I suspect that @Lothar_Wolf would sooner get rid of the coffee.
Those are what I have on my Atrium also, I like them so much as is I’ve not felt the need to try others, even though I have a bunch of other pads around. I got Auteur pads also at time of purchase, but have not tried them out.
For the Verite I did try a number of pads, and I felt like it took some time to get them dialed in with the right pads (and amp). I also started with Universe perf lamb pads, and tried them with both Verite pads and the BE2 pads, finally sticking with the BE2 pads. All are perf lambskin.
I don’t have a tube amp these days, but I liked them with the Schiit Valhalla 2 more than other Schiit amps I’ve had, and more than a with Burson Soloist 3GT or Flux FA-10 Limited I also had.
Now, I’ve got a Violectric V590 and Nitsch DSHA-3FN. The Vio is very, very good with it, but the DSHA-3 just nails it with Verite. It’s the best solid state pairing for Verite I’ve heard. And it’s also best with the new gen Eikon I have.
I swear Atrium sounds good with any amp I’ve used it with, and sounds great with either the Violectric or Nitsch amp, depending on the sound I’m in the mood for. Aeolus can also go either way; it’s more lush with the DSHA (or tubes), a bit more analytical with the Violectric.
Fun stuff, try the BE2 with your Verite if you get the chance. Cheers!
Sorry, I did not see right away that your are from Frankfurt, than you are excused! (Fun fact, when I lived as a child near Frankfurt I was Bayern München Fan too, but now that I live in Munich I am no longer a fan, openly ) Enough of soccer.
I like your CC, congrats. That is my most likely next headphone purchase.
My favorite for Aeolus, too!
So this happened: ZMF November 2024 – ZMF Headphones
And I am once again in love with a headphone: BOKEH Closed LTD – ZMF Headphones
The last closed back I tried was the DCA Aeon 2 Noire, which was… fine but just fine (and is now for sale). All of the reviews of the Bokeh are positive, but very few of them compare it to other headphones. Also I already own the ZMF Atrium as well as the Meze Empyrean 2, Focal Clear, Hifiman HE6se V2, and a few others. So question to anyone who owns the Bokeh, especially if you also own the Atrium: is there a place in my collection for it if I do not need the isolation of a closed back? Will it add a listening experience that is unique and desirable or will it just look good?
Of course there is a place in your collection for another ZMF!
I’m sure you read what @Lothar_Wolf had to say, which is high praise. The various ZMF threads on head-fi are quite positive towards the Bokeh, and in comparison to other ZMF models…
Lothar is the only person here I know who has both Atrium and Bokeh, and I’m kind of in a similar position to you. I was leaning towards Bokeh Open, as I’ve generally preferred open back headphones, but I got a new Eikon last year which I just love. So I’m still undecided…
Considering Bokeh, Bokeh Open, or maybe an Auteur this year if I see one that grabs me.
I also have a bit of a ZMF collection going: Atrium Open, Verite Open, Aeolus, and Eikon.
So I’m a bad influence.
This may have some useful input for you, there are several other threads also.
Äh……
Why?
Well, it brings all the qualities of the Atrium to you in terms of mobility.
If you have seen Golden Sound’s review of the Atrium, you can transfer this 1:1 to the Bokeh…
if…
you have a high-quality mobile DAC/amp, you have the opportunity to enjoy your music in the best quality and with extreme flexibility anywhere in the house, on the terrace, in the garden or on the go.
If you own a Mojo2, the Bokeh is almost a must.
Should you have been skeptical about the term synergy up to now, you will start to think about it when you hear this combination.
With both the Bokeh and the Mojo2, you can see in the pairing what extraordinary quality these two devices have.
The Bokeh equipped with the hybrid ear pads and the Mojo2 with crossfeed on level 2 is pure balanced, crystal clear, relaxed and addictive music enjoyment.
——————
However,
I should say that if you only want to make ONE investment, have a hybrid tube amplifier at home and are looking for a TOTL pair of headphones that really stands out and even puts most high-priced open headphones in their place, then save your money and go for the Caldera Closed, they are in a class of their own.
—————
Nevertheless, I didn’t want to give up the Bokeh under any circumstances, because especially in the combo mentioned, these headphones are really addictive (at least for me in terms of my sound preferences) and I’m not even sure if Zach knows what a sound monster he has created.
—————
These headphones can’t even begin to be compared to an Aeon Noire.
The Aeon Noire is basically an Aeon 2 with black cups and modified ear pads, so I “glued” the new ear pads to the Aeon 2 and then used it as my daily driver for 1 year, because the “bat cough” sent my wife to home office and we had to share the office and from this time on I needed a closed back headphone.
