ZMF Atticus Review (Headphone)

[2M2B]

Not sure what going on with Full size headphones. It hard to make them be under 1% THD at 100db, Are full of driver resonances that affect the sound, Fail to reach there target without EQ. None of that seems to be a thing with IEM's with THD/Tuning?.

 

[solderdude]

IEM's have different challenges. Insertion depth, seal, fit can all affect tonal balance in much more profound ways than over-ears/on-ears.
The excursions that have to be made with over- and on-ear drivers are much, much larger than those in IEM's.

 

[2M2B]

IEM's have different challenges. Insertion depth, seal, fit can all affect tonal balance in much more profound ways than over-ears/on-ears.
The excursions that have to be made with over- and on-ear drivers are much, much larger than those in IEM's.

Which I wonder why Over ears/On ears don't use two drivers instead. Like 40mm DD for bass and a 20 mm for mids/highs since a majority of the high THD is them being Single driver?.

 

[phoenixsong]

Which I wonder why Over ears/On ears don't use two drivers instead. Like 40mm DD for bass and a 20 mm for mids/highs since a majority of the high THD is them being Single driver?.

Some of them actually do (off my head there is the Meze Empyrean and Razer Tiamat), but complications extend beyond that

 

[solderdude]

Which I wonder why Over ears/On ears don't use two drivers instead. Like 40mm DD for bass and a 20 mm for mids/highs since a majority of the high THD is them being Single driver?.

There are some over/on-ears that do use dual drivers and in general this does not make them perform better than single driver drivers.
I measured 2 of these 'dual driver' ones here and here. Also the Nuraphones and Dharma D1000 use 2 drivers but these can't be measured properly.
They are rare though.

 

[2M2B]

Some of them actually do (off my head there is the Meze Empyrean and Razer Tiamat), but complications extend beyond that

That Meze looks like a single planar with two diaphragms. Wasn't there a final audio headphone that was 50 mm DD + BA tweeter?.

 

[phoenixsong]

Interesting topic though! I was just having fun thinking about a zonal driver design incorporating magnets arranged in a concentric pattern, with each key driver zone having slightly different mechanical/material properties. Not sure if it is at all feasible though

 

[phoenixsong]

That Meze looks like a single planar with two diaphragms. Wasn't there a final audio headphone that was 50 mm DD + BA tweeter?.

Yeah, the Pandora

 

[solderdude]

Yeah, the Pandora

 

[phoenixsong]

View attachment 135511

HAHA had a good laugh at this one (not sure if there's additional hidden meanings behind it too )

 

[solderdude]

not sure if there's additional hidden meanings behind it too

I hope VI not...

 

[phoenixsong]

I hope VI not...

This is too much, make it Final XD

 

[Koeitje]

It has been a wild west in headphones until Harman did its research but many companies still ignore that. Also, there is this notion that "beats" made billions with bass so let's boost the bass and we will sell a lot. The faulty review loop that exists in headphones doesn't help drive proper design either.

If you have the chance to measure a Beats headphone you should do it. From what I've heard people say, some of the more recent models aren't that bad.

 

[jae]

It has been a wild west in headphones until Harman did its research but many companies still ignore that. Also, there is this notion that "beats" made billions with bass so let's boost the bass and we will sell a lot. The faulty review loop that exists in headphones doesn't help drive proper design either.

I'm sure that's one of the reasons the Sennheiser 600 series did so well, is that they were sort of close to the theoretical curve without necessarily aiming for it. HD600 was a bit closer albeit bright, while the 650 was darker but still palatable.

 

[Jimbob54]

They did. Unfortunately they never followed through with sending me anything. I sent them a reminder a couple of months ago and I think they said they were busy or something. Still, nothing arrived. Shame is that I shut down other members wanting to send me their headphones.

Perhaps they saw the way the wind was blowing.

 

[Jimbob54]

View attachment 135511

Admit it, that was the first charm on your bracelet.

 

[phoenixsong]

Perhaps they saw the way the wind was blowing.

Yeah, who knows
But it's quite sad- as a manufacturer you'd think they'd at least establish clear communication especially when they were the ones who initiated contact (inferred from the words used; open for correction)

 

[respice finem]

Maybe we should have an official headphones testing "anthem"

 

[dmac6419]

Beats original advertising was all about : "hear music the way the artist intended it" with many POP artists involved with reference to "Studio". Dre was all out telling the world basically that this signature ressemble how the music was heard by him when in the studio, but he was selling a horrible boomy mess. They got better with time but in the beginning it was all marketing. He didn't told us what they were about.

Beats was all hip hop,rap,and r&b hence beats,all about the bass they never targeted the audiophile.

 

[PeteL]

Beats was all hip hop,rap,and r&b hence beats,all about the bass they never targeted the audiophile.

They targeted the whole planet but the audiophiles, reached way more than the crowd you mention. They took the whole market at the time and people that didn't know better, the regular music lovers, tought they where paying 300$ a set for good sound. Of course they couldn't pull it off with the audiophiles but they didn't need them.