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Meze Audio Empyrean II · Meze Audio, official Empyrean II RGB product media kit; complete supplied 5000-pixel canvas and native alpha retained.

Empyrean II

Released November 2023

The Empyrean II are Meze's open-back planar magnetic flagship headphones, with Rinaro's MZ3 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers and two sets of magnetic ear pads, for critical home listening.

Type: Over-ear
Noise cancelling: No
Battery: –
With case: –
Best codec: Wired
Weight: 449 g

Over-ear

What reviewers say

Reviewers agree the Empyrean II is exceptionally comfortable and beautifully built, with clearer sound than the original. Headfonics and Headfonia note the new, more neutral and spacious tuning drops the original's warmth and won't please its fans; What Hi-Fi? found the lower treble could be smoother and advises careful system matching.

From headfonics.com, headfonia.com and whathifi.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Sound

Type: Over-ear
Noise cancelling: No
Back: Open
Impedance: 32 ohms
Bluetooth codecs: None (wired)
Drivers: 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): No battery (wired)

Design

Weight: 449 g
Headphone cable: Yes
Fit and ear tips: Circumaural, open-back; Duo (leather and Alcantara) and Angled Alcantara ear pads with Isomagnetic magnetic attachment
Works with: Dual 4-pin mini-XLR inputs; copper PCUHD premium cable, mini-XLR to 6.3 mm
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

Pros and cons

Pros

Low distortion (THD under 0.05%) and an 8 Hz to 110 kHz range
Two sets of magnetically attached ear pads (Duo and Angled Alcantara)
Copper cable and hard suitcase included

Cons

Heavy at 449 g
Low 90 dB/mW sensitivity calls for a capable amplifier
Open back leaks sound and lets outside noise in

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Noise cancelling	Battery	With case	Best codec	Weight	Released
AudezeMM-100	Over-ear	No	–	–	Wired	475 g	Apr 2023
Dan Clark AudioE3	Over-ear	No	–	–	Wired	455 g	Dec 2023
HIFIMANANANDA NANO	Over-ear	No	–	–	Wired	419.6 g	May 2023

Sources

Photo: Meze Audio, official Empyrean II RGB product media kit; complete supplied 5000-pixel canvas and native alpha retained.

Meze Empyrean II, earcup grille and badge close-up (official product gallery): Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II, headphone with Duo earpad (official product gallery): Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II, headphone with angled Alcantara earpad (official product gallery): Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II, side view (official media kit): Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II, rear view (official media kit): Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II, earcup grille and badge detail (official media kit): Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II, earcup grille close-up (official media kit): Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II, driver detail (official media kit): Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II, earpad magnetic coupling (official media kit): Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup badge in the official video poster: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones held by hand: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones beside audio equipment: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II driver diaphragm viewed during manufacture: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup grille and headband attachment close-up: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup grille and badge in a front-facing detail view: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones displayed vertically with the braided cable: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones in a side-on studio photograph: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup badge and grille in a wide detail photograph: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup grille and machined frame close-up: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup frame and mesh in a wide detail photograph: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headband model badge and carbon-fibre detail: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II worn beside a window in the maker-supplied wide photograph: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones against a textured surface in the maker-supplied wide composition: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II assembly work at a workbench: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones beside a record player in the maker-supplied square photograph: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headband badge and carbon-fibre detail: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup grille and frame close-up: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones worn in the maker-supplied portrait: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones with cable against the supplied black background: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II ear cushions and grille during assembly: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones held in the maker-supplied photograph: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II worn, showing the earcup and headband from the side: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II components being assembled at the workbench: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup resting against black fabric: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headband model badge close-up: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup and headband in a tall detail photograph: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones resting on the supplied dark tabletop: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones held beside a turntable: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones and cable beside a turntable: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones worn in the maker-supplied wide portrait: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones with cable against a dark tabletop: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II components being assembled at the workbench: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones and braided cable against the supplied black background: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II ear cushions and grille on the assembly workbench: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones being assembled in the maker workshop: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones on a stand in the maker workshop: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones on a stand with cable against black: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones upright against the supplied grey background: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II earcup yoke badge close-up: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones reflected on a dark surface: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones arranged with stones on a reflective surface: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones from the side, with stones and reflection: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones side view on a reflective surface: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones from the front on a reflective surface: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones worn beside a window: Meze Audio
Meze Empyrean II headphones inside the open supplied carrying case: Meze Audio

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