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$7000 Shootout Review: ZMF Verite vs. Focal Utopia

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$7000 Shootout Review: ZMF Verite vs. Focal Utopia
Idiot spends way too much money in pursuit of audio nirvana and RU-vid clicks.
In This Episode:
Focal Utopia
ZMF Verite
Recommended:
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Bargain!
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TENNMAK Turbo Pro Tips
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Sedna Eartips
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Director's Garage Sale:
Everything here is in the videos. Save some cash, friends!
64 Audio U18 Tzar $1950 (Plus S&H)
MOTU M2 $100 (Plus S&H)
Comes with original box
Unique Melody MEST $1250 (Plus S&H)
STUDIO INFO:
Mic: RCA-77DX
Processor/Pre: Universal Audio LA-610 Mk II
A/D Converter: Apogee Symphony Desktop
Camera: Blackmagic Design Cinema Camera 2.6k
Close Up Camera: Sony RX-100 VII
Lens: Canon Cine Prime 24mm
Lighting: Aputure 120D, MC
Software: Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve
Hardware: Blackmagic Design Ultrastudio Mini 4k
Switcher: Blackmagic Design Television Studio HD
Computer: 12-Core Apple Mac Pro (2013)
Music: Epidemic Sound www.epidemicso...
Head-Fi Handle: reeltime
Copyright: Michael De Lazzer
All rights reserved

Опубликовано:

22 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 65

@AndyMillerPhotoUK 3 года назад

Finally a proper review of the Utopia. Many other reviewers "complain" that the sound stage of the Utopia is overly narrow AND the bass is lacking. This is absolutely not my experience. I admit that I am listening to the 80 ohm impedant Utopia with replacement braided cooper cables by CustomCan, driven by a Pathos Aurium Vacuum Tube Headphone Amp utilising the balanced output from a Auralic Altair-G1 and playing a wide range of digital inputs and formats from DSD 512 to 64, DXD, Flac in 32 and 24 bit at a range of sample rates - all types of music styles from Medieval Chanting, Russian Folk Music, Bocelli, a Vast range of classical pieces; Krall, 1970s/80s Rock ... I typically drive these with volume at 50% (with 75% gain and no attenuation) which gives me an average of about 63db sound level (75 peak) in each ear. [The cable is made using 84 strand litz copper, wrapped in coloured paracord of your choice, and hand braided here in the UK.] I have had no high treble issues -- I wonder if the cable / tube amp helps?

@soulfulfool Год назад

for me my verite closed sounds bad at class A SS kind of little veil but on tubes highs start to sparkle bass is softer but under control and vocals with that great timbre

@dfiled_ 2 года назад

Such a great review, but the sound effect gimmick has to go.

@patrickgerbersmann6005 3 года назад

Hi. I generally like the style of your reviews. However I would cut down on the background sounds. Maybe 2-4 per long video. Its a bit gimmicky to me.

@johnhayes8476 3 года назад

Now buy verite closed and focal stellia. 😂

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

Gulp.

@xeniavader 2 года назад

Nice review. Utopias have the absolute best mids, flesh-out and so real. Bass extension wasn't quite enough for me and the stage is lacking. Detail retrieval is excellent and definitely a little bright at times. Feed it good recordings and all is well. Tubes might help but I only had solid state when I owned them. Really enjoy your reviews!

@Brandon-qs3jq 3 года назад

I don't know why you don't have more subscribers - this video review was very well done. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

@mikylenaidoo1779 2 года назад

Utopia has better ,fuller bass than Verite ? Okaaaay.... Our ears clearly differ ALOT

@Peter-tc3ep 3 года назад

My only issue with my Utopia is it’s too much to listen to for long periods of time for me. Everything becomes critical listening instead of musical listening with them. I’m actually buying a Verite closed or Stellia as an everyday headphone. Keep going back and forth between them, the Stellia is less analytical and slightly warm sounding compared to the Utopia. But the verite closed is so wide and musical for a closed headphone, also has better bass impact over the open verite. It’s a tough choice. I’m happy I bought the Utopia because of its very detailed approach, it’s just not a daily listen for me, not relaxing enough to unwind with since every time I listen to them I notice something new in a track and get sucked into intensely listening for other differences or hidden sounds I can find. If you become a good customer of a local shop mine let me demo the headphones or speakers at home with my equipment for a few days. This way you buy the keepers you want to add to your collection.

