Not so with the Empyrean. The build quality and ergonomic shape place this universal in ear monitor second to none. At the top, is a curved line switchback trace which focuses on the low-end delivery (bass) and the circular pattern at the bottom, is designed to focus on the mids and highs. Introduction. The Empyreans have a tremendously wide soundstage with great positioning of the instruments and vocals. The Empyrean is imperiously comfortable with just the right blend of lateral and vertical pressure for really long listening sessions. So, should you find yourself travelling with the Empyrean, rest assured that theyll be kept safe from any physical damage. From looks to technology, Meze Audio products are designed to surpass all short-living trends and become heirlooms, rather than just headphones. The Empyrean seems to be more vocal centric but Id be curious to know how the details retrieval ability of those two compares. This magnetic field is required for a uniform activation across the whole diaphragm surface. Its a bit of shame that the upper bass sort of muddys up the lower mids, as the rest of the midrange has a very even and linear response, with a natural tonal balance and proper presence. Thanks. noun-heaven, in particular, the highest part of heaven. The spiral coil is more efficient at reproducing middle-high frequencies and is positioned directly over the ear canal enabling more direct sound waves to enter the ear without any time delays. As for the included cable, the Empyrean comes with a 2.5m braided cable using dual-sided 4-pin mini XLR connectors on the headphone side and a jack on the amplifier side. I would not say they are equally warm with the Empyrean leather pads producing a cleaner sound. A braided 10-foot stock cable is included, featuring 4-pin connectors to the headphones and your choice of a balanced TRS 1/4" or 4-pin XLR amplifier jack to your source. It is priced at $2999. Then as for tonality, when first listening to it, the Empyrean actually came through as being a well-balanced headphone. The headphones are a delight to wear for long listening sessions; the weight and distribution are just right. These are nothing short of end-game headphones. Or have they and I have yet to see it? has engineering details Ive not seen before it. The shape is technically not a million miles away from Mezes favored elongated twin-rod and pressure adjusting leather-strap headband system used on the 99 Classics and the Neo. The LCD-4 is also the heaviest of the bunch as the Audeze LCD line is hefty, so if weight is a concern for you, this might be something to think about. Michael. The Hugo2 TT is bigger, better and more advanced in every way and it sets a new benchmark for tabletop DACs, eclipsed only by Chords flagship DAVE. The tuning is varied enough to appease both analytical listeners and musical ones. What a time for the headphone enthusiast it is in 2022. Meze Empyrean is a top of the line product by Romanian Meze. Double thumbs up. A statement piece from a design-focused audio company. The spiral coil does a great job in providing immediacy to your music - since it is designed to better align with your ear canal, the mids and high frequencies don't have to bounce around and delay in making their way to your eardrum. A blend of premium materials, exquisite craftsmanship and detailing that's unmistakably Meze, Empyrean is one of the most technologically innovative planar magnetic headphones in the world. It is just about as flawless as you can get. For a start, the headband arch is constructed from a lightweight carbon fiber material as opposed to spring steel to keep it supple yet very light at the same time. You simply just nudge them off with some gentle lifting pressure and re-insert back on from the bottom up and you are good to go. Symmetrically placed on each side of the diaphragm, the neodymium magnets are specifically arranged into a Hybrid Array to create an efficient Isodynamic magnetic field required for a uniform activation across the whole diaphragm surface. I will say classical and movie/game scores sound phenomenal on the Empyreans. Argentina. Additionally, I like adding a bit more presence under 100hz with a bass shelf whilst also reducing the slight swelling of the upper-bass. A quick question, I havent bought headphones for years. For starters, the Empyrean comes packaged in an aluminum suitcase with foam inserts. If youd like to try out my EQ for the Empyrean, these are the settings I used: I really want to love the Empyrean; there are many things I really like about it. Great review, I almost decided to buy this beauty. I believe it is element resistant also. The earcups on the headphones can rotate and lay flat, allowing the case to remain thinner than the option of having the cups remain vertical. Why has no one else thought of this before? The quality of the braiding is nice enough, but I felt the cable gave the Empyrean a flat presentat, I could write an entire book on the materials and craftsmanship of these headphones, but I wont. Now don't expect the same level of performance, but Meze 99 Classics surely reminds me of them in some ways and they have a less harsh treble and better bass extension. Gently pry the pad off and they should remove themselves allowing you to attach the ear pads you are switching out. Reminiscing of a lustrous gem that transports you through a mystical folktale, ADVAR hides a powerful, detailed, lifelike sound behind a uniquely designed stainless steel chassis. The earpads are very clean with no visible signs of wear. The sweeping and forward-facing integration of