Meze Audio Empyrean II

Introduction to the Meze Empyrean II Review​

Meze’s Empyrean II’s release has received a ton of attention from customers and reviewers – suddenly everyone and their grandmother were writing and making videos about it, seemingly overnight. And all of the reviews I’ve seen have been overwhelmingly positive, which is a factor that doesn’t surprise me in the least.
The headphone market at the 3000-USD-ish price point has been very, very competitive lately. After all, we’ve got Erzetich Charybdis, an absolute killer of a headphone and a complete product in terms of quality, accessories, and of course, sound. Hifiman has been releasing further twists on the HE1000 series, namely, the HE1000 Stealth Edition, with the HE1000SE prices dropping significantly at the same time, making it one of the top headphone picks when it comes to the bang-for-buck factor. I consider this spectacle nothing less than exciting, as high level of competition benefits us, customers, in the long run. And it seems like we are reaching all kinds of new heights with every release that we’ve seen recently, at said price point of 3000 USD. Every other month may bring a new release that may dethrone your current daily driver from the “favorite headphone” position. That might get quite overwhelming, and that’s why I’m here for you to review all of it. No need to thank me.
Admittedly, I’ve always had a thing for Meze. I first came across the brand during my first steps in the headphone world, some years after the release of the first Empyrean, which came in 2018. I remember watching none other than DankPods rave about them, appreciating every single aspect of the Empyrean there was to appreciate – from build quality, through looks and accessories, all the way to their low impedance of 32 Ohm.
Not to mention the sound – that was clearly a source of excitement for him as well, and that was the aspect that made me the most intrigued about the Empyrean. I started wondering back then, how good can a pair of headphones, with a rough MSRP of a kidney, sound? As you can see, we have pretty cheap kidneys here in Poland. Luckily, I got to keep both of mine, and got a chance to take a listen to them during Audio Video Show in Poland in 2022.
I was impressed, for sure, but that also piqued my interest about other gear in a similar price point. Therefore, I guess you could say, that the first Empyrean played a substantial role in getting me hooked to headphones, becoming a step in turning curiosity into passion.
I must admit that I have a great appreciation for the people of Romania. Certain aspects of its history, like the end of the year 1989, are fascinating, to say the least. As someone with a thing for niche perfumery, I can’t help but be captivated by Toskovat’ and Adi Ale Van’s creativity. Of course, the most exciting of Romania-born creations is Meze Audio, established in Baia Mare by none other than Antonio Meze.
Luckily, we got a chance to meet and talk to Antonio during High-End Munich in 2023. The conversation was brief, but I hope more of it will be had during 2024’s installment of the largest audio show in the world in Munich. When talking about Meze, of course, we can’t forget about Alexandra, whom I also met at that show, due to how friendly and outgoing she was.
When it comes to audio in general, something I appreciate a lot is the people I get to meet along the way, and in the case of the people of Meze, the case is no different. Wishing all the best to Alexandra and Antonio, I sincerely hope we’ll get another chance to talk when the time comes in May this year. Now, let’s move on to the Empyrean II, shall we?

Packaging​

I’ve always considered Meze to be at the top of the game when it comes to the quality of the accessories they provide with their headphones. It seems like they never fail to deliver, no matter the price point of the product – consumers can count on a premium unboxing experience, whether they’re in the market for the cheaper Meze 99 Neo or looking to grab the top-of-the-line Meze Elite Epoque. This time, when it comes to reviewed Meze Empyrean II, the situation is no different.
The unboxing experience stuns with the display of craftsmanship of every single item involved in the process, starting at the case in which they arrive, all the way to the handwritten warranty card. It’s a complete experience, assuring the user that they’re dealing with a premium product. And rightfully so, as there is no better way to describe Meze’s latest installment in the Empyrean series – it’s Premium with a huge P. In the case I received, there were the headphones, of course, a spare pair of Alcantara pads, the warranty card, and a long 4-pin XLR to dual mini-XLR cable for the Empyrean II.
Even though the set might seem similar to what you receive with something like the Meze Elite, there is one notable difference – the case in which the headphones reside. In the case (hehe) of the Elite, it was a large silver suitcase made of metal, with the name of the headphone model written on it. If you like some of Rimowa’s suitcase projects, you’ll surely like this one, no doubt.
However, the suitcase in which the tested Meze Empyrean II came stunned me even more. It’s more elegant, and compact, and overall doubles down on the luxury aspect of the unboxing. It seems like a genuine fashion accessory. Don’t worry though, you won’t see me flexing it on the latest installment of one of those “How much is your outfit” videos. It seems like Meze made something great with the Elite, then went even deeper with the later installment – the Empyrean II. That sentiment is relevant way beyond the unboxing experience, let me tell you…

