The great flagship planar magnetic headphones shootout: Audeze vs. Hifiman vs. Meze vs. MrSpeakers

Note: This article was first published on 30 March 2019. Many of the headphones remain in production and are still very good options for readers who want to enjoy the pinnacle of headphone audio especially with a lossless music subscription like Apple Music or Tidal.

Preface

This is the follow-up to last year’s high-end planar magnetic headphone shootout that appeared in the August 2018 issue of HWM. In that test, we featured no less than seven flagship planar magnetic headphones and the Hifiman Susvara emerged victorious. Since then, newer headphones have arrived on our shores and so the Susvara was summoned once more to defend its crown. And this time, it will have to fight off new adversaries from Audeze, Meze, and MrSpeakers.

I also want to preface this shootout with some insights on the evaluation process. In this rarefied space, it is almost a given that the headphones will sound good. In fact, I would argue that most headphones today - most, not all - sound pretty decent. Gone are the days when a headphone has flubbery bass, totally recessed mids, and have a completely wack frequency response. If you have old headphones from eight or so years ago lying around that still works, I urge you to try them and compare them to the S$12 KZ ATE. You'll be surprised at how far S$12 gets you today. Research into our listening preferences and driver technologies have come a long way and these learnings have translated into better sounding headphones.

So apart from performance, other aspects of these headphones that are important are its comfort, build quality, and accessories. Comfort is crucial because no one is going to listen to a pair of cans if it causes them pain. Also, let’s make no bones about it, these headphones are as much a luxury item as they are a tech device. So build quality should be an important consideration - these headphones must be beautiful and be built to last. Finally, they should come with all the accessories - such as appropriate cables and/or extra pads - that one needs to maximize their investments.

Test philosophy and setup

My experience reviewing headphones tells me that the most important thing about testing headphones is to have all the contenders side-by-side. Our listening memory is poor and listening notes can only do so much. This is why the highly experienced (but sadly retired) headphone reviewer Tyll Hertsens insisted on having a Wall of Fame where he could hold on to headphones that he deemed were best in their class so that he could quickly have them for future comparisons. Side-by-side comparisons are important. In fact, any sort of headphone review is only meaningful when compared to other headphones, because audio is after all subjective and we need comparisons to other headphones to create a meaningful framework of reference. It’s not the same as testing GPUs and notebooks, you can’t put a hard number to the way a headphone sounds.

The headphones will be tested using an Oppo HA-1 headphone amplifier and DAC combo unit. Very briefly, the HA-1 is a fully balanced Class A amplifier capable of delivering up to 3.5W per channel through its balanced output. This is useful if you have insensitive headphones like the Hifiman Susvara. The DAC section uses the Sabre ES9018 DAC chip that supports PCM files of up to 32-bit and 384KHz resolution and DSD files of up to 11.28MHz (DSD256). I previously compared it to Schiit’s flagship combo of the Ragnarok and Yggdrasil and although the Schiit combo was clearly superior, the HA-1 held itself well and it does so while taking much less desktop space and costing considerably less. Unfortunately, the HA-1 was discontinued when Oppo Digital decided to bow out of the audio business. Test tracks used are a mix of songs of different genres (pop, classical, instrumental, rap, rock, metal, progressive) and in various formats, including FLAC, MP3, AAC, and streaming via Apple Music.

Now, let's roundup our contenders in this shootout...

Audeze LCD-MX4

The LCD-MX4 is one of the newest headphones in Audeze’s venerable LCD collection. If you are a long-time headphone enthusiast, then you will know that headphones like the LCD-2 and LCD-3 are the stuff of legends. For those new to the game, just know that Audeze, along with compatriots Hifiman, are pioneers of modern-day planar magnetic headphones.

The LCD-MX4 was conceived after getting feedback from the professional community from their time spent with the earlier LCD-4. As good as the LCD-4 is, its weight (well over 500g) meant that they could be uncomfortable for extended listening sessions. Additionally, their need for beefy amplification meant that they could not be used freely with laptops or mixing consoles.

