Marcus reviews the ZMF Headphones BOKEH Open, a new open-back 80Ω dynamic driver headphone with a SpectraPly Birch wood cup finish. They are currently priced at $999.99.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or status. I thank ZMF Headphones for this opportunity.
You can click here to learn more about the ZMF Headphones products I have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
This article follows our latest scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
The wood-finished ZMF Headphones BOKEH Open is a beautiful-looking and spacious-sounding dynamic driver set of headphones.
Not for the reference heads or micro-detail fans, the focus here is on delivering a balanced and natural tonal quality, making it a very flexible headphone for a wide range of musical preferences.
As sure as there is a closed-back BOKEH, an open version is never that far away. Those who know and love ZMF Headphones understand the time-honored drill.
The closed-back BOKEH was marketed for those who wanted a taste of what ZMF can do, but with a lighter load for modest amplification, and a more affordable price.
It benefited from a range of trickle-down technologies normally reserved for ZMF’s high-end gear, such as the Atrium Damping System, and has a more efficient 80Ω 50mm LCP dynamic driver.
The BOKEH Open has all of that, but logically, in a more open acoustic environment, and cheaper by $100 with a retail price of $999.99.
It looks great, offering a smoother, more balanced sound signature than the bassier BOKEH Closed, and may well hit the sweet spot for potential first-time buyers of ZMF Headphones.
It’s not alone at this price point or slightly above or below. Dan Clark Audio also launched their impressive NOIRE XO, and you cannot discount the pull of Sennheiser’s last sub-$1k release, the HD 660S2.
So, how does the BOKEH Open perform and compete against the closed version and some of the competition? I found out in my full review below.
Features
The ZMF Headphones BOKEH Open is a full-sized circumaural open-back headphone weighing 480g.
It utilizes a 50mm LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) dynamic driver with a lighter (fewer windings) voice coil, rated at 80Ω, and the company’s patented internal Atrium damping system for optimized airflow resistance.
Given the shared driver and damping architecture, it is no surprise then that the BOKEH Open has the same 80Ω impedance and 103 dB/mW SPL rating as its closed-back sibling.
Therefore, whatever drives the closed-back version well will also provide a suitable level of amplification for the BOKEH Open. The only key change is the tuning and open environment, which may affect your choice of amp.
True to ZMF Headphones’ tuning philosophy, the BOKEH Open also offers swappable pad options in hybrid protein leather/suede and Suede HD, as well as a choice of internal mesh filters; all designed to deliver a variety of sounds to suit your needs.
Design
I am going to sound like a broken record, but honestly, the BOKEH Open is another gorgeous-looking wood-finished headphone from ZMF.
Of course, it’s a different look to the closed-back BOKEH, with an open cup face, but even here, it doesn’t adhere to conformity, offering a unique mix of colored and layered Birch SpectraPly wood with a dark grain effect and a Purpleheart-patterned grill as its centerpiece.
It perfectly complements the hue from the BOKEH closed Claret edition, one of which I have right here beside the BOKEH Open.
You can also get the BOKEH Open in an Emberstone finish with a golden coloration and a more circular, black-finished grill if you prefer a lighter tone to your wood finish.
The BOKEH Open form factor subjectively looks slightly smaller than the closed-back version, primarily due to the open-back design doing away with the need to have that Caldera Delta styled bump in the middle of the cups.
The overall cup shape is also a bit more refined, not as angular or as ovoid in shape as the closed version. It makes for a slightly more conventional-looking cup shape.
However, the pad shapes and dimensions are much the same, meaning you won’t really feel much of a difference due to the cup shape, save for a marginally looser lateral clamp.
The changes in the BOKEH Open material and frame structure from the ZMF high-end options remain unchanged from the closed version. That means thick gimbal rings and anodized black aluminum katana sheath design pivot blocks, which I find quite sleek and attractive.
Comfort
The BOKEH Open is a very comfortable headphone to wear, at least for my head shape. The pressure balance is spot on, perhaps more so than the closed-back, courtesy of what subjectively feels like a slightly reduced lateral clamping sensation.
