Verum 2

Verum 2 : Forged in a War zone

The Verum 2 builds upon five years of community feedback and engineering advancements. Designed to transcend its price category and compete with flagship models, the Verum 2 aims to deliver an uncompromising planar magnetic experience.

So does it deliver on this promise? Let’s find out.

I have been listening to the Verum2 for more than a month now and comparing it with various headphones in my collection, I will say upfront its styling and tuning won’t suit everyone but for me and those who like a collection of unique headphones, especially at this price, it should be one to add to your collection.

The Elephant in the Listening Room

Before diving into the sound, build, and technology of the Verum 2, it is necessary to address the context surrounding its creation. The Verum 2 is the work of Garuspik, a controversial figure in the headphone community, whose past behavior has sparked justified criticism. While his previous model, the Verum 1, was widely regarded as an exceptional performer, it was overshadowed by troubling comments and actions that alienated many.

I have worked with many Ukranians and Russians over the past few years, and they can be very abrasive especially when under pressure and I cannot imagine a more stressful environment to try to build a headphone company than within a warzone, but that should not excuse his past behavior.

However, this review will focus on the product itself rather than the creator. I believe that this headphone deserves to be judged on its own merit, while also acknowledging the hope that past missteps have led to growth and lessons learned.

With that addressed, let’s get into the details of the Verum 2, starting with probably the weakest part of the experience for me the unboxing.

Unboxing

So, I heard previously of issues with the delivery of the original Verum 1, but my heart sank when I opened the door and was handed this box with the Verum 2:

I quickly open it up and thankfully there was enough wrapping around the Verum 2 that it was not damaged in the shipping.

The cable that mine came with is fine but nothing special, I didn’t use this cable:

While I love that every penny was saved for the headphone itself, I feel maybe adding $50 to the overall price and using a higher quality box and possible UPS or FedEx shipping would remove any danger of the headphone being damaged in shipping. As you will see the headphone itself deserves a better box.

Note: There was a “Kit offering” which I now regret not opting for via the kickstarter campaign, which included alternative cables, a second set of earpads (hybrid ones) and a carry box.

But with this aspect out of the way lets get into the good stuff:

Build, Design and Comfort

The Verum 2 is a striking headphone, available in five distinct colors: Pearl, Yellow, Red, Kickstarter Green, and Black.

My unit, in Pearl, exhibits a sleek, slightly retro steam punk aesthetic that combines industrial durability with a refined finish:

When the kickstarter launched I was watching the Arcane TV show and I fell that the overall look of Verum 2 would work perfectly in that show. I thought it would make a nice unusual headphone for my collection, and I was not disappointed this headphone looks better in person than these photos show:

But I would imagine this look will not be for everyone:

The hardened steel headband, powder-coated metal components, and shockproof ABS cups already suggest much more longevity to this headphone over the Verum 1:

I love the mechanical design of the headband adjustment mechanism combined with the extension allowing great flexibility both supporting various head sizes and supporting angled earpads without uneven pressure around your ears:

There is a foam material behind the metal frame that I imagine protects driver from the outside, but I feel might deteriorate over time so that might be a problem and possible a weak point in this design:

I love the detail in and around the connector:

The overall weight is 450 grams which considering the amount of metal in the design is reasonable:

Overall, once you adjust the headphone it does feel very comfortable wearing for long periods:

Technology & Engineering

At the core of the Verum 2 is a very large 105mm planar magnetic driver, which incorporates several advancements over the Verum 1, this information is derived from the Kickstarter page:

• Ultrathin diaphragm: At just 2.5µm, the new membrane is ten times thinner than its predecessor, significantly reducing mass and improving transient response.

• Silver conductive traces: Unlike the aluminum traces of the Verum 1, the Verum 2 employs silver, offering better conductivity and reliability.

• Enhanced magnet structure: Featuring 44 rare-earth neodymium magnets (up from 28 in the Verum 1), the Verum 2 generates a more powerful and uniform magnetic field, improving efficiency and dynamic control.

