(double post, I posted this over on Head-Fi as well )
A string of conscious post incoming, this was written over about two+ hours of listening and a/b…I need to get better at timestamping these types of posts… I was imbibing some Willet Pot Still Reserve w/one rock (for science)… and a guilty pleasure dessert to end my night Baileys Vanilla Cinnamon/Baileys Almond milk/Baileys Salted Carmel (My wife bought me a sample box lol, the Baileys Vanilla Cinnamon is awesome!! don’t you judge me!!! )… I know…I know!!!
Ok towards the end be aware I stopped a/b testing and just started “listening” you know when it happens because I start emoting/writitng about the tracks lol… booze, you devil you!! wags finger. This also happens due to the joy of listening through the Verite’s I was still going back and forth with them during this phase, and just enjoying them… they both are FANTASTIC and cause me to forget what I was doing and just start “listening” and enjoying what I’m hearing. All while letting me go on a ride of discovery/emotion/nostalgia! F’s to the yeah!
I was using the following Chain: RME ADI-2DAC --> Phonitor XE --> Verite Opens/Verite Closed
Music source Qobuz Studio on random(random the only way to listen ) This makes for a fun way to re-discover my randomness in music lol, I don’t have one preference and listen to anything I find “good” so some people will like some of the tracks, some will hate them, some will find something new, or break out of what they are used to hopefully =)
So doing a more traditional a/b test of the Verite O/Verite C and I must say, right away…the Closed are more “Three-Dee-Ness” than the Open. Also, the mids are more emphasized and I can see where @Monsterzero is picking up “brightness”. For me, it isn’t so much that it is brighter as more “potent”/Forward? I have them on the Phonitor XE plugged in at the same time, so they are volume matched (especially since they are essentially the same headphone, I don’t have to worry about dB matching). With the Opens… I feel like I need to turn the volume up a smidgen, which I think is where the “brightness” factor in the Closed is coming from. The Closed mids/vocals have a more intimate feeling in that the singer feels closer to you. It’s interesting, I think the Closed are actually more enjoyable to listen to …my dear “entity of choice”… did I really just say that… I might need more whiskey and head time
…Ok…I just measured dB and at the same volume on the Phonitor XE, the Closed are hitting about 2-4 dB above the Opens, which now putting on the Opens dB matched they are back to what I remember them being. They are now right in-line with each other again. Pretty interesting find, and something to be aware of…but this also could be my setup or the specific tracks I was using… I’ll have to get input from the other folks that have the Closed to weigh in on this.
I still think the Closed has more 3-D-Ness to them, and the mids are still more “potente!” also the lows have slightly more presence.
Damn it!!! just had to delete a paragraph as I forgot which ones were on my head until I looked over to my headphone stand and saw I was writing about the wrong ones… lol… this is a good problem in my opinion!
I keep wanting to put the Closed on over the Opens…now this could be due to me only having them for a “short” time but damn, I like this sound.
Well, I think after this…Both the Verite Open and the Verite Closed are phenomenal! Fantastic, and downright end of the road level headphones. Just plain, good, listening, coming out of these. I’m going to be very sad when I have to give the Closed back to @Torq … and wait on my own set to come in the mail…but I’ll have the Opens to keep me company Plus my new Aeolus A.Blackwood w/Unfinished copper to break-in =)
I hope that I added more questions and didn’t answer any questions with this post…ergh…eh…yeah, F it, I’m sticking to it
Tracklist via Qobuz Studio:
Cellophane ~ FKA twigs
The Real ~ Busty and the Bass
Golden Wings (instrumental) ~ Gabriel Garzon-Montano
Suspicious Bulge ~ Riot Jazz Brass Band
Heartbeats (live) ~ The Knife
10,000 Emerald Pools ~ Borns
The District Sleeps Alone Tonight (Remastered) ~ The Postal Service
After Dawn ~ Weathertunes
Blackbird (2018 mix) ~ The Beatles
Fresh Eyes ~ Andy Grammer
99 Problems (Album Version) ~ Hugo - Old Tyme Religion
Pour Over ~ The East Pointers
L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. ~ Noah And The Whale
Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major ~ Yo-Yo Ma
Modern Man’s Hustle ~ Atmosphere ( I grew up on this stuff and it is a must in my collection, also it was raining tonight, damn love the lyrics; love me some underground hip-hop!)…I guess I should have written about each track…hmmm…eh ain’t no goin back now! (yes, yes, I know, double negative sticks out tongue “phlbbghhhttttttt”). Muah-ha-ha-ha imitating my 3yr old daughter’s evil laugh
Coming Over (filous Remix) ~ James Hersey: oh man that “3-D-Ness”!! and around the 00:50 second mark the bass kicks in just chill music… reminds me of pursuing my highschool crush/girlfriend during the summer…Nostalgia is a powerful thing =)
Time Bomb ~ Prof : Yeah buddy, indie Rhymesayers goodness, beats, and lyrics… yes, guilty pleasure, ha! also this is very NSFW lol, he has some great tracks if you are into this sort of thing. No/Andre The Giant/Bar Breaker etc! Makes me laugh listening to the lyrics…once again guilty pleasure artist, I’m a big fan of Rhymesayers mostly due to nostalgia listening to them as a kid.