@adamgreenhill110 Год назад

I have the same issue! The Utopia is like an audio microscope, and isn't musical enough - It's lacking fullness, warmth and body. The Stellia gets close, but far less dynamic or Crystal clear. But it's a pleasing, warm, encompassing sound. With 'most' of what the Utopia can do. It's so musical. I haven't tried a ZMF yet, but the VC are on my list. I have the HE1000se, but they're slightly too boring and neutral. Perfectly transparent and pure, large stage, but lacking any special character to them.

@chopparapuparameshwar1691 2 года назад

love your reviews man !!! no playing it safe and diplomacy !! tell it as it is .. subscribed !! stay with it ..your approach in reviewing

@shadym1lkman 3 года назад

It took a very long time burning in on the VC before the bass opened up. It is grandiose in is presentation once it does. Before i had whole heatedly agreed, to the point of thinking about moving on.. glad i didn't

@ericm.5753 3 года назад

Excellent shootout, bravo ! I am lucky to own both the Utopia and the Verite Closed. As a closed back headphone, the VC is stunning and complement the Utopia very well.

@davejohnson2702 3 года назад

The video we didn't know we needed . looking to buy a utopia now

@DJEcchi 3 года назад

I wonder if you would've iked the VC instead of the VO. The VC delivers better slam and bass rumble, and the soundstage doesn't sound closed at called compared to other closed-backs.

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

DJ, I think you're on to something. But there are other brands I want to involve before doing another ZMF. I will get around to the closed at some point, I'm pretty sure. I do have build quality concerns over the ZMF's hardware. The cups are beautiful and stunning. But the hardware connecting everything together has a flimsy feel. This is interesting because the Focal is the company most known for driver failure. Thank you for watching!

@ZMFheadphones 3 года назад

@@DirectorsGarage Hey Michael - thanks again for checking out our headphones! All our parts are made from solid aluminum, wood, magnesium and real leather or premium suede. If something feels flimsy all you have to do is add a gasket or tighten a screw. Our headphones are completely modular, which is what gives our owners the confidence in knowing if something ever needs to be replaced it will be easily. Likely if you wanted your headphones to feel "tighter" in how the parts are assembled, it would be as easy as adding an O-ring inside the gimbals and tightening the ball end plunger that controls the detents on the rods. As usual, email us if this is something you'd want to do and we can get you the parts.

@luisnavarrete1602 3 года назад

You could also encourage viewers to send their products in for you to do a review on. Would save you alot of money :)

@Puroplatino Год назад

@DirectorsGarage I just wanted to thank you for the Johnny Jenkins Tom-Tom recommendation as I’m listening to it now. Might have to get the ZMF just to hear the strings as I think you’re right. Must be a hell of a match up. Listening on my Empyreans is nice tho and my Utopia’s aren’t as good with the natural sound of the instruments. Cheers from Italy 🇮🇹

@jsharp9735 3 года назад

Yes, something like an audeze or zmf you cant take the headphone off with one hand like the focal or senhiesers.

@DB-Lackaufbereitung Год назад

thanks for the review. I had the Utopia 2x. A fantastic headphone. Cons: little slam (punch is great). slightly metallic timbre.

@mariodrv 3 года назад

Verite no bass and punch? Are you sure it's not underpowered? cause tht is as weird as saying the Utopia has a giant soundstage... :S

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

I went back and checked-- my signal path is the Hugo 2 >> Woo Audio WA5LE. The WA5LE was in high power mode. I'm not saying there isn't any bass, or the bass is thin, just that a weaker sub-bass compared to the Utopia, and there's no slam -- that involving thud at the back of your head that is most definitely there with the Utopia. I can only tell you what I'm hearing. My personal bass preference is that there's a controlled (not over-dominant) but robust bass with slam, because I find slam involving. Thank you for watching!

