ZMF Atrium Review - My Favourite Headphone
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 17 июл 2024
- The ZMF Atrium is a headphone that does things differently to many, and quickly became the headphone that I enjoyed using the most out of everything I have.
Content and analysis sponsored by headphones.com and patreon supporters on / goldensound
ZMF Atrium: shop.zmfheadphones.com/produc...
👕 Merch! 👕: shop.goldensound.audio/
VikingWeaveCables: vikingweavecables.com/
Twitter: / goldensoundhifi
Come chat on discord: https:/discord.gg/hifi
Support me on patreon and join the private telegram chat: / goldensound
(or subscribestar) subscribestar.com/goldensound
Test Tracks:
K-Means Clustering - BT: song.link/i/1687584536
Cracker Island - Gorillaz: song.link/i/1641561665
0:00 - Intro
0:40 - Accessories and build
1:10 - Comfort
1:50 - Pads
2:22 - Mesh
3:05 - Build (Cont)
4:03 - Sound
16:00 - Outro
The GoldenSound youtube channel, and all content is created and owned by GoldenSound LTD 
Развлечения
Atrium is incredible. For the last year it’s been my go-to almost every evening.
🎄Merry Christmas, Douglas!🎄
...and now the E3? How would you compare these two phones.
Same
Same ! I’ve tried atrium at canjam with you guys a while back and have since purchased one and love it ❤️ 🎶
I thought it was the Questyle m15i. Or was it the iPod with the Sennheiser IE600? Or was it your project omega headphones? Wait, I thought you said the Empyrean Mk 2 was the greatest headphone...
You had this thing since the Aperio review got uploaded over a year ago. Huge props for spending so much time with it before giving a proper review.
Basically a perfect review. I love how you weren’t shy about how it works and what people want to know about it. But you’re also big picture focused to understand what is most important for you. This is where objective and subjective in this hobby perfectly mix. It’s this guy, this review. Thanks. Now I’ll have to decide if I ever want to fork over $2k for one someday.
Great review. Really enjoyed it. They are a beautiful bit of craftsmanship. I’m not sure if you have reviewed the Caldera but in any case it would be interesting to hear that review. Thanks again from Australia 👍😎
I have a pair of these and yes they are crafted beautifully, and gorgeous to look at. They are detailed yet have a forgiving sound profile.Even though they are quite big and heavy the strap is thick and surprisingly comfortable. This 300 ohm headphone is simply fantastic on tube OTL amplifiers.
Great review! Those are my favorite dynamic driver headphone at any price.
Dude, I love the use of the image to describe the sound. I feel like that can be utilized quite well for headphone reviews, as counterintuitive as it may be
A database of what an image would 'sound' like for every headphone could be generated and would be hugely helpful
Great review!
I ordered a purple-burst european ashwood verite closed a couple weeks ago and I'm stoked to get that shipped to me whenever it may be ready. Super pumped to get into the groove of zmf. It's definitely the most I've spent on a headphone hands down so I have moderately high expectations (just hope they pair okay with a Jotunheim becuase that's all I got at the moment). Also, I hope you get to post more videos because I love seeing your input.
PEQ
Man those wooden+resin combo ones look so damn nice, currently saving money for an atrium/caldera to buy 1 of both at the end of this year. Can't wait to try em out at this years highend in munich :)
Also this was the best review of the Atriums i've seen so far in my opinion, thanks for that 🎶
Hey Man, i really appreciate your content, i genuinely feel like you’re the person with the most valuable reviews in the audio world, period.
I would be stoked to see you review the Trafomatic Head 2. It’s a 2700 € tube amp. It is said as being an impressive piece of audio equipment.
glad you reviewed my favourite headphone. Atrium is just a stellar headphone to listen to, can wear it for hours as nothing sounds bad on it
Amazing review
Merry Christmas, Cameron! ☺️
the Church experience is uplifting.
Merry Christmas 🎄 to you and yours.
Thank you for great review❗️🔆I have to admit that reminds me my relationship with my Symphonium Meteor IEM😆❤️
Hi Golden, great review. You are one of my favorite reviewer on youtube. I have a question: Normally I´m a fan of closed back HPs and own a VC and a Kennerton Rognir Planar but i will try out a open back. My main music i´m listen to is most sorts Metal, Rock, Blues, a bit of Jazz. Which HP can you recommend? Thank you in advance.
