adeadcrab
1000+ Head-Fier
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Found this linked in another Empyrean Elite thread that was closed..
How does it pair with the ADI-2 DAC? I recently got it myself.
That touching inside wasn't very noticeable for me. And when I switch to the older Alcantara pads they don't touch at all. The hybrid pad is less deep than the Empyrean pads.I am very much enjoying the current arrival of initial impressions from several users!
A quick comfort question: for those who mentioned their ears touching the drivers, is it distracting? (I don't have the smallest ears)
I was thinking of getting Empyreans a few days ago, and am currently trying to see if I should bite the bullet and get an Elite instead. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find a local dealer in my country with the Elite even listed yet. I heard about the hp.shop German website offering the "dark mystery" edition, but am a little worried about both the lack of mention in the official Meze site, and the lack of terms & conditions in the shop site. Well, otherwise, there's still the official Meze shop...
I feel that the Solitaire Ps have better vocals and timbre. If it wasn’t for the sub-bass flaw with the Ps, I would have kept them, and think they beat the Elite at everything besides sub-bass and bass impact.Seems pretty consistent these miss the mark Meze might have ambitiously pursued.
With Empy falling into pretty mediocre categorization, I wonder how you feel Elite versus Solitaire vocals fair, as well, timbre quality comparatively.
It has always felt the D8000 executed the true targeted Empyrean sound.
Where did the GS-X Mini land in that shootout if you don’t mind my asking?After playing with it a bit, the Empyrean Elite is good it's just very different than the original. I think this is a more "audiophile tuned" headphone for people who didn't like the original Empyrean.
My favorite thing in this hobby is taking one headphone and finding the perfect amp pairing with it. Here's my personal findings with the Elite
So far I've tried it on the following amps:
- GS-X Mini
- Garage1217 Project Ember
- DIY Noire with custom PSU and Silmic caps
- "The Beast" tube amp (built by blair chapman, if you want to google it)
- Auralic Taurus Mk2
- Gilmore Lite Mk2 (silmic cap modded) with golden reference PSU
- Kicker KX200.4 from circa 2005 (using pre-amps: DIY Noire, Gilmore Lite Mk2)
- Pass ACA 1.8 (using pre-amps: DIY Noire, Gilmore Lite Mk2)
On most amps it sounds very boring especially if you loved the original Empyrean; by comparison the Elite lacks bass and sub-bass and the lower treble seems a bit more forward.
My third favorite amp was the Taurus Mk2: in fully balanced mode, it sounded extremely detailed and had good stage/depth - notes magically appeared out of nowhere
My second favorite amp (combo) was the DIY Noire as a preamp into the Kicker KX200.4 (this is also my favorite amp for original empyreans, when driven by the RME ADI-2). not much detail, but huge open concert hall and punchier bass (especially because I have a slight bass boost dialed into the amp)
My favorite amp (combo) was the DIY Noire as a preamp into the Pass ACA 1.8, it's extremely impressive, extremely punchy, and to my ears pretty detailed. The bass is very present and exciting!
Keep in mind all my impressions are when also using a Clark Transducer mounted to my chair to fill in sub-bass (using a Rockford Fosgate sub amp crossed over around 120hz) so I'm not as sensitive to headphones lacking sub-bass anymore... if you really love sub-bass you might be disappointed with the Elite
How does it pair with the ADI-2 DAC? I recently got it myself.
As a bass lover that's really looking for a great headphone that also has great build quality and isn't too picky or finicky, this doesn't sound like good news.I think the best way to describe the Elite is as a less warm LCD-4z
Your findings are pretty interesting for me because I also keep a stable of amps and headphone pairings.After playing with it a bit, the Empyrean Elite is good it's just very different than the original. I think this is a more "audiophile tuned" headphone for people who didn't like the original Empyrean.
My favorite thing in this hobby is taking one headphone and finding the perfect amp pairing with it. Here's my personal findings with the Elite
So far I've tried it on the following amps:
- GS-X Mini
- Garage1217 Project Ember
- DIY Noire with custom PSU and Silmic caps
- "The Beast" tube amp (built by blair chapman, if you want to google it)
- Auralic Taurus Mk2
- Gilmore Lite Mk2 (silmic cap modded) with golden reference PSU
- Kicker KX200.4 from circa 2005 (using pre-amps: DIY Noire, Gilmore Lite Mk2)
- Pass ACA 1.8 (using pre-amps: DIY Noire, Gilmore Lite Mk2)
On most amps it sounds very boring especially if you loved the original Empyrean; by comparison the Elite lacks bass and sub-bass and the lower treble seems a bit more forward.
My third favorite amp was the Taurus Mk2: in fully balanced mode, it sounded extremely detailed and had good stage/depth - notes magically appeared out of nowhere
My second favorite amp (combo) was the DIY Noire as a preamp into the Kicker KX200.4 (this is also my favorite amp for original empyreans, when driven by the RME ADI-2). not much detail, but huge open concert hall and punchier bass (especially because I have a slight bass boost dialed into the amp)
My favorite amp (combo) was the DIY Noire as a preamp into the Pass ACA 1.8, it's extremely impressive, extremely punchy, and to my ears pretty detailed. The bass is very present and exciting!
Keep in mind all my impressions are when also using a Clark Transducer mounted to my chair to fill in sub-bass (using a Rockford Fosgate sub amp crossed over around 120hz) so I'm not as sensitive to headphones lacking sub-bass anymore... if you really love sub-bass you might be disappointed with the Elite
Thanks! It's driving my LCD-X for now, hoping to get a Meze soonish!Pairs really well. The Elites are pretty efficient...much like the Empyreans. Haven't gotten into EQ yet. Will eventually do so.
Congrats on your new gear. It's a great piece of hardware.