Best Audiophile Headphones for Music? The Meze Empyrean Review! 

Not because I'm Romanian citizen , I will thank you for this honest and pure technical comment regarding this Meze Empyrean product.Thank you for your review.

Oh man I am just seeing this, thanks for the shout. I like this review style - a very deliberate and careful choice of words for every sentence, which is quite unique. I'm just glad the box got to you alright, but then again I've NEVER seen a more durable flight case than these come with. It's impossible to improve on the packaging and build quality of these things. Now interview me sometime

One of the best review for this headphone !! I save to buy myself this fabulous headphone one day

I really like this review and appreciate all the work you do with the video quality and editing and just overall professional presentation.

You are one of the few reviewers that sometimes make me go fullscreen and focus only on the review. Sometimes DMS, John Darko, Andrew Robinson, also do this. But you are consistent in your "inviting atmosphere" when you review high tier products.

Subbed off this review. Concise, simple, and entertaining, let me know what I needed.

Congrats on being selected to check out a pair of these! This is one of the most well thought out reviews I’ve ever seen. You’re like the MKBHD of audio gear. Now I’ll return to my $50 Audio Technicas with the cracked and worn pads...

Ron, this is my favorite review of your so far. Well done, thank you!

Great review Ron and everything you said is 100% true with the Empyrean's. I have own mine for over a month now and I must say it only get's better with a better cable like a OCC Litz Silver. Better detail retrieval also tightens up the mid-range and bass. The one thing when I first listened too the Empyrean's was the DRUMS, it sounded so real and impact full, but I have not seen anyone mention anything about it I am surprised because I think "John Bonham" himself would endorse these headphones. I was listening to Nirvana "Come as You Are" with the bass guitar at the beginning then the drums kick in made me feel like I was there in front of the them in person. To this day no audio gear that I own ever made me feel like that before, and I own many high end HP like the Utopia's, Z1R's, and 1000 V2. Listening to them as I type this out to David Bowie "Lazarus"

You sor just earned a sub. Great work love the honesty in your experience with these headphones and some of your background. Keep up the great work!

some more product shots during this review would have been very useful ;) love the look, lighting and grading is mint ;)

Hi Ron, I've been researching high-end headphones for about a year now and have been very focused on the Meze Empyreans. Thanks so much for this really helpful review which, as an amateur audiophile, seemed spot-on. It's been a bit late in coming but I really appreciated this review which I've listened to countless times, think you've really nailed it. Also, love your personal and also most poetic review of the Emps...you've really raised the bar on this one...Thank you!

Great review!

great review!

Amazing review! and fairplay ! welcome back

Great review! 👍

That is the key to great audio, tuning. Hear everything, play anything and make it enjoyable. Spellbinding sound is another thing.

BTW it's NOT too cold in Germany for a campfire. Yesterday we had 104°F! But as always - great rewiew!

Just got my Empyrean with the upgrade copper cable. With the alcantara pads, it's so amazing both sonically and comfort wise

I've had my Empyrean for just a few days and I love it. Definitely the best I've heard. I also have MrSpeakers Ether 2, and Focal Stellia. I like all 3, but would rate the Meze headphone first. It's really amazing, especially with vocals. I listen mainly to classical and jazz FLAC files played through my Sony WM1A Walkman and Sony TAZH1ES headphone amp. I don't notice any problem with the mid-bass or any part of the audio spectrum. Build quality and comfort are great.

amazing review. getting one in 2 weeks cuz of this video.

The new "level" of filming reached in this video is remarkable. I really enjoy your videos. I have a complaint about your last video ( Soundstage ). I could not see a consistency in the whole story. What I mean is that in the beginning of the video one might think that this is about helping the viewer achieving some sort of soundstage Valhalla... but ot turns out to be a more of a conclusional talk than a guide. I did however enjoy your video about the positioning of the speakers. That's what a newbe will be looking for. A well made tutorial video. Keep up the good work! Cheers from Tehran.

Thanks to your review, today i am a happy owner of meze empyrean headphones. Thank You so much!

Great video. From one Grado headphone to another

Great review. Need to figure out how to get my hands on a second-hand copy of one. Could the mid-bass punch be pumped a little with EQ?

Perfect review of the Empyreans. I own a pair‚ and your definition is exactly how they sound and what they are. Thank you.

You are sooooo right with your video. I love them!

