@@chamade166 Many folks make and can afford way more based on endless variables, including personal priorities. Humans buy cars all the time, almost no one brings up their pricing or their continuous money consumption, or even their maintenance costs.
With the Empyrean I think the cost of the design effects hugely on the price tag. I don’t feel that the performance of sound produced is 3K worth. However, once again the design is awesome. One of the best around.
Yeah I think people have to decide whose opinions line up most closely with their preferences on this one. I happen to completely agree with Chrono's take on this.
I auditioned them and I had the opposite impression of treble - it was lacking, causing them to sound very slightly veiled, not transparent enough for 3K
Mid treble is subdued, upper treble is boosted. The veil also comes from slight lack of ear gain in the upper mids and a forward upper bass to lower mid section.
I have the following headphones: focal clear, hd800s, verite closed, aeolus, arya, hd 660s, stax sr-007 mk1 (paired with the Mjölnir carbon energizer), and of course the empyrean. If I have to pick one pair of headphones, only one, just one, I will go for the empyrean any time any day. It's just the appropriate pair of headphones most suitable for the genres of music I listen to. If I had only considered Resolve's or this review, I would have missed out on the empyrean. This is why the proper thing is for customers to audition these headphones themselves on their rigs with their music. For context, my gears include the cary audio dms-550 streamer, topping A90, manley absolute, and cayin ha-300 (the big one) headphone amplifier. I agree with the guest Tyler had a while ago who said reviewers should encourage people to audition headphones and make their purchasing decisions accordingly. By the way, the dms-550, cayin, manley, and the Mjölnir energizer each costs much more than the empyrean. So this is not a matter of cost but rather what works best for me. Customers should decide what works best for them. I have purchased headphones based on recommendations from reviews and I regret it.
Sound is so clear with silver cables, & super open with alcantara pads. With silver cables, it’s like getting the premium option on a vehicle model. Base model, without. Reminds me, after switch, of my Utopia’s resolution, with a slightly more recessed mids. Close enough where it’s what I wished the Utopia was. SO comfortable! Also, wearing this with a similar type like said with the Abyss 1265, slight touch to head without being too firm, & ear bottom tips toward bottom of inside of pads, & back inside of pad along & on neck vertical line, & pure euphoria.
I remember a while back on Head-Fi someone mentioned that Antonio figured out a way to produce these for less & a price drop was imminent. Unfortunate that didn't turn out to be true, because given the price tag it's ridiculously hard to justify them.
Hi, Chrono, very like your reviews so far. However, for this review, I actually have some different opinions. I'm currently paring my Empy with Gsx-mini and chord Qutest, with Alcantara pads and MEZE's own SPC. I found people's opinion on Empy's technical performance really gets negatively affected due to its sound signature when doing an AB test with bright HPs or get used to the sound of bright HPs. For my personal long-term listening experience, Empy is very resolved, much more resolved, and tonally correct than my Beyer T1 2nd. I don't think it lacks any details, it is just a different delivery of details, in a more realistic way rather than forward the details (expect a small 12khz peak). For the best technical result, Alcantara pads are a must. The leather pad is not able to absorb the reverberation well, it also softens the sub-lows and top-ends too much and makes the sound stage congested. Sorry for my poor English, I'm not a native speaker.
All I can say is compared to the beyer T1 I'd be inclined to agree with you. But compare the detail to an LCD-3, RAD-0, HE1000 or anything else around $3k and it's not close. The Empyrean is closer to an LCD-2 for technical performance, which is still good (not the tuning, the Empyrean's tonal balance is way better) - and that's kind of why this is a controversial headphone. It still has good performance, it's just not $3k competitive technical performance.
I've had the Empyrean in my radar, but have read reviews that say the same things that are said in this video. I love how unique and high-end they look, reminding me of exotic hypercars, but paying so much for an impressive build but not impressive sound isn't a sane decision.
For what it's worth, trust your ears. This area like so many others is very perspective-dependent and subjective, for me they are the best in sound and build and look for the price in comparison to any other headfi on the market. But that's my point of view, and an endless multitude of factors to influence it =).
Understandably you have to follow a formula with a short term review, discussing individual aspects of a headphone. My experience with audio has shown me things aren't so simple and there are untangeble things that make for pleasurable ownership and the Empyreans have been a product that has done this for me as a whole package in the time that I've owned them. Others seem to say the same thing. Vinyl has many technical shortcomings but has still held fast over time, and the Empyreans give for me a similar enjoyment. Also I must question the lack of perceived difference between earpads as I switch them when listening to different types of music and it makes a significant difference for me. Maybe some sources highlight this more than others.
