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I’m loving mine - such a wonderful evolution of the Empyrean.

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They are incredible. On a few occasions I’ve come close to selling my SN2 and speakers as they get very little use now… most of my listening is all on the Elites. Superb soundstage and imaging…. You feel like you are in the room with the artist while they are playing.

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ZMF Verite Closed in Monkey Pod. A good match for my Atom H. E. Both phones and amp need a good long burn in. Thought about the Blackwood but decided they were probably too heavy.

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Beautiful headphones - I have the Verite open version and love them. Enjoy!

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I have Focal Clear MG as an alternative, which are delightful, but which as open backed leak sound into the room. Both headphones are very comfortable even for extended play. Enjoy your openbacked Verite.

My Verite Closed are in Olive Wood and I think they are fantastic. There is a picture a lot higher up the thread.

Out of interest what do you make of the two supplied cables? Could you compare? One came with an XLR that I couldn’t use.

I struggled to tell any difference between the earpads supplied. I wasn’t sure they were actually any different!

Burn-in is indeed long on these. They open out a lot, especially the top end. I think they get a bit faster too. I bought a Nordist Blue Heaven upgrade which helped too.

Bruce

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Bruce, Your post with your Olive Wood closed gave me the idea of researching ZMF. They have a UK distributor, though with a limited range.

I’m mainly using the XLR cable, really because its length is more convenient. I don’t hear much difference between the jack plug cable to be honest. I guess if I use the XLR connection to connect to a power amp, then I’ll be using the front headphone sockets on the Atom.

The supplied cables look flimsy and I know that the main US site carries upgraded ZMF cables and a few UK specialists can make up suitable cables. I’m a beginner, so I thought I would listen for a few months before thinking of a cable upgrade.

The ear pads seem similar as you say, though some reviewers make much of swopping them. At least there is no opportunity for tube rolling with the Atom, this seems to play a big part in the headphone amp scene.

I’m enjoying them immensely and I guess the aesthetics of wood may play a part in this too.

Derek

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Glad to have inspired your purchase!

In theory the OFC cable with the XLR termination is supposed to be a bit brighter than the other stock cable with RCA plugs supplied but since I couldn’t use it I bought the Nordost which also has a slightly lighter and more ‘airy’ character. If I had been more patient with burn-in I might not have done as those characteristics improved over time anyway.

Enjoy.

Bruce

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Sony TA-ZH1ES + MDR-Z1R, upgraded with a balanced Kimber cable which makes a richer sound vs the stock one. Also have an HD-650 with a balanced cable if I feel like I need an open back sound - TA allows several headphones and quick switch between them

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And this one the portable one. NW-ZX507 (which was an upgrade from the ZX1 I had for a while). And very good and affordable on-the-go MDR-1AM2 headphones via the balanced connection

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I had Nordost speaker cables with my old NAD/ Arcam system and they were very good. So I’ll keep your upgrade in mind.
Derek

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My go-to listening headphones. They do so many things well…

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What are they?

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Meze Elites

Moved from Stax SR-009 to Hifiman Shangri-La Jr. :star_struck:

Amp is still AudioValve Solaris. Now thinking about the ES from Paltauf… :thinking:

atb, Tom

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For me, there are no other headphones that can compare.

There are some that are slightly better from a technical point of view but none that have such a high level of technical ability while being so musical at the same time. And of course, like the Empyrean, can be worn all day with no physical or audio fatigue!

Focal Celestee and Mr. Speakers Ether Flow. I enjoy both pairs tremendously.

Driven by Cavalli Audio Liquid Gold Amp

It just occurred to me yesterday that I have an all American rig! How did that happen? :cowboy_hat_face: :us_outlying_islands:

Mark Levinson No.512 SACD player > Cavalli Amp > Mr.Speakers

Sounds bloody marvellous if I may say.

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Focal Celestee powered by Headline when at home and Astell & Kern Kann when on the move.

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Custom Cans cable?

Ha ha, yes. How did you guess?

Balanced, 2 meters length. Excellent quality, I’m impressed and not crazy money in my view.

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