Design, Build and Comfort​

When it comes to the build, Meze audio is notoriously hard to beat. And the great thing about all of it is that they keep that energy no matter the price point of their products – from 99 Classics all the way to the Meze Empyrean II. The designers at Meze clearly have a great understanding of how to make a product feel luxurious without compromise.
It’s obvious from the first time handling these, that no shortcuts were taken on the road to make this one of the best-built headphones out there. It’s not huge and bulky and its style doesn’t come across as rugged or heavy-duty in any sense, yet the craftsmanship matches both the sturdiest and the most beautiful headphones out there. The moving parts leave nothing to be desired either. Every hinge and regulation pole (as I like to call them) move seamlessly with no creaking, squeaking, or any other noise you’re expecting to hear from an old decrepit door in a haunted mansion. One thing I also love about those is the way the pads are attached to the headphones. They’re magnetic, with a set of grills on each one. The grills seem like they’re supposed to prevent accidental damage to the driver when the curiosity gets the better of you. I’ve seen many headphones, with which even the most keen of eyes would have trouble finding a flaw in craftsmanship. Here, it’s simply not possible.
The comfort of Meze’s headphones is also a tale as old as… Meze I guess. Andrew from Headphones.commentioned, that the Empyrean/Elite headphones feel better on your head than wearing nothing at all. It’s quite the statement, isn’t it? I can totally see where he’s coming from. While I and many other people I’ve spoken to may disagree – come on, not having any weight on your head is the most comfortable – I haven’t heard a single voice complaining about Meze’s comfort department. Especially when it comes to the Empyrean and Elite. If wearing no headphones at all is the most comfortable, then Meze Empyrean II is simply as close to that as it gets. No hotspots, no excessive pressure, overall – those feel like taping a pillow to your head.
The stock pads are comfortable and well built as well – together with the reviewed Meze Empyrean II you receive 2 pairs of pads – a pair of their Duo pads, made of Alcantara and leather, and angled Alcantara pads. Both options trade blows and it’s hard to pick a clear winner among those two, so let’s just call it a draw, even though I’ve found myself doing most of my listening using the Duo. The Empyrean 2 don’t really disappear on your head, as lighter pairs might do, but the pressure they exert is very pleasant – one may indeed look forward to wearing those, sound quality aside, just for the sake of comfort. And that’s why I think Resolve may be onto something here. It’s hard to say if the Empyrean 2 is the most comfortable headphone I’ve ever had on, but it’s one of the few headphones out there with which the comfort was simply outstanding.
In terms of tech you can’t look past Rinaro Isodynamics when discussing Meze’s planar magnetic offerings. Rinaro is a Ukrainian company, with R&D and manufacturing plants in Ukraine, and, you guessed it – Poland! More specifically, in my beautiful city of Rzeszów! Even more specifically, about 5 kilometers away from my neighborhood! Okay, once you’re done trying to doxx me, we can move on. The driver in the Meze Empyrean II is of an odd shape, and has two trace patterns – there’s the switchback coil, responsible for lower frequencies, positioned on the upper side of the construction, and the spiral coil, responsible for mids and highs. Its positioning is supposed to help with creating a more direct path between the driver and the ear canal. It’s an interesting solution, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for Meze in terms of research and development.

Sound of the reviewed Meze Empyrean II​

After taking a listen to Meze Empyrean II in my peaceful homestead, plugged into Hifiman Serenade, I decided that I want to push it even further. Those headphones, while not being demanding, benefit greatly from the quality of the source components they’re hooked up to. So I rang up Paweł to send me his Hifiman Prelude, Michał, to provide me with XLR interconnects to pull it all together, and Kamil, to lend me his beloved Elites for a comparison, which will take place later. I’m very grateful for the kindness of my friends, as they all complied. This particular setup – Serenade, Prelude, Meze Empyrean II – is without a question something many of you may consider endgame. The sound is inviting, yet playfully aggressive at times, relaxing, yet technical and captivating at once. It’s a balanced sound presentation with no outstanding weaknesses, whether you’re indulging in some smooth jazz or headbanging to the first Mayhem album. The headphones do a great job of making you forget about the rest of the world for a while – I’ve caught myself having prolonged listening sessions with those quite a few times, even when it was high time to do some university work. Hell, many times I didn’t even feel like taking these off to plug in the Elite and make the comparison, as good as both of them are. Let’s talk details.

BASS
The bass’ strongest point is the balanced presentation it displays. It’s very tactile and snappy, but it doesn’t hit like a truck, and definitely doesn’t interfere with other aspects of the sound. The moments where the bass presentation on the reviewed Meze Empyrean II shined the most took place when revisiting the classic piece of electronic music from 2007 – “Untrue” by none other than Burial. Few other music producers do such a terrific job when it comes to sampling – check out how “Archangel” was made and make sure you don’t forget to pick up your jaw from the floor after you’re done. Burial often layers different sounds in a way that can be best reproduced by a precise, clean, yet decisive performing headphone. That’s exactly how the bass response presents itself when it comes to the tested Meze Empyrean II. The dynamics of the bass are fast and punchy, but not aggravated-assault-punchy. The speed here is very satisfying, especially when listening to the percussive beginning of Solomon Burke’s “None Of Us Are Free”. That tidiness and order in the bass department is what puts the Empyrean II at the summit when it comes to relaxed listening without even a hint of boredom.
You can’t make a proper assertion of the bass region of a headphone without taking the sub-bass rumble for a spin. I love to do that whenever I have a chance. Stromae’s “Ta fete” is one of the main reasons why I consider him to be one of the best electronic-pop artists of our time. The aggressive, nearly tribal percussion is layered with long, extensive notes of sub-bass rumble, making the whole arrangement sound like a living, breathing machine. Reviewed Meze Empyrean II does justice to that spectacle, and does so with flying colors, as it doesn’t lose its marbles trying to layer aggressive sub-bass with even more violent, heavy drums. My description of the experience may make it all seem like a rollercoaster ride, dragging one by the collar no matter the complexity of the music piece. I have to say, all of it was very pleasant and easy to listen to. I think it’s best to attribute this precedent to how balanced and controlled the bass presentation is, despite the fun factor written with a huge F. That’s what a well-done balance should sound like.


MIDRANGE
It’s very easy to become captivated by the way the Meze Empyrean 2 handles midrange, especially vocal performances. There is a hint of warmth to be heard in here, but it’s not overpowering by any means. Female vocals sound very smooth and inviting, with the natural presentation cranked up to 11. Listening to “Duvet” by boa makes Jasmine’s vocals sound like they’re taking place right in front of you, with a certain sparkle and magic to them. Among other songs with amazing vocals I’ve tried, it seems to me like no matter the song, the vocalist gets their own five minutes, being well separated from the rest of the band. Heed my words, however – “well separated” does not mean “stranded” in this case. More aggressive vocals exert great energy, and don’t sound like the frontman is trying his best to be the loudest among the overpowering instruments. Any piece of music involving certain instrumental solos, or focusing on the vocals seem to be the perfect match for the Meze Empyrean 2, as that is a headphone capable of giving each element its own magic, lushness, and distinctive clarity, without leaving the detail behind.
The detail retrieval in the midrange is not overdone or synthetic-sounding here, it seems just as effortless as all other aspects of the sound. While not exactly a detail monster, Meze Empyrean 2 seems to love well-produced recordings, with numerous layers of music, and it seems to me that the more technical performance you need from them, the more it shows you that there is no piece of music that the reviewed Meze Empyrean II won’t reproduce faithfully. I am extremely glad, however, to reiterate, that despite the more-than-enough amount of detail being pushed, this is by no means an analytical headphone. Its purpose is to get you in your feelings, to appreciate the piece of music for what it is, and to shift your focus towards enjoyment and love for music instead of analytical listening. There is a certain emotional weight that this pair of headphones can display when listening to something like “On the Nature of Daylight” by Max Richter. The violin soloist seems to be born with one purpose – to squeeze every last tear you have left. And the Empyrean 2 surely isn’t bottlenecking the performance at hand, quite the opposite – it enhances every listening session with a certain magic that is very apparent in the midrange presentation.