We are in agreement about the technical shortcomings of vinyl, that was exactly the point I was trying to make. I am not disputing any technical comparison with other flagships, but being honest about how much I've enjoyed actually owning and using these over the several months I've had them. Like the many people that you say that you've talked to about these, there are also many that seem to share my experience, often having owned other flagships. Maybe part placebo, maybe part due to ergonomics and comfort, but I think the overall package just seems to work well over the long term. Personally I've listened to other flagships, but most have failed at the first hurdle when I've put them on my head, Audeze being an example. I was surprised that no significant sound difference was discerned between pads, that is far from my experience, whatever the reason.
In the very first review I saw of these hp, the final word was the Empyrean were improved using Meze upgraded silver plated OFC cable compared to the stock cables supplied. I suspect you did not have that cable.
Ok, so seriously wondering if his doesn't sound dramatically different from mine. I don't hear any of the bass or treble issues he does. I would EQ treble UP not down on mine. And on mine, pad differences are pretty noticeable - suede slopes the treble a fair bit. Also wondering what his testing dac/amp are. Just can't agree with this review based on my experience owning Empy. Oh well.
@@elnrik8655 I do think amp dac synergy could be one of the causes. But also we all hear differently. And our taste change sometimes as well. I enjoy my Empyrean with my chain and if you enjoy yours with your setup then that's what really matters 😁
@@rhodey2952 I agree with that. Still, it makes me wonder tho. Not trying to poopoo his review. This is the first one he's done that made me say "Wait... what? Really?" and try to see how/why I could hear it so differently. Just doesn't compute.
@@elnrik8655 I feel similar. This headphone is an odd one where people love it or they're just meh with it lol. I like it a lot and that's what matters to me atm. Maybe down the line my taste will change (tho I doubt it because I love the bass and signature of this) but you never know.
@@elnrik8655 I’ve had similar experiences with the Empy... I’ll be getting these in soon and I’ll reevaluate them, and then get them onto Marcello hopefully
Great video review as always. Thise are the best looking phones I've seen and comfort looks good too. Knowing that it falls short on some areas in sound I hope the price drop big time.2000 seems like for the looks and name....Can you get your hands on the new Emotiva airmotov GR1 new headphones ,I would love to hear your review on them.
I only see headphone amps used when tested what DAC’s did you use? Because everything you describe was close when used with the Topping A90 which I did not like sold the amp. I personally see this channel smash this headphone over and over. What gear was used other than the headphone amps listed DACS and more importantly music genre? Low end crap in same thing comes out. This headphones thrives on highend source and you can throw any I mean any music genre at it and it will eat it up and spit it at you. I have tried many amps with it and I find it pairs extremely well with Violectric V281 with the Chord Dave very detailed with zero issues as described in review. I listen to all music genres from Notorious B.I.G., Godsmack, Angus & Julia Stone, down to Classical music. Like I said anything but if your only genre of music is Heavy Metal than not the headphones problem. I owned the ZMF Verite the most OVERRATED HP EVER sold it faster than I got it.
Chronix I really value your reviews and you have a lot of very knowledgeable and experienced reviewers - so I thought I would ask for some input on headphones I am looking for a sound upgrade. My current best and face cans are Seen HD800S (a headphone we both like!) driven by a Schiit Gungnir and Mjolnir with Amperex Bugle Boy tubes. I also have HD650's, Focal Elex, HiFiman Sundara. I love the HD800S sound on jazz, orchestral and female vocals. I love the clarity, details and soundstage as well as the comfort but wish it had a more bass and meat on the bones. For rock I like the Elex and the Sundara aren't bad there although they are less exciting. I'd give up a little sound stage but don't want to sacrifice detail, speed, punch and separation. I don't mind spending what's needed to get a good upgrade. I'm thinking open, either planar or dynamic, Where would you recommend I go next? ZMF Verite, Rad 0, Focal Utopia come to mind (although I'm not sure how much of an upgrade the latter would really be over the Elex. Appreciate your input!
Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback! Well, I don’t know if you need it to be an open-back, but I actually really like the ZMF Vérité Closed, as it makes for a very nice contrast to the HD 800 S. Whilst the HD 800 S has this large very open stage with smooth transients, the Vérité closed is a touch warmer with an exciting and snappy presentation that maintains as good a sense of clarity and detail as the HD 800 S. Cheers!
