Yes, that’s my understanding too. The dropdown on ZMF’s site is a bit inconsistent because the solid pads are sometimes labeled as “XYZ (Solid)” and sometimes as “XYZ”.
My experience of BE2 lambskin (perforated) on my VO is that it is brighter/more linear than the Universe pads. This was exactly what I was looking for, because I was using a cable that was making the VO much too warm, so they balanced each other out. Prior to using that cable, I’d found the BE2 to be too bright.
Late reply but the stock Auteur Classic pads for me, with those pads it was my favorite sounding ZMF except for Caldera, Eikon and OG Auteur which I haven’t heard - still wondering whether it’d be worth it to get the Eikon but the Shit list says that not too much is standout about them (except maybe for the ZMF timbre I suppose)
I think the Eikon was the best value of the ZMF’s, though I never had an Auteur. It’s also doesn’t have a ton of competitive contemporaries as a closed back.
The Eikon is the only ZMF I still own, though I can’t say I’ve dug them out to listen to in recent memory.
As a package I think the ZMF’s are a good value, but your paying for the cosmetics as well as the sound.
At least used prices have dropped somewhat over the last year or so, those used to make used ZMF’s a very difficult proposition when you were paying as much for a used Verite as you were a used Utopia, or MySphere they really weren’t a good value and I think @M0N 's rating’s reflect that.
Do you think the ZMF eikon or auteur for that matter are good headphones to add to a large collection (18 headphones)?
I dont have any warm punchy closed back anyway, or biodyna for that matter, seems it would fit right in but im worried its timbre alone maybe wont be enough given I have many wooden ATH
But what I really want is a new partner for my BHC which is currently only being paired with r70x. Im not sure my other option is probably a grado ps1000 (cant have enough grados)…
I haven’t heard the Eikon and Auteur classic were a bit too warm for me but I haven’t spent much time with them outside of shows and meets.
I like the Atticus a lot and would describe it as warm and punchy for sure. It also has really full and intimate vocals which I enjoy a lot. You could also look at the Aurorus Audio Australis but those are hard to buy new and is less warm then Atticus although it’s more resolving and faster. Atrium closed is another option but I preferred Atticus over the Atrium closed when I heard them side by side at canjam Chicago
Actually “too warm for you” might be the variety im looking for…
I realized most my stuff is neutral bright (yours probably too) and sometimes I want a deeply colored, maybe saturated (not sonicly but in the color) sound.
You are the first person I read to praise the atticus no kidding
Based on what you’re describing the Eikon would be the way to go. It’s warm but enough detail and a lot of punch especialy with an amp that playes well with 300 ohm dynamics. The VC is still where my ZMF heart would be but the cost is not justified compared to the Eikon especially if all you’re looking for is a different flavor to incorporate into your collection. I’d also add that there is quite a lot of wiggle room with ZMF cans when you change their pads and Zack’s guide is accurate in the changes they impact on specific models.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with me
Now I can be certain that the eikon will satisfy my lush needs and also gives me an excuse to get better tubes for my bottlehead crack, I think itll make a keeper combo
Also I have a bunch of zmf pads they are the absolute best
Right now im thinking ZMF Oval pleather to give them a brighter edge while boosting the bass I guess
Yeah when I was in Chicago for Canjam I talked with Zach a bit about the Atticus, he’s definitely not a fan but some of his staff like it especially for modern bass heavy music.
It sounds like the opposite of a VC to me which I also own. The VC pushes things away from you and is a leaner sound but very fast and detailed. Atticus pushes everything in front of you and sounds thick but fun.
I need to try an Eikon though, I have been sort of watching the used listings for one.
We need to try an Eikon then
I happen to have both for sale. Eikon in cherry and Atticus in Padauk. as well as many other cans listed on that other place HFG.
I’m not sure how helpful this is, since I haven’t heard a Fostex, Auteur OG or Eikon but I did borrow an Auteur Classic a few weeks ago, and I really liked it.
For me, the Auteur Classic is neutral-bright. 
This is pretty funny, and just goes to show that we might be hearing exactly the same thing but because our baselines differ, our impressions seem wildly different. My headphones tend to be neutral to neutral-warm.