@mariodrv 3 года назад

@@DirectorsGarage I believe the 300B to be the culprit in that it is too rolled of for the Verite it should have more bass ans subbass than the Utopia. 300B's are known to be rolled on top and on the bottom.

@mariodrv 3 года назад

@@DirectorsGarage Try 2A3's with the Verite if you can convert the 5LE.

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

Yes, I stated below in other replies, and in the Verite videos-- this dynamic driver foray into ridiculously priced headphones is to find the perfect pairing for my Woo Audio WA5LE. I have a ton of money invested in this amp, and I'll likely never be able to sell it. So I have to pair the headphone to the amp, not the other way around. I had paired the Woo with the Hifiman HE1000 V2 previously, and I always felt like I wasn't getting the best out of either component. So I purchased the Verite blind because I figured it would be a good pairing with the WA5LE. The Utopia is sometimes called a 'bright' headphone. Tubes are basically hardware filters, and they are likely taming what others may find annoying on the Utopia. At any rate, it's a great experiment and I hope these shootouts and reviews are entertaining. Too much of this hobby is taken seriously, and there's a level of this hobby that is crazy-obsessively absurd. We need to be having fun!

@mariodrv 3 года назад

@@DirectorsGarage Of course we do, and yes with the 300B the Utopia is the better fit. Even on SBAF it seems to be a consensus that the Utopia sounds best on the Studio Junior 300B. But what might interest you is that the 2A3, which is the succesor to the 300B, is almost the same(but improved) tube and any 300B amp (like my EC Studio Junior) can relatively easy be converted to 2A3 with just lovering the heater voltage to 2.5V from 5. You can even ask Jack to build that into you 5LE. In any case, looks like you found you match for the 5LE and its time to enjoy the heck out of it. :)

@Maver1ck911 Год назад

The Verite can be serviced. The Ucopia can snap. Also the hinges are trash. Anyhow, the pads lmao... the pads are all handmade so the rim where they fit the cups is always slightly different

@dominicboucher5759 3 года назад

Hey, very (I mean very) good shootout man! Great job! You also give some great examples of your comments referencing to great music tracks, which is awesome. I have a quick question for you: At 4 :57 you said that the Utopia has a more full-bodied sound than the Verite. Does it means that the Verite has less textured/thinner sound than the Utopia, especially in the mids? I own the Utopia and I was wondering if the Verite could be a good complement for my Utopia in terms of body and texture in the mids…

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

The Utopia, to my ears, has a fuller (thicker) sound. The biggest differences to me: The Utopia has greater bass extension, and the Verite has the wider soundstage. They are both outstanding, just different flavors. If you love soundstage, to my ears, the Verite will take you places the Utopia can't. Thanks for watching!

@strubitt 3 года назад

You have too much time on your hands my friend. Home Garaged Techno-Babble that is actually mesmerizing to watch. Great Job. Son of a Biscuit. You will never live that down.

@stevestang7551 3 года назад

I dont know why I watched this. I cant afford either one of these. Still a good video Mike.

@bjornjagerlund3793 3 года назад

Great shootout! I would also love a review of your daps.

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

Björn, I did something of a review of the SP1000 (not totally thorough) in episode 2, and check out the Cayin N8 video, I do a log of comparisons between the A & Ultima SP1000 and N8 you might find interesting. Thank you for watching!

@zergolicious666 3 года назад

Great video man been enjoying the content. Edit yes this hobby is fun i am a owner of u12ts and um mest and i hope to branch out to headphones and amps soon

@thelastrhino2581 3 года назад

7:30 But doesn't that get to be too much? Too much slam kicking you, as you describe it, actually hurts my ears. It's exhausting. Who wants that for more than one track? Great video and idea to do a shootout. Plus the fact that you are keeping one and letting go of the other as a result. Nice idea all around.

