Meze EMPYREAN - the First Isodynamic Hybrid Array Headphone

[Ichos]

I don’t agree with you, both Solitaire and Susvara are much better then Empyrean if you consider lifelike sound and they don’t sound like ultra detailed headphones, you are right in case of Utopia, as you can get headache if you listen for longer time.

So you are a happy camper!

 

[adydula]

if you consider lifelike sound

What is your definition of "lifelike" sound?

Is it that musical instruments actually sound like the do in "person", "live"?

OR

Is it like experiencing a live concert??

OR

Is it a combination of both??

 

[adydula]

Try this for "impact" and in your face awesome jazz....the Empys here excel!



The first track is called "Crush"...its 10/10.
Experience the kick drum with a full life like emphasis, while sax and piano are in perfect tone..
A very very well recorded (mic'd) example of a stellar recording you can use with ANY headphone setup.
Also try "Sway"....

The digital album is only $8!! Such a deal.

Enjoy the music!
Alex

 

[saudio7]

So you are a happy camper!

Yes and comfort of Meze allows to listen whol day, but for concert I use other headphones

What is your definition of "lifelike" sound?

Is it that musical instruments actually sound like the do in "person", "live"?

OR

Is it like experiencing a live concert??

OR

Is it a combination of both??

Combination of both, but mostly acoustic instruments, piano, strings, trumpet, percussion etc.

 

[adydula]

I like the Empys especially for live performances....like Eva Cassidy's Live At Blues Alley, Tom Petty's live concerts...etc
Sounds very 3d for me and lifelike.

I had the Susvaras here a few months back for a week and I dont feel we are missing alot....but again we all have our personal preferences
etc..

I rotate a week with the Empys, to Hedds, to HD650's, to Focal Clears, HD800s, all good and all have positive atttributes..

Next on the list are the D8000's

 

[Ichos]

Yes and comfort of Meze allows to listen whol day, but for concert I use other headphones

Combination of both, but mostly acoustic instruments, piano, strings, trumpet, percussion etc.

I use the Empyrean to listen exclusively to classical music.

 

[adydula]

I use the Empyrean to listen exclusively to classical music.

What other headphones do you use for other music??

 

[Tachyon88]

I wasn't quoting you.

Was any of that directed at me after I asked about EQ then ?

 

[Ichos]

What other headphones do you use for other music??

I don't listen to other music!

I have some classic rock and jazz tracks for testing purposes.

Since I review a lot of stuff , Saturday night is reserved for non reviewing duties but for actual listening...

 

[Ichos]

Was any of that directed at me after I asked about EQ then ?

Pardon me but I don't even remember reading your post...

I was generalizing on the whole last night debate.

 

[Tachyon88]

Pardon me but I don't even remember reading your post...

I was generalizing on the whole last night debate.

Alright fair enough, I had not read through the previous recent post and my time of posting.

 

[NOMOS]

Phoenix Coil fine-tuning The target sound will be slightly changed
2019vs2021
C9 At present, portable ear expansion is most suitable A choice

Hallo Mr. Zhang Enyuan

How did the Sound of the Phoenix change ?
( Compared to standard Empy )

Are these earmuffs just dust cover?

Greetings , Nomos

 

[henriks]

 

[Mike C]

What r2r Dac do You use? I use Ayon HA 3 amp and MHDT Orchid DAC (also r2r) and it is fantastic.

I can well believe it is fantastic!
I have a MHDT Atlantis DAC, R2R, very similar to the Orchid. It was my introduction to NOS R2R and valve, and I liked it a whole lot. I've heard CD players at almost 10x the price that didn't sound as good to me (others may disagree, personal taste comes into it). I still had a slight preference for my Lector CDP707 player, R2R and a full valve output stage; it has similar tonality to the MHDT, but it shows that the MHDT lacks a degree of HF resolution and dynamics. But note, this comment is judging it by high standards, not taking the low price into account. Technically, the valve output stage is poor, running at an extremely low voltage. I plan one day, as a fun project, to rework it with a good quality full valve output stage.
I really like the Lector player; do see Rob Moore's review! Yes, it's about the ugliest bit of hifi you'll ever see, awful ... until you hear the music; solid, rhythmic, musical, fine bass, sweet. I now have the Lector Digicode DAC, with nice NOS valves, even better than the player.
My ANK DAC 4.1x is of a similar standard (excellent), non oversampling whereas the Lector is oversampling, but I tend to prefer the Lector.
Anyway, the punch lines, in my view (personal, biased):
R2R (done well) is solid, musical, rhythmic, natural sounding, more so than any delta/sigma device I've heard
A valve in the output seems to remove a small touch of something (hash? roughness?) that I hear in the R2R Resolution Opus 21
A full valve output stage is even better
The combination of R2R chip and valve output stage can be pure magic
The MHDT dacs are amazing value, but can be improved on and the improvements should be useful with the Empyrean - more detail and dynamics.

The amp looks very good; I love the 45 triode (I use these in my speaker system), tried it in a headphone amp but I couldn't get good results (I have my failings, I don't know it all and I'm human, thank god). I like the design of the Ayon, single ended with output transformers, simple, no gimmicks, attention paid to the power supply; everything done right, I'd say.

Yes, fantastic!

 

[Kiats]

Been trying out the Phatlab RASA. Tried it out with the Final A8000, the Hifiman Susvara, the Focal Utopia and now the Meze Empys. Certainly made for listening pleasure. Plenty of power driving the Empy at medium gain. Similar to the Utopia. Ran the A8000 at Low gain and the Susvara at high gain.