Meze Audio Empyrean II Open Back Headphones

CNC’d aluminum, leather, and carbon fiber come together in this hand-crafted headphone

With the new Empyrean, Meze Audio sought to enhance the original’s vaunted ability to reproduce the finest details and also moved the sonic signature closer to neutral, while preserving the original’s ‘easy to listen to’ character.

Empyrean is hand-assembled with care and painstaking attention to detail in Baia Mare, Romania. The drivers are made specifically for this headphone by Rinaro Isodynamics.

This hybrid planar magnetic driver uses two independently shaped voice coils within the same diaphragm delivering more selective acoustic performance to the various areas within the structure of the ear. This offers extremely accurate reproduction with a vanishingly low THD for a transducer (<0.1%) across the whole frequency range. It is also extremely lightweight, allowing for both dynamic performance and extended wear comfort. The driver stays extremely linear as it is capable of performance up to 110 kHz. It delivers a 105 dB sensitivity, so is easily driven with or without dedicated amplification.

From the complex geometrical imprint accentuated through the silver finish of the CNC aluminum frame, to the carbon fiber headband with leather headrest, this high-end headphone offers comfort as well as stellar sound.   

The patent-pending suspension wings support system is elongated and curved at both ends, descending further on the side of the head and distributing the weight of the headphone evenly, for the most comfortable listening experience.

All-New Earpads

Meze’s all-new Duo earpads are specifically tailored for the Empyrean II. Crafted from a precise blend of premium leather and Alcantara, they offer a contemporary dimension to the signature sound profile of Empyrean II. With leather forming the base half and Alcantara® covering the rest, these earpads deliver a harmonious tonal balance.

Meze researched and tested various material ratios to achieve the best there is to offer. The outcome is a flawless fusion: well-sustained bass frequencies owed to the leather, with beautiful refinement and spatiality from Alcantara®.

Made of soft foam coated with Alcantara®, with a fine protective mesh on the grill, the Angled earpads excel at rendering intricate details and nuances in your recordings. The angled shape creates more space inside the earpad, which translates to an airier sound signature, with cleaner bass and improved presence in the mid-range frequencies. The headphones come in a high-strength aluminum suitcase with foam inserts.

Cable options

• Mini XLR to 3.5 mm jack OFC standard cable, 1.2 m
• Mini XLR to 6.3 mm jack OFC standard cable, 2.5 m
• Mini XLR to 4 pin XLR connector standard cable, 2.5 m

Specifications

Type: Open, ear coupling circumaural

Driver: Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array®

Frequency Response: 8-110,000 Hz

Sensitivity: 105 dB

Impedance: 32 Ω

Weight: 385 g