ZMFheadphones BOKEH

This review comes at quite a serendipitous time for me. I say that because people have been encouraging me to get into reviewing, I’d been seriously thinking about it and then I got an email from Zach saying he was sending me a Bokeh unit to check out. Sweet. Great time to start! Thanks so much to ZMF and Zach for sending this out.

I’ve loved listening to music on headphones since I was young. My first high-end headphone was the Audeze LCD-2 which I bought in early 2021. I have since then listened to and have bought many more headphones, amps & DACs, searching for… I’m not totally sure, but I know it when I hear it. In short, I want to be moved. And I love the process of breaking it down as to why I’m being moved or not while listening to a headphone, which will hopefully be helpful to you here.

I thought it’d be fun to do a little different kind of review; one that was more of an audio journey where I share my experience in listening to Bokeh on most of my setup configurations. This is how I’ve shared what I’ve been listening to with people in my life and the best part about it is that I’ve seen people get excited this way.

My first experience with Bokeh was the evening it first arrived. It was early December, the Christmas tree was up and it was already dark out. My wife and I in the living room when the package arrived from FedEx. It felt like getting an early Christmas gift. I opened it up, thinking that I’d get to listening sometime in the next couple of days. Instead, both of us were inspired by the whole thing (especially when I pulled the headphone out - it looked awesome and unmistakably ZMF) and wanted to listen right then. I told her that Bokeh was meant to be driven well from a phone, so I grabbed my adapter for her to listen on hers. She’s a dance teacher and sometimes listens to my headphones to songs that she’s choreographing to. Although she’s pretty supportive of my obsession with audio, she’s definitely not an obsessed audiophile like me. We have however connected in the past over her listening to songs she’s choreographing to on some of my other headphones.

Very soon after she started listening, she told me that the sound had inspired her right away with some dance ideas. The rest of the evening turned into me bringing out the rest of my semi-portable gear to the living room as well as some other headphones so we could listen and explore more. Since this happened in such an unplanned way, I found this indicative of just how enjoyable the Bokeh would be to listen to. We listened on her phone, my phone, on my iFi Diablo, Hugo2 and Woo WA8. Her excitement excited me, and I was listening to some of my other headphones on these smaller DAC/amps while she listened to the Bokeh on her phone (my VC, LCD-2 & Meze Empyrean, if you must know). It became funny at some point - she would tell me that she really wanted me to hear it, but she was so drawn into the sound that she wanted to keep listening for awhile. I was totally fine with that. Needless to say, she was moved. When I finally got my turn, I was moved too. It immediately reminded me of Meze Empyrean’s tuning - warm and spacious sounding. I’ll get into more details of that comparison though.

After that night, I started listening to Bokeh on my own on my phone, on those same smaller, more portable-ish DAC/amps I mentioned above as well as on my bigger amps and DACs. I intentionally did not read or watch any reviews before writing down all of my impressions because I wanted to allow myself to hear what I heard and minimize potentially being influenced by others’ impressions. All impressions are with the stock pads. I used my phone to stream from Apple Music when using the Dragonfly/phone and also when using the iFi Diablo and then used my Cayin N8ii to stream (also via Apple Music) in all other setups. I do notice a sound difference - things do sound a little sharper, cleaner and the bass legitimately sounds more textured and holds on to the decay a little longer of notes in that area when I stream on the Cayin N8ii compared to streaming on my phone.

iPhone + Dragonfly Red.

I started here with the most simplified setup with the most little power. In short, Bokeh sounded great, unsurprisingly after listening that night. Two things pop out immediately once I started listening again: the mid-bass sounded elevated and the tuning sounded pleasantly quite warm. Upon further listening, the next thing that stood out was just how amazing the sense of space and imaging is. It sounded better than any other headphone I’ve heard in this category of sound at this price point. It reminded me of how the Atrium Closed does space. I’ve since learned that the Bokeh has the ADS - Atrium Damping System - and, aha! This makes a lot of sense to me and lines up with what I hear. The same technology that makes Atrium and Atrium Closed sound so good in these same categories has trickled down to this model.

One song I listened to was what my wife has been listening to as she was choreographing - John Legend’s “Nervous”. It is surprising how much bass power comes from this setup. Granted, I'm using the Drangonfly, so it’s not straight listening from a phone, but I do remember being just as impressed hearing straight from her phone. The bass, sense of space and warm and engaging sounds, especially in the vocals, sounded so good. I could see why she was inspired with ideas right away.