Thank you Golden for this highly informative review. I always look forward to your reviews please do more. This is the headphone I wanted to get, but got the Hifiman HE 1000se (because they only cost £2000 and not £3500), again is a headphone that resolves such detail that can distract you from not enjoying the music. A UK company was going to supply the Atrium but didn't. Did you get them direct from ZMF? Will they work well with Cayin N8ii. Thank you again and Happy New Year.
Thanks a lot for this excellent review, very detailed and informative. I have a pair of Hifiman Ananda which I’m thinking of replacing with the Aeolus. Do you think it would be an improvement? From what I have read or heard (also in this review) ZMF really put you “inside the music” more than other headphones like the Hifiman. That’s what I’m really looking for more than precise detail retrieval. Also, is there a huge difference (beside price of course) between the Atrium and the Aeolus? Many thanks a happy end of the year holidays. Best wishes, Ignacio
Great review! I love the way you describe the sound of these, and I'm also surprised how differently we hear things. The Atrium gets so much praise, and yet every time I've auditioned it (including a multi-day demo at home on my own gear), it's missed the mark for me. There's something in the upper mids that makes electric guitars, synths, etc. too shouty and forward, voices (while having some amazingly natural texture) sound on the dry/distant side, and the sub bass rolloff is pretty apparent due to the boosted mid bass. I much prefer both the Caldera and the Auteur Classic, the Caldera for a more true-to-life experience, and the AuC for more romanticism and pleasant "wetness" in the vocals.
Atrium is my favorite headphone till this day awesome review and description couldn’t have described this headphone any better myself 👌🔥 fantastic compliment to my He1000se
These are probably my next set! Thanks for a great review of them. My ZMF Verite Closed in Desert Ironwood were literally just delivered while watching this video. I already own the Verite Open and Atrium Closed and love the ZMF sound. Each set presents music beautifully and has their own area where they excel, pad rolling also makes a huge difference.
Do you think it’s worth owning a VO if you have a VC? I love my VC but wouldn’t mind both haha
How does the VC compare to the Atrium Closed?
After a listening session yesterday; I can definitely see a reason for owning both. They VC have such amazing isolation that I can keep the volume down, while still picking up the micro details. They both have the perfect amount of sizzle up top for my ears. To me the mid bass and sub bass are slightly more prevalent with the closed version. I find the soundstage on both to be similar in width, but the closed might offer the VC a little more depth. They are both pin point with imaging precision. I am thoroughly impressed and have zero regrets with my purchase of both. I will be doing some side to side comparisons when I get a chance.
The AC has a little more weight behind the notes to my ears. The VC has a Beryllium coated driver that has a ton of energy and speed, so micro details are a little easier to hear. The AC has a bio cellulose driver that to my ears definitely has more sub bass, smooth but less than VC mid bass slam, and a smooth transition into the high frequencies with plenty of details, but less sizzle and air than the VC. The AC remind me a lot of my Klipsch Cornwall IV’s on a tube amp in my living room. They sound like a set of huge vintage speakers that you can enjoy all day long. I am glad I own both, and my next purchase is most likely the Atrium Open.
GS-
Picked up my first pair of ZMF, Atrium made with treated ebony casing that the group were in clear love with themselves aesthetically from Axpona today.
The grill, make, heft, and sound as paired with my Feliks Euphoria at home tonight is absolutely sublime and next level.
I simply couldn't get them off my head in demo.
Completely agree that as a pairing with your best OTL tube amp- you are easily going to be glued.
Very good review ❤❤
Getting my Atrium next week cant wait..! Great review coming from an OG Auteur I am excited to hear the difference.. On a completely unrelated note, i have always been intrigued by the album art behind you, has this been covered before? If not, care to provide some info please? Im always looking for things to argue with the wife about..
How are you liking them?
Great review from a brilliant reviewer. Thanks for posting!
hey man good video as always, could you review the trafomatic head 2 ? i would be very intrested to see what you think of it
Excellent review. What exactly are the stock pads that come with the Atrium?
