Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
Product Strengths
- Excellent build quality and visually stunning design with unique wood cups, making each unit unique
- Good bass response with well-balanced tonality, texture, definition, speed, and dynamics
- Treble presentation is excellent, smooth, bright, and airy without being overly forward or fatiguing
- The Caldera Closed uses Atrium Damping System (ADS) for a more natural sound decay
- Very resolving with class-leading dynamics
Product Considerations
- Mid-range tonality may be uneven and forward for some listeners, potentially causing fatigue or a 'hollow' timbre
- Soundstage is relatively narrow compared to some other closed-back headphones
- Can be moderately difficult to drive, not suitable for all portable amplifiers
- Weight might be an issue for some users, though well-distributed
- Requires high-quality audio tracks to sound its best
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Versus Caldera Open, the closed version has a superior treble presentation, the open is preferable in the mid-range
- Versus the Dan Clark Audio E3, the Caldera Closed is easier to drive and has better dynamics, the E3 has a wider soundstage and is more comfortable
- The Caldera Closed is more spacious sounding than the Atrium Closed
- The Caldera Closed is better than the Verite Closed for all-day listening
Takeaway: The ZMF Caldera Closed is a beautifully crafted, high-performance closed-back headphone with excellent bass and treble, making for a fun and engaging listening experience. The versatility to use it with most amps makes it a great choice.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
Caldera Closed
reviews
[{"title":"ZMF Caldera Closed Headphone Review - The Magic of Caldera in a Closed Back?","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGuZD_zeNcQ","source":"Reviews By WaveTheory","datePublished":"2025"},{"title":"$3500 ZMF Caldera Closed Back Review","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp8fm7E0akU","source":"GadgetryTech","datePublished":"2024"},{"title":"ZMF Caldera-Closed Review","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9OEI4zpJ6c","source":"Amplify Audio Reviews","datePublished":"2024"},{"title":"Making sense of ZMF. Caldera Closed REVIEW","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itGjafe3myY","source":"Amplify Audio Reviews","datePublished":"2025"},{"title":"ZMF Caldera Closed Planar Magnetic Headphones Review | Accurate Honest","link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGqNl8YztCI","source":"The Headphone Show","datePublished":"2025"},{"title":"ZMF Headphones Caldera Closed Review","link":"https://headfonics.com/zmf-headphones-caldera-closed-review","source":"headfonics.com","datePublished":""},{"title":"ZMF Caldera Closed Planar Magnetic Headphones Review","link":"https://www.techpowerup.com/review/zmf-caldera-closed-planar-magnetic-headphones/4.html","source":"techpowerup.com","datePublished":""}]
An excellent review of a great product
/
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
An excellent review of a great product
Publisher
/
3/1/2022
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Impedance: 60 Ohms
- Driver: 2 um thick Planar Magnetic with CAMS Patent Pending technology
- Weight: 500-560g
- Sensitivity: ~94dB/mW
Description
ZMF's first fully closed planar headphone, developed from the Caldera Open model. Awarded Headfonics Best Ortho 2023, the Caldera Closed features the patented Atrium Damping System, along with the patent-pending Caldera Pad and Caldera Magnet Systems. Sonically the Closed version imparts the speed, immediacy and dynamism of the open, while adding a sub-bass boost and tastefully closer(ish) to Harman tuning with the incredible isolation of a closed back.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- ZMF Headphones are hand-crafted, using a wide array of wood choices, some of which are limited edition, making each headphone visually unique and potentially contributing to subtle sonic differences in decay and impact.
- The brand is committed to providing a personalized audio experience, offering a variety of interchangeable pads, allowing users to tailor the sound to their preferences.
- They offer a lifetime driver warranty on many of their products.
Select products
Select product comparisons
Auteur Classic Upgrade
- Positioning: An affordable retrofit option designed to enhance the original headphone's soundstage and resolution.
- Description: Offers a refreshed driver set with a larger stage, improved linear sub-bass, and lower distortion through features like the new wood baffle and Atrium Damping System. Stands apart from stock models by providing a cost‐effective, engineering driven upgrade that boosts performance without replacing the entire headphone system.
BOKEH Open
- Positioning: An open-back, semi-portable headphone made for easy driving and versatile listening environments.
- Description: Features a unique design with solid wood grilles made from SpectraPly, an exclusive oval cup formation, and the Atrium Damping System paired with specially developed Caldera pads for a balanced soundstage. In comparison to upgrade offerings and fully closed designs, it prioritizes portability and natural material aesthetics while retaining a refined open acoustic profile.
Vérité Open
- Positioning: A high-fidelity open headphone that emphasizes natural sound reproduction and dynamic range.
- Description: Uses an angled, deeply inset vapor-deposited beryllium driver design paired with premium sapele wood construction to deliver a true-to-life musical decay and heightened dynamics. Compared to the Auteur and BOKEH models, its focus is on delivering a transparent and authentic acoustic reproduction.
