ZMFheadphones Universe Pads

Yes, it’s time again for yet another pad review extravaganza. This time around it’s for ZMF’s latest headphone, the ATRIUM OPEN. For the rest of the review I will just refer to it as the Atrium, but in case you weren’t aware, a Closed version of the Atrium is coming sometime in the future. Also if haven’t read my “review” of the Atrium, here it is for your pleasure (or pain): https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/zmfheadphones-atrium.25763/review/28246/

For this evaluation I used a regular cherry wood Atrium with the stock Titan mesh installed. While pad swapping will have a much larger sonic impact than any cable, I exclusively used a ZMF 2K Copper cable which is a great match for the Atrium. I also reviewed this cable several years ago: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf-verite.890270/post-14985973

No equalization was utilized during evaluation. All pads in this review are PERFORATED. I’ve experimented in the past with solid pads on open ZMF headphones and the results are mediocre at best. I also would like to remind everyone that we all hear differently and have our own sonic preferences, so just as with other audio gear, I highly suggest auditioning these pads yourself if possible.

Chain used: TIDAL&FLACs>Singxer SU-1>Schiit Yggdrasil A1>DNA Stratus/OG Cavalli Liquid Gold>Atrium





Universe Lambskin (stock pads)

Great transient response. Best dynamics out of all pads tested. Most overall satisfying bass response. Respectable sub bass extension and excellent bass impact. Trademark ZMF tuned midrange with some lively and engaging upper mids. Treble is pleasing with satisfying extension and no peaks or grain. Immersive, but natural sounding staging with accurate imaging. Has good width, depth and vertical presentation. Comfort is decent due to pad depth.

My #1a pads. For the first several weeks I listened to the Atrium, I didn’t even feel the need to swap the Universe Lambskin pads out. Turns out my initial gut feeling was right (for once…). I think one of the biggest reasons these were chosen as the Atrium’s stock pads is that they excel at balancing both a “fun” and “technical” sound. Not likely a coincidence, they are also the best all around set of pads for listening to a wide range of music. What really draws me back to the Uni Lamb pads time and time again is that they highlight the Atrium’s amazing dynamics and spirited bass response. For those reasons, these are my go to everyday pads (well, at least until I got the Caldera Ultra Perf pads.)


Universe Hybrids

Overall a smoother presentation compared to the Universe Lambskin pads. While still good technically, it does lose some transient response (percussion instruments aren’t as lively and snappy.) Bass quantity and impact drop slightly, as well as sub bass extension. Mids are slightly pushed forward and upper mids are smoothed out. The treble, especially the presence range, is also somewhat reduced. There is a small amount of added air, but the staging isn’t as wide as the Uni Lamb’s. Increased comfort with the plush suede pad face.

My #4 pads. Similar to the Auteur Hybrids, these are very close sounding to their full leather counterparts. The Universe Hybrid pads are a great option if you’re looking for a more relaxed, euphoric listening experience from the Atrium. While you do lose some of the Atrium’s technical prowess, you’re not straying too far from its stock sound. Just like the Uni Lamb pads, these work well with a large variety of music genres. I think these could be a great match if you find the Uni Lamb pads a little too aggressive, or possibly have a brighter gear chain.


Universe Suede

Not as smooth and relaxed as the Uni Hybrids. Even bigger reduction in bass quantity and impact. Sub bass extension is also even further reduced from the Uni Hybrids. The midrange is more similar to the Uni Lamb pads than the Hybrids. Treble is also closer to the Uni Lamb’s, but with a boost in presence region that adds excellent clarity. Staging is more like the Uni Lamb pads with a significant amount of added air. The most comfortable set of pads reviewed.

My #7 Pads. For the most part I’ve been rather hard on suede pads with ZMF headphones. The decrease in dynamics and transient response has always been a deal breaker for me. With that being said, I was pleasantly surprised with the Uni Suede pads. Yes, you’re still missing out on the Atrium’s driver’s full technical abilities, but it’s not as noticeable as with several other ZMF headphones. One thing that really stood out to me about these pads was vocals sounded particularly seductive. The added clarity and sense of air was also a highlight for me. While I wouldn't necessarily use these for pop, hip-hop and electronic music, I really enjoyed classic rock, jazz and acoustic music. These pads might also be a great pairing for someone that has a darker sounding system, or even better yet, some bass leaning tubes.


BE2 Lambskin

Best transient response of the recommended pads. Bass impact, quantity and sub bass are a little less than the Universe Lambskin pads. Bass quality is tighter and more accurate. Mids are pushed slightly forward and not as full sounding. Treble is very similar to Uni Lamb pads. Staging is significantly more narrow, but increased vertically. Has less perceivable depth and doesn’t image as well. Least comfortable pads due to the pad depth and material used.

