The Meze Empyrean are PURE CLASS

[@peterhouston7266]

Great review John! I really like how you explain sound quality so well without using too much jargon. Your videos are so good I've stopped really reading the articles. I think all the non-verbal cues, like timing and expression, that you get across with video really help me understand your experience with a product better than text, especially when it comes to describing sound and listing signal paths. You're doing a damn good job of bringing audiophila to the mass market. Keep up the good work and good luck with the channel! Cheers Pete ps I'd also be interested to hear your thoughts on where focal's utopias sit in this line up if you ever get a chance to review a pair

[@zakariajanitou1792]

Yes we feel hi fi with this Powerful pro ❤️💪

[@johnsonadekunle7675]

You did justice to these headphones. Best review for the Meze Empyrean. Will be getting these for sure.

[@legeanflorin]

I had the shock of my life to find out that Meze are a Romanian company. I am happy and proud about that as I am Romanian myself 👍

[@bakarenibsheut12]

John, as a first-timer on your channel, I have to say that everything about this channel - the camerawork, the editing, the sound, the script - is extremely good. It helps that you have a very sophisticated accent coupled with a soothing, slightly textured voice (you should really consider doing voice work for adverts). It's obvious a lot of effort has gone into its making, and I hope you continue to release more great content. You have a new subscriber :)

[@remybelaich9637]

Hello John ! I’ve tried it today, This heaphone is unbelievable. Thanks for tour rewiew 👍

[@donknox9122]

First time watcher and I have to say that was not only one of the best headphone reviews I’ve seen, it’s simply one of the best reviews of anything I’ve ever seen. The Walkman was a great (low impedance) touch. You just gained another subscriber John.

[@Boogie7910]

I like your review style and flow. My Meze Empyreans will be delivered Friday to go along with my Chord TT 2 and Mscaler that I got last month. So far I've been using the Sony Z1R's with the Chord gear and have been blown away. I can't wait to hear the Empyreans.

[@sidvicious3129]

Your reviews are excellent and I love your approach to reviewing, you don't bore people, it's always interesting with you, measurements have their place, but the way you do what you do they really don't matter. You tell us what you hear and how they make you feel, oh and John, I absolutely love "Dire Straits". The Prefab Sprouts albums is very good. The Autechre Amber is great. The DJ Hell, not so much and the Idels Brutalism is too edgy for me. Great stuff as always John.

[@rizalahmad4207]

I’ve bern following your channel for quite some time now. Along the way, I played many of your recommended album and song thru your video. Now this video is godsend. You even included a playlist in the discription. Thank you.

[@sulaco33]

The only comment I can make: my 2006 Renault Clio is now worth less than a pair of these Meze headphones.

[@leviathan5207]

my first car was worth less than a pair of hd660s at the msrp of 500€

[@dennisalvin77777]

Much respect for playing Prefab Sprout! great review, keep up the good work!!

[@NDN_FTR]

You have the best audio reviews on youtube!

[@hermannisavolainen8328]

Just stunning! These reviews are so perfect. Thank you!

[@Youtubedotcomma]

Your coffee and wine analogies are bloody spot on 🤣 “Peace Orchestra” highly recommended album BTW especially if you like morphology- traveller 👌🏼 (thank you for introducing that to me, it’s Stella!)

[@AlastairGreen]

Love the production value and care and attention you guys put into your reviews. The content is always spot on and the execution is way better than anyone else in the space.

[@ryandouglas4553]

High quality, engaging, insightful, awesome music selections and out and out the best high tech audio reviews on KZbin. How you only have 17k subscribers is beyond me. Keep up the great work.

[@DarkoAudio]

This time last year this channel had 800 subscribers. Subscriber growth rate since we started doing pro-shot video reviews is off the charts.

[@Alloviacie]

Great review! I've been searching for multiple reviews on this great new headphone for quite some time already and yours comes across as very informative in terms of what i'm personally looking for.

[@bongofury3176]

I really enjoy your reviews/discussions. A complete lack of BS - very rare these days. You have one more subscriber and deservedly so...

[@Orgastics]

Your videos are top notch quality. I have a feeling your channel will be big later on.

[@Mark-rn6rs]

Another excellent review. Insightful without being sterile. Also appreciate the time taken to show the associated music.

