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.
Features:
- Ultra-low distortion
- Lightweight
- Ultra-high resolution audio
- Rinaro Parus® Diaphragm
- Easy to drive
- Patented Isodynamic Hybrid Array Technology
Beautiful Aesthetics
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 was 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, add days of inspecting each part of the headphone, assembling the parts, and making sure the final product rises up to Meze's high standards. This can’t be achieved through mass production and that means delivery times can be longer, but it’s worth it.
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 Meze strived to create a powerful, lifelike, and immersive experience that awakens the senses of the listener.
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 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, the 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 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 microstructure developing in the material, which exhibits remarkable strength, stiffness, and stability, combined with an extremely low acoustic mass.
Dual Driven System
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.
Revolutionary Earpad Technology
An innovative design feature developed by Rinaro is the Isomagnetic® earpad attachment, which utilizes the demagnetizing field generated by the driver to hold the earpad in place while also redirecting the magnetic field back into the driver and improving driver efficiency.
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.
- ALCANTARA®: This is the well-known 30mm deep Alcantara® ear pad originally developed for the Empyrean headphone in 2018.
- HYBRID (Perforated Alcantara® Interior + Real Leather Exterior): With a soft, yet durable outer finish, the HYBRID ear cushions are a new addition to the 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 transcend 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.