A real highlight here was listening to Gregory Porter’s Liquid Spirit album. Bokeh’s tuning sounds warm in a way that the upper-mids are not as present as other headphones, like the Caldera or Atrium Closed. But, it doesn’t sound unnaturally hollow there either, which is very important since that can sound like something is missing in someone’s voice or in other midrange band instruments. The LCD-2 can sound hollow in this way (more on this comparison later). Gregory’s voice sounds phenomenally centered and beautiful. It is mixed quite loud in the mix to be fair, but can indeed sound more distant on gear that really over-emphasizes space and/or has much less present mids, so the mix of having the vocals still sound focused and intimately close while still sounding spacious is quite an achievement and one that I find I prefer. His voice sounds lushly warm, but not overly so. I’m very used to hearing this album on the Caldera and I notice there’s a lack of sibilance (more on that later as well) and upper mid clarity on the Bokeh. Specifically on “No Love Dying” - the tone is so good, sense of space is so good & vocals are so good and centered. Reverb tails sound very nice and noticeable.



iFi Diablo.

Moving on with the same album on the iFi Diablo, the same sound characteristics are there, but the bass sounds better - more powered and the reverb trails last just a bit longer, a trait this DAC/amp always gives any headphone, enhancing the sense of space, feeling even more like you’re there. I love the sound of this thing, and, if you’re in the market for a DAC/amp of this size with your Bokeh, I highly recommend it for a solid state.

A highlight on this setup was listening to Luke Howard Trio’s The Sanctuary album. Sounds really good and spacious. Bass sounds impactful. More controlled sounding than on the phone setup. Bokeh sounds very fun, very pleasant, which works with any genre I played through it, and it worked well with this jazz trio record, which is well recorded. Its warmer tuning didn’t give it as much atmosphere up top on instruments like drum cymbals, but it emphasized the soul and the groove more, a theme which continued throughout other genres and setups. This warmer tuning also works very well with a more incisive sound, which some has described the Diablo as being.

Chord Hugo2.

Continuing with the same album now on this DAC/amp, the sense of space decreases a little bit, meaning everything sounds closer in, but the resolution is even better. Naturally, higher frequencies pop out more. The bass is tighter, cleaner and sounds more like a tight punch than the more visceral wallop that the Diablo gives. It does help clean up Bokeh’s mid-bass a bit though, and its resolving capabilities are a great fit for the warm, somewhat more blurred sound of Bokeh. Overall, I prefer the Diablo. Diablo is more fun with Bokeh and other headphones. I moved on to the next DAC/amp I had because I wasn’t as moved on this setup.



Woo WA8.

My favorite so far is now switching to the Woo WA8. Bass is oomphy, a little more rounded versus the cleaner bass sound of every other option. But, for me, it’s the tone of the instruments getting enhanced, as well as the more holographic soundstage that sells me. It’s a gorgeous sound. Organic timbre meeting tubes, beautiful. I consider this scaling. It opens up to the source.

The DAC inside is not as resolving as something like the Hugo2, but it works very well with its tube amp sound. Pair it with the Hugo2 as DAC though and then you’ve got a something special. This works well for most headphones I’ve listened to it with, but Bokeh comes alive even more on this setup. I highly recommend it. Even if you’re able to just get the WA8, I think it’s totally worth it.

There were many highlights here since I was the most engaged while listening on this setup and therefore kept listening. One was Anjunadeep’s 10 compilation album, a melancholy, vibey EDM album that takes tracks from many different artists and puts them together in a seamless, gap-less stream. I’ve heard this album many times. The bass is visceral, and the imaging is gorgeous. Very melancholy and emotional. Even though these are synthetic instruments for the most part, they’re played with emotion, and the Bokeh captures that. To be fair, it’s mixed well, so all headphones showcase this song well, but each headphone imparts its own color onto the sound. For Bokeh, it’s a warm hug. Big bass, realistic soundstage, gorgeous imaging and warm, lifelike emotion throughout, fitting the tone of the song. The next song, “Belong”, I noticed a softening of the upper frequency percussion sounds. I’m used to it having a bit more snap and bite in the upper frequencies on headphones like the Atrium Closed or Caldera. It’s never fatiguing on those headphones, just even more exciting in those areas. You pay attention more. On Bokeh, it’s softened in a way so I can listen while doing something else without having my attention pulled back to these sounds.

Another standout is HAEVN’s “Where Did You Go?” and it’s so beautiful. The vocals are clear, mixed up front, but Bokeh’s timbre rendition is great with them and the song still sounds spacious and punchy.

Going back to Luke Howard Trio’s The Sanctuary album on this setup and it sounds even better. Even more spacious, even better tone than while listening on the Diablo.

