Meze EMPYREAN - the First Isodynamic Hybrid Array Headphone

[yagislav]

Thanks guys. I have experience with the danacable lazuli reference for the Utopia's as well, they were phenomenal. Anybody try the danacable with Empy's before?

 

[LCMusicLover]

Thanks guys. I have experience with the danacable lazuli reference for the Utopia's as well, they were phenomenal. Anybody try the danacable with Empy's before?

It’s one of the cables I tried with Empy. I preferred my Silver Dragon w/ Empy. To me the Laz Ref cable exacerbated the things I disliked about Empy — mid-bass hump, recessed treble, blurred headstage.

Mind that’s all ‘my chain/my ears’. You may prefer those characteristics of Empy, or not hear them that way. In which case feel free to ignore my comments.

Note that, following a number of changes to my chain, I’ve moved away from my Laz Ref cable for Utopia, also preferring my Silver Dragon there, basically for the same reasons (cleaner bass, better headstage, improved treble & detail).

 

[Roasty]

It’s one of the cables I tried with Empy. I preferred my Silver Dragon w/ Empy. To me the Laz Ref cable exacerbated the things I disliked about Empy — mid-bass hump, recessed treble, blurred headstage.

Mind that’s all ‘my chain/my ears’. You may prefer those characteristics of Empy, or not hear them that way. In which case feel free to ignore my comments.

Note that, following a number of changes to my chain, I’ve moved away from my Laz Ref cable for Utopia, also preferring my Silver Dragon there, basically for the same reasons (cleaner bass, better headstage, improved treble & detail).

I echo your sentiments. I prefer the silver dragons with the Utopia and Empy as well; I think they benefit from silver over copper. As a heads up, u might wanna look into the Arctic Cable silver series too.. I just received mine and although its still in its break in phase, I'm really liking it too.

 

[Kaakow]

Hey everybody, new here...I'm really interested in the Empyrean but it seems to be relatively divisive depending on who you talk to. I've got the ZMF Atticus and absolutely love the sound signature. The more I compare it to other headphones, but more I find I'm wanting a signature close to that since it brings the instruments I really enjoy listening to forward - love what it does for drums! Excellent headphone for the genres I listen to - extreme metal, rock, indie, jazz fusion, that sort of stuff. Lots of it poorly recorded/mastered, so super detailed headphones usually aren't the most flattering or fun to listen to.

Is the Empy at all comparable to the Atticus' sound signature? I know the Atticus has a lot of mid-bass, and that the Empy is a really warm, relaxed headphone...

For reference, I was very excited when the Verite Closed was announced, so I ordered it and just received it in the mail this week, and honestly am not entirely thrilled. I'm finding I'd rather listen to the Atticus for most songs, when I'm switching back and forth. I'm not big into things like resolution, speed, etc - I just want it to sound natural, warm, and easy to get lost in. I'm hearing that a lot about the Empy, but I'm also seeing others saying it's not that impressive (sound-wise) given the price, compared to other TOTL headphones. However, I'm not super interested in things that TOTL headphones usually offer, like soundstage - I actually sort of prefer a more intimate, close sound, and don't mind if it's on the dark side.

Just sort of curious how the Empy might compare to some of the ZMF lineup? Or if it's close to what I'm looking for?

 

[Roasty]

The empyrean fits the bill of what you are looking for. And add on comfort and awesome build quality.

It is detailed without being in your face. Awesome lush mids, and nice impactful bass. Give it 200hrs and a nice solid state amp. I also enjoy my empy with some nice tubes.

 

[kumar402]

Hey everybody, new here...I'm really interested in the Empyrean but it seems to be relatively divisive depending on who you talk to. I've got the ZMF Atticus and absolutely love the sound signature. The more I compare it to other headphones, but more I find I'm wanting a signature close to that since it brings the instruments I really enjoy listening to forward - love what it does for drums! Excellent headphone for the genres I listen to - extreme metal, rock, indie, jazz fusion, that sort of stuff. Lots of it poorly recorded/mastered, so super detailed headphones usually aren't the most flattering or fun to listen to.

Is the Empy at all comparable to the Atticus' sound signature? I know the Atticus has a lot of mid-bass, and that the Empy is a really warm, relaxed headphone...

For reference, I was very excited when the Verite Closed was announced, so I ordered it and just received it in the mail this week, and honestly am not entirely thrilled. I'm finding I'd rather listen to the Atticus for most songs, when I'm switching back and forth. I'm not big into things like resolution, speed, etc - I just want it to sound natural, warm, and easy to get lost in. I'm hearing that a lot about the Empy, but I'm also seeing others saying it's not that impressive (sound-wise) given the price, compared to other TOTL headphones. However, I'm not super interested in things that TOTL headphones usually offer, like soundstage - I actually sort of prefer a more intimate, close sound, and don't mind if it's on the dark side.

Just sort of curious how the Empy might compare to some of the ZMF lineup? Or if it's close to what I'm looking for?

You don't seem to be interested in anything that TOTL headphone has to offer like resolution, layering, Imaging. Im little confused as to why you want to put down $3K if you are happy with Atticus. I for one find Verite Closed as warm and smooth in treble.
Also Empy is warm but in no way dark

 

[Kaakow]

Yeah, I was mostly thinking that VC would be a nice upgrade from the Atticus, which on a technical level it absolutely is. And since I liked the Atticus so much, I thought the VC would be a really good 2nd set to have to compliment it. Which again, it is...but for the type of listening I do, and the stuff I listen to, the Atticus just really fits the bill. It just seemed like the VC was the next obvious stepping stone - plus I got it at a nice discount when it first went on sale, so figured worst case I could just sell it if I wasn't crazy about it. Do I need it? Not really, but I was realy curious, especially watching videos from guys like Monsterzero saying it's the best closed back he'd heard, etc

Don't get me wrong, it's incredible on a technical level, it's really just a matter of me coming around and getting a better sense of what headphones work best for what I listen to/what I listen for, if that makes sense.

