Short answer: the Meze Empyrean II. It ranks #165 of 429 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $2,999; the Meze Elite ranks #350, rated 2.7/5, and costs $4,000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Why pick the Meze Elite: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. The catch: Presence sits about 5.2 dB low with a 14.4 dB dip near 9.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
The Meze Empyrean II is the better-sounding option. The median of 3 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 76 with a 2.21 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 1.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. The catch: A 10.7 dB peak near 11.9 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
Buy the Meze Empyrean II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Meze Elite and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Meze Elite | Meze Empyrean II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,000.00 | $2,999.00 |
| Ranked | #350 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones | #165 of 429 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 102 x 73mm planar magnetic | 1 x 102 x 73mm planar magnetic (Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/mW | 90 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | 3Hz - 112kHz | 8Hz - 110kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (372 g) | 1 lbs (449 g) |
| Harman Preference Score | 52 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 76 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.31 dB standard deviation | 2.21 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-6.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
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- Meze Empyrean II vs ZMF Ori 3.0
- Meze Empyrean II vs ZMF Caldera Closed
Prices on this page were last checked October 13, 2026 at 3:17 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Meze Elite: $4,000.00 Headphones.com $4,000.00 eBay
Pros: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. It uses 1 x 102 x 73mm planar magnetic with an easy 32 ohm load.
Cons: Presence sits about 5.2 dB low with a 14.4 dB dip near 9.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite. Sub-bass is 6.3 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble. A Harman score of 52 places it in the lower part of the over-ear rankings.
Full Meze Elite review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.31 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 102 x 73mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 3Hz - 112kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 52 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-6.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.34 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.8 lbs (372 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Meze Empyrean II: $2,999.00 Headphones.com $2,999.00 eBay
Older model: the Meze Empyrean (ranked lower, rated 2.3/5). See every Meze Empyrean generation.
Pros: The median of 3 hobbyist measurements gives it a very good Harman preference score of 76 with a 2.21 dB spread, and its mids sit within about 1.5 dB of target, so vocals and instruments sound natural. It uses 1 x 102 x 73mm planar magnetic (Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array) with an easy 32 ohm load.
Cons: A 10.7 dB peak near 11.9 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp. Sub-bass is 3.3 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble.
Full Meze Empyrean II review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.21 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 102 x 73mm planar magnetic (Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array) |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 110kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (449 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons