This is a review and detailed measurements of the Verum Audio Verum One (1) headphone. It was kindly ordered by a member and drop shipped to me. It costs US $349.
Verum is a one-person DIY originated design and company. There is controversy around the owner which you can read here. Please don't comment on it in this thread. Company is located in Ukraine sadly.
It has a custom look which belies its low cost.
The headphone is large but somehow doesn't seem heavy despite its weight:
Note: The measurements you are about to see are made using a standardized Gras 45C. Headphone measurements by definition are approximate and variable so don't be surprised if other measurements even if performed with the same fixtures as mine, differ in end results. Protocols vary such as headband pressure and averaging (which I don't do). As you will see, I confirm the approximate accuracy of the measurements using Equalization and listening tests. Ultimately headphone measurements are less exact than speakers mostly in bass and above a few kilohertz so keep that in mind as you read these tests. If you think you have an exact idea of a headphone performance, you are likely wrong!
Fitment on the measurement fixture was easy.
Verum Audio Verum 1 Measurements
Let's start with our usual frequency response measurements:
I was impressed by the exact channel matching. Compliance is good for reasonable range in audio band. Bass as is the case with many headphones, doesn't rise up to our preference target. There is also shortfall of energy between 1.5 and 7 kHz. In relative terms, it looks like this:
There is almost no distortion at 94 dBSPL across the full frequency band (blue):
But then we get narrow spikes in mid frequencies which tend to suggest resonances. We can see correlation with this (a weak one) in group delay:
Here is our distortion in absolute levels:
Impedance is flat but exceptionally low:
Fortunately this is counteracted with very high sensitivity:
Verum One Listening Tests and Equalization
Out of box response is good with nothing that would be bothersome at all. On female vocals, I found it very acceptable as there is not a lot of bass in those tracks. As usual though, I like to use EQ to get close to our target:
Spatial qualities and naturally bass response improved now. Detail was excellent and overall experience very enjoyable.
I tried to tease out the mid frequency distortion but I could not. Bass response was so strong at high volumes that I feared for my ears.
My RME ADI-2 DAC had no trouble pushing this headphone even at -10 to -15 dB.
Conclusions
I can't fathom how a single person could design and manufacture these headphones yet sell them for just $349. Response out of box is good enough that you could use them if you have no EQ ability. With EQ, their performance rises to quite a high level, putting a smile on my face.
I am going to recommend the Verum One headphone without EQ and strongly so with EQ.
-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
Verum is a one-person DIY originated design and company. There is controversy around the owner which you can read here. Please don't comment on it in this thread. Company is located in Ukraine sadly.
It has a custom look which belies its low cost.
The headphone is large but somehow doesn't seem heavy despite its weight:
Note: The measurements you are about to see are made using a standardized Gras 45C. Headphone measurements by definition are approximate and variable so don't be surprised if other measurements even if performed with the same fixtures as mine, differ in end results. Protocols vary such as headband pressure and averaging (which I don't do). As you will see, I confirm the approximate accuracy of the measurements using Equalization and listening tests. Ultimately headphone measurements are less exact than speakers mostly in bass and above a few kilohertz so keep that in mind as you read these tests. If you think you have an exact idea of a headphone performance, you are likely wrong!
Fitment on the measurement fixture was easy.
Verum Audio Verum 1 Measurements
Let's start with our usual frequency response measurements:
I was impressed by the exact channel matching. Compliance is good for reasonable range in audio band. Bass as is the case with many headphones, doesn't rise up to our preference target. There is also shortfall of energy between 1.5 and 7 kHz. In relative terms, it looks like this:
There is almost no distortion at 94 dBSPL across the full frequency band (blue):
But then we get narrow spikes in mid frequencies which tend to suggest resonances. We can see correlation with this (a weak one) in group delay:
Here is our distortion in absolute levels:
Impedance is flat but exceptionally low:
Fortunately this is counteracted with very high sensitivity:
Verum One Listening Tests and Equalization
Out of box response is good with nothing that would be bothersome at all. On female vocals, I found it very acceptable as there is not a lot of bass in those tracks. As usual though, I like to use EQ to get close to our target:
Spatial qualities and naturally bass response improved now. Detail was excellent and overall experience very enjoyable.
I tried to tease out the mid frequency distortion but I could not. Bass response was so strong at high volumes that I feared for my ears.
My RME ADI-2 DAC had no trouble pushing this headphone even at -10 to -15 dB.Conclusions
I can't fathom how a single person could design and manufacture these headphones yet sell them for just $349. Response out of box is good enough that you could use them if you have no EQ ability. With EQ, their performance rises to quite a high level, putting a smile on my face.
I am going to recommend the Verum One headphone without EQ and strongly so with EQ.
-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
Last edited:
