MEZE EMPYREAN II - REVIEW
The meze EMPYREAN II - review
I finish my trio of Meze Audio headphone reviews with the Empyrean II, the second planar magnetic headphone and an updated version of the original Empyrean, which debuted in 2018.
I remember the original Empyrean well. In addition to its aesthetic beauty, well ahead of all other headphones at the time, was its musicality, its lushness, which was accompanied by its rather significant technical abilities. It was not the foremost headphone in terms of its technical abilities but its combined talents were truly significant. Suffice to say, its lushness ruled the day.
In terms of technical abilities the original Empyrean was eclipsed by the HIFIMAN Susvara, the Abyss AB1266 Phi TC, and, of course, the Meze Elite headphones. The Susvara was also head and shoulders above all other headphones in terms of its portrayal of naturalness, nuance, and refinement. Meze’s Elite Empyrean moved things ahead in terms of technical abilities bringing it closer to both the Susvara and the Abyss, though only just The Elite’s musicality and its naturalness, however, took a decided step backward. The Elite, in this respect, did not engage or hold the listener as had the original. Thus the Elite’s technical ‘chops’ came at the lost of relative musicality, naturalness, and a powerful connection to the music.
I have spent many wonderful hours with the trio of Meze headphones, though alas, I cannot keep them all. To do this would be to find myself on the road, once again, to owning a collection upwards of 18 pairs of headphones! No mas!
So what’s with the Empyrean II headphones? And is it staying?
REFRAIN: Unlike most reviews, this review will be non-sequential, as it will start with how the equipment actually sounds and not the process of physically “undressing” it and/or laying out its various accoutrement, specifications, etc. Think of this review then, as a non-linear movie—Memento, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, etc—that, likewise, starts at the end and winds its way to the beginning.
The Review System
CEC TL3.3 CD Transport (TL 2N equivalent, up-converted 120V)
Shanling ONIX XST20 SACD/CD Transport
Bricasti Design M1SE DAC w/ethernet
Rega P8 Turntable w/Ania Pro cartridge
Rega P10 Turntable w/Apheta cartridge
Aurorasound Step-Up Transformer
Grimm Audio PW1 Phono Preamplifier
Allnic ASRA 7500 HPA/Integrated
Allnic HPA-300B Headphone Amplifier/Integrated
Atma-Sphere MP-3 Preamplifier
Atma-Sphere S-30 Amplifier
Aurorasound HFSA-01 Integrated/Headphone Amplifier
Lyric Audio Ti 100 MkII Integrated
Audience FrontRow Reserve Cables/Wires
BlackCat Level 2 Interconnects
BlackCat Level 3 Speaker Cables
BlackCat TRON AES/EBU and SPDIF Digital Cables
Grimm Audio SQM Interconnects (XLR, RCA)
Kubala-Sosna Realization Speaker Cables
RSX Technology BEYOND and MAX Power Cords
Devore Fidelity Orangutan O/96 Speakers
TORUS RM20 Power Conditioner
SEISMION Amplifier Stand (powered)
The Sound
The Empyrean II is the chair ‘just right’, the porridge ‘just right’, the bed ‘just right’ and it is superb in its ‘just right’ pursuit of conveying high-fidelity music. In this, the Empyrean II surpasses the Abyss AB1266 Phi TC headphone via its incredible bass response coupled to its resolution, its transparency, its detail, and refinement. The Empyrean II represents a new standard for bass response for a Meze headphone. And give its ability to engage, its musicality, its naturalness, and the nuance it brings, make it a very strong competitor of the Susvara.
Yes, the Susvara, at twice the price of the Empyrean II’s, does manage to stay ahead of the Empyrean II, but only by a slight margin, which finds the two-times more expensive Susvara under threat. Though the 85dB ‘inefficient’ Susvara would be the equivalent of “does not play well with others”, as its headphone amplification mates are few. Even those headphone amplifiers purported to be able drive the Susvara are overstating the facts. This I have personally experienced, when attempting to drive the Susvara headphones. The Empyrean II at 90dB efficiency definitely “play well with others” and are a good friend to most. This one metric is rather important, as chances are the Susvara will not play well with your HPA, your ‘adopted child’. Though the above headphones are definitely not two-times better than the Empyrean II, in fact, they may be only slightly better or near equal standing.
The Empyrean II are dimensional and open up aspects of the music other planar headphones have seldom offered. Stevie Wonder’s Innervisions is transformed, incredibly dimensional, spread across a vast stage with musicians clearly delineated. The emotion and the inner detail is engrossing. The micro-dynamics are clearer than they have ever been, given my experience of playing this album for near 45 years! If you think the Innervisions album is good, then put on the Empyrean II headphones and you’ll get more than you knew to be there. This is where the benefits of up-close and personal headphone listening comes into play.
In truth, after listening sessions with the Empyrean II, it was not easy to listen to the POET. The POET, in this respect, was attempting to do what the Empyrean II does so superbly and easily and so much better, in every respect. Oddly, the STRADA so different in its approach to the music was not at all difficult to listen to again.
In my opinion, the Empyrean II is Meze’s reference headphone, as it brings more to the table, than the Elite, both in terms of its technical abilities and its greater musicality or its ability to engage and hold the listener. Its air, ambiance, space represent a masterclass and bring one closer to the recorded media. Further, it renders an ‘aliveness’, a vitality, along with all the technical boxes checked. And all this with an addictive musicality which is very hard to ignore.
