ZMF Aeolus Review. A small taste of the greatness, that is ZMF. 

I'm selling Arya at the moment because my Verite Closed give me so much pleasure that Arya got not much to offer anymore. Even if Arya got that big soundstage that alone cant convince me to listen to it, VC timbre, speed and amount of details are just perfect. Arya is for people who just started to discover what is soundstage and hifi audio, ZMF make headphones for people who are more mature and understand that music is about pleasure, they are accurate but have a beautiful soul when planars in most cases for me are like my cold ex 😂😂. So yea planars are like that dirty slut for one night stand and quality dynamic drivers are like good wife with warm heart that you want by your side each day 🤘🤘

@@soulfulfool - I don't know that you can categorize all planars the same way. In owning the Arya, a t60rp Argon, an Empyrean, a Liric, a Mobius, a Sundara, both Devas.. they have some common characteristics but also many differences. And while I'd agree that ZMFs are a pleasurable or euphonic listen, the same can be said for many other headphones of different driver types at different price points. ZMF isn't unique in that regard no matter how much I stan Zach and Bev. ZMFs are for headphone enthusiasts imo, I've owned three of them and currently own a stabilized Resin Auteur Classic. And while I love it and have no plans to part with it, I also get just as much enjoyment at times listening to a HD600 or the Argon. Actually, gun-to-my-head, I think I prefer the 109 Pro to the Auteur Classic for sonics. For aesthetics, yeah nothing touching my Auteur Classic, it's definitely a nice little flex for the collection. The Arya v3, was technically superior to any ZMF I've heard but I also haven't heard the Verite, Atrium, or Caldera. However technicalities certainly aren't the end all, be all for me. Like you, I want something to sound musical as I'm not buying headphones for a job. That being said I do feel like the Stealth Arya is very musical, and very euphonic. And its price cut positions it as one of the best price-to-performance options out there for a little bit of everything all in one. The comfort and ergonomics of it however.. well for me they're a problem. You do get what you pay for in ZMFs with their construction. That's something that I haven't encountered from HiFiMan man. Overtime the Arya is wickedly uncomfortable for me. No ZMF has done the same.

@@dasninjastix Yea right you got a point, I just personally prefer dynamic drivers with my tube amp, thats my kind of sound, to make it more funny even if I own Arya I always had a beef with Hifiman xD its overpriced with shit cables and terribly poor build quality. There are few planars left that are interesting but price of them is a killer

Cheers mate, it’s greatly appreciated, welcome to the fam 🐅

@@ConvinceMeAudio Thanks! 😁

Definitely going to order perforated suede when I finally gonna buy Atrium, ZMF suede pads are so nice in touch its level of alcantara if not better

Thank you for the kind words, welcome to the Femme Zach is sending me his latest PLANAR with the VO, I am planning to go right through his entire lineup, I don’t think it will be too long before those will come in for review, keep an eye out

From my experience its always better to wait longer and aim higher but I know waiting is so damn frustrating :). Thou you can't go wrong with classics they are baby Atrium

@@soulfulfool yeah I know your right but I got a Ltd pair and couldn’t resist, they are so damn beautiful! They sound great too. I will get a closed back next, probably the Atrium when it’s released.

@@danielheffernan7897 no doubt they are beauty 👍

A few people have suggested that those pads were not suitable, this was just a review unit mate

@@ConvinceMeAudio perforated universe suede is the next best pad for the Aeolus for me. I highly recommend you try them out

First of all, thank you I appreciate the kind words 🐅 They are very different Headphones these three Headphones you have mentioned can all live together happily, they do not cross boundaries Should be quite a pleasant listen, and you can pad roll as well, where mid range and the acoustic aspects of the frequency responses concerned. It’s a lovely headphone and I think we’ll make a nice addition. Also, I recommend looking on the used market as well. There are some incredible ZMF vo et cetera available maybe slightly more expensive but used in the next category up. I’ve seen them go for as low as 1200.

I think it’s been edited right now And thanks glad you enjoy the video

Before new Utopia will be announced this month.

@@martinklockl5090 Yes mate it’s coming for review Looking forward to it

First, and foremost welcome to the fam 🐅 The SE is far more technical, but I would give the fun characteristics definitely to the ZMF The SE is in the next big step up. It’s a good performer, but let me know what genres of music you like. I need a little more information, also what equipment you have this will play a big role

@ConvinceMeAudio Hi, Thanks. I confused the Hifiman one. For my budget it would actually be the Stealth, not the SE . As for the style of music i hear, it's all over the place, but mainly Rock, Hard Rock, Hip Hop, Classical, Acoustic, and can even use them for some PC gaming. Currently own a Bose QCil 35 ii for Bluetooth and ANC and a Topping D70 pro amp paired with HD 600 for home use but I have to say I never really found the "wow" factor on them as other people say. I want to upgrade, and first I thought about the 660s2 for the extra bass but I went on a search rabbit hole and currently between the He1000 Stealth, Aeolus or even maybe the Auteur classic (and buy the $400 upgrade later this year). Needless to say, if you have a similar quality recommendation on a "friendlier" budget under 1000, it would be pleasantly received 😆. Thanks for your help.

@@fagiolo2376 I was responding to your first message which actually stated the HE 100 SE. I believed this was a typo. HE 1000 stealth and SE. I’ve only spent 15 minutes with that shows they’re the only two units from Hifiman that I’ve not reviewed at the office yet, but $1300 is a lot of money and there are a lot more options than these two as well for the genres you have chosen ZMF works better I usually prefer the stealth or the SE for Classical, jazz gaming et cetera. It will highly show up bad recordings, especially in metal and rock. If you take my advice for 1300 I would hunt in the used market personally ZMF vo would be my choice first. I’ve seen it pop-up for this price many times used. Hifiman he’s a good choice. It’s not bad but it does require a very good chain to sound its best. for gaming HD800S is the way to go it’s incredible LCD x2021 is another option as well

@@ConvinceMeAudio Great, thank s alot for your detailed anwer. So, if i got it right: Best for Gaming HD800S or in this case the He1000 Stealth. BUt for the music i prefere ZMF does a better job so Verite Open would be your choice, am i right. Do you think VO´s would do ate least well for gaming?

This was a review unit from a viewer of the channel, I think we pad rolled a few times 😎