TREBLE
The dynamics of the treble also make a major contribution to how captivating the sound is. Every single clap in Stromae’s “ave cesaria” makes you want to put your hands up and clap together with it. The dynamics here play a huge role in depicting the realism of the sound, helping the listener bridge the gap between being a listener and being the participant. “ave cesaria” feels like singing gospel with your family on a Sunday in summer, and Meze Empyrean II’s realistic presentation of numerous high-pitched sounds and tones helps the listeners imagine that they’re there with the artist. As was the case with the bass, when it comes to the treble, the layering is a thing to behold as well. The claps make way for the strings to work in unison, pushing the sound system’s technical performance to the maximum. Throughout every second of the listening session, through every change in the arrangement of instruments, there is one common denominator – Meze Empyrean II’s sophisticated treble reproduction. None of what I just mentioned would’ve taken place if it wasn’t for great dynamics, immense detail, and airy presentation that pushes realism to the extreme.
Over-the-top treble reproduction that can be had in headphones is often synonymous with the sparkle and dynamics being cranked up a bit too high, resulting in some unpleasant extremes in some passages during one’s listening session. That’s something no one is fond of, as it rips you away from the laidback and relaxed atmosphere you may try to cultivate with a pair of headphones on. I often like to prepare myself for such occurrences by putting on some tracks that really put you on the edge with their brightness. One of those tracks is “13 Angels Standing Guard ‘Round The Side Of Your Bed” by Silver Mt. Zion. Ahh, I love it when track names are concise like this. This is a very odd piece of music for many first-time listeners, as the highs on it reach an intense, nearly hallucinatory presentation, with the violins being the main culprit, with odd vocal-like noises following suit. More often than not, this track has its highs quite overdone. I’m happy to report that no such thing has taken place with the reviewed Meze Empyrean II, with its balanced sound and restraint in the highest registries saving me from pain when listening to this captivating masterpiece. All of that without an ounce of technical pedigree left behind.


SOUNDSTAGE
Let’s get this straight – this headphone’s staging isn’t the largest that can be experienced at this price point. With competition like HE1000SE and Charybdis costing a similar amount nowadays, reviewed Meze Empyrean 2 seems to deliver a slightly more intimate performance. That, however, doesn’t mean that there is any congestion involved. Meze Empyrean 2 displays a good balance between the size of the stage and the scale of the sounds. This transfers to a very natural listening experience, without the music seeming inflated or artificially stretched out. One could say it’s “just right”. The soundstage wraps around the listener’s head, without extending too far into the left or right.
The perceived depth of the stage is pretty impressive as well, as it helps with the layering of the sounds that I’m so fond of. As ridiculous as it may seem to use such headphones for gaming, the layering and staging enhance the immersion of the experience quite significantly. I love first-person shooters, and whenever I get to lay my hands on some new headphones, I always test them out with titles like Battlefield 1 or 3. It’s a perfect example of how well-executed sound design can have you at the edge of your seat. And the Meze Empyrean II is an example of a perfectly fitting tool to help yourself experience that.
Despite not being the largest, the staging abilities of the Meze Empyrean 2, coupled with the black background it showcases, are more than enough to deliver a very realistic three-dimensional experience. The headphone’s appropriate spaciousness with plenty of air makes way for the imaging to step in and do its job properly. Listening to “TV on mute to light the saloon” by Ulvo puts you in a trance, with multiple different sounds with different dynamics seemingly dancing around one’s head. The scale of the sound helps captivate the listener, as whenever you shift your focus on the sound from left to right, it seems like there are new artifacts and curiosities to be uncovered. And that’s precisely where the staging and imaging tie perfectly with the rest of the properties of the Meze Empyrean 2. Overall it seems like a pair of headphones tailor-made for laid-back, relaxed listening, all backed by immense technical performance. The staging abilities of the Empyrean 2 certainly help here, without stretching the stage to “near-synthetic” lengths.

Pairing​

For the purposes of this review I have chosen the aforementioned combo of Hifiman Serenade + Hifiman Prelude combo. I feel like Serenade’s excellent R2R DAC section works perfectly with the immense punch delivered by Prelude’s respectable power. After all, we have 10 Watts of Class A power on tap, at 32 Ohms. The Empyrean 2 isn’t a particularly demanding pair of headphones, so you could easily get away with something much less flamboyant in order to make them sound good. However, I just feel like this pair deserves that extra push when it comes to power. Meze Empyrean 2 have an impedance of 32 Ohms, with a sensitivity of about 105dB. That makes them easily drivable, should you choose to pair your Empyrean 2 with something less powerful.
This combo provided me with some excellent performance. There was no bottlenecking of any positive qualities of the headphones. The 10 Watts were easily more than enough to make these sound like a dream, and overall I have enjoyed what the Serenade + Prelude combo has to offer – a slight tint of warmth, served on a plate of intense punch, rumble, with a side of sparkle, clarity and air. Man, I’m hungry.

