Meze ELITE Planar Magnetic Headphones (Latest Edition)

THE SOUND OF PURE EMOTION Elite
THE NEW ISODYNAMIC HYBRID ARRAY FLAGSHIP POWERED BY RINARO ISODYNAMICS

PASSION BROUGHT US HERE TECHNOLOGY MADE IT HAPPEN

10 years ago, we made a commitment to break the barriers of the audio industry. Our products were made to amaze, inspire and transform each listening into a multi-sensory experience you can get lost in. With a “no-compromise” mindset, driven by our love for art and sound, we are committed to building one of a kind headphones using innovative designs and technologies that perfectly complete each other to create pure emotion.

Key Features at a Glance

• Driver type: Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver®
• Open-back, Circumaural headphones
• Aluminum CNC frame
• Carbon fiber headband
• Patent Pending pressure distribution wings
• Revolutionary isomagnetic earpads
• Anthropometric earcup shape

MEZE X RINARO COLLABORATION

Meze Audio and Rinaro Isodynamics continue their collaboration for the release of the new ELITE Isodynamic Hybrid Array headphone. Combining the outstanding mechanical design and ergonomics from Meze Audio with the signature technology and acoustic engineering of Rinaro, ELITE is here to set a new standard in top-of-the-line headphone performance.

Meze Audio

For the past 10 years, Meze Audio has been developing audiophile headphones and earphones renowned for their timeless design, pure comfort and engaging, vivid sound. From looks to technology, Meze Audio products are designed to surpass all short-living trends and become heirlooms, rather than just headphones. Today, founder Antonio Meze and his skilled team design and develop their products in Baia Mare, Romania, in the spirit of their original ‘no-compromise’ vision.

Rinaro Isodynamics

Rinaro originated in the USSR (today’s Ukraine) during the Cold War as part of a state-funded acoustic technology research program. With government backing and access to advanced testing facilities, the team was able to focus all of its efforts on planar magnetics. A field they have continued to innovate in for the last 30 years, since the collapse of the USSR. In the last decade, Rinaro have expanded their capabilities and capacity with the development of state-of-the-art R&D and manufacturing facilities in Ukraine and Poland. The new facilities have been a driving force in the creation of the revolutionary Isodynamic Hybrid Array technology found in Meze Empyrean and ELITE headphones.

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. Take a closer look to discover the highly complex geometrical imprint accentuated through the silver finish of the CNC aluminum frame.

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.

A carbon fiber headband with a real leather headrest were added to the frame, for an ultra-light feel and maximum durability.

PATENT PENDING 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.

PATIENCE MAKES PERFECT

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.

The process of making a single aluminum frame takes about 20 hours. To that, we add days of inspecting each part of the headphone, assembling the parts and making sure the final product rises up to our high standards. This can’t be achieved through mass-production and that means delivery times can be longer, but we guarantee it’s worth it. ELITE is hand assembled with care and painstaking attention to detail in Baia Mare, Romania.

THE PROGRESSION OF THE FLAGSHIP RINARO ISODYNAMIC HYBRID ARRAY DRIVER®

With a custom, newly designed driver, created by Rinaro Isodynamics, ELITE is the result of 3 years of research and development through which we strived to create a powerful, lifelike, and immersive experience that awakens the senses of the listener.

ULTRA LOW DISTORTION

Total harmonic distortion (THD) measures under 0.05% in the whole 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; 32Ohm; 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.

ARCHITECTURE OF THE ISODYNAMIC HYBRID ARRAY DRIVER®

The MZ3SE driver builds on the pioneering technology of the flagship MZ3 driver found in the Empyrean headphone. The innovative Isodynamic Hybrid Array technology delivers a more selective acoustic performance to the various areas within the structure of the ear. Advances in diaphragm materials have opened the doors to even higher resolution and accuracy of the sound reproduction, setting a new benchmark in headphone design.