My fav Empy is the OG Empyrian! Sounds like heaven.

I’m a Sennheiser and Audeze user and have been wondering about the Meze and Empyrean as another headphone to use in my stable. Thank you for your review. Your thoughts are exactly what I was hoping for. A headphone that won’t make you think, but just listen, feel and enjoy the music.

Awesome review Ron , thanks ! Got a little nervous for that beautiful mz3 amp when you put back the big ass meze metal case. You plan on reviewing it? I've got a mz2 , used it only as headphone amp for my hd800s and lcd2c, but recently decided to try it as a preamp using the bypass on my parasound halo integrated, which before I was using with my av receiver for my home theater setup, and wow, was shocked at the big difference. Sounded like i got a new dac/turntable. And on a side note, if you're going to anthropomorphize a headphone , especially one synonymous with heaven, give it the female gender.

I am definitely getting these headphones! (Right after I order my Denafrips DAC)

Do you mainly use the LTA MZ3? It is an amp I use very often and excellent.

A few days ago, I get a listen at the local stores and it is the best headphone I’ve heard. I’ve only heard those I have which are currently in my collection - my old Sony WH-10000XM2, Sennheiser HD650, Philips Fidelio X1S, Hifiman Sundara, Focal Elegia, Focal Clear MG and the latest Hifiman Arya Stealth Magnet.

Thank you for letting us know which headphone amps you used with the Meze Empyreans. The 32-ohm impedance curve may have affected the LTA MZ3's OTL frequency response but I'm sure you compared it with the solid-state Woo WA11.

I'd like to see what you think of the Sonorous X!

Really nice review. When you say these are forgiving, do you feel that is affected by the amp/DAC being used, or are they as forgiving of the hardware as they are for the sound? I'm curious how far a good amp, tube, for example, helps or hinders these phones.

Im a romanian too, but this doesnt realy matter.Is about quality product not origin of country.This review is great because is neutral, nobody paid him for this review.The quality and production of this video is 100 professional.Congratulation.

Two things: 1) I think it's a fair assumption that someone in the market for these headphones would have also tried Audezes and Sennheisers in the past and be familiar with them. 2) I'd pay way more than $3,000 to have two little bunnies pressed up against my ears and a choir of angels singing, so these seem like a bargain when you put it that way. Plus, think of the maintenance with those bunnies...

Yea. I knew it when I ordered the 11s I just knew it! Almost a year ago

Love love love your headphone reviews and videos in general. Always a great watch and thank you for your time and effort.

Highly highly appreciate the review man. These simply will be set on a shelf in my mind for "some day" I'm already aiming pretty high for LCD-X as my first major venture into the high end game.

For those that aren't averse to using equalizer, I suggest Oratory1990's EQ settings. They bring the freq. response closer to the Harman curve, and make a significant improvement ,IMO.

I have the LCD2f, and I have loved them for years. I have the itch for better, but so far, it's not been easy to top them. I tried the LCD-X 2021, and yeah, they have better detail, but they feel lifeless vs my 2f. The Arya Stealth was next, and I found that they kept way too much at range. The great thing with the 2f is they know when to give room to sounds/vocals, but they can also pull in for a more personal sound. The Arya just kept everything room-sounding. It would be nice if the Meze have 2f sound but with a bit more detail and soundstage.

I'm not in the market for these and probobly never will but I have read and seen many reviews on these headphones. Most seem to be consistently positive reviews. One thing meze was able to do that many manufacturers can't do is pull off the trick of being this good with resolution and all the usual audiophile stuff without being over analytical and making normal music still enjoyable. This seems to be a rather rare thing in audio equipment. Folks in the market for this type of headphone are obviously not worried about $$ and wonder how these would compare to the abyss 1066 tc. Yes more $$ and harder to drive but I have heard some say they are possibly better. It would be interesting. Steve the audiophiliac has claimed the abyss better over these. Close to $5k they should be 😀 put your name in the hat to try a pair Ron. Thank you for the review!

The stuff you find lacking in the mid bass, can be remedied with a better than standard cable. Plus if you power it up with a tube amp, better tubes can also help a lot. Plus you can also run your headamp with a 100cm power cable instead of a 200cm version, it gives a tiny bit more focus/coupling effect. Even with a standard 1 dollar power cable. Plus if you want them to hit harder, just get a much better cable that is in silver and that is half as long, then trust me they will hit a lot harder. This is a general rule that can be applied to most headphones. 3 meters creates a lot of distortion in the sound, some people will maybe prefer the 1½ -2 meter headphone shorter cable.