[@FreackofFate]

Excellent Review!! Just the right amount of information and explanation, not to long and boring and not to short and confusing, just like the Empyrean. Will start watching your videos from now on. I got the chance to hear them, and this are by far the best headphones i ever heard. Those beautiful Headphones will be on my desk in two weeks, cant wait!

[@alexshin2331]

I've been out of the headphone game for a while. This video brought me back in. What a review.

[@DonHamlin]

“Never trust a review that doesn’t have comparisons with other gear” - Yes! Truer words have never been said. Without comparisons your left with no real conclusions.

[@DarkoAudio]

I think I said "reviews" (not "reviewers") but the message is essentially the same. :)

[@DonHamlin]

John Darko sorry about that, I corrected my post.

[@Nephilim-81]

This is an awesome review, John. You are easily one of the best.

[@davidnickel3949]

I have to tell you thank you for audio that doesn't hurt your ears on youtube love the channel keep it up :)

[@skizzlemane1]

Thanks to you I think this is my next pair of planars 👍🏼... It’s time for the LCD-X’s to go. I definitely don’t desire a squeaky clean reproduction of my music, or “squeegee clean” as you say 🧐 (never heard it said that way before) so I look forward to tryin these out for myself. Thanks for the informed review! The attention to detail when focusing on a particular nuance is really helpful 👍🏼 This review had so much knowledge conveyed in a way that was easy to digest. Thanks again

[@rolandlickert2904]

Hi I still have a walkman Professional with capstan servo and amorphous head in fact it is a sonnyWM-D3 and can record as well.Beside that little note I congratulate John for he's fresh approach of how to listen to Music and keep it interesting. I follow John for quit a while and I must say the move to Berlin was the right way to go . Aim 70 years old hooked on music and the stereo bug since aim 17 yers old and read a lot of Magazine ,Books in regards of HIFI etc .So far John is the most interesting and honest person in regards of reporting on Equipment .Keep it up aim sure your following (on youTube)will grow.

[@joeribt]

I loved this review! Thanks for doing this.

[@robertnoblitt518]

Thanks for a very informative review. I could not agree more on your evaluation of the Meze Empyrean. I've only had mine for a few days, but I love it (with the leather pads). I'm using it with a Sony NW-WM1A (digital) Walkman, and a Sony TAZH1ES headphone amp. It sounds fantastic with either one, but a bit more detailed with the TAZH1ES. So far, I've only used the balanced cable that came with it. I would say it is very neutral, yet detailed and refined, with exceptional bass and vocal clarity. The build quality and comfort are amazing.

[@VeeHausen]

Love your reviews, this one is fantastically fun to watch and hear! Keep it going!

[@onasomor4999]

I love the red speakers behind you. great video.

[@antoinep9733]

You’re getting good at this KZbin lark John, and I love your sense of humour, that Dire Straights gag had me in tears. Thanks for the DJ Hell heads-up, just my cup of tea.

[@DarkoAudio]

Glad you realise it was a bit tongue in cheek.

[@rotaks1]

Awesome review. Thanks for the playlist. You had mentioned in an earlier episode that you don’t like LPs as much as digital for critical listening. Seeing a good change here. You might start liking dire straits if u listen on that TT setup!

[@desireco]

I always looked down on Shitheizers, yet your review just made me consider them :) everything you said as negative sounds really good to me. Luckily, I happily use Meze Classics and those work well enough.

[@nSpiraliArchitectb]

That little bit of Autechre made me smile

[@zakariajanitou1792]

First head Phone with 4 speker i stand long time to see this !!! you are best hi-fi Master ✌️❤️💪👍thank you

[@hurpdurp916]

Stunning headphone. I'll pick it up if I ever win the lottery.

[@mrfrosty3]

They look fantastic. One of the great things about flagships at this price is they make the price of other headphones seem less of an extravagance.

[@TheSweetVillain]

I've had the chance to audition these headphones in an exposition, the sound was absolutely superb.

[@djclass005]

great review John!! A audio reviewer who listens to Autechre! :-) I do love my Meze Classics!