A little back and forth fun with these portable-ish setups:

Young the Giant’s Mind Over Matter album now on the Dragonfly/phone setup. Sounds very nice. Good imaging, good sense of space. Good bass punch. Warm sounding. Bass is a little looser than normal. Vocals sound nice.

On iFi Diablo now, continuing “Anagram” from Mind Over Matter. More energetic, more treble, even more sense of space. Even more texture. More exciting. More fitting for this genre.

Back to Dragonfly on next song. Still nice and energetic, just not quite as much as iFi Diablo’s sound.

“Crystallized” - started on Dragonfly, started the song over on Hugo2/WA8. Sounds amazing. Even more energetic. More spacious. More separated layers. More fun.

Adele’s “I Miss You”. Bass punch is amazing. Voice sounds incredible. Drums sound incredible. This is on Hugo2/WA8.

Vin Downe’s “Entwined and Lost”. Solo melodic acoustic guitar track. Still on Hugo2/WA8. Sounds so nice, lush and spacious. Tone is gorgeous and so fitting for this kind of thing.



How high do they scale? Woo WA-23 + iFi Pro iDSD Signature.

I’m very grateful to own some amazing high end tube amps, the Woo WA-23 and Feliks Envy. The Woo WA-23 is my current favorite amp and has been so ever since I heard it and bought it at CanJam SoCal 2022. I wanted to hear what Bokeh sounded like out of it since I’m very used to its sound. How does Bokeh sound out of a $9000 amp (with $1800 Takatuski 2A3 tubes rolled in)?

In short, great. The same qualities of space, warmth, bass punch and organic timbre are there but more on display. There’s just more of all those things in the sound. Everything sounds more obviously more “High-Fi” like you’ve just began listening on an amp that costs $9000 - as it should! This amp does this to all of my headphones and is the only headphone amps I’ve owned where the synergy is great with everything, planar or dynamic. I said that the Bokeh “comes alive” even more out of the Woo WA8 setup and does even more-so on this setup. Times two. Or three.

Feliks Envy + iFi Pro iDSD Signature.

People have been asking me about how I like the Envy versus the WA-23. In short, I like the WA-23 a lot more. The Envy sounds even bigger and badder in the bass, has a more wide soundstage, but something is missing in the mids for me. It sounds amazing at first because of the bigness of the sound, but it’s not as emotionally engaging as the WA-23. The WA-23 sounds big too, but more cohesive and with a much better midrange, regardless if I’m using the Psvane 2A3s or the Takatsuki’s (which have a more open soundstage, and even better imaging and details versus the Psvanes).

This listening experience with Bokeh has had me hone in even more on what I like and why I’m liking it. When I first got the LCD-2, I never would have thought that I’d desire a great midrange or a lifelike timbre. I thought it’d be in things that are more obviously “wow-ing”. The Envy is great for that “wow” factor because it has a weighted sound - it makes drums sound especially real and visceral. I’ll be able to try some WE300B tubes soon, which are supposed to be great for midrange. In short, it works for Bokeh in the same way it works for other headphones. But if you want that engaging midrange, it’s not the choice with the stock performance edition tubes in my opinion.


Cayin N8ii.
Scaling back a bit, this all-in-one DAP is probably the best small-form-factor fit for Bokeh. It can stream, has a great DAC and you’ve got a lot of options on the amp side (Class A, Class AB, Tube mode, and P+ which gives you more power). Plugging into the balanced or single ended output of this DAP with no adapters or extra devices or cables, it’s a simple high-fi setup and it’s simply done very well in my opinion. Bokeh sounds quite enjoyable out of it with all of its qualities that show up out of other setups. I prefer Class AB, Tube mode with P+ on. The sound is punchy, spacious and beautiful. Class A is great for a more relaxed sound, and getting out of Tube mode gets you a more tight, close solid state sound.



Versus Atrium Cosed.

I switched between the Bokeh and the Atrium Closed on all of these setups and there’s some obvious differences between the two headphones: The most obvious is that the Atrium Closed has more treble extension and more air around instruments. Coming from listening to the Bokeh for a while, it takes my brain a bit to adjust to the difference. This attribute of the AC makes the soundstage sound bigger, more holographic and therefore more engaging, more like you’re there. Bokeh has more mid-bass, AC has more sub-bass. The AC also has the upper mids filled in more, so voices and instruments like saxophone and trumpet sound more realistic and even more engaging to me. Atrium Closed has become one of my favorite headphones ever, second only to Caldera and I prefer it overall to the Bokeh, as engaging as I find Bokeh. Bokeh’s got its own vibe that separates it from the AC, but to me, Atrium Closed sounds like an upgrade Bokeh in a way. Bassy, warm, engaging, lush, great imaging, organic sounding. All these apply to both headphones.



