I prefer buying my headphone pads from shops like this one:
14 Likes
Good find. Iāll take the perforated, all season.
3 Likes
I want the racing pads. S P E E D !
2 Likes
This is awesome! Sheās super talented.
1 Like
Nice to see a fellow Camphor Burl out here!
1 Like
Just ordered the Aeolus! As a first-time ZMF buyer, Iām unclear when Iām put on The Spreadsheet - is that when it actually goes into production? Any sense on a 6-to-12-week track when thatāll be?
Iām never going to make it 12 weeks.
Thanks!
4 Likes
I bought mine second-hand from a buddy, so am not envious of your wait!
The Aeolus open is my end all be all open over-ear, even having gotten some decent time with the Verite!
That said, it will be worth the wait.
1 Like
Easy for you to sayā¦ 
1 Like
Easy for me to say indeed haha!
1 Like
Itās a ZMF kind of delivery day! Some swag from the team and perf suede pads for my Aeolus.
Crazy how drastic of a sound change it brings, now the Aeolus is like a mini VO!
Maybe Iāll realize the difference after I get used to the adjustment, but so comfy!
7 Likes
I only have the perf suede pads, so now that you can compare them, how did the sound change? I assumed it just reigned in the warmth.
Also, nice swag. Iām actually wearing my ZMF sweatshirt right now. I find that it adds warmth. 
9 Likes
It takes about two weeks give or take a week or so to be put on the spreadsheet from my experience
1 Like
Iāve tried 3 sets of pads w/the Aeolusāfirst with the sapele Aeolus I borrowed repeatedly from a local pal; and next with my own blackwood Aeolus purchased late in 2019. Here are my impression of these pads, all of which are specifically recommended for this headphone:
1 - Aeolus (stock) pads: These are the warmest pads, allowing the Aeolus to have the largest mid-bass ābump.ā This is a warm-ish headphone to begin with, and these pads make it as warm as it can be. I didnāt care for the stock pads and used them only briefly.
2 - Verite pads: These are described as the most āneutralā pads for the Aeolus, and that is true. Bear in mind, though, that even at its most neutral (meaning much less mid-bass bump, flatter frequencies up & down), the Aeolus still has that āfunā dynamic & musical nature. It doesnāt become the Utopia just because of these pads. I liked these pads and consider them my #2 choice.
3 - Perforated Universe Suedes: When I first tried these, it was ālove at first listen.ā The sound is more neutral than w/stock pads & mid-bass bump is somewhat lessābut the fun & musicality are off the charts. I love these pads for the Aeolus and have no urge to change; these pads are my clear favorites.
Another pointāitās tempting to focus on only on tonality when discussing these pad choices. But resolution enters into it. Not everyone sees the Aeolus as a high resolution headphone, but it actually can resolve small details & microdynamics better than many others. This resolution becomes apparent as you go from stock pads to universe perf. suedes to Verite pads. With Verite pads, the Aeolus becomes somewhat Verite Openāish, conveying more detail.
Some people are into resolution & detail and tend to think the Aeolus is just for fun/relaxing listening. But it definitely can do more, depending on choice of pads.
10 Likes
Thanks. I actually have a collection of pads I bought for my Verite but never used them, because I was enjoying the Verite so much with the Universe pads.
One of my new yearās resolutions was to unpack those pads. I should go on a pad rolling binge with both headphones.
3 Likes
The Verite Open is a whole different story for me. Iāve only heard them w/the stock/Universe padsāI love that sound and have zero wish to pad roll.
Listening to it right now. Really a magical sound IMO.
5 Likes
We actually donāt use a spreadsheet system anymore. Email updates are sent as your headphone goes through different stages of production. I know it doesnāt give you something to look at as much - but it creates less emails for us, and more time for us to focus on building.
18 Likes
Can people email you and ask about the order building progress?
But that takes away a core buying experience for new ZMF owners! Itās a right of passage to neurotically refresh that spreadsheet every 10 seconds daily in the hopes our status will change. My therapist thanks you Zach, but I do not! 
5 Likes
You get a few emails during the process. Iām not sure how many because I am currently constantly refreshing my email waiting for the third one.
4 Likes
Yeah, Iāve swapped refreshing the order spreadsheet for my email app haha. I just ordered a Wenge Auteur right before they ended, and got an initial email saying the wood has been selected for machining. Iāve been refreshing obsessively ever sinceā¦
5 Likes