ZMF Headphones - Aeolus

Interesting question. I own roughly 17 headphones from low to high end. It’s maybe an obsessive hobby for me that turned into a collecting endeavor. I’ve owned the older DCA Noire, the DCA E3, Audeze LCD2, HiFiman Arya V2 and HE1000V2, ZMF Atrium and Aeolus, Beyerdynamic T1 and DT1990 and DT880, Meze 99 Classic, both Aune AR5000 and SR7000, Sennheiser 6xx, and some bass cannons like the Modhouse Argon and Harmonicdyne Eris. And a bunch of others that don’t really meaningfully stand out. I tend to notice a disparity between my “best” headphones and the ones I listen to the most. The DCAs and HiFimans are objectively excellent, but I rarely pick them up. For me, personally, I’m in love with a rich, full-bodied and impactful sound. The ZMF Aeolus on an OTL Tube amp takes the win for me every time. It just makes every single song sound so enjoyable. It is soulful and “weighty”. Many of my headphones are technically better in many categories, but if enjoyment is the most important factor then the ZMF Aeolus hits the mark every time. It is just so well rounded and engaging with every type of music.

I hear you, I'll be mowing my lawn like damn these XM5 sound great. But I also EQ the hell out of my other cans, drop 2k down all the way on LCD-X and have solid pads for ZMF Aeolus for a super dark rich sound. Nice to have some treble and air too, but it's your brain's perception at the end of the day

I’ve had the emu-teaks, ft1s, Liric 2s, now have the SJY Horizon Carbon closed back and the SJY are easily my favorite. I’ve tried the dan Clark’s noire x and e3, and the ZMFs at shows (so take that for what it is worth) and like the SJY best, and that’s only using it on the Gremlin amp for now. My favorite open back are ZMF AO.

Yeah the 3D printed filter stuff is really cool. I am ride or die with the Closed RT. I love them, use them every day for games, youtube, movies, and music. Maybe I will sell or trade my Aeolus for a pair in the future. Aeolus hasn't really been getting much use. Once I got the 6xx to be more comfortable with the comfort strap the Aeolus is just kind of collecting dust because of how heavy it is comparatively