@@chrono-headphonereviews242 Most people always select open back for a better soundstage except where they need sound isolation (luckily I don’t) - OR where they want more bass, because closed cans seem to have more. Bass deficiency syndrome is one of the reasons I am considering an alternative to my MUCH beloved 800S (I will never part with them!). So I can easily see doing the closed Verites if I get more bass and don’t give up much 3D soundstage etc. It’s unfair to ask you if you haven’t hear both. I guess I can ask Zach his opinion.
Hi, this is the second Meze Empyrean review from your You Tube channel, and both do not praise the Empyreans. As I own them I would like to respond. They are the best Planar match with my amp the Feliks Audio Euforia, so I wanted to give them a go. They scale up with the quality of the equipment used, and Meze their stock cable is a real problem. So I warned Meze never to send their stock cable for a review. I bought the Lavricables Grand Litz 4 core which is more fragile than the 20 core Grand but more high end they say. And I have the Ayre QB-9 Twenty Dac. Compared with my Stax L700 mk1 with the T 1-S amp the Empyreans are less sharp, less treble focused and less detail focused, but I am very happy with the overall musical experience. And I like it better than the Stax. The ZMF Verite cans match well with the Euforia too. But I am in no hurry to buy those soon. I am quite happy now. Other Empyrean owners called them euphonic, but I am not certain about this English as it is not my native language. Even though the Empyreans Mk 2 will be better, these ear speakers should be seen as a tool to listen to high end equipment, great amp, great Dac, and also great cables.
So, with any less than fully positive review, there's bound to be some goalpost shifting from people who own the product in question and are looking for purchase validation. Let me be clear that with these reviews, it's just our honest opinions, and if you like your empyrean that's all that matters. With that said, Chrono's sources are more than sufficient for the review of this headphone, and while you may believe cables make a difference, it's not something I've found to be true... I'm open to the idea, but at the very least it's not something that should be used to goalpost shift on the reviewer or to validate your purchase.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Instantly writing these contradictory reports off as "goalpost shifting and/or purchase validation" is a bias fallacy. I'm sure you're well aware that different setup configurations, different ears, different preferences and different values all contribute to (sometimes wildly) different experiences. Just because your experience hasn't been as positive as many others are reporting, doesn't make your experience any more "true" than anyone else's contradicting experience.
@@JSym92 Not at all, sources absolutely do make a difference. Where I draw the line is when people suggest that Chrono's sources aren't sufficient for an evaluation of this headphone. Also, I would be more sympathetic to the goalpost shifting if the headphone in question had VERY specific requirements like certain headphones do (HE6, Susvara, SR1a, HEDDphone and so on), but the Empyrean isn't actually one of those headphones. It's actually reasonably versatile as far as amping requirements is concerned. Now, some may have found a special synergy, and I'm not denying that either. But that's not something that invalidates Chrono's review.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow No, I'm not invalidating Chrono's review. In fact, given his context for this review, I understand his observations, and share many of his negative observations too, and found that a lot of these issues can be addressed through gear matching. When I purchased my Empyrean, I owned a Grace SDAC-B and a THX 789, but auditioned it on a few different high-end setups which gave me a good sense of gear-related potential, and compared it to other headphones that were also driven off of well-matching high-end setups. I've spent the months after the purchase researching for good gear pairings and visited several stores on a few different occasions to audition a wide variety of gear. Eventually I settled on a Bifrost 2 and Feliks Euforia, which resulted in remarkable improvements in the area's where the Empyrean is often considered lacking. Timbre got substantially richer, the perception of "internal resolution" drastically improved, the post-10k region is smoothened out more and doesn't sound as "beamy" anymore while maintaining a proper sense of air and extension, the already good soundstage got bigger and more immersive, layering got more 3-dimensional, macro-dynamics reach higher and hit harder, and the overall listening experience just took a big leap forward. Now I totally understand that it's unreasonable to ask for a reviewer to also get a specific "optimal" gear pairing for each headphone you review, and I wouldn't say that the gear I chose is what everyone should choose and that everyone will love it then for sure, I'm just sharing my own personal experience here as a contrast to your and Chrono's experiences with this headphone.
Chrono. Thank you your reply. I really hadn’t considered a closed back (Verite) but I wonder how much of a difference exists between the closed and open.
It makes no sence to buy this headphone. The Focal Clear is on sale for 999€ at my local dealer. For the price of 2999€ I can get 2x Focal Clear + 2x new Pads for Clear.
You can make that argument with any headphone. For the price of the Clear I can get the Focal Elex, DAC/Amp stack, additional pads, and a custom cable.
@@LakerTriangle With the difference that I consider the sound of Empyrean and Clear being on par. Clear & Elex are not, at least in my opinion. Thus you cannot replace a Clear with an Elex, as you suggest.