Atrium open is fabulous! My current favorite combo is WANDLA -> WA23 -> Atrium (open). It's an incredible combo and I literally can't get enough
I have the Atrium and like it the same way you do, vented mesh, stock pads. Was wondering why I didn’t see your review on the Atrium. And, I still like my Susvara and Arya Stealth.
Great review The atrium is the best headphone Ive owned, Have 4 ZMFs, 2 focal and 4 Meze's plus tried other brands to. It has a very energetic presentation. It is a joy ride not a mellow out on the couch kind of headphone. I find them fatiguing as a result. Its like going to the amusement park and riding your favourite coaster, a pure blast of fun and adrenalin, but I cant ride that thing all day, after a while I need to relax and rest. If I have an hour or so and really want to have a great listen I use the Atrium, if im in a more mellow chillaxing frame of mind I use another set of cans. An exceptional looking and sounding headphone. A masterpiece that will drift into legendary status as the years roll by
“Stylistically curated”…I find this to be actually an astute description of ZMF headphones in general based upon my experience with VO’s, VC’s, and most recently Calderas. I feel like I could always take your observations to the bank, which I did with my purchase of my Holo May KTE. Thank you Cameron for your reviews which are studied, insightful, and seem to derive from serious intelligence, acute powers of observation, and hard work.
I'm watching this review on Atrium 🎧
I am the proud owner of the Atriums at 1:07. They are gorgeous and I love using them when I am doing repetitive tasks at work.
Thoroughly enjoyed your review GoldenSound. All your stuff are really good. Just recived my own pair. Bought them based on your recommendation.
I love my Atrium, I think it’s the single best thing I own. They completely changed my mind in what I’m looking for in audio. I think I can say they are my actual endgame, and I’m finally retired from collecting headphones.
What amplifier are you using?
@@mr.dynamite2543 RME ADI2 DAC FS for something clean. My higher impedance output is just a Schiit Piety.
@@kvn_la I have the same DAC. How does the Atrium compare to something like the Susvara?
@@MikePio they’re different and I like them both depending on what music I am listening to. I usually start by choosing from my 5 DACs, then decide from my 6 amps and then the Genre. Without doing a full review, Susvara is a lot more detailed (right down to the slightest sound), resolving and relaxing.
@@BillyKueekSG what kind of genres do they Atriums do well with? Can they do ambient, film scores and some electronic well? Thanks.
Still can’t decide which I like more my Atrium Open or Closed. But considering both are getting more listening time than my Caldera and Verite atm, being far less detailed, this thing has a very special magic to it. Great review and kudos to Zach the sleep deprived sound magician.
People keep saying the veritie is more detailed than the atrium, but by a lot, or mostly its tuning?
@@jefryions5657 Verite is one of most detailed, resolving dynamic driver headphones alongside with Focal Utopia. They rival many high end planar. Both are faster too due to the beryllium drivers. Apart of that has very addicting but controversial tuning, which many people either love or hate. Atrium on the other hand is more conservatively tuned is very addicting grander in its sound, more textured and has a deeper soundstage. It’s slower and less detailed though. I have both alongside with Caldera, all three are very special headphones.
@amaya897 I never got your notification. Thats disappointing (I see it now)
@@jefryions5657 At this price bracket it’s a game of trade offs, can’t have it all :)
@amaya897 I found the verite to still be one level down from a utopia in terms of detail, however, that might just be because I found its tonality to be significantly less agreeable. Controversial I know, I don't think the utopia is quite on the same level as the planar flagships. The lcd5 and susvara are noticeably more transparent and "peerless" sounding than the utopia. A lot of it I think has to do with decay qualities. The ZMF decays slower past the fundamental harmonics than the planars do. The e-stats are even more so. The 009s so overly fast to the point that it truncates impulses before it's supposed to finish, but it does make it sound absurdly transparent.
Is this with EQ or without? They are very nicely tuned so an easy choice in that sense, but if you could EQ anything then wouldn't something more technical be "better"? Or does it have some specific character beyond that?
