PASSION BROUGHT US HERE. TECHNOLOGY MADE IT HAPPEN.
At Meze Audio, we aim to transform each listening session into a multi-sensory experience you can get lost in. With a "no-compromise" mindset, driven by our love for art and sound, we use innovative designs and technologies that perfectly complete each other to create pure emotion.
"With ELITE, we've created something that transcends all barriers of headphone design and engineering and moves to a new, artistic, graceful level. Following in the footsteps of a successful partnership, together with Rinaro Isodynamics we managed to exceed our expectations once again and create something for the ages. It’s not mass production; it’s the craftsmanship that sparks the magic and wonder in ELITE, what makes it exciting, and these are values that we choose over any shortcuts."
- Antonio Meze, Lead Designer and Founder of Meze Audio
BEAUTIFUL AESTHETICS
TAILORED FOR LONG LISTENING SESSIONS
A core belief of Meze Audio is to create products that last through years and years of industry changes, bringing long-lasting value to the customer. Elite is no different. From looks to technology, this headphone was designed to surpass all short-living trends and become a true heirloom.
IT'S ALL IN THE DETAILS
Materials were chosen not just for the exciting sensory experience their raw texture provides, but also for comfort and durability.
Aluminium frame
The high precision CNC sculpted chassis is milled from a single piece of solid aluminum, a process that takes ~20 hours.
Adjustable headband
The carbon fiber and leather structure of the headband ensure an ultra-lightweight, comfortable fit.
CNC milled grille
A deep black grille with intricate carvings completes the look, turning ELITE into a futuristic take on personal audio design.
Tungsten-inspired resilience
Naturally found on various mineral deposits, tungsten ore becomes one of the toughest metals on earth, when processed. The color we chose for this headphone is similar to what tungsten looks in its final form, and we chose it as a visual metaphor for our commitment to making things that are reliable, things that last well through the years. We achieved this stone-like texture by coating each piece of the frame with Cerakote™, one of the best types of finishes out there.
Traditionally used for the automotive, aerospace, defence, 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.
Aluminium elegance
Creating a flagship headphone takes time and patience to do well, and it’s that kind of craftsmanship that separates the average from the great.
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.
MEZE AUDIO X RINARO ISODYNAMICS
OVER THIRTY YEARS OF AUDIO INNOVATION
Rinaro Isodynamics was founded in Ukraine to research acoustic technology and has been innovating in planar magnetics for 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 and Elite headphones.
RINARO ISODYNAMIC HYBRID ARRAY DRIVER®
THE PROGRESSION OF THE FLAGSHIP
With a custom Rinaro-designed driver, Elite delivers a powerful, lifelike and immersive experience that awakens the senses of the listener.
Combining the outstanding mechanical design and ergonomics from Meze Audio with the signature technology of Rinaro, ELITE sets a new standard in top-of-the-line performance.
ULTRA LOW DISTORTION
Total harmonic distortion (THD) measures under 0.05% throughout the audible frequency range.
LIGHTWEIGHT
75g combined driver weight designed to create a headphone that offers prolonged listening sessions.
ULTRA HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO
Upper frequency limit of audio reproduction is 112,000 Hz.
RINARO PARUS® DIAPHRAGM
An innovative low mass acoustic diaphragm constructed on an ultrathin biaxially oriented semi-crystalline film.
EASY TO DRIVE
101db@1mw/1kHz; 32 Ohm; can be driven by almost any source without the need for amplification.
PATENTED ISODYNAMIC HYBRID ARRAY TECHNOLOGY
One of the most sophisticated and advanced planar magnetic technologies in the world.
DRIVER ARCHITECTURE
CASING
Reinforced polymer housing designed to withstand the demanding 12,7N load generated by the Hybrid Magnet Array.
RINARO PARUS® DIAPHRAGM
Weighing only 0.11g with a large active area of 4650mm2.
HYBRID MAGNET ARRAY
Symmetrically placed on either side of the diaphragm, neodymium magnets are arranged into a Hybrid Array to create a 0.35 Tesla Isodynamic magnetic field required for a uniform activation across the whole diaphragm surface.
RINARO PARUS®
AN INNOVATIVE DIAPHRAGM MATERIAL
The driver behind ELITE features Rinaro Parus®, a low-mass acoustic diaphragm made of an ultra-thin polymer film. This film, when combined with Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver tech, produces natural sound and a wide soundstage, improving definition and speed across the frequency range. The polymer is made using a process of sequential biaxial lengthening that improves its structural performance, resulting in remarkable strength, stiffness, and stability, with an extremely low acoustic mass.