And so Audeze sought to make the LCD-MX4 more friendly to audio professionals. For a start, it features extensive use of lightweight materials. The ear cups are fashioned out of magnesium and the head band is carbon fiber. But despite Audeze’s best efforts, the LCD-MX4 still weighs close to half a kilogram. But as a Singaporean male who has grown accustomed to wearing combat helmets during my time in National Service, I didn’t find the LCD-MX4’s weight to be excessive. The heavy magnets within the driver are to be blamed, but I found the suspension-style head band and the thick ear pads to help greatly with comfort.

I’m pleased to say that Audeze’s efforts on the sensitivity front have borne greater fruits. The LCD-MX4’s impedance is just 20 ohms while sensitivity is a very high 105dB/1mW. For comparison's sake, the LCD-4’s comparative figures are 200 ohms and 97 dB/1mW respectively. Even out of an iPad, the LCD-MX4 plays loudly and sounds authoritative. The same can’t be said for any other LCD headphone. That’s not to say that an amplifier is superfluous. Oh no. As is the case with any high-end headphone, an amplifier will still greatly improve the performance of the LCD-MX4.

The LCD-MX4 comes in Audeze’s signature pelican-style rugged carrying case. It ain’t pretty but it is gasketed, airtight, corrosion-resistant, fungus-resistant, waterproof, and lockable. In other words, it’s zombie apocalypse level stuff, which is good, because the LCD-MX4 is not cheap and you’ll want a sturdy case to protect your investment.

Inside the case, you’ll find that the LCD-MX4 is sparsely accessorized. All you have is the headphone along with a 1.9-meter long single-ended cable that terminates in a standard 6.35mm plug and that’s it. Considering the price and the target audience of the headphone, I think an additional balanced cable should have been provided as standard. Similar to other headphones in the LCD series, the LCD-MX4 relies on 4-pin mini-XLR inputs.

The LCD-MX4 features the company’s latest driver technologies including Double Fluxor magnetic arrays, ultra-thin Uniforce diaphragms, and Fazor technology. Fluxor arrays are a special way of arranging magnets in the driver to increase magnetic density. High magnetic density results in better driver control. Uniforce diaphragms employ variable trace width to compensate for variations in the magnetic field so that the driving force across the entire diaphragm is more consistent. This reduces distortion and improves resolution and imaging. Finally, Fazors are specially-designed acoustical elements that are positioned on the magnet assemblies to help smooth out the flow of sound as it passes through them. Audeze claims this improves phase response, imaging, and reduces distortion.

 

Not surprisingly, the LCD-MX4 sounds similar to the LCD-4, and that’s a good and bad thing. The thing is, while the LCD-4 did some things well, it also had an uneven upper-mid to treble representation. Sadly, this is present in the LCD-MX4 too. Is it a deal-breaker? Not necessarily, because, remember, we are comparing it with three other über high-end headphones so flaws - no matter how small - are going to show up more clearly.

Similar to the LCD-4, the LCD-MX4 has an overall sound signature that is more neutral than Audeze’s older offerings. It is, however, a bit more laid back than its rivals here and it's pleasing and easy to get accustomed to - it instantly sounds agreeable. Resolution, clarity, and responsiveness are outstanding. Details and nuances in the sound are easy to pick out and transients are razor sharp. You instantly know that you are listening to something that is very high-end. Staging and space are good too, as the LCD-MX4 projects a wide image and doesn't sound closed in.

The LCD-MX4 upholds Audeze’s tradition of marvelous bass performance. Bass notes extend very deep and have a texture and cleanliness that is impressive even in this realm of über high-end planar magnetic headphones. The transition to mids is very clean and the mids themselves are smooth and present. Vocals and guitars sound lifelike, liquid, and lush. Unfortunately, for all of its merits, the LCD-MX4, like most other Audeze headphones, suffer from unevenness in the upper registers. Its main issue is that the upper-mids and treble, where it sounds jagged and peaky in some areas. This causes some instruments, strings, and pianos most prominently, to sound unnatural, as in Ryuichi Sakamoto’s classic Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

Even so, the LCD-MX4 remains a very alluring listen. It’s by no means the most technical competent headphone, but it is tastefully tuned and I think music lovers who listen to more modern and contemporary stuff won’t mind its deficiencies. However, its erratic treble representation means fans of classical and instrumental music should probably look elsewhere. Overall, the LCD-MX4 delivers on Audeze’s promise of a lighter, easier to drive, and cheaper version of the LCD-4, and in that light, it is something of a bargain.

Hifiman Susvara

Like Audeze, Hifiman is a pioneer of modern-day planar magnetic headphones. Founded in 2009 by Dr. Fang Bian, the brand now offers a wide variety of headphones - planar magnetic and dynamic - across a wide spectrum of price points. And speaking about price, we have to begin with the Susvara’s shocking price. Even in this expensive company of headphones, the Susvara is something else, costing an eye-popping $9,500. It is more than double the next most expensive headphone in this shootout.

So what do you get for the money? For a start, you get a nice package. Owners are greeted by a compact leather-lined display box with a hardcover book that explains the various technologies and features of the Susvara. You also get two 3-meter long cables inside - one that terminates in a 6.35mm plug and another that terminates in a 4-pin XLR plug. The cables are long, light, and not overly stiff. However, they have a rubber sheath that makes them look and feel cheap.

The build quality of the Susvara leaves much to be desired too. While the head band, yoke, and ear cups are all fashioned out of aluminum, they don’t feel as solid as other devices crafted out aluminum feel. The gimbals, shockingly, even creak. And although the wood lining around the ear cups is a nice touch, they neither look nor feel as nice as other headphones in this lofty price range that also have wood trimmings. In short, the build quality of the Susvara is not at a level one would expect after shelling out close to ten grand for a headphone.

The upside to this is that the Susvara is light. At just 450g, the Susvara is one of the lighter flagship planar magnetic headphones around and when coupled with the suspension-style head band and cushy ear pads, they are comfortable on the head and can be worn for hours without being bothersome or annoying in any way.

The Susvara was designed to be the best planar magnetic headphone that Hifiman has ever made and so it features all of Hifiman’s know-how and technologies. The magnet arrays in planar magnetic drivers are a source of interference and distortion, to reduce this, the Susvara features what Hifiman calls “Acoustically Invisible Stealth Magnets.” Essentially, these are magnets that were designed to be as acoustically transparent as possible so that sound waves can pass through unaffected. The Susvara also features the company’s Nanometer Grade diaphragms with 24K pure gold voice-coil traces that are less than a millionth of a meter thick. This low-mass diaphragm improves responsiveness and has lower distortion. The ear cups also feature “Window Shade”, which are specially designed vents to minimize resonant frequencies.

The Susvara was easily the best-sounding headphone in the shootout we did last year, so how did it fare this year? Well, the short story is that the Susvara is still easily the best-sounding headphone. But to get there requires a lot of power. Though the Susvara’s impedance is not high, its sensitivity, however, is woefully low at just 83dB/1mW. Even with an amplifier as powerful as the HA-1, I had to set the volume to about 1:30 to get the Susvara to sing.

But once it does sing, you will start to understand why it costs so much. Its speed, agility, and responsiveness are amazing and almost electrostatic-like. The soundstage was wide and the imaging was precise and solid. But most impressive of all is the Susvara’s peerless tonality and timbre. It sounds fantastically even and natural across the entire frequency range.

Bass, mids, and treble are all evenly presented and they sound powerful and unrestrained. The treble, in particular, is well articulated and very sweet. It extends well, has ample amount of air, and doesn’t sound shrill - a feat that is very hard to do. On tracks like Nobuyuki Tsujii's Kamisama no Karte, the Susvara could render pianos in their full glory - something very hard to do because of the complexity of piano tones. Additionally, vocals are rich and powerful, which gives acoustic performances greater depth and intimacy. Chinese songstress Zhang Weijia's cover of 爱要怎么说出口 has never sounded more moving. But don't for a moment think that the Susvara is a delicate headphone that can only handle well-mastered audiophile-grade recordings, putting on Blackpink's maiden hit Whistle showed the Susvara can rock out if it wants to.

If there is anything that could be improved, I would say the bass is a tad soft and could be more textured and impactful, but that’s only a very, very minor complaint. In terms of overall tonality and timbre, I find the Susvara to be unmatched.

In the end, I feel conflicted about the Susvara. Its build quality does not commensurate with its price and its inefficient drivers necessitate having an equally high-end mega-buck amplifier to get the best out of it. That said, if these shortcomings don’t bother you and you are willing to spend big to get the best headphone experience in the world, then I think the Susvara is as close as you can get to perfection.

