Dan Clark Audio E3 vs Meze Audio Empyrean II

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E3 compared with Empyrean II

	Dan Clark AudioE3	Meze AudioEmpyrean II
Overview
Released
Released	December 2023	November 2023
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	No	No
Back
Back	Closed	Open
Impedance
Impedance	27 ohms	32 ohms
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	None (wired)	None (wired)
Drivers
Drivers	5th-generation single-ended v-Planar planar magnetic, 72 × 45 mm (Headfonics); Acoustic Metamaterial Tuning System (AMTS); dual-mode bass port; ~90 dB/mW; distortion < 0.1% ref 80 dB white noise	Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array MZ3 planar magnetic, ovoid, 102 × 73 mm; Rinaro Isoplanar diaphragm (0.16 g, 4,650 mm² active area) with switchback and spiral voice coils; fibreglass-infused ABS frame; driver weight 82 g; 8 Hz – 110 kHz; 90 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz; THD < 0.05%; maximum SPL > 130 dB; acoustic mass 10.7 kg/m⁴
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	No battery (wired)	No battery (wired)
Design
Weight
Weight	455 g	449 g (better)
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Over-ear, closed-back; protein-leather and vegan suede ear pads (Headfonics); self-adjusting headband suspension; Gorilla Glass 3 clad cups; folding gimbals	Circumaural, open-back; Duo (leather and Alcantara) and Angled Alcantara ear pads with Isomagnetic magnetic attachment
Works with
Works with	Detachable VIVO cable, chosen at purchase - 2 m or 3 m with 6.35 mm or XLR plug, or 1.1 m or 2 m with 2.5 mm, 4.4 mm or 3.5 mm plug	Dual 4-pin mini-XLR inputs; copper PCUHD premium cable, mini-XLR to 6.3 mm
In the box
In the box	–	Headphones, Duo ear pads, Angled Alcantara ear pads, mini-XLR to 6.3 mm copper PCUHD cable, ABS suitcase with foam inserts and leather handle
Colours
Colours	Black and blue	–