DUAL DRIVEN SYSTEM
The Isodynamic Hybrid Array enhances sound intensity distribution at high frequencies, resolving issues with traditional arrays where reflected signals negatively affect 3D sound imaging. Dual coil arrays provide better frequency targeting within different ear areas, improving auditory perception of higher frequencies.
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.
Positioning the most efficient part of a diaphragm in mid-high frequencies directly over the ear canal can increase direct sound waves and improve 3D imaging and spatial localization in the ear canal for frequencies above 10kHz.
ISOMAGNETIC® EAR PAD ATTACHMENT
REVOLUTIONARY EAR PAD TECHNOLOGY
An innovative design feature developed by Rinaro is the Isomagnetic® earpad attachment, which utilises the demagnetizing field generated by the driver to hold the earpad in place whilst also redirecting the magnetic field back into the driver and improving efficiency.
95% MAGNETIC FIELD SHIELDING
Reinforced polymer housing designed to withstand the demanding 12,7N load generated by the Hybrid Magnet Array.
RINARO PARUS® DIAPHRAGM
Weighing only 0.11g with a large active area of 4650mm2.
HYBRID MAGNET ARRAY
Symmetrically placed on either side of the diaphragm, neodymium magnets are arranged into a Hybrid Array to create a 0.35 Tesla Isodynamic magnetic field required for a uniform activation across the whole diaphragm surface.
Switch between two ear pad types for the ultimate customization.
Angled Alcantara
These earpads are designed to enhance the acoustic personality of your Elite, revealing new, exciting sound nuances. 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. Made of soft foam coated with Alcantara, with a fine protective mesh on the grill, the angled ear pads provide increased wearing comfort for most ear shapes.
Hybrid (Perforated Alcantara® Interior + Real Leather Exterior)
With a soft, yet durable outer finish, the HYBRID ear cushions perfectly balance the qualities of Alcantara® and leather into a single design. Besides the high wearing comfort, this unique combo delivers an airy sound signature, in which sound waves appear to trancend the space around you to create an immersive experience.
PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION WINGS
The patent-pending suspension wings support system is elongated and curved at both ends, descending further on the side of the head and distributing the weight of the headphone evenly, for an utmost comfortable listening experience.
DESIGNED FOR LIFE
Taking long-term sustainability to a new level, Elite is also fully serviceable: from the replaceable earpads to the high-performance materials used, every part of the headphone chassis is available to be easily disassembled and serviced.
SPECIFICATIONS
MZ3SE DRIVER
Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array®
Geometrical Shape
Ovoid
Open
Size
102 mm x 73 mm
Circumaural
Driver Weight
75 g
3 – 112,000 Hz
Casing
Fibreglass reinforced polymer
32 Ω
Diaphragm Type
Rinaro Parus®[MZ3SE]
101 dB (1 mW / 1 kHz)
Active Area
4,650 mm2
>130 dB
Diaphragm Weight
0.11 g
<0.05%
Acoustic Mass
7.5 kg/m4
420 g
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Meze together with Rinaro built new drivers from the ground up, and that resulted in a more balanced, faster, more precise and cleaner sounding headphone. The clarity of the ELITE is really nice and it does complex and fast passages in a better way.
A place in the sound Mount Olympus on Musicalhead is certain for the MEZE ELITE [...] With the ELITE, the Romanian manufacturer has, without question, another hit in the headphone sector.
What first grabbed me about the Elites was the full-sounding, natural tonal balance, which isn’t necessarily the norm with audiophile headphones [...] The Elitesare very pricey, but they’re indisputably among the best headphones you can buy, and you’ll be able to get good results with them using any amplifier.
Sonically, it sits right at the top with the other audiophile flagship headphones. If you are looking for a true upgrade, get the Elite. If you want more detail and clarity from your Empyrean, get the Elite. If you want the better and more efficient headphones without having to purchase an additional headphone amp, get the Elite.
The sound signature perfectly reflects its complex construction, with an innovative new driver that accomplishes Meze’s goal of setting a new standard with premium headphones. Almost all of its characteristics can be argued as standouts.
The Elite is a step up but a step up in a very competitive high-end headphone market right now in 2021. Thankfully it has a unique sound signature that I think many will embrace.