Versus LCD-2.

LCD-2 and Bokeh are similarly priced, which is part of why I’m comparing. If I were in the market for a headphone in this price category, Bokeh and LCD-2 would be two options near the top I’d be deciding between. I still have my LCD-2 and also still consider them a great value and an enjoyable listen. It offers some of the same characteristics as Bokeh - a warmer, enjoyable yet fun sound. But they differ in some big ways. After listening to the Bokeh for a while on multiple chains, switching to the LCD-2 made me realize just how calibrated my ears have become to ZMF’s sound. I’ve been listening to my Caldera and Atrium Closed over the last few months almost exclusively, because, well, they’ve been really moving me. When I switched over to the LCD-2 after listening to the Bokeh, many things were obviously different. LCD-2 has a more linear bass. LCD-2 sounds more hollow in the upper mids. LCD-2 has a treble peak. LCD-2’s tone is very pleasant, but it doesn’t sound quite as lifelike and organic as Bokeh’s. I notice it the most in things like piano. On Bokeh, pianos sound more lifelike and also a little lusher, more smooth than on the LCD-2. The LCD-2 sounds like something harmonically is missing in the tone of the piano. High notes played with more attack are also jarring on the LCD-2 where they’re not on the Bokeh. I also notice it on higher frequency or louder trumpet and saxophone passages, with the same differences between each headphone. The LCD-2 sounds rich in its own way, sounding tonally dense in a way that I’ve never heard any other non-Audeze headphones (LCD-3 and LCD-4 have this tonal density sound too), and sounds almost compressed, but its tone is not as lifelike, as organic as the Bokeh. These are where these headphones divide, other than the obvious that one’s an open back and another is a closed back.

Oh, that and the soundstage on Bokeh really kills the LCD-2. Bokeh sounds more spacious and like you’re there in the room. That ADS must really do something to the stage and layering. Again, it sounds better than any other headphone in this category than anything I've owned or heard at this price point. LCD-2 sounds more compressed comparatively. Sounds are closer and a can be more exciting overall though.

Listening at shows like CanJam, I probably would have chose the LCD-2 immediately over the Bokeh because it’s obviously more exciting and resolved between the layers, less blurred sounding. But, the benefit of having both headphones at home and time to really hone in has proven Bokeh’s sound to be something I prefer. There’s more of a refinement there and more enjoyable for longer periods of time listening.





Versus Meze Empyrean (original version).

As I wrote earlier, when I first heard Bokeh, it reminded me of this headphone. On comparing the two, they do indeed sound the most similar to me out of all other headphones I compared to. Empyrean’s spacious sound, mid-bass emphasis and generally warm tuning are all quite similar to the Bokeh. Empyrean sounds more open though (make sense, it’s an open back) and a little cleaner and therefore more resolving than Bokeh. Empyrean sounds like it has a wider soundstage where Bokeh sounds like it’s got more depth. Empyrean also sounds a hair cleaner in its mid-bass area, like sounds in that area appear fast (also makes sense, it’s a planar) and then also those sounds go away faster. Empyrean has a little more treble extension and air up top, so cymbals stick out a little more. It doesn’t sound unnatural though. And, speaking of natural-ness, I think Empyrean sounds quite natural. Warm, but natural. I’ve seen some negative or so-so reviews on the Empyrean, which I get in some ways, but it’s a headphone I enjoy a lot. Bokeh sounds warm as well of course and I’d say even more natural in its timbre. Instruments sound even more real on it.

Both headphones are easy to drive, but Bokeh was less picky with sources. Surprisingly the Woo WA8 was not a great fit for the Empyrean. It sounded fine, but tonally it did something to it that sounded a little off to me versus everything else I’ve tried it on.



Versus Atrium.

I just want to put this one in here because Bokeh reminds me a bit of Atrium in that they both have some mid-bass emphasis and have a gorgeous sense of space. But, Atrium’s sense of space is unique - I’ve heard not other headphone that sounds as spherical and layered as it does, even Bokeh or Atrium Closed. And it does it in a very cool way. Bokeh sounds more like Atrium Closed than the Atrium in the sense of space, although Atrium Closed sounds even bigger. Another main obvious difference, other than the fact that Atrium’s an open back and Bokeh’s a closed back, is that Atrium has much more present upper-mids than Bokeh. The lack of that on Bokeh means there’s no sibilance and no metallic, grainy sounds. It sounds so pleasant and relaxed. Atrium actually sounds pleasant and relaxed too (and also have not noticed much, if any sibilance), and even though it’s got those upper-mids, it never sounds fatiguing. Maybe it’s the way the sounds it distributed or the lush sound of the biocellulose driver that helps with that. Atrium is a beautiful yet punchy sound overall and would be worth a listen if you’re deciding between it and the Bokeh.



