Zach Mehrbach on the ZMF & dCS Lina Headphone Amplifier
Earlier this year we invited our friends at Abyss, Audeze, Meze and ZMF to create a custom fascia design for the Lina Headphone Amplifier. You can read more about the concept & discover each brand's creative designs here.) Audeze took inspiration from their distinctive logo and the grill design seen on their headphones, adorning the amp’s volume dial with a striking geometric pattern.
ZMF, meanwhile — run by husband-and-wife team Zach and Bevin Mehrbach — opted for a wood fascia to complement their burl wood headphones.
We caught up with Zach to hear more about the creative and production process for their custom design.
The ZMF & dCS Lina Headphone Amplifier will be available to demo at this years CanJam Dallas...
"Now every time I turn the Lina on I feel the connection to the amp, and to all the people at dCS and ZMF who helped make it..."
Could you tell us a little more about your design, and why you opted for this?
We use a lot of burl woods at ZMF, and have had some Walnut Burl for a while that looks better in a broader design like an amp faceplate, so this was a perfect time and way to use it! We love how the Lina looks with the understated and elegant walnut burl.
What was the process on your side – so how did you approach this project?
We use CAD software to emulate the plate needs, and then with wood, we had to carefully make sure the right areas were supported and tapped so that it would fit the lina face and current design. After a few tries machining we were very happy with the result.
What interested or excited you about this particular project?
It's always exciting making an amp or device you use often really take on a personal element so that when you use it, you feel like the piece is a part of you. Now every time I turn the Lina on I feel the connection to the amp, and to all the people at dCS and ZMF who helped make it. It made a great design even more fun to use.
Were there particular challenges you faced – for example any particular challenges that came up in terms of implementing / realising your idea?
Using the walnut took a few tries, as the plate is rather thin in some places, so having our engineer find the right design for size and stability was tough!
- Zach Mehrbach, ZMF Headphones
The ZMF & dCS Lina Headphone Amplifier on demo at ZMF's stand, CanJam SoCal 2024
The dCS & ZMF Lina Headphone Amplifier will be available to demo at CanJam Dallas, held at the Dallas/Addison Marriott Quorum from 2-3 November 2024.