I haven't heard the Atrium, but the ZMF Aeolus or Audeze LCD-2F does something similar for me. It's not the most detailed or spacious but I prefer it to much more expensive headphones like Susvara, LCD-5, DCA Stealth, Abyss 1266 or Diana TC...
Nice, how are the cable microphonics? The DCA stuff is so bad with that, and has a similar looking style of connectors so wanted to ask.
well, if i didnt already own a pair i would buy a pair after this review - for me this headphone, similar to the dca expanse, its perfect for all day shuffling your entire library while pounding out code
This is the headphone I now aspire towards, to finally replace my original Grado RS-1s. That balance of sweetness, air and natural sound is so rare.
Given that you use them with a fair bit of mechanical damping, did you find them to be overdamped at all with low-output-impedance amps? I've found that with Grados often and it makes them a pain in the ass to pair with (and probably why so many people like them plugged straight into phones etc) Edit: Forgot that you did mention this - continually impressed by how much you know! Given the criteria you're describing, I'd recommend (to others) an old Matrix M-Stage HPA-2 as a REALLY affordable option, and you can always upgrade the op-amp later. But of course take that with a grain of salt as I've not tried the combo myself.
Just dropped a comment about this in the Head-fi Atrium thread.
There are in fact 4 mesh options (if you include meshless) as there are two types of vented mesh - the radial vented mesh which can be purchased from ZMF and the stock vented mesh which comes with the Atrium.
If you choose to test out the radial vented mesh, please do let us know what you think in comparison to the other mesh options.
Yes, I think the radial one is originally designed for the Aeolus.
I have all mesh variants for the Atrium, and they all sound great. My preference is the solid mesh. A lush, warm and slightly dark sound. The radial mesh adds more treble and vocals sound very clear with them. It makes the Atrium more aggressive from the upper mids/ lower treble. Less forgiving but depending on your gear you might prefer that sound.
I miss your old review style of looking at the waveform dancing on monitor
What's the difference to the (more or less hated) Audioquest Carbon series headphones? My guess is these headphones would do much better in todays headphone landscape, especially for the price.
Hey GoldenSound, I'd love to get your thoughts (and challenge you) on something. I own a Meze Elite and have owned and heard countless other headphones, including the Susvara, HE1000, HD800S, all the LCDs, and even an AKG K1000. When the Meze Elite was released it was different to these other headphones in that it was coloured and not as detailed, but yet it sounded incredible. In fact, my Elite is the only headphone that has stuck around because it genuinely does something (I assume) like the Atrium where it just makes everything sound lovely.
Now, other reviewers gave the Elite a bad rep, said it wasn't competitive in detail at its price point, and overall just shunned it. However, the Atrium seems to be loved by all, even though you say that it has less detail than much cheaper headphones.
I definitely need to get my ears on an Atrium, but I am also confused as to why these headphones got such different reviews with detail retrieval being used as a benchmark only for the Elite/Empyrean.
Otherwise, a great review as always. I really enjoy your content!
I dont think the elites did anything special. It was a worse tuned ayra with better dynamics for $3000 more. It had nothing else going for it from my listening.
Thanks!
Now we need a review of the Diana MR!
Dont need them but will definitely get a cocobolo set in early 2024 to sit alongside my Stax.
EDIT: now have them and they are a wonderful listen and pretty much just as you describe.
Would love to hear some of your thoughts on the open version compared to the closed version!
Hi, I'm considering a transportable set up. I'm using Iphone 13 as my source. What portable DacAmp will be able to drive the Atrium? Say a Hugo 2? Thanx in advance
That headphone stand looks very nice! I like it. Can you tell me about it?
Anyone know how these compare to the Meze Empyrean 2s? Like are they significantly more detailed and resolving vs the Atrium?
How does the Atrium Open compare to the Closed?
Thoughts on the caldera super perf pads?
The atrium has such a wonky/unique tuning that when I got mine I was straight up disappointed with them. It took a week of listening for my brain to burn into the weird tuning, and then the world opened up. These headphones are reeeally good.
I might be pulling the trigger on these soon and comments like these make me nervous lol... What about their sound is unique/wonky? I listen primarily to ambient, film soundtrack and electronic. And my previous headphone is the HD800. So ya... 😅
I have an Atrium open and Verite closed. Play them on Feliks Euforia, Burson Soloist and Cayin HA 300mkii..
