Meze EMPYREAN - the First Isodynamic Hybrid Array Headphone

[betula]

Exactly. Objective doesn’t exist in this hobby and a headphones technicalities, ironically, are also a subjective metric that can’t be measured, so it’s all a personal quest. You may absolutely love the Elite. I know I do. Just curious if I need to take the Empy for a spin and see where I’m at from a pure enjoyment stand point, which does include detailed sound to some extent.

You won't know for sure, until you try them yourself. Coming from the Elite is an unusual direction though. Most people heard the Empyrean before the Elite. I owned and loved the Empy for years but couldn't justify keeping it with the Elite. Empy is still fantastic, natural, coherent warm fun. But coming from the Elite it will sound thicker, less detailed, with a less airy and more cramped, less defined soundstage. Also with an elevated mid-bass and not as clear treble. To me the Elite (with good amp pairing) offers the same fun factor as the Empyrean, just in a more mature, more balanced presentation with enhanced clarity which naturally improves detail perception too. The Elite is still not your typical analytical flagship as it retains the engaging and smooth Meze tonality, but it certainly is a good leap towards enhanced clarity, more insight and more natural details.
Two more things I would like to mention;
1, the Elite to my experience is a little more amp picky than the Empyrean. Not that the Elite doesn't sound good out of almost anything, but synergy seem to matter more. With some amps to some people treble can occasionally be too bright (Bryston BHA-1 for example) or in other cases bass can be a bit lean or even rolled off, not as meaty (Chord TT2). With amp that synergies well with the Elite, treble should be smooth yet open and detailed while bass still full, deep and hard hitting while keeping its improved balance, separation and control.
2, the Empy remains a fantastic and often underappreciated, even misunderstood option for music listening. I would pick the Empy any day, without a second thought versus something like the Arya, D9200, LCD-X, HE-6SE and so on (and I think these are all great headphones too). But I personally share the view of those who think the Elite (with the right amp) is a clear evolution of the Empy and a notable step up in performance.

 

[CL14715]

You won't know for sure, until you try them yourself. Coming from the Elite is an unusual direction though. Most people heard the Empyrean before the Elite. I owned and loved the Empy for years but couldn't justify keeping it with the Elite. Empy is still fantastic, natural, coherent warm fun. But coming from the Elite it will sound thicker, less detailed, with a less airy and more cramped, less defined soundstage. Also with an elevated mid-bass and not as clear treble. To me the Elite (with good amp pairing) offers the same fun factor as the Empyrean, just in a more mature, more balanced presentation with enhanced clarity which naturally improves detail perception too. The Elite is still not your typical analytical flagship as it retains the engaging and smooth Meze tonality, but it certainly is a good leap towards enhanced clarity, more insight and more natural details.
Two more things I would like to mention;
1, the Elite to my experience is a little more amp picky than the Empyrean. Not that the Elite doesn't sound good out of almost anything, but synergy seem to matter more. With some amps to some people treble can occasionally be too bright (Bryston BHA-1 for example) or in other cases bass can be a bit lean or even rolled off, not as meaty (Chord TT2). With amp that synergies well with the Elite, treble should be smooth yet open and detailed while bass still full, deep and hard hitting while keeping its improved balance, separation and control.
2, the Empy remains a fantastic and often underappreciated, even misunderstood option for music listening. I would pick the Empy any day, without a second thought versus something like the Arya, D9200, LCD-X, HE-6SE and so on (and I think these are all great headphones too). But I personally share the view of those who think the Elite (with the right amp) is a clear evolution of the Empy and a notable step up in performance.

Awesome perspective and I can definitely understand your point. Even though I am not a detail snob, I prefer to have a level of clarity provided by musical gear akin to looking out of a freshly cleaned panel of glass. I don't however need to be looking through that panel of glass with binoculars. Although you're absolutely correct that I need to hear it for myself, it seems Empy's might have some smudges on that glass in comparison to Elite.

 

[kobaomg]

I was finally able to demo the Empyrean the other day. Although I had high expectations for it, it didn't quite have the level of detail that I was expecting. I own a DCA Ether 2, which, despite being too dark for certain genres, is more resolving than the Empyrean.

 

[MasterHead]

I was finally able to demo the Empyrean the other day. Although I had high expectations for it, it didn't quite have the level of detail that I was expecting. I own a DCA Ether 2, which, despite being too dark for certain genres, is more resolving than the Empyrean.

Demo Empyrean on what gear? How long? What pads? What cable? Empyrean was already burn in or new?

I don't believe Ether 2 was more resolving...

 

[kobaomg]

Demo Empyrean on what gear? How long? What pads? What cable? Empyrean was already burn in or new?

I don't believe Ether 2 was more resolving...

It was at a local store, pretty sure it was burned in since the owner even burns in new cables.

I demo'd the Empyrean with leather pads and using my Chord Hugo 2, I think the cables were stock (not sure).

Well, there were a few tracks which I enjoyed more on the Empy, but for most tracks, I thought it sounded muffled in comparison and I simply wasn't hearing details that I usually do on the Ether 2 (with suede pads). Yes, the sound from the Empyrean is "warmer/more engaging" and I can appreciate that, but I was expecting a lot more.

Mind you, I went to the store very biased towards the Empyrean and thinking of potentially selling the Ether 2 to get them, but it simply failed to impress me.

