ABOUT US
OUR STORY
As a team directly involved in arts and sports, we, here at Meze Headphones understand that music is not just a pastime but a way of life. Whenever we're creating or performing we're accompanied by our favorite tracks. We designed our headphones to transpose you in our world. The real wood design was specifically created to offer a warm sound, a sound that you can enjoy no matter the situation. Experience your music in a new way. Let us take you on the journey we followed, to the perfect natural sound.
 
OUR MISSION
Our mission is fairly simple: to raise the bars in terms of audio quality and design for headphones in general. We want you to feel the music you like, we want to give you the chance to enjoy that special song, just as the original artist intended it to sound. Besides offering a crisp and clear sound, our headphones will leave people wondering what is that special song that you're listening to. Allow yourself to experience music like never before, comfortably and with style.
 
OUR CUSTOMERS
Our first concern is to satisfy you, our fans and customers. Our customer support team is always looking to deliver the best solutions and answers to all of your questions. So, do not hesitate to ask us anything. We will get back to you as soon as possible. And do not forget: we're looking forward to your feedback.
 
PHILOSOPHY
MOTIVATION
Our passion for music and art is the drive behind Meze Headphones. We created our range of headphones and earphones with this aspect in mind. We created them as if for ourselves.
VALUES
Meze Headphones has stood by its values since the beginning of the company. We did not follow trends and let them influence the audio quality and design of our headphones. They are timeless objects that will not go out of style the next season. We achieved this through patience and dedication.
 
PEOPLE
The team behind Meze Headphones is a team of passionate specialists, with backgrounds in sound engineering, product design, crafting, and music.
 
TECHNOLOGY 
Since wood is the trademark of our company, we make sure that each and every pair of headphones and earphones are carefully crafted from selected lumber.
 
We chose to use only air dried walnut lumber for the spectacular colors that it can display. As a result, we have to wait up to eighteen months for the lumber to dry so that we can shape the wood into the emblematic Meze Headphones look. This is the timeframe needed only for curing and drying the lumber before any further processing can begin. We are patient because we know that the end result is worth the wait.
 
The process of shaping just a single pair of earcups takes up to 8 hours. The whole process of sanding, lacquering, and finishing lasts 45 days. We could cut corners but we take great pride in delivering the best product to our customers.
 
The craftsmanship of our headphones and earphones is paramount. The wooden components of our products are carefully inspected and no flaws are permitted to reach the final assembly. Aesthetics are as important for us as they are for you. We want you to wear a pair of Meze Headphones and know that you are enjoying a timeless art piece.
 
We are using walnut wood for its sturdiness and for its acustic qualities. Although harder to find and to work with, we chose walnut for the brighter, more balanced sound that it offers to our headphones. Simply put, it is a blend of technology, art, and nature.
 
It is well to mention that all the wood that we use in our headphones is strictly harvested from mature trees that have reached the end of their life cycles. This way, we are helping the environment and we're giving the old trees a chance to shine one more time in the shape of Meze Headphones.

DX90 + 1kHz FLAC test tone
q-JAYS: 185 = 83.7dB
Cerberus: 158 = 83.6dB
FLC8S: 167 = 83.6dB
A200: 188 = 83.7dB
Delta: 188 = 83.7dB
LZ-A2: 177 = 83.7dB
 
Bjork - Crystalline
Q-Jays: Sibilance accentuated making a high-pitched hissy noise at the end of s and t sounds. Bass not as present as I’d like making it sound soft. Bjork’s voice isn’t as full as I’d prefer. Cymbals sound sharp. Great sense of space and spacial cues. Sounds quick.
FLC8S: Sibilance still present but not as accentuated. More bass impact and presence - more to my preference. Smoother treble. Good sense of space and spacial cues. Not as quick but more organic.
Cerberus: Sibilance is minimal to not present. Most bass presence and seems like a bit of a mid-bass bump making it the punchiest. Upper mid boost makes Bjork’s voice a bit nasal. Treble is more present than FLC8S but is still relatively smooth. Best sense of space and spacial cues of the bunch.
A200: Obviously v-shaped with more powerful bass and scooped lower mids. Lacks sub-bass extension. Upper mids more present making Bjork’s voice stand out in the mix but not overly shouty. Surprisingly the high end isn’t as sharp. Drums and cymbals are more listenable. Sibilance is still present but not as pronounced. Good sense of space and spacial cues but not as good as q-JAYS.
Delta + Gunmetal Filters: Moar bass!!! Wow, a bit much mid-bass here Bjork’s voice is a touch softer than with A200 - just about right for me. Upper end is crisp and clear without being harsh. Sibilance is minimized. Good sense of space and spacial cues but not as good as q-JAYS. 
LZ-A2: Sibilance is present but minimized. Bjork’s voice is pretty neutral in the mix and a bit dry. Percussion sounds natural. Quite a bit of bass presence here similar to Delta but more linear. Sense of space is good but again not as good as q-JAYS.
 