They sound wonderful on all 3.
6 months down the road, how do you feel about the VC vs the AO? Currently with a dessart ironwood VC and thinking of the AO. Cyan 2 feeding a Pendent SE currently.
Got these earlier this week, they sound great regardless of configuration, but I definitely prefer the Universe Perf leather stock pads, but with the solid titan mesh. The stock mesh is just a bit too 'hot' in some music and gets a bit too spicy for me. Solid mesh fixed it right up for me though.
hi there, how does this compares to the verite's open?
I'd recommend to anybody who has or considers these headphones to try them on an otl tube amp.
These were my fav for a while until I got the Caldera. Since then I've only picked them up once and went immediately back to my Caldera's. Def a great headphone tho.
What specifically do you prefer about your Calderas?
One more thought…I guess one could see any headphone with intentional coloration as “stylistically curated”, but what sets off ZMF’s from so many in the pack is the degree of epicurean refinement Zach has given to his designs to achieve such high levels of appeal to human sensibility, which sonically his headphones demonstrate as obvious in their popularity. The world craftsman level execution in metal, wood, and leather is icing on the cake, as is ZMF’s comfort.
Will be great for some comparisons with the new Emp II
Not even close. I own them both. The Empy II has sucked in mids but is extremely detailed and awesome for instruments. The atrium is a warm blissful headphone with huge staging.atrium is my favorite headphone I own
Have you heard the Susvara? I am on the fence between the SUS and Atrium. I like pure technical performance, but also wouldn't mind saving some money and getting the more coloured Atriums... @@benniehill927
ZMF is the best headphone company in the world imho, true craftsmanship and each model no matter the price gives an engaging sound that is addictive. For the price of a Susavara you could have an Atrium and a Caldera, now that would be something. Great review
No ine pays $6000 for a susvara. "Yea but even stil..." no, no one pays $6000 for the susvara.
@@enjoshi-godrez8775 yeah I know but still, 2 great flagships for the price of one, just as an example
@enjoshi-godrez8775 who's getting the sus for less?
What headphone stand is that? I really like the look of it.
It’s the ROOMs headphone stand.
Now waiting for the Caldera review 😅
Love these but have never been able to get the Bluetooth to connect.
I enjoy your reviews very much.
Mr. Pete------->
aging hippie
Caldera though is great as well, Atrium also
My man finaly admits sus is boring
Addiction drives people to more and more esoteric avenues. Look at campfires stuff.
He didn’t say that at all but I appreciate your enthusiasm. I’m a ZMF fan myself but Sus on the right source chain is incredible.
no one's puzzled by the fact that this comment's from 2 weeks ago lol
@kevintj604 I was just hastling him cause I've said sus's biggest down side is that's its boring for ages
@asahi366 yeah, that's a little sus
I keep finding great artists through your videos. First Gidge, now CloZee. Thank you!
Fantastic side headphone. It was the perfect compliment to the VC. After I sold the VC, as a single headphone, honestly, it became very boring and predictable. BUT overall, for everything else other than electronic music, it's the best open back dynamic hands down
Well yeah of course it’s predictable, it’s made to deliver the same sound profile all the time, not randomly change depending on the songs you play, i don’t really get your point here
"predictable" is such an utterly bizarre criticism to level against a precision-engineered inanimate object.
which pad did you get?
It's a very beautiful headphone indeed.
I'm currently shopping for a pair of audiophile headphones, so I'm auditioning several. The Atrium is on my radar. But someone correct me if I'm wrong: you can only buy it directly from ZMF, and if you want to return them it will cost you 10% of the cost plus shipping. Not exactly a generous return policy! I mean, I have to pay $250 plus shipping to send them back if I don't like them? If so, no thanks.
What headphone stand is that?
Zet M F is crazy ☠️☠️🥶
It’s the best headphone I have, and I keep trying to find something to dethrone it and nothing comes close
Have you tried the Susvara?
Loved this review, but it did not help with my desire to get an Atrium haha.
