It looks like Zach put up new hybrid universe pads (lambskin and suede) both perforated and nonperforated. Anyone try these yet??
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I have the non-perf version sitting right here. With Verite and Aeolus… hmmm… no. Everything is super shouty. I didn’t listen to a sweep, so I’m not sure where the FR gets wild, but I didn’t really care for it. The perforated hybrid might be much better, I don’t know.
I haven’t tried the pair I have with the Eikon or Auteur yet. I very rarely remove the pads from those two because what’s on them now is what I prefer, and I don’t want to get things confused. Speaking of confused…
I was just taking stock of the ZMF pads I have here. 4 sets of what appear to be perforated leather universe pads, another pair of non-perforated leather something, a super thin perforated leather pad, a suede perforated something, and a few more!
I gave up and just now sent Zach an email asking “Holy crap, how do I figure out what is what?” I’m going to have to send him pictures or something.
It’s a confusing mess.
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What do you use for a sine sweep?
Youtube. I’m not doing measurements with it, so why bother with some fancy whatever.
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Thanks. I’ll check into it.
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I’ve used this one quite a few times.
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Thanks @ProfFalkin, @metal571!
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FedX is bringing my new Aeolus sometime today. That one has been a long time coming & will be welcomed with open arms/ears.
I’ve had a friend’s sapele Aeolus on loan 3 times (weeks if not months each time)…that headphone upended my collection of headphones & use pattern for same. It’s so entertaining & has so many sonic moves (sounding subtly different w/each amp, and distinctly different w/pad rolls) that it just elbowed the other headphones aside.
I’ve heard all the ZMF dynamics IMS & really admire the VO in particular based on its mind-bending combo of musicality & detail/speed. But at the end of the day, it’s the Aeolus I can’t do without.
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@Pharmaboy Which ear-wood did you get? I think you are going to really like those Aeolus…
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That’s awesome man! I can’t wait to see some pics! Welcome to the club. 
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Blackwood w/SS screens & sliders & magnesium chassic.
It’s burning in right now…blackwood is beautiful.
I’m nuts about the Aeolus. Thanks to having had a loaner for extended periods, I know exactly what these bring to the table. They’re my favorite headphone, for sure.
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Congrats on the Aeolus!! Can’t wait to see pics. What pads did you go with?
My favorite pads are the perforated universe suede; that’s what I asked be on the headphone when shipped. The other pads that came with it are the stock universe lambskin.
After 24 hrs of burnin on noise files (I always start out w/pink noise & gaussian noise mp3s on endless loop, since they have broad tonal coverage but zero transients), I just did a sanity/safety check of this Aeolus w/a favorite acoustic jazz tune. Burned in for just 1 day, and already the sound is very pleasing. I think a small part of that is the blackwood, something I’ll be listening for once this is burned in…
I heard some killer headphones at CanJam today, including the best sound I ever got out of an Auteur…but for whatever reason, the Aeolus really takes me higher.
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How long are you planing to do the burn-in?
I have an Aeolus in Blackwood currently in “Sanding and Finishing” and as this is my first ZMF HP, so I want to learn as much as possible, so the experience is as perfect as possible.
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This is my 4th ZMF headphone…in addition to various HPs from other mfrs. So I have my burn-in technique down:
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I always start with ~24 hours burn-in using 2 mp3 noise files (pink noise & gaussian noise) on endless loop. I use somewhat higher volume for these files than I would for music because noise files contain zero transients or dynamics.
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Then I transition to music files (.wav or .flac). I do the next 48 hrs with large-scale symphonic or choral music, which has more dynamic contrast and transient energy than noise files, but still less power than pop genres w/electric or electronic instruments
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At the 75 hr point, for another ~75 hrs I play well-produced studio popular genres (ie, Steely Dan, Michael Jackson, reggae, Afropop)–stuff with a strong beat & bass line. The volume is medium-to-loud (no more dB than I would be comfortable with as a listener).
I can send you a link to the noise files if you’d like to try them.
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Out of curiosity @Pharmaboy is this providing additional benefits to the headphones as I honestly don’t know and just assumed people burned in their headphones listening to any music.
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Is there a support group for the people on the spreadsheet? My Aeolus (also my first ZMF) is also in “sanding and finishing” and I feel like I check the sheet about 8 times a day 
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Lol this is awesome, I can’t wait to get a pair too!
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Open the spreadsheet on a PC or Mac web browser. Under tools -> notification rules, you can get emails every time it is updated. Since only Zach or Bevin will be updating, it saves you from checking constantly.
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