Atrium Closed
- Positioning: A closed-back headphone engineered to create a well-controlled, intimate listening space with precise damping.
- Description: Uses an atrium-tuned biocellulose driver along with a patent-pending damping system and carefully chosen wood accents like Cherry or Canarywood to maintain clarity without deadening the sound. In contrast to open designs such as the Vérité and BOKEH, it offers enhanced isolation and a controlled acoustic environment tailored for private or noisier settings.
Caldera Closed
- Positioning: The premium fully closed planar headphone that integrates advanced damping and patented technologies.
- Description: Features a 2 µm thick planar magnetic driver with CAMS technology, the patented Atrium Damping System, and an innovative Caldera Pad design that enhances sub-bass performance and isolation. Compared to the other models, it delivers a flagship level closed-back experience.
See All Products
Avg. Product Price
$2,501-$5,000
Used For Sale
6
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
448
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
12
Founding Year
2014
Our take on the brand
ZMF is a boutique hifi headphone brand that crafts one-of-a-kind wooden headphones from stabilized resin-wood billets, each harvested, processed, and assembled in the USA. Their patented acoustic systems include the Atrium Damping System (ADS) and the Caldera's trapezoidal magnet structure. The brand offers lifetime driver warranties and maintains measurement transparency using professional B&K equipment. They have created a distinct enthusiast culture around their annual "ZMF November" limited-edition sales.
Look inside the brand
Brand Page
Our interview with the brand
What are two key technological innovations or strong opinions that differ you from other brands?
What's your approach to customer support?
What are your favorite tracks for showcasing the strength of your products?
What other products pair best with yours?
From our interview with
.
Brand Page
Used
ZMF
All of the Brand's Used Products
What if you spend more?
HIFIMAN
HE-R10P
5499
5499
/
8
Reviews
HIFIMAN is a hifi brand known for its planar magnetic headphones that use extremely thin diaphragms and acoustically transparent "Stealth Magnets" to reduce sound distortion. The company pioneered high-resolution portable audio players and creates electrostatic headphones that bring high-end sound quality to more accessible price points, as well as widely renowned flagship models such as the Susvara.
Expand Details
.svg)
Product Strengths
- Sounds big and open for a closed-back headphone, with an impressive soundstage for its type.
- Offers a warm-leaning, smooth, mid-forward sound signature.
- Very good imaging creates an immersive listening experience, and detailed separation of instruments.
- Easy to drive with a low impedance and high sensitivity, making it suitable for use with portable devices.
- The wooden earcups have a large internal space that brings sufficient volume and breathing room to the driver.
Product Considerations
- Build quality may be disappointing for the price, particularly the headband, which is considered cheap compared to other headphones in the price range.
- Comfort can be an issue due to the weight and headband design, which may cause discomfort on the scalp for some users.
- Lacks clamping force, so the weight is felt on the top of the head, and it does not isolate sound very well.
- Treble response might be somewhat softer or less energetic compared to other headphones, which might not appeal to those seeking a more exciting sound.
- One review mentions an issue with a dip around 5kHz and a peak around 10kHz that impacts some instruments, though it is admittedly 'nitpicking'.
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs HIFIMAN HE-R10D: There is a difference in price and sound signature.
- Vs HIFIMAN Susvara: The HE-R10P has less soundstage, the Susvara has more transparency, but the HE-R10P has more mid-bass presence.
- Vs Focal Stellia: The HE-R10P has a larger soundstage and more powerful bass, but Stellia has a safer tuning with a brighter high end.
Takeaway: The HiFiMan HE-R10P is a closed-back planar headphone that delivers exceptional sound quality with remarkable imaging and detail, making music sound lively and fun. Its unique design aims to create an open and spacious listening experience, allowing listeners to enjoy music for hours.
Video review
Our take on the brand
HIFIMAN is a hifi brand known for its planar magnetic headphones that use extremely thin diaphragms and acoustically transparent "Stealth Magnets" to reduce sound distortion. The company pioneered high-resolution portable audio players and creates electrostatic headphones that bring high-end sound quality to more accessible price points, as well as widely renowned flagship models such as the Susvara.
Product Page
Product Page
Subtonic Audio
Storm
5200
5200
/
4
Reviews
Subtonic Audio is a hifi headphone brand recognized for their SLAM dual-armature woofer system, delivering bass extension down to 3 Hz, and their complex 7-way CTRL crossover that splits signals into narrow bands for precise control. Their flagship Storm IEMs showcase hand-enameled faceplates with a two-thirds rejection rate.
