Ultra-thin PEN driver vapor deposed with 20% Beryllium by thickness. This process yields a stiff driver that delivers ultra fast, planar-like sound, with dynamic punch and natural timbre.

Vérité uses a stiffer, lighter, 300 ohm voice coil and a N50 (50 gauss) magnet. This combination allows the driver to project the fastest most nimble sound we have yet been able to create.

ZMF have optimized driver position, as the membrane is recessed and angled further within the cup than any other ZMF dynamic driver headphone. Driver placement was tested in .5mm increments to find the ideal placement and driver angle for the best sound possible.

The Story

I became fascinated with metallic drivers when I started looking into driver options years ago, in the process of designing our first dynamic line of headphones. I quickly noticed that many metallic drivers could have a slight “sheen” or “stridency” to their tone. I decided these drivers weren’t for me, and went on to use TPE and Biocellulose for our first two dynamic driver headphones. It wasn’t until early 2017, about a year later, that some engineers I collaborated with suggested I try a vapor deposed driver. I brushed off their recommendation, until I researched Beryllium and its properties. My interest was piqued when I learned that the stiffness to density ratio of Beryllium provided a velocity of sound almost twice that of other metals used in audio. With the stiffness of Be (Beryllium) I could use a smaller amount vapor deposited onto the surface of another material to get the speed and sonic properties of Be, but without the bright “nasties” that can come with a pure metallic driver. After more research I ended up combining PEN, a material similar to TPE but more robust, to handle the vapor deposition of the Beryllium. Upon hearing the driver for the first time, I realized both the amazing potential and challenge of perfecting this headphone. Every minute change to the driver’s surrounding yielded its own dramatically different result.

Fast forward many months, and after countless revisions, beta testing, and dialing in each microscopic element, I was able to finalize the sound of the Vérité. I had cycled through a plethora of opinions, measurements, various wood choices, and material sources. The process of crafting the Vérité was more challenging and rewarding than that of any other headphone I have created before, but I feel the final result is stunning in its sonics, aesthetic, and comfort.

I’m extremely proud of the Vérité, as it took such extended and careful work to see through to fruition. It is extremely gratifying to see this new offering being enjoyed by others.

By positioning the driver at specific angles and distances from the ear we increase natural resonances for a more “room” like sound.  This carefully-tuned angling allows the Vérité to combine dimensionality, speed and decay for a true “audio Vérité” experience.

The Vérité and Vérité Closed utilize unique airflow porting for 3 dimensional soundscapes of the acoustic image. Our acoustic designs provide a natural, deep, rounded stage, without accentuating any single dimension.

The Vérité cup has an angled, and non-congruent radiused edge, which positions its roundest point at the back of the cup, and its sharpest point at the front of the cup. This creates a flowing, unique design that is pleasing to hold and to see.