• Bass-reflex port system: A unique addition, these ports within the earpads enhance sub-bass response below 70Hz while also improving ventilation, addressing one of the common limitations of planar magnetic headphones.

As you will see in the measurements section this bass performance also works exceptionally well if you wear glasses providing a slightly boosted bass.

• Magnetic Earpads Another unique solution I loved with the Verum 2 is how simple and ingenious the metal ring used for the Earpads:

This metal ring makes super easy to attach to the earpads that are roughly 100mm in size and makes swap earpads very easy, but I found the stock angled earpads were very comfortable.

Ultimately, while I did swap earpads many times and even found some sonic benefits using alternative earpads, I continued to use the stock angled ones with a little bit of EQ to my personal tastes:

But I would love Verum Audio to sell the metal rings separately as I am someone who does like to swap pads regularly, and it would be nice to quickly A/B test different earpads.

I actually found my perforated angled sheepskin earpads were a good alternative though they lack the bass port so provide a more neutral sound:

Sound Performance

The Verum 2 is designed to challenge the notion that price dictates quality, and in practice, it succeeds though it does provide a more midrange vocal forward tuning which might not suit everyone. I know some people can hear this type of tuning as “shouty” and possible ’nasally’ but I mostly found it worked well for most of my reference indie rock and folk playlist and a nice addition to some of the other planars that I have been listening to recently.

Though this is a very competitive market with some exceptional planars like Hifiman Sundara and the FiiO FT1 Pro been the most obvious competitors to the Verum 2.

Bass

Unlike many planar headphones that rely on EQ to achieve deep bass, the Verum 2 delivers sub-bass naturally, thanks to its innovative bass-reflex system. While the tuning leans slightly cool in its tonality—lacking a bit of warmth in the mid-bass region—it never feels thin or anaemic. Instead, it offers definition and texture that allow basslines to sing without muddying the rest of the spectrum.

Track 1: “Royals” by Lorde — The sub-bass presence is clean, controlled, and atmospheric, emphasizing the track’s minimal yet deep rhythm section.

Track 2: “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley (Live) — The low-end textures of the live guitar and subtle bass lines carry a delicate clarity that underlines the headphone’s ability to portray natural timbre with extension.

Mids

This is where the Verum 2 steps confidently into the spotlight. The midrange is forward and engaging, offering remarkable vocal presence and acoustic clarity. It reminded me in some ways of high-end Focal headphones, where detail and intimacy walk hand-in-hand. Instruments are vivid, lifelike, and never veiled, although some may find this forwardness bordering on analytical in the wrong chain.

Track 1: “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton (Unplugged) — Clapton’s vocal and acoustic work sound tactile and haunting, with every string pluck rendered in detail.

Treble

Treble is detailed, resolving, and airy—but also slightly hot for my personal taste. Out of the box, I found the upper frequencies a bit too elevated, especially on long listening sessions. I ended up lowering the treble slightly using EQ to bring it closer to my preferred darker tuning. That said, treble lovers and those seeking microdetail will likely be thrilled.

Track 1: “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck Quartet — The cymbals shimmer with precision and energy, but on louder volumes, can verge on sharp without adjustment.

Soundstage & Imaging

The soundstage is good but not as wide as my more “soundstage” focused headphones like the Edition XS. But I think this tuning can help with imaging provided a very nice layered experience especially with rock and pop music as it increase a sense of depth rather than width.

Track 1: “Hotel California (Live Acoustic)” by Eagles — You can trace the positioning of guitars relative to vocals with perceived accuracy.

Track 2: “Redemption” by Dermot Kennedy — The intimate production and vocal layering take full advantage of the Verum 2’s imaging strengths within its moderately wide, but highly controlled stage.

