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

[ken6217]

I decided to go with this amp based on comments from a couple of people that I know that have it.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cen-grand-9i-906-silver-fox.966805/

 

[ken6217]

why not high end tube amp?

I’ve had an Eddie Current Balancing act, Cayin HA 300, and Auris Nirvana and I don’t like any of them better than a good solid state amp. This also takes into account using tubes such as KR Audio 300B HP, Mullard, Brimar, Tung Sol 6SN7GT round plate, black glass, etc. etc..

I listen to mostly classic rock and like an amp with grunt. I don’t get that with a tube amp. Probably the closest I got was using an Audio Research REF 75 SE speaker amp with KT150 tubes with my Abyss 1266TC.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

why not high end tube amp?

I'm considering selling my Quicksilver and SW51+ and getting the Icon Audio HP8 MKII Signature. It's not super high-end, but I think it would be a step up from my current tube amps. A few Head-Fiers I trust are big fans of it.

 

[Slim1970]

I decided to go with this amp based on comments from a couple of people that I know that have it.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/cen-grand-9i-906-silver-fox.966805/

Solid choice

 

[TheMiddleSky]

I feel the same way. It is very mixed and random what I like from Meze and what not. I absolutely love the Elite, my choice versus quite a few other TOTL headphones. I used to love the Empyrean but since the Elite appeared to me it is just a clear evolution and couldn't really go back to the Empy's presentation which after the Elite sounds too thick, too boomy with a small stage. I liked a lot of things in the Liric although it is a very different tuning compared to Empy/Elite. The treble eventually was too much for me. I quite like the Advar, I think those are great fun little IEMs. The Rai Penta did not blow me away back then neither the original Meze 99. The 99 Neo also wasn't particularly great. The 109pro again is quite remarkable, but the treble to me similarly to the Liric is just a bit bright. So pretty mixed feelings with everything else except the Elite.

I tried hard to like Liric but always fail. Too narrow, and a bit bright like you wrote. The design is awesome for a closed back headphone though, so comfy to use, compact, looks durable and elegant at the same time.

I’ve had an Eddie Current Balancing act, Cayin HA 300, and Auris Nirvana and I don’t like any of them better than a good solid state amp. This also takes into account using tubes such as KR Audio 300B HP, Mullard, Brimar, Tung Sol 6SN7GT round plate, black glass, etc. etc..

I listen to mostly classic rock and like an amp with grunt. I don’t get that with a tube amp. Probably the closest I got was using an Audio Research REF 75 SE speaker amp with KT150 tubes with my Abyss 1266TC.

For typical classic rock songs, perhaps try something with less sweetness, more linear and stronger bite/impact tube amp? (Something less sweet/relax than 300B and EL34), like WA33 for instance (2A3). However, your choice of solid state amp seems great!

I'm considering selling my Quicksilver and SW51+ and getting the Icon Audio HP8 MKII Signature. It's not super high-end, but I think it would be a step up from my current tube amps. A few Head-Fiers I trust are big fans of it.

Heard a lot of good things about them. I wonder how it compared to Cayin HA-3A. So far for the price, very hard to find something better than HA-3A to drive Elite (based on my preference).

 

[ckhirnigs113]

Don’t get me wrong, the Quicksilver sounds great with the Elite. I’m just at the point where I’m open to a really nice solid-state amp or tube amp to replace all my amps. I don’t like to think how much $$$ I’ve got wrapped up in tubes at this point. The solid-state route is so much less complicated.

On the other hand, I’m actually really tempted by the DIY Aegis amp that @L0rdGwyn has released the building instructions for recently. I’m not up to the completing the build myself, but I might be open to paying someone to do it for me. I’m going to wait for some impressions first once more people finish building the amp.

 

[betula]

So far for the price, very hard to find something better than HA-3A to drive Elite (based on my preference).

I can attest to that!

 

[Toonartist]

Don’t get me wrong, the Quicksilver sounds great with the Elite. I’m just at the point where I’m open to a really nice solid-state amp or tube amp to replace all my amps. I don’t like to think how much $$$ I’ve got wrapped up in tubes at this point. The solid-state route is so much less complicated.

On the other hand, I’m actually really tempted by the DIY Aegis amp that @L0rdGwyn has released the building instructions for recently. I’m not up to the completing the build myself, but I might be open to paying someone to do it for me. I’m going to wait for some impressions first once more people finish building the amp.

Yeah… I’m with you on that!

