This is a review, listening tests, EQ and detailed measurements of Verum Audio Verum 2 planar magnetic open back headphones. It was drop shipped by the company and costs US $425.
As you see, this is a "high bling" headphone when it comes to design with so much intricate details. It is a bit much for me but I imagine others are into it.
There are different versions of this kit. Mine has a set of thinner pads. Stock ones are quite a bit deeper and that is what I used for the review. The large cups make the headphone comfortable to wear and easy to measure. Two sets of cables are provided as well: a 3.5mm and an XLR.
Measurements you are about to see are on GRAS 45CA, controlled by Audio Precision APx555 audio analyzer. Measurements of headphones is text fixture specific so don't focus too narrowly on the details.
Verum 2 Heapdhone Measurements
As usual, we start with our headphone frequency response measurement and compare it to our target (referenced to 94 dBSPL @ 425 Hz):
While tracking is not perfect (to our target), there is an uptick in bass which did not exist in version 1. There is a bit of excess energy from 600 Hz to 2 kHz. There is possibly too much high treble energy as well. We will have to adjudicate these with equalization and listening tests. Some EQ is very likely to be needed regardless:
The next measurement, distortion took my breath away:
Just incredible! Even 114 dBSPL doesn't cause this headphone to even notice let alone blink! In the company kickstarter campaign, the designer showed my distortion measurements of Verum 2 indicating a target for improvement. I say mission accomplished!
Absolute distortion is not a reliable metric for headphones but even it shows very nice performance:
The angled cups combined with large distance to artificial ears in the measurement fixture shows a lot of group delay, indicating likely reflections:
The data here is not prescriptive so we will have to listen.
Sensitivity is better than average:
Impedance however, is very low, meaning you need current, not voltage to drive it to loud levels:
Translation: just about any source should generate very usable loudness. But for maximum playback levels, you should get a good headphone amplifier. My Topping DX5II "normal" listening level is around -25 dB using unbalanced output. For very loud listening, I went as low at -9 dB.
Verum 2 Headphone Listening Tests and Equalization
As is typical of headphones not matching our target, especially in bass, the out of box impression was that of rather flat sounding. So I pulled out the EQ tools and fairly quickly developed a set of filters:
This, combined with super spatial qualities of this headphone generate startling fidelity the likes of which I have forgotten!
Track after track sounded just stunning. Instruments and vocals all separated around and behind my head with detail to die for in reference tracks. So much so that I am listening to the Verum 2 right after I took the review picture.
Surprisingly, turning off the EQ did not make a dramatic difference. The sound simply gets less exciting and a bit brighter. It is totally listenable without EQ.
Conclusions
The Verum 2 breaks new ground in how low its distortion is -- likely the best I have ever measured. This makes it a perfect canvas to paint your favorite EQ on top of it. Stock tuning is good enough but EQ takes it to the next level, or should I say very high level. Price is quite reasonable as well. Nice fit and finish puts the cherry on top. Hopefully version 3 eliminates the need for EQ, giving us one perfect headphone!
I am going to recommend the Verum Audio Verum 2 without EQ. With EQ, it delivers incredibly performance that puts a smile on your face, track after track.
-----------
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/
As you see, this is a "high bling" headphone when it comes to design with so much intricate details. It is a bit much for me but I imagine others are into it.
There are different versions of this kit. Mine has a set of thinner pads. Stock ones are quite a bit deeper and that is what I used for the review. The large cups make the headphone comfortable to wear and easy to measure. Two sets of cables are provided as well: a 3.5mm and an XLR.
Measurements you are about to see are on GRAS 45CA, controlled by Audio Precision APx555 audio analyzer. Measurements of headphones is text fixture specific so don't focus too narrowly on the details.
Verum 2 Heapdhone Measurements
As usual, we start with our headphone frequency response measurement and compare it to our target (referenced to 94 dBSPL @ 425 Hz):
While tracking is not perfect (to our target), there is an uptick in bass which did not exist in version 1. There is a bit of excess energy from 600 Hz to 2 kHz. There is possibly too much high treble energy as well. We will have to adjudicate these with equalization and listening tests. Some EQ is very likely to be needed regardless:
The next measurement, distortion took my breath away:
Just incredible! Even 114 dBSPL doesn't cause this headphone to even notice let alone blink! In the company kickstarter campaign, the designer showed my distortion measurements of Verum 2 indicating a target for improvement. I say mission accomplished!
Absolute distortion is not a reliable metric for headphones but even it shows very nice performance:
The angled cups combined with large distance to artificial ears in the measurement fixture shows a lot of group delay, indicating likely reflections:
The data here is not prescriptive so we will have to listen.
Sensitivity is better than average:
Impedance however, is very low, meaning you need current, not voltage to drive it to loud levels:
Translation: just about any source should generate very usable loudness. But for maximum playback levels, you should get a good headphone amplifier. My Topping DX5II "normal" listening level is around -25 dB using unbalanced output. For very loud listening, I went as low at -9 dB.
Verum 2 Headphone Listening Tests and Equalization
As is typical of headphones not matching our target, especially in bass, the out of box impression was that of rather flat sounding. So I pulled out the EQ tools and fairly quickly developed a set of filters:
This, combined with super spatial qualities of this headphone generate startling fidelity the likes of which I have forgotten!
Track after track sounded just stunning. Instruments and vocals all separated around and behind my head with detail to die for in reference tracks. So much so that I am listening to the Verum 2 right after I took the review picture. Surprisingly, turning off the EQ did not make a dramatic difference. The sound simply gets less exciting and a bit brighter. It is totally listenable without EQ.
Conclusions
The Verum 2 breaks new ground in how low its distortion is -- likely the best I have ever measured. This makes it a perfect canvas to paint your favorite EQ on top of it. Stock tuning is good enough but EQ takes it to the next level, or should I say very high level. Price is quite reasonable as well. Nice fit and finish puts the cherry on top. Hopefully version 3 eliminates the need for EQ, giving us one perfect headphone!
I am going to recommend the Verum Audio Verum 2 without EQ. With EQ, it delivers incredibly performance that puts a smile on your face, track after track.
-----------
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/