the connectors into the Empyrean cups is both stylish and practical for a number of reasons. The leather strap is also a patented suspension wings design. Great headphone for long listening sessions for me. I consider the leather headrest to be somewhat of a polarizing design. Over 30 years of research and development have led to the creation of the first Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver. Another added benefit of the Silver Dragon cable is that it offers a natural dB boost, increases the soundstage and provides overall clarity to the music. The audiophile in me is highly impressed!". We'll compare the Meze Empyreans to the Dan CLark Audio, The ergonomics are generally pretty equal with these three headphones. From looks to technology, Meze Audio products are designed to surpass all short-living trends and become heirlooms, rather than just headphones. The cable seems to be made very well, featuring a quarter-inch balanced connector to source and 4-pin XLR connectors to the headphones. The treble range on the Empyrean is both very interesting and a little strange. A balanced blend of function and beauty, ADVAR is an IEM like no other. You best get it right, you best be better than most people imagine it to be. I played tracks from my own FLAC library as well as from Qobuz streaming service played via Roon (exclusive mode). As mentioned earlier, Meze teamed up with Rinaro to create a unique planar magnetic driver design called the Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver. It is a true staple of current headphone audio market coming at whooping 2999 USD. We did not follow trends and let them influence the audio quality and design of our headphones. We thank Meze for this opportunity. which is better and why? Please email us at: adrian.temian@mezeaudio.com. This unique combination generates an increased exposure of direct sound wave frequencies over the 10kHz range and improves imaging and localization by decreasing the impact of shortwave time delays caused by diffused field reflections. You can see a video of the milling process for the Empyrean at the end of this review. Open-back headphones are usually known for their wider soundstage than closed-back headphones. I first started reviewing in the late 80s (ouch!). It is such a great sounding headphone. I personally thought our model looked greener than the product images online. The sheer craftsmanship and detail of the Meze Empyrean put it in a category all its own. After spending some time with some song favorites, I was left wanting more definition. It might take a few listens to get used to the LCD signature, but Audeze has improved much from their previous LCD iterations. Comfort on the Empyrean is as impressive as its build and design. Its good for just about every music genre out there and ergonomic scenario such as the office, travel, and home. The word Empyrean means relating to heaven or the sky (adj), or in particular, the highest part of heaven (n). It may have been because of the accentuated mid-bass, but bass notes carried a bit more impact than on other headphones with a lightweight planar transducer, like the AEON 2 Closed, or the Ether Flow 1.1. Here are some recommended amps for the Meze Empyrean headphone. As with all things - especially planar magnetic drivers - the more power you throw at it the better it will sound. It reduces the overall weight of the driver design and creates very accurately reproduced audio just to name a few. Firstly, we are greeted with an aluminium suitcase which is both a pleasure to look at, but also insures safety of our headphones. Would like to know if they might be a nice complement to my Stellia headphones. You are damn right it does! Dont get me wrong, the Empyreanas it isstill makes for great listening experience, but its not one that I really think competes with others in that $3,000 price range, and in fact, I think several headphones at half or even a third of the Empyreans price can make for just as great a listen. And they are light. What this means is that it is purposely kinked to wrap around your head broadening the contact point on your scalp and thus dispersing the pressure evenly. You'll likely use them for similar music listening scenarios, and all are top-performing and/or reference headphones. Great floating-in-space imaging for all musical objects that is so enticing. Following the release of the Hugo 2, Chord has announced the second generation of the tabletop version, the Chord Hugo2 TT. The Empyrean from Meze Audio sets a new standard of matching amazing design with jaw-dropping sound. The hybrid design combines two independently shaped voice coils within the same diaphragm which delivers a more selective acoustic performance to the various areas within the structure of the ear. Note, that this articlefollows our latest scoring guidelines which you can read up onhere. Due to the slight swelling at around 250hz-300hz, I found that vocals or instruments like acoustic guitars and pianos could sound a bit congested in their lower registers. It tends to put a little pressure on the headband of the Empyrean when closed. The Empyreans are a great pair of headphones on their own but combined with a Silver Dragon cable they are a true end game audio solution. The headband is made from carbon fiber and incredibly strong for how flexible it can be. The Meze Empyreans are a full-sized open-back headphone which uses a similar headband and rest system as the HiFiMAN headphones. Through unique processing methods, an ultralight yet rigid diaphragm has been achieved. The M3H adds a headphone