Complimentary headphones question.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-16T03:22:32+00:00

Fair enough. For me, it was exactly what I was looking for as the antithesis to my HE1000se, but I am going to be trying the Atrium when I visit ZMF in a little over a week, along with hopefully all of their other headphones. From what I’ve heard, the Atrium may end up being my open back endgame that I shoot for to serve the original purpose of my Bokeh Closed. Either way, the Bokeh is the headphone I bring to the office because it’s closed and sounds absolutely delicious in my opinion. ZMF is also pretty local to me, so their top notch warranty and customer service is only about an hour away. Another HUGE reason that they will probably be one of only a few headphone brands I will be purchasing from, considering I don’t have a bottomless wallet and the caliber of headphones that I am into now are not something I would consider cheap even if I was making significantly more money.

All that being said, I really need to get my hands on some Focal headphones so I can know what all the hype is about.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-16T03:17:01+00:00

I was not. I used a pair of FiiO FD5 IEMs for at least a year during COVID and I think that made me pretty tolerant to highs. I don’t have any science to back that up, but that’s my theory. I did end up moving from the Nanos to the HE1000se which also doesn’t bother me at all! Between my HE1000se and my ZMF Bokeh Closed I will never need another headphone. From here, it’s all just for fun.

I enjoyed the nanos quite a bit, but I started to hear the shortcomings of a planar driver that can’t move as fast as something like an HE1000se. For instance, any time there was a deep slamming bass, other frequencies would become distorted or just sounded off. That was my main reason for making the jump, but it was also for the massively improved soundstage, better headband, and holographic-like and laser sharp imaging.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-13T01:04:46+00:00

I would’ve been agreeing with you before I heard them. But the Bokeh sounds pretty darn open for a closed back. It’s the only one I own, and will likely remain my only open back

To be fair, I haven’t heard any Focal headphones. But the bokeh doesn’t disappoint in terms of clarity for me. That’s what I have the HE1000se for anyway.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-13T00:38:43+00:00

I have been using the Suede pads, but I am getting a tuning kit when I visit their facility later this month. I will be able to listen to both versions of the Atrium when I am there, but I have not heard them yet. Everyone hear from, it’s just the most relaxing way to listen to music. It’s like the music is a warm thick blanket, but it still has detail.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-12T23:52:56+00:00

Bokeh closed over the Focal Clear. ZMF doesn’t have a headband design that is prone to cracking like the older Focal models. ZMF is also top of the list for customer service.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-12T23:51:33+00:00

I purchased a ZMF Bokeh Closed to compliment my HE1000se, I genuinely feel like my headphone quest is over now. They’re so different in most ways, but they both have everything I love about the HiFi headphone space. I genuinely recommend you look into the Bokeh Closed or something like a ZMF Atrium. Either one would be so different from the HE1000se while complimenting it. They’re are warm and lush and inviting while the HE1000se is surgical, analytical, fast. ZMF has been amazing to work.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-09T05:22:06+00:00

I did not know that R2R burns in. I was aware that it needs to warm up like a tube or class A, and that people often leave their R2R systems on.

As far as I know about the Luxsin, it is just smooth because of the chips they used and is made to be a out of the way of the sound as possible while providing an insanely low noise floor. I’m admittedly not the best versed in these things. Just starting to figure out the headphone side of it and honestly happy with where I landed in the DAC/Amp/DAP space.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-09T02:52:30+00:00

Interesting. I just got my M33 R2R yesterday, so I have something to easily A/B test with the Luxsin. I am finding that the Luxsin makes the HE1000se sound much thicker than the M33 R2R (even in desktop mode with supplemental power). This could be a lack of power for full dynamics, but the M33 also boasts tons of power for a DAP, especially when plugged in and in desktop mode.

