[SuperDuke]

I might prefer a touch more crispness, especially in the upper frequencies, as I feel that a touch more upper midrange and treble would be a good thing.

I suggest letting them break in a quite a bit longer. I find the empyrean fairly sensitive to amps and DACs (considerations if your are after more transparent sound). You may want to look at a good solid state amp. That said, I do hear very clear dynamic sound w/ killer good upper mids and treble using my 45 triode based tube amp.

 

[Pastwa]

Thanks all, yes will have to take a trip to Audio Sanctuary London or HiFi Headphones on South Coast to have a listen. Post above as everyone’s has made me choose the Empyrean over TT2 upgrade from H2.

Before you spend more money on other expensive headphones, try first to get the best out of your current HD800.

Hugo 2 (I own one) is an excellent DAC but very average headphone amplifier, especially with the Sennheiser's. Within the budget you can get EternalArts OTL (tunned for HD800) or, if not a big fan of valves there is Trilogy 933, both amplifiers will give you more fleshed out mids, deeper, fairly powerful bass and nicely tempered high tones, all with the headphones you already got.

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

Pics? Also we are still waiting for your Empyrean impressions

 

[ken6217]

Before you spend more money on other expensive headphones, try first to get the best out of your current HD800.

Hugo 2 (I own one) is an excellent DAC but very average headphone amplifier, especially with the Sennheiser's. Within the budget you can get EternalArts OTL (tunned for HD800) or, if not a big fan of valves there is Trilogy 933, both amplifiers will give you more fleshed out mids, deeper, fairly powerful bass and nicely tempered high tones, all with the headphones you already got.

He can get the best amp in the world but it won’t be as good of an upgrade as getting a better headphone or speakers.

 

[project86]

Empyrean arrived the other day, finally got a chance to unpack it and have a quick listen. I won't be home much this week so I might as well give it some burn in - controversial for some, but I figure there's no harm in letting it happen since I'm not here anyway.

So far so good, very impressive even right out of the box. Running it with a Nativ Vita playing Qobuz hi-res, or a Destiny MX-Pro playing local files, out to a Wyred4Sound 10th Anniversary DAC, then the Pass Labs HPA-1. Stock Meze cable for now, but I have alternatives from Audio Art and Effect Audio that will probably get more listening time.

All I can confidently say thus far: Empyrean is extremely comfortable for my large head. SQ seems competitive in the highest tier, but I can't comment as much on that at the moment. Stay tuned!

(Sorry for the poor pics, I ran out of time and light... better ones coming at some point when I find time)

 

[ken6217]

John, have you listened to it yet with a balanced cable? Sounds better with it, at least using a V281 or does.

 

[project86]

John, have you listened to it yet with a balanced cable? Sounds better with it, at least using a V281 or does.

I have not done anything but the stock cable yet. Only had about 30 minutes to spare earlier today before I had to head out. And I won't be home for a while, but you can be sure I'll give it a try when I can (and report back, obviously).

I would think the V281 would offer an improvement in balanced mode though, any specific cable differences aside. That amp topology really thrives when using balanced. Then when you add in the potential difference brought by cable upgrades, you've got a double-chance for improvement.

Based on pure looks alone (which is silly, I admit), I'm keen on trying my Audio Art HPX-1SE balanced cable. Have I already mentioned I love that Meze used the tried-and-true Audeze connectors on the Empyrean?

 

[ken6217]

Based on your comments, I ordered the Audio Art HPX-1SE balanced cable, and it will arrive tomorrow. Rob Fritz is great to work with.

 

[project86]

Based on your comments, I ordered the Audio Art HPX-1SE balanced cable, and it will arrive tomorrow. Rob Fritz is great to work with.

Very true! I use that cable with my various Audezes and will use it with the Empyrean as soon as I get back home. Fair price, excellent build/sound, and good guy to deal with.

 

[Pastwa]

He can get the best amp in the world but it won’t be as good of an upgrade as getting a better headphone or speakers.

Even the best headphones you can imagine paired with a mediocre amplifier will perform worse than a very good ones with great amplification.

 

[ken6217]

I guess that’s how it is for you.,but your’e in the vast minority. Go into any audio store and ask that question regarding amplification, speakers, or headphones and see what they say.

Amplification makes a huge difference or not the same impact as speakers or headphones.

 

[RickY B]

Hi Rick,

Below is the Information we have received from Rinaro :

"The Empyrean do not need any burn-in period.
Due to the innovative diaphragm material and pre-production stabilization processing, no burn-in is required for Rinaro drivers. Empyrean sounds as they originally designed right out of the box."
If you need further information please let me know.

Best,
Vlad

Toca Vlad
Customer Support
support@mezeaudio.com
www.mezeaudio.com


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[RickY B]

This is the make-up of the $499 Meze 4-pin Balance cable

From Meze;

Furukawa SILVER PLATED PCUHD Copper cable provides a bit more resolute and detailed open sound.

The cable is similar to the Copper one, with a few differences, see below:

UP-OCC silver plated single crystallized UP-OCC pure copper stranded

Each strand is silver plated.

 

[Quadfather]

Even the best headphones you can imagine paired with a mediocre amplifier will perform worse than a very good ones with great amplification.

Hoping Lotoo Paw Gold does well with the Empyrean....Sony 1A too...

 

[ken6217]

I’m sure it will sound well with that, but with that said. all headphones and speakers will sound their best with better amplification than from a portable digital audio player.