Let me introduce you to
Zach Mehrbach Founder of ZMF Headphones
Zach is not this serious in real life he was just hamming it up for the photos
But, that was not the end of this story… as I couldn’t get the Verite Open sound out of my head… and I ordered a Verite Open.
Also, not the end of this story ha.. as I then had the opportunity to have the Verite Closed for a month before it was even released to the public via the same friend I heard the Verite Open from.
I had to have it… but, I wanted something special and the answer is always no until you ask… so I asked Zach if he could do a Purple Burst colorway similar to the way he did one of his first headphones the ZMF T50 modded version with purple burst color. Zach in his natural kindness said lets see what can be done … so a couple of months later I flew out to ZMFestivus II in Chicago to pick up my Verite Closed not knowing what it would look like… and so after meeting Zach and Bevin in person cemented in me a great respect for everything they do! After watching them interact with everyone with kindness and respect and a genuineness that is rare in most situations. Also, the Verite Closed that Zach created is absolutely gorgeous piece of both art and acoustic beauty… which cemented in my love of all things purple in the audio space lol.
I first met Zach through email due to the “need” to have one of his headphones. I first heard a ZMF at a good friend’s house and that headphone was the Verite Open… which at the time was way out of my self imposed price range, but I had to have a ZMF! So I ordered the Aeolus B-stock… and was not disappointed.
Above image is a link to ZMFHeadphones.com
My Verite Closed after opening up the case for the first time… I was floored!
Also, one might say I developed an addiction to all things ZMF lol… but, I think I just found the headphone brand that just speaks to everything I want in a headphone both in sound, build, aesthetics, and artistry… ZMF headphones are pieces of ART in my opinion and I love them. Biases worn on my sleeve, I hope I’ve somewhat explained my opinion regarding this fantastic brand and people… they are the some of the most beautiful kind and genuine people I have had the good fortune to meet and dare I say call friends.
Not my entire collection and some are loaners/demo units… but you get the idea
But, enough of my ranting… lets get to Zachs Q&A so you can get to know him just a little bit better!
Without further ado some questions and answers with Zach Mehrbach:
Q: What album/songs do you use to evaluate your headphones?
A: I have a playlist - see below - I honestly am so sick of these songs and many times just sit exploring for a few hours after measurements are done for that R/D round:
Q: What album/songs would you include with your headphones if you could?
A: Ben Harper's Fight For Your Mind, Glass Animals, Danny Knicely did an album with Will Lee that I absolutely love the recording of. It’s just the two of them, maybe it is called "Trees Roots and Branches"
Fight For Your Mind by Ben Harper (songwhip.com) / Glass Animals by Glass Animals (songwhip.com) / Roots & Branches by Danny Knicely (songwhip.com)
Q: Current favorite song/album?
A: I’m listening to a lot of old Blind Willie Johnson right now, not really audiophile stuff. Also, some of the acoustic RL Burnside stuff and some of his son’s stuff as well as I just bought tickets to see his son, Cedric Burnside. I have also been into "Feed Me" lately, and some of that nasty dubstep stuff.
Blind Willie Johnson (songwhip.com) / Acoustic Stories by R.L. Burnside (songwhip.com) / Cedric Burnside (songwhip.com) / Feed Me (songwhip.com)
Q: What headphone do you listen to the most that isn’t one of your headphones?
A: Meze Elite and HD800 with ZMF pads get a lot of time!
Q: Current favorite audio chain (DAC/analog-amp-transducer)?
A: I love my L0rdGwyn Air Mountain, it’s a 45-based tube amp. That through an EAD DSP 7000 or 9000 is really just amazing.
Q: What do you do to relax that isn’t audio related/or what is some of your hobbies?
A: Baseball, watching or playing, NBA basketball, playing Acoustic guitar, watching horror films, and exercise when I have free time. Trying to sign up for a tennis class this winter.
Q: If you were going to have a small hangout 3-5 people, what musicians/artists/famous people would you invite (even those that are no longer with us)?
A: Urhghgh...probably Muddy Waters, Ryne Duren (baseball pitcher who had a crazy career), Larry David, Todd Barry annnnnddddd.....Nathan Fielder. I like dry comedy what can I say!
Q: If you could go anywhere tomorrow for a week, where would you go?
A: Honestly probably the ZMF workshop, I love making headphones and I love to work!
Q: What made you start ZMF?
A: I like building things and wanted to make myself the type of headphone I always wanted that was like the vintage guitars and banjos I always lusted after!
Q: Quick Bio write up about yourself?
A: Zach Mehrbach, 39, hails from Boston and grew up in Lyme, New Hampshire. He initially aspired to play professional baseball but sustained an injury during his senior year at Eastern CT State University, which, in hindsight, turned out to be a blessing. He decided to pursue his passion for film directing and obtained a masters degree from Columbia College in Chicago. Zach began his career as a teacher at Columbia but later left due to a contractual change that significantly reduced his income, falling below $25K per year at the time in 2015.
Today, Zach, along with his wife Bevin and their adorable dog Evie, runs ZMF headphones. Besides his work, he enjoys playing the acoustic guitar, banjo, participating in mens league baseball, and searching for gluten-free treats.
Zach Mehrbach
P.S. Just realized I forgot an album that I couldnt think of last night - "These 13" Jimbo Mathus / Andrew Bird : These 13 by Jimbo Mathus, Andrew Bird (songwhip.com)
Zach Mehrbach
I’ll create links to these songs at a later date… sorry for the inconvenience at this time.
