CanJam NYC 2025 kicks off this Saturday in Times Square and two very different headphones in the $2,000 range are going to create a lot of excitement; the brand new Grado Signature S950 and the $2,000 Meze Audio POET.
There is already a lot of buzz surrounding the new Grado Signature HE100 SE (read our review) and the Signature S950 (read our preview) because they represent the first Grado headphones with detachable cables (we can hear the screaming all the way from Southern California) and their next generation dynamic drivers, but we suspect that the Meze Audio POET are going to be the talk of the show.
2024 was a quiet year for the Romanian manufacturer with only two new product introductions; the 105 AER and Liric II (read our review) — which only meant that Antonio Meze and his team were cooking up something massive in Baia Mare.
If the state-of-the-art Meze Empyrean II fall outside of your price range, the Meze POET make that more of a reality — although $2,000 is still a significant amount of money for any pair of headphones.
The POET
For a brand that started with the rather affordable 99 Classics (EIC Ian White’s daily driver in the dynamic category below $500), Meze have rather quickly become one of the leading innovators in the open-back, planar magnetic category.
The Meze Audio POET are designed to provide exceptional audio performance by redefining what is possible in a compact, open-back form factor.
The POET combines Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array technology, luxurious materials, and ergonomic design.
The POET also incorporates a steel grill, magnesium chassis, and soft suede leather headrest that is visually striking and also designed to contribute to both durability and acoustic performance.
For comfort and longevity, the POET’s flexible titanium alloy headband evenly distributes weight, ensuring a snug fit that enhances listening pleasure for hours on end. The lightweight design and magnetic ear pads contribute to user-friendliness. To aid in long-term care and convenience, users can swap out earpads.
Rinaro and Parus
For the POET’s drivers, Meze has teamed up with Rinaro. Building on over 30 years of developing and offering planar magnetic technology, Rinaro Isodynamic brings its acclaimed Isodynamic Hybrid Array with a new MZ6 driver to POET.
Each driver is hand-assembled and tested at Rinaro’s state-of-the-art facility in Lviv, Ukraine, ensuring unmatched quality and performance.
The Hybrid Magnet Array is designed to create a uniform, powerful magnetic field across a Parus diaphragm with an incredibly low weight (just 0.06g) and expansive active area. This combination results in ultra-low distortion (<0.05%) and ultra-high-resolution audio that captures every nuance, from the deepest sub-bass to the highest treble frequencies.
Fully Serviceable
In addition to the engineering support to provide better sound. The POET is fully serviceable, with every component designed to be easily disassembled and replaced. Whether it’s the magnetic ear pads or the high-performance materials used throughout the chassis, POET is built to stand the test of time.
The headphone’s durable construction, together with its luxurious finish, makes it an enduring companion for years of immersive listening. Coupled with a premium hand-braided copper cable, POET guarantees not only technical superiority but also the ultimate aesthetic pleasure.
From Alex Grigoras, Acoustic Engineer at Meze Audio: “From the very beginning of our POET journey, we knew we wanted to create something unique — a more compact planar-magnetic open-back headphone that is every bit as capable as our flagship models. Well then, what better place to look than at the very apex? In collaboration with our friends at RINARO ISODYNAMICS, we synthesized the essence of ELITE’s driver technology and gave it new life. I believe POET turned out to be more than just a headphone; it’s a nod to a huge stepping stone in our development as a team and a testament to how far we’ve come.”
Meze Audio POET and Liric II Headphones Comparison
The Meze Audio POET is very similar to the previously released Liric II which we referred to at the top of this article. The main difference between the two is that POET is Open Back and Liric II is Closed Back. Also, the POET incorporates a newer version Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array.
Model Meze Audio POET (2025) Liric II (2024) Headphone Type Open Back Planar Magnetic Closed Back Planar Magnetic Price US $2,000 – €2,000 US $2,000 – €2,000 Ear Coupling Circumaural Circumaural Driver Type Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array MZ6 Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array MZ4 Driver Shape Ovoid Ovoid Driver Size 92 mm x 63 mm 92 mm x 63 mm Driver Weight 73 g (2.58 oz.) 71 g (2.5 oz) Driver Casing Fiberglass reinforced polymer Fiberglass reinforced polymer Driver Diaphragm Type Rinaro Parus MZ6 Rinaro MZ4 Diaphragm Active Area 3,507 mm2 3,507 mm2 Diaphragm Weight 0.06 g 0.08 g Acoustic Mass 6.5 kg/m4 6.5 kg/m4 Frequency Range 4 Hz – 96 kHz 4-92,000 Hz Impedance 55 Ω 61 Ω Sensitivity 101 dB SPL/mW at 1kHz 100 dB SPL @ 1 kHz, 1 mW Maximum SPL >130 dB SPL > 130 dB Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) <0.05% <0.15% Weight 350 g (12.3 oz.) (without earpads) 427 g (not indicated is this is with or without earpads) Input Connector Dual 3.5 mm TS Jack Dual 3.5 mm TS Jack Fully Servicable Yes Yes 
The Bottom Line
The high-end headphone category has never had as many great options as it does in 2025; brands like Audeze, Dan Clark Audio, ZMF, Beyerdynamic, Grado, Focal and Meze Audio continue to push the envelope and while some of the top models are priced well out of the reach of most consumers, the level of performance below $2,000 is rather astounding.
Meze Audio came out of nowhere and showed up at CES with the 99 Classics and never looked back.
The Meze Empyrean and Empyrean II Planar Magnetic Headphones put the entire industry on notice that it could engineer products that could compete with anything.
The success of the 109 Pro and AER 105 dynamic headphones have demonstrated that they can engineer high-end performers as well below $1,000 and $500 USD.
The high-end planar category has come down significantly in price thanks to Audeze and HiFiMAN who have successfully introduced models below $500 and consumers no longer have to spend thousands of dollars to get great sound quality.
What makes the Meze POET so intriguing is that have the potential to make state-of-the-art planar magnetic headphones more attainable for those who may want to use headphones instead of loudspeakers in the context of both a portable and desktop playback system.
The combination of stunning industrial design and high-end performance in a pair of headphones small enough to fit in your laptop bag feels like a huge win. We can’t wait to listen to them.
Price & Availability
POET will be available from February 20, 2025 for $2,000 at Crutchfield.
Related Reading
- HiFiMAN’s ISVARNA Planar Closed-Back Headphones Are For Bass-Loving Audiophiles
- HiFiMAN’s Arya Unveiled Planar Magnetic Headphones Look and Feel DAP and Dongle DAC Friendly: Preview
- Edifier STAX Spirit S5 Planar Magnetic Headphones Review: Wireless and Audiophile?
- Shanling HW600 Planar Open-Back Headphones: Preview
