FWIW I preferred the 1266 on the LAu when I still had it, though I’ve since changed the regulator on the WA33. and I really like the WA33 on the Susvara.
One of those depends what your listening for things I guess.
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Yeah the vocals on the 1266 can sound a little harsh at times but they aren’t always intimate or far away it seems to change with the recording but things like the Atrium or LCD-5 vocals are always close in which is probably why I like the 1266 over them in those cases. Susvara I really don’t use much at the moment and when I do pick them up I generally end up on acoustic, classical, or soundtrack type of music. But the WA33 did seem to smooth things out with the 1266 coming from my previous amps (Flux Volot, Formula S + Powerman).
The only stock tubes I have in the WA33 at the moment are the 2A3s. The rectifier is a emission labs 274b and the drivers are electro harmonix gold pins. My plan is to try the KR Audio rectifier and 2A3s to match the tubes that come with the WA33 JPS version.
Back to the Atriuim, I did try it with the Volot briefly and it sounds nice as well but leans towards a brighter sound overall with less low end quantity and impact.
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The WA33 is still a new-ish amp for me and I’m getting used to how it sounds and how different tubes impact the sound. It’s the best I’ve heard the 1266 sound and does a great job with my other headphones. I’ve used Atrium on the WA33 exclusively apart from a 15 minute listen or so with the Volot.
I hear some recommend OTL amps with ZMFs so perhaps I’ll give that a try. But for now I really like how the Atrium is sounding on the WA33 and there are still other tubes I want to try.
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I have a KR Anniversary rectifier and PSVane Acme’s in mine, the biggest benefit once you get through the excessive burn in period is extended treble, improved resolution, and control to a lesser degree.
I think the stock EH are a bit Bass forwards as well.
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Would love to try a KR anniversary rectifier but they sre so hard to find. Heard great things about them
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The kr rk is probably the best 5u4g I’ve heard, definitely worth trying
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I have both the Anniversary and RK Special edition versions, and I think the latter is clearly the better rectifier, picking up another one is on my todo list.
Pretty much the only place you can buy them is Best300B.com.
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Do you mean this one from the manufacturer?
They still have KT88 tubes if it is the manufacturer and would be interesting for me with an adapter on the Euforia.
You hear good things about Kron Audio, they seem to put a lot of effort into it.
I’ve also seen some from Sophia Electric as KT88s, which are also supposed to be very good in terms of sound.
Unfortunately they have nothing but 5u4g tubes.
Those are 274’s not 5U4G’s despite the title.
Yep yep and yep.
Did you find the treble and detail were better during early break in, then it smoothed out and lessened with more use?
I also found the staging to be in a “ring” around me. Not much would be too close in, then its the ring of sound, then past that not much either.
How much did the Be2 pads help the treble? Those were recommended to me when i said the treble was missing sparkle/sizzle/leading edge. And did you order those with the headphone, as i dont see them listed seperate. I put my atrium on the side for a little but also i have the more open mesh to try for the treble as well, but pads are a less intrusive swap.
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I’m not sure. It sounded to me as the headphones broke in a bit that the low end cleared up and became less muddy but I’m not too sure about the treble as it sounded fine in that region when I first started listening to them. I actually like the treble presentation on the Atrium. It’s just when I compare to other headphones directly that it’s shortcomings in treble resolution are apparent. Similar thing happened with the LCD-5. I really liked how it sounded on it’s own but when compared to 1266 or susvara or even with adding some EQ it was pretty obvious that in the stock tuning they were really lacking the sparkle that made cymbals sound more lifelike.
I think that’s a good way to describe the staging. It does sound ring-like but it’s not big only in one direction kind of like the 800S is in width. The atrium seems to have an equal amount of depth and width in the stage size.
I’m not sure the be2 pads really helped the treble. The information is still missing it just seemed to reduce the bass response a bit clearing up the overall sound signature. When I ordered my Atrium through the hot cup sale it came with 3 sets of pads (universe stock, auteur, and be2) all in perforated lambskin. I think it’s because it is a special stabilized version of the Atrium that I got extra pads with it.
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This saves me some time looking for, buying, and trying a set. I know people say the suede is the way to go with those but ill only look for those as a last resort though.
I am looking at the 3F amps, which are supposed to be brighter and great with ZMFs and then the mesh swap, which i already have.
I agree the tuning is very pleasant and is great for when my ears are hurting, but i feel like i want to eek out just that little bit more.
