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ZMF Atrium — Handcrafted Sound From Oregon

Zach Mehrbach’s ZMF Headphones occupy a unique space in the headphone world — handcrafted, wooden-cupped, boutique headphones made in Portland, Oregon with the kind of artisan care that’s vanishingly rare in modern electronics. The Atrium is their flagship open-back dynamic, and it’s unlike anything else I’ve heard.

Build & Design

Stunning. There’s no other word. The Atrium’s wooden earcups are individually crafted, and each pair has a slightly different grain pattern. Mine came in stabilised Cherry, and they’re genuinely beautiful objects. The magnesium chassis, the thick leather headband, the rhodium-plated connectors — every detail communicates care and craftsmanship.

Beyerdynamic DT 900 Pro X — German Engineering Meets Modern Tuning

Beyerdynamic have been at this game since 1924, and their DT series is as iconic in studios as any headphone ever made. The DT 900 Pro X represents the modern evolution — keeping that Beyer reliability and comfort whilst finally addressing the treble peaks that have divided listeners for decades.

Build & Design

Classic Beyerdynamic. The spring steel headband, the velour earpads, the industrial-yet-functional aesthetic — it’s all here and it’s all reassuringly solid. At 345g it’s lighter than most planar competitors, and the comfort is genuinely excellent. These are headphones you can wear for an entire mixing session without noticing they’re there.

Audeze LCD-X 2021 — The Studio Planar That Rocks

The LCD-X has been on my radar since it became the go-to headphone for producers and mixing engineers who want planar detail without the analytical coldness. The 2021 revision addressed the tuning complaints of the original, and what Audeze delivered is, frankly, one of the most capable all-rounders in the planar world.

Build & Design

Let’s address weight first: 612g. Yes, it’s heavy. If you’re coming from a Sennheiser or a Koss PortaPro, the first time you put these on your head you’ll wonder if someone left a brick inside. That said, the suspension headband does a reasonable job of distributing the weight, and after twenty minutes you mostly forget about it. Mostly.

Focal Clear MG — French Dynamics at Their Finest

There’s something about French audio engineering that carries a particular swagger. Focal have been making world-class speakers for decades, and their headphone division has inherited that confidence in spades. The Clear MG is Focal’s mid-range open-back, sitting between the Celestee and the Utopia, and it might just be the sweet spot of their entire lineup.

Build & Design

Premium. That’s the word that comes to mind immediately. The Clear MG uses magnesium domes on its M-shaped driver — hence the “MG” suffix — and the build quality is a significant step up from most of the competition. The aluminium yokes, the perforated lambskin earpads, the woven cable — everything communicates quality. At 450g it’s not the lightest, but the weight distribution is excellent and the clamping force is just right.

Hifiman Arya Stealth — Planar Magnificence on a Budget?

I’ve been circling the Arya for years. Every time I’d read another glowing forum post or catch a YouTube review, I’d think “surely it can’t be that good at this price.” Well, I finally took the plunge, and the short version is: yes, it really can.

Build & Design

Let’s get the elephant in the room addressed first — Hifiman’s build quality reputation. The Arya Stealth is noticeably better than older Hifiman designs, but it still won’t win any awards against the likes of Meze or ZMF for premium feel. The headband is functional rather than luxurious, and the earcups are large — comically large, if I’m honest. But they’re light for their size at around 404g, and the egg-shaped pads are genuinely comfortable for long sessions.