It is interesting to see, how much the second-hand Empy prices dropped since the coming of the Elite. Second-hand Empy's pretty much go around £1800 these days (or even less in the USA) which I think is an absolute bargain. Before the Elite the price used to be £2000-2100. For this money I think I might not let my Empy go. On the other hand it is a great time to get a second-hand Empy for someone who has been dreaming of them for years.
After three months with 90% head-time for my D8000 and 10% head-time for the Empyrean the last few days I tend to reach for my Empy more again. While I find the D8000 absolutely comfortable, the Empy's lighter weight is noticeable.
When it comes to the sound, the D8000 is technically better without a question. The bass is cleaner, more impactful, there is better separation and more details. The sound is also a bit more neutral. (And the D8000 is still not the most neutral can, with a warm tilt and strong bass.) The Final is better balanced than the Empy.
Yet, there is something special in the Empy's sound. Even technically it is actually not that far off from other flagships. I guess, it depends on how we look at it, but after all that negativity and online trash talk about the Empy's poor technicalities, I find it is actually unfair and simply untrue. I think, in a way this negative campaign made the Empy an underrated headphone which is reflected in the second-hand prices.
I still hold myself to a previous comment of mine when I said the Empy is technically better than the Arya or the LCD-X with a much higher (flagship) quality tone, timbre and natural, cohesive sound.
The other day I was listening to some Bach piece played on baroque lute. This is generally not my type of music as I mostly listen to alternative electronic styles but there is always a little bit of everything on my plate. Since when I was a teenager, I studied classical guitar and also played the lute for two years, I know how the lute is supposed to sound. It sounded right on the Empy. Natural, full with great texture.
On the D8000 it still sounded wonderful, but it was a bit more 'studio-like'. A bit colder, a bit more precise with better details, but not as lifelike/soulful. (I had similar experiences with some vocals.) The breathing of the lute player was much more audible on the D8000. Once I heard her breathing, I almost lost the flow of music.
Switching back to my Empy the breathing sounds were there as well, just not as pronounced. Which is another proof in an eternal debate; the Empy actually has more details than initially perceived, just do not call your attention as much as other detail focused high-end cans.
Versus the more technical D8000 I also enjoy the Empy's bigger soundstage as it 'lets me breathe in my head'. The Empy is a soft and relaxed sounding headphone. Time to time I wish it had the more precise and more impactful bass of the D8000 or the LCD4, but overall the bass is really not bad. Everything is there, it is just a softer take.
I mostly listen to music in the evenings when I get home from work. Most of the time I actually prefer a soft and relaxed listen (am I getting old?
).
Considering all of these I have postponed my decision of which headphone to sell until next year. I might sell the D8K in the end, I might sell the Empy. I might keep both, I might sell both and get the Elite or the LCD5. Luckily I am not in a rush and hopefully I will have a chance to audition both the Elite and Audeze's latest baby as well in the upcoming months.
