Verum Audio Verum 1 Review (Headphone)

[JoshJ625]

Here are some thoughts about the EQ.

Notes about the EQ design:

• The average L/R is used to calculate the score.
• The resolution is 12 points per octave interpolated from the raw data (provided by @amirm)
• A Genetic Algorithm is used to optimize the EQ.
• The EQ Score is designed to MAXIMIZE the Score WHILE fitting the Harman target curve (and other constrains) with a fixed complexity.
  This will avoid weird results if one only optimizes for the Score.
  It will probably flatten the Error regression doing so, the tonal balance should be therefore more neutral.
• The EQs are starting point and may require tuning (certainly at LF and maybe at HF).
• The range around and above 10kHz is usually not EQed unless smooth enough to do so.
• I am using PEQ (PK) as from my experience the definition is more consistent across different DSP/platform implementations than shelves.
• With some HP/amp combo, the boosts and preamp gain (loss of Dynamic range) need to be carefully considered to avoid issues with, amongst other things, too low a Max SPL or damaging your device. You have beed warned.
• Not all units of the same product are made equal. The EQ is based on the measurements of a single unit. YMMV with regards to the very unit you are trying this EQ on.
• I sometimes use variations of the Harman curve for some reasons. See rational here: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...pro-review-headphone.28244/page-5#post-989169 NOTE: the score then calculated is not comparable to the scores derived from the default Harman target curve if not otherwise noted.

Good L/R match.

I have generated one EQ, the APO config file is attached.


Score no EQ: 39.3
Score Amirm: 60.9
Score with EQ: 72.3

Verum Audio Verum 1 APO Score EQ Flat@HF 96000Hz March102022-130929 Preamp: -7 dB Filter 1: ON PK Fc 33.26 Hz Gain 6.96 dB Q 0.34 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 191.82 Hz Gain -1.19 dB Q 1.71 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 1030.03 Hz Gain -1.84 dB Q 2.44 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1973.53 Hz Gain 6.48 dB Q 1.59 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 3769.98 Hz Gain 3.30 dB Q 2.00 Filter 6: ON PK Fc 7027.67 Hz Gain 6.36 dB Q 1.55

View attachment 191531

@Maiky76 just got my Verums and looking for a flat correction for mixing. Please can you explain how these 6 filter settings you posted differ from the 4 filters that were posted by the OP? Do you take a different measurement? I tried your settings but they sounded very smiley (hyped in the lows and highs). Seemed to removed a lot of the mids. Do you know whether this is an advisable setting for producing accurate mixes? thanks

 

[JoshJ625]

have you listened to the both of them?
imho, I find sundaras very thin sounding and bit metallic like...

I thought the Sundaras sounded like a budget gaming headset. Had to tap to doublecheck they weren't made of cardboard. Very boxy. Similar experience with the Monolith M1060. I do wonder how many people (including established reviewer on YT) have hearing problems.

 

[Maiky76]

@Maiky76 just got my Verums and looking for a flat correction for mixing. Please can you explain how these 6 filter settings you posted differ from the 4 filters that were posted by the OP? Do you take a different measurement? I tried your settings but they sounded very smiley (hyped in the lows and highs). Seemed to removed a lot of the mids. Do you know whether this is an advisable setting for producing accurate mixes? thanks

My EQ are based on the data measured by Amirm (OP).
The graph in my post directly shows the difference in frequency response, once equalized, between the EQ that I propose vs. what Armim devised and the stock headphone.
Check the legend in the graph.

One of the differences is that the EQ I propose achieves a better compliance with the Harman target (start your journey here or there) and the EQ is optimized for the predicted preference score. As to why you perceive a different tonal balance, that may be due to the EQ you applied is not exactly what was designed (some softwares are not defining the EQ points as I do, although from experience many hardware DSP are identical to my calculation) and/or your preference may or may not be on the exact Harman target which is to be expected for about a third of the population, please read the linked papers.

