ZMF Vérité Closed Review

Midrange

In contrast to the bass, and there’s some case to be made that it’s hard to produce a juxtaposition (they are equally impressive, after all), the midrange on the ZMF Vérité Closed is its crown jewel. It is apparent, at least to my ears, that this headphone was tuned with the midrange in mind. Otherwise, how could it have resulted in a presentation that is both magical and enchanting?

Let’s start with the vocals. The ZMF Vérité Closed is a wizard in this aspect, thanks to its uncanny ability to produce voices that are chock-full of emotion, passion, and expression. There is a grand sense of mastery here, with the Vérité Closed proudly churning vocals that become the star of the show. They are natural and potent, yet delicate and revealing. During crowded passages, the ZMF flagship handles separation with ease – there is good and adept distinction between a bunch of voices and the instruments that comprise a song.

Speaking of instruments, the Vérité Closed takes them on with good vigor, reproducing a myriad different types without breaking a sweat. The rendition of instruments is characterized by excellence, and a tone that’s decidedly true to life. Coupled with its organic vocals, the ability of the Vérité Closed to craft a rich and expressive midrange is quite unsurpassed in the realm of the top-end closed-back headphone space.

Ultimately, if there’s one adjective I’d use to describe the midrange on the Vérité Closed, the first word, and probably, most apt one, that comes to mind is ‘Rich’. Because that’s what it is – rich in just about every single positive aspect that you could attribute to this frequency range on your headphone – there is proficient authority, body, expression and potency.

Still enjoying Dance music? Try Benjamin Diamond’s Little Scare. This track is well-suited to the strengths of the Vérité Closed – the headphone does a fine job of creating a stage that displays good vocal presence, a level of luscious exuberance, and a tight yet prominent bassline.

Treble

The treble on the Vérité Closed is its weakest point – however, it is weak only when this region is compared to its frequency contemporaries; the bass and the midrange are supremely regal. Otherwise, you have a treble presentation that is both involving and engaging all on its own.

The highs on the Vérité Closed are well controlled, lacking in the harsh and undesirable peaks that often characterize the sound of brighter and harsher headphones. With that being said, there remain adequate doses of sparkle and grain, and the occasional flashes of brilliance. Thus, in the overall sense, there is a pleasant (aural) sensation of smoothness amidst an occasionally tempestuous sea.

Don’t be discouraged, though – touches of presence and air still linger within the upper registers. Moreover, extension on the Vérité Closed is excellent, with good high-treble energy.

In tandem with its smooth presentation, the overall portrait of the highs of the ZMF Vérité Closed can be distinguished by decent levels of engagement and prominence.

Thankfully, or sadly, depending on the side of the fence that you reside within, the overall tonality of the treble section may edge a little closer to the darker side than most of the luminaries that play within the same space. For users who turn away from bright(er) sounds (like myself), the Vérité Closed is certainly worthy of consideration. You’re still getting a great treble section, but its prominence takes a small step back from the overall lustre of the bass and the midrange.

Staging, Imaging, and Technicalities

The ZMF Vérité Closed is a maestro with detail, transparency, and resolution – it reproduces micro-detail to a very-high degree. This is most evident within songs or tracks that are either complex or crowded; the Vérité Closed does a more-than-respectable job of crafting small pockets of spaces where each vocalist and instrument resides within.

It’s not a clinical headphone, though, as it expertly blends resolution and musicality together. Surprisingly, the package come across as well-balanced, offering good resolving capabilities and a tonality that is both pleasant and engaging.

Staging and imaging on the Vérité Closed are also top-notch, thanks to a vivid sense of scale, depth, and extension to the performers’ stage. To put it succinctly, the ZMF flagship creates a vast and grand projection of music that offers excellent stereo and 3-dimensional cues. There are also good elements of coherence and structure in the overall sense.

Comfort

Despite its (rather bulky) appearance, the Vérité Closed isn’t as heavy as it seems. Tipping the scales at a hair under 500g, this headphone is surprisingly very comfortable to use for an extended listening session. Much of this is attributed to the way the product’s mass is distributed over the top-surface of your head. Plus, they don’t get too warm, at least, not in the way that some of my other headphones do.

Another positive point is the relative luxuriance of the provided pads. My Auteur pads are comfortable and plush, and they easily rank amongst the best that I’ve tried.

Comparisons

As an unabashed fan of closed-back headphones, I have tried almost every top-end closed headphone on the contemporary market. I also happen to own a few of them. Here’s a comparison of the Vérité Closed to a few of its direct rivals at the top of the heap.

Denon AH-D9200

The flagship of the famous Denon headphone line comes in at $900 cheaper, but from its sound profile alone, you could hardly guess the (huge) delta in price. The bamboo-clad AH-D9200 trades blows with the Vérité Closed in the bass department, offering an equally solid and well-textured bass presentation. It is a little leaner in the lows than the ZMF, but does comparatively well in terms of punch and impact. Sub-bass extension on both headphones are similarly fantastic, with the Vérité Closed offering a touch-more prominent rumble. The Denon is a little faster with transients, though, and is thus, a tad more suited for dance music.

The AH-D9200 has a clean and well-defined midrange that offers a slight touch of warmth throughout. In terms of technicalities, it keeps in pace with the Vérité Closed, thanks to its solid ability of crafting emotive vocals with a dash of potency and lush growth. Nevertheless, the sheer richness on display in the midrange of the ZMF flagship takes it a step or 2 above the AH-D9200 – there is greater fervor and intensity, which combine to project a verdant and thoroughly immersive musical experience.

Highs on the AH-D9200 are slightly better defined and detailed, and it also has the brighter and more engaging treble section. Thanks to its equally expressive and prominent bass section, the AH-D9200 fits like a glove for musical genres that place greater emphasis on the bass and treble sections, such as EDM.

The AH-D9200 is also the more comfortable headphone of the 2, thanks to a fairly-solid clamp and a relatively-light body.

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