Pretty sure you had the Stellia's on backwards the first time. R/L mixed up. Nice comparison though. Focal timbre often sounds weird... I've definitely experienced that treble weirdness and hollow/metallic sound although I haven't tried Stellias

Wow. Best closed back in the market is a bold statement. I’m very excited to hear the AC myself. I’ve owned two different Verite Closed and sold them after I heard the Eikon. Great review as always Sajid. Much appreciated!

Great review, you took subjective measurements and made them tangible. Definitely excited to pick up a pair of AC!

Excellent review and so interesting. I held off from purchasing the Stellia and glad I did grossly over priced. I got the Meze Liric and love them so much. I am now going to seriously look at the Atrium Closed back for my second pair. I am currently back and forth to ZMF with questions and they are so accommodating. They said the Atrium with pair well with my Cayin N8ii so thats a plus. Have just sold my Focal Bathys (not at all impressed with them). Thank you again for your thoughts.

Good review!! Objective, non nonsense. Very clear, very informative. I own Audeze LCD2C and I owened in the past Senneheiser HD800 (3 times) and Sennheiser HD650 (two times) among many other headphones. Most headphones in lower or "normal" price range. I am offered to borrow ZMF Atrium and I think it's the exact headphones I want. The two main reasons for Atrium closed is the design (I am very design aware and I think it's more appealing) and the "leak". I was thinking to use Atrium for traveling. Then I don't mean the subway, rather on long distance trips such as on cruises or on a beach on a paradise island, or while resting on a hotel room. BTW, I haven't heard ANY Focal but I would have guessed that Utopia would be a better competitor? It seems like ZMF Atrium is about some of the best headphones of all time. If Susvara and Sennheiser HE-1 or Orpheus are the absolute top, I think ZMF Atrium could be considered like top 20-30 something. Or for an award or so... btw, I listen to old-school progressive trance. Such as Tiësto, Chicane, Paul van Dyk or such. Popular music from the clubs on Ibiza, London etc. in the 00's and the 90s. I would say HD650 has the "best" sound signature for that music I ever heard, so I am looking forward to try ZMF Atrium (open) very soon!!

You had the Stellia, with angled drivers... on backwards on your first listen!

Appreciate the impressions. You describe things very well. I also blame you for influencing my purchase of AO and couldn't be happier.

You obviously care a lot about this hobby, glad to be in the audio tent with you. First time here how are you giving us a different flavor by changing tracks? Also are the focals reversible?

I prefer the stellia and I’ve owned both. I like how zmf headphones sound but they are too heavy for me to wear for long. I don’t get that problem with the stellia

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Many thanks Sajid Bhai for this comparison, I had lot of Focals headphone and all of them had problems with Tembre and plasticy treble however Bass and punch are always class leading. I also preferred the VC over stellia but short listening session I had with AC I got the impression they are bit shouty in treble I preferred the VC over AC. Which IEMs are closer to the VC which you use, for summer months I am looking for IEMs.

Thanks for the nice shootout! I heard you mentioned you liked listening to metal which is the only genre I listen to; for metal and only for metal (power, symphonic mostly), which would pick between the atrium closed and the caldera? Thanks in advance and keep up the excellent videos!

Great video as usual. What cable are you using to go from your Sony Dap to your Moon Audio Cable, is it just the standard charging cable that came with your Sony Dap? Thanks in advance. Anthony

Great comparison, thanks. I like my Stellia but enjoy the Utopia sound more. Considering Atrium Closed. Worried about whether my DX300 would drive the Atrium well. Any thoughts there?

Which headphones do you find more comfortable to wear for long hours between VC, AC and Stellia?

The stock pads of Stellia sound dark and bassy. With the right pads and cable it sounds amazing.

Nice comparison. Have you tried comparing the warmest filter on the Hugo 2 with the Sony? Does the Sony still provide more sub-bass in comparison? Just curious. Thanks.

Sounds like a great option.. what I’m really hoping we see is a closed back caldera.

Hey man...would love to know your take on L & P W4. With all that power combined with power efficiency and along with multiple tuning variations, that seems like a great option. If by any chance you get to review it, please do.

Have you heard fostex th900 mk2 if yes Whats your take on it?

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Timbre of Atrium/AC vs Caldera?

Zmf and sony are musicphile brands. If you had to add a secondary amp for the walkman would a dongle work? Just to give it a bit extra juice.

Does ZMF Atrium leak sound as much as Stellia?

Hahaha, which one will I buy . NONE. you pay 2-3 K . I'm old, I can't even distinguish th good sound from the bad sound. it all sound fatiguing in the long. run. Nice video. More power.