$3500 ZMF Caldera Closed Back Review
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- $3500 ZMF Caldera Closed Back Review
IN THIS EPISODE:
ZMF Caldera Closed Back Headphone
www.zmfheadphones.com
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Amazing how the pads have a pretty significant impact on the sound /tuning.
Kind of interesting how the suede material always seems to bring out the treble and the leather pads bring out the sub bass.
Wild. ❤
Its kind of simple, suede material "breathe" and leather seal up better keeping those bass vibrations in, of course there are perforated leather which reduce bass by releasing air out, than we got another aspect which is foam density :) so yea I did some experiments with pads and they really got huge impact on sound as many mentioned. There are headphones with stock pads that are limiting their potential, of course thats a failure of their creators or just a personal taste of a user. Pads works like EQ
ZMF is undefeated right now! Great review and accurate on everything. The staging can get a bit wider with some of the NOS tube options like the Mullard EL38s in the Aegis. CC seems to loves tubes. I’ve actually been traveling with CC and mojo 2 - awesome pairing.
Great video. Excited to try the caldera (though my wallet definitely can't take it). Side question: have you considered releasing merch Michael? Would make spotting other viewers at audio conventions easier.
I've thought about it. I have 5 Director's Garage t-shirts made. One has the logo on 2 sides, which I wear to CanJam so if I'm sitting at a table people can see that it's me. I'd also need to do some proof-of-concept, maybe a poll to see if there'd be more than a few interested. Maybe for DG 10,000?
Love the use of AI in the cues and interludes. It sets you apart from the rest. Subscribed.
its ok but a bit cringy. The use of AI is like a use of filters in Photoshop 10 years ago. If its not done with taste, it seems bit too unrefined.
Manchurian Ash is the second/third best wood zmf uses that isn't resin stabilized imo.
Only ones better imo are buckeye Burl or the best wood BW Ebony.
Can't wait to get mine
Very nice combination of unforced detail, organic vocals and mids, and extended but relaxed highs. Can be a little peaky in the upper mids as you say, but works well with a 1 to 2db EQ pullback in that region (3 to 6 khz). But overall, great headphone and passes the can't-stop-listening test.
EQ works well with these since the bass is very tight and transparent. (Yep, great, detailed bass with the CC).
Use a good easygoing cable, like a Dana.
Also, go for the Magnesium chassis; it's worth it. Although not lightweight, it feels great as it hugs w/o clamping.
Nice review! Hmm, I find the staging as wide as the Open version and far, far wider than the DCA Stealth, but haven't heard the E3 though from reviews the stage is supposed to be similar.
I've had a few ZMF's including the Caldera Open. All good... but the Atrium Open is the best ZMF imo. I'll never sell it
Did you like any of their closed back versions? I’ve been eyeing a few, including the new Bokeh.
I get it! I really like my Caldera Open but I find myself listening my Atrium Open more. For me it’s the staging. I really have to order and install the Mantle for Caldera kit to see if it does anything for me.
@@jordohayes The Verite Closed was my first ZMF. It had really nice Camphor Burl Wood Cups. But I loved the look of the HP more than the Sound signature and sold them eventually. I'd give the Bokeh a shot. It's a Good Value
@@arthurhaywood2184 The thing I like about the Atrium Open is it's a great all rounder and sort of a Chameleon that transforms it's sound sig depending on the audio chain you throw it on. It really plays nice with Tubes... adding more Bass and some Punch and Slam which I look for when listening to some Hard Rock genre's. Caldera was good... but I preferred the HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth over it.
@@JTB-- yea he1000 stealth is on my list along with Atrium open, already got VC so I dont need closed back
Awesome review, thank you!
Lets go director!!! 💪🤜🤛
I’ve heard the astell & kern sp2000 can drive these?!
Will you review any new hifimans? Like the Arya organics
I'd love your opinion on the pro's and con's of Atrium closed vs Caldera closed. Obviously, Zach thinks the Valdera closed is better, hence the price bump, but how do they compare?
I haven't heard the Atrium closed, so I can't comment. Maybe someone else can chime in?
I don't necessarily think the Caldera Closed is better than Atrium Closed, the drivers just were a ton more expensive to produce (R/D and raw cost) . I've met plenty of people at shows who like the Bokeh best, and ofcourse Vice Versa, it's all about the users priorities and setup. 😊
The problem with living in Canada, when I worked out what the cost for the open back Caldera, it’s close to $7000 Canadian after Visa fees, taxes, shipping and exchange. Jesus. Guess I’ll have to keep dreaming.
Buy used if you can!
@@DirectorsGarage Ok. I’ll buy yours👍
@@DirectorsGarage No? Shucks.
Any idea when you will get rhe raal 1995 Immanis ?
No idea. Audio46 doesn't even have it yet. That's my most likely source.
@@DirectorsGarage I've heard it in Heidelberg Germany and Munich High-End show and it blew me away 🤯 . Its definitely a step up above Susvara . Such a cool technology
Wouldn't the Dan Clark Stealth be the better comparison as it's closer in price?
I misread my friend. Sorry. The E3, in my opinion, is much better than the Stealth in tonality-- and the Caldera Closed is much better than the Stealth-- which is why I left it out. The Stealth is just as difficult to drive as the E3, and the E3 sounds much better to me. The E3 is DCA's best headphone in my opinion.
Hi PickanPop. I think it comes down to that the Director prefers the E3 over the Stealth - he says that in his E3 review. And the price no object viewpoint.
Yes, The E3 is a much better headphone than the Stealth, in my opinion. I can't think of a reason to take the Stealth over the E3, other than styling.
Thanks for the honest review and telling us about the narrow soundstage. That's pretty awful for a closed back, they are usually like that and what makes a closed back is getting you a bit more soundstage than usual. Try the MDR-Z1R and see what you think.
Having owned both, the Z1R is far more narrow. The HD820 is the only closed headphone I've heard that sounds wider than the Caldera Closed. We all hear things differently, but he's in the minority as far as how he hears soundstage on this.