Interesting. This is from the ZMF Verite order page: you can switch back and forth for a warmer experience with the Universe pad, and a more linear experience with the VÉRITÉ pad.
I agree that we’ll see variance between users and people will hear things differently for a variety of reasons, including perhaps differences in our ear canal anatomy (the “room” for headphone purposes), auditory nerves, and brains.
So just because I was curious I just put on the Verite pads, been listening pretty exclusively to the U pads except for a small BE2 trial before the VO was burnt in.
To my ears V is more sparkly, has a tad more detail/clarity and maybe a touch faster. Loss of soundstage compared to the Uni pads with concomitant loss of holography. Maybe also a touch less slam, maybe due to less space between the driver and the ear? Just guessing here.
Uni is a warmer, more enveloping experience but a bit hazy in the upper register.
Im actually surprised by the degree of difference Im getting here. Or maybe Ive developed an ear for small differences.
My verdict: V for technicality and more balanced tonality, more “analytical”, Uni for an “experience”. I think I would still lean towards the Uni pads as I got a Utopia and Uni pads make the VO a better contrast.
I should put on the BE2 pads since I now have the VO burnt in. Will report later. In theory the BE2 should be more towards my tonal preference but there is more to enjoyment than tonality.
This is an interesting comment, upon first read I went direct to you amp and DAC chain. Reading it again, I wonder if the issue might be the quality of your source material? As in it could be the quality of the recording, is it lossy, etc.
Maybe I am misinterpreting the manner in which you explained. It would be best to provide further insight before you start running with new tubes, DAC, amp, etc, as I don’t see the whole picture from your initial post.
Good stuff. I’m keeping an eye out for your BE2 impressions.
Separately, for each of your cans, is there a particular sound signature of the tubes you’ve selected for each? I’m just curious about how others go about their selections for matching pads and tubes, if applicable. Or maybe you’ve been fortunate and your “current final” tube selections go well with all your cans.
I considered trying to match tubes to certain headphones but I think that would lead to madness given I sometimes switch cans pretty readily.
I ended up with tubes that seemed to present the best technical improvements versus looking for tonality as I found that a bit more finicky to adjust and I think our auditory centres can adapt for tonality. So I do think Ive found a good all around tube set, at least for me. Its rare for me to tube roll anymore. I might try a different preamp tube down the road with the VO just out of curiosity but I feel no pressing need to.
I’d actually forgotten I’d ordered a set of BE2 pads with my VO, so thanks for the reminder! Like you, I decided to burn my VO in first and get used to out of the box sound signature with the Verite pads.
All of my files are lossless. sometimes the treble is just perfect, other times I would like a bit more, I guess it’s just different recordings. overall they are great, really enjoying.
I was thinking of maybe an Ares II DAC, would like to hear it.
The thicker backing of the Verité pads can only reduce treble response, not increase it. It’s interesting that some hear the Verité pads as having more treble.
The Verité pad is shallower, bringing the ear closer to the driver. I think this is why ZMF went with a thicker backing for this pad.
I agree that it could be madness. That’s an interesting point about our auditory centres being able to adapt for tonality - makes sense.
I didn’t intentionally try to match tubes to certain headphones, but I observed differences and ultimately found pairings that seemed to work based on my intended/desired influence/voicing.
What I’ve found to have a signicant impact on sonics for my amp is the gain of the tube, where my amp can use 12AX7, 12AT7, 12AU7 tubes which have different gain. This might be similar to or parallel to your reference to “technical improvements.”
HD650s seem to be more sensitive (decibels) than Eikons, so benefit from more gain (my MZ2 amp doesn’t have a gain switch, where your Starlett does). The Eikons are pretty revealing and adapatable/versatile for different gain (Beryllium should be even more revealing) – I sometimes use more detailed and transparent high gain tubes for classical/jazz/electronic where more energy can be favorable. I sometimes use lower gain, more “lush mids” tubes for classic rock, acoustic, vocals-focused music where a more laid back presentation can be favorable.
Interesting, I found something similar. The preamp tube I now use for the Starlett is simply the one that seems to be highest gain and also seemingly the most transparent. Does mean I rarely go above 2 on the volume pot but the pot on the Starlett is so bloody smooth it dont matter.
I think it is dependent upon what you are looking for you in the treble. I was listening for sparkle and air. The Uni pads may have more energy in the lower treble but less in the upper treble compared to the Verite pads.
I was looking at @Resolve’s pad FR graphs and I was trying to apply to some smoothing to it in my head to see if there is congruence with what I was hearing. Looks like the Uni pads have more lower treble energy but fades a bit higher up whereas the V pads maintain more energy in the upper treble region. It’s from his June 19th post in this thread in case I screw up the link below.
Take a look and see if you agree.
I totally get it, there have been many times I am listening and there is a transition in tone, and I begin to question my chain as there is much talk on synergy amongst the components. Then I realize the Verite expose a bad recording or mix that I was not aware of with a lesser headphone, DAC, amp.
The only solution is try out what you can, and hope to find a more synergistic combo. When all else fails, start again?
That is interesting how we have similar experience. I’m happy with the MZ2, but am having Starlett withdrawal now.
Something to be said for different types of treble. With the Auteur pads, with the larger cavity and being farther from the ear compared to the stock Eikon pads, there’s supposed to be more of a dip in the upper mids, lower treble.
the graphs make sense. what pads did my VO most likely come with? I’d probably want a bit more energy in the lower treble if anything.
would I notice much of a difference going to a higher-end ZMF copper cable, I see one used at the moment.
The Verite comes with verite and universe pads. The uni pads are the thicker angled ones and usually come attached to the headphones out of the case.
If memory serves Zach himself prefers Universe lambskin pads.
To be honest I see these graphs, and frankly don’t understand them and I work with data daily. It seems like they all show the same plot with a small deviation. A deviation I doubt my ears would pick up on, they also don’t account for how the other components in our system may affect the sound.
So how do you all use these graphs when you come across them?
I don’t haha. I just listen. I’ll throw some pads on, listen for a day or so and see what I like and what I’m hearing. Then I’ll switch them out and try another set. After I tried the Verite, universe, and be2, I settled on the universe. Again, to my ears the be2 and Verite sounded a little veiled in the mids. They both have the thicker backing.
I liked the comfort of the suede so I use the universe hybrid. The reg universe and hybrids sound identical to me. Just a comfort thing.
I look up the graphs when making a headphone purchase decision or to see if there are readings on different pads. Other than that, I don’t really pay attention to them. True about how they don’t account for other components in the system.
In the past, I may have played around with adjusting to the Harman curve.
Been messing around with EQ on the VO with BE2 Hybrid Pads. Like this one so far:
LS: 120Hz +5.0db 0.70
PK: 300Hz -3.0db 0.70
PK: 3.5KHz +5.0db 0.70
PK: 10KHz +1.0db 1.0
Thanks, ill try this out when it arrives. Do you use that EQ with all your amps or a selected few?