Comparisons & Value

At approximately €400 (€300 if you managed to get one like I did via the Kickstarter), the Verum 2 occupies an aggressive price point in the planar magnetic market. Competing models, such as the Hifiman Sundara, Audeze MM-100 and since the Kickstarter was launched the Verum 2 also has a new competitor with the FiiO FT1 Pro.

Here is the Verum 2 with some of my other recent ‘artisanal’ headphones that I have reviewed though these are much more expensive with the Mirph1 being double the price and the Modhouse tungsten 4 times is 4 times the price.

Build quality compares well with both the Modhouse Tungsten and the Mirph1, the metal work especially on the Verum2 makes it stand out which is pretty incredible given its €300 price tag:

The earpads on all three of these headphones make nice contrasts. I personally like larger “round” internal shape to earcups as I feel this allows me to move the headphone on my head without affecting but the deep angled shape of the Verum 2 is still very nice and comfortable headphone:

The earpads have a similar size to the Tungstens, but I would probably take the Modhouse Tungsten more neutral midrange tuning over the Verum 2 with EQ:

With a little EQ, I think the Verum 2 compares very well much more expensive headphones.

Specifications and Measurements

Measurements

Note: The following measurements were taken with my KB501X soft ear Pinna and a 711 clone coupler. They are available on my measurement database here.

Frequency Response

So in the FR you can see that midrange forward nature of the Verum 2:

For comparison here are my measurements adjusted for my and compared with my HD600:

I spotted that @Ludoo over on SBAF measured his Verum2 on his flat measurement rig and compared it to his HD600:

Obviously different rigs will generate different results, but I hope the 2 graphs above shows the relative differences between the Verum 2 and a HD600, mainly the sub-bass extension and that forward midrange area.

Here is a comparison using the alternative “perforated” earpads which I used for several days on the Verum 2: I highlight a few areas - mostly to show that earpads can make a huge difference in the sound profile you get:

1. The sub-bass is much better with the “Bass port” on the stock pads
2. The midrange is much closer to harman with the perforated pads
3. The treble can get boosted with these earpads

So while these earpads provided a more neutral sound signature I felt the sub-bass boost was more preferable, and it was easier and more consistent to EQ with the stock pads.

I also measurement different “positions” of the stock pads on my measurement rig and when using glasses:

Mostly the different is with the bass, but I was very impressed that the wearing glasses doesn’t makes much of a difference with this headphone.

I went a bit crazy one day measuring about 7 or 8 different earpads and as you can see you can get very different results:

One of the best overall was a cheaper “velvet” earpads, but they were less comfortable for me, so I didn’t spend much time using these actually listening to music:

Overall, the selection of earpads can make a huge difference with this headphone, but I mostly like the stock earpads with some EQ the best.

Distortion

As is typical of planars the harmonic distortion is low:

And as a percentage:

EQ recommendation

This was the EQ profile I have mainly been listening to the Verum 2 with, especially after the first week:

Mainly this is just about lowering that midrange and then some tweaks that I personally felt where necessary in the treble, but will be different on everyone’s head.

Filter 1: ON PK Fc 1100 Hz Gain -3.7 dB Q 1.600

Rating

I debated whether I would give this a 4 star or a 5 star pragmatic rating, in the end I felt, for the price, it deserved a 5-star rating. I personally would EQ the midrange and I know its looks won’t be for everyone, but I feel it has a very clever design, is very comfortable from the stock angled earpads and overall it delvers a unique sound profile that itself is easy to EQ should you feel it necessary.

While the controversy surrounding its creator cannot be ignored, the Verum 2 offers a redemption of sorts and by itself deserves recognition for what it is as a unique and compelling planar magnetic headphones that compete very well in the sub $1000 price range.

Conclusion

The Verum 2 is an exceptional planar magnetic headphone that defies its price point, delivering almost exceptional build and sound for a fraction of the cost.

For those willing to separate the art from the artist, the Verum 2 is an audiophile gem, for those building a pragmatically priced collection of headphones I feel the Verum 2 is an excellent addition to that collection offering a few things that none of its competitors offer.