5 things I wish I knew before reviewing the Meze Empyrean Elite

[@michaelp.3485]

As someone who has reached my endgame IEMs (Raven and Annihilator 23) I am slightly worried that my new Elite won't wow me like those IEMs do. I bought a Cayin iHAC-8 amp, which, when hooked up to the line out on my SP3000 DAP, makes my Annihilator sound absolutely amazing. Hopefully it will do the Elites justice as well.

[@newsigmundfreud3023]

*Thanks for Your review.* *This pair of headphones is an all around good headphones AND good looking AND comfortable.., but still too expensive for what it is and does.*

[@newsigmundfreud3023]

Isnt the ELITE and EMPYREAN 2 different models? The they got Empyrean II.. No?

[@NorbReviews]

They’re different models, yes. The Elite is the next step above the Empyrean (it’s actually called the “Empyrean Elite”). Sort of like Bose calling their headphones the “QuietComfort” and “QuietComfort Ultra”. The Empyrean II came out after the Elite.

[@newsigmundfreud3023]

@@NorbReviews Thanks.

[@phil5743]

You need to be reviewing these with the angled alcantara ear pads. The standard alcantara have long been replaced by these and are completely different in character, really opening up the sound. I’m using my Elites with a Hugo 2 which I’ve found to be a great combination.

[@NorbReviews]

Thanks for the feedback! The angled pads didn’t come with my review set. If I get the opportunity, though, I will. (With luck, I will, soon.) Side note: Loving my Mojo 2, but the Hugo 2 was what I wanted. (Budgets and all.) The only issue I seem to be having is that, now that I’m using the Elite + Mojo 2, im hearing a LOT more production errors with a lot of the music I listen to. (This morning I was listening to The Decembersists and Diana Krall, and I was surprised at just how much extra noise I kept hearing.) I tested with my Focal Clear OGs and it was still there, making me wonder if the recordings were just that bad, or if there’s a problem with the Mojo. (I also tested with the Apple Dongle, and I didn’t hear as much then, but I don’t know if that’s just a power output issue: maybe the Mojo 2 is driving too much power into these.)

[@carminedesanto6746]

These are ENDGAME for the bulk of those into HEADFI 😎👍

[@NorbReviews]

Truth.

[@dhkhandle]

Do not use the black stock cable with the Meze Elite. The stock cable is a low-quality, basic component that can degrade the performance of the Meze Elite. It is essential to purchase and use silver-plated or copper cables. Fortunately, the Meze Elite package now includes a silver-plated cable as the stock cable. Many people have reported that after switching to a silver-plated cable, the Meze Elite's resolution and clarity have improved.

[@Smood47]

How is it vs susvara and 1266 tc ?

[@NorbReviews]

Haven’t tried the Susvara or 1266 tc so can’t say. Been eyeing the LCD-5, though…

[@michaelp.3485]

​@NorbReviews As somebody who used to have an LCD-5, it is an absolute beast when it comes to speed and resolution. However it was WAY too neutral, having very little bass and overall gave no excitement. Apparently it EQ's very well, but i don't mess around with that, and once I received my U12t, Raven and Annihilators I realized that the LCD-5 just wasn't for me and I sold it. If you want a summit level resolving studio monitoring headphone, LCD-5 is one of the very best. If you just want musical enjoyment, maybe the LCD-5 isn't the best.

[@Smood47]

@@michaelp.3485 did you find a headphone that you liked more ? (not iem)

[@CheekyFest]

dat = digital audio tape

[@NorbReviews]

That is a good call out and it was embarrassing that I completely borked that. Fixed.

[@michaelp.3485]

I just recieved mine and I ******** hate them compared to my Empire Ears Raven and Elysian Annihilator 2023. They do everything the Elite does but better, and they have way more bass. This confirmes to me that IEMs are better than headphones. Headphones are stagnate dinosaurs while IEMs are blazing towards the future.

[@NorbReviews]

Sorry that it didn't work out for you! Yeah, if you have something that you love and that is working for you, I say just keep on with that! I prefer headphones to IEMs (for comfort reasons, mostly), but I love that IEMs keep innovating with dedicated drivers and driver types for specific frequencies.

[@michaelp.3485]

​@NorbReviews The more I listen to the Annihilator 23, the more I can't believe what I am hearing out of my Cayin iHA-8 amp. The bass is SO powerful. Not the most articulate bass, but the iHA-8 seems to give it more nuance than straight out of my SP3000 DAP, and the whole presentation is crystal clear with micro details all over the place. But the thing that is blowing my socks off the most is the stage and imaging. It is the most 3D, holgraphic representation of music I have ever heard. Every instrument occupies a distinct location within the soundstage, with air clearly seperating them. Sounds on some songs seem to float and flick around my head, where as the Elite it just seems to come from one flat wall where all instrumentation seems to be touching each other with no air seperating them. It is a very boring presentation. This is where it feels like the music is coming from just one driver, as opposed to ths Annihilator with it's 7 drivers per side. The thing that Elite does better however, is keeping the treble from becoming too hot on some tracks. It is always kept within check, where as the high frequencies on some songs on the Annihilator can become peaky and shouty and uncomfortable. Not unbearably so, but enough to be noticeable, or make me turn the volume down a little. But yeah, the sound of the Annihilator on the iHA-8 is endgame❤. It is exciting and visceral and massive, summitfi level technicality and presentation You owe it to yourself to try and find an Annihilator or even just the Cayin iHA-8. Both components are freaking amazing on their own, but together they make magic happen.