@Menkau-ra I personally don't find the AC fatiguing, I can easily listen to them for hours at a time (but I also don't find the AO fatiguing)

Now that more people have been listening at home with their ACs from CanJam, can anyone compare the dynamics of the presence region to the VC? The VC piano zone can get fatiguing to me on recordings. I’m planning on swapping for the AC.

@Alenotta if you have examples of tracks I can try testing them with the AC and VC

how heavy are they say to the VC? can you measure the weight my neck hurts when I wear the VC I may have to sell em

@HBryant The stock model weighs approx. 500 grams, but if your order it with the magnesium chassis it weighs approx 470 grams, which is rather light.

nice thanks man! how much were yours? all in and what options did you get? I dont like cheap wire

@HBryant I ended up getting one of the one-of-a-kind pairs at CanJam, a black and white ebony. This is one of the harder woods, which generally tend to be heavier. Given your preference for lighter weight, I’d recommend you go for the stock cherry with magnesium chassis.

Black & White Ebony AC

Nice write-up and comparisons

What a well-researched and -written review, @goldwerger - BRAVO!

Clearly my plan of saving up and buying an AC in a wood I love in 2024 is a very good plan indeed. I strongly suspect it is a perfect complement to my VC and Eikon, and may supplant my Auteur, or I may ultimately end up with FOUR big-rig headphones (the horror!).

One question, if I may: What were your impressions (if any) of the Atrium Closed with an OTL tube amp?

I have a Woo Audio WA2 I expect to own until I’m much older and grayer, and am hoping the AC works well with it (it’s phenomenal with the Eikon to my ears).

Thanks in advance-

I wonder how people can afford to own all of them...

I preferred the AC over the AO and VC.

Hi everyone, sorry the slow replies.. been away past week with family.

@ST33L thank you

@AudioDuck I must admit that, since I got the AC, I’ve barely used my VC. Without being deliberate about it, it’s quickly become my main closed back set. The more I listen to it, the more I love it. I ended up getting a set at CanJam NYC from a harder wood (black & white ebony) and found that made it even better for me. Wonderful headphones!

The AC work wonderfully well with OTL. I’ve used them quite a bit with the new Decware ZMF Reference OTL (this amp is launching soon, here is my review of it: https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/decware-zmfheadphones-reference-otl.26421/reviews#review-30541) as well as with the Glenn OTL. It’s great with both. As you know, ZMF dynamic headphones love OTL amps, and the AC I no exception. I haven’t tried your amp, but I suspect it would be great..

Excellent review.

And thanks for introducing me to Yoko Kanno and the Cowboy Bebop music. Good stuff!

My pleasure @DougD and happy to share the joy!

Woah "Hunting Wabbits" and "Tank!" are some of my all time favorite test tracks as well. And I thought I was alone. Anyone who uses those as a reference has my audiophile seal of approval as far as I'm concerned. Excellent excellent review.

Thanks @BokTroy , very kind and deeply appreciated
Those are such excellent test tracks aren't they?

@goldwerger Absolutely. You could test pretty much every aspect of a transducer (sans maybe the deepest octaves of bass) with just those two tracks.

@goldwerger how is it compared to the calderas?

@vcd23 the Caldera are more neutrally tuned with slightly better resolution and technicalities. They still have a great low extending bass, but they are not elevated like the AC. While the Caldera are planar, they still retain a very natural timbre (you can also check my review fo the Caldera). The AC have the Atrium’s DNA of lush reverb/decay, an incredibly satisfying sub/lower-bass lift. Notably, the Caldera are open back and the AC are closed-back, so there is also a use case different between them. It’s a choice between the Caldera, the top performer, which provides great technicalities in packed in ZMF house sound which is very enjoyable retaining some warmth and organic timbre, or the top entertainer, which provides lush and euphonic presentation, while offering very good technicalities on top.

@goldwerger ok thank you very much for always replying. I genuinely appreciate your time! I have the AC and my rig is MJ3 + GS2. I was thinking of getting a tungsten but on your review you said it was not good of a pairing so i was thinking I should just look at the Calderas. Do you think it would be a good pairing?