With regards to suitability for music production only you can answer that, but be aware that force of habits and extensive experience can trump "better".

The Yamaha NS10 Story

Love or hate the Yamaha NS10, this unassuming little speaker has found a place in the studios of many of the world's top producers. We trace its history, and investigate why a monitor whose sound has been described as "horrible" became an industry standard.

www.soundonsound.com

 

[Somafunk]

There’s a Verum 2 out soon, fully funded on kickstarter in 1 day, audio science review even gets a mention with amir’s distortion measurement of V1 compared to V2 (impressive) shown.

 

[cheapmessiah]

There’s a Verum 2 out soon, fully funded on kickstarter in 1 day, audio science review even gets a mention with amir’s distortion measurement of V1 compared to V2 (impressive) shown.

This guy really sucks at designing cups, its like his whole aproach was "how could i make them look uglier and a whole step back from the V1".

I would have helped him for a free headphone sample, and there has to be at least a few dozens of guys like me in this hobby space.

 

[lashto]

This guy really sucks at designing cups, its like his whole aproach was "how could i make them look uglier and a whole step back from the V1".

I would have helped him for a free headphone sample, and there has to be at least a few dozens of guys like me in this hobby space.

there is a bit too much 'fashion' for my taste too.
But they did show/promise an extra black variant and that one looks good. Not sure if it's part of the kickstarter offer..

 

[abm0]

The irony is, for the v1 (mk1) it was perfectly fine for them to look quirky or not quite up to 21st century aesthetics because they were hand-made. It could even be considered part of the charm of owning something hand-made that nonetheless performed sonically like a perfectly up to date product. But now he's upping the budget to make the process more industrialized, all of a sudden the aesthetic license that came with the hand-made status is gone and this retro-industrial(?) look of the v2 seems like way worse of a choice than it might have otherwise. (But even apples-to-apples I'd say it's less attractive than the v1. I always hated overly-industrial looking audio gear, that stuff just looks like it's somehow prioritizing brute power over quality/refinement, so I always despised the look of pretty much all Schiit and iFi gear, none of those belong in a living room.)

 

[lashto]

The irony is, for the v1 (mk1) it was perfectly fine for them to look quirky or not quite up to 21st century aesthetics because they were hand-made. It could even be considered part of the charm of owning something hand-made that nonetheless performed sonically like a perfectly up to date product. But now he's upping the budget to make the process more industrialized, all of a sudden the aesthetic license that came with the hand-made status is gone and this retro-industrial(?) look of the v2 seems like way worse of a choice than it might have otherwise. (But even apples-to-apples I'd say it's less attractive than the v1. I always hated overly-industrial looking audio gear, that stuff just looks like it's somehow prioritizing brute power over quality/refinement, so I always despised the look of pretty much all Schiit and iFi gear, none of those belong in a living room.)

not sure what you mean by "hand made". If you think that someone did drill & bent the metallic parts of V1 "by hand", you are (most probably) quite mistaken. Same about the plastic & wood parts. The final assembly may have been more "hand made" but that is not exactly a plus. V1 looks 'better' to me too but that has ~nothing to do with "hand made".

And now they just want some newer/better/faster tools. Which is good news for everyone.

 

[lashto]

SBAF did measure a prototype, just scroll around this thread. Measurements look very good to me.

According to the builder, the V2 is also a bit smaller, ~50g lighter and has an improved headband. Also a suposedly 'much better' driver (but not much info on what that means).
The price is a bit higher than V1 ($400 vs $350) but the V2 kickstarter price is actually lower than V1. And still much below similar headphones, e.g. Audezes start at ~2x.

Other than the very divisive looks, the V2 seems to be a well thought upgrade.

 

[abm0]

not sure what you mean by "hand made". If you think that someone did drill & bent the metallic parts of V1 "by hand", you are (most probably) quite mistaken. Same about the plastic & wood parts.