amplifier option with balanced inputs for expanded utility in your audio system. Measurements can be found by clicking this link. We are proud to introduce to you Empyrean Phoenix - a rare collector's item, the first from the Meze Art Gallery collection. Its not that I havent heard it before, but the increased soundstage just exacerbated the issue by allowing each voicing to have more room to stand out. Now you can select a striking all-black version that Meze calls "Jet Black" and the other "Copper" in which the outside grill of the design is a copper/gold color with the all-black design. Well, Meze brings a very unique driver to the table with the Isodynamic Hybrid Array, but the innovations make all the difference over a typical planar magnetic. Effectively, this shows how significantly the headphones frequency response deviates from the target. Now I dont know what the highest part of heaven is, but I would imagine theres some pretty cool stuff there. The problem for me, or the reason why I struggle to recommend the Empyrean, then, is that I feel as though there is a bit of a mismatch between the user and sonic experience it delivers. Unlike many of the high-end, flagship planar-magnetic headphones available in the market, its actually incredibly comfortable, maybe even the most comfortable headphone Ive ever worn. A blend of premium materials, exquisite craftsmanship and detailing thats unmistakably Meze, Empyrean is one of the most technologically innovative planar magnetic headphones in the world. ", "Meze's 99 Classics headphones are on the latter end of that spectrum, providing an unusual, gorgeous design that far outpaces most headphones on the market. They had tight connections to everything I plugged them into. You'll find the Mr. Now its desktop/portable and digital 2.1 audio on a rather nice laptop. This will also play a part in the overall sound quality as we'll see later. With the Empyrean, which retails at $2,999, Meze seeks to deliver an unparalleled Hi-Fi experience that revolves around top-tier planar-magnetic performance coupled with an aesthetically daring and supremely comfortable design. Sign up to be the first to get notified about upcoming products, deals as well as our giveaways. ", "They actually make me think of a smaller and closed version of Sennheiser HD800. They are art. FOCO HEADPHONE PRO-SHOP 02 Shop UG05D, Olympian City Two, Tai Kok Tsui, Hong Kong Facebook Page 852-2508-0628 Shop. We also make parts easily replaceable. Today, founder Antonio Meze and his skilled team design and develop their products in Baia Mare, Romania, in the spirit of their original no-compromise vision. I wonder what else I could use this thing for when I'm not carrying headphones in it. Empyrean Phoenix celebrates the rebirth of the world's first isodynamic hybrid array headphone by fusing our passion for art with high-end audio technology. How does the sound signature compare to other planar magnetic headphones? Meze and Rinaro designed their driver to be powerful yet incredibly light to reduce the weight as much as possible. The only mitigating factor on the leather pads is the potential for more sweat in hotter climes and if you do not like the sound signature change they bring out of the Empyrean. The box I have is the initial batch run which is actually not deep enough by around 1 or so. The headrest and the carbon fiber band not only help distribute the weight around my head, but I can really feel them working together to reduce the pressure points of the cups around my ears. I do like the Ether 2 compared to the velour pads of the Empyrean but the leather padded Empyrean is more my taste. The ergonomics are generally pretty equal with these three headphones. The second part of the driver is the Rinaro isoplanar diaphragm, which is amazingly light with a large active surface area, resulting in a more dynamic auditory experience. The ovoid shape also allows for a smaller driver size compared to other planar magnetic headphones, resulting in reduced weight and longer listening sessions without ear fatigue. This shiny sound came from its upper treble, of which air frequencies above 10K were significantly boosted relative to the rest of its frequency response. The bottom of the hybrid utilizes a dynamic driver which provides a more directional presentation into the ear canal. Additionally, the Empyreans bass is controlled, and tuneful; its adept at nuancing and texturing low tones in a way that makes the bass feel detailed and adequately contoured. Priced at $2,999, the Meze Empyrean is among the top-tiered audiophile high-end headphones on the market today. Combined with the Silver Dragon cable, the instrumentation and voicings in the mix are allowed to breathe and perform all on their own. The Meze Empyrean headphones are in a new class of reference headphones as the first Isodynamic Hybrid Array headphones on the market. To create an audiophile headphone that is powerful yet light the driver needed to maximize power output while reducing weight as much as possible. Disclaimer: This is a sample sent to us in exchange for our honest opinion. Sonically the Empyreans are nothing short of endgame cans. The LCD-2 and 3 were very dark in presentation, then Audeze came out with the X and XC models - giving more of a forward tonality, with closed-back and open-back variations (X'C' for closed). The Empyreans design is undoubtedly one of the most sophisticated Ive seen on a headphone thus far. The driver isn't the easiest to power, since it is a specialized planar magnetic drvier. Yes, the sound is not as forward, a little more laid back