[@Xzvsc]

Meze did the design seriously and it's nice. Cz when I'm buying audio things , I always look at the design too. It's like buying food , the main is nutrition, but aesthetic,smells,taste is important too ;)

[@carolineleonard8214]

Once again a great review.

[@ezvkm77]

Solid enjoyable review video!

[@jasonwrites9186]

Great review, JD. I confess, even though you do them occasionally, I would love to see your take on slightly more affordable audio kit. :)

[@Tronkh01]

the sony mdr-z1r would fit your listening profile very well from what I've heard in this video. You should try them out.

[@pentoncm]

Love your reviews!

[@vjzapp]

I’m using the Siltech Dutches Crown cable with my Meze Audio Elite. And I swear it made night and day difference to the sound quality!

[@pedrogoncalves2948]

What amp and dac do you have?

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

should be a hit at sennheiser hq

[@russb3n]

Yeah I agree with everything you said about the Empyrean HP.. I too have a Technics SL1200G with a Audio Technica ART 9 cart and a Manley Chinook Phono Preamp and it sounds amazing coming through Empyreans.. At first I found them a little too warm with no treble sparkle, then after about 2 weeks they finally started to show there stuff amazing detail and sound stage without compromising anything and the best thing about them is they play all music genres without losing anything. But I ordered a SILVER cable for them to try to pull more micro detail that I am use too with my other hp's. I can also say the Empyreans pair very well with the Felixs Euforia OTL, Sony NW-WM1Z Premium Walkman via 4.4mm balanced, and Audio Gd Master 9 amp.. My other HP's are Sony Z1R, and Focal Utopia's and I had to choose it would be the Empyreans because it does everything. Love your channel Darko

[@Alex55555]

The difference you heard in the 'cable' may not really be the cable, it may be the amp. For most amps that have both single ended and balanced outputs, the two outputs will sound slightly different. Because they are really designed for the balanced output. The single ended output is just an 'afterthought' that uses half of the electronics.

[@DarkoAudio]

Good point!

[@MartinLeschinski]

Please do more headphone reviews I can second your opinion on the Empyrean - best Allrounder - not for mobile use but could be - also works brilliant with a Cayin N8 in Tube mode

[@estebannemo1957]

I have a lovely pair of Fostex headphones, but they will never replace speakers. As John says, there is the lack of an adequate soundstage and then there is the question of “air”, which doesn’t exist in any headphones I’ve used.

[@dalethorn2]

I never met a planar I really liked a lot, although the MrSpeakers T50rp mod called Mad Dog was very decent for the price. Not so the Alpha Dog. Now that their prices are pushing $2000 or more perhaps they've gotten better. The classic HD800 set the standard for upper harmonics resolution, soundstage etc., and probably (if I still had it) would EQ to something enjoyable. The NightHawk and the Focal Elear had great potential, but were deficient in presence. The Shure SRH-1840 I had long ago was slightly shy on presence, but its biggest fault was a bass tone that broke up badly. I've had several Beyers - latest the DT1770, but never could listen to a wide variety of music with them. I've made good comments about a few Grados, but my EQ curves say a lot about those issues. By and large, I recommend getting a headphone that's appealing in looks and comfort, agreeable in sound, and then tuning it up with a good equalizer - not to "personal taste", but to a more natural sound like live music.

[@Draxlar]

I have Shure SRH1840 too and while it is true that they are a bit bass shy - the quality of bass is really good. Overall - not as good as Focal Clear that I bought a few months ago, but with bass boosted a bit in EQ and they still sound awesome. I had them for 3 years now and no problems for me. Love them both.

[@johnmckay428]

thanks jd. luv ur work

[@MildEightnoon]

This DJ Hell - Car, Car, Car is really great music. Thanks for the tip. Wow. It's really making my night. Car, Car, Car 2 has this great part with window wipers. 👌🎶

[@MildEightnoon]

The way it was mixed, left to right makes it a surreal experience.

[@stevedougherty3720]

Nice review, when I first saw 18.11 I thought ok, that's going to be long, but it wasn't at all, sound track is amazing quality (for You Tube)

[@denno800]

Hey John, I love your reviews, but at 7:25 I´ve got a kind of ventricular fibrillation - If you know what I mean... Dire Straits is like my musical mother´s milk - So every time I´m in a bad mood - listening to any song from Mark cheers me up... Try it - You´ll love it, too... It is a question of repitition... Trust me. Greetings!

