Verum Audio Verum 2 Headphone Review

[Leopardy]

Any additional comments on the spacial qualities of the Verum 2? I am seriously considering getting one but soundstage is pretty important to me. I mainly listen to classical music. Dk33145 has suggested that the Para IIs have a far wider soundstage while the Verum 2 is more reminiscent of an "IEM on steroids" in a different thread. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/para-ii-vs-verum-2.68643/

 

[Frank Dernie]

Any additional comments on the spacial qualities of the Verum 2? I am seriously considering getting one but soundstage is pretty important to me. I mainly listen to classical music. Dk33145 has suggested that the Para IIs have a far wider soundstage while the Verum 2 is more reminiscent of an "IEM on steroids" in a different thread. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/para-ii-vs-verum-2.68643/

I am interested by your comments on this.
I own a lot of headphones and all of them give me an image like tiny musicians in the middle of my head between my eardrums.
I have heard Q-sound effects out of my head but nothing from normal headphones. I hear timbral differences but not spatial.
Which ones have you tried which give a convincing out of head image.

 

[Henreid]

Any additional comments on the spacial qualities of the Verum 2? I am seriously considering getting one but soundstage is pretty important to me.

I own a lot of headphones and all of them give me an image like tiny musicians in the middle of my head between my eardrums.

ASR member @Dk33145 owns both the Para 2 and Verum 2, and in the thread you linked, Para 2 vs. Verum 2, his distinct impression is that the Para 2 produces a wider soundstage. It's intriguing, though, that when @amirm reviewed both these headphones, he described their soundstage in similar terms:
Para 2: "Spatial qualities are excellent which translated to every note taking its space around an oval outside of my ear."
Verum 2: "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."
The subjective spatial experience of these two headphones seems to vary among users. Maybe the best way to decide is to poll as many reviews as possible, both in print and on video, to see if there is some consensus of opinion on the matter.
Because I've been listening to Classical music though loudspeakers for over 50 years, now (and much of that time with a "quadraphonic" speaker system) my experience of music through headphones tends toward the "tiny musicians inside my head" sensation. Perhaps the only way I'd have a realistic spatial headphone experience would be through devices designed to reproduce the acoustics of concert halls, like the Smyth Realiser A16. But that's not to suggest that other headphone users can't detect very definite differences in spatial realism between models. I guess I've concluded that if a headphone is able to reproduce music accurately in all the other ways except for spatial realism it will be enough to satisfy me.

 

[SoySalsaPicante]

ASR member @Dk33145 owns both the Para 2 and Verum 2, and in the thread you linked, Para 2 vs. Verum 2, his distinct impression is that the Para 2 produces a wider soundstage. It's intriguing, though, that when @amirm reviewed both these headphones, he described their soundstage in similar terms:
Para 2: "Spatial qualities are excellent which translated to every note taking its space around an oval outside of my ear."
Verum 2: "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."
The subjective spatial experience of these two headphones seems to vary among users. Maybe the best way to decide is to poll as many reviews as possible, both in print and on video, to see if there is some consensus of opinion on the matter.
Because I've been listening to Classical music though loudspeakers for over 50 years, now (and much of that time with a "quadraphonic" speaker system) my experience of music through headphones tends toward the "tiny musicians inside my head" sensation. Perhaps the only way I'd have a realistic spatial headphone experience would be through devices designed to reproduce the acoustics of concert halls, like the Smyth Realiser A16. But that's not to suggest that other headphone users can't detect very definite differences in spatial realism between models. I guess I've concluded that if a headphone is able to reproduce music accurately in all the other ways except for spatial realism it will be enough to satisfy me.

Should not be surprising for two people to have differing experiences comparing the same two headphones--the two headphones are not identically shaped and don't have the same pads, so they will fit differently on different heads. Chances are, Amir and Dk33145 almost certainly have differently shaped heads and ears, so they will hear different sounds from each pair.

 

[LuckyNat]

I really like the headband material, soft but sturdy. Overall, the fit and finish is excellent. The metal is all nicely smoothed and deburred. I seemed to have gotten an earlier version, so it came in a simple white box and only a 3.5mm cable, so I can't comment on the case. At the end of the day, it feels great to have in my hands something that was made in Ukraine, Slava Ukraini.

Did you order from GR Research ?

There are two packages available in general, one cheaper than the other. The differences I think are just the cables and case.

As far as I know, Verum Audio only have the option of the package with the case and extra cable on their website (I guess you might be able to request it via email?) whereas GR Research has the smaller package with just headphones and 3.5mm cable. I would guess that GR Research's customer base - home hifi with speakers, users - will unlikely need a balanced cable and probably never use the case either.

