I found these did as thoroughly convincing job listening to bass-heavy EDM as they managed with the free-form pizzicato of the double-bass (with all it’s texture and nuance intact). The Stellia, while a closed-back headphone, are the closest direct comparison in Focal’s line to the Vérité, at least in terms of price/performance. Compared to HiFiMAN Susvara and HE-1000 V2, the Vérité Open renders heftier slam and physical presence of bass while the former two headphones have a more agile and intelligible bass line. As a result of the slightly more mid-centric feel of the Vérité Closed, details are a touch more perceptible. Closed-back headphones for home and on-the-go use. Stage width here falls somewhere between the Focal Stellia and the Sennheiser HD800S, which makes it notably wider than the Utopia, with the “Universe” pads rendering a wider stage vs. “Vérité”, as well as adding a sense of depth and a slightly less up-front positioning. As with the above combination, there is fantastic levels of micro-detailing, sense of pace and attack. Though, the unique tubes of the MicroZOTL add a liquid flow to tracks making vocals sound more elastic and agile while slightly softening leading edge transients. As with the open models, the Vérité closed also possesses taut, punchy and articulate bass which aids in sense of pace and liveliness of music. As I get the opportunity, I will measure other versions and post comparisons in “The HEADPHONE Community” thread for these cans. The ear-cups themselves are fully rotatable in both vertical and horizontal plane allowing the listener to achieve an optimal fit. I will be trying all of the available pad options in the near future, though comments on such will likely be on “The HEADPHONE Community” thread rather than an update to this review. The Stellia unit featured in this review was kindly loaned to us by Focal’s local Australian distributor, Busisoft AV, and will be heading back to them afterwards – our sincere thanks for the opportunity. I agree with zach, wood density/hardness matters. I wouldn’t say it’s “faster” in the bass than the two Focals that it most closely resembles, but it is right there with them and can run the gamut from controlled to explosive with a startling immediacy. In the four months since I received my set, these have received a disproportionate amount of my listening time, and quickly established themselves as not only my favorite of Zach’s creations, but one of my favorite headphones ever. Overall, for losing myself in music, my guilty-pleasure is to listen to the Vérité with the “Universe” pads installed. As this is a semi-open design, the Vérité open adopts a concentric grill design where users can choose from a copper, rose gold, brass, black or stainless steel plate. One such company – ZMF headphones have been producing premium wood-crafted heirlooms which have charmed the audiophile community for the best part of five years. Atticus has a bigger soundstage as well. The Verite Closed aren’t really anything like the Denon’s either. In the four months of listening time I have on the Vérité, and in comparison to my relatively broad stable of solid headphones, I’ve certainly covered more listening ground than I am here - so feel free to ask for other comparisons/specifics here. ZMF’s latest creation, the Vérité C (for “closed”), is Zach Mehrbach’s latest addition to his dynamic headphone collection. The ZMF Vérité is Zach Mehrbach’s latest open-back dynamic-driver headphone offering, and is the current flagship in ZMF’s range. It is quite palpable and convincing. Does not apply to special-order, open-box or sale items. In general, I think the highest praise a reviewer can give any product is to actually buy the unit under review. Edit - the pads can make a pretty big difference though. Vocals are more upfront and clearly defined. The highly resolving nature of the Vérité is plainly on display here, with high-nuanced vocal inflections fully exposed and readily audible (something sometimes glossed over by lesser cans, and that is generally more in evidence with very-fast, very-stiff driver-equipped cans). Both models offer superior levels of instrument separation and detailing which allows music to breathe without congestion or smearing. None of this detracts from mid-range coherence or realism. It is always great to see humble boutique companies produce high-quality artisan products which can compete with those from far larger firms. With “Mining for Gold”, the entry point to “The Trinity Session” (Cowboy Junkies), the flagship ZMF cans render the air and space of the venue, with all of its openness, reverberations and echoes, in a particularly vivid manner. Compared to the closed-back Focal Stellia which also make use of beryllium drivers, the Vérité Closed has more neutral and linear bass whereas the Stellia evokes a slightly more bass-centric sound. Focal Elegia vs Stellia Sound Signature. I have a slight overall preference for the Vérite Closed, but could easily see that flipping for others. Specifically, their delivery is slightly warm with some extra tonal “richness”, with a very solid bass foundation, clear and present mid-range, and a little extra sparkle on the top-end - all presented with oodles of detail and texture. The drivers are suspended in a proprietary rubber composite system exclusive to only ZMF headphones. While Utopia remain the most overall technically-capable and resolving dynamic headphone I’ve heard, and just bests the ZMF cans in terms of micro-dynamics, raw detail retrieval and ultimate speed, Zach’s cans are within a point or two of matching them … while retaining a deliciously organic and rich signature and a notably more spacious, dimensional and vivid stage. Schiit Yggdrasil 2 DAC and Schiit Mjolnir 2 (w/ TeleFunken E188C amps). Focal Stellia Casque de Musique headphones I have the Focal Stellia (footnote 3) on my current shortlist of superfidelity 'phones because my auditions at CanJam NYC 2020 were extremely positive. Utopia can be a bit lean in the bass and are occasionally excitable in the treble vs. the more even response of the ZMF can. Recently back