Don’t feel bad my Super Conductor cable cost $2700 makes the 1266 sound a lot better.
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I have the Verite Silver 4 strand cable from ZMF that I pair with my Verite Closed…
Also, of note… I’m not saying that cables can/can’t change the sound performance… I just personally buy them based off aesthetics, and how good they work, and feel in the hand… =) @dncnexus @BondDaBoom
I don’t have enough experience with cables to determine if there is any change that I can pick up consistantly… might make for an interesting live stream down the road maybe?
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I think most people have answered some of the questions, but i just wanna say…
GO DAWGS! 
ok back on topic…
I like the BE2 leather and hybrid pads the best for VO.
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Here is a good graph to get good info from. Metal type is only a part of the difference between cables but most professionals that are being truthful say that cables can turn a 95% amazing setup into a 98% setup. Can the listener hear that subtle 3-4% difference? Maybe, maybe not? Something that looks nice will make your brain react in a certain way too.
With most blind tests its pretty hard. The only differences I can **sometimes pick up is the difference between silver vs. copper. The rest I personally am splitting hairs on when I’m comparing a $300 cable vs. a $500 cable.
I think the best option is to make sure your connectors dont have any of the lesser conductive metals in it like brass. Ive seen a lot of cables that are silver plated copper strands but the connector (xlr/rca) has brass in it essentially killing the whole cable
But if i put a radioshack $1 rca cable vs. a $300 cable I notice a lot more musicality but it might just be me liking the $300 cable.
I grew up on playing drums and blasting tunes very loud so my view is very subjective.
With the pendant and other tube amps I would imagine it would be harder to tell differences versus testing with a super transparent thd 0.00…% amp and other gear made to be super detailed.
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@TylersEclectic Those blue ZMFs are gorgeous. Is it still possible to order a pair? I guess I should email ZMF. Wow.
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He hasn’t listed them yet… but they will be available soon! Doesn’t hurt to email ZMF about them though!
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Thanks. I saw a teaser on Facebook and heard him talk about them probably when you guys did the podcast with Zach and his partner. Those look simply phenomenal.
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Would go well with your dna amp!
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That’s what I was thinking! Now, how to pay for them?
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Just in case I succumb to the ZMF November frenzy, which open ZMF headphone’s sound signature is the most different from the Verite: the Aeolus or the Auteur?
From all the comments in the various ZMF threads, Aeolus appears to be the most fun for rock music, so I’m guessing that’s the one I should aim for, although to be honest, the Verite is a fun headphone to me, so I can’t even imagine more fun.
Here is an interesting rant from the guy who makes Double Helix cables. If you don’t want to read the whole thing, he basically says that there’s no reason to buy any cable that includes plating, particularly if it’s gold-plated, because it reduces the purity of the metal, and can make it less conductive. He also says that OCC-7N Copper and Silver is a marketing ploy, as it’s most likely 5N or 6N.
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@TylersEclectic was telling me Aeolus is a great companion to the verites
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FWIW, I don’t own an Auteur, though I’ve heard them on a number of occasions (I do own an Aeolus & VO).
I guess the answer has to be Aeolus as most different from Auteur. Mainly because it’s fun as hell, a real blast to listen to (not characteristics I ascribe to the Auteur).
Bear in mind that many people go batshit crazy over the Auteur & wouldn’t necessarily agree w/me.
Also bear in mind that the Aeolus can be pushed in the direction of more apparent resolution & detail by using different ZMF pad sets known to work w/the HP. But even at its most neutral (Verite perforated lambskin pads), the Aeolus is still fun as hell.
Aeolus is certainly tops for rock, any genre w/strong beat & bass (reggae, electronic, R&B, soul). But it also kills on big orchestral, choral, operatic classical. It’s just plain fun–also has more resolution than some give it credit for (tho not the Verite’s equal there).
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Having both the Auteur and VO, I wouldn’t say they are complementary. Easiest to say that the Auteur is VO’s little brother.
Haven’t heard the Aeolus so can’t comment there, but based on what I remember reading it may be a better contrast, but, keep in mind they all have that ZMFness to them that limits just how different they can really be from each other. Not a bad thing just less degrees of separation.
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I dig it very cool looking purple looking nice not overly purple just enough.
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Excellent can for the Starlett!
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Is that the same one listed here?
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Yup same as that one
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[Later same day, replaced table w/a slightly longer, corrected/edited one]
OK, just did a detailed comparison of the Aeolus to the Verite Open. See Table below text…the characteristics use for comparison are free association/whatever came to mind as I listened:
Amp: Violectric V281 (balanced output)
DAC: MHDT Labs Orchid
Cables: 2M new ZMF stock/VO; 2M ForzaAudioWorks Noir HCP/Aeolus (both balanced)
Pads: Perforated Lambskin Universe (stock)/VO; Peforated Universe Suede/Aeolus
Music: 1 dozen .wav files of various genres (blues; R&B; reggae; Afropop; funk; classical)
SUMMARY: These headphones sound more alike than I expected in a close, focused comparison. That wonderful ZMF “house sound” is quite evident here; the voicing of both is relatively similar.
Overall, the Aeolus has a somewhat more diffuse & romantic sound with a natural weight in lower registers; the VO resolves detail better, sounds clear as a bell, and has an feeling of neutrality and unforced accuracy.
Note: Verite pads push the Aeolus closer to the VO in detail & resolution (and slightly away from romance & diffuse sound). The VO always pulls ahead in resolution, but when the Aeolus has Verite pads on, the differences become smaller.
The midranges of both are HD650-like (a good thing, as most of the music is in the mids). The mids are very well represented in both headphones.
Both are the opposite of bright, edgy, insistent, forced. VO has great clarity and resolves like crazy, but is very easy on the ears (they both are). I experience the sound of each as stirring & beautiful. Aeolus is a bit more “fun,” exciting, thrilling; VO is a bit calmer, yet very detailed & engrossing. Every time I hear the VO, no matter what the music genre, I think “tonal purity” – every note is so clear and timbrally accurate.
CONCLUSION: IMO these are both must-have headphones. Their differences are small but significant & meaningful to me. I wouldn’t want to be without either one. Each can really cast a spell and make me forget I’m sitting in my office listen to 0’s and 1’s…which is priceless. I’ve never experienced a headphone that presents so much detail with so little emphasis or edge, as the VO: IMO it is singular in that way.
PS: Can’t figure out how to make this image display larger. You may have to download it to read it full-size (sorry)
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