The Eagles - Take It Easy
Q-Jays: Sibilance is back on s and t. Upper register guitar and cymbals sound a bit hot / crispy. Bass is again a bit softer than I’d like. Vocals are a bit thin. Banjo at the end is very clear and present but a bit sharp.
FLC8S: Still has sibilance but again not as accentuated. Upper guitar and cymbals more laid back. Bass is more present in the mix. Vocals are richer. Banjo at the end is present in the mix but not as clear and sharp.
Cerberus: Wow, the opening guitars are much more present here. Most sibilance is gone with Cerberus. Vocals are the most present with Cerberus but get a bit shouty in the upper register. Upper register guitar and cymbals get lost behind the rhythm guitar and vocals. Bass is a bit much for this song. Banjo at the end is between FLC8S and q-JAYS for clarity but isn’t sharp.
 
Rush - Tom Sawyer
Q-Jays: Opening lacks power. Drums and cymbals sound sharp. Upper register guitar sounds etched. Geddy sounds a bit thin. Very quick drums. Good sense of space and spacial cues like drums panning and synth spreading down and out to the sides.
FLC8S: Good punch at the beginning. Drums and cymbals sound less sharp and more natural. Upper register guitar a still etched but a bit less so. Good sense of space and spacial cues but definitely not as open as q-JAYS. Geddy sounds less thin. Bass line is fuller.
Cerberus: Wow, the opening has the power needed as well as a great sense of space and depth to it that the other two don’t have. Guitars are a bit more forward than I’d prefer. Bass line is great. Geddy sounds right between the other two. Drums and cymbals sound very natural but cymbals tend to get lost behind the guitars. The sense of space is great here.
 
Nile - Unas, Slayer of the Gods
Q-Jays: Pretty good sense of space but soft and lacking the timbre found in Cerberus. There are a bunch of cymbals right after the opening that sound like my ears are being shredded - so hissy. Cymbals are way too sharp and over-emphasized. I’m getting quite a bit of sibilance in Karl’s vocals on t’s and ending s’s. Vocals are most present with these. Rapid-fire drums sound unsubstantial. The downtuned electric guitars however sound pretty damn good here. Could use more bass presence to keep the song chugging along, though.
FLC8S: Good space and timbre - better than q-JAYS but not as good as Cerberus. Cymbals are still hot but don’t stand out over everything like with q-JAYS. A bit of sibilance but not as much of an issue here. Guitars sound spot on. Bass presence is very good for this song. Rapid-fire drums sound very natural and don’t blur. Vocals could be more present.
Cerberus: Oh! My! God! The sense of space and timbre in the opening acoustic guitar is just amazing! But again, guitars are a bit more present than I’d prefer. Vocals are getting lost. Bass is nice and weighty for the chugging parts of the song. Keeps up very nicely with the rapid-fire drumming without sounding sharp and machinegun-like.
 
Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
Q-Jays: Good sense of space and spacial cues. Sibilance is accentuated. Drums and cymbals sound a bit sharp. Stevie’s voice is nicely present. Bassline is a bit too light for me.
FLC8S: Bassline is much more full but some might find it a bit much for this song. Sibilance is more under control. Stevie’s voice is more intimate. Cymbals and drums sound less sharp and more natural. Spacial cues are good but these aren’t as open and airy as q-JAYS.
Cerberus: Nice full baseline. As with q-JAYS, Stevie’s voice is very present but can get pretty shouty at times. Guitars can be a bit much. Drums and cymbals sound natural but cymbals tend to get lost in the mix. Great sense of space and spacial cues.

 

 
 

INTRODUCTION

Upstart Venture Electronics has been making quite the name for themselves around Head-Fi in 2015. It seems like everybody who listens to their gear is nothing short of impressed with what this new company has been able produce in a short amount of time. From their super bang for your buck $5 Monk earbuds to their high-resolution Duke IEM to the Runabout amp, their products never cease to impress. The same can be said for their Zen earbuds. In fact, I received a review sample of the Zen earbuds quite some time ago. You remember those, right? The 320 Ohm white earbuds people were raving about. Well, right before I was going to write my review for them, I got word from VE that an improved Zen would soon be released called Zen 2.0. I was quite enamored with the original Zen, so I was skeptical that the new model could really be that much better. But on the other hand, VE really seemed to know how to produce master craft earbuds so I shelved my review of the original and waited patiently for the new model to arrive. Arrive they did, and boy was VE right about these being an improvement. They took an masterpiece of an earbud that I was looking at giving a solid 4.5 star review and kicked things up a notch. Yes folks, I'm awarding the VE Zen 2.0 my first ever 5 star review. I honestly never thought the day would come, but I think VE has simply done an outstanding job with these. 
 
