Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Thanks to SJY & Apos Audio for the loan of Zeph!

Buy from Apos Audio (affiliate link): https://apos.audio/products/sjy-zeph-open-back-planar-magnetic-headphones?sca_ref=1448954.julYPU81dF

My Horizon Closed Carbon review: youtu.be/8UOM3K_VLDc

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Test Gear...

All music was digital in lossless or hi-rez FLAC or DSD formats either played locally or streamed from Qobuz (FLAC only), all through Roon.

Chain 1...

Sonore opticalRendu Deluxe Edition (review coming) USB output into Berkeley Alpha USB DDC (youtu.be/94AvDeeRjHA) AES output into Berkeley Alpha S2 DAC (youtu.be/JY3c4HEyH0s) then XLR output into LTA Z10e (youtu.be/Bft6HUsYDhE)

Chain 2...

Chord 2Go+2Yu streamer/ddc (youtu.be/S3O7JNOJIqI) BNC coax output into Ferrum WANLDA GSE (youtu.be/Qh1b-XFH7R8) XLR output to Jensen ISO MAX PC-2XR XLR-to-RCA transformer then into Schiit Lyr 5 (review coming!)

Chain 3...

FiiO SR11 streamer (youtu.be/YuagbK8p0FA) USB output into FiiO Warmer R2R DAC (youtu.be/7gL2kCq2KyY) XLR output to Schiit Jotunheim 3 headphone amp (youtu.be/GhLNMFzcr74)

Compared Headphones...

Hedd D1: youtu.be/VEMQwuZDVBs
HiFiMan Ananda Unveiled: youtu.be/fd6eJp109Bk
HiFiMan Arya Unveiled: youtu.be/g9B2N6YhJBk

Timestamps...

00:00 Intro, Pricing, Disclaimer
01:20 Shameless Self Promotion
01:53 About the Zeph
04:53 Drivability
06:25 Fit & Comfort
07:50 BIG Quirks: Cabling & Pad Build
17:54 Sound & Comparisons
25:50 Wrap-Up