[Honeypot]

I have a question guys/girls.
I ended ultimately using auteur pads with my AO. But something I am not very confident with is that is the correct pad for left and right.
With caldera, both stock and thick pads, the Closing stitched are near the cable connection.
However with some other pads it's just not matching. So I have a hard time find which pad is left or right. Given that the thickest part is going on the back of you ears, I look over and over and they seem interchangeable for left and right.

Caldera thick on caldera:

Auteur on Atrium Open:

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

 

[YtseJamer]

I have a question guys/girls.
I ended ultimately using auteur pads with my AO. But something I am not very confident with is that is the correct pad for left and right.

The thicker parts are always positioned at the back for all ZMF pads. If you're using the Auteur pads or any other non-Caldera pads, make sure the stitching aligns with the gimbal, as shown in the picture below. For the Caldera pads, align the stitching with the cable connector.

 

[MindBreak]

The thicker parts are always positioned at the back for all ZMF pads. If you're using the Auteur pads or any other non-Caldera pads, make sure the stitching aligns with the gimbal, as shown in the picture below. For the Caldera pads, align the stitching with the cable connector.

Thanks for answering that question. That info will come in handy when I get my AO + extra pads in a few weeks.

 

[Honeypot]

The thicker parts are always positioned at the back for all ZMF pads. If you're using the Auteur pads or any other non-Caldera pads, make sure the stitching aligns with the gimbal, as shown in the picture below. For the Caldera pads, align the stitching with the cable connector.

Ok, so it seems I got it right.
Thank you very much!

 

[spruce]

I'm using them right now, they fixed the sharp vocals I was having with the universe lamb perf pads. If you've ever heard the hd600, I'd say with these pads the atrium is similar, with more relaxed vocals, better resolution, soundstage, significant better impact/physicality, worse vocals. Worse timbre but nothing really beats hd600 timbre.

Thanks! Interesting. Could you compare to BE2 suede perf, Auteur or any other pads? No worries if not.

 

[yodas]

Thanks! Interesting. Could you compare to BE2 suede perf, Auteur or any other pads? No worries if not.

Be2 suede perf: Magical on certain tracks, especially laid back, vocal centric songs. However I ended up finding it too laid back, not enough energy for other genres such as pop to be an all rounder.

Universe lamb perf, be2 lamb perf: Vocals sound forward, sharp, and ultimately can be unpleasant.

 

[jonathan c]

• A little routine that I enact after I don a ZMF headphone: with one hand against the headband top, rotate slowly with the other hand each earpad backwards / forwards until the optimal fit over my ear is reached.
• The stitching faces the rear, the thicker earpad portion faces the front.

 

[jonathan c]

Hybrid activity with Atrium Open:

 

[spruce]

Be2 suede perf: Magical on certain tracks, especially laid back, vocal centric songs. However I ended up finding it too laid back, not enough energy for other genres such as pop to be an all rounder.

Universe lamb perf, be2 lamb perf: Vocals sound forward, sharp, and ultimately can be unpleasant.

Awesome! Thanks so much, this is very helpful. So where do you place the caldera ultra perforated suede pads as far as your overall preference? For example, is it your “all rounder” preferred choice of pad? Also, when you say vocals are worse compared to HD 600, do you mean worse because vocals are less isolated or further away in the mix, or something else?

I’m enjoying the BE2 suede perf pads for example, including the timbre, so thought I might like the caldera ultra perforated suede pads too.

 

[goldwerger]

The stitching faces the rear, the thicker earpad portion faces the front.

If that’s what works best for you that’s awesome!

Just so future readers aren’t confused, the result location of stitches should be:

• Universe pads - facing forward (near front gimbal)
• Caldera pads - facing downward (near cable termination)

But no right or wrong - whatever best fits one’s head shape and comfort for a nice seal

 

[mjstealey]

If that’s what works best for you that’s awesome!

Just so future readers aren’t confused, the result location of stitches should be:

• Universe pads - facing forward (near front gimbal)
• Caldera pads - facing downward (near cable termination)

But no right or wrong - whatever best fits one’s head shape and comfort for a nice seal

And that Caldera pads are Left and Right side specific. The pad contours both front to back and top to bottom. Having the seam at the bottom allows orientation without explicit markings.

To my knowledge the rest of the ZMF pad lineup can be used on either side equivalently. Contours from front to back only, and top to bottom are mirrors of each other.

Note: I haven't tried the Bokeh pads yet, so can't speak to those...

 

[Nick727]

Has anyone directly compared the Atrium Open to the Auteur Classic? Curious how much they differ from one another, and if they're different enough to warrant owning both?

 

[JerseyD]

Has anyone directly compared the Atrium Open to the Auteur Classic? Curious how much they differ from one another, and if they're different enough to warrant owning both?

At one point, I owned the AO, AuCl and VO at the same time. For me it came down to genres of music. The VO became my clear favorite for instrumental music (jazz mostly, and classical). AO and AuCl were both for rock, pop, folk, blues - offering different flavors but some similarities as well. In the end, I found myself reaching for the AO far more often. The combination of added detail and spaciousness were too seductive for me. The AuCl have a more direct sound, vocalist closer to your ears, and less reverby decay. For some, that maybe preferable but for me, Atrium won and I ended up selling the AuCl. They don’t sound the same, but I wouldn’t describe the differences as complimentary. I do find the AO and the VO complimentary, as to my ears, they each excel at different things.

 

[JackarlTwo]

Americana and bluegrass are some genres I wouldn't listen to in my younger days. Atrium has sort of broaden my musical perspective and appreciation for a lot of different genres that I previously wasn't that much interested in. For me at least, good audio can aid in exploring music. I don't need good audio to enjoy music at all, it just boosts the experience so much. Just some Monday night ramblings!

Atrium + strings is a killer combination.

 

[G8torbyte]

Americana and bluegrass are some genres I wouldn't listen to in my younger days. Atrium has sort of broaden my musical perspective and appreciation for a lot of different genres that I previously wasn't that much interested in. For me at least, good audio can aid in exploring music. I don't need good audio to enjoy music at all, it just boosts the experience so much. Just some Monday night ramblings!

Atrium + strings is a killer combination.
]

In my younger days I played classical acoustic guitar and banjo to learn picking skills. Bluegrass and Appalachian Rock I can appreciate on occasion but my genres range widely and depends on the mood.

I do like Scott and Seth Avett's guitar and banjo playing:



Their album "The Carpenter" is very good and the guru Rick Rubin produced a few more of their releases.
Agree the strings do sound fine on the AO.