Expand Details
Our summary
Product Strengths
- Considered by many as having the best sound achievable in an in-ear headphone, making it an exceptional audio experience
- The sound signature is mostly balanced with tasteful coloration, where the treble imparts a particular element that is potentially preferable
- The midrange is extremely well done
- Features unique SLAM subwoofer, woofer, midwoofer, mid tweeter, tweeter and EST technologies
- Built with Grade 5 titanium, providing sturdiness and high quality
Product Considerations
- Treble performance can be hit or miss depending on the listener's anatomy and HRTF
- Requires more power than typical IEMs, potentially draining the battery of portable audio players
- Shells are on the larger side
- The included cable is nice, but the chin cinch tends to slide down
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Compared to the Hi-Senior Megafest and Dusk Default DSP, the Storm is an editorialized or enhanced version of those IEMs, particularly regarding bass and mids
- Compared to the 64 Audio U6T, it has similar balance with similar tasteful colorations, but Storm's bass is more punchy and the upper treble is more to the reviewer's preference
- Compared to the Empire Ears Odin, the Storm is preferred because the Odin is not as versatile, and the Storm sounds more detailed
- Compared to the Empire Ears Raven, the Storm is more normal in a good way because the Raven has massive bass and a strange lower midrange resonance feature
- Resolution, stage and tonality are better on the Storm compared to Grand Maestro
Takeaway: The Storm is a high-end IEM with exceptional sound quality and great build, even if pricey. It could be worth buying for those who want the best possible audio experience and appreciate a balanced sound with unique features.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Subtonic Audio is a hifi headphone brand recognized for their SLAM dual-armature woofer system, delivering bass extension down to 3 Hz, and their complex 7-way CTRL crossover that splits signals into narrow bands for precise control. Their flagship Storm IEMs showcase hand-enameled faceplates with a two-thirds rejection rate.
Product Page
Product Page
What competes at this price?
HIFIMAN
Isvarna
2899
/
Released
2024
ISVARNA — Premium Open-Back Headphones with Enhanced Bass Response and Precision Crossover Design.
HIFIMAN is a hifi brand known for its planar magnetic headphones that use extremely thin diaphragms and acoustically transparent "Stealth Magnets" to reduce sound distortion. The company pioneered high-resolution portable audio players and creates electrostatic headphones that bring high-end sound quality to more accessible price points, as well as widely renowned flagship models such as the Susvara.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Combines planar magnetic and dynamic drivers to deliver both detail/speed and powerful bass response
- Comfortable for long listening sessions, despite having two drivers per side and a crossover
- Produces clean and detailed sound, with a decent sense of clarity
- Relatively easy to drive compared to other planar magnetic headphones
- Smooth transition between the dynamic and planar drivers, creating a coherent sound
Product Considerations
- Has a mid-bass hump and a roll-off in the sub-bass region, which may not appeal to all listeners or genres
- Treble response may be too energetic for treble-sensitive individuals
- The tuning may not be suitable as an 'all-rounder' headphone for all music genres
- Needs a solid-state amplifier to control the dynamic driver in the low end
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs HiFiMan HE-1000SE: The Isvarna has a wider soundstage, but less height and depth
- Vs HiFiMan ARIA Organic: The Isvarna has more bass
- Vs Kennerton Veneta: The HiFiMan is more bassy for bass heads
Takeaway: The HiFiMan Isvarna is a unique headphone that delivers a fun and engaging listening experience with its hybrid driver design, especially for those who enjoy bass. It is comfortable, relatively easy to drive, and offers a clean and detailed sound.
Video review
Our take on the brand
HIFIMAN is a hifi brand known for its planar magnetic headphones that use extremely thin diaphragms and acoustically transparent "Stealth Magnets" to reduce sound distortion. The company pioneered high-resolution portable audio players and creates electrostatic headphones that bring high-end sound quality to more accessible price points, as well as widely renowned flagship models such as the Susvara.
Product Page
Product Page
Spirit Torino
Radiante
2756
/
Released
Radiante is an unconventional closed headphone. The Radiante project contains a concentration of technological solutions that make it the most advanced closed headphone on the market. This headphone, winner of the Gold Medal at the 2019 Tokyo Headphone Festival, addresses the complex issue of closed musical reproduction using innovative technology.
