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Author Topic: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements  (Read 4772 times)

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nepheshdust

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #10 on: October 04, 2014, 04:23:52 PM »
I had a chance to compare these to the AD in house and I found the following:

The AD to be a bit faster. This was noticeable on faster Jazz songs where I felt the AD to keep up a bit better and its details popped clearer. On slower jazz songs this was less aparent and I wasn't able to make an absolute call. The AD was also a tiny bit more detailed as well and had less resonance so it sounded a little more open. BUT the Vibro had more punch, better balance from mids to highs, equal soundstage width if not just a hair smaller, better tonality and equal imaging. The perception of the AD having a bigger soundstage may only come from its less full midrange presentation which often leads to a perceived increase in soundstage. Most headphones with a really full midrange don't come off as having a big soundstage. But when listening for distance, I found them fairly close with the nod going to the AD for less resonance so it sounded like they were open in regards to reverberation from the cups. Also the zxv sounds more open with all of plugs out as well.

In short I prefer the Vibro as well.
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Hands

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #11 on: October 04, 2014, 05:02:51 PM »
Interesting. Thanks for your thoughts!

Not that I disagree with what you heard (keeping in mind possible very slight product variation, physical hearing differences, different music tracks, different gear chain, etc. - I do believe you heard what you heard), but I found the ZxV I had to be a bit faster and cleaner sounding than the AD. For some of my low-level information tests, the ZxV usually came out ahead. With one of my fast and complex metal tracks, the ZxV was noticeably better at instrument and vocal separation and in particular allowed the snare drum to come through more clearly during a blast beats section. It's a track that's very easy to get muddied up. The AD just sounded like it lacked total clarity in comparison. I also thought the AD did a better job producing a sense of room resonance. And the ZxV had a noticeably more intimate soundstage, though I can see where you're coming from with the AD's mids and overall balance giving that perception.
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nepheshdust

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2014, 08:05:29 PM »
If the Zmf is clearer sounding then that's awesome. I was listening pretty loud so that may have skewed my perception. Overall though they are totally both worth they're asking price. I wouod be very challened to find a better all arounder than the z x v. The Z x V worked well with all the songs I tried while the AD failed at some songs and did some songs better. The Z x V has better genre bandwidth and didnt fail any song.

Thanks for you impressions. Despite the different results I am now even more persuaded the Z x V is my ideal can. I am just waiting on firm impressions of the z7
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EraserXIV

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2015, 05:44:16 AM »
Anyone hear the ZMF Blackwood? Curious how it compares to the Vibro and AD
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ultrabike

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2015, 08:18:19 PM »
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EraserXIV

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #15 on: April 28, 2015, 08:54:44 PM »
ZMF Blackwood is pretty damn good. Once you get the fit right, it sounds very natural and tonally pleasant. The bass can be thunderous too if you play around with the bass ports. I don't really have much need for a closed headphone at the moment so I listened to it last night, hoping to be underwhelmed and justified in selling it... big mistake.
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Hands

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #16 on: April 28, 2015, 09:42:10 PM »
Zach will be sending me a pair of Blackwoods to test...sometime. Hopefully in May. Waiting on the new pads and any tuning tweaks it may need from that, is what I was told.

Main issue with his current design is how the headband is connected to the cups, along with the cup design itself. Doesn't give the cups much room to wiggle around at all, unlike the stock T50RP enclosure or, say, the cups for the Alpha Dog/Prime. I really had to mess with the headband to get a good fit and seal. Because of this, they simply aren't going to fit well or at all on some heads, and they will not sound good in that situation. The cups are generally very nice, though.

He also made some tuning revisions shortly before I heard this pair I reviewed, and then a few small tweaks after geared more towards channel matching and overall QC. One of the earlier tunings I heard was...well, not so great. Last I heard, he had settled on a tuning a while back, so hopefully that's settled.

Zach is a super nice guy and really willing to customize individual headphones from a physical and sonic perspective, but OTOH you're not going to get quite the level of refinement and consistency like you'd get from LFF.
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Sorrodje

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #17 on: August 28, 2015, 09:25:44 PM »
Got this ZMF Vibro X today... Won at a lottery on Tellementnomade.org ... I like what I hear thus far. I was not that confident it would suit my tastes but I'm pleasantly surprised ( not that warm or laid-back , quite airy and spacious . definitely different from the mad dogs I heard and not liked so much) . Will see if this headphone will last at home.
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keanex

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #18 on: August 28, 2015, 09:55:55 PM »
Since this was bumped I'll throw my review in the ring. I too find it to have similarities to the HD600. I really love the Vibro when all is said and done.
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Dr. Higgs

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Re: ZMFxVibro Review and Measurements
« Reply #19 on: August 29, 2015, 02:04:17 AM »
Quote from: keanex on August 28, 2015, 09:55:55 PM
Since this was bumped I'll throw my review in the ring. I too find it to have similarities to the HD600. I really love the Vibro when all is said and done.

Great review, I got a pair of the Massdrop purple galaxy vibros a month or so ago and I'm in love with them as well. It was my first dip into the ocean of t50rp mods, very happy with my decision so far. I hope I get a chance to compare them with Slants/Paradox, Blackwoods, and Omnis at some point.
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