Versus Caldera.

To me these headphones are apples & oranges in most ways, but share the ZMF organic, natural timbre thing. In short, Bokeh sounds way warmer and less clear than Caldera. In long, Caldera is more linear in the bass and sounds much more tilted towards the upper-mids and treble versus the Bokeh. It has, however, never been fatiguing to me, which I cannot say for my other flagships I own: Susvara and Utopia. Caldera has made me tear up while listening 5 times now. After editing this review, now 6! No other headphone has made me do this, which I find very compelling. There’s a few things at play here that I think contributes to why I’m so emotionally moved (probably more, but for the sake of keeping it somewhat short): there’s something in the mids that sound so lifelike to me, like I can feel the emotion in the music even more, like I’m there. The treble is also incredibly resolving, yet incredibly smooth. It also seems to enhance the emotion of the music rather than detract from it like other flagships I’ve heard. Interestingly, I notice sibilance on this headphone more than any other ZMF I’ve heard, and yet it doesn’t make me wince, it’s just there. Other headphones that I’ve noticed sibilance as much on like the Utopia becomes fatiguing. The Caldera’s nature in these treble areas seem to enhance the emotional experience rather than put an unnatural spotlight where there perhaps just shouldn’t be one. Also, the sense of space and imaging sound the most lifelike out of every other ZMF I’ve heard. It’s on another level. It’s flagship good, but it’s good in a way that always enhances my experience to whatever I’m listening to in an enjoyable way where I want to keep listening. It has become my favorite headphone.

I didn’t notice any sibilance whatsoever on Bokeh and think that you’ll gravitate towards it if you prefer a warmer sound. But, like most of us, you’re probably not going to get one headphone and be done. Bokeh is a great compliment to something like the Caldera.

Weaknesses?

I have one: Bokeh's bass sounds a little woof-y to me at times - a little bloomy and round, rather than being clean and clear. It sounds like it could be reflecting off the cups, creating a chamber of a little too much mud. It doesn’t happen all the time, but can happen when there’s a bass heavy track, especially if there’s louder notes coming from a double bass. The Atrium Closed, in contrast, sounds more controlled in this area. Both headphones are similarly bass-tilted, but the AC sounds more sub-bass focused rather than mid-bass focused like the Bokeh. When I’ve mixed my own music, I always EQ out extra mid-bass, so maybe it’s a taste thing. I like it more linear there. The Atrium Closed can shine the spotlight in those bass areas when called for in the music, but it disappears faster and doesn’t create as much unclear murkiness. Bokeh sounds like it’s got the “fun” part of that sonic spectrum dialed up and the control and texture part in that same are therefore dialed down. It reminds me of hearing a double bass at live shows sound a little too woody at times, for lack of a better term, so you lose out on the more subtle texture and get more of a dominating WOOF sound. I’ve noticed this same thing on Atrium (open) - since both sound elevated in the mid-bass, which is probably why I prefer the Atrium Closed over both. Ultimately, it doesn’t take away much from the other parts of music, but I’ve realized time and time again, I like a cleaner mid-bass. Anything other than it sounds can sound like some sort of fabric is unnecessarily put in front of a voice or other instrument at times. Bokeh more than makes up for this though with its sense of space, sense of fun (and hey, that part of that bass response is probably part of the fun!) and organic timbre. They may not be for you if you enjoy a more linear bass or more of a neutral or cleaner sound. But, as I used to enjoy and prefer that as well, I now find myself preferring the timbre and sense of space that ZMF headphones offer and that includes Bokeh and Atrium. You may too. I mentioned that all impressions were with the stock pads and, based on past experiences with pad swapping other ZMF headphones, using another set of pads (Bokeh includes two more), this mid-bass could probably be tamed by doing this.

Should you Bokeh?

Maybe it’s that my ears are more calibrated towards ZMF’s offerings now, but I’ve become a huge fan of what ZMF offers. I like to think I’ve honed more in on what I actually enjoy listening to. In my opinion, ZMF does a more refined and organic version of audio and its one that I find so enjoyable. Even though Bokeh does have some obviously standout qualities right from the first few moments of listening, the refined timbre and space of the presentation is consistently enjoyable over longer listening sessions. The saying “wherever you go, there you are” has come to mind a lot when I think of ZMF: who you are and what you value is going to translate into your work. Zach and ZMF are people that bring such a sense of joy, humility and craftsmanship to the sound and look of all their headphones and these positive qualities are very much the same in how I experience them as people. I highly recommend getting Bokeh or any other ZMF headphone!

