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Meze Audio Empyrean Open-Back Isodynamic Headphones - Jet Black

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SKU: MZEMPY-JBLK-35
WARNING: for more information go to http://www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

Meze Audio's Empyrean is one of the most technologically innovative planar magnetic headphones in the world, blending premium materials and exquisite craftsmanship.

    $2,999.00
    $2,999.00
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    Editor's Choice Award 2024 – hi-fi+ Magazine


    Product of The Year Award 2024 - StereoNET


    Best Headphones for Audiophiles 2024 - Robb Report


    Editor's Choice Award - Inner Fidelity


    Headphone of the Year - The Absolute Sound


    Reviewers' Choice - Hi-fi Choice


    "One of the Greats of Headphone Design and Manufacture"

    Empyrean is one of the most technologically innovative planar magnetic headphones in the world. Its blend of premium materials, exquisite craftsmanship, and detailing is unmistakably Meze Audio.

    "The Empyrean is built to last as one of the greats of headphone design and manufacture," raves Rafe Arnott at innerfidelity.com. which honored the Empyrean with an Editor's Choice Award. "Few headphones have made such an instantaneous sonic impression upon me as the Meze Empyrean did at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest this fall and once I’d received a production model for review here at home, it was déjà vu all over again when I slipped them on with their accuracy, tonal and timbral cloud, 3D-spatial imaging and huge sound stage."

    "Thoroughly Engaging Sound Regardless of Style"

    England's hi-fi+ magazine honored the Empyrean with an Editor's Choice Award for 2024.

    "They have a natural and unforced, seemingly effortlessly correct tonality that produces a degree of insight into the music that is total because detail levels are so powerful."

    "Their rhythmic expression is unerring, which gives the music a compelling unity and togetherness, and they serve up complete, uncolored, and thoroughly engaging sound regardless of style. "

    Gear Patrol "Best Expensive Headphones" Pick

    The Empyrean was chosen by Gear Patrol in Ian White's "The Best Expensive Headphones That Are Actually Worth Buying" article, June 28, 2024.

    "Meze spent several years developing their planar magnetic Empyrean which takes a backseat to very few headphones at any price level."

    "The Empyrean II are a more refined version of its 2018-released predecessors. Offering almost hypnotic imaging and midrange resolution, the Empyrean II is only limited by the quality of the amplifier that you connect them to. Meze Audio knew that their $3,000 statement had to look the part as well and this is industrial design at its finest."

    Award-Winning Performance

    The Empyrean won a StereoNET Product of The Year Award 2024 in the Over Ear (Wired) Headphones category.

    "The high-end headphone market is a unique place where exotic audio engineering appears in very small packages. Into this brave new world of esoteric head-fi, which barely existed a decade or so ago, has stepped Meze Audio. It has recently launched some seriously special designs, such as the new Empyrean v2. This is an expensive, open-back planar magnetic ‘phone that uses super light 'isodynamic hybrid array’ drivers to give a startling frequency response of 8Hz to 110kHz. It sounds superb, being effortlessly transparent and breathtakingly fast. Exquisitely built, it fully justifies its hefty retail price."

    "How Much Better Can Headphones Get?"

    "While hardly inexpensive, these Romanian-designed-and-built headphones are as satisfying to listen to as they are comfortable for long listening sessions," raves Robb Report, March 20, 2024, which handed the Clear Mg the magazine's Best Headphones for Audiophiles 2024 award.

    "The frequency response is, almost literally, off the charts, extending from a subterranean eight Hz and spiraling to a (literally) unheard of 110,000 Hz. Altogether, the Empyreans hit the headphone sweet spot and beg the question, 'How much better can headphones get?'"

    "Gripping, You-Are-There Realism"

    "Stated simply, the Empyrean creates large, believable soundstages and the sort of gripping, you-are-there realism that’s hard to find in any transducer, regardless of type," reports Chris Martens in The Absolute Sound, which honored the Empyrean as Headphone of the Year, 2018. "If you give the Empyrean time to become all it can be, it will reward you with a rare combination of balance, finesse, and all-around expressiveness."

    "The Empyreans clearly rank among the very best headphones you can buy," notes Brent Butterworth, Hi-fi Choice, April 1, 2019, which gave the Empyreans a Reviewers' Choice award. "They deliver loads of detail and a wonderful sense of space, all without skewing the tonal balance toward the treble as so many audiophile headphones do, and they have no quirks or anomalies that would make me warn certain listeners away from them. No matter what kind of music you love, you’ll love hearing it through the Empyreans."

    Born from Passion, Curiosity, and Innovation

    "Empyrean was born from passion, curiosity, and innovation," says Meze Audio's Head Designer and Founder Antonio Meze. "As a business, we have allowed ourselves the freedom to experiment and take risks in search of the perfect sound. To generate something truly remarkable, one must dare to explore, and that’s what we did with Empyrean. We pushed and refined industry standards and achieved a true game changer for audiophiles."

