91%
Meze Audio EMPYREAN II
ARTISTRY MEETS CRAFTSMANSHIP
Following our purposeful design philosophy, Empyrean II emerges as a symphony of artistry, sound innovation and craftsmanship.
“When we first talked about creating the second generation of Empyrean, I knew it would be far from easy. With many ideas in mind, I reached out to our community, eager to gather their feedback in any way I could. I wanted to dive into their hearts and minds, to understand their expectations, and so their input is what shaped the path toward Empyrean II. What followed was a test of patience and precision. At first, the possibilities seemed endless, but reality showed us that only a few of our plans were feasible. We made a lot of revisions to discover the right proportions and materials that would deliver the sound signature we aimed for.”
Alex Grigoras, Acoustic Engineer
“As good as the initial design looked, the headphones we thought were final proved to be fragile. The aluminum grille wasn’t turning out that great, there was an unexpected structural failure, and we were changing the colors almost daily, struggling to decide upon the perfect combination. A lot of determination, a few more iterations and we finally nailed it – Empyrean II.”
Vladimir Brezovszki, Product Designer
IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS
Frame
Crafted with precision via CNC milling, the frame features a sleek matte black finish with silver accents.
Redesigned grille
A redesigned grill that draws inspiration from the bold and timeless art deco patterns.
Duo Ear Pads
Crafted from a precise blend of premium leather and Alcantara
PATIENCE IS KEY
GOOD THINGS TAKE TIME
We believe that good things take time, so we spent months trying and testing out different tuning techniques, until we finally had it.
Our goal was to enhance the headphones’ ability to reproduce fine details and achieve a more neutral sound signature, all the while preserving the original “easy to listen to” character.
MEZE AUDIO X RINARO ISODYNAMICS
OVER THIRTY YEARS OF AUDIO INNOVATION
Rinaro Isodynamics was founded in Ukraine during the Cold War to research acoustic technology and has been innovating in planar magnetics for over 30 years. They expanded with new R&D and manufacturing facilities in Ukraine and Poland, which were instrumental in developing Isodynamic Hybrid Array technology used in EMPYREAN, ELITE, LIRIC, and POET headphones.
SONIC MASTERY REIMAGINED
Empyrean II emerges as the fruitful collaboration of two passionate companies that set out to explore uncharted territories. Our engineering team has masterfully harnessed the power of Rinaro’s Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver to reach a new world of sound. Our efforts revealed new possibilities in terms of resolution and detail retrieval, achieving a cleaner and more accurate representation of sound, when compared to the original Empyrean.
ISODYNAMIC is a registered trademark of Rinaro Isodynamics Limited
EXPERIENCE MORE OF WHAT YOU LOVE. MORE CLARITY. MORE DEPTH. MORE FUN.
ARCHITECTURE OF THE ISODYNAMIC HYBRID ARRAY DRIVER©
ACCURATE REPRODUCTION
Total harmonic distortion (THD) measures under 0.05% throughout the audible frequency range.
LIGHTWEIGHT
Reduced driver weight designed to create a headphone that offers prolonged listening sessions.
ERGONOMIC SHAPE
Anatomically designed driver structure.
ULTRA-HIGH-RESOLUTION AUDIO
Upper-frequency limit of audio reproduction is 110,000 Hz.
[MZ3] HYBRID MAGNET ARRAY
Symmetrically placed on each side of the diaphragm, the neodymium magnets are specifically arranged into a Hybrid Array to create the efficient Isodynamic magnetic field required for a uniform activation across the whole diaphragm surface.
[MZ3] RINARO ISOPLANAR® DIAPHRAGM
Weighing only 0.16 g while having 4650 mm2 of active area.
[MZ3] FRAME
Fiberglass-infused ABS.
DUAL-SHAPED VOICE COIL ARRAY
The switchback coil of the diaphragm is more efficient at reproducing lower frequencies and is positioned in the upper part of the driver.
The spiral coil of the diaphragm 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.
ISOMAGNETIC® EAR CUP TO EAR PAD COUPLING TECHNOLOGY
Rinaro’s Isomagnetic coupling technology makes switching ear pads a breeze. It utilizes the demagnetizing field generated by the driver to secure the earcup in place, while simultaneously redirecting the magnetic field back into the driver, thereby enhancing efficiency.
YOUR SOUND. YOUR CHOICE.
Elevate your listening experience to new heights – Empyrean II comes with two sets of ear pads included, allowing the ultimate sound customisation. Switch between our Duo and Angled ear pads for an auditory journey that is entirely your own.
Our Duo ear pads are specifically tailored to match Empyrean II. Crafted from a precise blend of premium leather and Alcantara, they introduce a contemporary dimension to the signature sound profile of Empyrean II.