Great review. These are my dream headphones but unreachable for me. They should cut some premium and drop the price but even then i can't :(

Which amplification would you recommend? Or at least, which did you use, and how did they work?

Did you demo using both pads or did you find a fav and then do the review? I see the "leather" pads on the cans by the way...

competition is ZMF, AEOLUS, ZMF AUTEUR and ZMF VÉRITÉ, Focal Utopia(in price not sound becasue it's not as good) and also Abyss Diana Phi and Abyss Reference Model AB-1266(supposedly the champion!) Audeze is kind of not in the running BUT Rosson Audio Design might be. The Sennheiser HE-1 though is most likely the best headphone ever but it's 60 grand. yes $60,000!!!

Do you still like them as much as in the video? I'm getting them on Wednesday and I'm super excited now, to enjoy the empys as much as you have

Empyrean... Proudly handcrafted in Romania by MEZE Audio!

Which diffusion panels are those? They look like foam

What I love about them is how they are extreme high end while remaining easy to drive and forgiving.

Hi. nice review. Did they allow you to keep them?

Where are the Tektronic things you promised? Did they miss the boat or sink? Were they used for campfire wood in Germany? Are they even made of wood? How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a wood chuck was listening to headphones? How’s the sound stage btw? (Too soon?) We need a video on how get those off your head and out into the room.

These are all about the heart, if not all of the head. But they always bring happiness, at least in my book. They satisfy on some deep, visceral, emotional level, kind of like Beatles music. ('even though curious about the new Meze Elite, the Empys aren't going anywhere far from me as long as I live. Maybe they can bury me with them, LOL.) And this is not a new-toy syndrome either; now almost 3 years on with them, so they have stood the test of time.

I'm glad you can appreciate a great pair of cans. After you poked fun at Josh Valour for reviewing headphones I had my doubts. Hopefully someday I will have a chance to hear the Empyreans.

Great headphones from a fascinating company. Great stuff brother.

As someone who has heard this exact pair of cans. I agree. They're truly amazing. I can't wait to have a pair.

what's the background music?

👍👏

Is a Romanian product

Focal Utopia should have been included in the conservation.

Hmmm, these or Verite Opens..............can't decide

Some people say that the lcd4 is more detailed than the empyrean

I just got them today. I've been listening to them for about three hours. They are comfortable. They sound good to me but, I don't think I'm going to keep them. Too much $. Not worth it to me. Thanks for your review.

So they're basically a Pagani, combining German engineering and Italian design 😍

Perfect? Meze Elite stays hold my beer, I’ll show you perfecter. ( I’m aware it wasn’t a word until the Elites.) I have a pair and they are amazing. I’m not one that believes in burn in, but I burned these in for two days. They always felt amazing, but when they arrived they didn’t sound that great. I had heard these needed a burn in. What did I have to lose, I had already returned a pair of Empyreans. I didn’t want to send another pair back. After the burn in I’m am hearing detail and texture I have never heard before. They will have to pry these headphones from my cold dead ears. Ron you have to hear a burned in pair. They sound like 4000.00.

Smart, articulate and well-done. I'm not referring to the headphones! 😉

Amplifier pls ?🙏

Hello!

Try the Final d8000. I think you may like them more

What did you amp them with?

$3000 Eymperans, overpriced luxury goods; seeing Ron being so much in the groove, priceless!

Jazz robots!

NRD love ur channel BUT it's chink in armor not kink

Try Abyss 1266.... even better.. need VERY powerful amp. but agree, Empyreans are nice.

So you can't connect these to your smartphone?!?! WTF?!?!

One thing that really needs to be stressed in the Meze Empyrean reviews is that they sound even better after about 200 hours of break in. Heard multiple people say this.

You lost me at bunny rabbits on your ears.

These aren't as good as the Audeze LCD-4z.

Too much money

Who cares. They are $3k. My new Kawasaki Ninja was $3150. I like good headphones (I have KRK KNS 8400) but my Ninja does 0 to 60 in 4.6 secs. Okay, my Bandit 1200S did 0 to 60 in 2.5 secs but that bike was $5500.

Hello!