so to speak. Empyrean is Meze Audio's flagship and one of the most technologically innovative planar magnetic headphones in the world. Thats too bad. Join thediscussionabout theMeze Empyreanat "The HEADPHONE Community". As classics have to outlive seasonal fashions, we design with long product life in mind. Furthermore, the Empyrean has what I believe is the best instrument separation and layering Ive heard on a headphone thus far, easily surpassing what Ive experienced on the HiFiMan Arya. This unique combination generates an increased exposure of direct sound wave frequencies over the 10kHz range and improves imaging and localization by decreasing the impact of shortwave time delays caused by diffused field reflections. VAT & shipping cost, Best-Price inquiry. The Empyrean driver combines individual switchback and spiral-shaped voice coils, their unique shapes allow sound to be targeted with more accuracy around the natural form of the ear. One of the problems with conventional planar magnetic arrays comes from reflected signals entering the ear canal with different time delays, thereby worsening the focus of 3D sound imaging. For those who know us and have followed our journey, its no secret that artistic vision is just as important as technology, when it comes to our headphones. Changing the pads is pure joy on the Empyrean with that magnet system. Run out and buy them. However, I found that in the lows it still had a bit of kick to it. At the heart of the Empyrean is an isodynamic hybrid array driver. It is also very solidly built and very unlikely to crack or give way. The dotted black line is the target (how we might want it to measure), and the colored line is how the headphone in question measures. Symmetrically placed on each side of the diaphragm, our neodymium magnets are specifically arranged into a Hybrid Array to create efficient Isodynamic magnetic field required for a uniform activation across the whole diaphragm surface. Susvara is the ultimate headphone but you check the other reviews you will find our comments and comparisons. We highly recommend supplementing the headphones with a Premium Silver Dragon Cable for Meze Headphones to balance out the EQ curve of the stock cable and the natural warmth of the headphone. As mentioned earlier the contoured headband dissipates unwanted small vertical pressure contact points really well on the top of your head making a mockery of its 430g weight. They also look a darn sight sturdier than Hifimans more discreetly designed 3.5mm connector sockets. They use a new driver technology I've never seen . The length of the headband is just perfect also with zero downward pressure from the top of the pads inner cavities. synonyms: heaven, the heavens, the sky, the stratosphere. Disclaimer: The Meze Empyrean unit sent to us for this post is a purchased unit. Since the earpad fits the shape of the ear itself, it allows for less room within the earcup for sound to bounce around and get lost in. The Meze ELITE headphone comes with two uniquely shaped earpads developed by Rinaro, which allow for personal calibration of the sound signature. **Vegan option available with special order. Actually a bargain at full price. The Empyrean has exceptional performance, comfort, and design. All was not lost, however; I found a solution. Some might find the mids to be more recessed than other headphones, but its a great headphone for bass-eccentric genres. The Audeze LCD series is known for its resolute and signature sound. , and the JDS Labs Element II connected via USB to my desktop computer. "Meze's 99 Classics headphones are on the latter end of that spectrum, providing an unusual, gorgeous design that far outpaces most headphones on the market." slashgear.com "Designed with the express purpose of being so good and convenient, the 99 Classics will stay with you forever, becoming the only headphones you'll ever need. Changing the pads on the Empyrean is also a very satisfying process. The result is a no-compromise headphone embodying Mezes daring aesthetic and user-centered design approach and Rinaros experience in research and development within the field of planar magnetics. FREE SHIPPING on US orders over $99 I also really enjoyed your review on the Luxury & Precision P6. This is a massive step up on the Classics and Neo mid-fi dynamic driver headphones. A fresh take on the design of the 99 series, the Neo has a slightly different signature and the same audio quality. Step forward Meze Audio and Rinaro Isodynamics and their flagship creation, the isodynamic hybrid array headphone, the Empyrean. You can double down on the comfort levels also if you are using the Alcantara pads which are fantastically deep and do an amazing job of absorbing any potentially unwanted lateral clamping pressure from the mainframe. The previous iteration of the Ether headphone was perceived as more analytical in nature by some, and the Ether 2 is certainly more balanced overall; very musical. Throughout production of the Meze Audio Empyrean, Antonio Meze and his team have taken their prototypes to high-end headphone shows all over the world collecting feedback along the way. Audeze does a great job with cases too, but the true briefcase design by Meze here takes the cake. Could you test these out with the DNA Stellaris headphone please, perhaps as a review of said amp? As it is now, though, unless comfort is your absolute priority, I personally think that there are better options thatll at least get you more sound for your money than the Empyrean. The cups are an ovoid shape and are a special design detail of the Empyrean.