Before we get to the review proper, let's take a moment to learn about VE (Venture Electronics):
 

 
Before we head off to the review, I'm going to give you a few links I found useful:

1. VE's Website: LINK.
2. VE's AliExpress Store: LINK
3. VE Thread: LINK.
4. @DJScope's review: LINK
5. @Brooko's Zen 1.0 and 2.0 Veritas measurements: LINK​

 
 
 

DISCLAIMER

There is no financial incentive from VE for writing this review.  I am in no way affiliated with VE, and this is my honest opinion of the Zen 2.0 earbuds. I would like to thank VE for giving me a chance to review the Zen 2.0 earbuds, and I hope my feedback proves useful for my fellow Head-Fi members as well as for VE.
 
 

ABOUT ME

I'm a 43 year old father who loves music.  While I listen mostly to electronic and metal these days, I do listen to a wide variety of music - from electronic (Autechre, Boards of Canada) to modern/minimalist composition (John Cage, Philip Glass) to alternative rock (Flaming Lips, Radiohead) to jazz (John Coltrane and Miles Davis) to metal (Behemoth, King Diamond) to classic rock (Eagles, Rush).  
 
I'm primarily a portable audio enthusiast. My portable music journey started with the venerable Sony Cassette Walkman and then progressed to portable CD players, minidisc recorders (still have my Sharp DR7), and finally on to DAPs like the Rio Karma, iRiver IHP-1xx, iPod 5.5, iPhones, and the newer crop of DAPs from Fiio and iBasso.
 
Being a portable audio enthusiast, I typically listen with IEMs but am enjoying listening with full-size headphones more and more and tend to like u-shaped sound signatures, although I break out v-shaped IEM & HP from time to time for fun.
 
As with a lot of people my age, I've got some hearing issues.  I've got mild tinnitus and suffer from allergies, which can affect hearing in my right ear.  I'll admit it, I'm not blessed with a pair of golden ears.  That said, I've been listening to portable gear for a long time and feel confident in assessing audio gear - just wanted to be transparent up front.

 
 
SPECS

1. Driver: 15.4mm Single Dynamic 
2. Rated Impedance: 320 Ω @ 1kHz
3. Frequency Range: 15 ~ 23500 Hz (-10dB)
4. Sensitivity: 106 dB @ 1mW
5. Cable: 1.2m TPE-sheathed OFC
6. Plug: 3.5mm gold-plated L-plug 
7. MSRP: $148

 
 

PACKAGING & ACCESSORIES

Since this was an early review unit, I didn't receive final packaging. So what did I get? It's all in the picture below.
 


Zen 2.0, regular and donut foam covers, ear stabilizers, shirt clip, and clamshell case. Just a note that the foam covers included are the Heigi-style foams, which are thicker than the foam covers included with the original Zen earbuds. This has some ramifications on sound I'll mention later.
 
 

BUILD & ERGONOMICS

As usual, I'll walk you through the VEZen 2.0's build in pictorial format.
 
VE Zen 2.0 without covers

 
Hey, those look pretty sexy, don't they! Gone are the opaque white earpieces and cable of the original Zen earbuds. The earpieces are still the same shape and size, but they now come in a transparent smoked gray color. Each earpiece has the VE logo, which is their web address. So if you forget how to find out more about VE, just yank the buds out of your ears, take a peek, type 52VE.CN into your browser, and BAM! you're on the VE website. Of course there are also L/R markings on each earpiece, as well. To complete the transformation, the cable sheath is now transparent exposing the colorful red wiring underneath. I really like the new look, and I think you will, too!
 
 
Y-Splitter, Shirt Clip, 3.5mm L-Plug

 
With the Zen 2.0, VE did away with the chin cinch, which is honestly no big loss. In it's place, they now include a shirt clip. I prefer using shirt clips anyway, so for me this was a positive move. I'm sure some of you will pine for a chin cinch, though. Sorry. Pretty standard 3.5mm L-plug. No complaints there.
 
 
VE Zen 2.0 with Ear Stabilizers


While they look odd, the ear stabilizers actually do a really good job of maintaining a secure fit without resorting to using foam covers.
 
