The Meze Empyrean are exotic, open-back headphones for audiophiles. They're the first 'Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array' planar magnetic headphones, and this design is advertised to reduce their driver weight, provide ultra-high-resolution audio, and reduce total harmonic distortion. In addition to this unique driver, they're outstandingly well-built with geometric aluminum grilles, leather padding, and a carbon fiber headband. Despite looking large and bulky, their fit is lightweight and comfortable. However, some users may be disappointed by their warm sound profile and dark, veiled treble. They also lack a thumpy low-bass, although this is to be somewhat expected from open-back headphones.
Our Verdict
The Meze Empyrean are good for neutral sound. Thanks to their open-back design, their passive soundstage seems wide, open, and spacious. That said, they have a warm sound profile that delivers a bit of extra boom to mixes. Their rolled-off treble veils vocals and lead instruments while sibilants like cymbals are dulled. Although planar magnetic drivers typically help bass accuracy, these headphones also really lack low-bass. You need an amp to drive these headphones to their full potential, too.
- Spacious passive soundstage performance.
- Great frequency response consistency.
- Outstanding build quality and comfortable fit.
- Very underemphasized treble response.
The Meze Empyrean are bad for commute and travel as this isn't their intended use. Although they're comfortable, well-built, and come with an outstanding hard case to help protect them when you're on the go, their open-back design means that they won't block out any noise around you. They also leak a lot of audio, which could bother other commuters around you, and you need a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter if you want to use them with your smartphone.
- Outstanding build quality and comfortable fit.
- Bad noise isolation performance.
- Not very portable and bulky design.
The Meze Empyrean are poor for sports and fitness as they aren't intended for this use. They can fall off your head with moderate head movements, and their audio cable can snag on something and pull them off your head. To use them with your smartphone, you'll also need an 1/4" to 1/8" TRS adapter.
- Outstanding build quality and comfortable fit.
- Bad noise isolation performance.
- Mediocre stability.
- Not very portable and bulky design.
The Meze Empyrean are poor for office use. They have an open-back enclosure, so they aren't designed to block out noise like ambient chatter, and they leak audio, which can annoy others around you. They also use a 1/4" TRS connector, so if you want to use them with your PC's AUX port, you'll have to purchase an adapter separately. To get the most out of them, you'll also need an amplifier.
- Outstanding build quality and comfortable fit.
- Bad noise isolation performance.
- Not very portable and bulky design.
The Meze Empyrean are wired audiophile headphones, and you can't use them wirelessly.
The Meze Empyrean are just okay for wired gaming. If you don't need mic support, they offer a comfortable listening experience, and their open-back design helps create a spacious and wide passive soundstage for a more immersive gaming experience. Their warm sound profile also adds a bit of boom to your gameplay, which can help emphasize sound effects while you game. However, they don't have any controls and need an amp to power their drivers.
- Spacious passive soundstage performance.
- Outstanding build quality and comfortable fit.
- No mic.
- Very underemphasized treble response.
The Meze Empyrean are audiophile headphones and don't have a mic, so you can't use them for taking calls.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Meze Empyrean come in two color variants: 'Jet Black' and 'Black Copper'. We tested the Black Copper variant, and you can see our model's label here. Some retailers also offer these headphones with an OFC cable that has a 3.5 (1/8") TRS connector or XLR connector instead of the standard 6.3 (1/4") TRS connector. If you come across another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the discussion section below.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Meze Empyrean are very high-end headphones with outstanding build quality and a comfortable fit. They have a unique hybrid planar magnetic transducer advertised to lighten their weight, improve audio quality, and reduce total harmonic distortion. However, although planar magnetic headphones usually have better bass accuracy due to their thinner diaphragm, which can quickly respond to changes in the input signal, they lack a lot of low-bass. Their overall sound profile isn't as neutral as other open-back headphones like the Sennheiser HD 800 S or the Focal Clear Mg, and they have a dark treble that veils vocals and lead instruments. While their passive soundstage performance is great, they still fall a bit short compared to heavy-hitter planar magnetic headphones like the HiFiMan Arya.
Check out our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best open-back headphones.
The Meze Empyrean and the Focal Stellia are high-end headphones, but the Meze offer a better overall sound performance. While both headphones are very comfortable and well-built, the Meze are open-back headphones with significantly better frequency response consistency and a wider, more immersive soundstage. They also come with a better carrying case to help protect them when you're not using them. The Focal are closed-back headphones with a more neutral sound profile, which some users may prefer. They also block out more ambient noise, and leak less audio at high volumes, which is good if you're listening to audio in a shared space.
The HiFiMan Arya and Meze Empyrean are similar audiophile, open-back headphones. While both are very comfortable, the HiFiMan have better frequency response consistency. However, the Meze have better build quality and come with a very sleek carrying case.
The Focal Clear Mg are better audiophile headphones than the Meze Empyrean. While both headphones are very comfortable and well-built, the Focal have a more neutral sound profile with better bass accuracy and have better frequency response consistency. However, the Meze have a larger, more immersive passive soundstage.
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are better audiophile headphones than the Meze Empyrean for most people. While both headphones are comfortable, the Sennheiser have a more consistent sound delivery and a significantly more immersive sound. However, the Meze are better built and have a hard carrying case.
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