Short answer: the Meze Empyrean II. It ranks #106 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $2,999; the ZMF Caldera Closed ranks #117, rated 3.6/5, and costs $3,499.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Buy the Meze Empyrean II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the ZMF Caldera Closed and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Meze Empyrean II | ZMF Caldera Closed | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,999.00 | $3,499.99 |
| Ranked | #106 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #117 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 73 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.21 dB standard deviation | 2.58 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 102 x 73mm planar magnetic (Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array) | 1 x 80mm planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB SPL/mW | 94 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 110kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Weight | 1 lbs (449 g) | - |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Meze Empyrean II compares with other leading options:
- Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back vs Meze Empyrean II
- Austrian Audio The Composer vs Meze Empyrean II
- HIFIMAN HE1000 V2 vs Meze Empyrean II
- Meze Empyrean II vs ZMF Ori 3.0
- ZMF Caldera Closed vs Focal Utopia 2022
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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 Empyrean II: $2,999.00 Headphones.com eBay
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
ZMF Caldera Closed: $3,499.99 ZMF eBay
Full ZMF Caldera Closed review and specifications →
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.58 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 80mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons