Meze Audio Empyrean II

Meze Audio Empyrean II – a further development of one of the world’s most acclaimed high-end headphones

Meze Empyrean II was created as a further development of one of the world’s most acclaimed high-end headphones. The goal has been to preserve the musical warmth and the iconic “easy to listen to” character of the first generation, while at the same time elevating resolution, neutrality, and level of detail to a new level. The result is a headphone that balances precision and musicality in a way very few products in this category can achieve.

Empyrean II is the fruit of a close collaboration between Meze Audio and Rinaro Isodynamics – an alliance that combines avant-garde industrial design with more than 30 years of expertise in planar-magnetic drivers. Here, modern technology meets a deep respect for craftsmanship, aesthetics, and user experience.

Highlights

• Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array® driver with extremely low distortion
• Rinaro Isoplanar® diaphragm with a large active surface area and minimal mass
• Upgraded tuning with a more neutral and detailed sound signature
• Two sets of earpads: Duo and Angled Alcantara®
• Isomagnetic® pad coupling for perfect positioning and high efficiency
• Ergonomic construction with optimal weight distribution
• Open, circumaural architecture for a spacious and airy soundstage
• Hand-built with premium materials and great precision
• Fully service-friendly design with replaceable components

Developed through patience, precision, and user feedback

The process behind Empyrean II began with a desire for improvement – not driven by market logic, but by an artistic and sonic ambition. Meze Audio incorporated feedback from the community, tested countless materials, colors, grille structures, and tuning methods, and worked methodically with proportions, acoustics, and resonance control.

The original design was rethought again and again, and even seemingly small choices – such as the thickness of the grille or the composition of the earpads – were tested in real time. This process has resulted in a headphone in which every element is optimized for durability, sound, and aesthetics.

Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array® – the heart of Empyrean II

The driver in Empyrean II is a further development of Rinaro’s Hybrid Array architecture, in which two different coil geometries work together to optimize each part of the frequency range. One coil type is particularly effective for the low frequencies and is placed in the upper part of the driver, while a spiral-shaped coil handles the midrange and high frequencies, positioned directly in front of the ear canal to minimize reflections and ensure more precise reproduction.

The diaphragm is made of Rinaro Isoplanar®, an ultra-light polymer material with a large active surface area and extremely high stability. Its low mass provides a fast response, while the magnetic structure ensures constant control over the diaphragm’s movement. The result is a sound that is dynamic, clean, and full of microscopic nuances.

Distortion is kept below 0.05%, and the frequency range extends from 8 Hz to 110 kHz, delivering a sound that feels boundless and effortless.

A soundstage with greater clarity, depth, and neutrality

The sound signature of Empyrean II has been refined compared to the original. The slightly warm tonal character has been preserved, but resolution, detail level, and balance in the midrange have been significantly improved. The treble range comes across as cleaner and more well-defined, and the bass is controlled with greater precision without losing foundation or musicality.

The open design creates a natural sense of space, where the music unfolds in a wide and stable soundstage. Separation is more distinct, and the placement of instruments appears with greater precision, making complex recordings easier to follow and more engaging to listen to.

Earpads – two sound signatures, one headphone

Empyrean II comes with two sets of earpads, each giving the headphone its own character. The Duo pads, made from a carefully tuned combination of premium leather and Alcantara®, provide a tonal balance with both solid bass foundation and great spaciousness in the midrange. The included Angled Alcantara® pads have an angled geometry that creates more space in the front volume and delivers a more airy, detailed, and analytical presentation, perfect for the classic audiophile experience.

Both pad types are attached via Rinaro’s Isomagnetic® coupling, which both improves the efficiency of the magnetic field and makes pad changes quick and intuitive.

Reference-class comfort

The design of Empyrean II focuses on eliminating both weight pressure and hotspots. The headphone automatically adapts to the shape of the head, and the well-thought-out weight distribution spreads the load gently and evenly. The materials have been chosen with care to ensure a soft, natural contact, allowing the listener to immerse themselves in music for hours without discomfort.

Even long sessions with high resolution and high volume levels feel effortless, and the headphone almost disappears physically, leaving only the music behind.

Built to last – and to be repairable

Empyrean II is constructed according to Meze’s philosophy of longevity. The construction is fully service-friendly, which means that everything – including the driver, headband, cable, grille, and earpads – can be replaced individually. That makes the headphone an investment that can last for decades, rather than simply a time-limited product.

This approach, combined with the meticulous craftsmanship, makes Empyrean II a headphone that is both technologically advanced and sustainably conceived.

An experience that transcends technology

Meze Empyrean II is created for those seeking a deep musical connection. It is a headphone that not only impresses with technical specifications, but also delivers a soulful listening experience. It combines artistic finesse, engineering precision, and intuitive comfort, which together elevate the music to a place where it feels alive, present, and full of emotion.

Empyrean II is not merely a successor. It is a new interpretation of what high-end listening can be.