Compared to the Bokeh, the Aeon sounds like you’re listening to music in a darkened tunnel - interesting and certainly not bad, but in direct comparison, narrow, dull and unnatural.
—————
I don’t want to make a comparison with the Clear, as I was never and am never a real Focal fan, as the tonal alignment of the Focal headphones, regardless of the model, always seems unnatural >to me< when it comes to vocals.
—————
The Emphy 2 is a planar headphone and is superior to the two ZMFs mentioned in terms of driver speed and also shows this quality especially with guitar sounds and in terms of “bass strength”.
Everything else is comparable.
—————
HifiMan is a very special chapter.
For me, almost all HifiMan headphones are always at the top in their respective class in terms of airiness and speed.
String instruments sound world class, you hear every pick, every move on the strings and the resonances of the transmitted sound body are freaking fantastic.
The spatiality and imaging is mostly extraordinary.
But……… what seems so outstanding on the one hand causes ear pain with voices and some wind instruments due to the “I’ll call it” high tonal intensity of the corresponding tuning of the models.
—————
It is precisely these tonal “fluctuations” among various manufacturers that have made me such a fan of ZMF, as at least the headphones released since the Atrium series are very balanced without much effort and you can listen to entire playlists continuously without ever feeling the urge to want or have to skip because you feel the sound is bothering you.
Without even the slightest bit missing anything tonal.
The bokeh is a wonderful part of this category.
PS:
After 2-3 days of intensive use, a Pad change to the Hybrids…… and the “weakness” mentioned above has been eliminated, the bass is much clearer and more defined than at the beginning.
Believe me, I am curious too
Thanks @robson and @Lothar_Wolf for so much information! This is exactly what I was looking for.
I think my main concern with the Bokeh (or any closed back) is that they will sound too… well… closed. That is my biggest issue with every closed back and IEM I have owned. I don’t expect them to sound as open as say… an Atrium. But I also don’t want to buy them and find out that I never listen to them because I have an open back that sounds similar but more open, y’know? Especially as they are not returnable.
I’m probably going to gamble on these. I’ve actually had better luck buying headphones based on striking looks (with an understanding that they are also widely considered good sounding) than doing the intensive comparison research I do with other product categories. After all, the latter is how I ended up with the Aeon 2 Noire while the former is how I ended up with my Meze Empyrean 2: I saw photos of yours, @Lothar_Wolf! And they are not only my favorite overall headphone right now, but caused me to sell my Audeze LCD-5.
Thanks for all the useful info Lothar! It’s very helpful to read your comparisons.
It’s interesting what all of our different takes are on various makes/models.
I’d say I’m more of Focal fan than you, but I have to be in the “mood” for that sound. I have Clear OG like you both, and Utopia 2020. There’s no denying their fast, articulate, and punchy sound. And the resolution of the Utopia can be a revelation, or it can be painful depending on the recording (and chain).
I don’t have a Meze, but I think I’d like it. And I’m also rather disappointed with the DCA headphones I’ve heard (Stealth, Expanse) or owned (Aeon RT Open). They do certain things well, but they all sound dynamically compressed, which other planars don’t.
I may have to take one for the team and get a Bokeh Open when they launch. I particularly like the dark Spectraply with the Bloodwood grilles.
Don’t worry about this, you will be surprised….
Yesterday I spoke to my dealer and he will send me a Bokeh Open to test in December.
I will most likely not buy it, as my AC Resin Flake is due to arrive at the end of next week and after that there will be a long break from buying any new high fidelity products.
Yes exactly my impression as well.
The DCA E3 might be worth considering though. IIRC DMS said it was the most open sounding closed back he’d heard, and Currawong prefers it over the Modhouse Tungsten.
Paired with the Cayin iHA-8, switched on high Gain & >Hyper< Mode, and the Holo Cyan2……. it‘s a fantastic Headphone.
As much as I appreciate DMS, I would disagree with him on this point.
At least the Caldera Closed sounds noticeably more open on Tubes and the bokeh really isn’t far off the E3 in this category.
The problem with the E3 is that it actually needs juice to deliver its bass quality.
Had the exact same combination.
That is a fantastic rig for the E3.
However I switched recently to a Violectric HPA V550.
A little bit less Bass slam with the E3 but I prefer the overall musicality of the V550.
P.S. If anybody is interested in the i-HA8, just PM me.
If You are really interested, here’s the newest offer fresh from today:
Nr. 2 the Redwood Burl looks fantastic
Thanks, but I am not a fan of the stabilised versions, I prefer more natural looking wood.
So not stabilised redwood would be great and cheaper.