@elnrik8655 3 года назад

Yeah, my preferences lean to the Verite, and I thought all the impact and treble of the Utopia just seemed forced and excessive. Preferences differ though, and I had a hunch before I watched the video that he would pick the Utopia. I'm slapping the title "treble-head" on Michael now. I think he's earned it. LOL

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

Hey guys! I want to be sure everyone understands a few things: These are both world-class headphones. I'm also demo-ing these headphones to specifically pair with my Woo Audio WA5LE tube amp. Tube amps tend to soften a lot of the harshness-- tubes act as a filter of sorts. I did not do ANY solid state listening for this shootout. That will most definitely have an impact on the sound out of each of these headphones. BTW, I get called out for being a bass head, too! LOL. Thank you guys for watching, it means a lot.

@mariodrv 3 года назад

@@elnrik8655 I believe it to make a difference if you listen to the Utopia with 300B's instead of 2A3's. I think the Wa5LE(300B) is simply to gooey for the Verite, to rolled top and bottom as far as I understand. On the other hand my EC Studio Junior 2A3 seems to be the perfect match and I think the Utopia would sound more aggressive with that tube.

@elnrik8655 3 года назад

There are many amps I wouldn't pair one or the other with, especially the Utopia considering it is far more constrained with its high sensitivity and very low impedance. Gooey sounding or not, high output impedance is going to screw with Utopia's sound. I think Michael is shooting himself in the foot with amp pairings, as there are so many better amps out there than his Woo. IMO, anyway. As for my opinion of the Utopia, I've tried it with the ECP 3F and T4, Pendant, Aficionado, Crack, more class A SS amps than you can shake a stick at, etc. It's still an overbearing sound signature no matter how I mix it up. So... Preferences, eh?

@cd-rom. 3 года назад

Thank you sir! How does LCD products stand next to the Verite?

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

I've spent very little time with Audeze products. I've not purchased a planar-dynamic headphone since selling off the HE1000 V2. This foray into dynamic drivers is to find the perfect headphone for the Woo Audio WA5LE amp. I have so much money invested in that amp, I'll never get it back, so I need to find the perfect headphone to pair with it. The Utopia is the best I've heard with it, so far. Thank you so much for watching!

@cd-rom. 3 года назад

Thanks for your insight! That’s a very fancy amp. I understand what you mean. The resale value on most gear doesn’t hold. One tip I would give you is to put something between the frame and earcups to lessen the pressure of the clamp. Focal headphones want to be as close to your head as possible for that extra French ohm. I might be picking up a LCD-i4 in the near future to eliminate the feeling of wearing headphones.

@MartinLeschinski 3 года назад

Preferences

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

Always! thanks for watching!

@khanhdang8342 3 года назад

Thank you for great review and comparison. I have the Utopia, and I don't need to buy the Verite Open as second TOTL Headphone.

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

The Verite Open is a great headphone, though. I wouldn't knock someone for wanting the expansive soundstage of an open back. I just preferred the Utopia with my setup. Thanks for watching!

@Nephilim-81 3 года назад

Alright. Yeah that Utopia really is true to its name, however pick well mastered music sources. It reveals the truth! ;)

@DirectorsGarage 3 года назад

I confess, I'm a quality snob. I don't even like 44.1 FLAC files anymore! LOL. Thanks for watching!

@Nephilim-81 3 года назад

@@DirectorsGarage truth is FLAC and nothing less is all that you need. The initial recording process and engineering is everything. A lot of music is bit bucketed and up sampled. For instance. I bought Megadeth’s Rust In Peace in 24/196k. Tested that against the original cd recording from 1990 (not a remaster) and the original was more dynamic and lifelike. Blu Ray Audio or listening to dvd concerts in high quality stereo PCM on headphones is gold! Nothing beats that for me. :)