Spirit Torino is a hifi headphone brand that pioneered the Twin Pulse Isobaric System, which uses two synchronized drivers working as one to deliver speaker-like dynamics and weight uncommon in headphones. The brand follows an "inertial frame" philosophy with heavy, mass-loaded aluminum shells and user-tunable mechanical filters that allow listeners to adjust sound signatures without EQ.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Superb build quality with high-quality materials and Italian styling
- A large soundstage and good imaging create a sense of space beyond the ears
- A deep, full, fast, and refined sound is delivered with detail and energy
- Offers customizability through cable choices and a Partializer Filter to adjust frequency response
Product Considerations
- The Radiante are quite heavy, weighing 460-470g (without cable)
- The headband is poorly padded, making the Radiante uncomfortable for some users
- The passive radiator offers limited passive isolation
- The bass may be excessive for some listeners
- It can be a bit fiddly to adjust the Partializer filters
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs HiFiMAN Jade II: The soundstage on the Jade II is larger, but it is deeper on the Radiante, which also offer better imaging
Takeaway: The Spirit Torino Radiante offers a luxurious and customizable listening experience with a well-crafted design and engaging sound. If someone wants a closed-back headphone that delivers above and beyond in terms of sound, engagement, style, and comfort with the ability to adjust sonic characteristics, the Radiante could be a great choice.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Spirit Torino is a hifi headphone brand that pioneered the Twin Pulse Isobaric System, which uses two synchronized drivers working as one to deliver speaker-like dynamics and weight uncommon in headphones. The brand follows an "inertial frame" philosophy with heavy, mass-loaded aluminum shells and user-tunable mechanical filters that allow listeners to adjust sound signatures without EQ.
Product Page
Product Page
Audio-Technica
ATH-AWKG
4499
/
Released
2024
Since our founding in 1962, we have sought to expand the limits of audio technology, pursuing an ever-changing purity of sound to foster human connections. Still, after six decades of discovery and innovation we felt it was time to take our analog audio exploration to an even higher level. The NARUKAMI series offers premium, boundary-pushing audio experiences, along with the meticulous Japanese craftsmanship that is an Audio-Technica hallmark. Taking its name from the thunder god of Japanese legend, the NARUKAMI series features high-end audio products designed to ignite elemental passions.
Audio-Technica is a Japanese hifi brand that stands out with their Direct Power System phono cartridges, which place coils directly above the stylus tip for faster transients; their Pure Digital Drive wireless headphones that bypass internal DACs; and their proprietary A2DC connector system for more secure connections. The brand maintains exceptional in-house manufacturing depth, with hand-assembled wooden headphones crafted from Japanese woods in Tokyo and phono cartridge production at their Fukui plant.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Video review
Our take on the brand
Audio-Technica is a Japanese hifi brand that stands out with their Direct Power System phono cartridges, which place coils directly above the stylus tip for faster transients; their Pure Digital Drive wireless headphones that bypass internal DACs; and their proprietary A2DC connector system for more secure connections. The brand maintains exceptional in-house manufacturing depth, with hand-assembled wooden headphones crafted from Japanese woods in Tokyo and phono cartridge production at their Fukui plant.
Product Page
Product Page
Fostex
TH1000RP
2532
/
Released
2024
This product is the flagship model of the RP headphone series, carefully assembled in Japan, featuring Fostex's latest advanced RP planar magnetic driver housed in solid wood enclosures dyed with Aizome indigo (a representative Japanese indigo dyeing technique) from Tokushima Prefecture.
Fostex is a hifi headphone brand known for its proprietary 4th-generation RP planar-magnetic drivers, developed over 50+ years, BioDyna biocellulose diaphragms, and hand-finished Urushi lacquered housings on Japanese birch wood. With deep DIY speaker heritage, their T50RP platform has earned unique renown as a modding canvas, supported by extensive community documentation that treats it as a baseline for higher-end builds.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Video review
Our take on the brand
Fostex is a hifi headphone brand known for its proprietary 4th-generation RP planar-magnetic drivers, developed over 50+ years, BioDyna biocellulose diaphragms, and hand-finished Urushi lacquered housings on Japanese birch wood. With deep DIY speaker heritage, their T50RP platform has earned unique renown as a modding canvas, supported by extensive community documentation that treats it as a baseline for higher-end builds.
Product Page
Product Page
oBravo
HAMT-1 MKII
4749
/
Released
Ultimate comfort. Stress-free and stylish Realism. Experience the deep acoustic field of Hi-Fi speakers
oBravo is a hifi headphone and IEM brand recognized for its coaxial two-way architecture that places AMT tweeters at the acoustic center of dynamic drivers, creating speaker-like scale and separation in headphones. The brand features user-tunable airflow systems, aggressive miniaturization of AMT technology, and semi-open voicing that delivers amphitheater-scale staging rarely found in in-ear designs.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Video review
Our take on the brand
oBravo is a hifi headphone and IEM brand recognized for its coaxial two-way architecture that places AMT tweeters at the acoustic center of dynamic drivers, creating speaker-like scale and separation in headphones. The brand features user-tunable airflow systems, aggressive miniaturization of AMT technology, and semi-open voicing that delivers amphitheater-scale staging rarely found in in-ear designs.
Product Page
Product Page
Questions? Ask the brand's dealers.
All Dealers
How to buy
Headphones
Search all hifi products
Explore our database of 10,000+ new and 25,000+ used hifi products.
.png)