The Auteur Classic (with stock pads) accentuates the treble a little more than other ZMFs that I’ve heard, which made it seem a bit more energetic than an Atrium Open or Closed. It doesn’t have huge sub-bass but it’s bass is very quick, clear and punchy. I also found that it puts you in the front seat, if not on the stage, so any music with vertical or horizontal panning (e.g. the beginning of Janet Jackson’s “That’s The Way Love Goes”) is around your head, which I liked, but I could see that others might hate.
I loved the Au Classic at CanJam Chicago. I’m someone who tends towards some neutral/bright headphones mostly and they struck me as a upgrade - a livelier airier presentation vs listening to the OG a year prior. This is a wildly inexact thing to even report an anecdote about - as it was show environs for limited time. I walked away really pleased with the timbre and tonality - but felt that it had upgrade space/separation and a little more sizzle.
I listened to it lots and it exceeded what I thought it was, liked a broad range of genre on it. Tried a little pad rolling. Was just an ideal all-arounder for moi - and I was listening to it on less fancy source gear than what was in most of the room. I preferred it to their other models - though I lack some sophistication with the ZMF universe - despite liking old wooden things. FWIW, all these silly thoughts.
Last year the circumaural Raal blew my mind (loved the original, but comfiness matters) and I passed on a good early opportunity to grab one used. I decided an Arya V.2 was good-enough for me on the oval HFM ladder, and took 10 months to get the right price/deal. Last year I was wow’d by the LCD-5 treble resolution - a lot, this year I didn’t enjoy the sound of it at all. Some thinning of the herd has to occur for me, but I hope an Auteur Classic is in my future at this point.
Interesting haha. Yeah I’ve heard auteur classic twice, once on a Cayin Ha-3a with a soekris 2541, and another time with a Dave and some rare tube amp at a canjam. Maybe it’s not warm exactly but it sounded soft next to an aeolus that I was also demoing. Would be fun to get one to try in my home system, it’s always hard to really get a good idea of how something sounds at a show or meett.
Amen
It was mostly wavetheorys videos that convinced me, I love when manufacturers go out the traditional commercial tuning convention to make something special
Something that I can keep in a collection for years to come.
First it was eikon now its auteur, cant wait Im sure its gonna rock my BHC and if not ill sell the amp 
Got an incredible deal on a set of cocobolo Eikons with a salire stand for $800. They just arrived (at 4:02 pm because no matter what it is or which courier is delivering, if it’s for me, it comes about as late in the day as possible).
I’ve only listened to 3 songs so far, but they’re my go-to test tracks and I’ve heard new things in each one. I love the presentation so much, especially in songs that are a bit more treble intensive. The VC really puts my ears on edge, even with -3.5db cuts at 2750, 5500, and 7200 after running a spectrum sweep and noting problematic frequencies. There’s a glare/hardness and some harshness still, not to the point of leaving my ears feeling like they got worked over, but it’s not comfortable. Those EQ adjustments also made certain instruments sound weird at times. Clearly, I need to tweak it more.
But the Eikons have all of the treble detail but it’s smooth and has a very natural timbre. The Eikons definitely sound faster than the Atticus. Not as fast as the VC, but not terribly far off either.
I can’t wait to listen to everything again through the Eikons. I think they’re going to become my favorites very quickly.
Pics of the cocobolo or ill have to ask you to leave.
I really love how they look. The headband seems well-used, though. There’s no much clamping force, especially compared to my VC and Atticus and the stupid right cup’s rod doesn’t catch at all. It doesn’t seem like Zach sells replacement bands or rods which is kind of annoying.
Yeah that’s weird. I remember seeing a video of him showing how to upgrade to the new crescent style headband but I don’t see them for sale of his website. Worth an email to see if you can get a new band.
Those look awesome though, really nice wood grain
Yeah, the grain is so cool!
So I was Googling for repair parts and found a few dead product pages but then found this which appears to be live:
It says parts won’t shipped unless directly approved, so I guess I’ll have to contact them either way. Weird how they’re not readily available. I remember watching that video, too.
God, this guy’s head must’ve been huge. 
