[ECKHUAAA]

Sending out a good number of the lighter frontal mesh today to those who are demo'ing the CC - if looking for that snappier/slightly more elevated treble like the CO it would be the ticket.

Generally my tuning preference for closed headphones is slightly darker, I think in the more "pressurized" environment of a closed headphones it helps with ease of listening time, tinnitus, and other general facets of closed vs open headphones.

But yes if you want to go straight DAWG - just take the mesh off and these will be brighter than the Caldera open by a good margin.

When we can finally order the CC I would like mine with no mesh at all I love very extended treble and bass and lots of details and no additional filtering, also why I typically never use EQ. Rather I make sure my source and cables are as good and true as I can get reasonably.

 

[sp33ls]

Emotive Clarity! That will probably be the title of my CC review. The emotions are visceral with the CC along with Planar clarity. The ZMF emotions of the notes comes first and foremost before the clarity.

I would agree that from memory the CC is darker than the CO. I spent many hours with my CO but had to sell my CO, Susvara and Utopia OG because I was barely getting any open back listening time due to when I listen and the need to not bleed sound or there was too much ambient noise. Even the AC going on and off bothered me with open back HPs.

I am not sure if it is burn in or brain burn but it has taken about 60 hours of burn in and 10 hours of listening for me to become buddy buddy with the CO. I am hearing it as balanced in signature. Neither the bass (AC for example) nor the treble (CO for example) are the stars. They play a great role along with the mids. I cannot handle V shaped IEMs nor HPs. I am not hearing a V shape. The vocals are present and accounted for in a great way.

I do hear an obvious difference when running the CC with Holo Bliss versus with Ferrum Oor/Hypsos stack. Oor is using Holo May L2 with a Khozmo Passive Pre and Bliss is using May KTE with Serene. Oor gives the CC more clarity and intensity. Too much intensity at first but now with burn in/brain burn is just right. Bliss provides CC with more warmth and texture (darkness).

Here is some audio porn with AC and alone:

This is exciting. Can’t wait for your review!

It’s interesting, though, your comments make me think of my Verite Closed — emotive, resolving, and not V-shaped.

 

[SLC1966]

This is exciting. Can’t wait for your review!

It’s interesting, though, your comments make me think of my Verite Closed — emotive, resolving, and not V-shaped.

"I See a Darkness" is another title contender. Bonnie "Prince" Billy (Will Oldham) is my current favorite lyricist. One of the great lyricists of all time IMHO.

I have owned the Verite Closed three different times since it came out. I do get some of the Verite Closed vibe with the Caldera Closed. Curiosity has killed this cat more than 9 times. Therefore, I have an African Blackwood VC arriving on Monday.

 

[Wes S]

"I See a Darkness" is another title contender. Bonnie "Prince" Billy (Will Oldham) is my current favorite lyricist. One of the great lyricists of all time IMHO.

I have owned the Verite Closed three different times since it came out. I do get some of the Verite Closed vibe with the Caldera Closed. Curiosity has killed this cat more than 9 times. Therefore, I have an African Blackwood VC arriving on Monday.

Funny y'all should mention it, and when I first put the CC's on, I was immediately reminded of my VC's (my daily driver). I thought to myself, that the CC kinda sounded like a VC on steroids. . .

I will be comparing them both a bunch this weekend.

My VC's are a softer Maplewood, and I bet those Blackwood are going to be even closer to the CC, with the added speed and impact you get with a harder wood.

I look forward to reading your comparison.

 

[iamoneagain]

"I See a Darkness" is another title contender. Bonnie "Prince" Billy (Will Oldham) is my current favorite lyricist. One of the great lyricists of all time IMHO.

I have owned the Verite Closed three different times since it came out. I do get some of the Verite Closed vibe with the Caldera Closed. Curiosity has killed this cat more than 9 times. Therefore, I have an African Blackwood VC arriving on Monday.

I usually throw his Sings Greatest Palace Music on as test when I get new headphones. I started with Palace Music, so was surprised how well he can sing when he actually wanted to. So fun the listen to this album and then the original Palace Music versions. He sounds wonderful on the open Caldera.

My worry with the closed Caldera is my Naim HE is already warm and slightly dark, so find it pairs nicely with the open. Sounds at least with the current mesh, the closed would be too dark for my tastes on my setup. Be curious on the reviews with new light mess. I also don’t think I really need a closed headphone but if it sounds as good as the open, it does have advantages of blocking out occasional background noise.

