[MezeTeam]

Wow, I’m surprised to hear this. What amp are you using?
I’ve owned all these headphones and think they all do things that each one particular can’t do. So imo none are really much better than each other. But the empyreans surely win in value to performance. But I truly love my susvara too, except needing an expensiveness amp to drive them properly. The empyreans is much less picky.
And the abyss TC is in the middle, but imo not as demanding as susvara.

For my experience I still reach for empyreans a most of the time and they have a permanent location in my collection of headphones.

But some may think I’m odd for saying I also have a permanent location for the Z1r’s and Stellia too. My top four fav are Empyrean, Susvara, Z1r’s and Stellia. And all for very different reasons. I don’t think I can say anything bad about most high end headphones. If you own the susvara and abyss TC, then the cost of the empyrean is quite small and surprised you may sell them off. They are like Chocolate, Strawberry and Vanilla. And can’t say vanilla is a bad flavor since it’s the #1 selling flavor. But each have their own unique flavor

But really.... these headphones are expensive and understanding to sell one if funds are tight too. My wife, even though she loves music and owns her own pair of empyreans and z1r’s, she still thinks we have too many headphones.
Selling some to fund purchase for some zu audio soul supremes. But can’t say the empyreans will ever go. Couldn’t imagine that even. I love that we have so many great headphones today. Go back over a decade and compare to today. Truly amazing imo.

Very well put, especially the allegory of chocolate, strawberry and vanilla.

The ultimate goal of getting a good headphone is to enjoy music, and personal preference play a very important role in this process, and trying to say this is right and that is wrong is ...... unnecessary to start with.

 

[MezeTeam]

Speaking of reviewers, I forget the podcast but it was one of the more well respected. The guy is interviewing I believe the Focal dude who say something about loving turning down the lights and getting lost in the music. The reviewer/ host was totally taken back and had no idea why he should want to listen without all the light polution. So I unsubscribed to the podcast and realized I had wasted a lot more of time listening to him.

Indeed, it is important to focus during critical listening session, turning down the light can minimize distraction, which in turn help us to focus.

Audiophiles comes from speaker based experiences tends to understand and appreciate this, but not so popular among Personal Audio hobbyist. Wonder why?

 

[MezeTeam]

i owned the empyreans and sold them...i liked them but IMHO they pale in comparison to the abyss TC or the susvara....but of course they are a fair bit cheaper...this is not an indictment of the empyrean as much as praise for the susvara and abyss

Thank you for the kind word. Susvara and Abyss are important entries in Personal Audio Hall of Fame, Empyrean is honored to be listed among them,

By the way, mind sharing some detail on your headphone system? Just curious what headphone amplifier were used to compare these three TOTL planar headphones.

 

[jlbrach]

I am using the Dave/blu2 combo with the formula s/ powerman amp combo

 

[MezeTeam]

I am using the Dave/blu2 combo with the formula s/ powerman amp combo

XiAudio Formula S? We have come across this headphone amplifier at JPS booths in various audio exhibition but we haven't had the opportunity to try this headphone amplifier with Empyrean, will take not of this and check out how it pair with our Empyrean later.

 

[jlbrach]

yes that is correct

 

[504960]

amazing headphones!!

 

[Pharmaboy]

FYI, just put my Empyrean up F.S. PM me if any interest.

 

[Jvincent]

@MezeTeam
Firstly i have had my set of Empyrean's for about a month now and these are unbelievable sounding, fitting, looking etc. you name it they got it. I couldn't be happier with my purchase and look forward to many years of enjoyment out of these.

I have a bit of a random question for you guys. Your design choices with these headphones are ingenious. Modular pads that are easy to replace, drivers that customers can replace on their own as well. It shows that you are really looking out for your customers so the investment these headphones are guarantee many years of usability even if there is a driver failure after warranty etc. and that it can be done by the customer makes things so easy for us, its much appreciated.

With the development of the new pads underway this gets me thinking, do you think we will see updated drivers that could be purchased in the future as well to replace the stock empyrean drivers? Is this something you are working on?

As a customer already this would be amazing to see, the shell of the Empyrean remain the same (because it really does not need to change as is, its perfect) and as you advance as a company and come out with new improved pads, straps, drivers etc. we as a customer can retain our base unit and upgrade as the technology advances. It would be such a revolutionary change to the audio industry and one we all I'm sure would be happy about.

This may just be a pipe dream but one can always hope.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and hope to hear from you,
Josh

 

[BassicScience]

Empyrean blows the Clear away. I used to own the Clear and then I reviewed the Questyle CMA twelve Master using the Clear and it didn't get much better than when I used them with the Chord Mojo. That soundstage is nothing special. Dynamic drivers can only do so much.

Sorry, just catching up on this thread and saw this. How do you get from not liking the Clear to "dynamic drivers can only do so much"? ALL types of driver have general strengths and weaknesses but soundstage quality can be better or worse with any of them, depending on the specific implementation.

 

[ken6217]

FYI, just put my Empyrean up F.S. PM me if any interest.

OK, you’re officially kicked out of the club.

 

[Pharmaboy]

OK, you’re officially kicked out of the club.

Yes, I will sign off this thread (it's a great thread, too)

 

[Jvincent]

Yes, I will sign off this thread (it's a great thread, too)

Is there a dislike button? We haven't talked, but you've had a lot of good posts and insight on this fourm.
Sad to see you go @Pharmaboy. Hope everything's alright.

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

Sorry, just catching up on this thread and saw this. How do you get from not liking the Clear to "dynamic drivers can only do so much"? ALL types of driver have general strengths and weaknesses but soundstage quality can be better or worse with any of them, depending on the specific implementation.

Kinda crazy actually, I started to get into the planar type drivers and they were able to get louder and the bass hit harder without over driving the driver.

 

[k3kz]

About one month since I got the Empyrean, I really like them!
A question though, that has bugged me a bit:
I use headphone stands by Room's audio line, which means the earcups are hanging freely. Due to the design, they are tilted slightly upwards. And since the Empyrean doesn't have cloth or foam or something like that covering the driver (just the magnetic mesh type thing) i was thinking: does that mean dust can fall into the driver and collect on it? Is this something I should worry about?