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Happened to me, ended up selling mine
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I wonder if it is because i played some smoother jazz ( not to be confused with smooth jazz) to break it in. Jokingly said.
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Maybe it’s the butter I put on the cups so they shine more
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I know exactly the phenomenon you’re describing here! It’s sort of artificial stage, wide but one-dimensional. Everything the same width.
I don’t have the Atriums, but I’ve heard that before.
Hello,
Today I listened to the Auteur for a few hours with the standard Audeze cable that is usually included with all Lcd versions.
So the cable from Audeze is definitely usable in that respect and also better than the standard cable from Zmf that comes with it when you get it.
The Zmf standard cable I have the feeling and from the auditory impression that it represents the bass range somewhat unclean and washed out.
And in general it sounds a bit washed out and slightly hard.
The mid/high range also sounds unbalanced and very agitated for my taste.
The Audeze cable is much better in a direct comparison.
It separates much better and opens up the stage a bit more and is also tidier.
The separations are even better, more accurate and nothing sounds washed out and are much cleaner with lots of air and space.
Strangely, it also sounds more relaxed than the standard Zmf cable.
The mids and highs are also more focused, the bass is a bit more backwards and slightly less punchy, but it can still be punchy depending on the recording, which is sometimes strange, but overall it has more punch when it hits.
I already had the impression when I tried it out on the Lcd2 that this Audeze cable with the Lcd2 itself sounds better as a package than the silver cable or this platinised silver/copper cable or even the Viablue epc2 cable I made myself.
The platinum plated silver/copper cable I have is a little more accurate in the bass range, but the staging is less pronounced and not as focused compared to the Audeze cable, and also not as relaxed in the bass range, although it’s not a bad cable and does well on the Auteur.
In summary, the Audeze cable is a great copper cable and complements the bright Auteur very well, which sounds much more relaxed and accurate. I would also bet that the Atrium will be even better.
I don’t know what the guys did there but it’s damn good.
It is definitely recommended for bright headphones.
For dark headphones like the Aeolus, I can’t say for sure, but I found the Viablue Epc 2 cable added a bit of sparkle to the mids and highs and put the strong bass in the background a bit when I borrowed it.
I liked it better than the platinised silver/copper cable.
For $170 you definitely can’t go wrong with the Audeze cable.
It’s quite good and value for money is very good.
Probably better than the ZMF cable offered by the accessories.
My advice would be to go for the Audeze if you are willing to spend the money.
I have seen a few unpleasant pictures of the Zmf accessories where the cables are corroded internally.
I’m sure there are probably better ones from Forza, but I would guess that the differences will be marginal.
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Good to know, thanks.
I agree the stock ZMF cable is pretty meh, and their OFC “upgrade” cable to me is unusable. The OFC cable has terrible microphonics, and is so inflexible and stiff that I literally want to rip it off and throw it in the trash! 
OK I overstate, but you get the picture…
I don’t use any of mine without an upgrade cable of some kind.
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I use a Viking Weave Raido with my VC and quite like it.
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If anyone is unhappy with the treble in their Atrium, rolling the mesh might help. I recently had an Atrium on loan, along with all three meshes (solid, stock Atrium perforated, Titan perforated that is stock for the Aeolus).
It was hard to tell any differences in the bass, because it took me so long to unscrew the old mesh and screw in the new one, and I also decided to try each mesh only once, rather than go back and forth, so that I didn’t damage the headphones.
But the difference in highs was quite apparent. If you have an Atrium with the stock mesh, and you want to roll off the highs a little, then ask ZMF for a solid mesh. I don’t think it’s available on their website, so you’ll probably need to email them. If you want the Atrium to sound a little brighter, then order the Titan mesh. You can then pad roll to further tune the sound.
Using my DHC Molecule Elite silver cable and Uni leather pads, I found the solid mesh to make the Atrium a little dark for my taste and the Titan mesh a little bright (although not too bright, it was within my tolerance level), and the stock mesh was just about right for me (with the caveat that I change my mind in the next paragraph).
I’ve talked elsewhere about my DHC Complement C cable not being neutral, as it rolls off the highs a little, but when I paired the Complement C with the Atrium and Titan mesh, I really liked the results. If I ever buy an Atrium, I’ll probably order both the stock and the Titan mesh so I can experiment a little more, and I’ll probably ask for the Titan mesh to be attached to the headphones.
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