The Empy seems to fit into that, and just be an open backed version of something I'll lose myself in, but maybe not be totally blown away by its technical abilities, like I would something like the Utopia, for example. Also something that's not going to be my badly recorded stuff super terrible to listen to

 

[nwavesailor]

I recently added the VO and find it compliments the Empy nicely.

 

[LCMusicLover]

Hey everybody, new here...I'm really interested in the Empyrean but it seems to be relatively divisive depending on who you talk to. I've got the ZMF Atticus and absolutely love the sound signature. The more I compare it to other headphones, but more I find I'm wanting a signature close to that since it brings the instruments I really enjoy listening to forward - love what it does for drums! Excellent headphone for the genres I listen to - extreme metal, rock, indie, jazz fusion, that sort of stuff. Lots of it poorly recorded/mastered, so super detailed headphones usually aren't the most flattering or fun to listen to.

Is the Empy at all comparable to the Atticus' sound signature? I know the Atticus has a lot of mid-bass, and that the Empy is a really warm, relaxed headphone...

For reference, I was very excited when the Verite Closed was announced, so I ordered it and just received it in the mail this week, and honestly am not entirely thrilled. I'm finding I'd rather listen to the Atticus for most songs, when I'm switching back and forth. I'm not big into things like resolution, speed, etc - I just want it to sound natural, warm, and easy to get lost in. I'm hearing that a lot about the Empy, but I'm also seeing others saying it's not that impressive (sound-wise) given the price, compared to other TOTL headphones. However, I'm not super interested in things that TOTL headphones usually offer, like soundstage - I actually sort of prefer a more intimate, close sound, and don't mind if it's on the dark side.

Just sort of curious how the Empy might compare to some of the ZMF lineup? Or if it's close to what I'm looking for?

I think that you’ll make a mistake if you purchase Empyrean, because...

Empyrean will end up feeling like a relatively small upgrade to your Atticus, and not that different tonally. Super comfortable, with a warm lush sound, and a lovely, enveloping headstage, but still, mostly a side-grade.

I’m not saying you won’t love them, but for $3k, not a significant change/improvement over your Atticus. I guess the real question is, if you love your Atticus, what are you looking for from a new set?

 

[Coffee Music]

The Empyrean sounds EXACTLY like what you are looking for. A+ comfort. A+ forgiveness of bad recordings. And a sound so smooth and relaxing it makes you forget you're listening to a song.

But keep in mind ZMFs are very nice stuffs. I would expect an Emp to be an upgrade but not what +$2,000 might suggest. Bottomline, I feel Empyrean is exactly what you are looking for but if you love Atticus that much then upgrading dac/amp would be an alternative route to consider.

 

[Beagle]

A+ forgiveness of bad recordings.

If that's the case, buy a NightHawk/Owl for so much less? I would expect a $3000 headphone to give me the goods uneditorialized.

 

[nwavesailor]

If that's the case, buy a NightHawk/Owl for so much less? I would expect a $3000 headphone to give me the goods uneditorialized.

Coming from a Nighthawk I agree that the NH is a very forgiving hp. The Empy is, IMO, worlds apart from the NH. After buying the Empy I couldn't go back to the NH and gave it to a friend for their first hp.

 

[kumar402]

I'm not sure it may be only me but I don't find Empy to be dark or unforgiving.
Yes, It is warm and thick, very light weight but treble is little splashy and has energy in it and I thought it paired well with smoother amp like Lyr3 or THX789

 

[kid vic]

Yeah, I was mostly thinking that VC would be a nice upgrade from the Atticus, which on a technical level it absolutely is. And since I liked the Atticus so much, I thought the VC would be a really good 2nd set to have to compliment it. Which again, it is...but for the type of listening I do, and the stuff I listen to, the Atticus just really fits the bill. It just seemed like the VC was the next obvious stepping stone - plus I got it at a nice discount when it first went on sale, so figured worst case I could just sell it if I wasn't crazy about it. Do I need it? Not really, but I was realy curious, especially watching videos from guys like Monsterzero saying it's the best closed back he'd heard, etc

Don't get me wrong, it's incredible on a technical level, it's really just a matter of me coming around and getting a better sense of what headphones work best for what I listen to/what I listen for, if that makes sense.

The Empy seems to fit into that, and just be an open backed version of something I'll lose myself in, but maybe not be totally blown away by its technical abilities, like I would something like the Utopia, for example. Also something that's not going to be my badly recorded stuff super terrible to listen to

It almost sounnds like you are suffering from a sever bout of hot money pocket. IMO, you have two extra options: get a set of headphones with a drastically different sound signature or sink your money into a source change (add vinyl/upgrade dac or amp). The reason being is that you sound more curious than actually pursuant of an upgrade; you may as well keep your money if you don't have a pressing need to spend it.
If you are still considering buying an Empy I would highly recommend it seeing as its smooth and fairly forgiving but still quite detailed. The reason some people say its not detailed is that it doesn't cram these details into your ear; the reason people say its sounds flat I assume is because planars in general don't have the same liveliness that dynamics have and the warm signature exaggerates that (the Hifiman HE1000 series is pegged with the same problem).

 

[Roasty]

I neglected the Benchmark HPA4 recently, using it mainly as a line amp for my speakers.

Plugged the Empy into the HPA4 today, with an Arctic Cable silver. Simply amazing sound! So detailed and clear. Luscious mids and tight punchy bass.

Really loving this combo! Using two sets of ultrashort adaptors (cable was for the Utopia).