King (Acoustic) ~ Slenderbodies : Oh yes… if you listen closely to the intro you can hear the rain in the background. This group is one of my current favorites… just chill music
Sit Next to Me (Acoustic) ~ Foster the People : wow…the acoustic version just sounds fantastic! Highly recommend!
bury a friend ~ Billie Eilish : what a fun track, I’m enjoying the way the Verite C presents it with warmth and her voice just hovering around my ear, while the percussion dances around.
Power Over Me ~ Dermot Kennedy : this dude puts out some serious nostalgic invoking tracks… invokes a lot of memories listening. As far as sound just fast-paced percussion and acoustic guitar, mixed with that raspy voice, makes for a fun listen.
Nothing Breaks Like a Heart ~ Mark Ronson (featuring Miley Cyrus) : Don’t you judge! this is a fun listen, plus due where due deserved the girl can sing. =) I really like the way the Verite C presents her voice on this track.
Hey Jude (Remastered 2015) ~ The Beatles : I’m really digging on the piano and drums here… man Verites are present these tracks so very well. I’m really liking the stage and imaging, especially with the drums in the background. The piano is hovering in the right ear cup… wow. Good listen.
Waiting In Vain ~ Halie Loren : just pure enjoyment, jazzy goodness, what a great cover! If you are into this type of music, it is an easy track to close your eyes to, with a big grin on your face.
Girls Like You (Album Version) ~ The Naked And Famous : This one brings me back to a very specific time in my life, and also is just a fun track… I actually prefer the Verite C over the Open with this track… The lil pops seemed more apparent.
Night Light ~ Jessie Ware : another just enjoyable listen, lots of little things to pick up in the background if you listen, very fun production. Plus she has a great voice! Toss-up between the Verites =)
Beyond ~ Leon Bridges : damn, I’m really starting to enjoy this random mix… this track is head-nodding good! I almost want to go wake up my wife and dance with her… (Thought better of it, I’ll just give her a big hug, in the morning lol )
Sun Models ~ ODESZA (featuring Madelyn Grant) : and now I want to go back to Hawaii…or the tropics…
No Roots ~ Alice Merton : this is just bassy goodness lol, fun track…have to give it to the Verite C on this one! both did great though with the lows in this track… I just found the Closed to be more fun, but just only slightly =)
Grandpa’s Groove ~ Parov Stelar : This band is a very fun listen, I enjoy a lot of their work. Fun Swing/big-band style with a new-age twist.
Love Somebody (Acoustic) ~ St. Lucia : another simple, yet extremely enjoyable track. I can really sit back and enjoy this track. I want to give it to the Verite Open as my preference for this track…but it is only just.
Murder in the city ~ The Avett Brothers : This one reminds me of my brother and me. Good listen. This style of music really shines on the Verite (both of them).
Drive by Fires ~ Ayla Nereo : love this track, one of my new discoveries, been enjoying some of her other tracks but this one and Seeds are two of my favorites from this artist.
Hanuman (live in Paris France/2011) ~ Rodrigo y Gabriela : F to the yeah, these two can jam! ooh, can’t pick a favorite Verite here, both present this very well… really like hearing the crowd in the background! very cool.
Acid Mountain ~ Moon Hooch : if you like percussion and brass, you will like this. Head bobbing goodness. Might have to give the edge to the Opens here =) they give the Brass just a little more room to breathe it feels like.
1950 ~ King Princess : ooh, this is tough, I want to give it to the opens, but the Closed have just a tad bit more mid goodness…hmm… got to make it a toss-up as the Opens have something going on that makes me keep swapping back to them, but then the same happens with me wanting to put the Closed back on lol… this is a trend in most of these tracks for everyone’s awareness.
Moonshine (Feat. Kacey Musgraves) ~ Foy Vance : This is appropriate for my imbibing times tonight lol. I like the mix of instruments and male/female vocals… man… I really like this track…big grin on my face. I ended up just listening with the Closed…sorry no going back now
Ok ending on the next track… I stayed up way too late doing this, and drank too much…
Up All Night ( acoustic live album from Music In High Places) ~ Unwritten Law : I have very fond memories of this track…Berkely summer bar hopping with a bunch of U.C.Berkely students followed with watching the sun come up, and shining out over the San Francisco bay from the top of a “house”… and while writing this…“Ocean Eyes” by Billie Eilish came on and pulled me back for one more song…
Goodnight fine folks…hopefully some entertainment was had from this post =)