Meze Liric Headphone Review - Have Meze done it again?

[@dav__71]

Had a 3 hour session with lirics, emprean and emp elite and I think your analysis is right. The lirics got a bit shouty but with great detail. Similar to elites with less mid and soundstage separation. Might try the VC

[@PassionforSound]

Sorry to hear you didn't love the Lirics either. I've got a VC review in the works...

[@aceofspades6667]

Merry Christmas Lachlan! This was a great review glad to see a different take on these compared with the half dozen other reviews. You had a different take than the consensus on Holo spring as well. I always appreciate a alternative take on products especially when you can clearly explain your reasoning. Looking forward to see what P4S has in store for ‘22.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Ace and Merry Christmas! I'm always trying to look at it from a balanced and level starting point so hopefully it helps. Lots of good stuff in the pipeline for 2022...

[@VirusForPrez]

'Merry Christmas' @Passion for Sound thanks for all these fantastic reviews !

[@PassionforSound]

My pleasure! Merry Christmas 🎄🎄

[@CJDilag]

Great to hear your impressions as always Lachlan! Merry Christmas!

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks Conrad. Merry Christmas to you too

[@robertnoblitt518]

The Lirics are portable and compact enough that I enjoy using them in walks around the neighborhood, in a restaurant, and in my car. They work well with my Astell&Kern KANN Alpha. The 3.5mm connectors allow me to use an inexpensive balanced "Corpse Cable" that I originally bought for Focal Radiance. This cable helps tame the Liric's treble. (By the way, I prefer Liric over Radiance.) I tried some EQ settings that another reviewer recommended, but to me, they sounded blah. EQ took away the Liric's unique character.

[@PassionforSound]

That's a great tip on the cable and nice to hear the comparison with the Radiance. Thanks, Bobby!

[@ixoye56]

I like the build and looks on these, I hope I get the chance to listen to them.

[@PassionforSound]

They're gorgeous from a design and build perspective. I hope you get to try some and see if the sound suits your tastes

[@Viewer13128]

20:57 does the Focal Stellia fail this test for you too?

[@PassionforSound]

I haven't yet tried the Stella ☹️

[@johnsoriano3812]

Fantastic review! Thank you for this

[@PassionforSound]

My pleasure!

[@johnsoriano3812]

@@PassionforSound Btw, the link to Apos doesn't seem to redirect properly. :)

[@PassionforSound]

All fixed. It was created before it was live on the website 😉

[@dav__71]

Listened to Aeon 2 closed and Liric for 3 hours today. Got the Aeon Noire and very happy. The liric was awesome with only some tracks. It's weakness seems to be it doesn't distinguish mid to high sounds very well and it slightly lacks contrast. The best music I hear it on was electronic soundtracks (spy game, DOW III) and 80s music because those kinds of songs are tight, electronic sounds already separated and neatly distinguished in the music itself. The sub bass of that music is tight and the highs already pronounced and separated. If you get more natural sounding music like older soundtracks, SW Empire Strikes Back, but even surprisingly EDM, the lyrics couldn't do it as well as the Aeons. The imaging is really great, but you have to be into that. The musicality isn't as awesome. I tired with a mojo two and upped the base on it and that gave the liric a warmer sound with more contrast in tone. Mojo also calm the liric down. Still, its hard to relax with the lirics and they are shouty by nature... V Happy with Aeon Noire, and half the price and it folds up into tight small case.

[@PassionforSound]

That's been kind of my conclusion too and I've ended up with a pair of Noires myself. Glad you found what you liked most and also that you saved a bunch of 💰

[@dav__71]

@@PassionforSound oh right! very nice.