 

[MasterHead]

It was at a local store, pretty sure it was burned in since the owner even burns in new cables.

I demo'd the Empyrean with leather pads and using my Chord Hugo 2, I think the cables were stock (not sure).

Well, there were a few tracks which I enjoyed more on the Empy, but for most tracks, I thought it sounded muffled in comparison and I simply wasn't hearing details that I usually do on the Ether 2 (with suede pads). Yes, the sound from the Empyrean is "warmer/more engaging" and I can appreciate that, but I was expecting a lot more.

Mind you, I went to the store very biased towards the Empyrean and thinking of potentially selling the Ether 2 to get them, but it simply failed to impress me.

Everyone has their preferences. I sold my Ether...
Empyrean are basically headphones that don't "wow" in the first few minutes. It takes time to listen to them, to get to know them. There is no missing details, they are simply on it's place. They do not come to the first plan. Unless you listen louder, then they surround you more.
Over time you can notices their uniqueness. These are multi-dimensional headphones. Pleasant to listen to. Suitable for many genres of music. And great for hours of listening, because they do not tire in any way.
They don't lean in any specific frequency direction. They're not trying to do cheap magic by attacking with sopranos, or enlarge the scene with artificial reverberations. No. Not Empyrean. They don't take shortcuts.

 

[Alucard1]

Everyone has their preferences. I sold my Ether...
Empyrean are basically headphones that don't "wow" in the first few minutes. It takes time to listen to them, to get to know them. There is no missing details, they are simply on it's place. They do not come to the first plan. Unless you listen louder, then they surround you more.
Over time you can notices their uniqueness. These are multi-dimensional headphones. Pleasant to listen to. Suitable for many genres of music. And great for hours of listening, because they do not tire in any way.
They don't lean in any specific frequency direction. They're not trying to do cheap magic by attacking with sopranos, or enlarge the scene with artificial reverberations. No. Not Empyrean. They don't take shortcuts.

Empyriean is the hero we need

 

[Butterfinger]

has anyone's Empyrean had a driver failure? just wondering as i do not want to buy one used and have to than pay 1200 to send it in for a repair as that is how much it costs.

 

[ThanatosVI]

has anyone's Empyrean had a driver failure? just wondering as i do not want to buy one used and have to than pay 1200 to send it in for a repair as that is how much it costs.

Ever since the Empyreans release I only heard of a single driver failure.

While there is never a guarantee that it won't happen it's exceedingly rare on the Meze

 

[User2007]

has anyone's Empyrean had a driver failure? just wondering as i do not want to buy one used and have to than pay 1200 to send it in for a repair as that is how much it costs.

Never heard or read of driver failure.

If you buy for a good price it’s worth the minimal risk in my opinion.

 

[Unterstuffz]

has anyone's Empyrean had a driver failure? just wondering as i do not want to buy one used and have to than pay 1200 to send it in for a repair as that is how much it costs.

I Had one. The customer Support was flawless.

 

[Butterfinger]

you paid 1200?

 

[Newsee]

has anyone's Empyrean had a driver failure? just wondering as i do not want to buy one used and have to than pay 1200 to send it in for a repair as that is how much it costs.

Just got mine back from repair recently after a driver failure. First class customer service through the shop (k55.ch). I've even got a replacement Empy during the repair time. On a goodwill basis. The guarantee ended already a year ago.
Buying new and being regular customer might have certain advantages.

 

[kobaomg]

Everyone has their preferences. I sold my Ether...
Empyrean are basically headphones that don't "wow" in the first few minutes. It takes time to listen to them, to get to know them. There is no missing details, they are simply on it's place. They do not come to the first plan. Unless you listen louder, then they surround you more.
Over time you can notices their uniqueness. These are multi-dimensional headphones. Pleasant to listen to. Suitable for many genres of music. And great for hours of listening, because they do not tire in any way.
They don't lean in any specific frequency direction. They're not trying to do cheap magic by attacking with sopranos, or enlarge the scene with artificial reverberations. No. Not Empyrean. They don't take shortcuts.

Well, maybe I'd have a different opinion indeed if I were listening to the Empyrean for longer periods of time. All I can say is that after 1h testing the Empyrean, I didn't think it sounded better than my Ether 2. I just prefer the timbre of the Ether 2 (w/ suede pads), and instruments sound more natural (especially percussion).

One thing I don't like about demoing headphones at a store is that it's very different from how I listen to music at home. At a store, I'm usually constrained by time (1-2h) and for many songs, I only listen to parts of them, since I want to know how the headphones sound for a wide variety of genres. The problem with this is that you kind of create expectations of how each song is supposed to sound.

 

[Newsee]

Well, maybe I'd have a different opinion indeed if I were listening to the Empyrean for longer periods of time. All I can say is that after 1h testing the Empyrean, I didn't think it sounded better than my Ether 2. I just prefer the timbre of the Ether 2 (w/ suede pads), and instruments sound more natural (especially percussion).

One thing I don't like about demoing headphones at a store is that it's very different from how I listen to music at home. At a store, I'm usually constrained by time (1-2h) and for many songs, I only listen to parts of them, since I want to know how the headphones sound for a wide variety of genres. The problem with this is that you kind of create expectations of how each song is supposed to sound.

Expectations spoil the enjoyment.