on the road, and after purchasing the most high-end DAP /AMP I had ever owned the Cayin N8, I searched again for a good closed back sound. As standard, the Vérité package starts with your choice of either a locking, water-proof Seahorse hard-sided, carry case (which is ridiculously solid) or ZMF’s own “LTD Mahogany” presentation/storage box. You get both in the box, so making a determination for yourself is easy. Slightly ahead of neutral, the bass is perfectly done with the right amounts of heft and slam to really make the listening experience a pleasurable one. I think the most commonly requested comparison I’ve had so far, regarding the Vérité Closed, (excepting comparisons to the Vérité Open, of course) has been for the Focal Stellia: Verite C (Un-L-NP) vs Stellia (CUST - 84 dB at 300 Hz).png 1600×863 59.6 KB. But when it comes to strict technical performance (resolution capabilities), the Stellia is the clear winner. Please note that these are for the Pheasantwood version of the Vérité and that does affect the sound (and hence the measurements). Schiit Yggdrasil 2 & Schiit Ragnarok amplifier. For another perspective, make sure to check out @Resolve's review of the ZMF Vérité (in Silkwood)! Both the Empyrean and Vérité have a pleasant low-end with the Empyreans sounding slightly more boosted and leaning more towards the smoother and warmer musical tonality. But, first and foremost, music should be enjoyed and not dissected. And to put that in perspective, the only other cans I’ve owned two pairs of at the same time are Focal’s Utopia and Sennheiser’s venerable HD650. It really brings the term holographic to the next level and is much the result of the driver design, angled ear cups and side porting to aid this three-dimensional depth. I think of Focal and ZMF as two sides of a beautiful coin. It is nice to see (or rather hear) that the bass levels are not unrealistically elevated but instead have such a natural timbre and depth that depict the realism of tracks. Tight, punchy and definitive are few of many words that can be used to describe the Vérité’s low-end tuning. The Vérité Closed is Zach Mehrbach’s closed-back variation on ZMF’s extremely well received, and highly-regarded, open-back Vérité model (reviewed here), and their most recent, and perhaps most anxiously anticipated, offering to date. The HD800S pulls ahead in stage/imaging and can deliver a bit more impact (true of it vs. the Utopia too) - probably due to the larger driver, and maybe a hair more resolution, but the ZMF can is simply a more engaging and enjoyable listen. ZMF Vérité Closed vs. Focal Stellia - Frequency Response. The new FocalStelliais the the French company’s second successive closed-back headphone release, and second in line to the crown title of “flagship” in their audiophile headphone range. You can read more about their history and origin at their website and on “The HEADPHONE Community” ZMF-thread. Actual tonality seemed very even, but still “dark”. What I found particularly appealing in Meze’s Empyrean model, ZMF have taken this a step further towards my preferred tuning with added treble presence and energy while retaining that fatigue free listening experience. I first heard the Vérité at Canjam @ RMAF 2018 - oddly enough while Zach was engaging in an impromptu live-tuning session with several other listeners - and it was in the final tuning derived there that I last heard the Vérité and which turned out to be my favorite new headphone of the whole show. The earpads of the Focal Stellia and Focal Clear have the same size and shape. The tops of the rods have been made flat to give the headphones a chicer look as opposed to a more antenna-like feel from previous iterations. I was privileged enough to have the two together for a couple of months. The same goes for comfort. Sometimes with the “Universe” pads sounds appear to come from beyond the confines of ones head/ears (this was most notable with Holly Cole’s “Train Song”), and while the stage isn’t as deep vs. the HD800S or something like the Abyss AB-1266 Phi CC, it adds a dimensionality that is quite welcome and not especially common with headphones - even at the flagship level. Brass retains its bite without being emphasized and more enthusiastic cymbal strikes remain brassy and don’t stray into steeliness. I find no build up of heat even after hours of continuous listening. This first plot uses HEQ compensation, which attempts to normalize the response against the Harman Target Response. Unlike the Stellia, which can sound harsh at times with poor recording or poor system matching, I was never able to make the Vérité Closed come across harsh or treble heavy. Vocals sound exquisite and there is slightly more laidback feel which really synergises well with Vérité’s midrange frequencies. Fit and finish are excellent - there are no creaks, squeaks nor any stickiness anywhere. The gear chain/equipment used in this review can be found here, and the music I use in my reviews and evaluations is listed here. You can easily pick apart large-scale orchestral works or complex electronic tracking and focus in on a given element. The texture of piano notes, whether played gently, or hammered into discordancy, is portrayed both clearly and realistically; more so than with most cans I’ve found. You can do both with Zach’s current flagship, but its predilection is definitely towards enjoyment. But when I want to enjoy and be emotionally engaged in, that same recording … then I would reach for the Vérité. ZMF headphones are, in my opinion, works of art. The occasional treble-excesses of the Focal Utopia are more pronounced than with these ZMF cans. The Elegia is a good, balanced closed back headphone, but it did not meet my expectations in terms of what I was looking for in a reference closed back headphone. Running the Vérité directly form the headphone output on a Chord DAVE, and comparing to other headphones with state-of-the-art resolution, shows no acts of omission being committed here. It is unfailingly engaging, no matter what genre I feed it. The Midrange All comments are moderated before being published. The Vérité