My #9 pads. These were a little surprising considering they are my favorite pad for the Verite Open. The BE2 Lambskin are more technical and linear sounding than the other pads, so if you prioritize that, they might be perfect for you. I enjoyed how quick and concise they sounded, as well as how tight and nimble the bass became. They also worked well with pretty much any musical genre I threw at them. In the end though, they just weren't what I was looking for out of the Atirum. I also couldn’t help but be bothered by their comfort. While I never really had any issues with the BE2 Lambs with the VO, on the Atrium the pads touched my ears and were quite distracting. YMMV depending on your head shape, etc…


BE2 Hybrid

Not as good of transient response as BE2 Lambskin pads. Huge mid bass increase as well as a significant upper bass and sub bass bump. Bass is not nearly as tight, and can sound somewhat boomy and bloated at times. Upper mid energy is reduced and scooped out. Treble is a lot smoother than the BE2 Lambs. Staging is similar, but images better and is more cohesive sounding. Comfort, while still not great, is moderately improved.

My #10 pads. It’s safe to say that these are the black sheep of the family. I did not expect such a large deviation from the BE2 Lambskins. In particular the massive bass boost stood out like a polar bear at a tiki bar. Bass heads will no doubt enjoy these, but I think they’re audience is rather limited. listeners of pop, electronic and hip hop. I enjoyed these with certain songs (mostly hip hop, pop and electronic music), but others not so much. It’d be interesting to see how these pads measure, as there’s definitely some tomfoolery going on. Ultimately the BE2 Lamb pads just seem to pull the Atrium too far away from its sound. If you’re looking for that type of sound, there’s several other ZMF models that do it much better.


BE2 Suede

Slight step down from the transient response of BE2 Lambskin pads. Overall bass quantity is lowered and more neutral leaning. Bass is similar quality as the BE2 Lamb’s, but lacking some impact. Mids are a little leaner than the BE2 Lamb pads. Treble is smooth, but has nice sparkle and added clarity. Staging is more open and airy sounding vs. the BE2 Hybrid pads. Imaging is also very similar, if not slightly better. Comfort is about the same as the BE2 Hybrid pads.

My #6 pads. Apparently you never know what you’re going to get with the BE2 pads and the Atrium. The combination of suede with thinner pads really pairs well with these headphones, as these were easily my favorite of the three BE2 pads. They push the Atriums closer to neutral more than any other pad, but still retain good technical attributes. Vocals in particular were pleasant, clear and detailed. I personally would have liked a little more bass, but others might enjoy the more accurate response. I could also see these as being a little too bright and linear sounding for some. The BE2 Suede pads also sounded well with most everything, but wouldn’t be my first choice with pop, hip hop and electronic music.


Auteur Lambskin

A touch slower transient response from the Universe Lambskin pads. Bass quantity is ever so slightly reduced, with less bass impact being more noticeable. Sub bass also is lower than the Uni Lamb’s. Mids are pushed back slightly and upper mids have a little less energy. Treble is a tad smoother vs Uni Lamb pads. Staging is not quite as wide, but is larger vertically with excellent depth. Staging also has more of a 3D presentation. Imaging on par with the Uni Lamb pads. Comfort is similar to the Uni Lamb pads, but could be better/worse due to being more angled.

My #3 pads. A clear cut runner-up for me, which could just as well easily be #1 for many others. For the most part, these are pretty similar to the Universe Lambskin pads. Where they drastically differ is the staging, which is much more immersive and 3D like. Instruments that might image more to the left/right on the Uni Lamb pads can be positioned more behind and to the left/right, etc... I think whether someone prefers these pads over the Uni Lamb pads will be highly dependent on personal preference, and how well they align with their gear. For me personally, I chose the Uni Lamb pads over the Auteur Lamb’s because they’re more dynamic sounding and have more traditional staging. Highly recommended as your optional pad choice when purchasing an Atrium.


Auteur Hybrid

Transient response isn’t quite as fast as the Auteur Lambskin pads. Bass quantity and impact is overall lowered, but not to a great degree. Mids are ever so slightly pushed forward. Treble is a little smoothed out over the Auteur Lambs. Small bump in clarity and sense of air. Staging is a little more cohesive and less 3D sounding/immersive. Upgrade in comfort vs Auteur Lamb pads.

My #5 pads. Perhaps the most predictable pads of the entire lot, these are essentially just a more relaxed version of the Auteur Lambskins. The extra hint of sweetness to vocals, added clarity and delicateness were welcomed during my listening sessions. The staging isn’t quite as extreme as the Auteur Lamb’s, which could be a plus/minus depending on the listener. I think these would most likely pair well with a brighter chain, or if you just want an overall more chill listening experience.