Comparisons​

Meze Elite

I think Meze did a great job of curating their product range when it comes to high-end headphones. While the Meze Empyrean 2 are, in my opinion, an improvement over the Elite, they don’t outclass them, instead offering a different kind of sound, all with a similar level of sophistication. That way, your choice won’t have to depend on one headphone beating the other by a landslide, instead, there’s something good for every pair of ears under Meze’s belt.
The main difference between the Elite and Empyrean 2 are, in my opinion, the staging. The Elite seems more expansive than Empyrean 2, though not by a lot. It offers a similar type of staging, with the sounds wrapping around your head, however it seems like there is more space around the listener and in between instruments and sound. Overall, the presentation seems less intimate in an A/B comparison. This, of course, might be a benefit or a drawback, depending on what you’re looking for.
Another difference lies in the overall warmth and lushness of the sound. I feel like the Empyrean 2 excels in this region in comparison to the slightly colder and more analytical Elite. The latter, however, still provides a full-bodied, dynamic, and tangible sound, perhaps even pushing the detail half a notch above the Empyrean 2. The differences in detail aren’t huge, however – once again, it’s not a landslide. Thus, Elite seems to excel in performances demanding more space and raw detail, with the Empyrean 2 taking the lead in vocal-focused, emotional, and natural music pieces.
All in all, both of Meze’s top-end creations display impressive levels of technical performance, with the pleasure of listening being cranked up to 11 in both. However, they still have notable differences worth considering when making a purchase. As always – it’s best to take a listen, then decide.

HiFiMAN HE-1000SE

Over time, the HE1000SE has taken the title of “the ol’ reliable” at my desk, being utilized nearly non-stop for any task that involves sitting at the desk – video or photo editing, gaming, movies and TV series, and even studying. Yeah, I do that sometimes, believe it or not.
In comparison to both of Meze’s offerings I’ve mentioned, the difference in weight and clamping force is noticeable when switching A/B from one pair to another. The HE1000SE is way lighter and has that “disappearing” quality to it, not getting in the way of your comfort. The Meze Empyrean 2 feels like a pillow in comparison, exerting a pleasant amount of pressure on your head and around your ears. I love both.
What about the sound? Out of the two, the HE1000SE seems closer to the Elite than the Empyrean 2. The sound is the most spacious out of the three, the bass is the snappiest, and the amount of detail is slightly above the Elite and Empyrean. However, there are aspects of the sound where I prefer the Empyrean 2 – it’s capable of delivering more warmth to the mix, together with a stronger punch and more prominent tangibility. I still love my HE1000SE, however, it’s great to see the competition getting more intense with time, as we all benefit from it in the end.
Overall, I have to admit, I wouldn’t mind keeping the Empyrean 2 as a daily driver and using it in daily together with the HE1000SE. Not two at once of course, I don’t have 4 ears. Both excel in their respective fields, and both are the perfect tools to fully immerse you in the music you choose for your next listening session, albeit in two quite different ways.

Meze Empyrean II Review – summary​

I think the Meze Empyrean II is not only a great headphone, it is also a great product. It’s a pretty hyped release, and once you experience Meze’s latest highest offering, you’ll immediately understand where it’s all coming from. You’re taken on a luxurious cruise, the first stop being the initial unboxing, all the way until you familiarize yourself with the headphones.

In terms of the quality of accessories and the build, the design, and comfort, Meze is notoriously hard to beat, and this release solidifies its place at the top of the game in those factors. It’s a perfect mix of the art of design coupled with high performance and confidence-inspiring build.
Meze Empyrean II’s sound signature is perfect for everyday listening when you choose to relax with your favorite music, with a fun, engaging, but not at all insistent DNA. The perfect single word to describe this pair of headphones is “Balance” in my book. Fun, yet relaxing, natural, yet technical. It’s a well-priced product, deserving of all the praise it’s currently receiving. If you’re looking for an endgame headphone, and the words above seem to match your preferences – trust me, this one is worth trying out.
Highly recommended.

Big thanks to Meze Audio for providing us with the Empyrean II for this review. I wasn’t paid or asked to say anything good or bad about this product, all of the above is just my personal, unbiased opinion.

Introduction, Background & Setup
By way of background, I am a very passionate music and sound lover. I am not an audio engineer or professional in any capacity in the industry, but music has been a huge part of my life since I was a little one. I’ve performed as a singer and instrumentalist, have done some DJ-ing, and I spend a lot of time today making mixes (all as hobbies) and just listening and discovering new music in general – easily a few hours of listening every day. I am a millennial, so I came of age as the transition to iPods and Beats was taking place. I spent many years staying on the “consumer” side of things and still have a lot of that type of gear in my collection – but I got serious about wired high-fidelity listening about ten years ago now. I did not own the OG Empyrean (Empy), but I do own the 109 Pro along with 19 other headphones. I listen to a very wide range of genres – House, EDM, R&B, Hip-Hop, Pop, Reggae, AfroPop, Alternative, Jazz, Orchestral/Classical/Film Score, Classic Rock, Acoustic…you get the picture. Because of this, my preferences gravitate towards gear that can perform well across a wide array of genres, with each headphone bringing its unique approach to the presentation.

This is also my first detailed review of any gear. I’ve done smaller reviews here and there in other places, but this is my first “full and detailed” review. Like many in the hobby, nearly all of my research and the progression of my journey has been due to forums like these and folks willing to take the time to provide views and opinions on gear, so I am happy to pay it forward. As mentioned, I am not a pro, so I do not have any audio measuring equipment. Everything I will be writing here is based purely on my ear and experience during listening. All comparisons are to other pieces of gear that I currently own and listen to regularly. I did watch and read other reviews during the pre-order period to educate myself on the product, but I have not watched any reviews or referenced any FR graphs or anything like that since I received the EmpyII’s and started listening (I had a re-look at FR graphs again after completing the write up, so to do appropriate editing). I’m also not a pro reviewer on any level, so this was a purchase I made on my own, and Ihave no connection with any entity. I hope this write up is helpful, and I will answer any questions that I can.

Summary – The Meze EmpyII is a uniquely enjoyable experience from top to bottom. From the moment you open the box, the passion that Meze places in its products is evident, and most importantly, that passion carries through to the listening experience. It is a headphone that sacrifices pure neutrality and takes some artistic liberties with the tuning - and the result is a phenomenal, spacious, warm and glistening sphere of sound around your head. It’s unfair to call it a traditional V-Shape tune. While that term may work as a starting point, the team at Meze has added a touch here and a touch there with such precision that it deserves to be labeled separately – it is tuned for maximum expression. It’s a headphone that does almost everything well and practically nothing poorly. It’s among the best of the “jack of all trades” headphones. It may not be the absolute best in all categories, but none are weak, and the sum of the parts is Meze’s house sound and knack for exquisite audio products on full display.