    Empyrean is the product of two passionate companies coming together to explore what is possible beyond their individual capabilities. The result is a no-compromise headphone embodying Meze’s daring aesthetic and user-centered design approach and Rinaro’s experience in research and development within the field of planar magnetics.

    Rinaro, a progressive audio company, has at the heart of its technology an R&D team that has been at the forefront of planar magnetic development since the 1980s. What originally started as a state-funded initiative with a focus on innovation has now entered into a new chapter of audio progression with the opening of a cutting-edge industrial facility in Ukraine.

    Isodynamic® Hybrid Array Driver

    Over thirty years of research and development has led to the creation of the first Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver, creating a new standard in planar magnetic audio. The technology has resulted in one of the lightest and most advanced planar magnetic drivers on the market.

    One of the problems with conventional planar magnetic arrays arises from reflected signals entering the ear canal with different time delays, thereby worsening the focus of 3D sound imaging.

    The Empyrean's driver combines individual switchback and spiral-shaped voice coils whose unique shapes allows sound to be targeted with more accuracy around the natural form of the ear. This unique combination generates an increased exposure of direct sound wave frequencies over the 10kHz range and improves imaging and localization by decreasing the impact of time delays caused by diffused field reflections.

    Hybrid Array Driver Advantages

    Combining two independently shaped voice coils within the same diaphragm delivering more selective acoustic performance to the various areas within the structure of the ear.

    The switchback coil is more efficient at reproducing lower frequencies and is positioned in the upper part of the driver. The spiral coil is more efficient at reproducing middle-high frequencies and is positioned directly over the ear canal enabling more direct sound waves to enter the ear without any time delays.

    The Isoplanar® diaphragm is manufactured from a custom developed isotropic thermally stabilized polymer with a conductive layer. Through unique processing methods, an ultralight yet rigid diaphragm has been achieved.

    Results of this technology include total harmonic distortion (THD) measuring under 0.1% in the whole frequency range and ultra-high-resolution audio with an upper-frequency limit of 110,000 Hz.

    An Ergonomic Approach

    To create an audiophile headphone that is powerful yet light, Meze Audio needed the driver to maximize power output while reducing weight as much as possible. Weight was minimized by optimizing a magnet structure around an ovoid shape that fits the ear more closely. Power output was increased through the use of a completely bespoke coil and magnet array design that optimized the active usable area of the driver within its ovoid shape.

    Comfort is supreme with Empyrean. For audiophiles who want to hear what thirty years of design evolution sounds like, Empyrean pairs the advances in audio reproduction with a headphone chassis that delivers extended hours of listening pleasure.

    The high-precision CNC sculpted chassis, milled from a single piece of solid aluminum, weighs only 15 ounces. A carbon fiber headband and leather headrest form an extremely comfortable support for listening pleasure. Suspension wings increase the leather headrest’s contact surface area with your head, eliminating uncomfortable pressure points.

    Isomagnetic® Ear Cup to Ear Pad Coupling Technology

    An innovative feature is the Isomagnetic® ear cup attachment, which utilizes the demagnetizing field generated by the driver to hold the ear cup in place while also redirecting the magnetic field back into the driver and improving driver efficiency.

    Magnetic field shielding is one benefit. The ferromagnetic ear pads decrease the magnetic stray field affecting the listeners head. Another benefit is an increase in driver efficiency. Patented ferromagnetic plates channel the magnetic field back into the driver, increasing output. The Hybrid Array Driver achieves 100db @ 1mw / 1kHz high performance without the need for amplification.

    An invisible locking system is an added benefit. The Empyrean features an innovative use of the magnetic field of the drivers to fix the headphone ear cups in place.

    Hand Assembled and Fully Serviceable

    Meze Audio carefully hand assembles each headphone in its facilities in Baia Mare, Romania. One of Meze Audio's core beliefs is to create products that last. From the Empyrean's replaceable earpads to the high-performance materials used, every part on the headphone chassis is available to be serviced if any parts ever need to be replaced. Meze Audio also provides a two-year warranty.

    Cable Options and Other Accessories

    Three cable options include your choice of an 8-ft. (2.5m) cable with 4-pin mini XLR plugs and 6.3mm plug; or a 4-ft. (1.2m) cable with 4pin mini XLR plugs and 3.5mm plug; or an 8-ft. (2.5m) cable with 4-pin mini XLR plugs and a 4-pin XLR connector. All three cables use premium signal conductors made from OFC copper and a Kevlar jacket.

    Accessories included with the headphone consist of a high-strength aluminum suitcase carrying case with foam inserts and two sets of earpads: one real leather, one Alcantara.

