ZMF Atrium Closed - Close(d) Encounter of the TOTL Kind

 4.5⭐️

+ Warm, neutral tuning

+ Separation and detail retrieval

+ Great soundstage and imaging for closed back

+ Impeccable build quality and materials

+ Comfort 

+ Includes a very sturdy case and impressive accessories

- Would like more bass

- Yoke rods are difficult to adjust

- Not a super "fun" tuning

- Needs power to shine

- Isolation is lacking for a closed back

- Price

thaslaya's star rating system:

☆☆☆☆☆ - Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆ - Recommended

☆☆☆ - There are buyers but not for me

☆☆ - Can't see the appeal

☆ - Product is a failure

Disclaimer: 

This pair was provided for demo through a tour arranged by ZMF. They were returned after the review period. I receive no compensation and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I also feel the need to add another disclaimer here. I am a completely portable listener and have no desktop gear to speak of. That means I only had dongle DAC/amps to power these full-sized headphones. I know that might be sacrilegious to some audiophiles. If that's a dealbreaker, then feel free to read no further. But when the opportunity knocked, I had to answer, or I would have regretted it later. So, I jumped at the chance to join this ZMF tour and get my hands (and ears) on some TOTL headphones.

Gear used: 

● Samsung Galaxy s22 Ultra

● Samsung dongle

● Hiby FC4

● iFi GO bar Kensei

Source:

Listening was done through Amazon Music HD or Ultra HD.

Introduction:

ZMF Headphones is an audio company operating out of Berwyn, Illinois, right here in the United States. Zach Mehrbach is the founder, president, and designer, and his passion for audio is on display with every set the company produces. Each headphone is handcrafted in the ZMF workshop and enjoyed worldwide thanks to their ever-growing list of international dealers. There are many models to choose from in both open and closed-back variations, and they also make desktop DACs and amplifiers as well. The Atrium Closed is one of ZMF's many closed-back offerings and features a 50mm composite bio-cellulose driver with 300 ohms impedance. Let's break them down and see what this TOTL model can do.

Build, fit, ergonomics:

ZMF offers many customizable options when ordering from their site, from the type of wood used for the cups to the pads and cables. This particular Atrium model is the limited-edition Canarywood variant with a black magnesium chassis, brass yoke rods, an olive/gray bull bolster band (BBB) strap, and a leather headband assembly. These come shipped in an incredibly sturdy carrying case. It provides a ton of protection and can even be locked for added security. The headphones are made of some of the best and most beautiful materials. The build quality is absolutely superb! The headband has a thin layer of padding wrapped in very supple and soft leather. The BBB strap is made of a thicker, sturdier leather, but it's still soft to the touch. The Canarywood cups are eye-catching, and each set has a unique wood grain pattern. The yoke rods feel very strong, although they are a bit stiff and hard to adjust. I fear that scratches could build up over time, but that can only be determined after long-term usage. The Atrium Closed has a decent weight but also doesn't feel too heavy or fatiguing during long sessions. The headband does a great job of distributing the weight evenly without any hotspots. The clamping force is just about perfect for me, not excessively tight to cause undue pressure or too loose to prevent a proper seal. There are two varieties of pads included with this tour unit: perforated lambskin leather and perforated suede. Both are super soft and comfortable, but they also have unique sound qualities, which I'll touch on later. Pad rolling is a fairly straightforward process, but it does take some patience and finesse to get them on just right. The insides of the cups have ample room; even my large ears don’t touch the drivers. The stock cables that were included in the kit are a bit thick and unwieldy. They are sturdy and well-built, but I strongly prefer braided cables that are more pliable and less stiff. ZMF offers alternative cable options, some of which may be more suited to my preferences, but they were not included with this particular review unit.

Sound impressions:

During the tour period, I had both the Caldera and Atrium Closed, so I will draw comparisons between the two throughout the review.

I would characterize the Atrium's tuning as warm- neutral with a slightly rolled-off sub-bass and treble response. It's not what I would call an exciting or "fun" tuning, yet it has a definitive smoothness that lends itself very well to a more musical style. The general consensus regarding ZMF's house tuning is that it tends to be natural, organic, and analog in nature. The Atrium Closed undoubtedly adheres to this approach and could be considered the epitome of ZMF's tuning philosophy. The imaging is accurate and precise, and the separation is outstanding. Each note and frequency has ample space without any sense of disconnection or disjointedness. The timbre is very natural and organic, with excellent instrument and vocal presentation. In my opinion, the soundstage is the most impressive aspect of the Atrium's technical capabilities. I was pleasantly surprised to hear how expansive it was on first listen. In fact, it's not an understatement to say that it's the best I've ever heard in any closed-back headphone! The combination of height, width, and depth creates a spacious and immersive sound field. Now, I will admit that the stage is not as expansive as the Caldera's, which is frankly in a league of its own. Although that is to be expected since the Caldera has an open-back design. The Atrium's detail retrieval is also a highlight, achieving high resolution without compromising its musicality. However, for detail retrieval alone, the Atrium again falls short when compared to the Caldera.