[@MeteoraEra]

I've talked with frew Liric owners and both of them said after 3-4 days of testing the sound was much better and especially with Mojo 2, they had an amazing amazing experience and synergy with Mojo 2's but one crucial thing was that the test must be done after Mojo2 is warmed up after 35 mins at least. Apparently the difference is bold enough. I wish you'd have a review of Mojo2 with Lirics. Just saying

[@PassionforSound]

There's a few issues with this. Firstly, the Mojo 2 hasn't been available for long enough for a wide range of people to have tested it for extended periods with the Liric - maybe a few reviewers with early samples. Secondly, the sound from the Mojo 2 (or any Chord product I've tried) doesn't change with warm-up - they don't work that way. Finally, I spent about 4-5 weeks with the Lirics and they were already used when I got them so this isn't a case of a headphone that needed more burn-in

[@MeteoraEra]

@@PassionforSound i see, I don't understand why reviews are so different everywhere, thanks for your answer. I've had Chord products as well but apparently this has been the case based on what one of the experienced reviewers like yourself told me and insisted it has to be done but idk? Just wanted to point that out. But either ways, good thing with Mojo 2 is that using filters you can reduce the issues of different headphones and for example roll off the highs if your headphone has that issue like hd800 for example

[@PassionforSound]

Absolutely - that's a great feature!

[@saschamilenkovic4320]

The lyrics are beyond the mojo's capabilities. A $2000 headphone needs a better source than that 😂. The dac matters.

[@PassionforSound]

I disagree. There's no doubt that the Lirics can perform even better with a higher-end source, but they're also a closed back, portable suitable headphone that sounds fantastic with the Mojo 2

[@goldwerger]

Excellent review! I just got the Liric for my upcoming holiday trip. I also have had the VC, which is my reference headphone, so I appreciate your comparison. I think the VC is hands down superior. It's timbre is just more accurate, with each note having more "weight" to it. The VC is also, simply put, more detailed in its resolution. But I am content very content with this purcahse, since I do believe the use case for the Liric is for mobile use, and the VC is simple not meant to be taken out of the home. I also demo'ed the Liric at the store against the Noir (both powered by the Diablo). I must say they were awefully close in tuning. The Noir is definitely darker and the Liric has that bright energy you point to, but inexplicably they were surprisingly similarly sounding. If I have any lingering regret, it may be that of not getting the Noir. At half the price, it is also more mobile (folding neatly), and also have a better bass imho. But the need for novelty swayed me to the Liric. In summary - I recommend the Liric. It sounds great, easy to drive, and for mobile use may be one of the best option, with the Noir giving it some real competition.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with the Lirics! I agree that the Noire and the Liric are probably the two best closed backs that are also specifically portable.

[@robertnoblitt518]

I have a Liric and a DCA Aeon Noire. I far prefer the Liric, which is also much easier to drive with a mobile player.

[@goldwerger]

@@robertnoblitt518 good to know! Makes me feel better ;)

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Bobby

[@Richardsumilang]

Is the liric portable enough to fit in a briefcase?

[@edosan1068]

I find it funny that you brought up passive vs attentive listening. I have both the elite and the liric as at this point I've realized I'm just a full on meze fanboy, lol. For me, I find the liric to be better for passive listening especially when I'm working. I think that is the case because with the elite, the way it presents music, the natural laid backness of it, I feel like it just goes to waste when I'm working. So 2 things can end up happening. Either I get seduced by the elite, and realized a hour later that I have completely stopped working, or what makes the elite special kinda just goes over my head. With the liric however, because as the review mentioned, the more energetic presentation, it actually is a better medium for me. I don't have to pay attention to get moved by the music, but it's also not gona just seduce me away from my work. Not to mention as a portable option with something like the ifi dxd gryphon it is pretty amazing. As a portable option for under 3k for the whole thing, I think it is pretty hard to beat.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your perspective on this, Edmond! It's always great to hear other opinions as experiences. I'm so glad you're enjoying your Lirics so much.

[@bretspangler8717]

Fresh out of the box I would assume they will break in a little, are these new or a reviewers pair with lots of hours on it? Sennheiser Amperiors are my go-to closed back which is very portable and surprisingly comfortable with great isolation. The Amperiors are an aluminum cup version of the HD25's.