    Product Features

    Overview

    • Planar magnetic headphones
    • Driver Type: Rinaro Isodynamic® Hybrid Array
    • Operating Principle: Open
    • Ear Coupling: Circumaural
    • Driver combines individual switchback and spiral-shaped voice coils
    • Isoplanar® diaphragm is manufactured from a custom developed isotropic thermally stabilized polymer with a conductive layer
    • Lightweight, high-precision CNC sculpted chassis, milled from a single piece of solid aluminum
    • Carbon fiber headband
    • Leather headrest with suspension wings
    • Magnetically fixed ear cups
    • Carefully hand assembled in Baia Mare, Romania

    Cable Options

    • 8-ft. (2.5m) OFC cable with 4-pin mini XLR plugs and 6.3mm plug
    • 4-ft. (1.2m) OFC cable, with 4-pin mini XLR plugs and 3.5mm plug
    • 8-ft. (2.5m) OFC cable with 4-pin mini XLR plugs and 4-pin XLR connector

    Accessories

    • Case: High-strength aluminum suitcase with foam inserts
    • Two sets of earpads: one real leather, one Alcantara

    Product Specs

    General

    • Frequency Response: 4 - 110,000 Hz
    • Impedance: 31.6 Ω
    • Nominal SPL: 100 dB (1 mW / 1 kHz)
    • Maximum SPL: > 130 dB
    • Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): < 0.1%
    • Weight: 15 oz. (430 g)
    • Manufacturer's Limited warranty: 2 years

    Driver

    • Geometrical Shape: Ovoid
    • Size: 102 mm x 73 mm
    • Weight: 82 g
    • Casing:
    • Fiberglass Infused ABS

    Diaphragm

    • Type: Rinaro ISOPLANAR®
    • Active Area: 4650 mm2
    • Weight: 0.16 g
    • Acoustic Mass: 10.7 kg/m4
    • Lower Frequency Limit: 4 Hz
    • Upper-Frequency Limit: 110.000 Hz

    Magnet Array

    • Type: Isodynamic
    • Size: 75 mm x 49 mm
    • Magnetic Flux: 0.35 T

    "Meze spent several years developing their planar magnetic Empyrean which takes a backseat to very few headphones at any price level."

    "The Empyrean II are a more refined version of its 2018-released predecessors. Offering almost hypnotic imaging and midrange resolution, the Empyrean II is only limited by the quality of the amplifier that you connect them to. Meze Audio knew that their $3,000 statement had to look the part as well and this is industrial design at its finest."

    - Ian White, Gear Patrol, "The Best Expensive Headphones That Are Actually Worth Buying," June 28, 2024


    Editor's Choice Award 2024 – hi-fi+ Magazine

    "They have a natural and unforced, seemingly effortlessly correct tonality that produces a degree of insight into the music that is total because detail levels are so powerful."

    "Their rhythmic expression is unerring, which gives the music a compelling unity and togetherness, and they serve up complete, uncolored, and thoroughly engaging sound regardless of style. "

    - hi-fi+ magazine, 25th Anniversary Issue, April 2024


    Best Headphones for Audiophiles 2024 - Robb Report

    "While hardly inexpensive, these Romanian-designed-and-built headphones are as satisfying to listen to as they are comfortable for long listening sessions."

    "The drivers, which use a planar diaphragm sandwiched between two perforated, fiberglass-infused pieces of lightweight ABS, are two reasons the sound of the Empyrean II is so natural, detailed, and impactful. The frequency response is, almost literally, off the charts, extending from a subterranean eight Hz and spiraling to a (literally) unheard of 110,000 Hz. Altogether, the Empyreans hit the headphone sweet spot and beg the question, 'How much better can headphones get?'"

    - Robb Report, March 20, 2024


    Product of The Year Award 2024 - StereoNET

    "The high-end headphone market is a unique place where exotic audio engineering appears in very small packages. Into this brave new world of esoteric head-fi, which barely existed a decade or so ago, has stepped Meze Audio. It has recently launched some seriously special designs, such as the new Empyrean v2. This is an expensive, open-back planar magnetic ‘phone that uses super light 'isodynamic hybrid array’ drivers to give a startling frequency response of 8Hz to 110kHz. It sounds superb, being effortlessly transparent and breathtakingly fast. Exquisitely built, it fully justifies its hefty retail price."

    - StereoNET, January 12, 2024


    "Now I’ve heard the Meze Empyrean headphones probably a dozen times at the shows. And every time I try to nitpick them, I end up just enjoying the music. It didn’t matter which amplifier or DAC it was plugged into. Music just sounded truthful."

    "Meze was very meticulous and thoughtful when it came to this package. They made damn sure the listener knew this was a flagship headphone."

