MEZE AUDIO ELITE - The New Isodynamic Hybrid Array Headphone - official thread

[betula]

Still the best headphone on the market

Best is subjective, but best TOTL for an engaging musical enjoyment session, for sure. And really, what else would we need?

 

[Contrails]

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.

This. I love the Master 9 for the exact same reason. Organic and holographic.

 

[Pashmeister]

My choice amp for the Elite is the newly released Cayin HA-3A. This takes enjoyment even further. It is excellent out of the box and the engineering that goes into being an excellent match regardless of impedance is amazing. Best value tube amp for sensitive cans. Sounds excellent even in stock form with ZMF dynamics, Focal’s offerings, and of course the Elites.

 

[ra990]

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.

 

[adrianm]

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.

Second Expanse/Elite owner with the same impression.

 

[ra990]

Second Expanse/Elite owner with the same impression.

Who's the other? I might have missed it.

 

[adrianm]

Who's the other? I might have missed it.

@ThanatosVI , not sure if his impressions have changed

 

[ThanatosVI]

@ThanatosVI , not sure if his impressions have changed

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

 

[ra990]

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

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.

 

[Toonartist]

@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

 

[ra990]

@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

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.

The Expanse, like all other semi-open back DCA headphones, attenuates a bit of sound - for example, when I put them on - the A/C vent noise/hum disappears, but I can still hear my dog barking. So, it does offer a bit more isolation than the Elite, but not by much.

 

[ThanatosVI]

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 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'd call the Expanse semi open at best, also from the amount of Ambient noise they Block.(which is substantial)

If you use EQ, you could try to lower the midbass by ~2db. I heard reports of that opening up the soundstage.
Alternatively reduce somewhere between 4-7k (presence Region) and increase 8k+ (air Region)

Personally I just accepted that the stage is small and if I crave soundstage I pick the Elite that day. The Expanse has other qualitys I dig.
However after 3 days my brain adjusted so that it didn't feel congested anymore

 

[Toonartist]

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

 

[ra990]

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

The Stealth are truly a marvel of a closed back. I don't imagine anyone beating them for a while.

 

[ThanatosVI]

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.
They usually Stick to canjam SoCal for releases.

So your wallet should be save for a while