Short answer: the ZMF Caldera. It ranks #213 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $3,499.99; the Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 ranks #303, rated 3.2/5, at $3,499. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
The ZMF Caldera is the better-sounding pick. The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 2.42 dB spread. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 4.5 dB low with a 9.5 dB dip near 9.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Why pick the Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 3.6 dB low with a 10.1 dB dip near 5.0 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the ZMF Caldera. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $0.99 you would save on the Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 does not close the gap.
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The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 2.42 dB spread.
ZMF Headphones $3,499.99 eBay
Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural.
Amazon $3,499.00 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| ZMF Caldera | Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,499.99 | $3,499.00 |
| Ranked | #213 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #303 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 80mm planar magnetic | 1 x 58mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 60 ohms | 490 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 95 dB/mW | 100 dB/mW |
| Weight | 490 - 1.2 lbs (550 g) | 0.6 lbs (275 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 65 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.42 dB standard deviation | 2.59 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.60 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.07 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-4.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 34 Hz (-7.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Frequency Response | - | 5Hz - 50kHz |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the ZMF Caldera from kr0mka, kuulokenurkka, listener, therollo9 and vsg; the Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 from aden, gadgetrytech, ish, kuulokenurkka and listener, all via squig.link.
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