ZMF Atrium Closed Final Thoughts and Comparison to the Stellia!

[@kevintj604]

Wow. Best closed back in the market is a bold statement. I’m very excited to hear the AC myself. I’ve owned two different Verite Closed and sold them after I heard the Eikon. Great review as always Sajid. Much appreciated!

[@chronometa]

I heard the AC and the eikons similar

[@kato2395]

Some people said it is Sony MDR-Z1R but at the time that headphone released Atrium Closed has not been released.

[@anncleverley4721]

Excellent review and so interesting. I held off from purchasing the Stellia and glad I did grossly over priced. I got the Meze Liric and love them so much. I am now going to seriously look at the Atrium Closed back for my second pair. I am currently back and forth to ZMF with questions and they are so accommodating. They said the Atrium with pair well with my Cayin N8ii so thats a plus. Have just sold my Focal Bathys (not at all impressed with them). Thank you again for your thoughts.

[@Coztomba]

You had the Stellia, with angled drivers... on backwards on your first listen!

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Lol yeah I realized by the time I put it on the second time but the sound impressions still hold! 🙂 I did own the Stellia for awhile!

[@garygriffiths7353]

I prefer the stellia and I’ve owned both. I like how zmf headphones sound but they are too heavy for me to wear for long. I don’t get that problem with the stellia

[@Daniel-t3u9m]

Good review!! Objective, non nonsense. Very clear, very informative. I own Audeze LCD2C and I owened in the past Senneheiser HD800 (3 times) and Sennheiser HD650 (two times) among many other headphones. Most headphones in lower or "normal" price range. I am offered to borrow ZMF Atrium and I think it's the exact headphones I want. The two main reasons for Atrium closed is the design (I am very design aware and I think it's more appealing) and the "leak". I was thinking to use Atrium for traveling. Then I don't mean the subway, rather on long distance trips such as on cruises or on a beach on a paradise island, or while resting on a hotel room. BTW, I haven't heard ANY Focal but I would have guessed that Utopia would be a better competitor? It seems like ZMF Atrium is about some of the best headphones of all time. If Susvara and Sennheiser HE-1 or Orpheus are the absolute top, I think ZMF Atrium could be considered like top 20-30 something. Or for an award or so... btw, I listen to old-school progressive trance. Such as Tiësto, Chicane, Paul van Dyk or such. Popular music from the clubs on Ibiza, London etc. in the 00's and the 90s. I would say HD650 has the "best" sound signature for that music I ever heard, so I am looking forward to try ZMF Atrium (open) very soon!!

[@TonyCassara]

Great review, you took subjective measurements and made them tangible. Definitely excited to pick up a pair of AC!

[@SilverSurfer9000]

Pretty sure you had the Stellia's on backwards the first time. R/L mixed up. Nice comparison though. Focal timbre often sounds weird... I've definitely experienced that treble weirdness and hollow/metallic sound although I haven't tried Stellias

[@kingstoler]

Appreciate the impressions. You describe things very well. I also blame you for influencing my purchase of AO and couldn't be happier.

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Lol. Glad to hear that!

[@lavapanther]

Lovely review/comparison.

[@Radiant_]

Which headphones do you find more comfortable to wear for long hours between VC, AC and Stellia?

[@MichaelTheOrange]

You obviously care a lot about this hobby, glad to be in the audio tent with you. First time here how are you giving us a different flavor by changing tracks? Also are the focals reversible?

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Yes to the first question and no to the second

[@anthonyberryman3443]

Great video as usual. What cable are you using to go from your Sony Dap to your Moon Audio Cable, is it just the standard charging cable that came with your Sony Dap? Thanks in advance. Anthony

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Na bro am using a cheap Chinese one lol

[@compadre9783]

The stock pads of Stellia sound dark and bassy. With the right pads and cable it sounds amazing.

[@starkid9736]

stock is beefy sounding i have aftermarket ones which shifts the trebles a lot (not in a good way) stellias have a good imaging all is on point but u have to get use to them (i guess its the close thing) to open i adjust faster to the image when switching headphones

[@TheKent2288]

Nice comparison. Have you tried comparing the warmest filter on the Hugo 2 with the Sony? Does the Sony still provide more sub-bass in comparison? Just curious. Thanks.

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Yeah I would say so. Thicker subbass.

[@jimr869]

Great comparison, thanks. I like my Stellia but enjoy the Utopia sound more. Considering Atrium Closed. Worried about whether my DX300 would drive the Atrium well. Any thoughts there?

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Yes would be fantastic chain IMO

[@corentincoulon4867]

Thanks for the nice shootout! I heard you mentioned you liked listening to metal which is the only genre I listen to; for metal and only for metal (power, symphonic mostly), which would pick between the atrium closed and the caldera? Thanks in advance and keep up the excellent videos!

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

AC likely because of the bass!

[@aceofspades6667]

Sounds like a great option.. what I’m really hoping we see is a closed back caldera.

[@LSDScreen]

It’s coming.

[@aceofspades6667]

@@LSDScreen that will be the money shot

[@LSDScreen]

@@aceofspades6667 I’m hoping Zach will have the prototype for CJ Dallas.

[@aceofspades6667]

@@LSDScreen nice I’m looking to a totl closed back for office use. I’ve got focal radiance now which is great for the 700 I paid for it. I think a closed caldera will fit the upgrade bill.

[@RX-rd4sc]

Have you heard fostex th900 mk2 if yes Whats your take on it?

[@risumorino1876]

On what tier of detail retrieval do you think atrium closed is at? I heard they are less resolving than the verite

[@kato2395]

I've tried AC, I think resolving aint the selling point but it is sure one of the most immersive headphone that I've ever heard. I am saying this after I tried several other high end headphones like Caldera Open, Atrium Open, Auteur Classic, Auteur and HE1000SE. Abyss Diana too but I dont like that one. AC envelopes you in a spherical space of sound with very warm and lush bass and vocal, I think it would be the most natural sounding if you like to hear to nature recordings, watching movies or playing games with great recording or sound engineering. Music also sound great too, I think it is a great allrounder but it makes everything sound lush and relaxing. Might not be your taste but certainly is mine! Oh and the AC I tried was in Zebra Wood, according to ZMF customer service if I want something that sounds very close to the demo unit I tried, I should get a version that is made with a wood that is close to hardness with Zebra Wood. Zebra Wood is 1830 in the Janka scale hardness.

[@ruffandruff]

Hey man...would love to know your take on L & P W4. With all that power combined with power efficiency and along with multiple tuning variations, that seems like a great option. If by any chance you get to review it, please do.

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Okay getting the RU7 in as well

[@nonchalantd]

♥

[@chronometa]

Zmf and sony are musicphile brands. If you had to add a secondary amp for the walkman would a dongle work? Just to give it a bit extra juice.

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Yeah you could get an extra amp have ordered the Brise Tsuranagi

[@asplmn]

Timbre of Atrium/AC vs Caldera?

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Close call

[@amaya897]

Very close, tonality is rather different. Atrium is warmer and more romantic. Both headphones compliment each other beautiful, very different presentation but both great in what they are doing. Caldera is far more detailed though with a wider stage.

[@TC-dg5pm]

Does ZMF Atrium leak sound as much as Stellia?

[@amplifyaudioreviews]

Nope isolation is fantastic

[@nagodio]

🎉

[@guitarshred863]

Hahaha, which one will I buy . NONE. you pay 2-3 K . I'm old, I can't even distinguish th good sound from the bad sound. it all sound fatiguing in the long. run. Nice video. More power.