[@halimj7]

Bismillah Thanks for the review. I hope they come out with a closed back version of these that is as good or close.

[@DanDhaniels]

Wow! A working Walkman! 😮

[@jinvid]

Yeah, that’s what I thought too!

[@ZadiusTech]

I tried the Meze Empyrean at CanJam SoCal and I must say that they were the best headphones I heard there. Thanks for the review!

[@behemothinferno]

The only fault I could find is its design. Admirable but definitely not to most people's tastes me included. It's like Opera vs commercial music if you like.

[@Арманбратан]

nice review! Thanks

[@moonphaser3304]

Great review

[@alsayers]

Just dipping my toe into audio after decades away. I am trying to reconcile my love of $8000.00 bicycles with a desire for some of this equally expensive sound equipment.

Same first world problem for me too :-)

[@johntrussell7228]

Very nice. I would still take the Audeze any day.

[@bunozen1]

Nice review. For double that price you should give a try to the Hifiman Susvara. The most beautiful sounding hp to date. Vocals comes wrapped in gold, or velvet like tonality. I will give the Meze a try soon.

[@espengggg]

Great video, highly entertaining and enjoyable as always :) Looking forward to checking out the musical recommendations.

[@HowieHaigh]

To Hell With Good Intentions! You sir, have excellent taste 👌

[@DarkoAudio]

Quite possibly the greatest song of all time.

[@smil3493]

I don't know of any other reviewer that makes me watch a video till the end... you can explain the peculiarities of a product in such an enjoyable way. Can you review some Grado hesdphone? Thank you in advance, Greetings from Tehran

[@DarkoAudio]

That's my aim here: to make hi-fi more relatable to a wider audience.

[@intoitreviews]

Enjoyable review... love the coffee bit.

[@DarkoAudio]

'Darko thinks: "really expensive and overpriced")'. No, no and no. I explained what my idea of what headphone experience should be. Why would you seek to make it about something else entirely and deliberately misrepresent my thoughts?

[@intoitreviews]

@@DarkoAudio just pointing out a theme in the hifi world that I've noticed your channel seemed to complicity endorse... I'm glad that your reaction to this statement is "No, no, no" it enhances the respect that I already have for you as a reviewer! Sorry to misrepresent you! I was just playing around a bit, sorry if it unintentionally crossed over a line.

[@DarkoAudio]

No worries and no harm done. :)

[@timothyhooper2340]

John brilliant reviews. Irony is difficult enough with a live audience - on an internet review - this is sangfroid indeed. Expensive though as I can’t fault your case for either the Dave or the Empyreans. I need to buy both ASAP, and probably one of the Audeze’s. I’m in Melbourne - if you can direct me somewhere which will reward your efforts please let me know. Thanks.

[@djhmax09]

I'm still waiting for the meze penta iem........ Nice review!

[@RamisDad]

LOVE.YOUR.REVIEWS.

[@twle1972]

Have a go on Audio Techica ADX5000 headphone, you might like it, not as cold as HD800s.

[@CaptPonyholder]

I purchased the 99 Classics and fell in love. This is the first time I have viewed one of your videos and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. Nice and clean, organized, and simple. No fancy graphics, just straight and to the point. You earned a new subscriber, mate. Sadly I cannot afford the Empyrean, due to being a poor graduate student barely able to afford a nice dinner, but I will definitely save up for them over the next year or two. My only question for you is how do you deal with using headphones with glasses? My Meze 99 Classics (as well as any other headphone I have used in the past) always push on the temples leading to discomfort.

[@juliaset751]

As always a thoughtful review. I did a search and didn’t see any Stax Earspeaker reviews from you. I am currently using the Stax SR-L500 Phones/SRM-006TS Amp combo and find them much more transparent than any of the the Planars I have heard. They are in a different price league than the high-end planars though; the Stax combo set me back about $1,700 US for both I believe.

[@tshaolin971]

Electrostatic headphones are not as convenient with their specific amps as the easy to drive emperyan.

[@himanshudhall3241]

Hey john! Really appreciate your review in general they are really well layout. Can you please share your observations regarding MEZE AUDIO RAI PENTA!

