Worth. The. Hype. Meze Empyrean 2

[@Skeeb23]

During this video I talked about the WA7 adding some attack/dynamic to the Empy2. I want to correct myself here. Further testing and A/B discovered that is really not the case. I pointed this out in my WA7 video. Hopefully this helps to clarify that and I apologize for the conflicting takes.

[@picklesandufos7860]

Great music in your intro. Listening to your review on HE1000se's on a Gustard R26 dac and Violectric V550 amp. Probably going to be selling these SE's though, they're great and detailed, but they're a neutral/bright and I like a warm/neutral tone. Trying to decide on this Empy2, ZMF Atrium or Caldera. Seen your videos for each. Really temped for that midrange of the Atrium if it's low end is good enough. I EQ boost the low end of these SE's and they're almost good enough for my tastes.

[@Aran_Rave]

Well I did A/B test between 1000SE amd Empy 2, I keep 1000SE Empy2 is not really bad but not worth the price I will not consider upgrade while it just worse in almost everyway except tone different

[@S.G54321]

HE1000se with EQ and pad upgrade.... ENDGAME!!!

[@nathanberger618]

I like your Grumpy Goose headphone stand. I have purchased a few from Chris and met him at CAF (2023) at the Geshelli Labs rooms.

[@arthurhaywood2184]

Thanks for the review! How does it compare to the Caldera?

[@soulfulfool]

I'm looking for end game planars but emps 2 seems like not that special, for a long time I'm looking for used Final audio D8000 (pro or not) have you heard those?

[@Skeeb23]

@@soulfulfool I haven't, but tbh, I haven't been impressed with any of the high end Final products I've listened to. Albeit at CanJams.

[@Mastermnd1]

Thanks for comparing to the arya organic. Great video overall. Keep it up, you'll easily reach 5k and beyond.

[@fiddlix]

Excellent informative review. Since you have a working relationship with Audio46, do you think you could review the new AKM equipped FiiO Q15 portable Bluetooth Dac/amp. The chatter on it is it has desktop performance on a portable device.

[@Skeeb23]

Can't promise anything but I'll add it to the list. Thank you!

[@LucianPSimracing]

I'm curious if you found it more sibilant than an HE1000se.

[@Skeeb23]

No. I still find Hifiman in general to be more...but audio memory makes me feel like it was just slightly more. Also the HE1k stages a bit bigger if that matters.

[@LucianPSimracing]

@@Skeeb23 Thanks for the reply! I have the HE1000se and to me they're just flawless, but I am itching to hear the Empyrean II and the Tungsten because they get very positive reviews. Hopefully I will have the chance to try them in a hifi store.

[@TheVeganVicar]

@@LucianPSimracing, best wishes for snaring a Tungsten. 😸

[@orangeruffian]

​@@LucianPSimracingNot sure if this is helpful, but I intend it to be:)...I recently listened to the Arya Organic & Empy 2 back-to-back on a number of the top dongle dac/amps (Cayin, Questyle & some higher priced options) & preferred the Organic...While the Empy 2 was more proficient, technically, it just wasn't as enjoyable or engaging...& the owner of the 'phones/dongles also has a Holo Bliss & feels the same way... In all honesty, the experience has me looking for a deal on HE1Kse:)... I guess what I'm saying is (my 2¢), were it me, I'd skip the Empy 2 & try the Tungsten unless you have the means to demo both...

[@lubis1991]

Where can we get the headphone stand?

[@Skeeb23]

Follow this man: instagram.com/oneills.creation.workshop?igsh=aDc4amNlNjQ2YW9i You'll get notice that way on future drops.

[@muhamadsyazwan5170]

Comparison with E3? Sound quality and comfortability wise?

[@Skeeb23]

Comfort - Empy2 Sound - depends on what you want. E3 is a closed back that has an open sound to it. Larger staging, yet a nice and deep low end. The Empy2 is a better technical performer that can lean a little peaky in the treble. E3 is harder to drive as well, but I find the Empy2 to be a bit picky on the amp as far as total sound goes. You just need to ask yourself what aspects are most important and choose from there. $1k price difference also.

[@MegaBlueboi]

Great review! Would you know how this compares to the ZMF Atrium?