 

[Wes S]

I can't stop shedding tears and getting goosebumps over my entire body!

The CC and Aegis pairing is flat out magical, and these headphones are truly something special.

I have the day off, and have been listening since 5am, and just had to pop in and share. I am so impressed with these headphones, I just can't stop listening. It's 11am by the way, and I feel like I could keep listening all day.

I do have the stock CC Hybrid Pads on by the way.

Well done Zach!

 

[GarlicBiscuit]

I know other folks have already said this, but I really look forward to seeing the limited editions that come out for the Caldera Closed. I quite enjoyed their sound when I demoed, and I'm certain folks who seek a slightly warmer version of the Open will love the Closed. In particular, darker woods like macassar ebony and ziricote would look amazing on those cups.

 

[Wes S]

I know other folks have already said this, but I really look forward to seeing the limited editions that come out for the Caldera Closed. I quite enjoyed their sound when I demoed, and I'm certain folks who seek a slightly warmer version of the Open will love the Closed. In particular, darker woods like macassar ebony and ziricote would look amazing on those cups.

I am imagining how insane a pair made with Cocobolo would look. . .

 

[Sword of Damocles]

I can't stop shedding tears and getting goosebumps over my entire body!

This could have something to do with the 1 kHz forwardness, as Linus (Tech tips) also cried when listening to similarly forward Abyss headphones....just joking, as I found a similarity. However, when done right, that kind of forward energy can sound emotionally powerful. Here I am assuming the FR on the previous page is somewhat accurate, as I haven't heard CC myself. Just thinking out loud.

 

[idairyou]

I can't stop shedding tears and getting goosebumps over my entire body!

The CC and Aegis pairing is flat out magical, and these headphones are truly something special.

I have the day off, and have been listening since 5am, and just had to pop in and share. I am so impressed with these headphones, I just can't stop listening. It's 11am by the way, and I feel like I could keep listening all day.

I do have the stock CC Hybrid Pads on by the way.

Well done Zach!

1 more week folks!

Also, would like to know your thoughts on the CC with the 300MKII.

 

[Wes S]

This could have something to do with the 1 kHz forwardness, as Linus (Tech tips) also cried when listening to similarly forward Abyss headphones....just joking, as I found a similarity. However, when done right, that kind of forward energy can sound emotionally powerful. Here I am assuming the FR on the previous page is somewhat accurate, as I haven't heard CC myself. Just thinking out loud.

Not sure on the FR stuff, as I just use my ears. That being said, I have actually heard the Abyss off a very expensive DCS setup and it didn't make me shed a tear at all. All that experience did for me, is make me wonder why people like that headphone so much.

The CC sounds nothing like the Abyss, and I am thankful for that.

Back to the shedding a tear, and that has to do with the tone, timbre, texture, note weight, impact, staging, and detail, all combined at a level that matches my preferences like I have never heard before, of which sound so freaking engaging, beautiful and lifelike it's stunning, and this in turn evokes so much emotion that I shed tears of joy.

 

[Wes S]

Also, would like to know your thoughts on the CC with the 300MKII.

I will be sharing my thoughts on this soon, as I am going to be ABing my HA300mk2 and the ZMF Aegis all weekend with the CC's.

 

[AudioDuck]

Therefore, I have an African Blackwood VC arriving on Monday.

The VC in African Blackwood is an amazing headphone. Its speed and agility is borderline planar-like to my ears. Yet it keeps the benefits of a dynamic-driver unit.

I love mine, and plan to pair it (and its AC “sibling”) with a Caldera Closed after the summer…

 

[erics75]

Let the fun begin! Demoing the open and closed check out the grain matching on the closed, it’s immaculate! Don’t ask me why the open mounted the closed, I let them play. Notice the extra hips on the closed… baby got back! Once the kiddies are asleep to the Stratus the Calderas will creep yay I’m a bit excited

 

[ng5921]

Let the fun begin! Demoing the open and closed check out the grain matching on the closed, it’s immaculate! Don’t ask me why the open mounted the closed, I let them play. Notice the extra hips on the closed… baby got back! Once the kiddies are asleep to the Stratus the Calderas will creep yay I’m a bit excited

you’re in for a treat