[@ansonhuang21]

Always enjoy your thorough and comparative reviews John! Keep 'em coming! Given that you classified these new Meze flagship cans in the Goldilocks zone, I instantly thought about Hifiman. Would love to hear your thoughts on how these compare on your same scale to say something like the HE1000v2 or the Anandas (thinking of buying a pair) or probably perhaps a closer and fairer comparative would be against the Susqvara? I too found the LCD range overly buttery on many tracks... I found myself wanting a bit more upper end detail/clarity with Audeze while Hifiman seems to have offerings that are more in between. Thoughts??

[@yoramdiamand]

The HE1000V2 or Arya are harder to drive maybe better to compare the HE1000SE. Built by Hifiman is less good I think than Meze.

[@grnpnzer]

New subscriber comment: I'm enjoying all the videos and reviews regardless that all the components you review are way above my price points for casual audio listening experiences. But i was moved to ask this about these headphones. As expensive and well made as they are...aren't they really more suited to use by studio musicians crafting music rather than casual or audiophile listeners?.... you didn't mention that use/function at all. Thanks for all the fine content.

[@megazine]

One of the best reviews I've seen on youtube, and I follow around five different headphone channel reviewers. I love the comparisons between the 800S and LCD-4Z with the Empyrean. The problem with these end-game headphones is the "law of diminishing returns". At these prices your getting very small audio improvements over -$1000 cans. With this said, if the price is not an issue, then by all means they are worth it. On these headphones, the pads look so luscious, they remind me of Audeze pads. This review sold me on these cans, and I hope to hear them one day. I prefer the "thick and creamy" sound, but it's at the cost of detail, and I feel this Empyrean might be the best of both worlds: a hybrid.

[@hippieshake2580]

Kraftwerk have influenced a lot of artists, and I've said this before you're the only reviewer who has a similar music taste to me. With bands like World Party and goodbye Jumbo is one of my favourite albums and put the message in the box is my favourite track. I only listen to music on the go with portable rig and a few months ago purchased audioquest nightowl carbon headphones. I love these headphones as they're so light and comfortable, I also use them for for watching media on my Note 9 and thanks for a great review and Dire Straits don't do much for me.

[@xXLegendXx70]

Have you really dug down on all the songs Dire Straits have made? There must be one song that touches your music taste just a little bit.

[@Shahzad-Khan]

Have you tried the Hifiman Arya? They’re so good

[@ManosPairis]

What if you have a headphone amplifier with balanced cable for each channel ? LUXMAN P-705u and BRYSTON BHA-1 have the single ended a balanced stereo and a balanced for each channel. I guess you have to do custom order for such a cable. Of course these 2 amplifiers are very expencive especially the LUXMAN. You ever heard of these 2? I mean their sound quality.

[@tihonsergeenko6252]

Great review, thank you! It would be interesting to see your opinion of Fostex TH-900 and Focal Utopia.

[@alblack5458]

John, the first tune with the sweet guitar intro, who is playing that? Love your channel, very nice music choice. The equipment is a bonus for me, music first! Thnx

[@toxotis70]

search for .... "sin luz sir flansi instrumental"

[@genotabby]

You mentioned this as a PLeather ear cups but Meze's website states it as Real leather? Also it is pretty easy to drive and was considering this with a WA11 for a more portable use.

[@loubob73]

Great video...except for the Dire Straits comment 😮

[@samratjpatil]

Ya "can't stand Dire Straits"... wtf was that

[@FabioRigokimbaorso]

Seconded,,

[@davidryan5482]

Dire straits are shite, IMHO.

[@joetoe9207]

Totally. No one likes them: "It charted at number one worldwide, spending 10 weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart (between 18 January and 22 March 1986), nine weeks at number one on the Billboard 200 in the United States and 34 weeks at number one on the Australian Albums Chart. Brothers in Arms was the first album certified 10-times platinum in the UK[2] and is the eighth-best-selling album in UK chart history, is certified nine-times platinum in the United States, and is one of the world's best-selling albums, having sold more than 30 million copies worldwide."

[@SparkyNarwhal]

That's okay, because I don't care about the opinions of people who wear cordaroy shirts.