[@PassionforSound]

These are a reviewer / demo model and had clearly been opened and used, but I don't know more than that. I also used them for an extended period after my burn-in experiences with the Elite and Arya stealth version so I don't believe burn-in had any influence. I don't know the Amperiors, but the HD25s are great!

[@rogerhuston8287]

So what happens if you EQ them? Sounds like you like the tone. Boost a little in the bass and tone down the 9k region and they might be perfect.

[@justme7920]

Is that a Avantree stand? I see the headband is larger than the slot in the wood. Won’t that affect the headband?

[@PassionforSound]

Yes, it's the Avantree bamboo stand. I don't use it for all headphones so I can't confirm if it will impact the headband. There's no reason that the headband would be overly affected though I think as most headphones aren't heavy enough to create sufficient downward force in the centre of the band

[@rogerhuston8287]

I found the Liric to be very Amp dependent, changing quite a bit on each amp. Tubes tone them down a bit and give them a bit more body. I own the VC and they are also great on tubes, I mean they are made for them.

[@x32i77]

The only closed back that I would really recommend is the Dan Clark audio stealth

[@aceofspades6667]

Verite closed are excellent and I enjoy my focal Celestee as well.

[@x32i77]

@@aceofspades6667 I tried all focal , unfortunately they got clipping in the song traust from the band Heilung at over 85 db

[@PassionforSound]

You might disagree with my Stealth review then... just a little warning 🙂

[@x32i77]

@@PassionforSound can't wait 😃😃👍 the only thing that brothered me is the 8k peak and the headphone need 100h of break in + you need a burson conductor 3x performance as an amp because it's hard to drive . Other than that I really really enjoyed the DCA 🙂 looking forward to your opinion

[@InternetUser-d7s]

They're the only closed back I wouldn't recommend. Sure of you like super flat (boring), then go for it. But for enjoyment, so many others that are preferable in timbre and tonality.

[@BillyKueekSG]

Thank you for this review Lachlan, Merry Christmas to you too. I was just wondering about this headphone. I will stick to my old Sony WH-1000XM2 for Bluetooth portability, or my Philips Fidelity X1S (open back) either with the cable or the MB Quart BT adapter for Bluetooth or use a cable with my Focal Elegia.

[@PassionforSound]

I think that's a wise choice, Billy! I do have a couple of other closed back reviews coming in 2022 so stay tuned... Merry Christmas

[@BillyKueekSG]

@@PassionforSound I sure will. Do you have any powered speakers coming?

[@PassionforSound]

Only some cheapies for now, but that might change...

[@BillyKueekSG]

@@PassionforSound, I’d recently asked a designer to help with space planning and will be adding a TV console so I am thinking of a pair of powered speakers. I can’t spend big so I am thinking of a pair of Edifier or Swans to use for both music and movies.

[@PassionforSound]

You're in luck with the next review then (or maybe the "second next")

[@andyleiva8638]

Great review. Do you have any impressions of Focal closed headphones? Radiance, Celestee and Stellia?

[@PassionforSound]

Not as yet, I'm afraid. I'm on the lookout for a pair of Stellias to buy secondhand, but I can't get demo units here ☹️

[@yunussaid9288]

Before everything else: Another great video, thank you and happy Holidays! I'm relatively new to hifi and I have a question: I got some cheap 2.5mm balanced cables (tripowin zonie 16 core silver plated) for Christmas and just tried them out with my ikko OH10 obsidian via a fiio BTR5 (in usb-mode) with some music I listened to a lot in the last weeks. And I immediately heard a difference to the stock SE cables, the soundstage seems to be noticeably wider. Is that placebo or can it be attributed to the balanced output or maybe to the silver plated copper? I don't really understand the technology behind balanced output, the information in the web seems to be somewhat contradictory to me, so maybe someone better informed could help me out Thanks P.S. @lachlan the ikko oh10 you recommended to me in the comments some weeks ago are awesome. Took me a while to get used to the to me relatively unfamiliar sharp sounding treble (had to use an eq in the first 2 weeks), but I have learned to appreciate it greatly, so I sent back my Starfields 👌🏻

