My first listen to the Caldera was on my work system that includes the Schitt Lyr3 hybrid tube amp and the SMSL SP400 THX-888-AAA amp. On the Lyr3 the Caldera was initially, that is, immediately engagingly and smile inducing. It’s basic traits were on display. The Caldera is chill, relaxed even, that is, it seems to handle anything with aplomb. The soundstage was moderately wide and had some layering/depth. The frequency response seemed flatter than other ZMF headphones in my collection (more on that later). Detail retrieval and resolving capability is a core strength of the Caldera. Planar dynamics and speed were apparent. Bass dynamics were excellent with no loss in resolution. Also at work I had the Atrium and the Caldrea was more extended in the bass, not as warm in the mid bass, and more extended in the highs. That basically sums up the “flatter” frequency response. The Atrium is warm and fuzzy without losing detail it that makes any sense. The Caldera is somewhat similar without being as warm and fuzzy. Anyway, the Caldera and the Atrium are closer in sonic signature than the Caldera is to the Verite Closed.
Switching to the SMSL SP400 amp the Caldera immediately showed the difference in the upstream components. And that is another core characteristic of the Caldera, it very clearly reveals what is going on with the rest of the system. The exposure of sonic differences in amps especially is not ruthless, it’s chill, the Caldera just plainly presents the differences as dispassionate facts. The Lyr3 is warmer, has a more lush midrange, and is more dynamic than the SP400 and the Caldera made that more obvious than any other headphone I’ve ever heard. Also, compared to the Atrium the Caldera is much less isolating, it’s a more open open back headphone. That is, outside noise is more obvious, but that is not unusual for a planar headphone. This is made more apparent by another core strength of the Caldera and that is a dead silent noise floor. The headphone itself has seemingly no noise of it’s own. That may seem a bit nutty but the background is just more quiet on the Caldera than anything else I’ve heard.
Going home I tried the Caldera on the Cayin HA-6A, the Schitt Jotenheim, and the Toppping A90 and compared it to the ZMF Verite Closed, the Audeze LCD-X, and the Fostex TH-909 headphones.
On the Cayin HA-6A (with stock tubes), which is freaking magical with the Verite Closed (VC), the Caldera proved less than that. Still totally amazing, and better than the Lyr3, but the pairing did not have the synergy that the VC enjoys. It’s as if the HA-6A had a harder time driving the Caldera than the VC, which does make sense. The Caldera desires current more than voltage and the HA-6A is a tube amp. Regardless, power is a great friend to the Caldera and the HA-6A has power. Compared to the VC on the HA-6A the Caldera soundstage was wider than tall (VC was taller) and wider overall than the VC although the VC soundstage is wide for a closed back. There is space around every instrument and vocalist on the Caldera, more so than the VC; everything has room to breathe. The Caldera preferred ultralinear mode and medium impedance whereas the VC preferred triode mode and high impedance. The Caldera is more resolving than the VC, but not necessarily because it’s more detailed. Fundamentally, the VC is more colored than the Caldera. The VC injects more of itself into the music. The Caldera just presents what it is being fed with less color commentary. If the music is beautiful the Caldera is beautiful and the relaxed nonplussed presentation is great for complex, sonically dense recordings. The Caldera just gives everything room, a space to exist, and presents the elements with a naturalistic calm. I’m not sure anything can ruffle the Caldera’s feathers as it were. The headphone is so capable, it has so much reserve capacity, it just effortlessly goes with the flow. The VC is, however, more emotionally engaging, more incisive, and more textured (more gravel in a gravely voice). Bass on the VC is stronger and there is a sustained bass subtext present in the VC that is lacking in the Caldera. These characteristics of the VC are colors imposed on the music; I like it, but the Caldera is more neutral. The VC is so detailed and aggressive that at times this combines with its closed back design to make the music sound congested, which never happens with the Caldera.
On the HA-6A the Fostex TH-909 are dynamic, bass rich (downright powerful), and as detailed as all get out. The Caldera cannot match the bass of the TH-909 but is not as aggressively detailed. The TH-909 is an excellent headphone, truly, but the Caldera is easier to listen to for a wider array of music. The TH-909 can be fatiguing, it’s a Corvette sports car at full throttle. Caldera is more adaptable. The Caldera is a Bentley Continental Super Sport.
Switching to the Schitt Jotenheim, which is magical with the Audeze LCD-X, the Caldera was very good but did not pair as well with the amp. By that I mean the Caldera exposed the amp for being what it is whereas the LCD-X matches it’s strengths. Being planar the Caldera and the LCD-X shared a quality of presentation, a snappiness, a density of sound typical of planar drivers. Akin to the VC, the LCD-X is colored and the Caldera is much less so. On the Joteheim the LCD-X actually reminds me of the VC in that the presentation is bass rich, incisive, and highly detailed but can get congested and is on the artificially engaging side of neutrality.
Finally, on the Topping A90D, which is taking a beating by some reviewers of late, the Caldera is really good. On the balanced output for max power the Caldera is powerful, super dynamic, clear, bass rich, and highly detailed. The soundstage seemed to shrink a bit in width or at least get more confused compared to the HA-6A or the Lyr3 and the midrange was not a luscious. The presentation is more forward on the A90D than on the tube amps, closer to the performers. There does seem to be a shimmery veil or a sheen (whatever that means) to the Topping A90D that the Caldera shows more plainly than any other headphone but overall the pairing is not bad at all. Clearly, the Caldera loves power. I’m for sure interested in a super powerful super good sounding solid state amp to pair with the Caldera.