Closed captures much of the ZMF house sound – a tonally rich midrange with some hint of warmth and incredible levels of resolve. However, a thinner driver will be more prone to deformation in motion as it is less stiff than a thicker one, which results in more distortion. Both micro- and macro-dynamic levels are heightened with incredible resolve, transient attack and pacing that rivals the best. Overall, the Vérité headphones combine the best traits of technicality and tonality to give an incredibly pleasing listening experience. Where the Utopia can become aggressive or mildly fatiguing with extended listening to music with lots of treble energy and, particularly, higher-pitched/more sibilance-prone female vocals, such as Julia Fordham’s self-titular release, or much of Heart’s mid-life discography, the Vérité tones things down just enough to remain engaging and non-fatiguing, for long sessions. Be it wavering shifts in pressure holding a string, the emotion-stirred low level tremor or reverberation in a performer’s voice, or subtle shifts in the decay of a drum-skin, all are audible in a way that adds depth and realism to the overall performance and helps these cans deliver a very engaging and emotional connection to a piece. I had already done that (and at full price - for the tin-foil-hat-brigade). Their coatings are different which not only will affect the sound, but will also affect how they feel. It is nice to see that ZMF offers in-house cable upgrades with the Vérité Silver and 2K copper cables being the top of their collection which retail from a starting price of $399 each. At some point in the not-so-distant future, we’ll be heading off on a grand tour of the world, living in a dozen or more countries, and making extended says in many more until we can no longer manage the travel. This pairing is outstanding with both Vérité models. This makes for excellent clarity and delineation, and a very clean presentation that further enhances the ability of the Vérité to render detail. You can, perhaps, best liken it to the shifts that occur between different concert halls more than any overt delta in the raw presentation of individual musical elements. I think that with the Stellia on Mojo, I’m able to listen louder than I can with the Stellia from the Qutest/Mini. It is incredibly hard to fault what Zach Mehrbach has done with his latest creations. -I seem to be able to appreciate the Stellia more out of my mojo (compared to VC out of mojo).-and I give the nod to the VC out of Qutest/GS-X mini. Inside the case you’ll find two sets of pads; “Universe”, which are the thicker, more angled, pads pre-installed on the headphones, and a second “Vérité” set of pads which are thinner and intended to give a more neutral response. Needless to say, if you’re looking at high-end open-back headphones, the ZMF Vérité should definitely be on your audition list! At no point has this been distracting, which is something I could not say with, for example, the Sony MDR-Z1R (yes, I know they’re closed back). Decay is natural and not abbreviated nor, I would say, exaggerated. The ZMF Vérité is Zach Mehrbach’s latest open-back dynamic-driver headphone offering, and is the current flagship in ZMF’s range. IIRC he didn't try the Verite pads on Aeolus either even tho he had them on hand, not sure if he tried more than one set on the Verite proper. The head-lining technology with the Vérité is the all-new, proprietary, ultra-thin, vapor-deposed beryllium PEN driver. A metal latch opens to reveal a red felt interior which really evokes a luxurious image to the Chicago brand’s top-end product. Where cans like the Eikon, or some of the similarly-(to Vérité)-priced planar cans, sometimes give the impression that there is some, minor, smoothing of detail and low-level dynamic information, there is no such sense with the flagship cans. That I can get superlative, top-of-the-line results with the Vérité out of a fully-portable unit such as the Cayin N8 DAP, makes for a formidable transportable (I wouldn’t use either on a plane, train, or bus) solution, and not be left wanting for more of, well, anything, is remarkable to me. The Stellia is close though… and if it was in a different color scheme I probably would have the Stellia right now lol… it is one of the most comfortable headphones I’ve tried, and the quality of its build and materials is very Focal awesome! Yet this is achieved without sacrificing resolution/detail or dynamics and without resulting in shifts in the tone of instruments that wind up harming the coherence of a piece. For those not already familiar with ZMF Headphones, they began their journey modifying well-known headphones like the Fostex T50RP and have progressed from those modified OEM mo… The quick-fire start-stop introduction to the titular track of the “Die Another Day” soundtrack, establishes a baseline for excellent control, and moving into something faster still, such as “Drum Warfare” (David Felysian, “Elimination”) provides a very direct example of the speed, control and articulation on offer here as well as showcasing the impact and power these cans so readily convey. I liked what I heard at CanJam so much that I joined the pre-order for the limited-edition Vérité (50 units in Pheasantwood), as soon as it went live, and it is my personal pair, bought at full (pre-order) pricing as a normal retail customer, that I am reviewing here. Don't worry, we hate spam as much as you do. The differences between them are more audible than they look in the following frequency-response plots. For orchestral music and tracks which benefit from a large soundstage and TOTL separation of instrumentals, the HE1000 V2 certainly wins but it is incredibly hard to take the ZMF Vérité headphones off for tracks where vocals prevail and therein lies its magic. Compared to HiFiMAN’s HE1000 V2, the Vérité sounds relatively more intimate but more solid in its presentation compared to the former’s more airy, diffuse and ethereal presentation. The Vérité open headphones feature an exotic look with its hand-crafted wooden earcups and magnesium chassis. Do stay