Meze Empyrean

Although Meze Audio was founded around the same time as Audeze and Hifiman, their big break came much later in 2015 with their 99 Classics over-ear wood headphones. These stylish and relatively affordable headphones were critically acclaimed and highly popular and provided the platform on which Meze could use to develop the Empyrean.

The Empyrean is a landmark headphone for Meze. It's their first planar magnetic headphone and also their priciest headphone. For long-time fans of Meze, the jump in price is jarring but also appreciable once you handle the headphone and understand that the goal behind the Empyrean was to make the most technologically innovative and best-sounding pair of headphones in the world.

The Empyrean is delivered in a high-strength aluminum suitcase with thick foam inserts. You get two ear pads: one in genuine leather and another in Alcantara. They alter the sound quite a bit but more on that later. Only one cable is provided and it is a 3-meter long OFC cable that terminates in a standard 6.35mm jack. The Empyrean itself relies on 4-pin mini-XLR inputs so if you have an Audeze or ZMF headphone, you can use their cables with the Empyrean. As I mentioned earlier, at this price point, I would really like to see balanced cables provided as standard. But it must be said that the extra ear pads are a nice touch.

When it comes to build and construction, the Empyrean is easily the most refined and luxurious of the four. The ear cups are milled from a single block of aluminum and they are solid and well-finished. The suspension-style head band is intriguing. The frame is carbon fiber to reduce weight and the strap is genuine leather. To increase comfort, the head band has what Meze calls distribution wings at each end of the strap. These are spring metal wings that are incorporated into the ends of the leather head band strap that increase surface contact with the head to more evenly spread weight and reduce the chance of hot spots forming. It works and the Empyrean is comfortable to wear despite weighing 430g - heavy for headphones.

The driver within the Empyrean was developed alongside Rinaro Isodynamics, a company based in Ukraine that specialized in planar magnetic driver designs. It has what the two companies term an isodynamic hybrid array design. If you look at the trace patterns on the diaphragm, you will see that it has two independently shaped coil patterns. According to Meze and Rinaro, this design has two crucial benefits. Firstly, it enables the drivers to be shaped in a way that more closely resembles the shape of an ear. Secondly, it creates a dual-driven system that can better accommodate for time delays problems in conventional driver designs, thereby improving imaging. The switchback coil pattern at the top is more efficient at producing lower frequencies, whereas the spiral coil pattern at the bottom is more efficient at producing middle to high frequencies.

It’s an interesting design for sure but what does all this technology mean for the listener? To begin, the overall tonality is very balanced - more so than the Audeze and almost on a par with the Hifiman. Bass performance is very impressive and very slightly emphasized, giving the Empyrean’s sound a tiny bit of warm tilt. Putting on Lizzo’s Juice shows that the Empyrean digs deeper into bass notes than its rival and that its bass reproduction is very clean and impactful. Sub-bass performance is particularly excellent and trumps all other headphones here. For bassheads, the choice is clear.

But the Empyrean isn’t a one trick pony. The rest of the audio spectrum is fantastically represented. Mids are sweet and smooth and the treble has just the right amount of crispness and sparkle. In many ways, if you have always liked the bass response of an Audeze headphone but wished that it behaved better elsewhere, the Empyrean is probably the headphone you have been waiting for. Tonally, the two have many similarities but the Empyrean is the more balanced, especially in the upper registers. Soundstage is excellent too. The Empyrean paints a wide picture and never sounds compressed or close-in. I’m sure the cavernous ear pads play a role here.

Where the Empyrean falls short is in incisiveness and clarity. There’s a haziness to the sound where the leading edge of transients seem to be blunt. This manifests as a lack of sharpness to the mids and treble, and can be heard on Mika Nakashima's magnum opus Yuki no Hana, where she doesn't sound as crisp and clear as she does on the other headphones. Consequently, while the projected soundstage is wide, the image is less solid. Nevertheless, the Empyrean is a very pleasing and good-sounding headphone but lacks the technical chops to make it truly top of the bunch.

What about that extra set of velour ear pads? It changes the overall signature of the Empyrean quite significantly, giving it an even more warmish tilt with rounder, fuller bass. Clarity is somewhat elevated but not enough to negate the haziness that I described above. But my preference, however, is for the leather ear pads as the Empyrean can sound too sibilant for my tastes with the velour pads on. I also prefer the cleaner bass offered by the leather pads.