    - Jay Luong, Audio Bacon, October 24, 2022


    "Meze has produced a true high-end headphone in the Empyrean. The level of workmanship is exquisite. Comfort levels, weight on the head and level of clamping are spot-on for me. It’s only when you look in the mirror that you realise that you have something so substantial on your head!"

    "Sound-wise they are wonderfully refined, rich in detail, have great bandwidth with a well balanced and dynamic sound."

    "Most importantly to express, the Empyrean’s are a sonic joy and these combinations alongside choices in associated electronics will always produce a high-end, joyful and impressive sound. It’s down to the listener how they wish to tailor what could be

    the last pair of headphones that you ever buy."

    - Dan Worth, HiFi Pig, March 5, 2021


    Headphone of the Year - The Absolute Sound

    "Stated simply, the Empyrean creates large, believable soundstages and the sort of gripping, you-are-there realism that’s hard to find in any transducer, regardless of type."

    "If you give the Empyrean time to become all it can be, it will reward you with a rare combination of balance, finesse, and all-around expressiveness. It is only with extreme reluctance that I must force myself to give these headphones back to Meze."

    - Chris Martens, The Absolute Sound, November 18, 2019


    "The Meze Empyrean delivers music without getting in the way at all."

    "I fell in love with the Empyrean the moment I heard a pair. Even in my home system, they will rate as being my favourite headphones I have had around my ears."

    "I cannot fault their build quality nor the remarkable attention to detail that Meze has applied to these headphones. Furthermore, the Meze/Rinaro collaboration has been a masterstroke. Together they have produced one of the most amazing headphones both regarding sound quality and aesthetics."

    "This is the kind of performance that usually comes from high-end headphones which require careful pairing with hardware and treated with kid gloves; not the Empyrean. True, if you have a top-flight head-amp it will really help the flagship Mezes perform at their best; however, even the lowliest amps will produce music that is engaging, entertaining and, at times, awe-inspiring."

    "Buying Meze Audio Empyrean headphones can genuinely be classed as an investment as they will continue to please for many years to come."

    - Jay Garrett, StereoNET, September 12, 2019


    "The Meze Empyreans represent the next step in flagship planar technology. With such an established sound and design, it is surprising to see that this is the company’s first stab in high-end gear. It is also nice to see that these headphones offer an outstanding level of refinement and balance despite being musically tuned. With many years of research and development, Meze along with Rinaro Isodynamics have certainly released a captivating product that would appeal to both the audiophile and mass market alike – a trait which is often hard to come across."

    "With exceptional durability, exceedingly good comfort levels and an easygoing sound character – it is hard to give these amiss."

    - Audiosolace, June 24, 2019


    "Obviously, these headphones are all about the affordability but they are definitely very special from an audio perspective, clean, soft and very comfortable. It has been a privilege for me to have them for an extended run."

    - Simon Wilce, HiFi and Music Source, May 2, 2019


    Reviewers' Choice - Hi-fi Choice

    "The Empyreans clearly rank among the very best headphones you can buy. They deliver loads of detail and a wonderful sense of space, all without skewing the tonal balance toward the treble as so many audiophile headphones do, and they have no quirks or anomalies that would make me warn certain listeners away from them. No matter what kind of music you love, you’ll love hearing it through the Empyreans."

    - Brent Butterworth, Hi-fi Choice, April 1, 2019


    "The Empyrean is wonderfully different from a great many planar headphones out there in the market today. It has a tuning that is both masterful in its subtleties to warrant being termed as a “connoisseurs’ choice’ yet pleasingly musical enough for just about anyone to pick it up and simply enjoy it with just about any genre. I honestly cannot fault its performance from a personal ‘vocal loving level’ and from an objective technical level."

    "There is a wide range of audiophiles out there with an increasingly diverse level of source and amp these days. In a way, the Empyrean tuning and power needs reflect that level of diversity. I love that it doesn’t require huge power but my, it sounds beautiful with great amps, as any great headphone should aspire to do. The fact it has enough flexibility to sound excellent with very good portable sources also is the icing on the cake."

    "The Empyrean is a beautiful looking headphone with an endearing tuning quality that I think will appeal to both the hardcore and casual alike. It really is amazing that previously with Meze we were talking about cracking little mid-fi portable headphones and now this. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow as they say."

    - Marcus, Headfonics, March 17, 2019


    Editor's Choice Award - Inner Fidelity

    "The Empyrean is built to last as one of the greats of headphone design and manufacture."

    "Few headphones have made such an instantaneous sonic impression upon me as the Meze Empyrean did at Rocky Mountain Audio Fest this fall and once I’d received a production model for review here at home, it was déjà vu all over again when I slipped them on with their accuracy, tonal and timbral cloud, 3D-spatial imaging and huge sound stage."

    - Rafe Arnott, innerfidelity.com, December 30, 2018


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