tuned…, https://www.zmfheadphones.com/zmf-originals, Mytek Audio Empire DAC/Streamer/Preamplifier Unveiled, 5 Headphone Driver Types Explained In Depth, Bone conduction – from headphones to Bluetooth sunglasses. Stellia vs. ZMF Eikon I bought the ZMF Eikon for myself as something of a decadent ‘treat’, having sampled a whole range of headphones and deciding that they were the ultimate combination of craftsmanship, aesthetics, and a natural, enjoyable yet detailed sound signature. Closed-back headphones are in many way… Despite all the wood and metal on display here, the standard Vérité actually comes in at the same weight as the Focal Stellia, and are lighter than the Utopia. A warranty/ID card, a pair of Allen-wrenches that fit the fasteners on the chassis, and the stock cable, in a termination of your choice, as well as any upgrade cables you have selected. Getting your product to you as fast as possible is important to us! Chesky’s Sensational, Fantastic and Simply Amazing Binarual Sound Show”. This will, in many cases, mean being limited to just one pair of headphones and a transportable source/amp. But it doesn’t take Chord’s flagship to make these things sing … I’ve spent plenty of time soaking up the “outdoors” on my deck, with other sources/amps, including the Hugo 2, Sony NM-WM1Z and the Cayin N8 … all of which deliver superlative results here. These closed-back headphones integrate an exceptional generation of speaker drivers: ‘M’-shaped pure Beryllium dome, new surround, frameless 100% copper voice coil are some of the Focal technologies which equippe speaker drivers and ensure stunning dynamics for closed-back headphones. All ZMF headphones include a standard 5.5-foot ZMF OFC cable in your choice of either 1/4” (6.35mm) TRS plug or 4-pin XLR connections. Thick, bassy, and downsloping compared to Utopia, with technicalities a fair bit lacking in direct comparison but still generally impressive. It is quite impressive how they are tuned to avoid harshness while still conveying energy to the upper end to deliver sparkle and attack. Snares and hi-hats are sharp and fast, while the bigger percussive elements, yet the slower reverberative decay of the skin on a kettledrum is also beautifully rendered and easy to follow. This is one of the more viscerally “3D” headphone experiences I’ve had, and one has to look to more expensive, specialty, units to get a similar portrayal. But to underline how much I love these headphones, when I saw the Ziricote versions I wound up buying a 2nd pair for the office. The ZMF Atticus’ leakage is quite good, I have to turn my Magni 3 to 3 o’clock before it really starts to leak out. The wire is 24 AWG per conductor and features aluminum and copper shielding for improved microphonics and a super quiet noise floor. This is a combination that I find seductive, engaging and highly enjoyable. The slight added tonal richness the ZMF cans bring to music is most evident in the mid-range. Secure payments with Credit Card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Cryptocurrency. When the basic methodology is questionable, other things are too IMO. For folks in warmer climates, yo… For those wishing for a relatively more dialled down dynamic presence, the opens more than suffice with vibrant but fatigue-free highs. While the soundstage is not the widest with this combination there is great level of focus and precision for those that crave the absolute last in detail retrieval and clarity. Rapid, staccato, elements, especially with percussion, demonstrates excellent transient performance with the leading edges of notes and strikes being both ultra-fast and precise, with no sense of overshoot. There might be a tad more “romance” here than in a studio-neutral setting. Initially I was rather suspect about the aesthetics of the Stellia, but they make more sense in person and in the context of the luxury-market that Focal is targeting. At the same time, a quick switch of the pads, and you can nudge the sound back to something closer to reference. High-frequency response is fully extended and allows the Vérité to maintain excellent top-end detail and deliver a vivid sense of space and air as appropriate to the source material. Large dynamic shifts are handled with aplomb, but micro-dynamic resolution are also well tended to and easily resolved. It is rather impressive that the closed model retains a large majority of the characteristics of the open model without the compromises that closed back designs have to face. The headphones are craftfully CNC’d, sanded and finished to bring out a natural shine and unblemished outer cup design. The rich, soft, supple leather pads, especially the “Universe” pads, are quite luxurious, provide an easy and reliable seal, and feel fantastic (other pads are available, will fit many other headphones with a similar, elastic-ring, attachment). If I wanted to sit down and pick-apart a major orchestral production, then I would choose the Sennheiser. While planar and electrostatic headphones have been all the recent hype, ZMF have pledged allegiances to dynamic drivers for its flagship models. And, while not perfectly neutral in its tuning, nor uncolored in its delivery, it scores over most other flagship headphones in that its departures from neutral are almost uncannily towards the desirable. While the Stellia’s 40mm Beryllium dome drive unit is heavily based on that used by the older model, the closed design means that Focal’s engineers have had to rework it considerably. But “liquid” is still the best term I can muster. I can, and often do, wear them all day with no issues at all. Customers have the option of adding in a Cherry Salire headphone stand for $80. Dr. Chesky’s Sensational, Fantastic and Simply Amazing Binarual Sound Show. Join the discussion about the ZMF Vérité on "The HEADPHONE Community". The dynamic driver really does come into play with a great texture and weight that many planar models and electrostatic fail to recreate. Although the two models are similar in the lower frequencies, the closed edition possesses slightly greater slam and visceral depth in the sub-bass territories. I would imagine