And, for sure, Slava Ukraini !

 

[LuckyNat]

I am interested by your comments on this.
I own a lot of headphones and all of them give me an image like tiny musicians in the middle of my head between my eardrums.
I have heard Q-sound effects out of my head but nothing from normal headphones. I hear timbral differences but not spatial.
Which ones have you tried which give a convincing out of head image.

As Henreid mentions, I suspect it may well be a brain expectation thing, based on how you expect music to be presented. When I likely first taking music seriously rather than background stuff, it was when I got a walkman in the late 80s. So from the outset and from then on, much of my time strongly focusing on the music was only ever with headphones.

I've had good hifi since my 20s (I'm now 50) but it's not always so easy to focus or get absorbed enough to listen properly for me (noise in shared living, concern about neighbours in apartment blocks .. or just being too distracted by external things in general .. ) .. so it's still the case with me that fully absorbed listening happens on headphones.

So that's what my brain has come to expect and creates worlds from: the sound from headphones.

... or it could also be a hearing thing, if you're more or less sensitive to particular frequency ranges. I'm often surprised how much EQing a pair of headphones can improve the soundstage, from narrow and unexciting to full, wide(ish) and attention grabbing soundstage.. I presume it's about detail brought out in certain frequency ranges by making them relatively louder ?

 

[Henreid]

I'm often surprised how much EQing a pair of headphones can improve the soundstage, from narrow and unexciting to full, wide(ish) and attention grabbing soundstage.

Two comments on another ASR thread ["Para 2 vs. Verum 2"]

@Igor_S: "Imho "soundstage" in headphones is more of a frequency responce thing. If vocal region is flat (or elevated a bit) some people will tell that soundstage is small.
If vocal region recessed - vocals will be heard "more distant" and perceived soundstage can be considered bigger."

@Soria Moria: "I agree. It's surely no coincidence that so many of the *soundstage kings* have a little suckout from around 1kHz to 2,5kHz."

By the way, @LuckyNat: I believe the the headphone package bought directly from Verum Audio also contains an extra pair of earpads.

 

[Mocie]

@Igor_S: "Imho "soundstage" in headphones is more of a frequency responce thing. If vocal region is flat (or elevated a bit) some people will tell that soundstage is small.
If vocal region recessed - vocals will be heard "more distant" and perceived soundstage can be considered bigger."

In some cases this is true, the 2kHz-4kHz dip is another known soundstage trick. In other cases its component-based and not tied to FR. Worth keeping tabs on, but it isn't always going to work.

 

[Rincewind42]

Great review, and also great to see Igor contributing in this forum again!

I will write a detailed review in the coming weeks/months as this is the endgame pair of headphones for me, no doubt about it. I do music production, and the Verum 2's are my no.1 monitoring and mixing tools now. I even prefer them to my Neumann nearfields, they're that good!

I'm in agreement with Amir's assessment; the sound is enjoyable without EQ with both pads (I got the kit version). I gravitated towards the thinner earpads from the kit version after a week's of listening, however, I find the thicker stock pads more comfortable and easier to EQ (as I didn't like the elevated treble response of the thin pads after a while).

I think most people will find the sound with both pads very enjoyable, but those looking for a bit flatter response and more "heft" in the bass region, here are my EQ settings for the thick stock pads:

Peak: 85 Hz, Q 0.5, +1.5 dB
Peak: 1000 Hz, Q 2.0, -2.0 dB
Peak: 5800 Hz, Q 4.0, -2.0 dB

Honestly, taking -2 dB out at 1k is the only tweak that's "objectively" needed, in my opinion. Without that, acoustic instruments can sound a bit honky at times, but it's not a problem for most studio-produced music that feature synthetic sounds.

I'm treble sensitive, and I listen to electro & metal too from time to time, so softening the highs at 5.8k helps reduce fatigue during longer listening sessions. If you like treble, you can skip that tweak.

Lastly, that 1.5 dB bump at 85 Hz just makes listening to electro with lots interesting activity in the bass regions more fun Plus it dials in some "heft" or "warmth" some people are complaining about. However, do note that overall clarity decreases as you keep bumping up the bass (that's a not a deficiency of the headphones at all; that's how masking in the human auditory system works). So for clarity and accuracy, keep that bass at lower levels For acoustic and orchestral music not "assisted" by electronic instruments, you honestly don't need any bass boost in my opinion. But I like to have a single EQ preset that I can use with any music and never think about it again, so there you go.

Enjoy this wonder of a headphone and big thanks to Igor for creating this marvel at an affordable price!