Full Review Contents:
Equipment/Setup
Scoring System Explanation
Design & User Experience
Listening Experience
Overall Value Proposition
Brief Comparisons (Meze 109 Pro, Final Audio D8000 Pro, Focal Utopia, Audeze LCD-X, Sennheiser HD800S)

Equipment/Setup:
Ferrum ERCO Desktop (Primary)
Chord Mojo 2 (Portable)
Feliks Audio Elise MKII OTL Tube Amp (Tube)
Apple Music Lossless/Hi-Res Lossless

Scoring System:
Keeping it simple here and will use a relative scoring of Weak, In Line or Strong scoring system. This will hopefully keep it as objective as possible and help provide points of reference. For the purposes of this review the point of comparison is relative to other top of the line (TOTL) headphones in the USD $2k+ category.


Design & User Experience – Score: VERY Strong
I am one that usually focuses on sound quality first, then things like accessories, cables, etc. are firmly second place. For this reason I’m going to talk about all of the things not directly related to listening in this section and score them together. For the listening experience, I will score things more granularly. That being said, as I mentioned in the opener, Meze is very obviously dedicated to making sure EVERY aspect of this product contributes to a pleasant experience, and that extends both to its design, as well as some practical product choices.

Let’s start with the artistic. Continuing with Meze tradition, it’s genuinely wrong to call the EmpyII anything less than a work of art. The pictures truly don’t do it justice. It is a wonderful example of artistry combined with industrial design to support great user experience. The sliding mechanism to adjust cups up and down, the wonderfully designed leather strap-based weigh distribution system, the dual material pads – these are all design choices that are strikingly distinct, yet also are in service of something practical. Layered on top of this are decisions like the simple but striking black color, the etching of the outside of the cups…it all comes together immensely well. There are also some included materials with the EmpyII that tell more of the story of Meze and how their products connect to the history and nature of where they are located. Exotic stuff. All very appreciated at the EmpyII’s USD $3k entry price. Now that we’re talking money, let’s get practical.

The first thing you notice when you hold the EmpyII in hand is how well-built, sturdy and flexible it is, while still being relatively light. The cups also bend at nearly all angles – rotating in multiple directions. The band has quite a bit of give while still being firm. All of this, unsurprisingly, also leads to the unreal comfort level. Every single person I know that has put them on has had a “wow” moment when the the pads first rest on the ears for the perfect seal with just the right amount of pressure. While a bit big and bulky visually, it truly does disappear once you have it on in terms of feel. The pads are also pretty breathable (both styles), which keeps the ears from getting too warm. I can’t say that the Empyrean II is the most comfortable headphone I’ve ever worn, but that’s only because I also own the Empy’s little brother, the 109 Pro, which is equally comfortable – but much smaller and lighter, so all the more impressive for the Empy. Meze is dominating comfort, and it doesn’t seem to really be close. [Side note here: I wear both contact lenses and glasses, and the Empy’s deal with glasses very well.]

Next – versatility. We’ve already covered how Meze makes the EmpyII super easy to put on your head and wear it for as long as you want without thinking. They also make it super easy to connect it to your source in the way you desire and power it with a wide range of sources – without adding extra cost to the equation.

At the time of purchase, you have the choice between copper or silver-plated copper cables, along with a selection of common termination options. By the way, the cable is both the most good-looking (braided) and utilitarian (good thickness, weight, connection mechanism, and nearly impossible to twist/distort) of every headphone I currently own and have ever owned. It also connects to the L and R sides of the headphone with a nice button lock mechanism. It makes you really question why some headphones that cost multiple hundreds or thousands of dollars have pretty bad cables (looking at you HD800S). Also included is a nicely built hard briefcase-style carry case with foam insulation that also holds the spare pads and can fit the included leather bag for the cable – making portability a cinch. It’s a really nice accessory experience that’s not always a given, even at this price range.

The relatively low power requirements adds both ease of use and versatility. Consistent with the trend of more TOTL headphones releasing with lower power requirements, while it certainly won’t give you the best experience, you can have a pretty darn good experience with the EmpyII with the likes of a simple dongle DAC, if your device itself can’t drive them (which it may). This is a good opportunity to bring up how this versatility can work out very well – gaming – especially console gaming. We have not touched on sound yet, but for now, trust me when I say that the overall presentation here is great for gaming – tonal balance and soundstage bring incredible levels of audio immersion to gaming. The fact that this is a relatively easy to drive headphone means a simple $20, 3.5mm line-in headphone amp from your retailer of choice can plug directly into your controller and perform better than 99% of gaming headsets on the market (for those that may be curious, current-generation consoles have made it extremely tedious to plug a DAC directly into the console).

All of this, and we haven’t even touched on the pads. Again, design and experience come together beautifully. Meze has included two sets of pads with the EmpyII. One set of “Duo” pads, that are a mix of Alcantara and leather, and a set of pads that are purely Alcantara. The Duo produces a warmer sound, while the full Alcantara pads are a bit more spacious and thin out the warmth. Preferences aside, the fact that both are included for the price is nice. And with that Meze touch, the pads use the magnetic field of the driver to easily snap in and out of place – quick and painless. And speaking of easily snapping things in and out of place, each of the the EmpyII’s components are repairable, and the included materials emphasize the fact that this is gear meant to last generations.


Listening Experience – Score: Strong
For me, the EmpyII is an outstanding listen that is both engaging and relaxing at the same time. The experience is extremely immersive and expressive. There are moments with the EmpyII that have gripped me more than any headphone I’ve owned. A theme that will reappear from the design section earlier is versatility. I’m a multi-genre guy, and I have yet to come across something that would not work at least serviceably well on the EmpyII’s – and for most genres, the results are excellent. All this said, that is not because the EmpyII is necessarily the absolute best at everything it does. However, it does do nearly everything at least very well – and it’s this combined this with Meze’s passion for applying their special sauce across multiple aspects of the listening experience that leads to something that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. Here’s what we’ll explore and score individually:

(*Note: I appreciate that many of the points I will make below are highly subjective. I am attempting to do my best in being both objective and open about my preferences, so that this review can be useful for all.)