[@Skeeb23]

Hey thanks, I did answer this from another comment here if that helps!

[@MegaBlueboi]

Oh sorry must have missed this. Thanks!

[@sunnychen7650]

Do you like these more than the Atrium open?

[@Mastermnd1]

This question needs answering! 😊

[@Skeeb23]

Oh man...don't ask me that, ha! Look, I absolutely love ZMF stuff, but truth be told I moved on from the Atrium Open once I heard the Atrium Closed. The closed fit my preferences more. So, yes, I do like the Empy2 more than the Atrium open. The asterisk to that is on my HA-3A, because my SS amp impressions were not as great. The Atrium Open on a good otl is a lot of fun though!

[@maimedlord6999]

audio46 is so dope. LOVE that store!

[@Aetherhole]

Ampliphones! hahaha. Nice job with the review, Skeeb!

[@shonen84]

Thanks for this very in-depth review! I enjoy your overview, it’s very well documented with great tracks cited and the video is well produced. When the Empyrean 2 launched, and I heard the first opinions coming in, I quickly set out to track down an Empyrean 1. Meze decided to discontinue this, so I was even more motivated to look for the OG. The original Empyreans were apparently not technical enough for the price when it came out, and these Empyrean 2s fixed it. But this is exactly why I wanted the original. I also dislike splashiness in the treble. So I found the original at a great price, which came bundled with the silver cable and angled alcantara pads. So I assembled “my” “perfect” Empyrean: the more laid back sound of the original, with some extra brightness from the cable and neutrality from the angled pads. I run it through an RME DAC Adi-2fs for critical listening, Sony WM1Z for portable, and a Qudelix 5K for wireless. I’ve been very happy with it! Thanks again for sharing your review!

[@Bearjamin-Cowen]

Are those open or closed or?..

[@Skeeb23]

Open

[@juice18794]

Hey skeeb, great review, how would you compare these to the tungstens? any preferences?

[@Skeeb23]

Hey thanks, so comparing to the Tungsten is interesting. If you have the power for it, I prefer the Tungsten DS. It doesn't have the peakiness of treble the Empy2 has. I believe the Tungsten to have better bass response as well...more of a flat extension that goes deep. It all comes down to power requirements though.

[@deathpunchrigby1664]

What headphone stand is that?

[@Skeeb23]

It's a Grumpy Goose. I have a video on it actually.

[@lololololololol444]

Wow this level of quality i thought you had a million subs lol

[@varbane]

Empy2 vs Caldera?

[@Ramesh_Muthusamy]

I like your review style

[@PantsaBear]

Damn, that was a great review. Sounds like a headphone Id definitely enjoy Did you use the 1/4" or 4.4mm on the WA7 Fireflies? I find that the 1/4" can be lacking in power a little with my ZMF stuff (obviously 300ohm headphones but did notice it) so was curious on how it does with the Empyrean 2/Tungsten Also did you feel it was uncomfortable to game with because of that sibilance? I found that when trying to playing Elden Ring or other single player games with the Arya Organic, that treble/upper mid range was too much so I had to always turn the volume down. Curious if thats the case here

[@Skeeb23]

The sibilance wasn't bad for gaming..not as much as the Organic. Definitely used 4.4 for the WA7. I haven't tested ZMF on that amp yet but I will be!

[@PantsaBear]

​@@Skeeb23Interesting. Then yeah definitely have either this or the Elite on the wishlist at some point in the next 1-2 years. Appreciate you skeeb

[@Douglanator]

@@Skeeb23why definitely for the 4.4? Thought the IIs were easy to drive

[@Skeeb23]

@@Douglanator they are. The 4.4 out on the Fireflies I felt had a better sound/synergy to it. It wasn't about the power in this case.

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

Great review as always Please review new Sennheiser HD 490 pro

[@TheVeganVicar]

Yes! My HD6XX just arrived this morning, in fact. 🎧

[@towsifshahriarshovo]

@@TheVeganVicar I listen to Sennheiser HD 58x . Enjoy Sennheiser headphones vocals that missing to most of the other headphones. What about your 6xx?