 

[Sanctuary]

Because I've been listening to Classical music though loudspeakers for over 50 years, now (and much of that time with a "quadraphonic" speaker system) my experience of music through headphones tends toward the "tiny musicians inside my head" sensation. Perhaps the only way I'd have a realistic spatial headphone experience would be through devices designed to reproduce the acoustics of concert halls, like the Smyth Realiser A16. But that's not to suggest that other headphone users can't detect very definite differences in spatial realism between models. I guess I've concluded that if a headphone is able to reproduce music accurately in all the other ways except for spatial realism it will be enough to satisfy me.

Just a heads up in case you haven't been able to demo it yet: the A8 and A16 are both incredible at replicating real speakers placed in whatever configuration in the type of room you have them in, but I've found the biggest influence on how "out of your head" and realistic what you are listening to sounds in terms of width, depth and height has less to do with the actual frequency response of the headphone and more to do with how the shape and size of the earcups and chassis interact with your HRTF. The reason is because the goal of those units is to essentially eliminate the frequency response of the headphone via HPEQ so that all you're hearing is the FR of the speakers you captured.

I have both the HD800 and the cheap Edition XS, and the XS gives me a much more realistic and "speaker-like" presentation than the HD800...which are known to have a wide soundstage.

I am interested in seeing how the Verum 2 might stack up, since it wouldn't be based off of the way it sounds from its default tuning, but rather purely the physical aspects of the headphones that are unrelated to the driver.

Anyway, I don't actually like using either the A8 or the A16 for music, but it's amazing for movies, especially Atmos mixes, but I know plenty of people that purchased either and love them specifically because they're the only way they can get a speaker-like presentation over headphones.

@Igor_S: "Imho "soundstage" in headphones is more of a frequency responce thing. If vocal region is flat (or elevated a bit) some people will tell that soundstage is small.
If vocal region recessed - vocals will be heard "more distant" and perceived soundstage can be considered bigger."

In most normal applications, and when comparing like for like, the frequency response is the largest factor, but it's not the only one. The A16 shows as much, and to make it even more apparent, all one has to do is use a closed-back and an open-back that have been altered to have the same frequency response. They won't have the same soundstage.

 

[Igor_S]

In most normal applications, and when comparing like for like, the frequency response is the largest factor, but it's not the only one. The A16 shows as much, and to make it even more apparent, all one has to do is use a closed-back and an open-back that have been altered to have the same frequency response. They won't have the same soundstage.

But at the same they won't have same frequency responce. But I get about what you're talking. There're plenty of factors - transient responces for exmaple.

 

[Dk33145]

Did you order from GR Research ?

There are two packages available in general, one cheaper than the other. The differences I think are just the cables and case.

As far as I know, Verum Audio only have the option of the package with the case and extra cable on their website (I guess you might be able to request it via email?) whereas GR Research has the smaller package with just headphones and 3.5mm cable. I would guess that GR Research's customer base - home hifi with speakers, users - will unlikely need a balanced cable and probably never use the case either.

And, for sure, Slava Ukraini !

Mine was indeed from GR (convenient ship location for me), I didn't have a need for the 3.5mm cable but it was well built, still a case would have been nice at the price point. All in all though, the cans themselves are very very well made. Slightest critique would be that I wish the back padding was made of felt and not spongefoam for some extra durability.

 

[frequency_response]

Exactly. You're absolutely right.

Can the ported pads of the Verum 2 be used on the Verum 1 to get the same bass boost?

 

[Igor_S]

Can the ported pads of the Verum 2 be used on the Verum 1 to get the same bass boost?

Yes, sure. Thought boost frequency will be a little different.

 

[Carlo2AC]

Where can i get extra pads for it? Didn't find it at the site

 

[Igor_S]

Where can i get extra pads for it? Didn't find it at the site

At the moment I don't offer spare pads. Have limited stock only for complete orders. But all orders comes with two sets of pads.

 

[jjk1]

Great review, and also great to see Igor contributing in this forum again!

I will write a detailed review in the coming weeks/months as this is the endgame pair of headphones for me, no doubt about it. I do music production, and the Verum 2's are my no.1 monitoring and mixing tools now. I even prefer them to my Neumann nearfields, they're that good!

I'm in agreement with Amir's assessment; the sound is enjoyable without EQ with both pads (I got the kit version). I gravitated towards the thinner earpads from the kit version after a week's of listening, however, I find the thicker stock pads more comfortable and easier to EQ (as I didn't like the elevated treble response of the thin pads after a while).