Tonal Balance (including lows, mids and highs separately)
Technical Performance
Detail & Resolution
Amplification (not scored)
Pad Comparison (all other views written with Duo pads in use)

Tonal Balance - Score: Very Strong
It is always difficult to “score” FR because everyone has both different reference points for a neutral target and different preferences in general. That said, I’m going to approach it from a few perspectives – how does it compare to a neutral target, are there any objective shortcomings, and are there any objective strengths.

At first listen, it’s easy to call the EmpyII a V-Shaped tune, though with a deeper listen, that would probably be a disservice – though it is a great place to start the discussion. The reason it would be a disservice is because V-shaped implies broad strokes, and the EmpyII is far more precise. Don’t get me wrong, this is a colored tune for sure, but the artistic liberties that are taken away from neutral come across much more as very intentional nips and tucks than major lifts and drops. The tuning is warm without being overly heavy, with mids that grip you and highs that add just the right touch of sparkle in the right place that bring us to the word I used earlier – expressive.

Lows – Score: Strong
I think the lows will get a lot of attention here. I’ve seen a lot of owners of the OG Empyrean that are very passionate about the warmth that it brings. The EmpyII has an unquestionably warm tilt in the lows, but I would not say aggressively so. It doesn’t necessarily paint everything over with a broad brush of warmth, but instead has a slight mid-bass push that brings a lovely extra touch of warmth to mixes that are active in this area (Pop, R&B, Electric, Drums) – and in these cases, the warmth is outstanding. But if you’re looking for something that brings heavy warmth on the lows into everything, I would not say the EmpyII does that, and I think that may disappoint some of the OG fans. As you get deeper in the lows, the boosting ends. It results in an overall low end that hits but is more cloud-like than thick and comes off as quite natural. This is also reason #1 why I would not use the V-Shaped label here; sub-bass is there, but not overly so, and the extra warmth also doesn’t drift into lower-mid territory. Please don’t take “cloud-like” to mean that the bass doesn’t have impact; it indeed does. In fact, another not to pad design from Meze, the leather seal of the Duo pads do a great job of creating a nice little dynamic seal that does indeed convey low-end dynamics quite well, especially for a planar.

When it comes to overall bass quality, the EmpyII delivers here as well. As we will get to later, the EmpyII is a pretty spacious headphone, and the gear’s ability to deliver a full and present bass but with the precision that allows pinpoint location of the bass in the mix, is impressive. It also manages to deliver its warm tilt without bloat. I am a guy that listens to a lot of genres with action in the low end, and I have never been disappointed in either the quantity or quality of bass that the EmpyII has delivered. You expect a warm headphone to have a low end that brings something special to the low end, and I think Meze has achieved it here.

Mids – Score: Strong
The easiest way to open up the section about the mids is with - they are reason #2 why I wouldn’t use the V-shaped label here. In my view, to truly be V-shaped, the mids either have to be recessed/veiled, or the highs and lows have to be so distinctly elevated that the mids are indirectly recessed. None of that is on display here to the level that I would call the EmpyII V-shaped. The mids here are quite distinct and are on full display (also for reasons other than tonal balance, which I will touch on in the technical performance section). There may be an instance here or there in which the mids can be somewhat relaxed in comparison to the rest of the mix, but I have found in my listening that this is usually with prominent action at extremes of the spectrum. For example, if you are listening to a lot of bass heavy hip-hop, EDM or something along those lines, that also typically has a lot of detail action going on in the high end, vocals can take somewhat of a back seat – but even then, nowhere near on the level of something that you put on and immediately go – oh, recessed mids.

The amount of expression in the mids here is phenomenal. The naturalness on display across vocals (both male and female) and natural musical instruments is solid, but what most stands out is how the tuning of the mids combines with the tuning of the highs to create something great. Female vocals have that little bit of extra power behind them, with tasteful touches of breathiness that make artists like Adele and London Grammar truly sound transcendent. Male vocals come through with a pleasant smoothness that excels with the added warmth to a baritone voice or the added touch of throatiness from precisely tuned highs. Vocals in the mids allow you to hear the full timbre of the voice of the vocalist and all of its layers – truly awesome. Instrumentation isn’t left in the cold either. That same touch of breathiness can apply to something like a saxophone, and that same touch of extra power can apply to something like an electric guitar. The wonderful thing about the EmpyII in the mids for me is that it adds little touches like the examples I gave – but MANY more. It can be a song you’ve heard dozens of times and the EmpyII will bring a little touch that makes you go “ooo” and rewind.

Highs – Score: Strong
I know the highs are also of importance to the OG Empyrean fans, and like the lows, the highs are a bit of their own thing here. Overall, the highs are a bit lifted. However, as similar to the lows, it is not done in a way that is aggressively evident or fatiguing. You immediately notice the treble energy brought to the mids as I mentioned above, and you definitely feel the extra glisten added to certain aspects of the mid and upper treble frequencies. As with the mids, expression is on full display here. Tracks with expression in the air frequencies perform extremely well. I would say it the EmpyII brings the highs tastefully, to the edge of being called bright. It is not a headphone that I often had to adjust volume down because of a treble-heavy track coming in, but when I threw on some dubstep for example, it was a bit much.

Just as I would say the EmpyII is targeting folks that like warmth in the lows, I would also say it is targeting folks that like extra exposure to the details in the highs. I intentionally did not say extra brightness. To do a mini compare, I would call the Sennheiser HD800S an overall bright headphone, as you almost always have that sense of “sheen” when listening. With the EmpyII, you don’t get that sheen often, yet you do still get the exposure and energy of details when they are present in the track – that’s what makes the treble tuning here impressive.