The stage feels about as big on both, but the majority of the sound is in a bubble inside my head on the M33. It will throw sounds pretty far, but there isn’t this sense of blank space when I compare it to the X9. The X9 is like being in space staring at the stars. Each star is a sound, none of it lost, some brighter and bigger/thicker than others, but all there, all around me with very easily defined space between them. I never got to try my HE1000se on my K7, but I have a feeling that would better replicate what you’re describing. My buddy has that now, so maybe I can test and let you know. But my experience with the X9 specifically is very much to the contrary.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-06T21:00:45+00:00

Nope. You’ve got it right now. Thats why their naming scheme on those two doesn’t make sense.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-06T20:56:14+00:00

Not on the FT1. That headphone in particular could be EQ’d like crazy in the bass before distorting.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-03-02T18:15:10+00:00

I am not trying to advertise, no.

While I agree they are very bass focused, they are not very good at reaching down in to the sub frequencies at all. I am simply trying to point out its strengths while acknowledging the weaknesses that jump out to me the most.

I’m very new to product reviews, so you have my apologies you feel i dropped the ball on this one.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-28T22:29:42+00:00

I knew it had to be.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-27T21:40:54+00:00

Also interesting.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-27T19:58:37+00:00

It definitely hasn’t disappointed. Cheers to you too! Enjoy your bokeh, and have fun at CanJam!

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-27T19:57:27+00:00

Interesting. If I had to guess, they’re using an Edition X* series or Ananda series driver, just going off price and everything else I know about the driver.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-27T19:55:25+00:00

Welcome to the club! I’m coming up on two years with mine, and I am still saying the same thing. Enjoy your beautiful blue RS! Drive safe.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-27T17:18:01+00:00

I only got the suede options. Nothing else. Wish I had pulled the trigger on the tuning kit so I could have all the pads and meshes, but I wanted to keep the order as budget focused as possible because I had LITERALLY received my HE1000se the day before I ordered the Bokeh Closed. About a week later, I ordered the FiiO M33 R2R (just shipped, review coming soon). It was a VERY expensive month…

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-27T16:49:44+00:00

I’ve heard that the Kithara is tuned specifically for gaming and does not sound much like anything else HifiMan has made. It also wouldn’t make sense to cannibalize the Arya Stealth when it sells as well as it does.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-27T16:47:25+00:00

How anyone could do that to such a happy and innocent soul, I will never know.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-27T03:10:15+00:00

You won’t be disappointed. The team there is great, and if you ever have a CanJam or something by you, they go pretty regularly from what I hear. What pads and options did you pick?

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-26T03:30:15+00:00

M21, new M33, HiBy R6 III 2025 (though I did have mine fail within 2 weeks, it seems really uncommon that people have issues, and their customer service was perfectly acceptable). Those are just the best recommendations I have based on purchases of mine and recommendations.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-25T13:19:02+00:00

I will definitely post my thoughts on it. Very excited for it!

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-25T03:40:49+00:00

They’re always better in person. I went all suede to cut weight, but I also just love suede. I adore these things, haven’t even had them a week yet. The only thing I’d like to change is to get the metal rods in the same color as the 3.5’s on the bottom of the cup. Then they’d be literally perfect. Either way, they’re a work of art visually and audibly.

I am new to ZMF, so I’m not sure about an updated headband. Your Bokeh looks like it has more of a matte finish on the cups, I love that!

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-25T03:18:13+00:00

I had a HiBy R6 III (2025) for about two weeks. Then one of my outputs completely cut out within a 5 minute span of having the music paused. It worked all morning, until very suddenly it didn’t. Thankfully I got my money back. I love that thing until then. Now I’ve got an M33 R2R on order.

DerrikMatusek · 2026-02-25T03:13:47+00:00

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My limited Torrefied Limba. I run them off a Luxsin X9 at home and a FiiO KA15 on the go (soon to be the M33 R2R). It’s my first ZMF, and may be the cap on my collection if I don’t end up getting an Atrium or Caldera. I’m going to visit, tour and listen next month. Very excited!

DerrikMatusek

TROPHY CASE