Focal used their first closed back headphone, the Focal Elegia, as a testing point for launching the Stellia. Though to be fair, there may not be a more resolving headphone for what you’d pay, today, for an SDR modified HD800. Resolution/detail is pretty much identical, with the ZMF can having a more neutral, if slightly richer, overall signature. I can’t speak for the Verite Closed, but I can for the Atticus. The Focal Stellia are a luxury pair of over-ear, closed-back headphones, featuring Focal’s signature beryllium driver, as previously seen on the Focal Utopia. At this point, I can best describe the ZMF Vérité as “the everyman’s flagship headphone”. NB: Impressions are done with Vérité Silver cable and stock pads. These look like Stellia pads, just black. The Vérité might not offer the expansive soundstage of the HE-1000 V2 but comes close to the Susvara in width projection with the added benefit of depth. Tracks sound lively without resorting to thin or unnatural leading edge transients which some headphones implement to artificially boost clarity levels. The following one is using a custom compensation that comes closer to what I personally hear when listening to them: Details on my measurements can be found here. While the headphones escape from an overly ‘warm’ or romantic tuning, the Vérité has enough richness in its midrange to really propel it into an affable listening experience. The Ether 2 have a bit more impact, slam and better bottom-octave linearity for bass-heavy tracks, but the ZMF offer more texture and improved articulation. I won’t opine on “value” - this is a $2,500 headphone after all, and everyone is in a different place in that regard - but I will say that “Those who can, should.”. While the Stellia shares technology from both the Utopiaand the Elegia, it is a striking departure in terms of style from the rest of the line up. I don’t mean this in the typical terms used to describe the sound of, say, a 300B-based tube amplifier. Side porting on the driver cups further improves the sense of openness and stage. To improve stage and imaging, the drivers are mounted at an angle, effectively “firing back” at the ear, which results in the wave front interacting with the pinnae of the ears in a more speaker-like fashion (the classic Sennheiser HD800 owes much of its impressive stage rendering to the same approach). These days that quality is becoming even more salient, as we live, work and exist ever closer in proximity to one another. Focal is modern chic. The closed however may straddle that line for those sensitive to the upper frequency part of the spectrum. The look has really grow… Priced at $3,000, the Stellia … The Vérité comes in a beautifully designed wooden mahogany case which is real testament to ZMF’s craftsmanship. Maybe not close enough that these would be what I’d choose to use when assessing an amplifier or DAC’s native tonality, but not that far off, either. Both are stuffed with soft foam. It is hence exciting to see what this company will offer next. Reach out to us through our handy live chat or by e-mail. I sold them because they were open, I was seldom home and I seldom listened to them. And this is actually a fabulous pairing - allowing the raw technical performance of the DAVE to shine through while adding just a hint of richness. On on hand, the Stellia’s earpads are coated in super soft leather. The silver cable really helps here to deliver this silky and refined treble extension which complements the rest of frequency spectrum and sonic signature. The stock ZMF OFC cable has taken months of research to find an affordable but capable sound to add to the ZMF’s tonality. The Focal’s have a very slight edge in their ability to resolve micro-dynamic nuances. The Universe pads offer a slightly more laidback sound with a greater holographic sound whereas the Vérité pads add a bit more treble energy, linearity and slightly smaller soundstage dimensions. With top-tier resolution, sense of pace, detailing, rich tonal timbre and depth – the Vérité are one of my favorite pair of headphones to date. As with the upper midrange, the closed models feature slightly more energetic frequency spectrum which brings the lively nature of the Vérité house to higher levels. It is almost TOTL IEM-like at times. Given the cups and baffles are the same in terms of build as all the other Focal closed backs, and the drivers are still the same size and shape, I'm thinking the biggest difference here vs Elegia sonically will mostly be due to a swap of pads. It is at a more realistic level than either the Utopia (which I find benefits from a little boost) and the Stellia (which is more elevated), while maintaining the same level of articulation, detail, and texture and coupling it with a little more slam. The Vérité possess some traits that are typical of Zach’s headphones, and which are, I believe, a major factor in why people gravitate towards them so strongly. The Vérité offers a unique imaging quality – as well as good projection of sonic cues in the directions of width and height there is also great projection in depth that is unlike any other headphone I have heard before. For those not already familiar with ZMF Headphones, they entered the market offering highly-regarded wood-cup modifications to well-known headphones like the Fostex T50RP and have progressed from those modified OEM models to offering a full line-up of in-house developed headphones using drivers, chassis and headbands of their own design and build and, of cou… Clamping pressure is moderate, not being nearly as tight as, say, an HD650 or HD58X, and not quite as soft as the HD800S, and this can be adjusted by bending the headband if needed. With intentions to compete with today’s modern standards of audiophilia, their latest flagship – the Vérité employs beryllium-coated ultra-thin Polyethylene Naphthalate drivers which yield the speed of planars but also the inherent slam and weight of dynamics. Compared to the closed-back Focal Stellia which also make use of beryllium drivers, the Vérité Closed has more neutral and linear bass whereas the Stellia evokes a slightly