Meze Empyrean 2-Improved or Sacrificed Musicality for Technicalities?-Honest Audiophile Impressions

[@mrmrgaming]

Not tried them, but the one thing about the original was the musicality. Out of all the headphones I have owned/tried, the original Empy are the only ones that made me smile and think to myself, "My god, these sound good", with just about all styles of music.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Totally agree 💯

[@mrmrgaming]

@@TheHonestAudiophile Also, thanks for the pad breakdown. I was looking at trying the new duo pads on my original Empy, but it seems like they are not a step forward vs the angled. Out of the pads I tried, leather=good bass but muddy. Alcan=good all-rounder. Hybrid/elite= mid-ground of leather and Alcan, but way too shallow depth-wise for ears. The angled Alcan, well, I found these to be the best. You lose a bit down low, but it fixes the mids, detail and separation.

[@carminedesanto6746]

GM ..been out of touch for a bit…I’m still getting constantly amazed by my LCDX 2021 .. i put the carbon fiber headband on it ..not much weight difference..but the clamp is a lot comfortable. The 5 is ENDGAME! 18:56 Now, if you’ve got the OG Emp’s ..is it worth considering going to the 2.0 🧐 Great video 👍👍

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Depends on if you want more air, space, brightness, slightly more details and resolving, thinner note weight instead of the more lush, romantic original. Glad you enjoy the LCD-X 21, such a good headphone. I hope you get opportunity to hear or own Lcd-5 at some point. Look forward to hearing your impressions.

[@Cooliewhistles]

Great review! I’ve been away from the hobby for 5 years . I loved the lcd 3 because I get treble fatigue easily and they were so buttery smith yet still dynamic and detailed. Anything you know of under the 2k-ish price point that has a similar strength ? I could always just get the 3, but not sure if they have improved it since then .

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Hmmm haven't heard the LCD-3 in awhile and I've never had one in for review. Based on my limited listening experience with it the only headphone that I recall sounding a bit similar is the LCD-X 21 but I've not heard that in a long time either. Sorry.

[@Cooliewhistles]

@@TheHonestAudiophile alll good. I hope to audition the lcd 5 for fun

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@Cooliewhistles Awesome 👍 I love the LCD-5. Occasionally they're found on used market around the high 2k range.

[@NeoGaming666]

I have heard Empereyan 2 with a desktop R2R DAC at an event. It was the best sound that has ever touched my eardrums. I own a LCD2C, ATHR70X and HD6XX but this was sth else

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Glad you enjoyed the Empyrean 2. It's for sure a good quality headphone.

[@chungang7037]

Wow, hype train derailed! Other reviewers saw this thing as the second coming. Isn't the Moondrop Para $299? I demoed the Elite side by side with the Empy, and felt the Elite was going too far and stripping the lushness of acoustic instruments and my ability to enjoy the music. For those wanting more soundstage and technicalities, I guess it was a trade off. I will have to demo the Empy 2 with the Empy later, but something tells me your take is going to be spot on. Thanks for the review~

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I didn't say the Para is on the same level. I said the Para is similar presentation at a lesser price. Depending on what you value, the Para is a solid performer for it's price. The Empy 2 is an improvement in technical abilities.

[@ginom407]

Thanks Dave! I might have to take another look at the Para...

[@RX-rd4sc]

Great review Kindly review denon d7200

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks for the suggestion

[@RX-rd4sc]

@@TheHonestAudiophile would love to know your opinion on them Try to get >2022 model, they have slightly upgraded the drivers

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Thanks for the information

[@draecath5953]

I have the Empyrean 2 and I am wondering what you prefer as a source I'm eying the Aune s9c or k9 akm right now.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Hmmm either are good choices. I don't recall which I preferred over the other. I had to return the Empy 2 as it was a loaner tour.

[@anubdaniel9649]

Bro i dont know if u read this but if u do please tell me i am new to iem and iam planning on purchasing a entry level iem after seeing ur videos i am confused on wheather to buy 7hz salnotes zero or blon bl 03 i listen to more of melody and sad piano music i want a smooth and balanced sound so please sir tell me which u suggest me.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Between those two mentioned, I'd pick the 7hz Salnotes Zero. But honestly, I'd get a Tangzu Wan'er or Simgot EW200 instead.

[@SnobAudiophile]

This sounds like the upgrade I have been waiting for. I owned the original but sold it because it was too stuffy and lacking details. Thanks for your honest review.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Look forward to hearing your impressions.

[@nick62876]

you sold your endgame for the lcd5 why? you convinced all of us you found your endgame headphone and no longer cgoing to review headphones ? what happened . glad your back tho .

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Here's a link to my Audeze LCD-5 review. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXS4Zp6uoNarnJo I didn't say I wasn't going to review again, I said I wasn't doing video reviews and was moving to written content. But the community spoke and my website struggled so I returned to KZbin. I really enjoyed the Empyrean and still think it is a great headphone. But the Audeze LCD-5 is just superior for what I believe to be a natural, neutral presentation and matches my preference better than the Empyrean. Opinions change with time and experience and that is why I moved on from the Empyrean.

[@nick62876]

@@TheHonestAudiophile lol there is no endgame we all know that my friend it never ends always getting the itch we are never happy .😁

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

@nick62876 I'm very happy with my gear. I have no desire to upgrade even with all the stuff I get in to review. I can see myself using the Audeze LCD-5 for a very long time along with my Mytek stack.

[@ReverendDr.Thomas]

I didn't like the Empyrean 2 when I compared them to other high-end headphones like the HEDDphone 2 and Susvara.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

I've not heard Headphone 2, hope to at Axpona. Haven't heard Susvara but once at an audio show.

[@ixoye56]

I thought Empyrean 1 was your end-game?

[@chungang7037]

end of the Journey, not..

[@Mr1stcat]

Lcd5 and the empy 2 sound like hot garbage I thought this hobby was about enjoying music, not torturing yourself with sharp treble and calling it "highly resolving" why do I wanna analyze every sound and hear the pianist scratching his junk that's not audiophilila that's just ridiculous 😆 the graphification and sterilization of this fun hobby will be the end of it 🤷‍♂️ I wanna tap my toes not examine everything I'll leave that to the sound engineers and musicians that actually produce the music 😎

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

Don't judge a product until you've heard them. The LCD-5:doesn't have elevated, sharp treble. The LCD-5 is a neutral and natural presentation with an accurate tone and timbre as well as being detailed and resolving. The Empyrean 2 has elevated mids that have moments of shouty, sharp, don't have as good tone and timbre and aren't as detailed and resolving. Both are good headphones but the LCD-5 is significantly better in my opinion. I enjoy every moment of listening with my LCD-5 not so much with the Empyrean 2. Thanks for your comment.

[@chungang7037]

I feel you... it is the nature of the hobby it seems. Audiophiles want to be tortured by how badly recorded their music is, and then be tortured again by well recorded music they don't enjoy. 🤣

[@hartyewh1]

It's called EQ. Almost no headphone is well tuned. LCD-5 with EQ sounds absurdly good and very natural and effortless.

[@TheHonestAudiophile]

LCD-5 sounds amazing without EQ on a quality DAC and amplifier in my opinion.

[@hartyewh1]

@@TheHonestAudiophile For me the highs and timbre improve a lot with EQ and flat bass makes them overall bright as well.