Last Friday my new Meze Empyrean headphones arrived - wow - I am very impressed. Certainly better than my 16 year old Sennheiser HD650 phones - although I still think these are brill. The Empyreans are very detailed with a good soundstage and are as smooth as silk on acoustic, female vocals and classical, my main music types.
I have been powering the Empyreans via a Hugo 2 and also a Headline 2. To me, the former is better being open and detailed, the latter more “congested”. Still early days though and they probably need much more burning in before I can make a meaningful comparison between the Hugo 2 and HL2.
I now need a headphone stand - inspired by some of the earlier posts, I think I will have a go at making my own - a great lockdown project!
Has anyone else out there got Meze Empyreans? If so, what do you think?
Hi Seth,
My HeadLine 2 is currently powered by an NAPSC. I know from reading articles on this forum that a significant improvement can be made to the HeadLine by using a HiCAP or even a SuperCap. This is something I need to explore at a later date, assuming I can borrow a HiCAP form somewhere!
Just to give you the full detail of my comparison, the Hugo 2 is being fed directly from the BNC digital output of my NDX2/XPS and the HeadLine 2 from my NDX2/XPS/NAC282/SuperCap.
To be honest, I bought the Hugo2 primarily for use with my PC when working at my desk or when travelling, so using it in my main hifi system as a headphone amp was not part of the original plan!
IMHO the Hugo2 is really an excellent piece of kit and I would highly recommend a listen. Yes, it is very expensive for “just a small box” but for me it represents good value for money. However, as with everything in the hifi world it comes down to personal choice.
If I manage to borrow a HiCap I will make another comparison of the Hugo2 and HeadLine and report back.
I hope this helps.
cheers
Neil - Manlad
Hi Neil,
Yep, you are looking at a lot of overtime and saving here!! Its a pity hifi is such an expensive hobby. They do sound rather good though
cheers
My headphones are not used regularly. Most often at night when I want to listen with the volume up higher than normal. The Beyer Dynamic Amirons connected to a HL2 + Hicap DR provide a great balance of sound and comfort (+ cost!).
Thanks for your comments about your HeadLine 2 with a NAPSC and a HiCap. I find it interesting to get views from folks on the forum as it helps guide us in the right direction for equipment comparisons. As ever, the final proof of improvement (or not!) is with a personal audition.
Now, I just need toget my hands on a HiCap and burn in my new phones, then I can get to the bottom of the Hugo 2 vs HeadLine 2+NAPSC vs HeadLine2+HiCap permutations and make my final choice!! Perhaps theire will be no “winner” but just different presentations??
Sorry to keep bugging you, but could you perhaps compare the Grado to the Meze sound? I’ve read that the Meze can suffer from too much bass since they changed earpads a while back. Is this something you find as well?
Paging @glevethan as i know you have both the Z1R and Utopias. How do they compare ?? . Whilst i need closed back in the bedroom, i suspect my future working arrangements will mean much more time working from home, so i’m wondering about investing in the Focals…