Hey @typicalheadfierandy I have never heard the Eikons so I can’t really speak to what you may or may not be hearing with your pair. I have only heard the Aeolus which sound incredible. I also have the Aeon2C and love them. So I appreciate that you like your Aeons. I am not sure what’s going on with your pair and I would check with @ProfFalkin @TylersEclectic @Resolve and others that have heard that headphone to give you better feedback sorry man!
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That doesn’t sound right at all.
I have two pairs of Eikon, in different woods, and nothing about either of them would be appropriately described as “honky” at any point on the spectrum.
Eikon’s are colored for sure (that’s part of their point … ), but not to the degree you say you’re hearing, particularly if your reference is the AFC.
Ditch the EQ while troubleshooting.
(I’d say ditch it entirely - defeats the point of running ZMF cans in the first place, and I’m not a particular fan of the tools or settings involved with the way you’re doing it anyway).
I’m not running EQ with ANY of the ZMF headphones (and I have a big collection of high-end cans to compare to … nothing about the Eikon sounds odd to me).
Are these new or used Eikons?
It’s not a burn-in issue … there’s nothing “honky” about the Eikon’s in any regard, and more play time won’t fix that if that’s what you’re hearing.
If new, talk to Zach.
If used, I’d be suspicious that there isn’t something wrong with the headphone itself.
On your amp/DAC …
If they’re working fine with your AFCs, then they are unlikely to be a problem. Though, depending on who built/which version of the O2 you have, its possible the jack isn’t sitting correctly on the plug.
Only way to trouble shoot that is to try a different amplifier/plug/cable.
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Damnit. I wrote this long thing about dats-not-right on his impression, but @torq said it all better than I could. LOL
Seriously, email Zach. He supports his headphones like none other.
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Hey thanks everyone for your advice. These are used headphones (so no warranty) but I don’t suspect there’s a fundamental problem with them since they have been well kept as far as I can tell and the person I bought them from seems very trustworthy.
I’m thinking this is, at least in part, a fit issue. I had tried to get the fit right, and already went through the instructions in Zach’s video, but after reading these replies I’ve been experimenting around again. My glasses don’t help with the seal, and if I take them off then push the headphones against my head behind my ears the sound dramatically improves - the bass tightens and the honk falls away. I’m just having a bit of trouble getting this seal without using my hands (or adding elastic bands!) and while maintaining the ability to see. The single-rod system doesn’t seem to give any control over relative front-to-back pressure.
Going to keep experimenting! If worse comes to worst, I guess I don’t really need to see…
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Unless you listen with your eyes like the ASR folks…
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Most accurate sentence describing that forum that I’ve read. And I think measurements have their place, but come on. It’s not gospel…
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Don’t you believe in the word of Amir? Here, have some literature about the Church of Audio Scientology. Can I count on you to attend a measurement service?
SNAID be praised.
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For reals…
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I think we are all here listening to noises 
…
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Invest a mere 20% of your income into the Church of Audiology and you too will be elevated to a member status of 0.00001% and be gaurenteed a seat on the Topping spaceship headed for Audio Nirvana.
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I can see dead silicone
As Frank Zappa referred to it: The Church of Appliantology, by L. Ron Hoover. An interesting Zappa album for sure. A seriously entertaining album, especially with with an adult refreshment or two.
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Still laughing 
Spot on!
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So after a lot of twisting and bending I found a good fit, and I’m enjoying these Eikons now! They do seem very sensitive to fit, and I haven’t had a headphone like that before. Thanks again everyone for the quick and helpful advice.
Edit: Two days later, now enjoying them a lot!
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Question - Is the Atticus or Eikon going to have a sound signature similar to the Aeolus? but closed…thanks
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According to Zach, the Atticus has the same driver as the Aeolus, which makes them more similar. The Eikon does not, so that is the one to choose if you want a different sound.
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I wish I could give more likes! You couldn’t have said it better…Spot on!
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The Eikon at least has a very different sound signiture to the Aeolus.
It’s a Biodynamic driver, and has IMO much better timbre than the Aeolus, and a fairly obviously more forward midrange.
The Eikon also doesn’t sound very closed. It was the first closed back I heard where I didn’t think being closed compromised it.
I haven’t heard the Atticus, but it’s the same driver as the Aeolus, so it’s probably closer.
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Eikon and Atticus are both semi closed, the only true closed ZMF HP is the Verité Closed.
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And oddly, the VC has a really wide soundstage for a closed back, to the point where I forget it’s closed quite often.
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