Meze EMPYREAN - the First Isodynamic Hybrid Array Headphone

[Charente]

Is the claire or noir hybrid cables better than the meze copper/silver cables?

That, I couldn't say ... I haven't listened to the Meze cables. But I will say that the Meze are silver-plated whereas the Forza cables are silver-wired hybrids (not just plated).

EDIT: And the Forza are considerably less expensive.

 

[ochre korg]

Have you taken a look at Forza-Audioworks cables? Their hybrid types would seem the best for Empyrean, part silver, part copper. I use the Claire Hybrid, although the Noire Hybrid is possibly a more refined, and more expensive, option.

Thanks for the suggestion, if a hybrid is the best option, then I will look for the Vector from Arctic Cables, I allready was interested in that one, but I then have to wait a month longer to purchase that, something like the Meze copper or Forza cables I can buy tomorrow, so that’s the reason I asked if the copper upgrade cable is much better.

 

[Ravenor]

That, I couldn't say ... I haven't listened to the Meze cables. But I will say that the Meze are silver-plated whereas the Forza cables are silver-wired hybrids (not just plated).

EDIT: And the Forza are considerably less expensive.

Thanks!

 

[Dragonmilenario]

Hi! So, from what I'm reading, the Empyrean's are much improved with the angled alcantara pads, right? Do you know if these come with the headphones now or still are they sold separately? And how does their sound compare to the Elite’s when using these pads? Is it similar in terms of clarity and space?

I remember trying out the Empyrean at a store once, but I think they had the leather pads on. Didn’t really blow me away like the amazing Elite did.

Thanks in advance.

 

[betula]

Hi! So, from what I'm reading, the Empyrean's are much improved with the angled alcantara pads, right? Do you know if these come with the headphones now or still are they sold separately? And how does their sound compare to the Elite’s when using these pads? Is it similar in terms of clarity and space?

I remember trying out the Empyrean at a store once, but I think they had the leather pads on. Didn’t really blow me away like the amazing Elite did.

Thanks in advance.

The new angled pads are included now with the headphones. The old alcantara pads are discontinued. (Some retailers might still have a few headphones with the old set of pads.)

The angled pads indeed improve clarity and balance on both the Empyrean and Elite, but they do not make the Empyrean sound like the Elite. The same level of difference is still there: the Elite is still clearer, faster, better balanced and more spacious.

I highly recommend the new angled pads on both headphones.

 

[ken6217]

I got mine about four weeks ago and they didn’t have angle pads. They still have the original Alcantara pads.

As an aside, I heard they are coming out with the Empyrean 2. Revised driver and new grills on the side. It’s supposed to be more refined and added detail.

That doesn’t make much sense to me as the Empyrean was “famous” for that euphonic sound. They already came out with the Elite for that newer sound.

 

[incredulousity]

I got mine about four weeks ago and they didn’t have angle pads. They still have the original Alcantara pads.

As an aside, I heard they are coming out with the Empyrean 2. Revised driver and new grills on the side. It’s supposed to be more refined and added detail.

That doesn’t make much sense to me as the Empyrean was “famous” for that euphonic sound. They already came out with the Elite for that newer sound.

Interesting about Empy 2. I wonder whether it will surpass Elite.

I’m weird here in that I absolutely detest both sets of Alcantara pads on Elite and Empy, though the newer ones are less horrible to me.

 

[betula]

I got mine about four weeks ago and they didn’t have angle pads. They still have the original Alcantara pads.

As an aside, I heard they are coming out with the Empyrean 2. Revised driver and new grills on the side. It’s supposed to be more refined and added detail.

That doesn’t make much sense to me as the Empyrean was “famous” for that euphonic sound. They already came out with the Elite for that newer sound.

This is the first time I see mentioning an Empyrean 2. Have you got any source that can confirm this?

I imagine it would be quite hard to position an Empyrean 2 between the Empyrean and the Elite.

 

[turbofeet]

I got mine about four weeks ago and they didn’t have angle pads. They still have the original Alcantara pads.

As an aside, I heard they are coming out with the Empyrean 2. Revised driver and new grills on the side. It’s supposed to be more refined and added detail.

That doesn’t make much sense to me as the Empyrean was “famous” for that euphonic sound. They already came out with the Elite for that newer sound.

Yes I agree - you have the Elite for that so i'm not sure there is a market for that. That Euphonic sound is very addictive and the Empy remains still one of my favourite headphones ever.

