Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

News

Meze Audio Empyrean Phoenix Rise from the Ashes of the Former Iron Curtain

Meze Audio continue to push the envelope both technically and visually with the Empyrean Phoenix planar magnetic headphones. A classic is reborn.

Meze Audio Empyrean Phoenix Planar Magnetic Headphones

One of our favorite headphone brands went a tad crazy last week. In the best possible way. Meze Audio are not a huge company; certainly not in the same way Sennheiser, AKG, and Apple are industry giants.

Started in 2009, Meze Audio began its journey into the world of headphones in Baia Mare, Romania; a city of 136,000 people located less than thirty miles from the border with Ukraine. 

The end of the Cold War and collapse of the Iron Curtain brought more than just political freedom to Eastern Europe and the Balkans; it created an environment for entrepreneurship and design innovation that has had a profound impact on the culture and economic future of the region. 

The creation of a new middle class has fueled demand for western consumer goods, but more importantly, led to investment in domestic start-ups who have proven capable of competing with well-established brands from America, Western Europe, and Asia. Companies like Meze Audio who have exceeded every possible expectation.

Meze 99 Classics Over-ear Headphones in Walnut and Gold
$309 Meze Audio 99 Classics Headphones in Walnut / Gold

From private conversations we had back in 2020, we know that the Meze team have worked overtime under some rather strict pandemic rules in Romania to not only fulfill orders for the 99 Classics that are one of our favorite affordable high-end headphones, but also the rest of the lineup which includes the RAI Penta and RAI Solo IEMs, 99 NEOs, and flagship Empyrean headphones. 

With so much going on, we were more than just a little intrigued when the successful Romanian headphone manufacturer announced the introduction of the limited-edition Empyrean Phoenix planar-magnetic headphones.

Meze Audio Empyrean Phoenix Headphones Angle
$3999 Meze Audio Empyrean Phoenix Headphones

The $3,000 Empyrean are not inexpensive. Do people really need $3,000 headphones? The Empyrean Phoenix will run interested headphone fans $4,000, but I suspect the brand will sell out of them rather quickly. Even during the pandemic. 

The Empyrean are a special product; the kind of state-of-the-art audio component that are not buoyed by a mountain of hype. There is an argument to be made that they are the best headphones in the world right now. 

The multi-year project was a collaboration between Meze Audio and Rinaro Isodynamics, who are based in Lviv, Ukraine. Rinaro have been at the forefront of planar magnetic driver design since 1980; the company was originally a state-sponsored initiative in the USSR and its Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver has created some evenings of anxiety in Germany and California for Meze’s competitors. Just me speculating on that one. 

Meze Audio Empyrean Planar Magnetic Headphones in Black / Copper
$2999 Meze Audio Empyrean Headphones (Black/Copper)

The Meze Empyrean are decidedly lighter than comparable planar magnetic headphones from rival brands. All of the other key players in the category; Dan Clark Audio, Audeze, and HiFiMan have spent years improving that aspect of their designs but the Empyrean is still the standard by which the Head-Fi community judges other premium headphones in the comfort category. The CNC-sculpted skeleton was machined by Meze Audio from a single block of solid aluminum; one of the reasons the Empyrean are so expensive. 

When it comes to aesthetic design and sonic performance, the Meze Empyrean don’t just toss out the rule book. They shred it. Fargo woodchipper shred it with all of the screaming and fanfare.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

We’ve been fortunate to try these headphones with some of the best headphone amplifiers made by Linear Tube Audio, Ampsandsound, Schiit Audio, and Pass Labs and every experience has made us long for the day that we can afford a pair. 

Meze Audio Empyrean Planar Magnetic Headphones in Black / Copper with Linear Tube Audio MZ3
Meze Audio Empyrean Planar Magnetic Headphones in Black / Copper with Linear Tube Audio MZ3

Where to buy:

Deal Alert: Empyrean are $2,299 at Headphones.com

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement

New Products

Wilson Audio Sabrina V Speaker - Colors

Floorstanding Speakers

Wilson Audio Sabrina V features the same 8-inch woofer as the Sasha V and WATT/Puppy, delivering agile, authoritative, and textured bass for audiophiles seeking...

Quad 3 Integrated Amplifier Front Angle Lifestyle Quad 3 Integrated Amplifier Front Angle Lifestyle

Integrated Amps & Stereo Receivers

Vintage style meets modern tech in the Quad 3 integrated amp with Class AB, Sabre DAC, MQA, Bluetooth 5.1, and versatile inputs. Available mid-June...

XGIMI MoGo Series Projectors XGIMI MoGo Series Projectors

New Products

XGIMI’s MoGo 4 series offers sleek design, Google TV, and Harman Kardon sound—but low brightness limits use to dark rooms.

LG S95AR Home Theater Soundbar Promo Image LG S95AR Home Theater Soundbar Promo Image

New Products

At $1,699, the LG's top-of-the-line soundbar for 2025 promises a more immersive home theater experience but is nearly identical to last year's model.

2025 Sony CS Series Home Theater Speaker System 2025 Sony CS Series Home Theater Speaker System

Floorstanding Speakers

Sony’s new CS Series loudspeakers deliver solid home theater and music performance without breaking the bank. Perfect for budget setups and secondary rooms.

Schiit Audio Asgard X Class A Headphone Amp/DAC Silver Angle Schiit Audio Asgard X Class A Headphone Amp/DAC Silver Angle

Headphone Amps

Schiit Asgard X headphone amp/DAC brings flagship Mjolnir tech, new Continuity A output, and Mesh DAC with Forkbeard app for under $550.

You May Also Like

Headphone Amps

Schiit Asgard X headphone amp/DAC brings flagship Mjolnir tech, new Continuity A output, and Mesh DAC with Forkbeard app for under $550.

New Products

Denon is celebrating its 110th Anniversary with a new version of the DL-103 cartridge. The Denon DL-A110 MC phono cartridge is $599.

Articles

Forget what you think you know. Eastern European brands like Meze, Ferrum, and Heed are dragging high-end audio into the future — and sounding...

New Products

EarFun Tune Pro Hybrid ANC Wireless Headphones offer 120-hour battery, and AI calls for peanuts—just don’t expect a fancy case or Hi-Res Bluetooth. Big...

Articles

Discover the 8 best headphone stands for 2025—engineered for durability, stability, and style. These top-rated options support all headphone types and won’t break the...

New Products

Meze Audio's 105 SILVA is a bold statement in design and sound, making the rest of the industry sweat. With its striking looks and...

Headphone Amps

Have iFi raised the performance ceiling for portable Bluetooth DAC/Amps with the iDSD Valkyrie, or does the hefty "dongle" fall flat on its promises?

New Products

At $399, the Meze 105 AER open-back headphones feature trickle-down technology from the 109 PRO headphones for half the price.

Advertisement

ecoustics is a hi-fi and music magazine offering product reviews, podcasts, news and advice for aspiring audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts and headphone hipsters. Read more

Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.



SVS Bluesound PSB Speakers NAD Cambridge Audio Q Acoustics Denon Marantz Focal Naim Audio RSL Speakers