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 our 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® A NEW LOW MASS DIAPHRAGM MATERIAL

The new driver behind ELITE features Rinaro Parus®, an innovative low mass acoustic diaphragm built on an ultra-thin biaxially oriented semi-crystalline polymer film. This, combined with the signature Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver technology, allows sound waves to flow freely past the ears and out, producing a natural sound transparency and a wide, articulate soundstage. This results in improved definition and speed over the entire frequency range.

The polymer is produced with bespoke sequential biaxial lengthening technology, a process that involves stretching the polymer in transverse directions at elevated temperatures to improve structural performance. This result is a complex semi-crystalline micro structure developing in the material, which exhibits remarkable strength, stiffness, and stability, combined with an extremely low acoustic mass.

DUAL DRIVEN SYSTEM ADVANTAGES

The use of different voice coil configurations found in the Isodynamic Hybrid Array creates the opportunity to improve the sound intensity distribution at high frequencies when directed at the auricle and ear canal.

This solves a common problem with conventional planar magnetic arrays whereby reflected signals enter the ear canal with different time delays, thereby worsening the focus of 3D sound imaging.

The use of dual coil arrays not only creates a balanced frequency response around the whole range, it also allows for better frequency targeting within different areas of the ear, improving acoustical perception on the upper frequency range.

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. At frequencies above 10kHz, where sound wave length is smaller than the cushions' inner cavity, the sound field becomes diffused with an amount of direct and reflected sound waves within the ear canal.

A significant increase of direct sound waves can be achieved by positioning the most efficient part of the diaphragm in mid-high frequencies directly over the ear canal, resulting in improved 3D imaging and spatial localization.

REVOLUTIONARY EARPAD 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 driver efficiency.

95% Magnetic field shielding

Ferromagnetic earpads decrease the magnetic stray field affecting the listeners head by 95%

Invisible locking system

Innovative use of the magnetic field of the drivers to keep the earpads in place

12% Increase in driver power

Patented ferromagnetic plates channel the magnetic field back into the driver increasing output by 1db or 12%

CALIBRATE YOUR SOUND

The Meze Elite headphone comes with two uniquely shaped earpads developed by Rinaro to allow for personal calibration of the sound signature.

01. ALCANTARA®

This is the well known 30mm deep Alcantara ear pad originally developed for the Empyrean headphone in 2018.

02. LEATHER + ALCANTARA® HYBRID

With a soft, yet durable outer finish, the HYBRID ear cushions are a new addition to our earpad family that perfectly balances the qualities of Alcantara and leather into a single design. Besides the high wearing comfort, this unique combo lowers the bass pressure and delivers an airy sound signature, in which sound waves appear to trancend the space around you to create an immersive 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 on the headphone chassis is available to be easily disassembled and serviced.

In The Box

• Case:
• Tungsten: High-strength ABS suitcase with foam inserts and leather handle
• For both colors, two sets of earpads included:
• one Hybrid (perforated Alcantara® interior + leather exterior)
• one Angled Alcantara®
• Choice of cable provided (as a stand-alone item not included in the case):
• mini XLR to 3.5 mm (1/8 in) 1.2 m (3.9 ft) OFC cable
• mini XLR to 6.3 mm (1/4 in) 2.5 m (8.2 ft) OFC cable
• mini XLR to balanced 4 pin XLR 2.5 m (8.2 ft) OFC cable

UPGRADE WITH BRAIDED FURUKAWA PCUHD CUSTOM CABLES

• Copper PCUHD Upgrade Cables
• Silver Plated PCUHD Upgrade Cables

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

OVERVIEW:

• Driver Type: Rinaro Parus® [MZ3SE]
• Operating Principle: Open
• Ear Coupling: Circumaural
• Frequency Response: 3-112,000 Hz
• Impedance: 32 Ω
• Nominal SPL: 101 dB (1 mW / 1 kHz)
• Maximum SPL: > 130 dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): <0.05% (in the whole frequency range)
• Weight: ~430g (14.8 oz) without cables