TASTING NOTES

• Warm Spices
• Chocolate
• Maple Syrup

IN FOCUS

Bokeh, the beautiful way the recognizable softens into an infinite tessellation of shapes and colors. Concave and convex glass elements pushing together and pulling apart forming a backdrop of fat circles, anamorphic smears, and dizzying Petzval cyclones. Visual language like this creeps into how we think about and describe audio experiences. For example, that headphone has soft, round bass, or the treble was tack sharp. ZMFs newest closed back entry may have a lot of people experiencing this type of cine-stesia. Its interchangeable pads and tuning kit act like lens swaps altering the tone and character of the sensory experience.


BOX OF CHOCOLATES

The Bokeh, like most ZMF headphones, is a chameleon. At its core there exists a harman experience, but a quick swing of pad or mesh and you can really shift that curve. Its default warm and gooey tone is like a chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven.



The liquid crystal polymer driver eschews pure neutrality in favor of a thick, rich sound. While it shares a lot of the euphonic mid-forward qualities of other ZMFs, the Bokeh has the darkest midrange of my ZMFs. The low end is big and bouncy, but the high end can come into sharp focus when called for like the gradient of a tilt shift lens.




MID BASS MONSTER

The Bokeh can be a real bass bomb. Listening to jazz you may find yourself swept into the rhythm by an upright bass line that is pushing some front row air pressure inside the cup. The LCP driver digs deep, but whereas the AC is geared toward sub bass, the Bokeh dials up the mid bass. The definition of the bass is a bit softer than the hardwood AC, but similar in overall quantity. Compared to something like the Caldera, you don’t get as much detail on those low notes, but you get fantastic dynamics and dimension.




RICH MIDRANGE

The midrange, especially the vocal region, is warmer on this headphone than my other ZMFs. I’d describe it as listening to a microphone that has extra body. It pulls up the lower region of a voice without making it feel veiled. My brain needs an adjustment period when I switch from something more neutral to the Bokeh, but quickly it becomes natural. Mids have a romantic liquidity that feels tubey even on solid state.


ANALOG TREBLE

No danger here for the treble sensitive thankfully. I haven’t been able to find any song that makes me cringe. The darker tuning of the mids does not apply to the treble. The Bokeh's top end, while softer and more rolled off than my flagship ZMFs, sparkles through. It carves out definition on things like plucked metal strings, hi hat taps and reedy woodwinds. Detail retrieval is pretty good, but details don't jump out at you. The tuning focuses your brain away from combing waves for plankton. The warm tuning is like reading a book under a pocket of summer sunlight in an air conditioned room. I describe ZMF sound as analog often, but the Bokeh best encapsulates the effect of vinyl playing through detailed vintage speakers.




NO PRat-FALLS

I recently heard an LCP driver in an IEM, but this was my first experience with a full-size LCP implementation. If you haven't checked out @zach915m 's video on the Bokeh you really should watch the section about LCP. This 80ohm driver is much easier to drive than the 300ohm ZMF dynamics. LCP is a very thin membrane that is paired with a lighter voice coil than the thicker biocellulous and beryllium ZMF drivers.



The resulting sound is unique. It's punchy and has respectable sonic latitude. The warmer top end is far from flat. Higher registers jump to life as quickly as the brazen mid bass. The propulsive bass drags your mind to the dance floor, and you’ll find your foot tapping along. It’s a dynamic driver joyride. There is a real roundness and wetness to the sound that is lovely. It is a particularly liquid crystal.




FAST AS MOLASSES

The Bokeh lives on the other side of the spectrum from analytical. The driver speed feels like a sweet spot for softening harsh edges and retaining separation. It’s like going to someone’s house who is watching a movie with frame blending and changing it to back to a cinematic 24fps. On some tracks I felt like the AC clearly had the edge for speed, but on other songs the Bokeh seemed to tie it. My AC is a harder Olive Wood so it doesn't feel quite as wet and bloomy as this softer limba Bokeh. The top end of the Bokeh felt faster to me than the low end.


FOCAL DISTANCE

The Bokeh joins the VC and AC as another above average closed back for immersion and soundstage. The brighter upper mid tuning and added top air of the VC and AC open them up more, but the Bokeh has an impressive openness considering its darker mids. The Bokeh’s stereo width is more intimate than the AC, but it has similar depth looking into the music.




