Thanks. My classification system built on perception science, and a really old approach. Following the classifications, I’m drafting a blind A/B test method to generate human measurement data to quantify and communicate more clearly about common audiophile terms. At this point I fully accept a lot of subjective descriptive language that I never used to hear or understand.
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Not at all - this was a highly informative, engaging, and valuable set of impressions, thank you. I found your comparison of the pads helpful, and if I ever decide to get the Vérité I’ll be sure to come back to your thoughts here.
More importantly, your analysis does what all great comparisons should: it not only identifies clearly the differences and similarities between the two headphones but it also tells us much that is insightful and meaningful about each of them individually. Great review!
Edit: the “preamble” and “amble” were hilarious!
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I understand the comparison, and I appreciate the time you spent to write this up.
They’re both top of the line headphones from their respective manufacturers and that’s often how people look at headphones when comparing.
Very well written, and great impressions.
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Yesterday my co-owned new VO (stock silkwood) arrived. My local Head-Fi pal & I split the cost. I know there will be jokes about wife swapping & audio polygamy–but it comes down to how little I listen to headphones these days (due to migraine), but still wanting to hear more of the VO after a very positive loaner experience in December.
I’m pretty sure that my friend will have these 2/3s of the time, but I’ll get them for extended exposure anytime I want.
With all that as preamble, I set up a burn-in station in the garage; more convenient to have that happen outside my home office, where I turn off both computers at night. The old laptop in the garage is not critical to my work, so I’ll leave it on 24/7 'til ~200 hours of burn-in happen.
These headphones are really lovely. I find the stock wood to be very attractive, pleasingly subtle in grain & figure. It’s a joy just to handle this VO; I enjoy picking them up, putting them on & taking them off. ZMF headphones are truly an experience for all the senses, not just hearing of audio.
It’s taking lots of self-control to do no listening for the next week or so, beyond monitoring to make sure the selected files are playing properly. As usual with any headphone, I started off w/24 hours of noise files at moderate loudness (these have zero transients or dynamics). Today I switched over to classical music: Bach cantatas & several 20th century violin concerti. In coming days I’ll move up to louder, more dynamic classical music, then ultimately get into pop/reggae/electronic w/strong bass lines.
My favorite headphones currently are the ZMF Aeolus (blackwood) and Ori (ormosia henryi)–can’t get enough of either. Owned and sold a padauk Eikon & cocobolo Atticus (I don’t do well with closed headphones other than the Ori). I am very happy to be 1/2-owner of a VO.
When I had a VO & VC here for a couple weeks in December, I was terribly impressed by their unusual combination of high resolution & high musicality. I’d never run into headphones that conveyed that much detail in such a humane, ear-friendly way. Zach really knows what he’s doing when he voices headphones.
Can’t wait to start the real listening of my/our new VO!
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Im sure they wont mind if you take a listen every now and then just to see how the burn in is going.
They really are beautiful cans.
That is their biggest selling point in my opinion, well put.
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Great comparison @perogie. Thanks for this, I feel I know a little more about these TOTL beauties now.
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After a long and understandable wait, I’m now officially a ZMF owner! I’m still waiting for a few add-on accessories, but with the VO and Pendant in the house, I’m enjoying them both immensely.
If I have the ever so slightest of disappointments, it’s that I was hoping for a bit more “radical” wood pattern similar to some others I’ve seen here (I literally said on my order form in regards to this specific design request, “while Buddy Holly and Little Richard are both great…lean more Little Richard for my set!” To me, I think this is definitely more Buddy Holly).
Still great though, and not complaining at all. Just happy that I’ve got a nice home setup now, with little left to lust after. Winter IS coming.
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My man! Got the purple! Nice!!! Lovely set you got also!
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Hah! Yes, I’m a big Prince fan, hence the request that @zach915m was able to make happen!