We researched and tested various material ratios to achieve the best there is to offer. The outcome is a flawless fusion: well-sustained bass frequencies owed to the leather, with beautiful refinement and spatiality from Alcantara
Made of soft foam coated with Alcantara, with a fine protective mesh on the grille, the Angled ear pads excel at rendering intricate details and nuances in your recordings. The angled shape creates more space inside the ear pad, which translates to an airier sound signature, with cleaner bass and improved presence in the mid-range frequency, when paired with Empyrean II. The result is a detailed and accurate listening experience, for the classic audiophile.
UNBOUND COMFORT
With Empyrean II, your music takes center stage. Following our highest standard for comfort, with a purpose-built structure that minimizes weight and pressure, this headphone instantly adapts to the shape of your head.
This synergy of ergonomics and premium materials guarantees more than just exceptional sound – it allows you to enjoy uninterrupted hours of music with increased comfort.
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Professional Reviews 91/100
Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
90/100
Comfort Fit
94/100
Build Quality
96/100
Features Usability
91/100
Value for Money
89/100
The EMPYREAN II blends authoritative bass, articulate vocals and a spacious, three-dimensional soundstage into a luxurious open-back planar experience. StereoNET praised its natural tonality, dynamic poise and generous detail, while the supplied pads let listeners choose richer warmth or airier precision. Add exceptional comfort, serviceable construction and refined materials, and this is a flagship built for immersive all-night listening.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Pros
Deep, controlled and tuneful bass delivers punch, authority and texture without muddying the mix.
Open, well-organised imaging provides convincing instrument placement and a spacious three-dimensional stage.
Outstanding long-session comfort, premium finish and fully serviceable, replaceable chassis parts strengthen long-term ownership appeal.
Two included magnetic pad options offer meaningfully different tonal balances, from warmer impact to a cleaner, airier presentation.
&
Cons
Lower-treble energy can emphasize sibilance and sound sharp with bright recordings or less-refined partnering equipment.
Macrodynamics and physical slam can feel somewhat restrained beside the most explosive flagship rivals.
The open-back design leaks sound and provides little isolation, limiting suitability for commuting or shared spaces.
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 90/100
The Empyrean II is widely praised for a warm, natural and highly engaging presentation that combines substantial bass, expressive vocals and strong spatial organisation. Its two supplied pad options make the character meaningfully adaptable, although several reviewers note a touch of upper-treble bite and slightly restrained physical dynamics.
Bass
93/100
Reviewers consistently praise deep extension, punch, texture and control, with What Hi-Fi calling the low end authoritative and tuneful. The Duo pads add more warmth and impact, while the Alcantara option trims bass weight for a cleaner, airier balance.
Midrange
90/100
Vocals and instruments are described as articulate, full-bodied and highly communicative, with The Ear calling the midrange superb. Some listeners hear the upper mids as slightly relaxed or vocals set a little farther back, but this does not undermine the generally natural, textured presentation.
Treble
86/100
The top end is widely considered extended, airy and refined, bringing substantial detail without an aggressively bright overall balance. However, multiple reviews identify some lower-treble or 3–6kHz emphasis that can make sibilants and brighter recordings sound sharp or fatiguing.
Resolution Detail
92/100
Reviews repeatedly highlight excellent detail retrieval, separation and the ability to reveal small textural and spatial cues without turning clinical. It is not portrayed as the most ruthlessly analytical option among ultra-high-end peers, but its detail is consistently praised as musical, precise and well integrated.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
Reviewers describe a wide, open and convincingly three-dimensional stage with stable left-right and front-back placement. A few find depth and inter-image air short of the very best alternatives, but imaging, layering and lateral definition remain major strengths.
Dynamics
88/100
The Empyrean II earns praise for rhythmic coherence, transient control and lively musical momentum, with some reviewers hearing broad dynamic swings and strong bass impact. Others find its presentation a little soft or restrained in outright physical slam compared with the most explosive rivals.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Comfort Fit
94/100
Comfort is one of the most consistently celebrated aspects of the Empyrean II. Reviewers praise the suspension headband, plush spacious pads and excellent weight distribution, reporting effortless extended listening despite the large form factor; the main caveat is limited adjustment for smaller heads.
Build Quality
96/100
Reviewers describe the construction, finish and materials as class-leading, luxurious and exceptionally well executed. The fully serviceable chassis and replaceable parts strengthen the ownership case beyond its striking industrial design.
Features Usability
91/100
The package includes two magnetically swappable pad sets that provide genuinely useful tonal alternatives, along with detachable mini-XLR cables and a substantial protective case. Reviewers also find it relatively easy to drive for a high-end planar, though the mini-XLR plugs can be slightly awkward to disconnect.
Value for Money
89/100
At $2,999, the Empyrean II is unmistakably a luxury purchase, but reviewers generally regard it as competitive and deserving of serious consideration in its high-end class. Several specifically point to its unusually complete mix of sound quality, comfort, craftsmanship and serviceability, while acknowledging that the price remains a major investment.
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