I haven't yet read this entire thread (will do so later today). But I've read just enough to get the skepticism here about this particular company (known for high-value mid-level headphones) suddenly launching a $3K+ headphone. Well, after hearing the Empyrean at CanJam/NYC yesterday, and discussing it w/Antonio Meze, I have some counter-impressions.
First, for purposes of context, I heard 8-9 unfamiliar headphones yesterday. Most were open planar designs (my next headphone buy will be of this type); 3 were dynamics; plus a couple of electrostats. 2 of these headphones towered above the others: the Empyrean & the Final D8000. Both are in the mid-to-high $3K range; both featured refined & intriguing sound signatures; and they couldn't have sounded less like each other.
I entered the Meze/Empyrean room with some trepidation. I had no particular interest in hearing another pricey headphone, and while I've never heard the previous, well-regarded Meze designs, I'd picked up some of that prejudice about a mid-level designer launching an expensive endgame planar. I only put on a pair & listened because my friend was sitting next to me, doing the same thing.
Well ... ~20" listening in this rather quiet room off the main hall completely erased any doubts about this model's sound or authority to vie for endgame status. I won't claim great familiarity w/its sound (need more extended exposure in my system w/familiar music for that), but I was very impressed:
- It's beautiful: the design is rather daring because it's retro, all curves--I dubbed it the "Jules Verne look," as I so easily imagine this headphone hanging on a stand in a stateroom in one of JV's submarines. The grill is especially handsome, intricate, flowing, reminiscent of early 20th century decorative metal screens found in Chicago buildings designed by Louis Sullivan. The silver model is a true visual statement, but all 3 iterations I saw are very handsome.
- It's very comfortable: not heavy; well balanced; with deep, soft/supportive leather pads. I'm not normally fond of oblong earcup/pad designs (ie, the very good-sounding Aeon Flow, where I find the shape distracting)--but this oblong is quite spacious with plenty of room for the ears. A benefit of the oblong shape is better alignment with the curve of the jaw just below the ear (the back-facing edge of the pads seem to fit right about that curve, preserving a good seal).
- Sound: I was immediately struck by the midrange, which sounded ravishing, detailed, musical, smooth. The highs & bass are also top-notch, but IMO the midrange is the anchor of this headphone's sound--indeed, it's the best midrange I've ever heard, slightly better than top designs like the ZMF Eikon or Senn HD650. The Empyrean's midrange is rich with musical detail, but not bright. Overall, the sound is very smooth yet detailed, with no apparent peaks or valleys. The best qualities of planar drivers are on display here: a sense of calm/quiet at low levels, then instantly scaling up when the music calls for it. I heard none of that "speakers strapped to ears" sense one sometimes get from dynamic designs...the Empyrean is intimate, ear-friendly, a sonic immersion experience:
- Compared to other planars (my ZMF Ori or the Final D8000), the Empyrean's bass sounded dead-neutral, neither elevated nor recessed. This runs counter to many headphone designs, where bass is emphasized (sometimes at the expense of midrange quality). The Empyrean has musically faithful bass that seems to exert zero effect on the all-important mids. I didn't have the time or the right music to assess the bass in detail (ie, dynamics; timbral fidelity with instruments like string bass, electric bass, cello, marimba; and absolute depth including sub-bass)...but would love to do so.
- Also didn't have time to check out the Empyrean's soundstaging--I was so taken with the midrange that I didn't think about this until afterwards. In this short exposure, the soundstaging didn't sound deficient or hyped...but I really wasn't paying attention.
It was a real pleasure to discuss this design with Antonio, who seemed quite aware of the risk/benefit mix it poses for Meze: the Empyrean sharply breaks with the mid-level focus/reputation of Meze's current designs, and it's unsure how the market will react. On the other hand, he stated that certain design features of the Empyrean will "trickle down" to newer designs on the horizon. Antonio struck me as being very knowledgeable, bright, articulate, and accessible. I can imagine Meze 1-2 years from now, with 2-3 additional designs influenced by the Empyrean--that's a nice picture IMO.
Price: the final retail price of the Empyrean has not yet been set. It will likely be in the $3K-$3.5K range. That's above my limit, but it's a testament to the quality of the Empyrean that after hearing it even briefly, I can't get it out of my head...it's an impressive & auspicious debut.