I’ve soldered my own cables etc in the past and decided to give it a go. I bought a silly little PCB soldering test kit on Amazon to make sure my skills were acceptable. The space around the points in the test kit are closer than the Output switch on the Aegis so a good test. No problems.

The instructions are so clear and there is a lot of space on the main boards. In the space of 2hrs I’ve reached this point but waiting on other parts now! Loving the experience so far, very enjoyable!

 

[jamesjames]

I recently acquired the Elite and thought I should post a few impressions which may be of interest to any others who, like me, have avoided planars (isodynamic and electrostatic) in favour of dynamic phones. I listen to classical music and have always preferred dynamic phones for the natural quality I feel they bring to replay of recordings of acoustic instruments. I've owned most of the well regarded planar magnetic and electrostatic phones, and swapped amps in and out. But none have appealed to me. They have all shared - to a greater or lesser extent - a synthetic quality which I speculate is due to high levels of resonance. This may, it seems, have contributed to some dynamic flatness too. I've always preferred 'neutral' dynamic drivers like the HD800(S), early Beyerdynamic T1s and the ADX5000. I also like the MySphere. The Elite, however, doesn't in my opinion share the typical planar character. I owned the Empyean some years ago and thought it might be fine - but ultimately found its warmer top end too much. I find the Elite remedies that issue, and also presents timbre and texture very well indeed. I think it promises to be among the best all around phones I've encountered - which really does surprise me. Some of the measurements I've seen suggest it may well perform better than many other planars in terms of time-domain behaviour. So, if you've been avoiding planars for reasons like those I've outlined here, and you're in the market for some new phones, I would encourage you to audition the Elite. You might find it as surprising as I did.

 

[Mr X]

I recently acquired the Elite and thought I should post a few impressions which may be of interest to any others who, like me, have avoided planars (isodynamic and electrostatic) in favour of dynamic phones. I listen to classical music and have always preferred dynamic phones for the natural quality I feel they bring to replay of recordings of acoustic instruments. I've owned most of the well regarded planar magnetic and electrostatic phones, and swapped amps in and out. But none have appealed to me. They have all shared - to a greater or lesser extent - a synthetic quality which I speculate is due to high levels of resonance. This may, it seems, have contributed to some dynamic flatness too. I've always preferred 'neutral' dynamic drivers like the HD800(S), early Beyerdynamic T1s and the ADX5000. I also like the MySphere. The Elite, however, doesn't in my opinion share the typical planar character. I owned the Empyean some years ago and thought it might be fine - but ultimately found its warmer top end too much. I find the Elite remedies that issue, and also presents timbre and texture very well indeed. I think it promises to be perhaps the best all around phone I've encountered - which really does surprise me. Some of the measurements I've seen suggest it may well perform better than many other planars in terms of time-domain behaviour. So, if you've been avoiding planars for reasons like those I've outlined here, and you're in the market for some new phones, I would encourage you to audition the Elite. You might find it as surprising as I did.

Nice review. Out of interest which pads are you’re using or prefer with the Elite?

 

[jamesjames]

Nice review. Out of interest which pads are you’re using or prefer with the Elite?

I like the 'hybrid' pads - a little more analytical than the other pads I think.

 

[LoryWiv]

I like the 'hybrid' pads - a little more analytical than the other pads I think.

I'm a new Elite owner and thus far prefer the Angled Alcantara for more euphony. I'm also not fond of the way my ears touch the inner cup wall with the thinner hybrid pad. I'm also noticing that Elite driven by my Euforia AE OTL is very responsive to tube rolling. Perhaps with different tube combinations the hybrid pad may be preferred. Fun journey thus far and key is that it all sounds great!

 

[hifilove]

Weird thing is actually I have hard time to like Meze's offerings except Elite.

The old Rai Penta actually is fine, but weak in technicalities compared to today's competitors.

The Empyrean is truly a good headphone and in many ways there is more across the entirety of the frequency range than the Elite, which is good but can be a bit tipped up across the treble. And if you run the Empyrean with a very good headphone amp--Aurorasound HEADA, HeadAmp GS-X MkII--it will step-up really nicely.

 

[ken6217]

The same could be said about the Elite in terms of amp pairing as well. I’m very sensitive to treble and I’ve never thought the treble to be bright or sibilant at all.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

I've personally never found the Elite bright in the treble from any of my amps, tube or solid state. I have on occasion found the treble a little hot on my ZMF Auteur.