more bass-centric sound. Looking for recommendations on where to spend the hard earned $$$! They are not only more neutral than the other ZMF headphones I’ve heard, particularly with the Vérité pads installed, but they are the most resolving and detailed as well, while remaining definitively “ZMF”. We’re excited to be giving Headfonia readers our impressions on the Focal Stellia – the $3,000 USD flagship closed-back headphone from the famed French audio manufacturer. But on a technical level, much has been re-engineered to account for the different configuration. Since I build my own cables, I did not order an upgrade cable with my Vérité. Substantial, fast, articulate, well delineated, taut, punchy and present are all words that come to mind even within just a few minutes of putting these headphones on. Surprisingly, the Vérité Closed offers a soundstage that capably keeps up with its open counterpart with the added benefits of isolation. DAC/Amps: Chord Hugo 2, SMSL SU-8, Soekirs 1421, Valhalla 2, iFi Pro iCAN, iFi iESL Headphones: ZMF Verite Closed stabilized maple burl, Verite Open silk, Auteur cocobolo red special, Atticus purple camphor burl & Eikon camphor (pending), Sennheiser HD 58X, HD 800 SDR, HD 700, HD 820, Audeze Mobius, Stax SR-007 MK2, Koss ESP 95X, Sony WH-1000XM2, B&O H9i, AirPods Pro Indeed, in the “Right Channel ID Test”, as Dr. Chesky walks down and towards you, you are treated to the very definite audio-imagery of him getting closer, both laterally and in terms of depth. While not the lightest headphones around, both offer a comfortable listening experience with evenly weighted headband pressure and superior comfort pads. The Vérité open weighs 410-420 grams while the closed weighs 450 to 475 grams depending on the choice of wood and grill material. It sounds like Focal tried to make a kind of V-shaped ZMF in terms of tone. PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE || We will price match any better price you find during the Holidays. Like the Focal Stellia, the Vérité Closed are incredibly fast headphones, music pours from them effortlessly and emerges from a dark black background. The “Universe” pads result in a more spacious and engaging rendering, with a bit more low-frequency presence than is strictly natural. If I had to choose that headphone today, then it would be ZMF’s Vérité accompanying me …. Both Silkwood for the open model and monkeypod are lightest wood options with the latter being porous in nature allowing for a more spacious timbre. As with the open model, the closed edition expresses treble frequencies which are fully extensive with great levels of clarity and attack. But it doesn’t take Chord’s flagship to make these things sing … I’ve spent plenty of time soaking up the “outdoors” on my deck, with other sources/amps, including the. The fundamental tonality here is slightly warm and rich but otherwise largely neutral. These are completely closed. Every track just sounds right which is not an easy feat for headphones to achieve owing to their propensities to exaggerate frequencies here and there. But it’s important to remember that the far more conventional use of headphones is to make the listening experience private, limiting your music to your ears alone and not inflicting it on people in your immediate surroundings. While I do have a strong preference for soundstage, instrument separation and ethereal portrayal of notes which are strong attributes of HiFiMAN’s HE models, the mid-centricity, dynamism and richness of the ZMF Vérité are equally addictive. You can pair these with a tonally neutral amplifier and source and still be enveloped in a rich, musical, experience, without it seeming overtly altered or colored. The open Vérité’s tonality lies closer to neutral with a more natural and real to life presence compared to the closed Vérité’s livelier character with its added treble presence and punchier bass. (For comparison, the Focal Utopia weighs 490 grams.) I found the Ether 2 to have a notably darker presentation than most cans in its class, and certainly more so than the main point of comparison here. Based in Chicago and headed by Zach Mehrbach, each headphone is made to order and meticulously crafted to cater for each customer’s personal tastes. While the Empyreans opt for a smoother and ‘darker’ tonality, the Vérité leans toward a relatively more vibrant character while still maintaining incredibly low levels of fatiguability, sibilance or grain. There are no two ways about it, the resolution and detail rendered by the Vérité are excellent; easily the best in the ZMF line-up, and competitive with the likes of Focal’s Utopia or Sennheiser’s HD800S. The standard cable is a simple, but well-built and finished affair, with good flexibility, a proper molded Y-splitter and a soft, smooth, non-microphonic exterior. Schiit Audio Yggdrasil 2 DAC and MicroZOTL 2.0 Amp (w/ Linear Power Supply). Out of Mini, it can get a little sharp. Only the lambskin pads on the Utopia are softer and more supple. And it's free! The Meze Empyrean, on the other hand, is closer to the Vérité’s tonality with a linear and gently upward sloping sub- to mid-bass region. The 2K copper is said to offer a non-fatiguing but extensive sound while the Vérité Silver adds some leading-edge transients and more of an analytical but natural sound. When I had the pheasantwood verite open and the ironwood verite closed at the same point, I thought the pheasantwood verite open (1,490 janka, 50 lbs/ft^3) had a perceptually longer delay than my ironwood verite closed (3,260 janka, 75 lbs/ft^3), so the whole "verite closed has definitely more cup reverb than verite open etc" absolute … At a starting price of $2499, the Vérité is competitively priced. At first glance the leather-covered, foam-padded, metal headband looks a bit odd, with its central peak, but combined with the broad leather suspension strap, it does an excellent job of distributing the weight of the headphones across one’s head. A few years back, these prices would certainly have raised eyebrows but with the invention of the Focal Utopia and HiFiMAN’s Susvara, the upward