Short answer: the Meze Empyrean II. It ranks #182 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $2,999; the ZMF Caldera ranks #213, rated 3.6/5, and costs $3,499.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Meze Empyrean II does well: 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 tradeoff: A 10.7 dB peak near 11.9 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp.
The case for the ZMF Caldera: The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 2.42 dB spread. The catch: Presence sits about 4.5 dB low with a 9.5 dB dip near 9.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the Meze Empyrean II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the ZMF Caldera and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
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.
Headphones.com $2,999.00 eBay
The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 2.42 dB spread.
ZMF Headphones $3,499.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Meze Empyrean II | ZMF Caldera | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,999.00 | $3,499.99 |
| Ranked | #182 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #213 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 74 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.21 dB standard deviation | 2.42 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.60 (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 (-4.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| 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 | 95 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 110kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Weight | 1 lbs (449 g) | 490 - 1.2 lbs (550 g) |
Frequency Response Compared
Both headphones’ measurements overlaid on the Harman target. Above the target sounds louder in that range, below it quieter. Each curve is the median of several independent measurements, shifted so its 500 Hz to 2 kHz average sits at 0 dB, so only the tuning is compared.
Measurement data: the Meze Empyrean II from daemonxar, gadgetrytech and superreview; the ZMF Caldera from kr0mka, kuulokenurkka, listener, therollo9 and vsg, all via squig.link.
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