The Meze Empyrean II is a better headphone in every way. Much more controlled sound across the board that translates to a refined listening experience compared to the original. The Empyrean II shows us what high-end sonic improvements and technological advancements can do to an already stellar-sounding headphone. In this case, the difference is stark - the Empyrean II leans much towards the tuning of the Flagship Meze Audio Elite - with more detail, clarity, transparency in the mids, but has a much more refined low-end. Control across the frequency spectrum is the theme here. The Elite is still the flagship headphone with a much larger and more mature presentation, but you can't deny when something just sounds good.
A natural step forward from our first ever planar magnetic headphone, Empyrean II retains all the beloved elements of its iconic predecessor, with an added touch of sculptural elegance.
Crafted with precision via CNC milling, the frame features a sleek matte black finish with silver accents, and a redesigned grill that draws inspiration from the bold and timeless art deco patterns.
The goal was to enhance the headphones’ ability to reproduce fine details and achieve a more neutral sound signature, all the while preserving the original “easy to listen to” character.
Good things take time, so we spent months trying and testing out different tuning techniques. Efforts revealed new possibilities in terms of resolution and detail retrieval, achieving a cleaner and more accurate representation of sound, when compared to the original Empyrean.
Elevate your listening experience to new heights – Empyrean II comes with two sets of earpads included, allowing the ultimate sound customization. Switch between our Duo and Angled earpads for an auditory journey that is entirely your own.
With Empyrean II, your music takes center stage. Following the highest standard for comfort, with a purpose-built structure that minimizes weight and pressure, this headphone instantly adapts to the shape of your head.
This highly acclaimed synergy of ergonomics and premium materials guarantees more than just exceptional sound – it allows you to enjoy uninterrupted hours of music with increased comfort.
Driver Type: Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver
Enclosure: Open-back
Ear Coupling: Circumaural
Frequency Response: 8 – 110,000 Hz
Impedance:32 Ω
Sensitivity: 105 dB SPL @ 1 kHz, 1 V
Maximum SPL: >130 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.05% @ 1 kHz, 1 V
Weight: 385 g (without earpads)
This is a seriously well-designed and thoroughly executed product which gives an absolutely top-tier rendition of recorded music, regardless of how good or bad it may be. As such, if you're in the market for a dream headphone design, these are well worth auditioning.
With the Empyrean 2, Meze Audio is walking into a new direction. In this new tuning, neutrality, clarity, speed and spaciousness are keywords. Gone are characteristics such as warmth, body and lushness. The Empyrean 2 is very different from the original as well as their ELITE headphone. Some will welcome this, others will still prefer the old style original tuning. Or you can just like all 3 of them.