[@PassionforSound]

So glad you're enjoying the OH10! As for your question about the cables, it's possible that both the cable and the balanced connection could be making a difference. Balanced isn't necessarily better than single-ended, but if you have a device designed with both, the balanced output will often be noticeably better than the SE output. The cable itself can also make a difference, but it's much more variable because it depends on the tuning of the IEM, the quality of the quite wire in the cable and various other subtle factors. I'd guess the balanced output is the biggest factor in your case.

[@BS1071M]

What about using the Mojo 2 and lossless eq to adjust the Liric?? - would that move the needle for u to love the Liric? - I am considering this combo….

[@PassionforSound]

It might do. The Liric had some serious magic that for me was just slightly obscured by the top end sometimes so I couldn't hurt to give it a go. It certainly won't be bad.

[@ParadoxStudio13]

Would this be suitable for stuff like Jpop, Kpop, Hip hop, Rock? Looking for a TOTL closed back for portable use (going to work etc) and home use that are easy to drive. Endgame IEMs are so expensive i though i might as well look into headphones as well since most IEMs dont isolate and filter out background noise as much. Also, how are they compared to Sundara's? The sundaras are my current main at home and was wondering if this would beat it technically and tuning wise as I have an offer to get a used Focal Utopia at similar price to the lirics but it obviously isnt portable so i might hold back on that for now.

[@PassionforSound]

These are way beyond the Sundara so you're in for a treat in that regard. They'll also do really well with your listed genres too so might be a good choice. I agree that a quality set of IEMs is an expensive proposition too. My only other recommendation would be the IE900s as a possible, similar priced alternative

[@mjjm6220]

As I already have the Beyer T5.3, which I really like, I see no reason to spend twice the price for these Meze.

[@PassionforSound]

That was my conclusion too. Keep enjoying the T5.3s! 🙂🙂

[@xdavid133]

In my opinion the best closed back headphones are Denon flagship, the AH-D9200 pure enjoyment.

[@PassionforSound]

I haven't tried those yet. Do Denon still make those?

[@LIL-MAN_theOG]

True... Problem with these is that they don't fit on every head the way they're kitted out. I had the 5200's and I'm a bigger guy, and you have to perform gymnastics to get them to fit right on the head

[@AssafMuller]

Did these heat up your ears as compared to other headphones?

[@PassionforSound]

I didn't find that, but I rarely have that issue with headphones

[@wolandphotography]

sound its pretty nice, but i have problem with putting them on my head, the cups constatly rotating or fliping around my ear, do you have also that problem?:)

[@PassionforSound]

I didn't experience that while I had them, I don't think. They were only on loan so I didn't spend a long time with them.

[@MeteoraEra]

Would you please review Sony Z1R over ears? Thanks

[@PassionforSound]

It all depends on what I can get my hands on, but I'll gladly review them if I get the chance

[@MeteoraEra]

@@PassionforSound thanks, in that case, preferably they'd have to be tested with Sony 's Kimber copper cable which Sony sells for these, some owners get it. I'd love to know your opinion.

[@AliArghavan]

This might seem pessimistic but I can't buy a product based on the promises of future upgrade/fix. As of now the earpads on Liric is NOT replaceable and that's a big deal breaker. We'll see when/If they decide to do something about it.

[@PassionforSound]

I think with a brand like Meze it's a very safe purchase. The reason it's a promise is that no-one will need to replace the pads for a number of months so it's giving them time to design the best possible (i.e. simplest and easiest) solution for pad replacement. I actually respect them for taking the time to do it right rather than rushing something to market.