Being an open-back, there is no isolation, but I found it fun to switch between it and the closed-back to notice the difference. The closed-back is excellent in that regard, but it also brings home just how ‘open’ the BOKEH Open is.
There also seems to be a small change in the headband structure of the BOKEH Open compared to the closed variant. I see a slightly wider headband with more concentrated memory foam underneath, though the pressure strap system seems unchanged.
The BOKEH Open is fitted as stock with the Caldera Hybrid Ultra Perf pads. These are a mix of protein outer and suede inner, and perforated all over. The closed version pads only have perforations on the contact surface.
Along with a fluted finish and off-center wedge shape, they provide a wide opening, angled to the base of the inner cavity to fit most ears, including mine. They also never really seem to accumulate sweat over longer listening periods.
They can still be tricky to swap manually. Thankfully, ZMF has provided a new adapter ring that you can place under the pad walls to assist in quickly changing pads.
To be honest, I didn’t need the ring for pad changing on the BOKEH Open. It felt quicker and easier than the closed-back version for some unknown reason.
Pad Choices
You can also opt for a ZMF Caldera Ultra-Perf Suede perforated pad option, which will create a slightly different tactile feel on your head, as well as change the tuning of the BOKEH Open a bit.
Like the protein leather variant, the Caldera Ultra-Perf Suede pads have a fluted, angular inner cavity, a slightly shallower depth, but are top-perforated only as opposed to wholly perforated. For me, these are the most balanced and open-sounding and likely the pads you should start with.
The suede pads feel very comfortable with zero sweat after long listening sessions. They also alter the sound signature with a drop in bass presence relative to the other pad performances, creating a slightly lighter, softer, vocal-first presentation.
Of course, the closed-back Caldera Thin Protein pads will still fit on the BOKEH Open, so if you plan on having both headphones, that increases your pad variation options.
Because of the reduced perforation and lack of suede, they are a little fuller-sounding with stronger dynamics compared to the more open and slightly airier Caldera Hybrid Ultra Perf perforation versions.
Stock Cables
The BOKEH Open comes with the same cable choices as the closed-back version, which means you have access to a 4.4mm terminated option, an increasingly popular choice for desktop amps, as well as the current default choice for most portable amp users.
Inside is an insulated copper wire with a twisted nylon two-tone jacket finish and a black-finished aluminum funnel-type splitter. It’s 5.5ft long and fairly lightweight now, courtesy of the 3.5mm connector plugs and 4.4mm Pentaconn plug on the other end.
The jacket does have a tiny bit of memory retention, but it’s more of a slight wavy effect than outright curls. Microphonics are not as noticeable from this cable on the BOKEH Open compared to the closed-cup acoustics of the BOKEH.
The jacket has the same twisted gold and black braiding, giving it a fresh and brighter look compared to the all-grey 5.5ft 6.35mm variant that also came with my sample (4-pin XLR is also an option).
I would still like to see a bit more refinement regarding the insulation take around the barrels. If ZMF could come up with internal strain relief and branded aluminum barrels similar to the splitter, the cable would look a little more refined.
Packaging & Accessories
ZMF has cut down on the size of the BOKEH Open shipping box, and it is now much smaller than the version I received the BOKEH Closed in.
The headphones are now packed into the carry case by default and in a fairly form-fitting brown box with the usual ZMF Headphones branding on the outside.
This is the same classy semi-hard clamshell carrying case that initially came as an optional add-on with the BOKEH Closed, but is now in the box by default, so kudos to ZMF for adding value to the packaging.
The case is a stylish, low-profile, but wide tanned leatherette case specifically designed to fit the BOKEH Open (and closed).
The insides of the case are faux fur-lined with enough space in a mesh upper to carry your cables or additional pads without any space issues.
The outer is a hardshell zipper finish with a small handle at the top, so I would be confident enough to carry them around without any concerns about accidental damage.
Aside from that, you also get your cable choice in a velvet black branded pouch, a black cleaning cloth, your owner’s card, and a lifetime driver warranty card.
Click on page 2 below for my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