 
Here's a pic of the ear stabilizers in action!

 
I know it looks weird, but it works. It really does. For me anyway. Some really dislike them, though. It all depends on ear anatomy and personal preference. All you can do is give them a try and see if they work for you. I've also used them naked, with the included foam covers, with the original Zen's foam covers, and with some rubber covers from my Yuin OK-series earbuds. They all change the Zen 2.0 different sound, some more dramatically than others.
 
So just to wrap up, you're getting pretty much everything you need to get up and running with the Zen 2.0. You get a couple foam covers to choose from and ear stabilizers to ensure you get a good fit and can fine-tune the sound to your liking. You get a solidly-built pair of earbuds. And you get a case to stash them in when they're not jammed in your ears. What more could you ask for? A remote? Mic? Nope, not for this guy. I'm not about compromising the cable's integrity with such accoutrements. I'm not very likely to use 320 Ohm earbuds with my smartphone anyway. Are you? 
 
 
SOUND
I listen to a lot of experimental electronic and metal and mainly used those genres to evaluate the VE Zen 2.0 earbuds. During my time with them, I've listened through many sources including my FiiO X5 DAP and Aune X1S Desktop DAC/Amp. I've also listened through a couple DAPs I've had in for testing. Just for kicks, I also gave them a listen out of my iPhone 5s (yes it can be done!). I'll go over what I thought of the sound and some brief thoughts on cover-rolling.
 
But first, a beauty shot with the Aune M2
 
You can change an earbud's sound signature quite a bit by using them with or without different covers. For those of you who're new to earbuds, this is a bit like tip rolling kicked up a notch. I'll try my best to covey what like about them with different covers and wrap-up with a brief comparison with Zen 1.0. So, here we go...
 
In conversations with VE, I learned that Zen 2.0 are intended to be used naked. Yes, naked my friends. Take those covers off, and revel in the glorious balanced sound! In my experience, this is as good as it gets from an earbud. While it's not like a sub-woofer pounding away at your eardrums, you actually get good bass response. If you want more bass, you can experiment with covers. Using rubber rims will give you a bit more bass presence. Using foam covers will provide even more bass response, the level varying depending on foam thickness. Mids vary from very slightly forward naked or with rubber rims to slightly recessed with foam covers. Similarly, the upper end is nicely present, lively and engaging naked or with rubber rims. Throw on some foam covers, and the upper end is damped. So depending on the covers you use, you can get anything from a nicely balanced, detailed listening experience with a nice soundstage and good imaging to a warmer, darker, more intimate listening experience with thick foam covers. It really is a lot of fun to play around with different covers depending on your mood, the type of music you're listening to, and your source. As mentioned above, I listened to Zen 2.0 out of various sources. They're revealing enough to scale well with better sources, so please don't dismiss them just because they're earbuds. Play around with better sources and see how Zen 2.0 respond. I think you'll be as impressed as I was at how well they respond as you throw them at increasingly better sources.
 
It was interesting listening to these after falling in love with the original Zen earbuds. While I loved the originals, they were a bit more of a one trick pony. Throw on some foam covers, and they were great. Nicely balanced with great detail. Take the covers off, and they sounded very thin, cold, and overly bright. The new Zen are much more versatile. Since they were tuned to be nicely balanced without covers, you can really play around with the sound signature. It gives you more reasons to fall in love with Zen 2.0. Nice!
 
 
SUMMARY
I know they're derided, but I've always had a fondness for earbuds and just love what VE is doing. Along with other boutique earbud manufacturers like Blox and Yuin, VE is dead set on showcasing just how great earbuds can be. From their $5 Monk (Go! Buy!! Now!!!) to their mid-level Asura and on to their flagship Zen 2.0, each hand every one of VE earbuds are top-notch performers. The upgrade from Zen 1.0 to Zen 2.0 showcases just how fast VE is learning, iterating, and improving. I honestly can't wait to see what they'll bring us next!
 
If you're at all interested in Zen 2.0 but aren't ready to drop more than $100 for a pair of earbuds yet, please do yourself a favor and pick up a pair of VE Monk. Seriously. I mean it. It'll cost you less that $10. Try those and get a small taste of what you'll be getting with Zen 2.0. I think you'll be convinced to take the next step and try out Zen 2.0, in which case you'll have Monk as your beater buds and Zen 2.0 as the buds you keep for a more immersive listen.
 
I hope you found this useful and would like to give a hearty thanks to VE for giving me the opportunity to review the Zen 2.0. Keep cracking out awesome buds VE!