 

[hypnos1]

That, I couldn't say ... I haven't listened to the Meze cables. But I will say that the Meze are silver-plated whereas the Forza cables are silver-wired hybrids (not just plated).

EDIT: And the Forza are considerably less expensive.

Yes I agree - you have the Elite for that so i'm not sure there is a market for that. That Euphonic sound is very addictive and the Empy remains still one of my favourite headphones ever.

Still in love with my own Empys from their introductory days, and after years of experimenting with many different tubes (now into SS) and DIY cable construction/materials, I've concluded they possess a good dose of 'Jekyll and Hyde' syndrome, which would explain to me at least the less-than-enthusiastic response from many ever since.

Discounting inevitable personal preferences/hearing, I believe much depends on the usual synergy, or otherwise, with the rest of the system...but even more so with these cans! Anything else therein leaning to the 'warm' side is likely to be less than helpful...eg out of dozens of different tubes, none tamed the deep bass these headphones are capable of. Nor did they manage to coax out the precision, separation/placement and balance I now get via my Ferrum OOR/Hypsos PSU combo.

But although a highly resolving source and DAC are essential, I also found that possibly the biggest influence on bringing out the Empyrean's full potential is...the cabling...and not just the headphone's but throughout the system. For a good few years now I have been using - and advocating, solely OCC silver and copper wires in my DIY cables, my own preference being for those proprietary Neotech "UP-OCC" - solid and Teflon coated. I found the silver to be much superior to even soft-annealed 'pure' silver. In my view, I believe this to be almost essential to maximise Empy's performance. And to my surprise, I found that my usual combining with copper brought extra to the table, without encouraging bass bloom/diffusion, a common complaint from many...on the contrary, the most solid, detailed, textured and controlled bass I have ever heard - especially with my source now changed from Antipodes DX's SSD playback to a (slightly modified) Denon DCD 1600 NE (SA)CD/DVD data disc player's transport feeding TT2/mscaler and OOR. Gone also are other areas of contention, such as detail resolution, clarity, balance and stage delivery. But their smoothness, "euphonic" nature remain, but without the negatives this sometimes implies (or is inferred).

OK...so the likes of Susvara, Elite, Abyss, Caldera may well dig out a bit more detail etc, but for me that can only too easily result in less of what I can only describe as Empyrean's etherial soul...sometimes the reserve of just the very best tube amps and hyper expensive tubes to match.

ps. Re cable wiring, the best undoubtedly IMHO uses solid wire, with stranded a close second (won't touch silver-plated I'm afraid). But this makes for rather inflexible and unwieldy cables alas - especially when combining silver and copper, and not so attractive commercially. Me?...best performance comes first, despite having to 'suffer for one's art'!
And what I find quite interesting is that after years of being what seemed to be a lone voice in trying to convince folks to try OCC silver and copper in combination, lo and behold wire containing a fusion of the two has surfaced as "hybrid" wire, which I'm sure is at least better than plated. But most, alas, still seems to be in 'convenient' stranded form.

In short, I firmly believe that given the right ground, the Empyreans can blossom in a way not (yet!) experienced by many...I personally have no desire whatsoever to keep jumping on and off that interminable merry-go-round that can so easily entrap us. I can now sit back and simply enjoy my favourite music like never before...I am content

 

[chef8489]

I really have to get a pair soon. A year ago I went to moon audio and auditioned a bunch of headphones and fell in love with the Empyrean. I have been wanting a pair ever since, but things always came up and the money always went to that instead of the empyrean. I think I'll probably start saving up. Maybe putting say 500 a month aside towards a pair.

 

[Fife]

Agreed. The cabling makes a difference. Pure silver cables with Empy and solid state is a good match

 

[Auricon]

Couldn't resist October fall Empy sale + premium PCHUD cable upgrade and had to bring Empy home again to rejoin Elite and 109Pro.

 

[turbofeet]

Agreed. The cabling makes a difference. Pure silver cables with Empy and solid state is a good match

I used Lavricables Grand. Sounded great with Empy and Elite.

 

[Dragonmilenario]

Couldn't resist October fall Empy sale + premium PCHUD cable upgrade and had to bring Empy home again to rejoin Elite and 109Pro.

As a 109 pro owner but with a view to upgrading to the Empyrean or Elite in a near future, I am interested in your opinion. What differences do you see between the three? Which of the Empyrean (normal or Elite) do you think can coexist better with the 109 pro? I fell in love with the Elite in the store where I tried them but a classic Empyrean is much easier to get second hand at a tempting price... Can you live without the Elite?