Coming back to personal findings re. these undoubtedly top tier headphones, I would just like to confirm that after living with mine for a month or so, they have only continued to exceed my expectations more as each week has gone by... and with every single one of my favourite test pieces that I've heard literally hundreds of times while assessing each new tube that I've adapted for use in my Feliks-Audio 'Euforia' OTL amp. And although many may find such repetition 'boring', I believe this is the only way to really discern overall - and more subtle - elements of performance, once a certain level has been reached in one's system.
And so, in this regard, I can only say that in my system I find these Empys to be lacking in no area whatsoever. And, more so than I have ever experienced before, the all-encompassing 'feeling' is one of being immersed in sound as if cocooned in a world far removed from any external distraction...their open nature permitting, that is! Presentation is so smooth and with a 'warmth' that is much more enticing/detailed than the slightly negative/derogatory connotation that's sometimes attached to the term. These headphones can deliver both exquisite delicacy and thunderous dynamics when called for.
A quick photo of what I personally also regard as "a match made in Heaven" (in the words of one of Meze's guys) : ie. Euforia + Hugo2 as DAC + Empyrean.....
ps. Sorry if any find my post as objectionable 'flowery prose', but I personally believe these wonderful headphones deserving of occasional said prosaic praise lol!
It's hard not to praise these things man, I keep getting my mind blown and I still using low end amp/dac which I hope to fix tomorrow. You think after so many spins of your test tunes you had heard all these was but nope Empy shows you more.
The thing that blew my mind is one tune I love I did not play on headphones. There's a part when the metal guitars come in over the symphonic parts and it's just a distorted mess. I use to think is was the engineering of the album but the Emps said "No worries I got this" awesomeness man.
So praise away brother