Just evaluating a pair against Utopia, HEKse and LCD X. One thing I've been hearing a lot from negative reviews is that it's not a very detailed headphone. That it is on LCD 2 level, not even LCD X or Arya. We all hear differently and have different setups, but .... I was very plesantly surprised. The stock FR does not lend itself to displaying spatial detail, but very minor EQ tweaks sort it right out. I would say it's not designed to be as detail forward as Utopia or HEKse, but it does display similar level of detail, just in a less in-your-face way. I wouldn't say I miss anything detail wise from Utopia, but the presentation is completely different. Reminds me of Oppo PM-3 I once had. Very pro-sumer (not quite typical consumer V) type tunning, but with detail in the ballpark of Utopia and HEKse. All in all impressed with everything. If you're worried about details, don't, it's miles ahead from LCD X and Arya territory (not that LCD X is bad, it's just more congested, less refined and less spatial detail, again different presentation) and a lot closer to Utopia territory (again, completely different presentation). Very interesting.
I get the allure. First time I wore these before my review they didn't come off for 3 hours. They're really truly well designed and the sound is very relaxing. Unfortunately they fall short in technicalities vs other similarly priced headphones. It clearly doesn't matter though to so many people buying these, as they seem quite loved
If they make a high impedance version, in the same price range, this might be the default recommend for me. They're a comfortable, easy listen, but they need resolution to be really good at this price, because if you just want a relaxing listen you can get that at a lot lower price point than this.
First time I heard this headphone all I thought was elevator music. Meze seems to have made these even make Metallica sound like elevator music, no excitement at all. Wasn’t my cup of tea.
The review was ok. Came off a bit judgemental. Lots of fancy..wawawawa....something about your delivery that was off putting. Thank you for the review.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Wow i didn't know that. One thing that making it a sweet spot is the price difference, for 350 bucks the zeus is the most comfortable headphone you can get. I have the sundara and the fidelio X3 but i think the zeus is more for me. (Well it was all about you guys preference actually)
"This car isn't for drivers, this car is for people that love to drive cars." That's basically what you just said. It sounds stupid, doesn't it? That's because it is. They're not just "not audiophile headphones", they're bad headphones. They're pretty, and they're comfortable, but they're bad. It's as simple as that.
Absolutely the most comfortable headphones I've ever put on my head. Everyone else needs to take notes.
Q35 hello...
@Lana y’all drug dealers to be able to drop 3k on headphones?
@@chamade166 Many folks make and can afford way more based on endless variables, including personal priorities. Humans buy cars all the time, almost no one brings up their pricing or their continuous money consumption, or even their maintenance costs.
@@chamade166 i mean i get like 4k in tax returns which i use on stuff like that
With the Empyrean I think the cost of the design effects hugely on the price tag. I don’t feel that the performance of sound produced is 3K worth.
However, once again the design is awesome. One of the best around.
Yes yes yes, if you design a comfortable headphone must include extra 1000-2000 because it’s the audio world so it’s nobody will notice. :D
I have been waiting for a review of these from you guys. Thanks!
Interesting, most reviews I've heard of this one lavish praise on it. Great to have equal praise and criticism.
Yeah I think people have to decide whose opinions line up most closely with their preferences on this one. I happen to completely agree with Chrono's take on this.
Metal571 dumped on it... and Resolve (Andrew) not too satisfied with it as well.......
@@ResolveReviews Thoughts on Susvara vs Abyss TC ?
@@Smood47 similar technical performance, Susvara has a better tuning. But I'd need to get one in to be sure
@@ResolveReviews Have you run Susvara off some powerful speaker amps? Seems it does quite well with them.
I auditioned them and I had the opposite impression of treble - it was lacking, causing them to sound very slightly veiled, not transparent enough for 3K
Mid treble is subdued, upper treble is boosted. The veil also comes from slight lack of ear gain in the upper mids and a forward upper bass to lower mid section.
I have the following headphones: focal clear, hd800s, verite closed, aeolus, arya, hd 660s, stax sr-007 mk1 (paired with the Mjölnir carbon energizer), and of course the empyrean. If I have to pick one pair of headphones, only one, just one, I will go for the empyrean any time any day. It's just the appropriate pair of headphones most suitable for the genres of music I listen to. If I had only considered Resolve's or this review, I would have missed out on the empyrean. This is why the proper thing is for customers to audition these headphones themselves on their rigs with their music. For context, my gears include the cary audio dms-550 streamer, topping A90, manley absolute, and cayin ha-300 (the big one) headphone amplifier. I agree with the guest Tyler had a while ago who said reviewers should encourage people to audition headphones and make their purchasing decisions accordingly. By the way, the dms-550, cayin, manley, and the Mjölnir energizer each costs much more than the empyrean. So this is not a matter of cost but rather what works best for me. Customers should decide what works best for them. I have purchased headphones based on recommendations from reviews and I regret it.
