that I enjoy ZMF Aeolus with the Jotunheim 2 when the gain switch is set to low. Makes a world of difference on my Aeolus with Monoprice velour pads. However, my RSA Emmeline HR-2 with AD825 op-amps is my favorite amp to pair with a heavy, thick ZMF Aeolus, to create allusion of confined close proximity of staging/imaging. The resulting synergy is a very cozy presentation. One that provides a novel contrasting signature to everything else in my collection. I find it difficult to return to other headphones, even my next favorite the Hifiman HE6se V2, after my ears have adjusted to and have become captivated by the ZMF Aeolus. It seems as if the HE6se V2 takes on a thin and anemic characterization by comparison when trying to go back and forth between the two. One day I hope to get around to listening with ZMF Universe pads (Suede perforated). But, I am very impressed and content right now with Monoprice velour pads.
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The Aeolus take more than 200 hours to break-in. They sound quite different and not overly warm as previously observed.
Break-in period is always a factor, however these took a while longer than anticipated. Not a complaint, just an observation for those newly purchased.
With the Aeolus fully broken-in, another A-B comparison of Verite BE2 pads are still preferred over teh Universe suede.
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Agreed, their sonic character does improve and change considerably over time. When I first got mine, they seemed “nice” but not special. Many who raved about them were describing things I wasn’t hearing. They seemed kind of restrained, and the bass was nothing special when they were new.
Now that I’ve had them almost a year, they really do sound pretty fantastic. Really punchy, defined bass, smooth mids, and clarity in the treble without being on the bright(er) side like say my Focal Clear OG. They opened up considerably over time
I have the Aeolus, Verite open, and Focal Clear, and when I want a more “chill” listening experience the Aeolus is my top choice 
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Nicely said. I’d add the Aeolus is “musical”. It flows like a live performance. Of the 3 amps in the house it likes the Quicksilver EL84 tube HPA the best.
Pass Whammy driven by Holo Spring 3 KTE DAC is fast and articulate and clear as a bell. All the acoustic corners are crisp, sharp, and well defined. The full meaning of the word “articulate” describes it well. The detail is there and fully present. A good friend also deeply into hifi was over this weekend and he actually preferred the Aeolus on the Whammy over his LCD-4z. Quite a statement.
PS Audio Gain Cell DAC & HPA is a terrific all round single box unit with a remote. Really quite excellent as a first hifi entry or 2nd room system. Its performance is between the Whammy and a quality tube amp. I lent this unit out to a family member and will need to spend more time with the Gain Cell now that the Aeolus is broken in. If you see one of these used for $850-900 just buy it. It’s American made and actually better than most of the other common sub-$1000 stacks we read about.
Quicksilver HPA tube amp driven by Spring 3 KTE DAC is my personal favorite. There is No tubey or gooey bloat with this amp. Its fast and articulate and well defined as the Whammy, but with slightly less edge to the presentation. It flows more like a concert.
Both the Whammy and Quicksilver are equals in absolute high end audio chops. The Whammy pairs great when emersion and drowning in absolute detail is enjoyed. Quicksilver is very engaging and with the Aeolus swims with the detail in a more of a flow. It’s not laidback, just the depth of the corners are not as razor tight.
So far hifi friends over to the house are all surprised by the Aeolus’ performance and equally split on Whammy vs. Quicksilver. Everyone said they would be glad to own either one.
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The Aeolus is very musical indeed! One of the reasons why I love it and why I’m very happy it was my first entry into the ZMF family.
Nice amp comparisons as well!
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The Aeolus really need a crazy amount of break-in time, but the rewards are worth it.
The craziest thing about the Aeolus is the imaging is inside your head and it feels exactly like you’re wandering around stage with the band while they are playing and you just plugged into one of their amplifiers.
This headphone wound up being the ideal upgrade from the HD 650, for me anyway.
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