A PADDED SELL

As with any other ZMF, the Bokeh is several headphones in one with your pad/mesh options. I always gravitate to one particular pad for each of my ZMF, but with the Bokeh I really enjoyed all options. Each pad and mesh pairing seemed like something I could enjoy for a long time. It was honestly confusing for someone that usually has a solid personal preference. The hybrids tended to be what I gravitated toward for Bokeh specific pads, but I also really enjoyed the Caldera suedes.



My unit came with burst mesh only, and it looks different to what is actually on the ZMF site. I've heard great things about the Titan solid mesh with hybrid pads, but I have yet to test that combo out. Most of my listening was done without a mesh, but I did really enjoy the burst mesh sound.




There are so many possible combinations of pads and mesh you could technically fit on this headphone. Definitely start with the Bokeh specific pads and mesh. The 3 pad varieties and 2 mesh options give you 6 unique flavors. If you tested the Caldera and Bokeh pads with the solid and burst mesh that'd be 18 different possible sounds profiles. If you got crazy there are 40 different ZMF pads and 3 different circular mesh. 120 different sound possibilities for the most mad scientist out there. If you do this don't forget to post the charts.



BOKEH PROTIEN PADS | SOLIDS
The inner solid gives these the snappiest character overall of the Bokeh pads. They are extremely enjoyable for their visceral oomph. These have the most treble energy and air. Sometimes that added reach adds to the holographic dimensionality of a track. Adding the burst mesh tames the treble but bumps up the lower and upper mids in my perception.

BOKEH HYBRID PADS | SOLID OUTER + INNER SUEDE
I love these pads. They win for most natural. The inner suede controls the mid bass from getting too boomy and reflective without subtracting the fun weight. Keeping the low end controlled cleans up the treble as well. The burst mesh suppresses some upper mids and lets the top end shine through. I’d take this with or without mesh.

BOKEH SUEDE
Suede gives the treble the smoothest gradient to the blend. You lose some of the bass shelf, but the Bokeh is one of the few headphones I actually really enjoy suede pads on. This pad is the slowest, most laid-back sound with the open driver. If you want this vibe, but with a bit more bass, the hybrid with the burst mesh takes you to a similar zone. Strangely enough, the burst mesh on this pad focused my brain back on the upper treble which I liked quite a bit.

CALDERA STOCK
The Caldera pads are thicker, and the foam feels denser. These have the oomph of the Bokeh Solids, but with more brightness in the treble. The music comes into focus more. The added thickness gives the mids more room echo.

CALDERA THIN
These Atrium Closed stock pads are like the Caldera stock, but they are less reflective. As compared to the Bokeh solid, they are brighter, tighter and less romantic. That sounds negative, but I enjoyed them quite a bit when I had them on.

CALDERA THICK
This is my favorite pad on the Caldera, but here I think the depth encourages the bass to be too reflective. Adding the burst mesh was a dramatic shift on the thick pads. I noticed the reflection of the mid bass much less. The lower treble gets spicier than on the other pads.

CALDERA SUEDE
This is quickly becoming my favorite pad on the Bokeh. The treble is a touch brighter than the Bokeh suede and hybrid. Physically the pad is a little thicker/denser than it’s Bokeh counterpart giving it some sonic spaciousness. It is A+ with and without the burst mesh.

CALDERA COWHIDE
These are one of the thinnest and most rigid pads. The midrange is brought forward. The mesh pushes the upper mids back in place, but Cowhide is not normally a pad I reach for often.

CALDERA ULTRA PERF
I’d only recommend this option to people looking to push the treble way up. I’m not a huge fan of ultra perf sound, but I got a b-stock just to experiment this year. Some detail hunters may like it, but not for the treble weary.


DEXTERITY CHECK

There has been a lot of conversation about how tricky the pads are to get onto the oval shape. This is true, but I recommend taking Zach’s advice and holding the pad close to your body while you edge around. You can use your chest to hold down the side you’ve already got in place. Individual pads vary in tightness which is extra noticeable when you’re trying to stretch them over the oval shape. This does make doing pad A/Bing a little slower, but once you have a pad you like you’re going to keep it on for a while. On the plus side, I appreciate that there is a sort of open standard to ZMF pads.



When you get the headphone on your ears, experiment with placement of your ear in cup. Some pads felt perfect square in the middle of the cup, whereas other pads sounded more natural with my ear forward over the driver. This back and forth seems to influence the midrange the most. I really recommend playing around with this for each pad you test.


