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

[gammi]

Peordered Empy II today and shipping is sometime mid-Nov. Definitely trying them out the new duo pads with Elite.

As someone who was just considering buying an Elite and now is completely confused which I'd prefer now that the Empyrean 2 launched, I'll be watching for your review!

 

[Lucikun]

Oof. My wallet cant take much more! So sleek!

 

[hurstnova350]

As someone who was just considering buying an Elite and now is completely confused which I'd prefer now that the Empyrean 2 launched, I'll be watching for your review!

I don’t think the Empyrean 2 is meant to compete with the Elite, the reviews I’ve come across so far say the Elite is still way better. But I’d be curious to hear some real world feedback in here from fellow members over time.

 

[gammi]

I don’t think the Empyrean 2 is meant to compete with the Elite, the reviews I’ve come across so far say the Elite is still way better. But I’d be curious to hear some real world feedback in here from fellow members over time.

Better technicals, yes. But what I'm looking for is something with the lush velvet sound of the OG Empy, not necessarily "better". I already have headphones that are extremely technically good, I want something a bit colored and fun. It's still not clear yet whether the Empy 2 or Elite has more of that Meze house sound.

 

[Ichos]

Dear friends here is an updated and detailed Meze Angled Alcantara pads review now including impressions with both the Elite and the Empyrean.

 

[krude]

I also have some thoughts on the Angled Alcantara for the Elite :

- More neutral, clear tuning
- Less bass and flatter presentation ... with Angled pads it starts to remind me the characteristics of Susvara.
- In my system Angled pands are the most delicate sounding as well. The most aggresive are Hybrid, then normal Alcantara takes the edge a bit and expands the stage, and then Angled Alcantara really makes them mellow (like Susvara) with a very reference tuning and maximised technicalities ... like Susvara.

So ... since I'm not a Susvara fan, I still prefer the normal Alcantara, followed by Hybrid, followed by Angled, but it's great to have options and mix things up. It will definitely synergise differently with different chains, this is just how it sounds for me on my current chain (running HA300MK2 with Elrog ER) so as always YMMV.

Coming back to my initial impressions, with angled pads the bass is the most reference, but they resolve 100% of mixes now that Susvara and TC does, so Elites are definitely not technically inferior, and with Angled pads they also present details in a laid back manner ... like Susvara : )

 

[ThanatosVI]

I also have some thoughts for the Angled Alcantara for the Elite :

- More neutral, clear tuning
- Less bass and flatter presentation ... with Angled pads it starts to remind me the characteristics of Susvara.
- In my system Angled pands are the most delicate sounding as well. The most aggresive are Hybrid, then normal Alcantara takes the edge a bit and expands the stage, and then Angled Alcantara really makes them mellow (like Susvara) with a very reference tuning and maximised technicalities ... like Susvara.

So ... since I'm not a Susvara fan, I still prefer the normal Alcantara, followed by Hybrid, followed by Angled, but it's great to have options and mix things up. It will definitely synergise differently with different chains, this is just how it sounds for me on my current chain (running HA300MK2 with Elrog ER) so as always YMMV.

Coming back to my initial impressions, with angled pads the bass is the most reference, but they resolve 100% of mixes now that Susvara and TC does, so Elites are definitely not technically inferior, and with Angled pads they also present detailed in a laid back manner ... like Susvara : )

Very well put!

 

[Sunset1982]

I’m excited to hear your impressions as well. There was a hint of pad swapping info in @Currawong’s review, but he really only mentioned how the Hybrid pads sounded on the Empy 2, not how the Duo pads sounded on the Elite.

Zeos said in his review he put the extra pads of the empyrean 2 and put it on his elites. Whatever that means...

 

[betula]

Zeos said in his review he put the extra pads of the empyrean 2 and put it on his elites. Whatever that means...

It doesn't mean much to be honest.

 

[betula]

I also have some thoughts on the Angled Alcantara for the Elite :

- More neutral, clear tuning
- Less bass and flatter presentation ... with Angled pads it starts to remind me the characteristics of Susvara.
- In my system Angled pands are the most delicate sounding as well. The most aggresive are Hybrid, then normal Alcantara takes the edge a bit and expands the stage, and then Angled Alcantara really makes them mellow (like Susvara) with a very reference tuning and maximised technicalities ... like Susvara.

So ... since I'm not a Susvara fan, I still prefer the normal Alcantara, followed by Hybrid, followed by Angled, but it's great to have options and mix things up. It will definitely synergise differently with different chains, this is just how it sounds for me on my current chain (running HA300MK2 with Elrog ER) so as always YMMV.