Here's a question for you @GoldenSound - what headphones would you say make a great counterpart to the Atrium in a well-rounded collection? You mentioned the Susvara, but perhaps there are other headphones that offer a different enough lens to the music that warrants a place alongside the Atrium.
Cameron rarely responds to comments.
🎄Merry Christmas!🎄
Caldera, or assuming that to maximize Atrium's performance you would have high level tubes, then Utopia.
I will share my thoughts. I run the Atrium off an OTL tube amp and have an Audeze LCD-X on solid state amp. This covers my bases. I can run pure SS/Planar, Tube/Dynamic, or run the tube pre-out to the SS and get a blend of both (The LCD-X sound like poo on the OTL). I use the Audeze for electronic music and movies. Anything more natural sounding I prefer the Atriums. There are times when I want the natural sound of the atriums with the characteristics of SS. Luckily that's just a pull and plug away via a headphone jack.
can anyone briefly describe what they did and didn't like in the Atrium Open and Atrium Closed. Currently own the AC and I'm very curious if it too similar to own both. I listen to Pop, R&B, Rap, Classical/Orchestral, Jazz, Rock in that order
this is on a bliss kte / cayin ha-6a and spring 3 kte
Both are really fantastic headphones, they share similarities but are pretty different from each other. One could easily own both if your wallet allows it. AC has more sub-bass and treble quantity, it's a little bit more V-shaped. AO is more open sounding, and can be slightly dark in the treble depending on which mesh and pad you use. Vocals are a little bit more forward and sound more natural to my ears. It's a very smooth headphone, but at the same time can be incredibly dynamic.
appreciate your take on these headphones!
@@kingstoler
I tried them at Munich high end last year in a quite booth for a good while, along with the caldera. Unfortunately, i have no idea what pad it was using but I wasn't impressed at all. Maybe that had something to do with it being on a Felix audio tube amp (their flagship OTL model), but it was too warm and wonky sounding, with about LCD2 levels of clarity. The caldera was also really unimpressive for how much it was. The susvara was next to it, and it was like a window that hadn't been cleaned in a week, to no window at all. I wont like any headphones to have a relationship this unbalanced between the mid-bass and presence region. You need both if you going to have this much warmth to cut through it. If you like the vivid option on your TV, you'll like this. If you want something very special in the way it sounds, you'll like this. But if you want an all-rounder, there are considerably better options.
thanks for taking the time to write this! very interesting points. @@danaillaysen7632
Would love to hear impressions if anybody has had the opportunity to try these with the Schiit Mjolnir 3.
please also review 1266 phi tc
Atrium has upper mid graininess, slightly too forward mid and 6kish bump in the lower treble. The mid lacks a bit of weight. Better than average technical performance across the board with bass and sub bass being the highlight. But nothing scream SOTA.
could I drive this using chord mojo?
Easily. Both og and 2
tried it, does not images well for me, cymbals weirdly come from above, center vocals in my head
Funny how characteristics considered negative in some brands suddenly become selling points in others. Good review, anyway!
can anyone give me any comments on the difference between this and OG empyrean?
He didn't like the og empyrean at all. Go amd look at his review on this very channel.
Agree 100%, however I just sold mine. I used to reach for them over susvara for half a year or so, but now that boost in the air range is annoying and they don't do that well for concertos.
Bizarrely, I've been using my Audio Technica r70x on a vali 2 as my daily driver for months now. It's got the neutrality of a sus combined with the texture and forgiveness of the Atrium.
I am thinking about buying the Atrium, but worry as I mainly listen to ambient, film scores and some electronic. Do you think they do well in these genres?
@@MikePioIt performs very well with ambient and electronic, don't know what film score is 😅
I only got to try them at Munich high end this year, along with the caldera. Unfortunately, i have no idea what pad it was using but I wasn't impressed at all. Maybe that had something to do with it being on a Felix audio tube amp (an OTL model), what it was too warm and wonky sounding, with about LCD2 levels of clarity. The caldera was also really unimpressive for how much it was. The susvara was next to it, and it was like a window that hadn't been cleaned in a week, to no window at all. I want to hear them again to give a fairer shot, but I think I wont like any headphones to have a relationship this unbalanced between the mid-bass and presence region. You need both if you going to have this much warmth to cut through it. It's not natural no matter how "organic" that prescribes. Whatever that means. Lmao
Atrium sound like warmer, hazier HD600 (for 10x the price…PASS!).