I think most people will find the sound with both pads very enjoyable, but those looking for a bit flatter response and more "heft" in the bass region, here are my EQ settings for the thick stock pads:

Peak: 85 Hz, Q 0.5, +1.5 dB
Peak: 1000 Hz, Q 2.0, -2.0 dB
Peak: 5800 Hz, Q 4.0, -2.0 dB

Honestly, taking -2 dB out at 1k is the only tweak that's "objectively" needed, in my opinion. Without that, acoustic instruments can sound a bit honky at times, but it's not a problem for most studio-produced music that feature synthetic sounds.

I'm treble sensitive, and I listen to electro & metal too from time to time, so softening the highs at 5.8k helps reduce fatigue during longer listening sessions. If you like treble, you can skip that tweak.

Lastly, that 1.5 dB bump at 85 Hz just makes listening to electro with lots interesting activity in the bass regions more fun Plus it dials in some "heft" or "warmth" some people are complaining about. However, do note that overall clarity decreases as you keep bumping up the bass (that's a not a deficiency of the headphones at all; that's how masking in the human auditory system works). So for clarity and accuracy, keep that bass at lower levels For acoustic and orchestral music not "assisted" by electronic instruments, you honestly don't need any bass boost in my opinion. But I like to have a single EQ preset that I can use with any music and never think about it again, so there you go.

Enjoy this wonder of a headphone and big thanks to Igor for creating this marvel at an affordable price!

View attachment 504797

View attachment 504795

Thanks for this! - I’ve just received these headphones from GR-Research this morning. I’ve tried a few EQ settings from this thread and I like this one but with the first boost moved up to 125hz at +1db. Very simple and easy.
There are my first planar magnetic headphones. They sound great. Better than I expected.

JJK

 

[Carlo2AC]

At the moment I don't offer spare pads. Have limited stock only for complete orders. But all orders comes with two sets of pads.

Will wait for them, loving my pair, sub $700 I think this is one of the best headphones

 

[ZööZ]

@Igor_S: "Imho "soundstage" in headphones is more of a frequency responce thing. If vocal region is flat (or elevated a bit) some people will tell that soundstage is small.
If vocal region recessed - vocals will be heard "more distant" and perceived soundstage can be considered bigger."

@Soria Moria: "I agree. It's surely no coincidence that so many of the *soundstage kings* have a little suckout from around 1kHz to 2,5kHz."

This is highly compatible with my experience playing with eq on JBL Stage A130 speakers, when I took the peaking between 800Hz and 2kHz down a little more than it was in Maiky's EQ the effect was substantial.
It felt like the singer had took a step backwards and wasn't so much in your face which made the soundstage much more layered and I preferred it that way.

ASR member @Dk33145 owns both the Para 2 and Verum 2, and in the thread you linked, Para 2 vs. Verum 2, his distinct impression is that the Para 2 produces a wider soundstage. It's intriguing, though, that when @amirm reviewed both these headphones, he described their soundstage in similar terms:
Para 2: "Spatial qualities are excellent which translated to every note taking its space around an oval outside of my ear."
Verum 2: "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."
The subjective spatial experience of these two headphones seems to vary among users. Maybe the best way to decide is to poll as many reviews as possible, both in print and on video, to see if there is some consensus of opinion on the matter.
Because I've been listening to Classical music though loudspeakers for over 50 years, now (and much of that time with a "quadraphonic" speaker system) my experience of music through headphones tends toward the "tiny musicians inside my head" sensation. Perhaps the only way I'd have a realistic spatial headphone experience would be through devices designed to reproduce the acoustics of concert halls, like the Smyth Realiser A16. But that's not to suggest that other headphone users can't detect very definite differences in spatial realism between models. I guess I've concluded that if a headphone is able to reproduce music accurately in all the other ways except for spatial realism it will be enough to satisfy me.

I'm not looking for a speaker like spatial qualities in headphones or iems, they're a different kind of an experience and I quite like that.
Buuut... I 'll have to give the suckout a go with my Para 2, the headphones are absolutely great and the soundstage is separating between instruments etc but for me feels kinda closed in (after HIFIMAN 400SE) , in a sense almost like an in-ear monitor.

It would be interesting to get the Verum 2 also to compare, maybe someday.

 

[Mocie]

This is highly compatible with my experience playing with eq on JBL Stage A130 speakers, when I took the peaking between 800Hz and 2kHz down a little more than it was in Maiky's EQ the effect was substantial.
It felt like the singer had took a step backwards and wasn't so much in your face which made the soundstage much more layered and I preferred it that way.

Yeah it doesn't work with EVERY headphone and isn't always the reason it happens, but that range or playing with 2-4kHz seem to be the sweet spots with creating headstage.