trend for stratospheric pricing has made the sub $3K territory comparatively more reasonable. Instead, vocals have great body with a slight warm tilt while maintaining high levels of resolve and liveliness. This shifts with the pads that are installed, and the differences between the “Universe” (fatter, angled, and pre-installed) pads and the namesake-“Vérité” (thinner and flatter) pads is very obvious, with the “Universe” pads offering a more profound bass delivery (impact and presence) and a little more higher-frequency energy. To combat this, ZMF applies a vapor-deposed layer of pure beryllium to the driver (to 20% of the actual diaphragm’s thickness), which results in an incredibly stiff driver, while preserving its light weight and thinness, but avoiding the distortion that would occur if the driver flexed under acceleration. Timbre between the two is very close, with the Focal’s elevated bass-level having the effect of adding a tad more presence and verve to double-bass and pipe-organ, but is also a bit less realistic for it. The ZMF Vérité fall very close to the Utopia in terms of overall performance while delivering what is probably a more broadly agreeable tonality. Also included is a ZMF OFC Cable (with the options to upgrade), universe and auteur pads, lifetime warranty and magnesium chassis. Though if you’re big on pipe-organ music, and it’s accompanying splurge of natural sub-bass, the Ether 2 will deliver a tad better in that regard … even if it’s at the cost of the overall tone of the instrument and micro-texture in the reverberation of the pipes. As to which model is the better one – it is hard to answer. It will be interesting to see what you think of the ZMF Verite Closed. This is where “the music lives”, and the Vérité do it full justice and without overt editorialization. “just right”). The adjusting rod mechanism is initially stiff from first use but does get easier to use with time. Which is most of the time. I'll find a … I find ZMF’s flagship to be supremely comfortable. The build-quality and solidity of the Vérité is immediately impressive. In short, this is among the best handlings of stage and imaging I’ve heard from a headphone. Great review, thanks! Speaking of the mid-range, this is where the Atticus really separates itself from the PH. If you prioritize detail capabilities and speed, go with the Stellia. The bass here is something I would consider to be a “Goldilocks” thing (i.e. After much research, I have my choices narrowed down to the Focal Stellia, the ZMF Verite Open (or Closed) and the Meze Empyreans. If you love headphones, you'll love our emails. Nevertheless the differences are quite marginal and I am surprised to see how the closed model retains much of the same magic of the open’s midrange charm. It’s easy to recognize the benefits of open-back headphones for those of us strictly looking for the best sound quality available. As the Vérité ship with both “Universe” and “Vérité” pads, I measured both. I’ll make comparisons with a few, notable, competitive headphones here. Perhaps the upper midrange is where the most difference can be heard with the Closed model having more energy in this region giving tracks a brighter feel. This review shall be focusing on both the open and more recently released closed version of the Vérité headphones. Comments and questions should be directed to the appropriate thread on the headphones.com forum (“The HEADPHONE Community”) if you want me to see/respond to them. If you specify one of the four upgrade cable options at the time of order, you will get both the upgrade cable and the standard cable. Also, I’m in the camp that prefers an unmodified HD800S over the original HD800, even if the HD800 in question has the SDR modification. Their tuning is such that they address the most commonly lamented facets of other flagships, such as the slightly lean bottom end, and occasionally excitable upper-treble of the Utopia, the slightly elevated bass and V-shaped signature on the Stellia, or the sometimes dry/clinical presentation of the HD800S, without giving up the ghost on other technicalities. But, for me the Verite Closed is my preferred closed back sound wise. Which means, in real terms, while some other flagship cans may edge ahead in limited individual technicalities (and where that’s the case, it’s really not by much), these are what I consider the best overall flagship for enjoying music - and do so at a more approachable price-point that the most immediate competition. Rendering of wood-bodied instruments is similarly spot-on in terms of texture, decay, and general “feel”. Materials have also been chosen to keep the weight to what it currently is with the use of featherweight magnesium chassis and wood finish. This very high-end circum-aural headphones manufactured at Focal is equipped with a new generation of exclusive electrodynamic speaker drivers, capable of working at low acoustic load while offering an extremely extensive frequency response (5Hz – … Having said that, the Vérité closed is the best closed back headphone I have heard besting the Focal Stellia in staging and my preferred tonality. In ‘NICE’ by The Carters, the low-end on the Vérité is represented with no bloom or bloating but bass which stops on the dime with outstanding texturing. 