Yeah it's nice when you can try stuff and decide what's best for you. That's ideal for everyone haha.
Woah nice! I have Stax L700, Vérité Closed, and Empyrean! Currently deciding to keep either my Mjolnir 2 or Feliks Elise.
Good stuff you’ve got there!
Sound is so clear with silver cables, & super open with alcantara pads.
With silver cables, it’s like getting the premium option on a vehicle model. Base model, without.
Reminds me, after switch, of my Utopia’s resolution, with a slightly more recessed mids. Close enough where it’s what I wished the Utopia was.
SO comfortable!
Also, wearing this with a similar type like said with the Abyss 1265, slight touch to head without being too firm, & ear bottom tips toward bottom of inside of pads, & back inside of pad along & on neck vertical line, & pure euphoria.
Am I the only one who noticed the latency in this video?
I remember a while back on Head-Fi someone mentioned that Antonio figured out a way to produce these for less & a price drop was imminent. Unfortunate that didn't turn out to be true, because given the price tag it's ridiculously hard to justify them.
Hi, Chrono, very like your reviews so far. However, for this review, I actually have some different opinions. I'm currently paring my Empy with Gsx-mini and chord Qutest, with Alcantara pads and MEZE's own SPC. I found people's opinion on Empy's technical performance really gets negatively affected due to its sound signature when doing an AB test with bright HPs or get used to the sound of bright HPs. For my personal long-term listening experience, Empy is very resolved, much more resolved, and tonally correct than my Beyer T1 2nd. I don't think it lacks any details, it is just a different delivery of details, in a more realistic way rather than forward the details (expect a small 12khz peak). For the best technical result, Alcantara pads are a must. The leather pad is not able to absorb the reverberation well, it also softens the sub-lows and top-ends too much and makes the sound stage congested. Sorry for my poor English, I'm not a native speaker.
All I can say is compared to the beyer T1 I'd be inclined to agree with you. But compare the detail to an LCD-3, RAD-0, HE1000 or anything else around $3k and it's not close. The Empyrean is closer to an LCD-2 for technical performance, which is still good (not the tuning, the Empyrean's tonal balance is way better) - and that's kind of why this is a controversial headphone. It still has good performance, it's just not $3k competitive technical performance.
@@ResolveReviews Weird because so many people say it doesn't miss any details of those headphones its just simply a different presentation.
@@Smood47 Just listen side by side intently for a few hours... it's noticeable
@@ResolveReviews So your saying I should go Susvara over Empy? I got a big pass speaker amp I could use for Susvara.
@@Smood47 Empy is not close for sound quality
I've had the Empyrean in my radar, but have read reviews that say the same things that are said in this video. I love how unique and high-end they look, reminding me of exotic hypercars, but paying so much for an impressive build but not impressive sound isn't a sane decision.
For what it's worth, trust your ears. This area like so many others is very perspective-dependent and subjective, for me they are the best in sound and build and look for the price in comparison to any other headfi on the market. But that's my point of view, and an endless multitude of factors to influence it =).
Well, I got the empy, and read the reviews. People love it or hate it. Personally I love it!
Understandably you have to follow a formula with a short term review, discussing individual aspects of a headphone. My experience with audio has shown me things aren't so simple and there are untangeble things that make for pleasurable ownership and the Empyreans have been a product that has done this for me as a whole package in the time that I've owned them. Others seem to say the same thing. Vinyl has many technical shortcomings but has still held fast over time, and the Empyreans give for me a similar enjoyment. Also I must question the lack of perceived difference between earpads as I switch them when listening to different types of music and it makes a significant difference for me. Maybe some sources highlight this more than others.
We are in agreement about the technical shortcomings of vinyl, that was exactly the point I was trying to make. I am not disputing any technical comparison with other flagships, but being honest about how much I've enjoyed actually owning and using these over the several months I've had them. Like the many people that you say that you've talked to about these, there are also many that seem to share my experience, often having owned other flagships. Maybe part placebo, maybe part due to ergonomics and comfort, but I think the overall package just seems to work well over the long term. Personally I've listened to other flagships, but most have failed at the first hurdle when I've put them on my head, Audeze being an example. I was surprised that no significant sound difference was discerned between pads, that is far from my experience, whatever the reason.