(*Note: I am not a particularly treble-sensitive listener, so the EmpyII’s presented no problem for me. However, for those that are particularly treble sensitive, as I would recommend with any headphone that has lifts in the highs, it is worth checking out FR charts for this one to get a better view of the peaks, if you’re aware of what frequencies typically hit you too hard and check out other forums, perspectives, etc.)

Detail & Resolution – Score: In-Line
While we are on the topic of detail, this is something that is worth breaking down more deeply. For me, there are a few aspects of a headphone that work together that make up detail. First is whether the headphone is capable of producing and exposing the frequencies where the details lie, whether the drivers are responsive and well-tuned enough to “keep up” with the details of the music, and the last is how natural/lifelike the details of each individual piece actually are themselves.

On the first two fronts, the EmpyII performs very well. We already discussed tonal balance, so no surprise there, and at no point during my listening have I felt the drivers weren’t able to keep pace with the music. Quite the opposite, in fact, as the EmpyII’s give off an excellent sense of control – which is a very nice cherry on top of a warm and sparkly tuning. It takes quite a LOT to get these to spit out something that sounds bad (and could really only do it in one case, which I’ll touch on later).

It’s the point on being being natural and lifelike where the EmpyII comes up a bit short, sort of. On the good front, the EmpyII to my ear, never sounded artificial in any way, so that’s not what I am getting at here. This headphone simply does not take the leap into what I would call lifelike – those cases where you feel like the recording has faded away, and you’re there. I don’t think the EmpyII is weak in this area because the only two headphones I have heard that were truly this level of detail are the Focal Utopia and the Final Audio D8000 Pro, and they are both significantly more expensive than the EmpyII at USD $4,999 and $4,299, respectively. You’re still getting something great here, we are talking multi-kilobuck headphones, but it’s not at a level that I would say is special vs. the market – though I admittedly don’t own anything else in the USD$3-4k range to compare.

Technical Performance – Score: Strong
If the tuning on the EmpyII doesn’t grip you right away, the soundstage just might. Everyone has his/her/their own preference for stage, but for me, this is the most technically perfect soundstage I have ever heard. While the stage is quite large, it never presents as artificially so (again with the HD800S as a comparison here). The stage has each – immense height, above average width and distinct center depth, and all three of these combined in a headphone is a true rarity. This allows the EmpyII to position left and right relatively close to the listener and give great immersion in that wide stage and simultaneously have a relaxing feel because of a center depth that is distinctly a step back (as I also mentioned when talking about tonal balance, having the center stage distinctly a step back makes the mids often stand out more prominently). Combine this with near top to bottom of the head height, and you get a truly amazing stage. I will talk more on this in comparisons.

The positioning and layering within the stage is also stellar. When you have such a big stage to play within, with the dimensionality I described, giving each individual piece of the mix its own place the way the EmpyII does is textbook holographic. It places you in the mix in a way that is simultaneously up front to allow you to be analytical, but at the same time somewhat relaxed, allowing you to just relax and enjoy the listen – versatility.

Amplification
Just a few points on amplification here. The first is that I’ve yet to plug it into anything that ran the EmpyII’s poorly, including plugging it directly into a Nintendo Switch (serviceable but can’t get loud loud) and a cheap, $20, 3.5mm, line-in amplifier that I plugged into the 3.5mm ports on my PS5 and Series X controllers (with the amp, awesome experience and can get far louder than necessary or healthy).

The second is that the EmpyII’s also scale. My main portable is the Chord Mojo 2 and main desktop the Ferrum ERCO. The ERCO delivers a more refined experience that is noticeable, especially in the imaging clarity.

Lastly is a word on tube amplification. A bit of a mixed bag here, and for those of us in the world of tubes, the specific amp and tubes used can make a big difference. My Elise MKII is running the stock tubes, and while the result is reasonable, it is VERY warm (not surprising). This is the one instance in which I would say that the sound was not particularly good and was just too bass heavy, which for me, messed up the overall feel. My preferences aside, the results definitely weren’t disastrous, and those that want more kick or just love deep warmth, may want to give it a go.

Extended listening revision - 7 Dec 2023 - as I've had more time to experiment across genres here, my opinion on the tubes has changed a bit. I still feel this is a very warm listen through a tube, BUT it can work for the right stuff. A lot of my early listening on the tubes was electronic heavy, and that's just a ton of bass action. I can see it working very well for specialty listening where even more warmth could be good OR those that are looking for something closer to the warmer presentation of the OG Empy. My Elise MKII also really takes the bite of the treble, making an already pretty "easy" listen flat out risk to your hearing because I can crank it on the tubes without any sense of treble bite. I've never heard the OG Empy, but based on what I am seeing on the inter webs, those that like the OG and also happy to have a tube amp on hand...maybe have a listen to the II.

Pad Comparison
I have admittedly never been much for pad swapping because I have to draw the line somewhere in terms of the level of tinkering I’m willing to do and because many headphone manufacturers don’t make it particularly easy to swap pads. In the spirit of versatility, Meze has both included a second set of pads, and it makes it incredibly easy to swap them out. I’m happy to say that while the Alcantara pads won’t necessarily be my daily drivers on the EmpyII’s, they will likely get some targeted use in the right circumstances.

I am oversimplifying of course (and I am sure there will be plenty of detailed measurements and analysis done as these spend more time in the wild), but in general, the Alcantara pads thin out the added warmth in the lows a bit and give a bit more space for everything else. The warmth is still present, but tighter and toned down the extent that I would say with these pads, the headphones tilt bright – not in the sense that the highs become harsher, but simply because of the reduction of low-end prominence, the highs become the dominant part of the mix. When I am listening to things like jazz, orchestral/classical, vocal, acoustic, I could see myself loving the still overall smooth sound these bring to a more upper-detail-focused listen over the long term – especially since all of the other aspects of the listening experience discussed so far carry through, and the pad swap takes literally less than 10 seconds. I will also reference these pads in some of the comparisons.