[@LIL-MAN_theOG]

He is right... Ive owned lots of Meze cans, and when everyone needed pad fixes or other options , they've come up with several offerings within the first few months or so of the debut of the product. They are one of the few companies that listens to customers and makes changes immediately

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for confirming from your direct experience!

[@reinhartfrais2434]

Hello ,thank you for your great reviews! Please give me some advice. I listen to piano,violins ,guitars and female Vokals looking For comfortable headphones transparent fresh no sharp highs for long listening.budget 300 to 600 us if needed please recommend a amp. Thank you and all the best Reinhart

[@PassionforSound]

Glad you're liking the reviews! I would probably recommend the Verum 1s as my favourite headphone in that price range. The HiFiMan Sundara and Drop x Sennheiser HD6XX are also excellent. You could drive any of these with a simple dongle like the E1DA 9038D or a basic desktop setup like a Topping E30 and L30 or a Schiit Modi and Magni

[@reinhartfrais8549]

@@PassionforSound thank you very much,happy holidays Sir.

[@reinhartfrais8549]

Last question,du you now a bookshelf speaker that you can reccomand for my piano ans chamber music ? Thank you

[@PassionforSound]

You too

[@PassionforSound]

For the bookshelf speakers question, I'm afraid that's outside my area of expertise these days - I'm out of touch with speakers. Sorry!

[@hans803]

Which do you prefer, Liric or the T5 Beyerdynamic?

[@PassionforSound]

Answered on your other post (T5) 🙂

[@MeteoraEra]

These or verite + Mojo 2? And yes money matters

[@PassionforSound]

For me, I'd take the Verite 100%. I can't comment on the Mojo 2 yet

[@MeteoraEra]

​@@PassionforSound Would you please review Sony Z1R ? Id really appreciate it.

[@PassionforSound]

I'll have to see if I can get a loaner from somewhere...

[@MeteoraEra]

@@PassionforSound 1. would you explain why "Verite 100"? Im curious if verite C is as fast as Liric to be able to handle fast rock/metal like planars/Liric i know it's got beryllium coated driver but still not sure if it has that liquid sound quality that people describe for planars is something I can find in Verite C. 2. At €2,100 used Verite C vs €2,000 new liric (assuming I'll get Mojo 2 to drive either of them in the future) which one is a better buy/ better value for money?

[@dasninjastix]

I think your review here is gonna age pretty well once the dust settles and the Gatekeepers' brigade moves onto their next effigy.

[@PassionforSound]

Haha. We'll see. I've gone back to them a few times to double check my impressions, but they remain unchanged and I'll be sending them back in the next week or so

[@nikolaygramchev]

Glued ear pads - a big flaw!

[@PassionforSound]

I agree in the sense that I'd definitely prefer a more easily removable design, but the innovation behind the use of the glues pads is excellent.

[@nikolaygramchev]

@@PassionforSound According to me it is not much different than perforated pads.

[@PassionforSound]

It's a completely different concept, Nikolay. The Liric are using the air volume inside the pads to reduce the amount of space required in the ear cups. Perforated pads can't do that. If they used a non-sealed system, the headphones themselves would need to be significantly larger

[@nikolaygramchev]

@@PassionforSound Well, that sounds even worse to me - inflated pads!!! Whatever the innovation is, and I think it is not since I have and know vintage headphones that have nearly the same idea. In the times of laser precision, to do glued pads in a $2k set is not a consumer friendly solution.

[@PassionforSound]

They're not inflated and I don't know if this has been done in this way before. I think you're being unnecessarily critical (and these aren't a headphone I would necessarily recommend so I feel no need to defend them). If you're not a fan of the idea, that's fine, but they're providing a solution for replacing pads and the approach used is clever and effective.

[@jack4321able]

Please review the ENLEUM 23R amp. Pairs well with Susvara.

