[tutetibiimperes]

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The Meze Elite hasn't been getting much ear time for me lately. I love its design and it's a very smooth listen, but I lack some resolution I find with other planars these days. But I had a need to move to a different room today and decided to take it with me along with with the Sony NW-WM1ZM2 player (a world class contender for the model naming marketing prize).

The Elite is easy to drive and the pairing is effortless. While technicalities remain whta they are, the synergy is really, really nice. A super smooth listen as always, with the 1Zm2 adding adds sweetness and body and a spacious soundstage. This is a really lovely combo!




Currenlty listening to French blues singer and harmonica player Jean-Jacques Miteau on this wonderful track. The combo above really shines with this type of music. Bass is deep yet tasteful, guitar plucks are sweet, harmonica is melodic without harshness, and male vocals are natural sounding. There is a sense of reverb outlining the recording venue that's satisfying without being exaggerated:

(streaming link: https://songwhip.com/jeanjacquesmilteau/state-of-tennessee)

I felt the same about the Empyrean Elite. Absolutely loved the build quality, comfort, and ease of pad swaps, but it was too laid back and lacked any excitement when I did an in-home demo.

I’ve heard the Empyrean 2 is supposed to be a bit more aggressive so I’ll have to give that a shot.

The Sony DAPs are something special. I heard the Z7M2 for the first time on one of them at an electronics store in Japan and loved it, so I bought a Z7M2 but I haven’t found that great synergy with my home system.

I don’t need a DAP though, so I’ve been playing with the idea of the Sony TA-ZH1ES and wondering if that will give some magic to them.

 

[goldwerger]

I’ve been playing with the idea of the Sony TA-ZH1ES and wondering if that will give some magic to them.

@bigbeans is the resident expert on all things Sony... perhaps he can chime in..

 

[bigbeans]

I don’t need a DAP though, so I’ve been playing with the idea of the Sony TA-ZH1ES and wondering if that will give some magic to them.

The Sony Z7M2 is tuned more conservatively and is a small scale MDR Z1R. If you can, find a good condition of the Sony MDR Z7 (1st generation). You can find some good prices on eBay, I imported my pair from Japan via eBay. The MDR Z7 is a very unique Sony sound, some even say muddy. However this is a bolder tuning decision and imo, a classic Sony move. However, due to the mixed reception of the original Z7, the team engineered the next generation Z7 to fall in line with the MDR Z1R and imo makes the Z7M2 a bit boring.

The TAZH1ES is along the lines of the OG 1Z, and if you have a Sony Walkman WM1A/Z, you can flash the firmware to Mr. Walkman, install the 1Z tuning to get an idea of the ZH1ES is like. It's darker, with the Sony house tuning (midbass focus, rolled off treble for fatigue free listening).

 

[goldwerger]

Just came back from watching Samara Joy performing live. To say that the show was electrifying would be a massive understatement.

I first became aware of her somewhere around 2020. She had a YT clip of two posted then while still in college if I recall (not sure). Her talent was emerging but so imrpessive. I was really blown away. A year later she released a first album, and then in 2023 her second, which won her a Grammy and made her an overnight global sensation. Today, she started a series concerts at The Town Hall in NYC, filling a large broadway theater packed with fans cheering as if they were at a rock concert. Just.. amazing!

There were moments of musicality that were simply too amazing to bother recording as I was lost in the moment. I did capture this short clip...



It may be that in 50 years people will talk of Samara Joy as they do today of Sarah Vaughan. Time will tell, but I will have this beautiful memory with me.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

The Meze Elite hasn't been getting much ear time for me lately. I love its design and it's a very smooth listen, but I lack some resolution I find with other planars these days. But I had a need to move to a different room today and decided to take it with me along with with the Sony NW-WM1ZM2 player (a world class contender for the model naming marketing prize).

The Elite is easy to drive and the pairing is effortless. While technicalities remain whta they are, the synergy is really, really nice. A super smooth listen as always, with the 1Zm2 adding adds sweetness and body and a spacious soundstage. This is a really lovely combo!




Currenlty listening to French blues singer and harmonica player Jean-Jacques Miteau on this wonderful track. The combo above really shines with this type of music. Bass is deep yet tasteful, guitar plucks are sweet, harmonica is melodic without harshness, and male vocals are natural sounding. There is a sense of reverb outlining the recording venue that's satisfying without being exaggerated:

(streaming link: https://songwhip.com/jeanjacquesmilteau/state-of-tennessee)

I can’t quite explain it, but the Elites are my sweet spot. I love ZMF’s and have owned many (currently have an AC and OG Auteur), but every time I listen to the Elites it’s like coming home. They manage to be such a relaxing and musical listen while also out-resolving my ZMF’s. On top of that, they are the most comfortable high-end headphones I’ve ever tried and look like a million bucks. They remain my favorite.

As a side note, I have converted long-term to the Angled Alcantara pads. They seem to take the technical abilities of the headphones up a level with no downsides I can hear, so there’s no going back to the Hybrids for me. I got an Aegis recently, and my Elite’s have never sounded better!

 

[goldwerger]

As a side note, I have converted long-term to the Angled Alcantara pads. They seem to take the technical abilities of the headphones up a level with no downsides I can hear, so there’s no going back

Completely agree. It’s those pads that made me buy the Elite a second time (first time I let them go after a week). Terrific improvement!

For me though, Caldera out-resolve the Elite, which sound a bit veiled in comparison. I guess subjective hearing and all come into play here for us.

I got an Aegis recently, and my Elite’s have never sounded better!

That’s one combo I didn’t try.. I will!