This is an ambitious endeavor by Empyrean but one that I think can be largely viewed as a critical success. Overall build quality is outstanding and its sonic capabilities are praiseworthy. There are more technically competent headphones but the Empyrean has an alluring signature that is easy to get accustomed to and love, and not to mention unmatched build quality. And for all that, I’m sure the Empyrean will have no shortage of fans.

MrSpeakers Ether 2

The story of MrSpeakers is an inspirational one. It began as a one-man job by Dan Clark around 2012, who modified Fostex T50RP headphones in his spare time. Business was so brisk that he soon quit his full-time job and started modifying and developing new modifications of these T50RP headphones. With the funds gained, he channeled it back into research and development, all with the ultimate goal of one day developing his very own headphone. That day came in 2015 when MrSpeakers released the Ether, a headphone designed from the ground up with their own proprietary driver. And last year, they followed up with the Ether 2, which has a lighter design, an improved driver, and an updated cable.

Like the last generation Ether headphone, the Ether 2 comes in a maroon hard carrying case packed neatly inside a box. Opening the carrying case reveals the headphone and an accompanying VIVO cable of the owner’s choice. In this case, we received a 1.8-meter long cable that terminated in a 4-pin XLR connector. Like its predecessor, the Ether 2 uses Hirose connectors. The cable is an update on the old DUM (Distinctly Un-Magical) cable. It features silver-plated oxygen-free copper and, more importantly, is remarkably supple and soft.

Dan Clark is obsessed with making his headphones as light as they can and the Ether 2 is easily the lightest planar magnetic headphone in the world weighing just 290g. It’s over 20% lighter than its predecessor and considerably lighter than all of its rivals. How did they achieve it?

Obviously, the use of lightweight materials features heavily in the Ether 2. The ear cups are aluminum and the suspension-style head band is made out of a special memory metal called NiTinol. It’s an exceptional material for headphone head bands because it is light, strong, but also extremely flexible. You can flex it into any shape and it always returns to its original form. This enables the Ether 2 to exert just the right amount of clamping force on the head. To further reduce weight and increase comfort, the leather head band has large perforations. Expectedly, the Ether 2 feels light on the head, but unfortunately, the synthetic leather ear pads that it comes with detract from the overall wearing comfort because it’s a too thin and not as well padded as I think it should be.

To further reduce weight, improvements were also made to the driver. The driver baffle is carbon fiber and a new diaphragm that has 70% less aluminum trace weight is used. This has the nice side-effect of improving clarity and resolution. On top of that, the driver also employs V-Planar and TrueFlow technologies gleaned from the original Ether. V-Planar refers to the knurled diaphragm that the Ether 2 uses. Since it's creased in its relaxed form, it moves like an accordion does through larger motions, which means it is never stretched which can be detrimental for sound reproduction. According to MrSpeakers, there are numerous benefits to this action: it improves bass response, dynamics, treble, and reduces distortion. TrueFlow, on the other hand, refers to waveguides that reduce turbulence within the driver and help guide sound waves out more smoothly to the listener’s ears.

The Ether 2 is a technically impressive headphone and you can hear it. It sounds dynamic and fast, and there’s an incisiveness and urgency to its sound that is missing from the Audeze, Meze, and even the Hifiman. Tonally, the Ether 2 was very balanced and coherent. Its performance across the entire audio spectrum was very liquid and smooth. I don’t hear any nasty peaks, dips, or bloat. Bass is clean; mids are rich, giving vocals a full-bodied and confident sound; and the highs have nice extension, air, and sparkle, and were not fatiguing. Timbre was natural and very good too.

There are, however, a couple of things worth taking note of. It sounds bright compared to the other headphones. As a result, it’s more fatiguing to listen to, especially if you are coming from more laid back headphones like the Audeze and Meze - but only slightly. Its bass also doesn’t extend quite as deep and sounds a little too polite for my liking. It could do with more punch and impact. Finally, even though it's tonally balanced, I found its overall presentation to be a little cold and clinical as if it is missing a certain kind of musicality that you get from its rivals. Diana Krall’s vocals on Just the Way You Are in her Live in Paris album sounds a little distant and frosty, especially when compared to the luscious Audeze and Hifiman. That said, I must clarify that it doesn’t make the Ether 2 an inferior headphone. It’s just not to my personal tastes.

