The Meze Empyrean is a resolutely top-of-the-range headphone. Using high-end materials, with undeniable know-how and an absolutely exceptional level of detail, this orthodynamic headphone is a real piece of art. Audio performance, design, ergonomics, nothing is left to chance for the greatest pleasure of audiophiles.
" Empyrean was born from passion, curiosity and innovation. As a business, we have allowed ourselves the freedom to experiment and take risks in search of the perfect sound. To generate something truly remarkable, one must dare to explore, and that’s what we did with Empyrean. We pushed and refined industry’ standards and achieved a true game changer for audiophiles. "
Antonio Meze, Meze Audio Founder and Lead Designer
Empyrean is the product of two passionate companies, united to explore what can be done beyond their individual capabilities. The result is an uncompromising headphone that combines Meze's audacity in terms of design and user-centric vision with Rinaro's experience and years of research and development in isodynamic technology.
Rinaro, a company specialized in audio technologies, has been part of an R&D team at the forefront of isodynamic technology since the 1980s. What began originally as a publicly funded, innovation-oriented initiative, has entered a new chapter in the advancement of this audio technology with the opening of a state-of-the-art industrial facility in Ukraine.
Architecture of the Isodynamic Array Driver
1. FRAME : Fiberglass infused ABS.
2. RINARO ISOPLANAR DIAPHRAGM : Weighing only 0.16g while having 4650mm² of active area.
3. mAGNET ARRAY : Symmetrically placed on each side of the diaphragm, our neodymium magnets are specifically arranged into a Array to create efficient Isodynamic magnetic field required for a uniform activation across the whole diaphragm surface.
ARRAY DRIVER ADVANTAGES
Combining two coils of different shapes with the sin of a single membrane, this structure makes it possible to deliver more precise acoustic performance, depending on the structure of the human ear.
ACCURATE REPRODUCTION : Total harmonic distortion (THD) measures under 0.1% in the whole frequency range
LIGHTWEIGHT : Reduction of the driver for the creation of a headset allowing long listening sessions.
ERGONOMIC SHAPE : Ergonomically shaped driver structure with an increased active area
ULTRA HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO : Upper-frequency limit of audio reproduction is 110,000 Hz
ULTRA EFFICIENT : 100db@1mw/1kHz High performance without needing amplification
PATENT PENDING ISODYNAMIC ARRAY DRIVER
30 years of research and development have led to the creation of this incredible Isodynamic driver. Meze Audio in collaboration with Rinaro have thus created a new standard for Orthodynamic technology, resulting in one of the lightest and most advanced Planar technologies.
The Empyrean headphone membrane combines individual spiral and reverse switching coils. Their unique shape allows a more precise diffusion of sound according to the shape of the ear. This unique combination generates a higher exposure of sound waves in the 10kHz range and improves the sound image by reducing the impact of short wave delays caused by diffuse reflection.
Audible benefits of a dual driven system
One of the problems with conventional Isodynamic systems comes from reflected signals that enter the ear canal with different time delays, damaging the sound scene. By combining different coil configurations, it is possible to offer a better distribution of sound intensity on high frequency waves, when directed towards the auricle and ear canal.
ISOPLANAR DIAPHRAGM MATERIAL : The diaphragm is manufactured from a custom developed isotropic thermally stabilized polymer with a conductive layer. Through unique processing methods, an ultralight yet rigid diaphragm has been achieved.
SWITCHBACK COIL : The switchback coil is more efficient at reproducing lower frequencies and is positioned in the upper part of the driver.
SPIRAL COIL : The spiral coil is more efficient at reproducing middle-high frequencies and is positioned directly over the ear canal enabling more direct sound waves to enter the ear without any time delays.
Ergonomic approach
To create a powerful and lightweight audiophile headphone, the speaker must maximize its output power while minimizing its weight. The weight has been reduced by optimizing the structure of the magnets by following an ovoid shape that fits perfectly to the ear. The power has been increased by using the custom-designed network of coils and magnets to optimize the active surface within this ovoid shape.
Isomagnetic technology
An innovative feature is Empyrean's Isomagnetic Earphone Technology, which uses the demagnetizing field of the loudspeaker to hold the entire earphone in place while redirecting the magnetic field into the loudspeaker and improving its efficiency.
Magnetic field shielding
The ferromagnetic pads of the earphone pads reduce the magnetic field that could cause headaches.
Increase in driver efficiency
The patented ferromagnetic plates channel the magnetic field into the loudspeaker, increasing efficiency.
Invisible locking system
The innovative use of the magnetic field of the loudspeakers keeps the headphones in place.
Stray field reduction from Isomagnetic plate coupling
The patented ferromagnetic plates channel the demagnetization field to the loudspeaker, increasing the efficiency by 1dB or 12% and diverting 95% of the parasitic fields.
Pressure distribution wings
Patented suspension wings increase the leather headrest’s contact surface area with your head and relieve uncomfortable pressure points.
Lightweight Carbon / Aluminium skeleton
To offer a lightweight and therefore comfortable headphone that can be worn for many hours without any pain, Meze has worked to reduce its weight by using suitable materials: carbon fibre poles, leather support headband, sculpted aluminium earphone shells, chassis cut from a single piece of aluminium via CNC. In addition, the sculpted grille also ensures excellent airflow management for better sound transparency.
Meze Empyrean review by 6Moons
" It's wearable art which doubles as absolute-sound appliance. It really is a thing of beauty all over. Admiring its physical virtues is easy from afar. Acknowledging how sonically complete it is requires hands-on experience with it and with the best of the competition. And that makes those who will truly get the Empyrean the most hardcore of headfiers who've been around the block to understand and know the status quo. Which, in case that wasn't crystal yet, has just changed… "
Technical characteristics
| Specifications |
|---|
| Product type |
Headphone |
| Driver type |
Rinaro Isodynamic driver |
| Operating principle |
Open |
| Ear coupling |
Circumaural |
| Geometrical shape |
Ovoid |
| Frequency response |
4Hz - 110000Hz |
| Impedance |
31.6 Ohm |
| Nominal SPL |
100dB (1mW/1kHz) |
| Max SPL |
> 130dB |
| THD |
< 0.1% |
| Driver dimensions |
102 x 73mm |
| Weight / Driver |
82g |
| Casing |
Fiberglass infused ABS |
| Diaphragm type |
Rinaro Isoplanar |
| Diaphragm active area |
4650mm² |
| Weight / Diaphragm |
0.16g |
| Magnet array dimensions |
75 x 49mm |
| Magnetic flux |
0.35T |
| General |
|---|
| Color |
Black |
| Total weight |
430g |
| Package |
1x Meze Empyrean headphone
1x Aluminium with foam inserts case
1x Mini XLR 4 pins to Jack 6.35mm 3m OCC Copper cable |
Package
Isodynamic driver manufactured by Rinaro
Each driver has been hand assembled and tested in an industrial facility in Ukraine.
Design details
Designed, engineered and assembled in Baia Mare, Romania
