Meze EMPYREAN - the First Isodynamic Hybrid Array Headphone

[jinxy245]

Wow I guess this whole thread should be deleted then

Sarcasm...I like it! Even if it is a bit over the top...(however quoting The Dude is always a plus in my book).

Actually I think your point is (semi) valid, but that IS the point of discussing now...they apparently haven't finished voicing it. If we were blown away, they should know, and the reverse should be taken into account as well.

 

[VandyMan]

Other people concern that some people will be lured into making a big mistake with excessive hype. I believe most of us suffered from a financial loss at some point from buying expansive audio gears, only to find a better one was available at the 1/5 fraction of a price.

I think the reason that high prices are getting more and more contentious on Head-Fi is because it has become clear that manufactures now perceive that there is a pretty good size market for 3K-4K-6K-and more headphones. Based on discussion here, I think a lot of LCD-4s and Utopias have have been sold to HeadFi members. By buying these very expensive (note that I did not say over-priced) headphones, we are creating a price category that manufactures will not be able to resist.

I think it is important for us all to question expensive headphones value not just to prevent personal financial loss, but to protect the hobby. At the same time, we must recognize that there are some of us who want the best and can afford to drop 4K or more. I'm in that category and is why I'm reading this topic, the Suvrasa topic, etc etc.

If you price a headphone at 3.5K, you invite these questions and better have the goods.

[mod to delete there off-topic posts in 10, 9, 8...]

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

Wow I guess this whole thread should be deleted then. Since no one has listened to a production model lol. Why would they even bring it to a show if it's not an inkling of what they are going after? If they didn't want opinions on it? If they didn't want people to try it?

That "your opinion man" is a reference to the big lebowski. Watch it. Clearly it's my opinion as I've stated with the"I" and the "personally"

So we just shouldn't talk about anything related to it's sound on here? I said it's a gorgeous headphone, but hey... that's like my opinion man. And I guess all the people who are head over heals for these from their initial impressions shouldn't expect anything either

Here’s the bottom line. You are entitled to your opinion, period. And I, for one, welcome your opinion because of the simple fact that you’ve heard them and I haven’t. So whatever good means to you or overrated means to you, I still want that feedback. If a manufacturer is going to market a headphone above $3000, then price to performance definitely plays a role. We don’t need to all be cheerleaders to follow a thread. You keep posting. I’m listening.

 

[Beagle]

yeah, but this is the best for 3500 USD?, is better than VOCE electroestat sr007 hd800s EFO Focal clear audeze LCD 3, etc?
All of these headphone are less in price or equal in the case of VOCE.

If you buy it, it will be better. If you can't afford it, it won't be.

I've heard the Focal Clear (brief/horrible experience at CanJam--brightest sound of my life); LCD-3 (brief audition in my system); and a modded HD800 (again, brief listen in my system). I was impressed by the LCD-3 & modded HD800...very different "voicing" sound but very evident sound quality.

I also auditioned the EMPYREAN at CanJam, total listening time longer than any HP mentioned above. It impressed me greatly; IMO the best headphone sound I've ever heard.

Does that mean it's better than the others? I wouldn't know unless I could listen to all of them at length in my system. But on first listen, I was certainly more impressed by the EMPYREAN (for what that's worth). And BTW, I don't mean that 1st listen flash 'n' sizzle thing where the headphones knock your socks off, but would become tiresome w/longer listening. I mean the EMPYREAN sounded flat out gorgeous from the first minute.

Not usually a good sign. All the headphones I ended up respecting for honesty (or didn't abandon) didn't sound wonderful on first listen. I adjusted to their "accuracy" and acquired the taste, so to speak. When I would go to the Diana after using others, it would sound really odd, light and indistinct. But 10 minutes later I would realize how free of distortions and colorations it was, and it would end up sounding the most 'right'. But that's me, my ears. Others may use different criteria to find what meets their tastes and preferences.

It's called discussion. If you've come here to just hear what you want then you're in the wrong place. This is a forum for discussions and opinions. Suck it up - it's not personal. Literally the point of head-fi is to discuss headphones, what you like and dislike, and how they can compare to other headphones.

And by your logic if everyone just posted how amazing the Empyrean is here.... is that really helpful discussion? If every damned thread on headfi contained only praise for a headphone with no other objective opinions or comparisons then that information is useless. Every single thread would be filled with how THIS IS THE BEST HEADPHONE IN THE WORLD. And everyone would be right as it's their opinion but it's not helpful nor is it a discussion anymore. If you were a bystander looking to buy something or just research, and all you saw was praise on every headphone thread you went on, you'd have a REAL hard to deciding what to buy.

Exactly. Variety (of opinions) is the spice of life here.

 

[Bastianpp]

Why if i can buy it, it will be the best? xD

This headphone is very impressive but if is not technnically better or equal than utopias for example, absoluly not

 

[moedawg140]

Why if i can buy it, it will be the best? xD

This headphone is very impressive but if is not technnically better or equal than utopias for example, absoluly not

I would have to unfortunately disagree. The Empyrean was my favorite headphone that I listened to at this year’s CanJam SoCal (last weekend). The Utopia is a very detailed and technically capable headphone, but the Empyrean with The Source AV booth setup was comparatively (through memory) thoroughly enthralling, in just about every category to my ears. I’ll have a bit more overall impressions posted in the future.

