Meze Audio Empyrean High-End Open Backed Headphones

Description

Empyrean is the product of two passionate companies coming together to explore what is possible beyond their individual capabilities. The result is a no-compromise headphone embodying Meze’s daring aesthetic and user-centered design approach and Rinaro’s experience in research and development within the field of planar magnetics.

Rinaro, a progressive audio company, has at the heart of its technology an R&D team that has been at the forefront of planar magnetic development since the 1980’s. What originally started as a state-funded initiative with a focus on innovation has now entered into a new chapter of audio progression with the opening of a cutting-edge industrial facility in Ukraine.

ARCHITECTURE OF THE ISODYNAMIC® HYBRID ARRAY DRIVER

FRAME
Fiberglass infused ABS
HYBRID MAGNET ARRAY
Symmetrically placed on each side of the diaphragm, our neodymium magnets are specifically arranged into a Hybrid Array to create efficient Isodynamic magnetic field required for a uniform activation across the whole diaphragm surface.

HYBRID ARRAY DRIVER ADVANTAGES

Combines two independently shaped voice coils within the same diaphragm delivering more selective acoustic performance to the various areas within the structure of the ear.

ACCURATE REPRODUCTION
Total harmonic distortion (THD) measures under 0.1% in the whole frequency range
LIGHTWEIGHT
Reduced driver weight designed to create a headphone that offers prolonged 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 HYBRID ARRAY DRIVER
World’s first in planar magnetic headphones

The Empyrean Driver combines individual switchback and spiral-shaped voice coils, their unique shapes allowing sound to be targeted with more accuracy around the natural form of the ear. This unique combination generates an increased exposure of direct sound wave frequencies over the 10kHz range and improves imaging and localization by decreasing the impact of shortwave time delays caused by diffused field reflections.

AUDIBLE BENEFITS OF A DUAL DRIVEN SYSTEM

One of the problems with conventional planar magnetic arrays is coming from reflected signals entering the ear canal with different time delays, thereby worsening the focus of 3D sound imaging.
Combining different voice coil configurations makes it possible to create a better sound intensity distribution across the sound wavefront at high frequencies when directed at 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

ISOMAGNETIC® EARCUP TO EARPAD COUPLING TECHNOLOGY

An innovative feature is the Isomagnetic® ear cup attachment which utilizes the demagnetizing field generated by the driver to hold the ear cup in place whilst also redirecting the magnetic field back into the driver and improving driver efficiency.

Magnetic field shielding

The ferromagnetic ear pads decrease the magnetic stray field affecting the listeners head

Increase in driver efficiency

Patented ferromagnetic plates channel the magnetic field back into the driver, increasing output.

Invisible locking system

Innovative use of the magnetic field of the drivers to fix the earcups in place.

HAND ASSEMBLED

We carefully hand assemble each headphone in our facilities in Baia Mare, Romania.

FULLY SERVICEABLE

A core belief of Meze is to create products that last. The Empyrean is no different: from the replaceable earpads to the high-performance materials used, every part on the headphone chassis is available to be serviced and disassembled by our skilled team.

SPECIFICATIONS

Driver Type
Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array
Operating Principle
Open
Ear Coupling
Circumaural
Frequency Response
4 – 110,000 Hz
Impedance
31,6 Ω
Nominal SPL
100 dB (1 mW / 1 kHz)
Maximum SPL
> 130 dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)
< 0.1% Weight
~ 430 g

MZ3 DRIVER SPECIFICATIONS

• PHYSICAL •

Geometrical Shape
Ovoid
Size
102 mm x 73 mm
Weight
82 g
Casing
Fiberglass Infused ABS

• DIAPHRAGM •

Type
Rinaro ISOPLANAR®
Active Area
4650 mm2
Weight
0.16 g
Acoustic Mass
10.7 kg/m4
Lower Frequency Limit
4 Hz
Upper-Frequency Limit
110.000 Hz

• MAGNET ARRAY •

Type
Isodynamic
Size
75 mm x 49 mm
Magnetic Flux
0.35 T

ACCESSORIES

• Case: High-strength aluminum suitcase with foam inserts
• Two sets of earpads included: one real leather, one Alcantara
• Cable options:
– 2.5m OFC cable, 4pin mini XLR plugs ending with 6.3 jack connector
or
– 1.2m OFC cable, 4pin mini XLR plugs ending with 3.5 jack connector
or
– 2.5m OFC cable, 4pin mini XLR plugs ending with 4 pin XLR connector