 

[ckhirnigs113]

Completely agree. It’s those pads that made me buy the Elite a second time (first time I let them go after a week). Terrific improvement!

For me though, Caldera out-resolve the Elite, which sound a bit veiled in comparison. I guess subjective hearing and all come into play here for us.



That’s one combo I didn’t try.. I will!

I compared the Caldera for a week to my Elite and decided I could easily be happy with either. The outstanding comfort of the Elite was the decider for me in the end. I forget I’m wearing the Elites sometimes. The fact that I already owned the Elites swayed my decision as well. Switching to the Caldera would have required selling my Elites, and I would have probably had to come up with some extra cash as well.

That being said, I always need a few ZMF’s in the house, so I got an Atrium Closed to go with my OG Auteur. I like having both planars and dynamics. It’s nice to have different flavors to choose between. We’re pretty spoiled, aren’t we?!

 

[LoryWiv]

I compared the Caldera for a week to my Elite and decided I could easily be happy with either. The outstanding comfort of the Elite was the decider for me in the end. I forget I’m wearing the Elites sometimes. The fact that I already owned the Elites swayed my decision as well. Switching to the Caldera would have required selling my Elites, and I would have probably had to come up with some extra cash as well.

That being said, I always need a few ZMF’s in the house, so I got an Atrium Closed to go with my OG Auteur. I like having both planars and dynamics. It’s nice to have different flavors to choose between. We’re pretty spoiled, aren’t we?!

Ah, but we deserve it. Elite with AA pads is also my "coming home" and sounds great with tube amps as you note. Right now I am listening to Utopia 2022 which is a bit more incisive but it's probably 75:25 in favor of the Elites. Different flavors of wonderful, so fortunate to be able to choose amongst them.

 

[bunnygal23]

but every time I listen to the Elites it’s like coming home.

Couldn't have said it better myself, like I have said before, the Elites are my therapy headphones, I always reach for them when I get home, love them to bits.

 

[Toonartist]

I can’t quite explain it, but the Elites are my sweet spot. I love ZMF’s and have owned many (currently have an AC and OG Auteur), but every time I listen to the Elites it’s like coming home. They manage to be such a relaxing and musical listen while also out-resolving my ZMF’s. On top of that, they are the most comfortable high-end headphones I’ve ever tried and look like a million bucks. They remain my favorite.

As a side note, I have converted long-term to the Angled Alcantara pads. They seem to take the technical abilities of the headphones up a level with no downsides I can hear, so there’s no going back to the Hybrids for me. I got an Aegis recently, and my Elite’s have never sounded better!

I’m with you 100%. As much as I love ZMF AC, I like them a lot, the Elites just sound so right for me with the Aegis. It is like a coming home feeling. The Angled Pads make all the difference but so does the tube rollout. The EL38 is quite a dynamic tube and I think may overcome some of the “laid back” feel some experience with them. While the 5791s really work well, the ECC35 also make a superb contrast and their deep 3d staging, imaging really plays to the Elites strengths.

The AC and the Elites just make the perfect pairing for me. One day I’ll probably add the Caldera but I’m in no rush. Even after 3 years, I still haven’t tired of the Elites.

 

[gadus]

I compared the Caldera for a week to my Elite and decided I could easily be happy with either. The outstanding comfort of the Elite was the decider for me in the end. I forget I’m wearing the Elites sometimes. The fact that I already owned the Elites swayed my decision as well. Switching to the Caldera would have required selling my Elites, and I would have probably had to come up with some extra cash as well.

That being said, I always need a few ZMF’s in the house, so I got an Atrium Closed to go with my OG Auteur. I like having both planars and dynamics. It’s nice to have different flavors to choose between. We’re pretty spoiled, aren’t we?!

Comfort is a critical parameter in headphones,
Perhaps most importantly, if it's not comfortable, you won't be able to listen for a long time and you'll quickly tire of the headphones,
Unfortunately not all companies manage to make good sound + comfort, sometimes they choose strange designs and huge headphones and miss it comfortably,
meze really excels in this field, their headphones are super comfortable,
I personally also find the caldera very comfortable for a long time, but in the comfort parameter I did not find a winner for the meze...

 

[Toonartist]

Doesn’t feel like 5 minutes since the last weekend but here we are… happy weekend everyone

Anyway, time to play the first of a new batch of vinyl… first up…

Kraftwerk - Tour De France received Just in time for the start this years race next weekend!

 

[AudioDuck]

Doesn’t feel like 5 minutes since the last weekend but here we are… happy weekend everyone

Anyway, time to play the first of a new batch of vinyl… first up…

Kraftwerk - Tour De France received Just in time for the start this years race next weekend!

As usual, a lovely visual of your system, especially with the colored vinyl!

Happy Friday and have a good weekend all!

Looking forward to some good listening this weekend, and I am fortunate enough to have a new source component inbound in a few days. I’ll share more here when it arrives. Thanks to @Wes S for guidance on that purchase…

 

[Toonartist]

Coloured vinyl is a bit of a theme in the last few records… some of it extreme

Waiting in the wings are some LPs from Deadmau5 and Infected Mushroom

 

[Leonarfd]

Doesn’t feel like 5 minutes since the last weekend but here we are… happy weekend everyone

Anyway, time to play the first of a new batch of vinyl… first up…

Kraftwerk - Tour De France received Just in time for the start this years race next weekend!

Really nice photo
Love their Tour De France album, not often I see people mention it. Maybe my favorite from Kraftwerk.

Talking about cycling, today David Douglas and Applescal came out with the album Démarrage. It's made for their love of cycling and the gamut of emotions the sport involves, all distilled into vibrant electronic sounds.