In the very first review I saw of these hp, the final word was the Empyrean were improved using Meze upgraded silver plated OFC cable compared to the stock cables supplied. I suspect you did not have that cable.
Good review Chrono. May not agree with everything but that's OK! 😁
We like what we like. Keep up the great content.
Ok, so seriously wondering if his doesn't sound dramatically different from mine. I don't hear any of the bass or treble issues he does. I would EQ treble UP not down on mine. And on mine, pad differences are pretty noticeable - suede slopes the treble a fair bit. Also wondering what his testing dac/amp are. Just can't agree with this review based on my experience owning Empy. Oh well.
@@elnrik8655 I do think amp dac synergy could be one of the causes. But also we all hear differently. And our taste change sometimes as well.
I enjoy my Empyrean with my chain and if you enjoy yours with your setup then that's what really matters 😁
@@rhodey2952 I agree with that. Still, it makes me wonder tho. Not trying to poopoo his review. This is the first one he's done that made me say "Wait... what? Really?" and try to see how/why I could hear it so differently. Just doesn't compute.
@@elnrik8655 I feel similar. This headphone is an odd one where people love it or they're just meh with it lol. I like it a lot and that's what matters to me atm. Maybe down the line my taste will change (tho I doubt it because I love the bass and signature of this) but you never know.
@@elnrik8655 I’ve had similar experiences with the Empy... I’ll be getting these in soon and I’ll reevaluate them, and then get them onto Marcello hopefully
I chose Final D8000 over Empy all day and night, more dynamic, faster, greater clarity...
@@Berkanann what?
Great video review as always. Thise are the best looking phones I've seen and comfort looks good too. Knowing that it falls short on some areas in sound I hope the price drop big time.2000 seems like for the looks and name....Can you get your hands on the new Emotiva airmotov GR1 new headphones ,I would love to hear your review on them.
I only see headphone amps used when tested what DAC’s did you use? Because everything you describe was close when used with the Topping A90 which I did not like sold the amp. I personally see this channel smash this headphone over and over. What gear was used other than the headphone amps listed DACS and more importantly music genre?
Low end crap in same thing comes out. This headphones thrives on highend source and you can throw any I mean any music genre at it and it will eat it up and spit it at you. I have tried many amps with it and I find it pairs extremely well with Violectric V281 with the Chord Dave very detailed with zero issues as described in review. I listen to all music genres from Notorious B.I.G., Godsmack, Angus & Julia Stone, down to Classical music. Like I said anything but if your only genre of music is Heavy Metal than not the headphones problem. I owned the ZMF Verite the most OVERRATED HP EVER sold it faster than I got it.
one thing you didn't mentioned in review: the gear with which you tested them
It's linked in the description.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow ah, so it is. Thanks for including it!
As long as it is at least a 9$ apple usbc dongle, this does not really matter.
@@leviathan5207 we care about amplification.
I agree that DACs aren’t very important, at least in my experience.
@@nhatlam96 I’m glad you were able to confirm that four amps sound the same to you. 100db, you trying to go deaf??
I’m using tube amps anyway.
Can you make a Playlist of the best songs to listen with these or other quality headphones?
Yes please 🙏🙂
3:00: Chrono Empy doesn't use voice coils man, its a planar magnetic design.
@Chrono: how does the Empyrean compare to the Audeze LCD-X in terms of technical performance?
Empyrean is not as good
Chronix
I really value your reviews and you have a lot of very knowledgeable and experienced reviewers - so I thought I would ask for some input on headphones
I am looking for a sound upgrade. My current best and face cans are Seen HD800S (a headphone we both like!) driven by a Schiit Gungnir and Mjolnir with Amperex Bugle Boy tubes. I also have HD650's, Focal Elex, HiFiman Sundara.
I love the HD800S sound on jazz, orchestral and female vocals. I love the clarity, details and soundstage as well as the comfort but wish it had a more bass and meat on the bones. For rock I like the Elex and the Sundara aren't bad there although they are less exciting.
I'd give up a little sound stage but don't want to sacrifice detail, speed, punch and separation. I don't mind spending what's needed to get a good upgrade. I'm thinking open, either planar or dynamic,
Where would you recommend I go next? ZMF Verite, Rad 0, Focal Utopia come to mind (although I'm not sure how much of an upgrade the latter would really be over the Elex.
Appreciate your input!
Thanks, I really appreciate the feedback!
Well, I don’t know if you need it to be an open-back, but I actually really like the ZMF Vérité Closed, as it makes for a very nice contrast to the HD 800 S.