[@MathieuPrevot]

Sounds good ! What about the Focal Utopia heaphones ? In comparison to the Meze Empyrean ?

[@JSym92]

Utopia is bright, analytical, bass-light. Very detailed, but cold and fatiguing. I find it lifeless. Empyrean is warm sounding, some of the best bass quality in the industry, thick, juicy midrange, extends far beyond the human hearing range both in bass and treble. They're pretty much the polar opposites of each other.

[@lagonda808]

Excellent review brother and what brand and model of bookshelfs behind you? Thanks

[@TheWusster]

i think you can love Prefab Sprout and Dire Straits both. ; )

[@MrGorpm]

Not if you can't stand Prefab Sprout ; )

[@gabrielmarinescu9835]

Meze are the best!

[@RIDDLE0MASTER]

Forgive me for my ignorance in hi-fi systems - in the setup during the beginning, does the turntable have a built in phono pre-amp? Or is it located in the Schiit ?

[@GreedyLane]

Great looking headphones. And they have low impedance too, so one can use it with a smartphone.

[@SMOKEYoriginalHD]

HD800s got some distortion in bass. The stage is nice and wide but clarity isnt that good. Theres something with the bass that makes it muffled/hollow. How would you compare them with Meze Empyrean? Is the clarity better?

[@rainerlainio2323]

Can just agree. I have about the same setup with Empyrean + Senheiser HD-800s and Audeze LCS-XC but I feel Empyrean need more definition from the amp/dac. Like it's not fitting my tube amp (qutest with feliks elise) warm sounds as good. But it's definitly my favorite of all headphone I have tested and fitting among many much more expensive ones. Nice review, but how good is it really in definition with just Dave?

[@timothyhooper2340]

Hi Rainer - I have the Senn HD 820 and am looking to add headphones more suited to bass/electronic/deep house, - at present thinking the Audeze LCD2 classic, but also the Empyreans. Would love to hear your take on the bass of the Empyrean relative to your other two headphones.

[@rainerlainio2323]

Hi Tim, Empyrean have as good as in the LCD-XC that have a very deep base, but more balanced and it's not hitting in the same way. For me Empyrean have one of the most nice soft base to listens to.

[@colinhathaway9493]

You mentioned the Audioquest Nightowl Carbon. How do they compare to the Sennheisers and the Audeze?

[@RaYdMyth]

Can I run these with an AQ cobalt for about a year then upgrade to a Hugo 2 for a more permanent solution?

[@Zhiloreznik]

Does the cable make more difference or electronics that are balanced? Food for thought

[@XXxxABHxxXX]

The balancing tecnology was created to eliminate external interferences over a long extended cable, so, basically, none really. The balancing just creates a duplicate signal and changes the fase 180° and sends them through the cable in order to eliminate any incident noise when re-phasing and reassembling the two signals. The balancing electronics, however, could create background noise if not good enough. But it is rare.

[@Boogie7910]

The Schitt Jotunheim will always sound better balanced because that's just how they made it. So it's not entirely accurate to attribute the balanced cable making the Empyreans sound better when balanced will sound better with that particular amp anyway. =

[@fizywig]

Which of these 3 are a perfect match for the DCs BArtok dac?

[@Guerilla_law3516]

I’d like to see you compare the focal utopia

[@DarkoAudio]

So would I.

[@floriandohrn]

I directly compared them the other day. Overall the meze sounds way better. There is two things I really didn’t like about the meze though. The feel a bit loose fitting under the ears and voices sound a little „metal“ like, they tend to be missing „fullness“ somehow...

[@cornerliston]

Nice review as always. One thing I wonder: What do you mean with micro dynamics? The cups looks as if the ear would struggle to fit without touching the cups or just looks like that? Balanced vs single ended: In my opinion they are not “better” but might be different. Just as two single ended can sound slightly different. I like your transparent thoughts, can be a bit unusual in “audiophile” world. : ) Also agree about the Sennheisers, they do almost disappear on the head, being the most comfy headphones of all I tested and own. Surprisingly those very thin cups (as well as the headband) does a superb job and probably one reason why it fits so snug and effortless. I hear other complain though. One size fits all is just not possible with headphones I guess : ) And the Sennheiser has something not many headphones has: a very nice slim profile instead of those thick bulky cans.