For what it’s worth I prefer the suede pads to the thick type lambskin pads. I think it is both more comfortable and better sounding. There can be no doubt that the Caldera is a top flight headphone. Reviewers have had a bit of a hard time describing it’s sound. I think this because it is so effortlessly and calmly revealing that it just gets out of the way, but in fashion that does not neglect to deliver amazing sonics. The Caldera has few, if any, weaknesses. It’s not ruler flat neutral, but neither does it deviate as much into euphoric color as does the VC or the Atrium. Being designed about the same time, and sharing some technology with the Atrium, the Caldera is more akin to that than to the VC. I’m happy to have all three. The oak finish also looks (and smells!) fantastic. Can’t recommend the Caldera enough.
Switching to the SMSL SP400 amp the Caldera immediately showed the difference in the upstream components. And that is another core characteristic of the Caldera, it very clearly reveals what is going on with the rest of the system. The exposure of sonic differences in amps especially is not ruthless, it’s chill, the Caldera just plainly presents the differences as dispassionate facts. The Lyr3 is warmer, has a more lush midrange, and is more dynamic than the SP400 and the Caldera made that more obvious than any other headphone I’ve ever heard. Also, compared to the Atrium the Caldera is much less isolating, it’s a more open open back headphone. That is, outside noise is more obvious, but that is not unusual for a planar headphone. This is made more apparent by another core strength of the Caldera and that is a dead silent noise floor. The headphone itself has seemingly no noise of it’s own. That may seem a bit nutty but the background is just more quiet on the Caldera than anything else I’ve heard.
Going home I tried the Caldera on the Cayin HA-6A, the Schitt Jotenheim, and the Toppping A90 and compared it to the ZMF Verite Closed, the Audeze LCD-X, and the Fostex TH-909 headphones.
On the Cayin HA-6A (with stock tubes), which is freaking magical with the Verite Closed (VC), the Caldera proved less than that. Still totally amazing, and better than the Lyr3, but the pairing did not have the synergy that the VC enjoys. It’s as if the HA-6A had a harder time driving the Caldera than the VC, which does make sense. The Caldera desires current more than voltage and the HA-6A is a tube amp. Regardless, power is a great friend to the Caldera and the HA-6A has power. Compared to the VC on the HA-6A the Caldera soundstage was wider than tall (VC was taller) and wider overall than the VC although the VC soundstage is wide for a closed back. There is space around every instrument and vocalist on the Caldera, more so than the VC; everything has room to breathe. The Caldera preferred ultralinear mode and medium impedance whereas the VC preferred triode mode and high impedance. The Caldera is more resolving than the VC, but not necessarily because it’s more detailed. Fundamentally, the VC is more colored than the Caldera. The VC injects more of itself into the music. The Caldera just presents what it is being fed with less color commentary. If the music is beautiful the Caldera is beautiful and the relaxed nonplussed presentation is great for complex, sonically dense recordings. The Caldera just gives everything room, a space to exist, and presents the elements with a naturalistic calm. I’m not sure anything can ruffle the Caldera’s feathers as it were. The headphone is so capable, it has so much reserve capacity, it just effortlessly goes with the flow. The VC is, however, more emotionally engaging, more incisive, and more textured (more gravel in a gravely voice). Bass on the VC is stronger and there is a sustained bass subtext present in the VC that is lacking in the Caldera. These characteristics of the VC are colors imposed on the music; I like it, but the Caldera is more neutral. The VC is so detailed and aggressive that at times this combines with its closed back design to make the music sound congested, which never happens with the Caldera.
On the HA-6A the Fostex TH-909 are dynamic, bass rich (downright powerful), and as detailed as all get out. The Caldera cannot match the bass of the TH-909 but is not as aggressively detailed. The TH-909 is an excellent headphone, truly, but the Caldera is easier to listen to for a wider array of music. The TH-909 can be fatiguing, it’s a Corvette sports car at full throttle. Caldera is more adaptable. The Caldera is a Bentley Continental Super Sport.
Switching to the Schitt Jotenheim, which is magical with the Audeze LCD-X, the Caldera was very good but did not pair as well with the amp. By that I mean the Caldera exposed the amp for being what it is whereas the LCD-X matches it’s strengths. Being planar the Caldera and the LCD-X shared a quality of presentation, a snappiness, a density of sound typical of planar drivers. Akin to the VC, the LCD-X is colored and the Caldera is much less so. On the Joteheim the LCD-X actually reminds me of the VC in that the presentation is bass rich, incisive, and highly detailed but can get congested and is on the artificially engaging side of neutrality.
Finally, on the Topping A90D, which is taking a beating by some reviewers of late, the Caldera is really good. On the balanced output for max power the Caldera is powerful, super dynamic, clear, bass rich, and highly detailed. The soundstage seemed to shrink a bit in width or at least get more confused compared to the HA-6A or the Lyr3 and the midrange was not a luscious. The presentation is more forward on the A90D than on the tube amps, closer to the performers. There does seem to be a shimmery veil or a sheen (whatever that means) to the Topping A90D that the Caldera shows more plainly than any other headphone but overall the pairing is not bad at all. Clearly, the Caldera loves power. I’m for sure interested in a super powerful super good sounding solid state amp to pair with the Caldera.
For what it’s worth I prefer the suede pads to the thick type lambskin pads. I think it is both more comfortable and better sounding. There can be no doubt that the Caldera is a top flight headphone. Reviewers have had a bit of a hard time describing it’s sound. I think this because it is so effortlessly and calmly revealing that it just gets out of the way, but in fashion that does not neglect to deliver amazing sonics. The Caldera has few, if any, weaknesses. It’s not ruler flat neutral, but neither does it deviate as much into euphoric color as does the VC or the Atrium. Being designed about the same time, and sharing some technology with the Atrium, the Caldera is more akin to that than to the VC. I’m happy to have all three. The oak finish also looks (and smells!) fantastic. Can’t recommend the Caldera enough.
