ColSaulTigh
Headphoneus Supremus
The Empyrean (leather) pads on the Elites are (IMO) the perfect pad. They really widen the soundstage without sacrificing any of the technical abilities of the Elite. All of the Elite precision and sound "correctness" remains, but with the added benefit of soundstage.I've been thinking about ordering some Empyrean pads for my Elites. I've only had them for about a month, but I like the extra space the Suede pads put between my ears and the driver. I just don't like how they soak up some of the bass thump (I'm a bit of a bass head). I also like the extra clamp. How do the Empyrean leather pads affect sound?
I must try some Empyreans too. They could be a better fit for me, but I found some Elites used for a price I was happy with and just took a punt on them. Unfortunately there are not many places here in Ireland to try out nice headphones so its usually a case of buy to try. Only 1 Meze dealer in the country last time I checked and I'm still waiting for a call back since October to see if they finally have some new demo units in stock. I was hoping to try out as many as I could as well as a few other brands they stock.
As for the Empyrean, I find them very musical and they always put a smile on my face and I start bobbing my head and tapping my toes when I'm listening to stuff I like. They're really good headphones.
HOWEVER, they are very "heavy" compared to the Elites. The Elite have an airiness and nimbleness the Empyrean lack. I use my Empyrean to watch movies and TV and enjoy music, while I use my Elite to listen for the details on the music.