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

[PopZeus]

Tungsten finish is really nice and kinda makes me want to try out the Elite next audio show. CanJam Chicago is going to be fun this year.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

A little cable talk: At last weekend I compared 3 cables with Elite (use SMSL D400ES + Cayin HA300-II as set up). Three of them are: Wywires platinum, Lavricable Grand Line, and ZMF Verite Silver.

1. ZMF Verite SIlver:
The airiest, tightest, and most laidback sounding cable here. Soundstage is the widest, with similar depth to Lavricable. Lovely presentation if you like classical, or songs with complex instruments. A little less attack when compared to other cables here.

2. Lavricable Grand Line (Furutech Pin + Aeco Plug)
A bit surprised me as this cable is the most similar sounding to my own cable (Effect Audio Ares 2+ with Furutech pin and Pentacon Plug). Lavri is pure silver, while my cable is pure copper. Lavri perform better bite/punch than Verite Silver, also with more forward Midrange and more energetic presentation. Soundstage is a bit narrower here, but still send excellent depth imaging. Bass is a little fuller in Lavri, and deliver thicker notes through all spectrum when compared to ZMF Cable.

3. Wywires Platinum (Rean Pin + Neutrik Plug)
In term of character, definitely closer to Lavricable than ZMF Cable. The differences are in treble area, Wywires is slight less airy, with slight bump in Midrange, and similar bass response. Soundstage as big as Lavricable, but I feel a little less accurate in imaging. The downsides of this cable is at upper mid/low treble area, I can feel a little less refine presentation here (harsher), but I think if this cable use Furutech + Aeco the problem should be gone, and perform even better soundstage and transparency.

Definitel excellent cables all of them. My pick of the day for Elite: Lavricable Grand Line

Build Quality wise: ZMF>Lavricable>Wywires

Of course cable is all about synergy and preference, with different headphone result may different. For example, with ZMF Caldera I like ZMF Verite Silver the most.

To continue the story of searching for right cable, I stopped my journey with Norne Skollvar V2. Definitely a sublime cable! It has "vivid" quality, that make overall sound become more "pop out", with clean sparkle treble, punchy and dense bass, with a bit forward midrange presentation (still in natural way). Overall an energetic sounding cable but retain everything under control (no harshness on top, no peak on midrange and no boomy effect on low sector).

 

[ThanatosVI]

To continue the story of searching for right cable, I stopped my journey with Norne Skollvar V2. Definitely a sublime cable! It has "vivid" quality, that make overall sound become more "pop out", with clean sparkle treble, punchy and dense bass, with a bit forward midrange presentation (still in natural way). Overall an energetic sounding cable but retain everything under control (no harshness on top, no peak on midrange and no boomy effect on low sector).

Not to forget an aesthetically magnificent cable.

That Norne 8 wire braid <8

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Not to forget an aesthetically magnificent cable.

That Norne 8 wire braid <8

Indeed, and I really like the Y-Split too. Actually I didn't choose the design, just let Trevor know I like black theme, but not all black. Turns out really good! Kind of mix Black with Dark Grey, and Y-Split with Black + Flush Silver.

Thick cable, but somehow not as stiff as other similar size cables I ever encountered.

 

[ThanatosVI]

So after a while of using the angled Alcantara pads I can say that they increase the soundstage and clarity even further.
However they Lose Bass compared to the Hybrid pads.

Depending on the music they might still be worth it, however for me the Hybrid Pads are the clear winner.

On the Empyrean it's a totally different Story though. The increase in clarity and soundstage feels substantial. On top the higher Bass Quantity of the Empyrean can easily take the reduction caused by the pads and still feel like enough.
On the Empyrean they are a must have 2nd sound signature.

On both the angled Alcantara pads are simply superior to the old Alcantara pads and I can perfectly understand why Meze replaced them instead of making it an addition.

 

[arielext]

So after a while of using the angled Alcantara pads I can say that they increase the soundstage and clarity even further.
However they Lose Bass compared to the Hybrid pads.

Depending on the music they might still be worth it, however for me the Hybrid Pads are the clear winner.

On the Empyrean it's a totally different Story though. The increase in clarity and soundstage feels substantial. On top the higher Bass Quantity of the Empyrean can easily take the reduction caused by the pads and still feel like enough.
On the Empyrean they are a must have 2nd sound signature.

On both the angled Alcantara pads are simply superior to the old Alcantara pads and I can perfectly understand why Meze replaced them instead of making it an addition.

This is my feeling as well. For Empyrean the new pads are almost a must but for Elite the difference is less. Still torn between the hybrid and angled pads on Elite.

 

[betula]

So after a while of using the angled Alcantara pads I can say that they increase the soundstage and clarity even further.
However they Lose Bass compared to the Hybrid pads.

Depending on the music they might still be worth it, however for me the Hybrid Pads are the clear winner.

On the Empyrean it's a totally different Story though. The increase in clarity and soundstage feels substantial. On top the higher Bass Quantity of the Empyrean can easily take the reduction caused by the pads and still feel like enough.
On the Empyrean they are a must have 2nd sound signature.

On both the angled Alcantara pads are simply superior to the old Alcantara pads and I can perfectly understand why Meze replaced them instead of making it an addition.

I can see why that might be the case. The Empyrean has enormous bass quantity and sounds a bit closed/congested compared to the Elite and the angled pads seem to address these issues magnificently. The Elite is a lot more airy and open to start with, with smaller and more balanced bass quantity, so the benefits of the angled pads are lesser and taste plays a bigger role between pad choices.

 

[dleblanc343]

Love the finish of the tungsten!

Not sure if it’s made of Tungsten but I’m assuming so.

It feels like stone to the touch, and colder than aluminum. It feels super premium!

 

[Ichos]

Dear friends, here is my detailed review of the Angled Alcantara pads for the Elite.

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/meze-audio-angled-alcantara-pads.26404/review/30473/

Thank you for reading.

 

[SalR406]

Looks like Tungsten finish is official now.

I guess that answers my question from last month.

 

[Newsee]

Love the finish of the tungsten!

Not sure if it’s made of Tungsten but I’m assuming so.

It feels like stone to the touch, and colder than aluminum. It feels super premium!

Reminds me the gunmetal Empyrean.

 

[turbofeet]

Reminds me the gunmetal Empyrean.

Exactly what I thought.

 

[karlheinz147]

Indeed, and I really like the Y-Split too. Actually I didn't choose the design, just let Trevor know I like black theme, but not all black. Turns out really good! Kind of mix Black with Dark Grey, and Y-Split with Black + Flush Silver.

Thick cable, but somehow not as stiff as other similar size cables I ever encountered.

Do you have pictures of it?

 

[betula]

Reminds me the gunmetal Empyrean.

Exactly what I thought.

Really?

 

[Nomax]

Because some have asked me again.....

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mez...official-thread.959445/page-259#post-17407467

NOMAX

PS.lol