FIT AND FINESSE

The Bokeh feels like any of my other ZMFs for comfort level. They fit like a glove. Much more ergonomically sensible head gear than a glove even. Weight on my unit is 506 grams. They aren't as portable as a pair of AirPods, but they are more portable than some VCs and an OTL. Build-wise these are as impressive as my other ZMFs. I think whatever compromises have been made to get these cheaper are negligible in hand. If you hold Caldera pads and then pick up Bokeh pads you notice a larger difference. The Caldera pads feel more premium, but some of that has to do with the higher density and stronger structure of the memory foam. Zach designed the Bokeh to work with Bokeh pads, so I think you’re getting the truest representation of his vision when using the Bokeh pads.





TO TUBE OR NOT-UBE

The Bokeh sounds great on everything to be perfectly honest. That is how it was designed to be. It’s 80ohm LCP driver doesn’t need a lot of juice or impedance to open it up. For the first month I was testing the Bokeh, my big Cayin HA-300mkii was off for servicing and I was listening exclusively on the new Pietus Maximus. I think the Bokeh and the Pietus are a fantastic match for an equally fantastic total price point. Both amp and headphone have that tubey without tubes thing going on. Yes, the Bokeh does scale with the 300b, but it is not as important as other dynamic ZMFs. On the 300b I almost always prefer H impedance, but that was not always the case with the Bokeh. The Mojo 2 and the Cayin RU6 had plenty of power and overhead for the Bokeh. Comparing the portables to the desktop amps showed their limitations, but the gap on the Bokeh was not large.




COMPARED TO ATRIUM CLOSED

The Bokeh’s dulcet tones are like a relaxing hot tub. Jumping quickly to the Atrium Closed can feel like the shock of jumping into a cold pool. The AC is by no means a cold experience, but the Bokeh is just gooier and more relaxed. The Atrium Closed is nimbler and more detailed. Vocals and upper mids are much brighter on the Atrium Closed. The Bokeh midrange is darker and smoother making it a bit easier going on bright recordings. I enjoy both takes and neither sounds unnatural after some brain adjustment. Bass hits great on both, but the Atrium has tighter bass which focuses on sub whereas the Bokeh’s looser, more resonant low end is more about the mid bass. Thanks to the Atrium Damping System both headphones have great holographic depth.



Bokeh is the solid line. AC dotted. Source ZMF measurements page.


COMPARED TO CALDERA

Let me preface this by saying the Caldera is still my favorite headphone. Luckily, like the AC, the Bokeh is going for something completely different than the Caldera. The most obvious difference is how much darker the midrange of the Bokeh is. The Caldera is pretty linear with some brightness up top. The Bokeh is warm with extra warmth in the mids. The Caldera is much faster and way more detailed as you’d expect. The Bokeh’s mid bass is more elevated and impactful, but the Caldera’s added detail gives its bass dimension and depth that you just can’t expect from a dynamic driver. I can’t wait to hear the upcoming Caldera Closed to see how that one compares.



I didn't see a direct comparison chart, so here is a terribly unscientific overlay of the raw measurements of both headphones from the ZMF site. Bokeh is the dotted line:



TEST TRACKS


Sparse upright bass jazz is a lot of fun on the Bokeh. You feel each pluck almost in your chest.


Another track with low end motivation. Cosmo's doubled up emphasize the euphony of the Bokeh paired with tubes.


This wild score is a great speed test. On this I feel like the Bokeh is neck and neck with the AC.


I've heard this album a million times, but the Bokeh does something unique with it. The slam on this track is absolutely incredible. Satomi's vocals have this silky smoothness and dimensionality that I haven't heard on other headphones.


The breathy flute is very natural on the Bokeh. I can hear a lot of detail and separation. The metallic pluck of the strings and the punch of their impact stand out. The dynamic swings are fantastic. The dimensions of the room feel totally realistic for this recording.


I was excited to hear a new EP this week from a good friend's new band. The Bokeh is a lot of fun with this type of melodic indie rock.





LET IT BLUR

The Bokeh with its rich midrange fits into Zach’s audio oeuvre, but this LCP headphone budded a new branch on the ZMF tree sonically and technologically. As excited as I am to be an owner of a Bokeh, I’m equally thrilled to find out where Zach takes LCP drivers next in the lineup. I can't wait to hear a ZMF open back LCP. The tuning flexibility of this headphone exemplifies ZMFs commitment to make something for every preference that is inherently ZMF at its core. The Bokeh’s softer touch and analog warmth bring the music in focus and let everything trivial blur right out.