MZ3 DRIVER SPECIFICATIONS:

• Geometrical Shape: Ovoid
• Size: 102 mm x 73 mm
• Weight: 75 g
• Casing: Fibreglass reinforced polymer
• Type: Rinaro Parus® [MZ3SE]
• Active Area: 4650 mm²
• Weight: 0.011 g
• Acoustic Mass: 7.5 kg/m
• Lower Frequency Limit: 3 Hz
• Upper-Frequency Limit: 112,000 Hz

FAQ

• What technology powers the Meze Elite headphones?
  The Meze Elite headphones are powered by Rinaro's Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver®, which combines switchback and spiral-shaped voice coils to deliver an accurate and immersive listening experience. This patented technology provides superior sound detail and spatial imaging.

• What makes the Elite different from other Meze headphones?
  The Elite improves on Meze’s previous designs with a new Rinaro Parus® diaphragm, which enhances sound clarity, resolution, and speed across the entire frequency range. The headphones also feature premium materials like a carbon fiber headband and CNC aluminum frame for added comfort and durability.

• What are the Elite’s sound signature and performance capabilities?
  The Elite offers a balanced sound signature with exceptional clarity and depth. It reproduces frequencies as low as 3 Hz and as high as 112,000 Hz, delivering a wide, natural soundstage. Total harmonic distortion (THD) is below 0.05%, ensuring distortion-free audio.

• How does the Isomagnetic® earpad attachment work?
  The Isomagnetic® earpad attachment uses the demagnetizing field generated by the driver to hold the earpads in place. This design also helps to redirect the magnetic field back into the driver, improving its efficiency and reducing magnetic interference with the listener.

• What types of earpads come with the Elite headphones?
  The Elite comes with two types of earpads:

  1. Alcantara® Earpads – Known for comfort, these are made of 30mm deep Alcantara and are designed for detailed sound with smooth mid and high frequencies.
  2. Leather + Alcantara® Hybrid Earpads – A new design that combines leather and Alcantara to reduce bass pressure while delivering an airy sound signature.

• Are the Meze Elite headphones easy to drive?
  Yes, with a sensitivity of 101dB and an impedance of 32 Ohms, the Elite headphones can be driven by most sources, including portable devices, without the need for a dedicated amplifier.

• What is the Elite's diaphragm made of?
  The Elite’s diaphragm features Rinaro Parus®, an ultra-thin biaxially oriented semi-crystalline polymer film. This innovative material allows for exceptional sound transparency, low distortion, and a wide frequency response.

• How does the Elite handle high frequencies?
  The Elite excels at high-frequency reproduction with an upper-frequency limit of 112,000 Hz, making it capable of delivering extremely detailed and lifelike audio across the spectrum.

• Is the Elite comfortable for long listening sessions?
  Yes, the Elite features patent-pending pressure distribution wings and a carbon fiber headband that evenly distribute the headphone’s weight, providing long-term comfort. The lightweight materials and ergonomic design make it ideal for extended use.

• What is included in the Elite’s packaging?
  The Elite comes with a high-strength ABS or aluminum suitcase, two sets of earpads (Hybrid and Alcantara®), and a choice of cables (mini XLR to 3.5mm, 6.3mm, or 4-pin XLR). You can also upgrade to braided Furukawa PCUHD custom cables.

About Meze Audio

Founded by industrial designer Antonio Meze in 2011, Meze Audio is a high-end audio company from Baia Mare, Romania, crafting headphones and earphones renewed for timeless design, pure comfort and engaging, vivid sound.

Timeless, original, purposeful. This is what best describes the Meze Audio design philosophy. They strive to create products that are beautiful, yet meticulously engineered to deliver exceptional performance.

Each headphone Meze makes evokes a sense of timelessness and longevity, reflecting our commitment to lasting value. To them headphones are a perfect blend of design, high functionality and ergonomics. Meze Audio is a Romanian brand with soul and technical know-how that does it all out of pure love for sound and art.