To round things up, there’s a lot to like about the Ether 2. Technically, it is an extremely competent headphone with a dynamic, clear, and tonally balanced sound. Though it sounds a little cold for my tastes, objectively speaking, however, I don’t think I can fault it. Furthermore, it is the most affordable headphone here by a huge margin. With the Audeze and Meze both costing more than four grand and the Hifiman asking just shy of ten, the MrSpeakers Ether 2 at S$2,899 is a veritable bargain in the realm of flagship headphones.

Final thoughts and conclusion

As a preamble to my conclusion, I want to make it clear that, for the most parts, these four headphones that are gathered here are all great sounding headphones. They represent the pinnacle of headphone technology and I think anyone can and will be happy with any one of them. As a follow up, I also want to restate that we all hear differently and have different sonic tastes so my findings here are certainly not the last words with regard to these headphones. You may hear and feel differently about these headphones and that’s alright. Right, so on to my findings and thoughts.

Audeze LCD-MX4

Of the four, I found the Audeze LCD-MX4 to be the most uneven in its tonality because of its erratic treble presentation. I don’t think it’s a huge issue or necessarily a deal breaker but its shortcomings are quite obvious especially if you have a chance to listen to it next to the Meze, Hifiman, or even the MrSpeakers. Piano notes, in particular, have an unnatural timbre to them. On the bright side, even though the LCD-MX4 sounds more neutral in comparison to the older Audeze headphones, it still retains hints of that lush Audeze house sound that the company is so famous for. And so it is one of the more inviting and easy headphones to listen to for long periods. I don’t think it’s the most technically competent headphone but I think many people will like the way it looks and sounds.

Meze Empyrean

Meze’s first foray into the esoteric space of summit-fi headphones should be viewed as nothing less than a triumph. It’s lovingly made and it feels like a piece of luxury equipment, something that I don’t think can be said for the rest of the headphones. Antonio really nailed down the fit and finish of what a no holds barred headphone should be like. It sounds great too. It has much of the characteristic of the Audeze but with far better treble presentation and an overall more even tonality. Its only shortcoming is it lacks the clarity and incisiveness of its rivals, giving it a somewhat blunt sound which is typically uncharacteristic for a planar magnetic pair of cans. Nonetheless, I consider the Empyrean a triumph and can’t wait to see Meze’s follow-up to it.

MrSpeakers Ether 2

The Ether 2 is a marked improvement over its predecessor and it’s a very strong offering from MrSpeakers in the high-end headphone space. Its unique construction and use of materials make it incredibly light while the new driver brings with it improved clarity, amazing incisiveness, and outstanding tonality. Objectively, this headphone is hard to fault, especially when you consider its technical abilities and also the small fact that it costs substantially less than its rivals. That said, I do find it a little clinical in its presentation and less inviting to listen to when compared to its rivals - but that’s just me. It seems disingenuous to call a $2,899 headphone a bargain, but that’s what the Ether 2 is.

Hifiman Susvara

The Susvara is really expensive. Almost obscenely so considering its somewhat shoddy build quality. Furthermore, its incredible power requirement only adds to the overall costs as it requires a suitably high-end amplifier. However, it rewards your efforts  (and considerable financial investment) with an out-of-the-world listening experience. Often times, I would listen to headphones and I would wish that it did this or that better but not so with the Susvara. I didn’t want more. Its tonality and evenness is amazing and so is its resolution, clarity, and sound stage. It might feel somewhat flimsy but the upside is that it feels light on the head and extremely comfortable to wear. But perhaps the most important thing is that as an overall listening package, it is peerless. No other headphone does everything as well as the Susvara does, and that’s a rare feat. At the end of it all, the only question you really need to ask yourself is: Can I afford this? If the answer is yes, you will be richly rewarded with a headphone that sounds, dare I say it, perfect.

 

	Click here for a rundown of pros/cons
	Click here for a rundown of pros/cons
	Click here for a rundown of pros/cons
	Click here for a rundown of pros/cons