Overall Summary & Score: Strong
I think it’s pretty obvious that I believe Meze has done something pretty great here. As someone that owns 20 pairs of headphones, I’ve never called any of them the “best” because they each have tradeoffs, and the same is true here. I own headphones that do something better than the EmpyII – I have some with more sub-bass, some with more lifelike detail, some with better technical imaging performance – but none that combine everything together this well – design, comfort and the sense you own something created by a company passionate about sound and and elevated listening experience.

As I’ve mentioned, I entered the Empyrean family on this version so never heard the original. I am genuinely interested to see how these are received by that community because based on what I have seen, I do think these have a significantly different tonal balance. If that is the case, I can understand the disappointment of OG Empyrean owners that would like an upgrade on the technical side while preserving that tonal balance. For those that are new to the Empyrean family or are looking to upgrade from a lower-tier Meze model like the 109 Pro, you are in for a treat. The Empyrean II is Meze at its best.


Epilogue: Comparisons
Putting some comparisons in that will hopefully be objectively useful for those that have heard some other things that are out there in the market. All of these I currently own as well. I’ve selected between some other multi-kilobuck TOTL models, some that are in the $1-2k range for those thinking about upgrading and the 109 Pro because it’s in the Meze family as well, and I’d consider the Empyrean line on the upgrade path. I’m going to be fairly brief on comparisons, as we are getting a bit long.

Meze 109 Pro (109)
The 109 was my first Meze product. At the time that I purchased it, I owned many other, much more expensive headphones that perform much better overall. Even still, my first track with the 109s was a “wow” moment. It is why I still own them today. I would call the Empyrean II a direct upgrade to the 109. Overall, it takes a similar approach to the FR as the 109 (warm and sparkly), but it does it in a much more refined way, and it is not as V-shaped as the 109 – the Empyrean still brings the expression but without the bloat and with more detail in extremely noticeable fashion. Soundstage is also a vast improvement. If the 109 is like sitting in a movie theatre, the EmpyII is like IMAX 3D. The Empyrean takes everything the 109 Pro does and does it better (except maybe comfort, because they are both 10/10). That said, you may have to invest in an Amp with the move to the Empyrean if you don’t have one already. The Empyrean II is relatively easy to drive, but the 109 Pro is even easier. Because the Empyrean II is so easy to drive, even something in the $100-200 range would be enough to be serviceable, and you could go up from there if you wish.

Final Audio D8000 (D8k) Pro
The D8k Pro shares a few similarities with the EmpyII, but in my view, just a few. The D8k Pro has a more prominent V-shaped tuning, starting with the fact that the mids are noticeably more relaxed. On the low side, the D8k Pro’s standout is the deep extension and prominence of the sub bass, resulting in a thicker low-end than the EmpyII. On the high side, there’s lift, but it is a “cleaner” lift than the EmpyII that makes some high action more prominent but not necessarily sparkly. The difference in timbre between the EmpyII and the D8k Pro is striking – I would say those going for a more conservative and laid back overall tonality may prefer the D8k Pro, while those looking to be intentionally warm and especially sparkly would prefer the EmpyII. Stage is also quite different on the D8K Pro, which has excellent width and decent overall depth, but lacks significant height compared to the EmpyII and doesn’t have the center depth that’s as consistently distinctly present at a second level. Where the D8k Pro wins handily is resolution. As I mentioned earlier, the resolution on the D8k Pro is lifelike level. That alone justifies the price premium of the D8K Pro over the EmpyII for some, but I would call it a close battle depending on your preferred genres and listening preferences, as there are some interesting trade-offs here.

Focal Utopia (2022)
The Utopia by many is considered to be one of the best dynamic driver headphones in the world and carries a price almost 70% higher than the EmpyII. That said, again, there are some trade offs worth discussing, the biggest two are the soundstage and similar but more conservative and mid-focused tuning of the Utopia. Starting with the simpler comparison, which is soundstage, the Utopia focuses almost entirely on height and deep center depth. Its center depth even handily exceeds the EmpyII, but the cost of that for the Utopia is a horizontal stage that is relatively small. The Utopia sort of puts everything in front of you. In terms of tonal balance, the Utopia is far more neutral. There are very light touches of warmth to the Utopia, but much lighter touches than the EmpyII, and the same can be said for the highs. Where they are a bit similar as well is the cloud-like feel of the low end – and this is a good thing. My inclination is that the Utopia gets the majority of its of its feel from the fact that it’s a dynamic driver headphone and the EmpyII more from its mid-bass bump and pad design. The Utopia also bests the EmpyII in resolution, which I would hope for its price point.

Audeze LCD-X (2021)
While I would consider the EmpyII and upgrade from the LCD-X, they are quite different headphones in terms of their presentation in pretty much every way. Full disclosure, I only use the LCD-X with EQ, but for the purposes of this comparison, I ran it stock. The Empyrean II is just a completely different headphone. The LCD-X is typical of the Audeze house sound which has very relaxed mids/upper mids. This alone gives it a distinctly different sound than the EmpyII, which does the opposite and adds more power to this region. The low-end extends deeper on the LCD-X but is more prominent on the EmpyII. The LCD-X also has a much more in your face stage that lacks the depth all around of the EmpyII. The move from the LCD-X would be a definite upgrade, but if you’re going for the same tonal balance, you’d likely have to do a LOT of EQ work – so much so that I’d say it’s not worth it because at that point you’re changing the character of the headphones.

Sennheiser HD800S (800S)
I have a love-hate relationship with the 800S. I love it for its neutrality (except for its lack of sub-bass extension) and the combination of its large soundstage + imaging performance. I dislike it for its stage sometimes sounding artificially and just too diffused, its sometimes overly shimmery highs, and its lack of low-end dynamics. These things combined make the 800S a specialist headphone in my collection that only really gets used for purely natural-instrument genres. With the full Alcantara pads on the EmpyII, I could see myself saying goodby to the 800S entirely. The EmpyII pretty much solves every one of of my dislikes of the 800S and is something I would use with more genres when I want a more neutral listen within the much bigger soundstage of the EmpyII. The issue with this is that the EmpyII is still much less neutral than the 800S and focuses more on musical expression than neutrality, in terms of tonal balance and technical performance – so my 800S may stick around as a specialist for a bit longer. Not because it is better, just because it is different.