Meze Audio ELITE Open-back Wired Headphones - Meze

Combining an exclusive aesthetic with state-of-the-art engineering, Elite delivers an accurate, authentic listening experience ready to meet the highest expectations of the proficient audiophile. Meticulously hand-assembled in Baia Mare, Romania, these headphones boast high-grade materials and are equipped with industry-leading Isodynamic Hybrid Array Drivers by Rinaro Isodynamics. With exceptional sound quality and a comfortable fit, the Elite headphones are perfect for anyone looking for unparalleled sound accuracy and clarity.

Key Features

Naturally found on various mineral deposits, tungsten ore becomes one of the toughest metals on earth, when processed. The stone-like texture was achieved by coating each piece of the frame with Cerakote, one of the best finishes out there. Traditionally used for the automotive, aerospace, defense, and healthcare industries, Cerakote coatings are renowned for their high resistance, unmatched hardness and outstanding UV resistance. The unique structure of Cerakote not only offers a beautiful finish and a significant increase in durability, but does so without adding any unnecessary weight to the headphone chassis.

Meze and Rinaro also developed a way to separate the voice coil circuit into two distinct parts. There is a spiral coil that is positioned right next to the ear canal so that it can carefully distribute mids and highs. Since there is no obstruction to the listening path, it provides greater resolution and helps lower distortion. Above that spiral, the snake-like coil handles the bass, and only the bass. The drivers serve up deep, authoritative low-end, whereas some planar drivers can occasionally sound too "polite." But, like those other planar drivers, the bass here is clean and bloat-free.

Take a closer look to discover the highly complex geometrical imprint accentuated through the silver finish of the CNC aluminum frame. The process of making a single frame takes about 20 hours. A deep black grill with intricate carvings completes the look, turning Elite into a futuristic take on personal audio design. Materials were chosen not just for the exciting sensory experience their raw texture provides, but also for comfort and durability.

As attractive as the Meze Audio Elite headphones are in pictures, they are even more stunning in person. Master-of-his-craft Antonio Meze and his team of engineers and artists built them on the backbone of their acclaimed Empyrean planar magnetic headphones. These Elite headphones feature a completely revamped driver system. Meze teamed up once again with Ukrainian research team Rinaro who created thinner, lower mass diaphragms to deliver more accurate sound, particularly in the highs and upper mids. All while preserving the authoritative bass that Meze planars are known for. Meze has also re-imagined the headband suspension system with a patent-pending wing design that slides right into place and while being larger headphones, they still feel super light on the head. The ear pads have been streamlined a bit, and are lined with a pleasant leather-Alcantara mix. They hug the side of the head and avoid pressure points for an overall gentle touch. The robust aluminum frame is symmetrical, serpentine, and charmingly smooth to the touch. And at first glance, the earcups appear to be closed-back, but closer examination reveals an intricately etched pattern in the earcup that lets air move freely.

Rinaro's newly developed Parus® diaphragm is made from a special polymer film. It's extremely low mass, so that it can move, stop, and start even quicker. Yet the material is also rigid and stable, so the diaphragm will move in an even, uniform manner — so higher accuracy with less chance of distortion. One of the coolest features of this headphone from a tactile standpoint is the planar magnet system. The same magnet array that moves the drivers also helps secure the earpads to the earcups. Those lush pads fasten in place with a satisfying snap. Meze's unique magnetic mounting method also serves a sonic purpose. When the earpads are firmly in place, they help send magnetic power back to the planar driver system. That extra magnetic flux increases the driver output and the overall efficiency of the Elite headphones.

Product details:

open-back design offers transparent sound
planar magnetic drivers tuned to deliver large, lifelike sound with enhanced dynamics
machined and hand-assembled at Meze's headquarters in Romania
co-designed and co-developed with Ukrainian research group Rinaro
Parus diaphragm starts and stops quickly for clear, articulate sound
made of thin, ultra-light, and rigid polymer film
oval-shaped diaphragm increases efficiency helps lowers mass of drivers
separate voice coil traces for accurate sound across a wide frequency range
strong, symmetrical magnetic array for greater diaphragm efficiency with fluid movement
milled-aluminum frame with lightweight carbon headband
leather headband strap uses patent-pending "wing" suspension system
frequency response: 3-112,000 Hz
sensitivity: 130 dB
impedance: 32 ohms
weight: 15.2 ounces

Included accessories:

Over-ear headphones (Silver + Black) with black hybrid leather ear pads (installed)
Pair of Alcantara ear pads
8.25' (2.5 meter) Audio cable with dual 4-pin mini XLR plugs on one end (headphone) and 6.3mm (1/4") plug on other end
Silver aluminum storage case with foam inserts

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