Auteur Suede

Slight decrease in transients from Auteur Hybrid pads. Low end is dropped across the board, as well as bass impact. Bass is also not as tight and less defined. Mids are pushed even more forward than the Auteur Hybrids. Vocals are extremely good, especially female. Treble is very similar vs Auteur Hybrids, but with a little more sparkle. Staging is even more linear sounding and not as large. Imaging is not as strong as the other Auteur pads. Comfort is 2nd only to the Universe Suede pads.

My #6 pads. These pads are more in line with what I’ve previously experienced with other Suede ZMF pads. Everything comes across as slightly too soft for my taste, and really detracts from the wonderful qualities of the Atrium’s Bio-cellular driver. Still, they do sound good with acoustic music and like I mentioned previously, female vocals are quite amazing. In my opinion, there are much better pad choices available that yield better results across the board.


Caldera Ultra Perforated Lambskin Pads

Faster transients vs stock Universe Lambskin pads. Decrease in sub bass and a slight decrease in mid bass. Bass quality is improved, more controlled and defined. Mids are a tad pushed back, as well as thinner sounding. Small bump in the upper mids and lower treble. Increased clarity and sense of air. Staging overall is more spacious and open sounding. Imaging is very similar, if not a minimal improvement. Comfort is similar to the Uni Lamb pads, with slightly stiffer foam and a larger ear cavity.

My #1b pads. I really struggled to decide where to place these pads. Eventually, I just decided that they should share the number one spot with the Universe Lambskin pads. The Caldera Ultra Perf Lambskin pads are the best technically sounding pads bar none. They bring the best out of the AO’s drivers and IMO, that’s really not debatable. At the same time, you also lose a little of the Atrium’s magic. In particular, that big “analog” sound that a lot of listeners love. In the end, which pad a listener prefers will ultimately come down to personal preference and gear chain. Do you want the Atrium Open to have a smoother, more neutral-warm sound? Or do you want to push the AO more toward neutral and squeeze every last drop out of the drivers?

I mostly tested these out of my DNA Stratus, which is neutral-warm with my standard tube roll. Both pads sounded great on it, which definitely contributed to me making my final ranking. I do tend to listen loud, so I would occasionally get a little fatigue from the Ultra Perf pads. I am a little sensitive in the upper midrange, which is why I do use the solid Titan mesh on my Atrium. While I would occasionally miss the more lush sound from the Uni Lamb pads, other times I really loved the more defined, precise sound of the Ultra Perf pads. Most genres of music sound fantastic on both pads, so I’d recommend focusing more on your system synergy and personal taste. In general, if you have a warmer chain (possibly an OTL), the Ultra Perf pads might be a more apt pairing. If you’re running a brighter chain, the Universe Lambskin pads (or even the Auteur Lambskins), might be a better fit.

For prospective buyers, I would highly suggest that you add a pair of Ultra Perf Pads when you order an Atrium Open. For current owners, I would recommend that you strongly consider picking up a pair to try on your Atrium Open. You might just fall in love all over again.



I tested a few other ZMF perforated pads, but they weren’t more viable than anything mentioned above. Also just getting perforated Verite pads and Ori pads mounted onto the Atrium was more of a hassle that it was worth. Although I have to admit, turning the Atrium into bass cannons with the Ori’s was kinda fun.

I omitted EIKON perforated pads as they are not recommended over the Auteur pads, which are actually the same exact pads with a larger ear cavity. That doesn’t mean they won’t work well with the Atrium, but I wouldn't expect a massive difference vs the same Auteur pads. Down the road I might see how they perform with the Atrium, but for now I think I’m done pad swapping for a while…



So many pads and so few ears. The Universe Lambskin and Auteur Lambskin pads are without question the cream of the crop in my mind. Like I mentioned earlier, I could see either one of these being someone's preferred pad for the Atrium. Possibly even one of their more relaxed hybrid siblings. The rest of the pads will push further away from the Atrium’s tuning, but they still might work best for someone out there. After all, there is no wrong answer. Well, except using non-perforated pads…

The ZMF Atrium really is a special headphone, and having so many pad choices is always a good thing. That is until it’s time to pick out which pads you want. Hopefully this write-up will help make that decision a little easier and help you enjoy your Atrium even more.

Feel free to post or PM me with any questions or complaints. I’ll also gladly accept showering's of praise to help feed my ego. Thanks for reading!






VERITE OPEN PAD REVIEW
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf-verite-open.890270/post-16439819

VERITE CLOSED PAD REVIEW
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf-verite-closed-new-closed-back-zmf-flagship.911505/page-100#post-15296496

ZMF VÉRITÉ CLOSED vs. ZMF VÉRITÉ OPEN
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf-verite.890270/post-15402213