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

[FinHifi]

Well, after just over a year I still love the Elites and while I know I’ll add a second pair of headphones at some point I’ve just not really felt the need.

I’ve just completed my system by adding the Auris Nirvana tube amp. Tubes is something I’ve always wanted to do and I feel I’ve found a good level. Using Psvane EL34-PH Philips replicas and Telefunken 12au7 and the combination provides a very holographic soundstage imaging with beautiful bass, mids and detailed highs with the Elites.

The Elites just seem to scale amazingly well and just do so many things so well I find it hard to find the energy to try something else

You need a second pair, trust me And my advice is: Take a dynamic headphone to be your lovely wedded second headphone. I have ADX5K and Elite, it is a perfect combination for me as guitars and drums sound excellent on ADX, and the rest on Elite. I don't thing there is a jack of all trades headphone, for me at least so two headphones makes sense. Based on this thread ZMF might also be a good choice, however as i play a lot, comfort is a must ,hence ADX for me.

 

[FinHifi]

I just had a listening session with my wife (a non audiophile)...I think it's quite relevant to the last few posts...

She said "OK show me why all of these thousands of £ are worth it".

She played a few songs she wanted to hear and said "OK it sounds nice but it's not giving me anything from the music I don't already know. Nothing I haven't already experienced".

Basically when she listens to music she just wants to listen and feel it. She couldn't give a crap if she can hear some audience member fart 3 rows back from the microphone.

So play her a few songs I know sound awesome which are:

Listen to A Change Is Gonna Come by Fugees on Qobuz https://open.qobuz.com/track/113326
Listen to Jazz Variants by O-Zone Percussion Group on Qobuz https://open.qobuz.com/track/2367658
Listen to You're So Cool by Hans Zimmer on Qobuz https://open.qobuz.com/track/45524729

She was absolutely blown away and said "if everything sounds like that I would listen all day long as that is amazing".

I said if the recording doesn't have the detail you won't hear it. It will just sound nice and nothing more. It won't always blow you away.

So, going back to the previous few posts.. I have heard the extra soundstage on the Abyss ab-1266tc. I have heard a little more detail from the Susvara.

Nothing I have heard so far can blow you away when the recording allows (and when you really want to hear it) but also allows you to just enjoy the music as the Elites.

For me it makes them truly marvellous.

Well, similar with me, however she just said sounds good (she does not know the price luckily). And with good song, "yeah, sounds nice"

 

[turbofeet]

Haha yep.

I actually wrote that comment after 2 bottles of wine so glad the message got across.

Essentially the Elites scale very well and can sound absolutely incredible. Jaw dropping.

On the flipside you can play poorer recordings and still enjoy the music. It's a great balance and one thing I absolutely love.

Some of the other flagships can be slightly technically better (in some areas) but do not strike this balance as well IMHO.

Wonderful all rounders.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

You need a second pair, trust me And my advice is: Take a dynamic headphone to be your lovely wedded headphone. I have ADX5K and Elite, it is a perfect combination for me as guitars and drums sound excellent on ADX, and the rest on Elite. I don't thing there is a jack of all trades headphone, for me at least. Based on this thread ZMF might also be a good choice, however as i play a lot, comfort is a must ,hence ADX for me.

It doesn't matter how I like Elite, there always be a time when my ears just demand to listen dynamic driver for the sake only God knows. Agree that ideally at least acquire one dynamic driver along with Elite

 

[commtrd]

gonna stick with LCD4z and Elites. Good combo, would love to get The 2022 Focal Utopia someday...

 

[hristo]

 

[adrianm]

What i've been saying for almost a year now

 

[betula]

Exactly how I feel after a year of ownership.

 

[Toonartist]

There's a lot of gnashing of teeth on the DCA Expanse thread about this. A few are taking a pop at him and saying he doesn't know what he's talking about.

I think they seem to miss the point that we all have different preferences and that one size doesn't fit all. I think a couple of them take it quite personally and saying the Elites are MidFi only and can't scale. I'd imagine most of the Expanse users over there will take it at face value and be secure in their choice, and rightly so because it sounds like a great headphone... but as with the Stealth thread, there are a few there that treat DCA headphones as some sort of cult following and all others must be put down.