Here, I'll add some brief observations on the differences between the leather and suede pads. When using the suede, the bass response, which I already found to be a bit lacking, becomes slightly leaner. I do prefer bass that is north of neutral. The suede pads also further emphasize the energy in the upper mids and treble, making cymbals splashier and closer to being sibilant. I couldn't detect any noticeable differences in soundstage, comfort, or seal, so my primary reasons for opting for the leather pads are the enhanced bass and the reduced energy in the upper frequencies.

●Lows - The low end is more focused on mid-bass than sub-bass, and the lower extension rolls off a little too soon for my taste. It has a quick, tactile attack with a fairly rapid decay but it's not as fast as the planar drivers in the Caldera. Kick drums and double bass hits are heard clearly and concisely, but they do lack a bit of impact and punch. I also wish the decay was a bit slower to have a longer-lasting reverberation. The quality is truly outstanding, but it could use a bit more quantity for my taste. Even though I find the amount of bass to be ever so slightly lacking, it still has much more bass to my ears than the Caldera, which could use a quite significant boost in my opinion. The low end of the Atrium Closed is very solid and polished, but it could use more quantity to add to the fun and engagement factor.

●Mids - The midrange has a mostly neutral presentation, where it's neither recessed nor pushed forward. Everything is clear and well-separated, but I usually prefer my mids to be a bit more forward. Vocals have a great technical sound, but I feel they lack a little emotion and present as too neutral. I prefer a more intimate presentation with warmth and emotion that really helps me connect with the music, and I find that to be lacking here. I think the Atrium Closed is better catered to male artists, as they do have a bit more warmth and sound better to my ears than their female counterparts. The vocal timbre is just slightly off, with a hint of nasality at times. The vocal timbre on the Atrium Closed can't hold a candle to that of the Caldera, which is simply divine. Luckily, instruments, including guitars, piano, woodwinds, and brass, don't suffer the same fate as the vocals. They sound excellent and have fantastic technical performance as well as a more natural timbre. It's hard to find too much fault with the midrange, and most of my issues are minor nitpicks. Overall, it's a very strong point of the tuning and extremely enjoyable.

●Highs - The treble is mostly polite and tame while still retaining a good presence. Cymbals sound very realistic and splashy without any harshness or sibilance. Snares and claps also sound great with no issues. Personally, I find the amount of air and sparkle to be more than adequate, especially for closed-back headphones. However, I will acknowledge that some may find the treble extension lacking and want a bit more brightness. There can also be an ever-so-slight harshness at high volumes on "s" and "sh" sounds, but it mostly occurs with breathy female vocalists. Overall, the treble on the Atrium Closed is pleasantly warm and neutral, which suits my preferences very well.

In conclusion:

The ZMF Atrium Closed are the most natural-sounding closed-back headphones with the most expansive soundstage I have ever heard. The capable bio-cellulose drivers have no trouble keeping up with complex tracks. The bass is very agile, although it does lack a bit of slam and impact. The build quality is suoerb, with a very premium look and feel. They are not lightweight, but neither are they exceptionally heavy. The clamping force provides a perfect seal without any hot spots or fatigue, and even my large ears fit comfortably within the cups. The tuning could be considered a bit boring by some, particularly those seeking a more dynamic response. They pair well with the iFi GO bar Kensei with XBass, but, in my opinion, they could still use an even larger bass shelf. They sound great with rock and pop, but they truly do excel with most genres. I would personally choose the Atrium Closed over the Caldera because of the less fatiguing treble and the additional isolation that closed-back headphones provide. If you're looking for a TOTL closed-back set that offers a warm/neutral, inoffensive tuning, excellent detail retrieval, accurate imaging, and a large soundstage, then the Atrium Closed is a phenomenal choice. Though, I still prefer iems to full-sized headphones for various reasons, one of which is the higher price-to-performance ratio of many lower-budget sets. However, if I had the funds and could choose any headphone I've heard to date, it would easily be the Atrium Closed. They do indeed fetch a high price, but I haven't heard any other closed-back headphones that come close to matching their performance.