 

[endlesswaves]

I’ll have a bit more overall impressions posted in the future.

Looking forward to your impression. Did you try the ones from Meze's booth too?

 

[moedawg140]

Looking forward to your impression. Did you try the ones from Meze's booth too?

I did not. I only wanted to try out the one from The Source AV booth that my friend @XERO1 deemed sounded much better than Meze’s booth. I did not want to possibly tarnish blissful sound.

 

[endlesswaves]

Thanks for your speedy reply. Was really perked by @XERO1 's post that they sounded different. The one I heard in Camjam Singapore was impressive enough but now wondering about how the one in TSAV's booth sounds like... Wondering how the final production unit will sounds like too...

 

[XERO1]

Thanks for your speedy reply. Was really perked by @XERO1 's post that they sounded different. The one I heard in Camjam Singapore was impressive enough but now wondering about how the one in TSAV's booth sounds like... Wondering how the final production unit will sounds like too...

Since TSAV is a Meze dealer, hopefully they will have a production Empyrean available for demo at their showroom once they become available for purchase. But this is not a sure thing, since their production will be limited to only 500 units. But if they do, I'll definitely report back about how they sound.

At CanJam, I asked the rep at the Meze booth if this number was set in stone and he said that they may be able to expand it to 1000 units, but he said he wasn't sure if it would happen or not. He said that it would be mainly up to Rinaro. And the rep wouldn't comment about the possibility of a less expensive version in the future.

 

[Beagle]

I would have to unfortunately disagree. The Empyrean was my favorite headphone that I listened to at this year’s CanJam SoCal (last weekend). The Utopia is a very detailed and technically capable headphone, but the Empyrean with The Source AV booth setup was comparatively (through memory) thoroughly enthralling, in just about every category to my ears. I’ll have a bit more overall impressions posted in the future.

It had just occurred to me that perhaps a premium price is part of the 'cost' of having wonderful sound in a nice compact size, as opposed to the bulkiness of the Z1R, AB1266 and Utopia.

I had originally thought the Diana seemed physically insignificant, considering the asking price. But I realize it's a lot of work and research to get that wonderful sound into a small, lighter, less bulky frame. You are paying for less because you want less.

 

[Pharmaboy]

I would have to unfortunately disagree. The Empyrean was my favorite headphone that I listened to at this year’s CanJam SoCal (last weekend). The Utopia is a very detailed and technically capable headphone, but the Empyrean with The Source AV booth setup was comparatively (through memory) thoroughly enthralling, in just about every category to my ears. I’ll have a bit more overall impressions posted in the future.

"enthralling" ... that's a very accurate way to describe the Empyrean, which I heard for ~20" at CanJam/NYC. I heard some terrific audio that day, but the Empyrean was the best of the best.

"enthralling" hints at a seductive quality some headphones have & others just don't. I couldn't really tell you exactly why...probably partly looks (Empyrean is singularly attractive among all the headphones I've seen); comfort (same); and of course, sound. Headphones like this are hard to take off, once you started listening.

I get a similar effect from far cheaper headphones/totally different designs (ie, Fidelio X2s; ZMF Ori). Once you start listening, it's hard to stop: the headphones have you "in thrall."

 

[Bastianpp]

I would have to unfortunately disagree. The Empyrean was my favorite headphone that I listened to at this year’s CanJam SoCal (last weekend). The Utopia is a very detailed and technically capable headphone, but the Empyrean with The Source AV booth setup was comparatively (through memory) thoroughly enthralling, in just about every category to my ears. I’ll have a bit more overall impressions posted in the future.

If empyrean is not at the same level of technicallys, it will be in level of clear ( 1500 usd ), for how people and you describe sound more in 1000 to 2000 price range.

 

[moedawg140]

If empyrean is not at the same level of technicallys, it will be in level of clear ( 1500 usd ), for how people and you describe sound more in 1000 to 2000 price range.

My apologies, I am not understanding when you said “technicallys” - please elaborate. Based on my assumption of your word structure (my apologies in advance if I am incorrect), I would not put a price on the Empyrean’s sound, including the $1,000 to $2,000 range. Nowhere in the ballpark of the Clear’s $1,500 range either, in my opinion. I will give a further explanation in my impressions in the future.

 

[Bastianpp]

My apologies, I am not understanding when you said “technicallys” - please elaborate. Based on my assumption of your word structure (my apologies in advance if I am incorrect), I would not put a price on the Empyrean’s sound, including the $1,000 to $2,000 range. Nowhere in the ballpark of the Clear’s $1,500 range either, in my opinion. I will give a further explanation in my impressions in the future.

First one, do you have the utopias?, if you said "through memory " i think no.. and make a comparasion by a short listening in the past ( with the exception if you have both headphone in that moment of comparasion) its really hard to make a good comparasion in that way

And i can't see the impressive technical abilities of this headphone ( like the speed and details of utopia ) in this thread by opinions of the people here.

This is a 3500 usd headphone, it has to sound like a legend.
Best regards