[@max311955]

Ed ecco a voi le nostre nuove cuffie per audiofili spendaccioni😂😂😂❤

[@bobhanuman65]

I think they are very good. But I’ve never been a fan of the Meze fit.

[@ixoye56]

In other words, this headphone also needs to be fixed with some EQ.

[@TheVeganVicar]

FIRST! 🎉

[@Berkanann]

Make sure, you celebrate this incredible achievement!

[@TheVeganVicar]

@@Berkanann, Good Girl! 👌 Incidentally, are you VEGAN? 🌱

[@biomechanism1]

But. is. it. worth. $3K? (no)

[@Skeeb23]

That is definitely subjectively up to each individual to decide.

[@The-Oreo-Man]

I think the extra money is going into the build quality. Basically, they're balancing out the build quality and sound quality.

[@bobhanuman65]

You can get something at $2k just as good. And you have to like the Meze house sound

[@zelven6109]

Something that compete against the susvara? Yes definitely worth its price

[@The-Oreo-Man]

​@zelven6109 Exactly what I was going to say, lol 😆

[@diana73654]

Doesn't worth the hype, neither this or Tungsten, sorry. Organic beats both, in technical chapter. The silky sound of empy2 is not enough, just listen to music with many instruments and Arya will blow away both of them . Yes , if you buy HP's for look , those are the best. But they lack a ton , especially for the price , in all other aspects. My take ...

[@Skeeb23]

I respect your take and is why this hobby is subjective and individualized. I don't blame anyone for loving the Organic.

[@MrJ.31]

The Aryas are some of the best sounding headphones around but one thing I personally noticed is that the Empy 2 and also the Elite sounded better than them when paired with cheaper equipment. I spent some time playing around with them as well as a few other headphones and they all sounded great hooked up to the Hugo 2 and IDSD Signature but when I plugged them into a Go Bar and Dragonfly Cobalt the Empy 2 and Elite sounded much fuller, cleaner, clearer and heavier than the others did including the Aryas. Tried a couple of tube amp dacs too and same story. To me the HD800s sounded a little better than the Aryas too but only on the really expensive ($3,000k+) gear. Again all of them were awesome but to me there was still a difference. That's just what I found anyway

[@diana73654]

@@MrJ.31 For me, Arya Organic, with its only 16ohm impedance, sounds great paired just through an adapter or a dongle, with my iPhone . I had Arya V2 and Stealth , and Meze Elite. Also , I had in my home for testing for few days, Meze Empy1 and Empy2 . Elite is still the best sounding planar from Meze, and sounds better than V2 or Stealth . I would say it trades blows with Arya Organic, which I like more . I can see people loving Elite over Arya Organic. But Elite is a more technical hp than any Empyrean, also sounding bigger . What Empy2 has, is a unique tunning , very smooth, especially audible in the mid bass . For some people, this can be the holly grail . But I prefer a more natural/true sounding headphone, which can successfully attack higher frequencies, when are involved many instruments . I dont hear any sibilance from my Organic, neither from my phone, or from Matrix Element X2, Burson Soloist 3xGT, Topping A90D, FiiO M17, Woo WA6 2nd gen. I am not deaf, because I can hear the small sibilance from Meze 109 Pro on some of this devices . But it is what it is, people hear sounds in different ways .

[@l67swap1]

I love the hd800s ... The soundstage is unmatched by anything

[@The-Oreo-Man]

​@l67swap1 Make a totally agree is the best sound stage headphone. But it sounds forced into that, and it can't get intimate, but take this with the grain of salt. Because I listened to them for about 2 minutes at camjam.😅

[@a2raya772]

Definitely one of the ugliest looking headphones lol. Ill save my money on Arya organic

[@thor8334]

So for you a headphone ugly but great sounding is not as attractive than a good looking but worse sounding headphone ?

[@a2raya772]

@@thor8334 nope, who said they are even great sounding?.. they are overpriced for what they offer. I'd rather get arya organic or even HE1000 SE

[@Nearest_Neighbor]

@@thor8334Plus a generic looking planar vs Meze. 😳 But that's very taste dependent of course.

[@ixoye56]

The Araya sounds good but has a build quality like $50 headphones.