For the Love of Sound

Continue Reading Issue 42

When they met two decades ago at Eastern in a scriptwriting class with Professor Edmond Chibeau, Zach ’06 and Bevin (Titcomb) Mehrbach ’07 had no idea about the romantic partnership they’d form — or the acclaimed upscale headphones business they’d eventually establish. 

Now married and living in Chicago, the two communication alumni are co-founders of ZMF Headphones, a company that hand-constructs headphones from premium hardwoods for an immersive listening experience. 

ZMF’s products have received numerous accolades, including The Absolute Sound’s 2020 Product of the Year, and rave reviews from several media outlets, such as CNET, Audiophile Magazine, and more. Their artfully crafted products often carry four-figure price tags and are distributed to dealers around the world. 

Zach began constructing headphones in 2010 as a graduate film student at Columbia College Chicago. In 2015, ZMF Headphones became his full-time job. “Listening to a lot of headphones in coffee shops while getting my degree, I started researching different acoustic instruments and realized that it would be cool to have a pair of headphones that looked like the guitars I liked,” he said.

“I was introduced to hi-fi audio by Zach,” said Bevin. “I had always just listened [to music] through whatever earbuds came with my iPhone. You don’t understand the difference in fidelity until you hear your music through a really high-end audio system.”  

Bevin continued: “You can hear the musicians’ nails hitting the ridges on a guitar string or you can hear when they purse their lips to begin singing. So, I just hope that people have that transformative experience.” 

STRIKING A CHORD AT EASTERN

The couple can point to Eastern as the impetus for ZMF Headphones in many ways. Zach recalls former music Professor Richard Jones-Bamman’s courses on music theory, which instilled in him a keen interest in the structure of acoustic instruments, specifically banjos. 

“A lot of the ornate features on our headphones are inspiration that I found in those 19th-century banjo makers that Richard Jones-Bamman showed me,” he said. 

Zach also played on Eastern’s baseball team. Playing for Bill Holowaty, one of the most successful coaches in NCAA Division III history, he learned about effective organizational communication. 

“All that experience in sports really helped me figure out how to interact with people, motivate them, and be transparent about what they might need,” he said. “[Holowaty] tutored us about how to navigate those relationships and that the end goal is being successful at whatever you’re doing.”  

Meanwhile, Bevin, who handles the culture and human resources side of the business, credits the late Professor Edmond Chibeau for helping her find her way at Eastern and beyond. 

“I’m a scatterbrained artistic type,” she said. “I thought of myself as not good at school. … Dr. Chibeau took such an interest in my writing. He put me on the radio, asked to publish my scripts, asked me to come to readings, and encouraged me.”  

But the most foundational part of ZMF Headphones is Zach and Bevin’s relationship. As Bevin recalls, the couple didn’t have a “traditional” first date. In its place were frequent trips to Hurley Hall, Dunkin’ Donuts, Campus Activity Board events, and Willi Bowl, a former local bowling alley. 

Their fondest memories occurred in Occum Hall, with its friendly residential community. “It was homey, and everyone knew each other,” said Bevin. “We spent so much time just hanging out talking about music, movies, and all the common interests that led to ZMF.”

Continue Reading Issue 42