Personally, I like that he's honest enough to say hey, they don't quite do it for me after all. He's reacting the same way I would. I wouldn't want to invest that amount of money in something unless I was completely happy with them and we've all been there. Something sounds great to begin with but as you spend more time with it, you pickup on things that may not feel quite right to you. It's just personal preference. I think this is why I like his reviews, he's looking at it as a customer as well as a reviewer and is trying to make a decision as to what he would buy and the logic behind it.

 

[LCMusicLover]

... there are a few there that treat DCA their favorite brand of headphones as some sort of cult following and all others must be put down ...

FTFU

Seriously, that's where the term fanboi comes from.

It's like, rather than me saying:

I owned both Atrium and Elite simultaneously, and kept my Atrium because I could only keep one set and slightly preferred them to Elite despite Elite's superior comfort and great sound signature.

I had said:

I kept my Atrium and sold my Elite because ZMF headphones are sooooo much better than ~insert demeaning adjective~ Meze.

The whole idea is truly ridiculous given that we're talking about multiple $k gear. None of it is crap, but at this level folks have refined/elevated their preferences to the point where equipment which deviates from them is automatically dismissed.

Again, from my personal experience, I picked up a used set of HD-800S and didn't care for them -- just didn't hear anything really compelling about their signature. But I also could see how classical music lovers might have very different opinions about them. Just 'cuz they weren't my cup of tea, doesn't mean everyone who likes/loves them is wrong/stupid/deaf.

 

[Toonartist]

FTFU

Seriously, that's where the term fanboi comes from.

It's like, rather than me saying:

I owned both Atrium and Elite simultaneously, and kept my Atrium because I could only keep one set and slightly preferred them to Elite despite Elite's superior comfort and great sound signature.

I had said:

I kept my Atrium and sold my Elite because ZMF headphones are sooooo much better than ~insert demeaning adjective~ Meze.

The whole idea is truly ridiculous given that we're talking about multiple $k gear. None of it is crap, but at this level folks have refined/elevated their preferences to the point where equipment which deviates from them is automatically dismissed.

Again, from my personal experience, I picked up a used set of HD-800S and didn't care for them -- just didn't hear anything really compelling about their signature. But I also could see how classical music lovers might have very different opinions about them. Just 'cuz they weren't my cup of tea, doesn't mean everyone who likes/loves them is wrong/stupid/deaf.

It’s funny you mention the HD800s. I tried a pair and returned them when I had the TT2. But when demoing tube amps I had the chance to try them again and I found they sounded rather good for classical / acoustic music on a tube amp. I could pick up a pair one day!

 

[LCMusicLover]

It’s funny you mention the HD800s. I tried a pair and returned them when I had the TT2. But when demoing tube amps I had the chance to try them again and I found they sounded rather good for classical / acoustic music on a tube amp. I could pick up a pair one day!

At the time, they were mostly 'up against' Utopia and HEKv2, also Auteur. And there were no tubes in the house -- pre-Liquid Platinum.

As I said, just didn't offer me something different enough to find a slot in my quiver.

 

[ra990]

I had the Expanse and Elite, decided the same as Lachlan and sold the Expanse. I'm getting a kick out of the Expanse thread right now.

 

[betula]

I had the Expanse and Elite, decided the same as Lachlan and sold the Expanse. I'm getting a kick out of the Expanse thread right now.

According to my experience, folks who so fiercely 'defend' their favourite headphones are usually new to a certain level of audio quality and haven't yet realised the diversity of personal taste and quality products/sound. Diversity has never been greater in the headphone scene. We should celebrate this instead of acting like offended kids in the kindergarten.

 

[commtrd]

I came REALLY CLOSE to deciding on buying the Expanse. But many hours of investigating reviews etc convinced me to go ahead with the Elites. And there is no buyer's remorse here! Totally happy and satisfied with these headphones; also after a couple thousand hours on them it seems like they have mellowed into their "groove" somewhat and now sound practically indistinguishable from my LCD4z with the new pads. Which to me is a pretty darn good recommendation. At least to my ears, the Elites are just awesome. last night late, I was listening to Cody Jinks on Tidal and the sound stage was astounding. Just crazy good sound. I love these headphones, and the comfort let me tell ya is so important that just adds icing to the cake. There may be better headphones out there but to me it's gonna be impossible to beat these for overall performance.