[@PassionforSound]

I'll look into it - that's one I haven't heard of before

[@reinhartfrais2434]

Hello,thank you foo

[@04yellowjacket]

I am a subscriber and I like your review style. But when a headphone is bad, just say it is bad. I have seen nearly all of your reviews and we have chatted about a few things here (and on patreon), but you gotta call a duck a duck. I have yet to hear you say something like "to me, this is a bad sounding headphone". In this video you say the Liric is a headphone "I'm pretty quickly gonna forget and move on". This is as close as you get to saying "meh" or "gross". People are potentially going to pay $2k for this headphone, I think you run little risk in at least stating something like "this headphone is a poor value". But then maybe Meze or whomever will not send you any more headphones? Thank you for taking the time to make the review. Happy New Year.

[@PassionforSound]

I'm very comfortable saying if a headphone is flat out bad (check my BLON BL30 or Grado RS1e review). In the case of the Liric, I thoroughly enjoyed some listening sessions with it and I've chatted to patrons who are continuing to enjoy it. To me that says that this will be a headphone that many will enjoy so I'd be doing a disservice to pan it across the board. Stay tuned for my DCA Stealth review if you need any convincing that I can call a duck a duck 😉

[@04yellowjacket]

@@PassionforSound Sounds fair. DCA Stealth. I heard that at CanJam SoCal. I was not impressed.

[@PassionforSound]

We have similar thoughts on that one then I think 🙂

[@saverioricchiuto5386]

I disagree. I am a Liric owner since 6 months and I am 100% in agreement with what P4S said here, picking and highlighting details and differences is of paramount importance to have a better picture of how these sound. And that is after having had the luck to spend hours listening to EVERY closed back headphone a high end dealer had: Denon, DCA, Sennheiser, Focal…you mention. And they were the ones I picked eventually, preferring them to cans costing more than twice as much (Focal, DCA Stealth). If P4S had said they were “bad” and I had seen this video one year ago instead of 6 months after my purchase, maybe I wouldn’t have considered exactly the cans I eventually preferred! Would that be a good service to the viewers? One additional info may be of interest: these are A LOT different depending on the amp driving them. I loved them with Class A amps and GSX-mini was fantastic. Using amps costing twice as much was not necessarily as good.

[@PassionforSound]

Thanks for sharing your experiences of the headphones and my review, Saverio. It's very helpful feedback!

[@karolkedzierski5824]

A very beautiful headphones with disgusting frequency response. Obviously they cant sound good enough for 2k if they dont measure correctly.

[@PassionforSound]

I don't believe their frequency response is disgusting. I've tried headphones with seemingly strange frequency responses that have sounded great (and some that sounded terrible). I think it's always best to hear a headphone or check a few reviews before deciding based on a single graph.

[@HiLoMusic]

U dont even know what a frequency response entails

[@x32i77]

Crinicle didn't like them at all and you can trust this guy 100%

[@sjqideez6626]

No, 1 person’s opinion does not equal all of mankind. #SubjectiveHobby

[@x32i77]

@@sjqideez6626 all of the headphones that I had , he described the product exactly as I personally felt . So that's why I assume he is a very accurate reviewer

[@edosan1068]

@@x32i77 that just means you have similar preference

[@Smood47]

@@x32i77 Accurate to you. Different people can hear differently. Crin thinks Susvara is 1 of the best headphones ever. Tylerseclectic thinks its ok and greatly prefers Verite.

[@x32i77]

@@Smood47 yeah but technically Susvara is superior . That's simply a fact . But ofcourse VC might sound more pleasing :)

[@Rocky-sn6fl]

2000$ for closed plastiky hps? Ok.

[@PassionforSound]

What makes you think it's plasticky?

[@damienriot]

Do you want metallic heavy HP with worse sound and far less comfort? Weird. Many plastic built product feel far more premium in hand than cheapo metallic stuff

[@Rocky-sn6fl]

@@PassionforSound Look.

[@PassionforSound]

It's actually not at all plasticky. I can't remember what it's all made of, but the paint finish means that it feels the same as a high quality pro camera (like Sony A7R3 for example)