Coming back to my initial impressions, with angled pads the bass is the most reference, but they resolve 100% of mixes now that Susvara and TC does, so Elites are definitely not technically inferior, and with Angled pads they also present details in a laid back manner ... like Susvara : )

Interesting, my pad preference is the polar opposite: angled first, then hybrids, then og Alcantara.
Upper mids and treble are nicely open and natural on the og Alcantara, but to me there is too much loss of dynamics, and a pretty strong bass roll off with these pads.
Hybrids have the biggest bass quantity, these are punchy and fun, but sound a bit closed-in compared to the other pads and due to this instrument separation suffers a bit.
The angled Alcantara to me has the same more open sound in the upper frequencies as the og Alcantara, but mostly fixes the bass roll off and the too soft dynamics. In addition, the angled pads sound far clearer and more detailed than the previous two pads. There is more insight into a deeper stage with these pads. Yes, bass is more linear compared to the hybrid pads, so there is a bit of a quantity loss there, but bass extension is great, bass is clearer and more defined: overall more enjoyable to me. On the right equipment I do not feel I lose out on bass at all compared to the hybrid pads, on the contrary: I gain more with improved quality.
So, to me the angled pads surpass both the og Alcantara and the hybrid, but all ears and equipment are different.

 

[krude]

Interesting, my pad preference is the polar opposite: angled first, then hybrids, then og Alcantara.
Upper mids and treble are nicely open and natural on the og Alcantara, but to me there is too much loss of dynamics, and a pretty strong bass roll off with these pads.
Hybrids have the biggest bass quantity, these are punchy and fun, but sound a bit closed-in compared to the other pads and due to this instrument separation suffers a bit.
The angled Alcantara to me has the same more open sound in the upper frequencies as the og Alcantara, but mostly fixes the bass roll off and the too soft dynamics. In addition, the angled pads sound far clearer and more detailed than the previous two pads. There is more insight into a deeper stage with these pads. Yes, bass is more linear compared to the hybrid pads, so there is a bit of a quantity loss there, but bass extension is great, bass is clearer and more defined: overall more enjoyable to me. On the right equipment I do not feel I lose out on bass at all compared to the hybrid pads, on the contrary: I gain more with improved quality.
So, to me the angled pads surpass both the og Alcantara and the hybrid, but all ears and equipment are different.

I have to say that I'm getting similar amount of bass on Hybrid and OG Alcantara, with OG Alcantara having softer presentation exposes the bass more compared to Hybrid, and Angled Alcantara definitely has less bass weight especially with the lowest extension. One of the tracks that I use to test deep bass is Lenzman - My Heart, there are deep bass hits on start of each phrase, these have weight on both Hybrid and OG Alcantara, but have a lot less prominence and weight on Angled Alcantara in my system. This was tested now on HA300MK2 and my Audio Note amp. But again, this definitely depends on pairings.

Update : but Angled pads definitely have cleaner and more detailed bass. No question here. So a bit less weight, but more quality.

I think I know why I like the OG Alcantara most ... it's because I don't chase technicalities with Elite and I was really hoping for a better Emyrean with the Elite, and I think that's what I'm getting with OG Alcantara. It's more musical to me and has more character and this Meze coloration I like : ) and it's a comfortable long listen and daily driver for work.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Nope, the Meze website for the Empyrean 2 says that it uses the MZ3SE driver now. Pictures of the drivers do look like MZ3 though. Who knows...

Well, check again: https://mezeaudio.com/products/empyrean2

It's stated MZ3 Driver now haha. I think they develop MZ3 Driver on Empyrean to become more competitive.

Technically they have different spec as well. Empyrean II with Rinaro Isoplanar, 0.16 gram diaphragm mass and 82 gram driver weight. Elite with Rinaro Parus, 0.11 gram diaphragm mass and 75 gram driver weight instead.

I think just like ZMF, now Meze is clearly following the path, to let customer fine tuning the sound by rolling various pads.

 

[duas2noites]

I have topping dx7 pro plus, it travel with my notebook, because it is transportable, does anyone here tried meze elite with topping dx7 pro plus?

Another doubt, how about pc gaming with meze elite, I ask because besides music I play pc games alot.

Thankyou.

 

[turbofeet]

I have topping dx7 pro plus, it travel with my notebook, because it is transportable, does anyone here tried meze elite with topping dx7 pro plus?

Another doubt, how about pc gaming with meze elite, I ask because besides music I play pc games alot.

Thankyou.

Gaming is superb with the Elite. Not only does it sound really nice but the wide soundstage brings games alive.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Gaming is superb with the Elite. Not only does it sound really nice but the wide soundstage brings games alive.

I use the Elite a lot for Video games