Yes, those were cut from steel pieces and bent by hand, he even put up videos of the bending process. There were no wood parts. I don't remember how the plastic was shaped exactly, but the faux-wood texture was absolutely applied by hand, also shown on video.

 

[lashto]

Yes, those were cut from steel pieces and bent by hand, he even put up videos of the bending process. There were no wood parts. I don't remember how the plastic was shaped exactly, but the faux-wood texture was absolutely applied by hand, also shown on video.

do you have some links?
Really curious how someone does that work "by hand". Particularly the very precise cuts in the cup plates: metal, few mm thick.

 

[lashto]

the V2 'black' variant is just fine, no fashion complaints from me

P.S. the pic shows a pre-production/demo model and I 'borrowed' it from another forum. Hope noone cries ...

 

[Angel II]

Absolutely impossible to do those processes by hand. In my opinion molding and laser cutting and assembly by hand.

 

[lashto]

Absolutely impossible to do those processes by hand. In my opinion molding and laser cutting and assembly by hand.

Think so too.
But considering that their 'measurement rig' is a plate of wood with a mic in a hole, I would not bet much on laser cutting

 

[Angel II]

Think so too.
But considering that their 'measurement rig' is a plate of wood with a mic in a hole, I would not bet much on laser cutting

They certainly have contacts with companies that do that type of work.

 

[Somafunk]

I thought about these as they seem a bargain for the price but I didn't realise the owner/manufacturer was a racist dick so its a definite no.

 

[abm0]

do you have some links?
Really curious how someone does that work "by hand". Particularly the very precise cuts in the cup plates: metal, few mm thick.

Headband cuts were probably made with some machinery, but that by itself doesn't make the process mostly automated.
Cutting the mounting/adjustment screw heads out of a titanium pipe:
YouTube/LePXe-8cSuM

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/verumaudio/verum-audiophile-planar-magnetic-headphones

"Verum 1 doesn’t have a conventional speaker driver inside of it. Instead of this I have made my own planar magnetic driver from scratch."
"Right now all Verum 1s are handcrafted, cups are milled on CNC routers and headbands are bent literally by my own hand."
Cup assembly first steps:
YouTube/wxVr-ZvFG1Q
Bending the headbands:
YouTube/R0g87NqdDmk

Early customers of the v1 "mk1" remember how long we had to wait for the order, the many-month delays sometimes, the high defect rate... what do you think all that was from? Heavy automation? No, it was from the many hand operations.

Additional details provided throughout the early development: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/diy-planar-magnetic-heapdhones-in-details.842282/

 

[lashto]

Headband cuts were probably made with some machinery, but that by itself doesn't make the process mostly automated.
Cutting the mounting/adjustment screw heads out of a titanium pipe:
YouTube/LePXe-8cSuM

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/verumaudio/verum-audiophile-planar-magnetic-headphones

"Verum 1 doesn’t have a conventional speaker driver inside of it. Instead of this I have made my own planar magnetic driver from scratch."
"Right now all Verum 1s are handcrafted, cups are milled on CNC routers and headbands are bent literally by my own hand."
Cup assembly first steps:
YouTube/wxVr-ZvFG1Q
Bending the headbands:
YouTube/R0g87NqdDmk

Early customers of the v1 "mk1" remember how long we had to wait for the order, the many-month delays sometimes, the high defect rate... what do you think all that was from? Heavy automation? No, it was from the many hand operations.

Additional details provided throughout the early development: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/diy-planar-magnetic-heapdhones-in-details.842282/

thanks for the links.
I have a v1.2 and it was delivered quite fast, just a few weeks total (pre war). It does not show any of the typical issues of the hand-made stuff: everything looks & feels very solid, 'straight' and mm precise. Much better build quality than anything from hifiman and pretty much on par with most Audezes.
If that stuff is (mostly) hand-made, the builder should be some sort of Hercules with the hand-precision of a japanese robot