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

[ckhirnigs113]

Just thought I’d chime in with a long-term update on my experience with the Elite. It has been my favorite pair of headphones for several years now. Every time I put them on my head, it feels like coming home. Everything sounds right and I can listen for hours in complete comfort without any fatigue. The addition of the Angled Alcantara pads back in 2023 managed to take things up another notch, which was a welcome surprise.

Over the years, I have dialed in my chain perfectly for my preferences. The combo of Yggy A2 and Aegis just does it for me. I also use a nice silver/copper hybrid cable with my Elite, the ZMF Verite Silver. To make the last little tweaks I have done a tremendous amount of tube-rolling in the Aegis. I have found a handful of absolutely fantastic tube combinations that play to all the Elite’s strengths. Sometimes I get lucky and find a tube roll that pairs exceptionally with the Elite as well as with my Atrium Closed. I’ve stumbled upon one such combo recently.

For anyone interested, here’s my current go-to tube roll in the Aegis:

Input: Tung Sol 6SU7GTY (black glass)
Output: Mullard EL34 (XF2, OO-getters)
Rectifier: Ken Rad 5U4G/VT-244 (1944, 3-piece top mica, “=“ side supports)

 

[Solasuke]

Just thought I’d chime in with a long-term update on my experience with the Elite. It has been my favorite pair of headphones for several years now. Every time I put them on my head, it feels like coming home. Everything sounds right and I can listen for hours in complete comfort without any fatigue. The addition of the Angled Alcantara pads back in 2023 managed to take things up another notch, which was a welcome surprise.

Over the years, I have dialed in my chain perfectly for my preferences. The combo of Yggy A2 and Aegis just does it for me. I also use a nice silver/copper hybrid cable with my Elite, the ZMF Verite Silver. To make the last little tweaks I have done a tremendous amount of tube-rolling in the Aegis. I have found a handful of absolutely fantastic tube combinations that play to all the Elite’s strengths. Sometimes I get lucky and find a tube roll that pairs exceptionally with the Elite as well as with my Atrium Closed. I’ve stumbled upon one such combo recently.

For anyone interested, here’s my current go-to tube roll in the Aegis:

Input: Tung Sol 6SU7GTY (black glass)
Output: Mullard EL34 (XF2, OO-getters)
Rectifier: Ken Rad 5U4G/VT-244 (1944, 3-piece top mica, “=“ side supports)

I run my Elites with my Aegis configured to Elrog 274b, Philips EL34s (early 50s), and I’m about to receive a pair of Tung Sol 6SUGTY which will replace a cheap pair of Sylvanias I currently run. Hoping it works out!

 

[ckhirnigs113]

I run my Elites with my Aegis configured to Elrog 274b, Philips EL34s (early 50s), and I’m about to receive a pair of Tung Sol 6SUGTY which will replace a cheap pair of Sylvanias I currently run. Hoping it works out!

Sounds like a good combo for sure!

 

[Jefecesti]

That album is very good, loved “let it be”. Another great evening with the Elites, just loving the musicality and the soundstage etc!

All I need now is to find a good transportable DAC / Amplifier that work well with the Elites. Does anyone having any experience with iFi‘s xDSD & iDSD options… or any other options, suggestion. It will be used when I want to take the headphones downstairs or when Im staying away in hotels etc!

edit…forgot to say, when away from my music room, I’ll be running it off a MacBook Pro & Pi4s that are running HQPlayer directly and via NAA’s so looking for the ability to play up to 32/768 from ups called files as well as PGGB files.

If you’re still or someone else is a need of great transportable amp/dac with the Elites, I warm-heartedly recommend iFi Audio iDSD Valkyrie. They form a perfect combo together!

https://ifi-audio.com/products/idsd...5vluQ6FYo2M-HwuNVUimJqJEYU45N6EaWDNS6WYJyv5x4

 

[Badsquirrel]

Fascinating interview with Antonio Meze and Mircea Fanatan. Great job by Jude. If you are a Meze fan it is a must watch!

 

[betula]

Fascinating interview with Antonio Meze and Mircea Fanatan. Great job by Jude. If you are a Meze fan it is a must watch!

The answer to those who are expecting/demanding (?) an Elite 2 is also in this video. I think, this video was shot last year in October/November, or even earlier. They are talking about end-of-year release of the 105AER. They said, currently they are not working on any Elite replacement and certainly have no plans to start any projects like that for at least 12 months. They are focusing on 'filling the gaps' in their portfolio with higher-end IEMs and headphones in the $1K-$2K segment. My impression was also that they somehow look at the Elite and Empy 2 as co-flagships. Elite as the warmer option for those who liked the og Empy and Empy 2 for the crowd who prefer a more 'neutral' tuning. I personally wouldn't call the Empy 2 neutral, but I guess these terms are somewhat relative. But it seems, the Elite remains the Meze flagship for the foreseeable future. Which I think is fine and fair.

 

[ThanatosVI]

The answer to those who are expecting/demanding (?) an Elite 2 is also in this video. I think, this video was shot last year in October/November, or even earlier. They are talking about end-of-year release of the 105AER. They said, currently they are not working on any Elite replacement and certainly have no plans to start any projects like that for at least 12 months. They are focusing on 'filling the gaps' in their portfolio with higher-end IEMs and headphones in the $1K-$2K segment. My impression was also that they somehow look at the Elite and Empy 2 as co-flagships. Elite as the warmer option for those who liked the og Empy and Empy 2 for the crowd who prefer a more 'neutral' tuning. I personally wouldn't call the Empy 2 neutral, but I guess these terms are somewhat relative. But it seems, the Elite remains the Meze flagship for the foreseeable future. Which I think is fine and fair.

Very interesting was also the bit that Meze wanted a more neutral Tuning for the original Empyrean, while Rinaro wanted an even warmer and richer Tuning

 

[up late]

^ meze was wise to reign in rinaro

 

[TheAttorney]

They said, currently they are not working on any Elite replacement and certainly have no plans to start any projects like that for at least 12 months.... But it seems, the Elite remains the Meze flagship for the foreseeable future. Which I think is fine and fair.

As a satisfied Elite owner, I'm quite happy that Meze is not working on an Elite replacement/V2 over the next year. But they did finish the interview with "and maybe some other stuff that we can't really talk about". Which could mean just about anything. What I hope it includes is a new higher flagship that sits significantly above the Elite in overall performance. This to stop me from risking a small fortune in considering the Raal Immanis as my final, really final, end game headphone .

In the meantime, it's entirely possible that the Elite is already my final, really final, end game headphone, as it continues to scale up really well with every upstream improvement I make.

 

[razoredge]

Very interesting was also the bit that Meze wanted a more neutral Tuning for the original Empyrean, while Rinaro wanted an even warmer and richer Tuning

This was the most surprising part of the interview for me as well. It shows that Rinaro is not a passive 'parts supplier' to Meze, as would often be the case, but an active participant in the development of the whole headphone with serious sway. At least that was the relationship when the OG Empy was designed. Curious if this is still the case.

 

[noahdank]

Picked up my elite and have been listening to it religiously for 2 months or so. Love the bass response and texture