365-Day Returns on all new orders. Stellia and Vérité Closed are very hard to call. The PH are similar to the HD650 in that they seem to run out of space on songs with multiple instruments. The “Vérité” pads are more true-to-life and more closely approach actual neutrality. Essentially, these are the closed-back version of the Utopias. (Which is way too loud to begin with for most songs) As for hearing others, good luck if you have anything playing at … My general experience has been that good dynamic cans are somewhat better at micro-dynamic resolution than even flagship planars, and the ZMF cans were no exception here. Voices have a hint more substance, plucked-strings are a hair sweeter, mournful brass notes ring with a little less sparsity. A nice touch, especially when it comes to changing pads, is that the cups can be rotated a full 360 degrees. Focal Stellia vs ZMF Eikon. Keeping the driver thin reduces mass and improves responsiveness and acceleration, which leads to better transient response, resolution and dynamics. With that mindset, our 365-Day return policy was born and followed up with free, same-day shipping while curating the store to have the best selection possible for our customers. I have never run into issues with hotspots with any ZMF headphone and the Vérité is no exception. One major difference is that the closed model does not have the porting near the headband connects that the open does which for obvious reasons prevents noise leakage. Despite all the wood, metal, and leather design, both of the Vérité models are the lightest in the ZMF line, weighing in at 430 grams (open) and 455 grams (closed) with their stock woods. There can be, here and there, a little extra “zing” than is strictly natural, but it is very modest and instead of being distracting or annoying or “bright”, it just seems to add more depth/range to the presentation. To further explore the dimensionality of the Vérité, I spent some time with “Dr. “Outside the head” and “can easily position in 3-dimensional space” effects are plentiful with this album and the beryllium ZMFs. So if you want a more neutral FR, go with the ZMF. Their trump card is their use of beautiful woods sourced from all over the world which not only help the aesthetics of their portfolio but also their acoustic design. Stellia is part of these products. Headphones.com, started by Andrew and Taron Lissimore, was founded in 2016 with a strict focus on delivering the best customer service possible. It’s more present with the “Universe” pads, if not necessarily higher in level, but I don’t find it at all intrusive and it transitions cleanly into the mid-range (a little more so with the “Vérité” pads, but you have to compare them to notice). Tracks sound engaging without ever resorting to over-blooming or exaggerating bass lines. As aforementioned, the Vérité models opt for a Beryllium coated PEN driver which has great stiffness and rigidity while also being fast in transient responses. Even in the imaging department, the closed captures most of the open’s staging width and holographic effects. Timbre here has a natural “rightness” to it. Compared to the open model, the midrange region is tiny bit more present and brought slightly more forward in the stage. … all of which deliver superlative results here. Build quality is equally outstanding with the ZMF’s looking particularly stunning with the more exotic wooden ear cup designs. As with the cable options, users can fine-tune sonic preferences with the pads offered with the Vérité. As with Meze Empyrean, the ZMF Vérités are certainly headphones where people gravitate towards its vocal-centric tuning. Didn't Zeos also review the closed ZMF with suede pads rather than the leather ones most people will buy? I am based in the US and as I will be working from home in the long term, closed vs open back is no longer a consideration. What is more interesting, to me, is that the dips and crests visible in these plots do not result in the presentation that I would expect; in actual listening they’re more even (which could be down to artifacts of my measurement rig). For my sensibilities and tastes, and I’ll admit I’m a sucker for the combination of exotic woods, polished metal, and leather, they make the most beautiful headphones you can buy today. The VCs and Stellia are to my ears, head and shoulders above the closest CB competition as … Perhaps the best way I can convey the mid-range presentation here is in its liquidity. The Sony WMZ 1000v3, Focal Elegia, Mr Speakers C, AKG N90, Sony 1ZR, I was considering the new Focal Stellia. Tracks sound engaging without ever resorting to over-blooming or exaggerating bass lines. Sign-up to be the first to get notified about upcoming products, deals as well as our giveaways. In “Money For Nothing” by Dire Straits, cymbal crashes are tight with natural shimmer and there is incredible sense of pace from the dynamic drivers which rivals that of HiFiMAN’s HE-1K models. For those not already familiar with ZMF Headphones, they entered the market offering highly-regarded wood-cup modifications to well-known headphones like the Fostex T50RP and have progressed from those modified OEM models to offering a full line-up of in-house developed headphones using drivers, chassis and headbands of their own design and build and, of course, continuing the use of artisanal quality wooden cups. Higher frequencies are fully extended from the midrange frequencies which allow the Vérité headphones to have a sense of air amongst the refinement. Headband and head-support system remain the same on both the open and closed models. Vérité rapidly established itself as one of the most enjoyable sets of cans I have had the pleasure of listening to. Paired with a classic tube from that of the Mjolnir 2, some harmonic distortion is added which adds greater euphonics, space and a richer character to the Vérité’s tonality. Expect more pictures than usual in this review! The headphone-end connections are mini 4-pin XLR, and are both physically and electrically compatible with Audeze headphones and cables. And Vérité is the first ZMF headphone to feature their new magnesium chassis, reducing the weight of the overall headphone by 33 grams and making the standard Vérité the lightest headphone that ZMF currently offers. The closed model features a complete wooden outer shell which comes in a stock Monkeypod wood finish. And if electronic music is “not your thing” and you really want to get a sense for the low-end delivery, tone and precision the Vérité render in the lowest registers, then you’ll find a more-present-than-the-plot-suggests sub-bass performance with Felix Hell’s “Organ Sensation” or a number of tracks on Jean Guilloui’s “Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Stravinksy: Three Dances from Petrouchka”. As a tool for simply enjoying music, I am hard pressed to name any other headphone own, or that I’ve heard, that fits better. Overall, very impressive.