$2500 though?
Doesn’t the Caldera use a lot of the same technology from the Atrium? I know it’s not this simple, but could the Caldera essentially be a more resolving version of the Atrium?
They are pretty different. Caldera is a planar driver & the Atrium is a biocelluose dynamic driver
no, tonally caldera and atrium is opposite of each other
verite is in the middle of the two
as for tech, while caldera is more detailed, the soundstage is not as big as atrium
First off, these headphone are amazing. The only part I disagree with is 10:32. When I think "Good timbre" that doesn't translate to mean accurate timbre. In art, "good" drawing doesn't mean a more accurate detailed drawing. It can be loose and abstract. From the Oxford dictionary: Tim·bre / noun: the character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity. The definition itself does not comment on accuracy of reproduction. You are putting the adjective in front of the noun. IE: Good, accurate. You decide. You then go on to say 11:11 these exaggerate timbre. Can you explain this to me? Again, how do you exaggerate a noun?
I agree. Each instrument or voice can perform at a street showing off a neutral version of its timbre, but can just as well perform in a concert hall, giving a warm version of its timbre (and there can be multiple other versions). Both are real life accurate timbres. And vast majority of people prefer the warm version of timbre.
Also classical composers didn't schedule concerts in large halls by a coincidence, but were consciously aiming at utilizing this warmth.
Planars have universally worse timbre than dynamics, because 1) music was mastered using dynamic speakers and headphones to sound optimally through them, it would be mastered differently through planars, 2) even little to no mastered music still has the microphone setup optimized for dynamic driver listening and they would be set up differently if it would be known they'll be listened to with planars. This causes multiple issues with timbre (and others like decay, reverb, overseparation, disjointed sound) reproduction by planars.
Some HPs through some shenanigans, like Caldera, get close, but still not on dynamic driver level. And often require tubes to at least partially compensate/improve the timbre.
Of course it's even worse when you go to electrostats.
Audiophile discovers euphonic - and gains black belt. :)
Probably the prettiest headphone that exists
Much better than the abysmal Susvara.
Strange…a ton of comments that said the Atriums were not their favorite (including my own) have mysteriously disappeared. 🤔
I glad you have highlighted this. It seemed mostly like an echo chamber of high praise in here.
Not saying they're bad from my perspective, as I haven't tried them. But a variety of opinions is always important imo.
Echo chamber indeed. ZMF’s owner, Zach, has been known to silence any opinions not in ZMF’s favor. 🤫
I owned two pairs (no longer have either for obvious reasons).
@stevet8631 which Atriums have you had, and what do you have now?
I've got a keen eye on Abyss Diana MR myself. As the way I've seen the sound described, it seems to tick a lot of boxes for what I'm specifically looking for in a headphone currently.
@@KXP70 I had two different pairs of Atrium, one brand new with all three types of pads, and the other well-seasoned and broken in (just to make sure my ears weren’t deceiving me). I’ve owned Final D8000, Arya, Focal Clear (OG and MG), tons of Sennheiser including the HD800S. Atrium was, by far, the worst VALUE headphone I’ve ever owned. If I was blind listening, I’d throw it in the $300-500 range ($500 with the best pads, $300 with the worst). D8000 was my favorite headphone for sound, but not for comfort. Arya Stealth are my go-to right now. Haven’t tried any Abyss yet…good luck on your headphone journey.
And to me the arya stealth are unlistenable. Just treble murder.
My Balanced and Dekoni padded DT 880's 600 ohm, have all the [aesthetics] I need. The main reason I don't have a VMV but a DO200. I don't need to pay extra for pretty. Best, D.
I tried it. It's good but does not fit with the music I like unfortunately. But the atrium closed is right up my alley.
What kind of music do you listen to? Which genres did you find the Atrium to not sound so good with?
@@MikePio sorry for late reply. But tons of metal. Death, doom and black. Which is why I probably won't need anything but with for an open back.
The british old church!
Don't mind me I'm just here for the music recommendations...