Best is subjective, but best TOTL for an engaging musical enjoyment session, for sure.Still the best headphone on the market


Best is subjective, but best TOTL for an engaging musical enjoyment session, for sure.Still the best headphone on the market
This. I love the Master 9 for the exact same reason. Organic and holographic.I like my Elite better with the V550 than the Erco when I reviewed it.
Better slam, more natural timbre, more musical and organic, more holographic.
Erco is slightly more technical but V550 is more engaging.
As far as I am concerned.
Second Expanse/Elite owner with the same impression.I have been comparing the new DCA Expanse with the Meze Elites. I have posted more details over on the Expanse thread, but safe to say that they are totally different presentations. The Expanse is not that expansive compared to the Elites, in fact the Elites are noticeably more open and expansive. There's just a bit more hair on the Expanse's bass through midrange, whereas it seems tastefully smoothed out on the Elites. I think that contributes to the Elites musicality. When A/B'ing, I just wanted to listen to the Elites more, they're such a fun an easy listen. And the fact that they don't need a powerhouse to drive is very impressive on top of everything else. I'm giving the DCA Expanse a while to grow on me, but I fell in love with the Elites instantly.
Who's the other? I might have missed it.Second Expanse/Elite owner with the same impression.
@ThanatosVI , not sure if his impressions have changedWho's the other? I might have missed it.
No he hit it pretty precisely in his comparisons.@ThanatosVI , not sure if his impressions have changed
I'm really struggling with the soundstage on them. The Stealth took about 2 weeks for my brain to adjust, I was hoping that Expanse would be quicker. By day 3 now and I'm not hearing, what I would consider, a fully realized soundstage on them. Just very tall Left and Right and center congested all very close to the center of my head.No he hit it pretty precisely in his comparisons.
I do really like the Expanse as well, but have a clear preference for the Elite.
The Elite has a much wider Soundstage.
Is a little smoother in the presentation.
Has less bass tho.
And in an A/B feels slightly more dynamic and punchy.
The Expanse did grow on me over the past week and I'd even rate it #2 in my collection (but there certainly is still some new toy effect)
Edit: In due time I will write more elaborate thoughts on the Expanse in it' respective thread.
The Expanse needed burn in and getting used to (aka brain burn in) and I didn't want to rectify any early Statements
Why not the Stealth? I think that's easily the best closed can available and it would make a great pairing with an open back, like Elite.@ra990 Thanks for the valuable feedback. I was following the Expanse with interest as I love the Elites for their soundstage, imaging etc and was hoping for a better isolated version of the Elites. How would you describe the differences between the Elites and the Stealth? Are they a good partnership open/closed. Or, would something like the liric be a better option. I was a little concerned by the reports of the brighter highs with the Lirics though. Cheers
The soundstage is definitely smaller than all my other headphones. Would have to confirm if this also holds true compared to the Liric, which is an actual closed back.I'm really struggling with the soundstage on them. The Stealth took about 2 weeks for my brain to adjust, I was hoping that Expanse would be quicker. By day 3 now and I'm not hearing, what I would consider, a fully realized soundstage on them. Just very tall Left and Right and center congested all very close to the center of my head.
Has this gotten any better for you? Compared to other headphones where you feel the music is taking place around you or slightly outside of your head, this one keeps reminding me that I'm wearing headphones and all the sound is being pumped straight into the middle of my head. As I said on the other thread, the name Expanse, seems to be a bit of a misnomer. For me they're more like Velvet or something darker without much light or illumination for the stage.
The Stealth are truly a marvel of a closed back. I don't imagine anyone beating them for a while.I have a feeling if I was to add a second pair of headphones it will be the Stealth. Unless Meze comes out with a high end pair of closed backs beforehand.
I’ve been tempted by the Cayin HA-3A but after buying a Leica M11 and a couple of summilux lenses it’s either the amp or the headphones![]()
Meze will probably release their next headphone, sep 2023 earliest.I have a feeling if I was to add a second pair of headphones it will be the Stealth. Unless Meze comes out with a high end pair of closed backs beforehand.
I’ve been tempted by the Cayin HA-3A but after buying a Leica M11 and a couple of summilux lenses it’s either the amp or the headphones![]()