Meze Empyrean

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by 9suns, Mar 22, 2018.

  1. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    This one didn't have it's own thread, so I decided to open one, I think it's something very interesting.
    Gotta admit that, when I first saw a picture of the copper/black Empyrean, I thought it was ugly, but after seeing more and this unpainted/silver version, I think it looks stunning. I've read on HF (posted by Meze) that they're trying to make it in 3 different colors, so good news.

    But, apart from the aesthetics and the interesting tech, this was what really called my attention:
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BeltW2fB9hG/?taken-by=antonio_meze

    [​IMG]

    I'ts scheduled for May 2018, price has not been set up yet, but AFAIK will be around 3K $
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2018
  2. Galm

    Galm Still looking for Little Red Riding Hood

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    This was the headphone at the show I wish I had more time at. I'm terrified of their QC as multiple set ups weren't working... I was one of the first people into the Meze room and sat down with a pair and one of the drivers wasn't even working. They're also still tweaking how they want to make the pads.

    One pair had pads that basically made them on ear headphones. I did not like these. Most of the other pairs had more normal over ear pads. When listening to them on the new Cayin 300B amp I really liked what I was hearing. If they were available at the show at a discount or something I almost definitely would have picked a pair up to at least try. Though I'll be very very disappointed if for some insane reason they go with those on ear pads.

    Here's an album of some shots I got of them from the show: https://imgur.com/a/3Bsah

    Besides Orpheus which is a little bit way way out of budget, this and the Abyss Phi were the only two headphones that had my attention at the show to try and displace my Utopia. I spent quite a lot of my time listening to them. With the Meze I was trying to go when it was quiet to get a better idea of the level of detail it had. Obviously, I couldn't really make any real conclusions because it was too loud.

    It's hard to know how much of it was the amp vs the headphone but I liked the low end on it. There seemed to be some merit to their new isodynamic hybrid array approach. I recalled a solid amount of impact for an open back.

    There were a multitude of finishes there, but the finish on the first one (second pic) in the album I really really liked. Definitely fits in with flagships around this price point looks wise.
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2018
  3. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Uhm.

    That FR could be anything without axis labels though. What if the 3k bump is 10dB? ;)

    Jokes aside I like grills. And the driver is interesting!

    @Galm how big are the proper pads? 99s give me the feeling everyone at meze has tiny ears.
     
  4. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    Ah yeah, it could be anything, it just called my attention...no peaks, dips, etc and the designer saying that long listening sessions are important...let's see how it turns out, at the moment, looks promising.
     
  5. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    I really like how honestly the 99 is voiced, it works nicely for what a fashion portable is, and the fr graph on the box tells you exactly what to expect.

    So I'm hopeful? But 3k is big money :)
     
  6. maverickronin

    maverickronin Friend

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    That hump probably is 10db or so...

    But it looks uncompensated so we're probably ending up not much brighter than an Audeze though.
     
  7. Galm

    Galm Still looking for Little Red Riding Hood

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    They're vertical compared to Utopia pads... As in like noticeably taller than wide. But my ears fit in them. I think I'd describe it as a somewhat snug fit. The cups on like HD800 are far larger for example, as are LCD series pads by a smaller but probably still significant margin. I didn't have a problem, but if you have large ears it might be borderline I'm not sure.

    The guy mentioned I think the on ear pads were supposed to sound more reference while the over ear ones were more fun. Like 90% sure that's correct.
     
  8. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    It's a prototype so maybe the production model's voicing will change, also we don't know anything about how they measured it.
    My uninformed, pulled out of my ass assumption is that they'll go for something that measures neutral but sounds smooth due to the lack of distortion and resonances (or, at least, that's what they should do for that price :D)
     
  9. Doina

    Doina New

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    Guys, there are just 2 days left until CanJam London and we just can't wait!
    This will be Empyrean's and RAI Penta's first steps on English soil, so join us in Plaza Suite 9 to audition them!
    I'll let Jude Mansilla tempt you with some of the latest technical info about the Empyrean:)



    A special thanks to @9suns for creating this thread and to all of you who posted your impressions on our current flagship.
    See you in London!
     
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Why you only send to Jude? :) Send us one for our loaner program! :headbang:
     
  11. MF_Kitten

    MF_Kitten Banned per own request

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    It kinda looks like it's only half compensated?
     
  12. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    This is amazing.
     
  13. Riotvan

    Riotvan Snoofer in the Woofer

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    hqdefault.jpg
     
  14. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

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    Very interesting tech in this headphones. I'm waiting for someone experienced to measure them and tell us subjective impressions.

    p.s. Frankly speaking i'm a bit sceptical about combining iso- and ortho-dynamic on one membrane and that bump on 3,5 khz is a result of simultaneously working ortho and iso coils.
     
  15. buonassi

    buonassi New

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    more than likely it's just an uncompensated/raw FR graph and that bump there is about as perfect an HRTF compensation as they come. Looks a lot like ety ER4 graph, which as we know, is the epitome of neutral (based on diffuse field HRTF compensation response).
     
  16. maverickronin

    maverickronin Friend

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    I heard two pre-production versions and for, the price, I wasn't very impressed. The one with leather pads was Audioquest Nighthawk dark with considerably less clarity and a very closed in sound stage. The one with the suede pads was brighter and more open with a very smooth sound that reminded me of some vintage ortho/iso -dynamics I've heard before. I didn't hear any weird issues with the integration of the different section of the membrane.

    The one with the suede pads was perfectly acceptable, except for the price. The technicalities lag way behind the MSRP. It would be better off competing against the AFO/C and the LCD-2C. If for some reason you have to spend a ton of money on a company's first move from dynamic to planar drivers I'd take the D8000 instead.
     
  17. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    I have no idea which version I heard at CanJam NYC, but they were absolutely captivating. They didn't sound peaky at all, great bass & resolution...from what I can tell in a relatively quiet room at the show.

    I understand the reasoning & hope the tech trickles down, but that price...
     
  18. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    Careful, it's poor style to critique another MOT. It could get nasty pretty fast.
     
  19. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

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    1. I'm not a MOT yet
    2. When I become a MOT I loose privilege to express my thoughts on what I like in audio and what don't? ;(

    For example, on the video guy with a beard tells that earpad... increase efficiency of the driver by 12%
    Don't you laugh when you hear this same as people behind the camera? (4:10 mark on video)
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2018
  20. phaeton

    phaeton Acquaintance

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    sorry, maybe I missed it... what's the price tag of this new can?
     

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