Whilst the HD 800 S has this large very open stage with smooth transients, the Vérité closed is a touch warmer with an exciting and snappy presentation that maintains as good a sense of clarity and detail as the HD 800 S.
Cheers!
@@chrono-headphonereviews242 Most people always select open back for a better soundstage except where they need sound isolation (luckily I don’t) - OR where they want more bass, because closed cans seem to have more. Bass deficiency syndrome is one of the reasons I am considering an alternative to my MUCH beloved 800S (I will never part with them!). So I can easily see doing the closed Verites if I get more bass and don’t give up much 3D soundstage etc. It’s unfair to ask you if you haven’t hear both. I guess I can ask Zach his opinion.
Please review audeze lcd 4z how does it compare to the lcd 4
what would be the best pick between drop panda or hifiman devas all round
HD6XX, HD560s, or HE400i IMO.
Hi, this is the second Meze Empyrean review from your You Tube channel, and both do not praise the Empyreans. As I own them I would like to respond. They are the best Planar match with my amp the Feliks Audio Euforia, so I wanted to give them a go. They scale up with the quality of the equipment used, and Meze their stock cable is a real problem. So I warned Meze never to send their stock cable for a review. I bought the Lavricables Grand Litz 4 core which is more fragile than the 20 core Grand but more high end they say. And I have the Ayre QB-9 Twenty Dac. Compared with my Stax L700 mk1 with the T 1-S amp the Empyreans are less sharp, less treble focused and less detail focused, but I am very happy with the overall musical experience. And I like it better than the Stax. The ZMF Verite cans match well with the Euforia too. But I am in no hurry to buy those soon. I am quite happy now. Other Empyrean owners called them euphonic, but I am not certain about this English as it is not my native language. Even though the Empyreans Mk 2 will be better, these ear speakers should be seen as a tool to listen to high end equipment, great amp, great Dac, and also great cables.
So, with any less than fully positive review, there's bound to be some goalpost shifting from people who own the product in question and are looking for purchase validation. Let me be clear that with these reviews, it's just our honest opinions, and if you like your empyrean that's all that matters. With that said, Chrono's sources are more than sufficient for the review of this headphone, and while you may believe cables make a difference, it's not something I've found to be true... I'm open to the idea, but at the very least it's not something that should be used to goalpost shift on the reviewer or to validate your purchase.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Hi, I do not mind so much the Empyreans are my purchase. But thanks, you wish me a nice experience. Kind regards Yoram
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Instantly writing these contradictory reports off as "goalpost shifting and/or purchase validation" is a bias fallacy. I'm sure you're well aware that different setup configurations, different ears, different preferences and different values all contribute to (sometimes wildly) different experiences. Just because your experience hasn't been as positive as many others are reporting, doesn't make your experience any more "true" than anyone else's contradicting experience.
@@JSym92 Not at all, sources absolutely do make a difference. Where I draw the line is when people suggest that Chrono's sources aren't sufficient for an evaluation of this headphone. Also, I would be more sympathetic to the goalpost shifting if the headphone in question had VERY specific requirements like certain headphones do (HE6, Susvara, SR1a, HEDDphone and so on), but the Empyrean isn't actually one of those headphones. It's actually reasonably versatile as far as amping requirements is concerned. Now, some may have found a special synergy, and I'm not denying that either. But that's not something that invalidates Chrono's review.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow No, I'm not invalidating Chrono's review. In fact, given his context for this review, I understand his observations, and share many of his negative observations too, and found that a lot of these issues can be addressed through gear matching.
When I purchased my Empyrean, I owned a Grace SDAC-B and a THX 789, but auditioned it on a few different high-end setups which gave me a good sense of gear-related potential, and compared it to other headphones that were also driven off of well-matching high-end setups. I've spent the months after the purchase researching for good gear pairings and visited several stores on a few different occasions to audition a wide variety of gear.
Eventually I settled on a Bifrost 2 and Feliks Euforia, which resulted in remarkable improvements in the area's where the Empyrean is often considered lacking. Timbre got substantially richer, the perception of "internal resolution" drastically improved, the post-10k region is smoothened out more and doesn't sound as "beamy" anymore while maintaining a proper sense of air and extension, the already good soundstage got bigger and more immersive, layering got more 3-dimensional, macro-dynamics reach higher and hit harder, and the overall listening experience just took a big leap forward.
Now I totally understand that it's unreasonable to ask for a reviewer to also get a specific "optimal" gear pairing for each headphone you review, and I wouldn't say that the gear I chose is what everyone should choose and that everyone will love it then for sure, I'm just sharing my own personal experience here as a contrast to your and Chrono's experiences with this headphone.
