I totally agree. The Eikon is the more immediately engaging headphone, but the Aeolus (or Atticus), given time, really shine with their reserved flamboyance. Though they can be relaxing, they can also be downright party animals with the right music that takes advantage of that midbass hump. The Atticus/Aeolus are my current favs for Pink Floyd. The Auteur gives them more sparkle and air, which can sound more engaging at times. But man that mid bass punch of the Atticus/Aeolus is intoxicating. Currently listening to Comfortably Numb on the Aeolus and man the drums punch! Perfection for my tastes 
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Great song man! Love me some Pink Floyd, and especially with my ZMFās and a good tube amp.
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Very well saidā¦couldnāt agree more.
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You know either headphone I listen to, Iām not so much thinking about what the specific headphone is offering as much as Iām enjoying music. However when I bought the Aeolus, I bought it with the intention of just keeping one. One headphone to rule them all! (ok iāve had some more whiskey.) At least that is what I mentioned to the wife. She said I deserve both, and maybe I do!
There really is a honeymoon phase with a new headphone, and Iām certainly there with the Aeolus. It does sound great on everything from Pink Floyd to 2Pac. Iām going to have to live with both for quite a while before I can make a choice.
Maybe adding the Pendent for sale on the forums will help me make a decision? Or will it simply add to my chain!?!?
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Aeolus is a great headphone. Very enjoyable. An ampsandsound tubed amp will pair well.
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Ha! Neither will go, just accept it now 
No joke, I went through the same progression with ZMF. I started with an Atticus. Added the Auteur thinking Iād keep the winner and sell the loser. That never happened. Added a VC thinking it would replace the other two. Nope! Sold the Auteur to fund a Pendant. Missed it so badly I bought another. Also added an Eikon and Aeolus. Now I sit with 5 ZMFs and one head. Iām an idiot, but damn am I a happy idiot! Join me!
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I only have two sets of ZMF, but I would not think of parting with either of them. Iām going to add a third, but am being a bit particular on the wood choice.
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I hear you, Iām super picky about the woods on my ZMFs. Itās one of the many non-audio aspects of ZMFs that make them so fun to own. What is your 3rd going to be?
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I donāt know yet. It will probably be a VO or an Auteur. I love the VO Blackwood and the VO Desert Ironwood, but the extra weight was a detractor. Iām not ruling out a third Aeolus either. I have Zebrawood and Bubinga.
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My Aeolus is Bubinga, I love it! I thought of going for a more exotic wood but I love woods with a nice golden reddish hue, and Bubinga brings that in spades. Itās not as red as Pauduk, but still has a nice vibrancy to it. Iām jealous of the Blackwood VO if you get it! I love Blackwood, itās neck and neck with Cocobolo for my favorite wood.
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I am thinking of getting an Eikon again. After buying the Auteur I want that biocellulose driver in a closed back too. My first ZMF was an Eikon, but I sold it after I got my VC, thinking I couldnāt have two closed backs. Stupid, I know.
I had a cherry Eikon, but I would love to have a darker wood this time. Blackwood and all heavier woods are out of the picture, Iād like to stay around 500 grams. Iām looking for rusted Zebrawood, Barnyard Cherry or Ziricote. I wonder what the next LTD wood will be.
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You have to love Zach and Bevin. They had my broken Aeolus back in their hands on Friday evening and itās on its way back to me today, and will be in my hands on Friday. Thatās amazing customer service and care.
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Can you please live stream the cable insertion on Friday?
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Hahaha!! Yes. And Iāll be joined by Howard Stern producer Gary DellāAbate, whoāll be throwing out the first pitch. Itāll be a festival of mortifying incompetence.
Listen, I got my ampsandsound Kenzie Ovation tube amp today and it took me longer to carefully insert the tubes than I spent on my taxes. Mission accomplished, though!
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Or you could go a different path, put some low atonal symphony underneath and call it suspense!
Glad you got such great service from ZMF, and I think at this point the whole forum is rooting for you to have your headphones for the weekend!
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FedEx says itāll be Friday - really canāt wait. Thanks for the support, everyone!
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The theme music to PSYCHO is also an excellent choice in the suspense category.
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Also in the 5 ZMF club, but with the VO instead of Aeolus and recently got the Pendant so Iāve been rediscovering all of them.
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Iāve owned 5 ZMFs: sold the coco Atticus & padauk Eikon; currently have the blackwood Aeolus, silkwood VO, and ormosia henryi Ori. 4 of the 5 (and all 3 current ones) were purchased new from ZMF.
Canāt imagine selling any of the 3 current ones. The VO in particular hits just about every right note possible for me.
The build quality and sound of ZMF headphones are stratospheric IMOā¦and it certainly doesnāt hurt that Zach & Bevin are easily the friendliest, most genuinely customer-oriented business owners Iāve ever run into (in any field).
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Are the reasons to go with the VC or VO the same reasons one would apply to any closed-v-open debate (noise-bleed; size of soundstage), or are there specific qualities about the ZMF open and closed models that need to be taken into consideration?