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It probably wouldn’t change anything too too much in your awesome comparison - but I’ve always found the 3 ohm or 9 ohm outs to sound the best on the DNA amps and are what I use on my Stratus - the 120 ohm is great, but definitely brings a warmer veil and slower speed to any headphones, even the Verite at 300 ohms is then at a less than 3 to 1 impedance ratio. That 120 ohm out is kind of a “specialty” impedance on the DNA amps. Since the power output is linear impedance matching isn’t quite as important as with a solid state VS tonality preference. Ofcourse if you prefer the warmth/speed of the 120 ohm that’s great too!
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You’re not making the wait for my Stratus any easier there Zach.
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Thanks Zach,
I can try that and see if it makes a difference. I do hear a bit of veil with the Verite, and to be fair to the Verite that is only in comparison to the Utopia, maybe the Zout of 120 contributes to that.
I will try it out of a lower impedance and see what it does. Maybe it will change my thoughts and I will follow up on my comparison. I was aware of the lower ratio but I just kind of went with it out of habit. Thinking back, 120 was the impedance I stuck with when I ran other tubes that were a bit brighter and I just never went back.
Thanks for the input, or should I say output??
Dont you have enough amps! Share with the rest of us. Part of me is tempted to send you my Starlett once you get the Stratus so you can tell me the difference. However, I think it better you send me the Stratus to compare since you will still have ample amps to play with!
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No.
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So I may still allow you to buy one of my DNA t shirts, definitely no free 2A3 now though! 
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After the suggestion from @zach915m I tried the 9 ohm Zout (3 just didnt sound right to me) on the Starlett and it makes the results of my comparison a bit more interesting. There is a definitive improvement in clarity and speed at this Zout compared to the 120 ohm used in the review. I re-listened with only the Uni pads and did some quick A/B tests with the Utopia.
I dont think this would change anything regarding the pad comparison. This does from a pure technicality point of view this does bring the Verite closer to the Utopia.
The improvements: Slightly stronger punch with a greater improvement in overall macrodynamics, blacker background, enhanced clarity with concomitant enhancement in detail retrieval. Imaging precision is also improved. No real loss of Verite tonality, at least not on the Starlett. Speed/transients are noticeably improved.
The only loss is a reduction in what I would call atmospheric warmth on some tracks, it’s mild but noticeable and may effect the sense of euphony with some tracks.
This was a nice surprise and thankfully Zach reached out with a good suggestion.
So if one were to suffer through reading my comparison again, I cant say there would be any change in how I view the two cans as A/B. The change in Zout does not allow the Verite to overtake the Utopia in any area where I found the Utopia to be higher performing, but it is a hell of a lot bloody closer.
My closing statement about favouring the Utopia over the Verite if I had to choose is now essentially a toss up and that’s awesome.
If I can I will add this disclaimer to my comparison post.
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Amazing! ok back back to reading the comparison 
That was a great comparison, and I can tell you took your time! I am glad you did try @zach915m recommendation and updated your findings for us!
Quote=“perogie, post:1015, topic:2684”]
EDIT : After using the 9 ohm Zout on the Starlett I am no longer sure I would favour the Utopia over the Verite. It really is a toss up now and it is awesome. Thanks again @zach915m for pointing out the Zout consideration. End EDIT .
Ultimately I wonder if this comparison was a waste of time as Im not sure sure if its reasonable to compare them. These cans are meant to do different things and I would bet came from different design philosophies, so maybe all the verbiage above was a silly exercise.
Anyways, apologies if needed. Hope you enjoyed if not.
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I don’t think it was a wast of time at all @perogie instead a great virtuous learning cycle in this experimental and collaborative hobby we all love so much!
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Didnt even know purple was even an option!
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Interesting. My friend has the Starlett with the Verite Open and Utopia, and he won’t get rid of one or the other either. At some point, I’ll probably get around to comparing both. Thanks for the write up.
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They’re both impressive headphones on the Starlett.
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