Chrono what is your opinion on Susvara?
I don't think he's tried it yet.
What the song in the background?
Chrono. Thank you your reply. I really hadn’t considered a closed back (Verite) but I wonder how much of a difference exists between the closed and open.
Nighthawk's are more comfortable in my opinion :p
It makes no sence to buy this headphone. The Focal Clear is on sale for 999€ at my local dealer. For the price of 2999€ I can get 2x Focal Clear + 2x new Pads for Clear.
You can make that argument with any headphone. For the price of the Clear I can get the Focal Elex, DAC/Amp stack, additional pads, and a custom cable.
@@LakerTriangle With the difference that I consider the sound of Empyrean and Clear being on par. Clear & Elex are not, at least in my opinion. Thus you cannot replace a Clear with an Elex, as you suggest.
@@traindeluxe3789 and I counter your argument with software EQ w/ Elex can get you very close if you know what your doing.
@@LakerTriangle You have my thumbs up.
@@LakerTriangle u can’t add detail with eq, maybe if it’s a warm headphone
Just evaluating a pair against Utopia, HEKse and LCD X. One thing I've been hearing a lot from negative reviews is that it's not a very detailed headphone. That it is on LCD 2 level, not even LCD X or Arya. We all hear differently and have different setups, but .... I was very plesantly surprised. The stock FR does not lend itself to displaying spatial detail, but very minor EQ tweaks sort it right out. I would say it's not designed to be as detail forward as Utopia or HEKse, but it does display similar level of detail, just in a less in-your-face way. I wouldn't say I miss anything detail wise from Utopia, but the presentation is completely different. Reminds me of Oppo PM-3 I once had. Very pro-sumer (not quite typical consumer V) type tunning, but with detail in the ballpark of Utopia and HEKse. All in all impressed with everything. If you're worried about details, don't, it's miles ahead from LCD X and Arya territory (not that LCD X is bad, it's just more congested, less refined and less spatial detail, again different presentation) and a lot closer to Utopia territory (again, completely different presentation). Very interesting.
I hope they make a high impedance version of this
That's what I'm hoping. Resolution and the somewhat sloppy bass, dynamics wise, sound like they're compromised by ease of being driven
I get the allure. First time I wore these before my review they didn't come off for 3 hours. They're really truly well designed and the sound is very relaxing. Unfortunately they fall short in technicalities vs other similarly priced headphones. It clearly doesn't matter though to so many people buying these, as they seem quite loved
If they make a high impedance version, in the same price range, this might be the default recommend for me. They're a comfortable, easy listen, but they need resolution to be really good at this price, because if you just want a relaxing listen you can get that at a lot lower price point than this.
how do you compare Empy and Verite?
First time I heard this headphone all I thought was elevator music. Meze seems to have made these even make Metallica sound like elevator music, no excitement at all. Wasn’t my cup of tea.
Yeah i paid all that money for the comfort :) lol...
Could have gone with custom iems for half the price and even more comfort. 🥲💜
The background music is irritating
The review was ok. Came off a bit judgemental. Lots of fancy..wawawawa....something about your delivery that was off putting. Thank you for the review.
you do reviews of reviews?
It came off judgemental? It's literally a review. It's just job to judge the quality of the product. What exactly were you expecting?
Comfort king eh? Try the Harmonicdyne Zeus. You'll be fricken shocked
I actually have the Zeus here. It's not bad for comfort. Empy is still more comfy though haha.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Wow i didn't know that. One thing that making it a sweet spot is the price difference, for 350 bucks the zeus is the most comfortable headphone you can get. I have the sundara and the fidelio X3 but i think the zeus is more for me. (Well it was all about you guys preference actually)
@@emeerhakeem532 do u prefer zeus over sundara?
Really looks like a headphones from an old empire, classic.
I may be the first to comment
That would be imperial, not empyrean ha ha
Seems quite orthogonal to the majority of reviews suggesting reviewer preference is to the fore
I want one of these hehe.
HD800s vs this in terms of comfort? Hahaah
HD800 kills the top of my head so I'd imagine this headphone is much better for some people.
@@DEALUX I agree, I did get an aftermarket woven headband to solve that issue tho haha, way more comfortable with it on than that stock foam.
Empyrean is not an audiophile headphone, it is a headphone for people that love to listen to music.
"This car isn't for drivers, this car is for people that love to drive cars."
That's basically what you just said. It sounds stupid, doesn't it? That's because it is. They're not just "not audiophile headphones", they're bad headphones. They're pretty, and they're comfortable, but they're bad. It's as simple as that.
Nah it wasn't that comfortable actually imo