Did I mention tone and timbre? The Empyrean IIs are levels above its siblings with a verisimilitude—having the appearance of being real—hard to deny and which brings an album to life between your ears. It’s ability to do this brings it so very close to a two-channel, stereo representation of the same, which is not easy for a headphone to do. Perhaps it’s the Empyrean II’s open-back nature, which gives this representation more believability, more space, and more air.
The Empyrean II is the synthesis of the original Empyrean and the Empyrean Elite in a way which brings together their strengths, while surpassing the Elite’s technical acumen and superbly moderating the original’s lushness. Given a particularly warm system or headphone amplifier the original Empyrean could be a bit too much. The Empyrean II is ranked just below the Elite by Meze, which is designated as Meze’s reference headphone. But in my opinion the Empyrean II is the true Meze headphone reference. This above represents my argument, my opinion for why the Empyrean II is the best headphones in the Meze lineup.
Bass
Impactful. Tight. Potent. The Empyrean II is spectacular and, truly, surprises with its potency, its weight, its dynamics, and its gravitas. It not only comes face-to-face with the Abyss AB1266 Phi TC headphone, by matching it, it provides even more refinement and nuance. These combined traits place the Empyrean II ahead of the Abyss headphone in its bass response! And the Empyrean II, in terms of its bass response is far better than both the Empyrean Elite and certainly the original Empyrean.
Eiji Oue’s Stravinsky (Reference Recordings) “Infernal Dance of King Kashchey” rages as its seven assembled tympani explode with a fierceness, power, and depth, I would not have believed of a Meze headphone. In this the Empyrean II has moved into territory, based upon the completeness of its bass, inhabited by reference headphones, as mentioned above, all of which are twice its price and more! And it does this with an ease and confidence, which the majority of the much more expensive reference-level headphones simply cannot do. Brilliant!
The Empyrean II is, indeed, something new in regards to its bass, which, again, finds it bettering the Abyss, noted for its powerful bass response. This is also an area where the Empyrean II clearly surpasses both Susvaras—Unveiled and the original—which is no small feat!
Midrange
Sublime. Addictive. Immersive. Wonderfully musical. If a headphone could sound as though a 300B and a 211 delivering the clarity, the musicality, the warmth, and all the detail one could want, then it would be the Empyrean II.
Rickie Lee’s Pop Pop plays and the Empyrean II easily renders an intimacy, a nearness, and nuance of reference variety. I don’t want the CD to stop, as it sounds so incredibly good. I sit for several moments pondering just how good this CD sounds via the Empyrean II, the reference front end—Shanling ONIX Transport, Bricasti Design M1SE DAC—and the Allnic HPA-RHPA 7500.
Its way with the human voice is truly amazing and only the HIFIMAN Susvara original ($6k) goes it one better and with the requisite musicality, which, unfortunately, the Susvara Unveiled ($8k) does not have. Perhaps it’s the Susvara Unveiled’s silver content, which has shifted its natural musicality to a more clinical, less engaging perspective.
Treble+
The Empyrean IIs will handle all the treble+ or the high treble your reference front-end will dish out. In this respect, it will stand toe-to-toe with your reference speakers and will outshine a number of speakers, which have inadvertently been designated as reference speakers.
Tomasz Stanko’s Suspended Nights (ECM) is a treble-rich recording from start to finish. However, if your front-end doesn’t have the ‘chops’ to resolve treble-rich information, then you’ll be hearing lots of things ‘frying’ as in a too-hot skillet or paper being crushed into a ball.
The Empyrean II handles the treble superbly, via its deftness, its transparency, which leave no musical note or its ‘life’ unexamined. And the ease and refinement with which it delivers the music is, no doubt, reference level and musical at all times. The cymbals sound, crash, resonate, decay with air, ambiance, space and with natural tone and timbre, necessary for one to listen deeply into the music.
Texture is alive via the Empyrean IIs and always present where it needs to be and not missing in action, when required. In terms of its dynamics, it easily gives the original Susvara and the Abyss AB1266 Phi TC a run for the money.
The Design—Look and Feel
The Empyrean II, in terms of its design, is the original Empyrean with the exception of its grill, which is black in color and not the copper color of the original. Thus the modern art description I gave to the original Empyrean applies fully to it.
Its overall construction is, again, the original Empyrean’s. Its headband is made from carbon fiber and its headrest from leather. Its beautifully sculpted, skeletal chassis holds the Isodynamic driver, which is milled from a solid block of high-precision aluminum. The Empyrean II is functional art with a very modern aesthetic.
Technology and Specification
Meze Empyrean II
Conclusion
The Empyrean II is a true reference-level headphone and is, in my opinion, it is the new reference headphone of the Meze line. Its ‘just right’ nature checks all technical boxes easily and matter-of-factly. Coupled with its musicality and its naturalness, it takes its place in and among reference headphones—Susvara, Abyss and others—at double or more its asking price. The Empyrean II is something new from Meze, which I have only just been able to review. Perhaps I had though it more of the same, but this is definitely not what Empyrean II headphones are. They represent for me Meze’s true reference headphone.
The Empyrean II wins out highest aware, the DIAMOND AWARD, and a place atop our best headphone list, where it will now share top honors with the HIFIMAN Susvara (original). Yes, our list is dynamic and it changes with time, as informed by the those headphones, which we return to time and again.
Pros: Exceptional frequency response with all technical Hi-Fi boxes checked and the inherent Meze musicality. The Empyrean II is brilliant headphone.
Cons: None at all.
The Company
Meze Audio
Meze EMPYREAN II ($2999)
Meze Audio S.R.L.
1-3 Morii Street
430162, Baia Mare, Romania
info@mezeaudio.com
www.mezeaudio.com
