Meze Audio ELITE Open Back Stereo Headphones

ELITE: THE SOUND OF PURE EMOTION

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.

Antonio Meze Drawing next to Meze Elite - Top Rated Studio Headphones with Superior Audio Performance

"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.

Meze Audio luxury planar magnetic open-back flagship headphones Elite Tungsten side view close up

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.

MEZE AUDIO X RINARO ISODYNAMICS

A BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP

Rinaro Isodynamic Planar Magnetic Driver

OVER THIRTY YEARS OF AUDIO INNOVATION

Rinaro Isodynamics was founded in Ukraine during the Cold War to research acoustic technology and has been innovating in planar magnetics for over 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, ELITE, LIRIC, and POET headphones.

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.

ISODYNAMIC is a registered trademark of Rinaro Isodynamics Limited

ULTRA LOW DISTORTION
Total harmonic distortion (THD) measures under 0.05% throughout the audible frequency range.

LIGHTWEIGHT
75 g 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
101 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz; 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

[MZ3SE] CASING
Reinforced polymer housing designed to withstand the demanding 12,7 N load generated by the Hybrid Magnet Array.

[MZ3SE] RINARO PARUS® DIAPHRAGM
Weighing only 0.11 g with a large active area of 4650 mm2.

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.

Meze Audio Elite Rinaro Dual Driven Driver

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 10 kHz.

ISOMAGNETIC® EAR PAD ATTACHMENT

REVOLUTIONARY EAR PAD TECHNOLOGY

An innovative design feature developed by Rinaro is the Isomagnetic® ear pad 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.

Meze Audio Elite Rinaro Driver Magnetic Ear Pad

95% MAGNETIC FIELD SHIELDING
Reinforced polymer housing designed to withstand the demanding 12,7 N load generated by the Hybrid Magnet Array.

RINARO PARUS® DIAPHRAGM
Weighing only 0.11 g with a large active area of 4650 mm2.

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.

CALIBRATE YOUR SOUND

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 grille, 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.

Note: The videos and pictures above may include previous finishes that are now discontinued.

SPECIFICATIONS

OVERVIEW

MZ3SE DRIVER

Driver Type

Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array®

Geometrical Shape

Ovoid

Operating Principle

Open

Size

102 mm x 73 mm

Ear Coupling

Circumaural

Driver Weight

75 g

Frequency Range

3 Hz – 112 kHz

Casing

Fiberglass reinforced polymer

Impedance

32 Ω

Diaphragm Type

Rinaro Parus® [MZ3SE]

Sensitivity

101 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz

Active Area

4,650 mm2

Maximum SPL

>130 dB

Diaphragm Weight

0.11 g

Total Harmonic Distortion (THD)

<0.05%

Acoustic Mass

7.5 kg/m4

Weight

433 g (15.27 oz)

Lower Frequency Limit

3 Hz

Input Connector

dual 4-Pin mini-XLR

Upper Frequency Limit

112,000 Hz

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. -Headfonia

EISA Best Product of 2023 Meze Audio Elite

Audiograde Editor's Pick Meze Audio Elite

Ear Fidelity Best High-End headphones 2022 Meze Audio Elite

European Product Design Award 2021 honorable mention Meze Audio Elite

Headphone Guru Editor's Choice 2021 Meze Audio Elite award

HiFi+ award winner 2021 Meze Audio Elite

HiFiClub.net award 2021 Meze Audio Elite

IDA Design Awards gold winner 2021 Meze Audio Elite

SoundStageHiFi.com award Meze Audio Elite

SoundStage Network product of the year award 2021 Meze Audio Elite

SoundStage! Network Reviewers Choice Meze Auido Elite

Excelencia Suprapixel Meze Audio Elite award

Meze Audio Elite Award The Absolute Sound 2022 Golden Ear