MEZE LIRIC : mini review
11-17-2021
A Questyle CMA 12 - Master Edition Dac/Amp was use for this review.
Box : Meze has created a nice unboxing experience. The overall feel of the package and the Box are special. . Time and care was taken to create the nice package that contains the LIRIC.
Carrying Case : Its nicer in person than in the photos or videos. Its similar to a nice FOCAL case.
Cables : (2), Typical shorter and longer. Both are rubber and better then the similar style that comes with the Sundara and Hifiman Edition XS. Both Meze cables are SE (Mono). You can order Balanced for your LIRIC from Amazon, who carries the correct cable. The prices is $50 well spent.
Headband & Frame : Its Magnesium, and quite light and feels of high quality. Headband is easy to adjust and feels comfy.
Pads : Leatherish, comfy, deep. The Headphones on your head feel similar in comfort to the DCA Aeon 2. So, its very comfy.
mini Review :
When i decided to buy these, it was after i researched the available UTUBE reviews.
The Bloom Audio and the Major HIFI videos, were my touchstone that led me to decide to buy this new Meze (mobile) gear. And i have to tell you that i felt uncertainty while waiting for their arrival… because… the Bloom Audio review highly suggested that the LIRIC’s were Sub-Bass canons, and the Major HIFI review stated that the headphones are “bright”. So, doing the sonic math, … “Bright + Sub Canon” = Consumer V shape non audiophile disappointing gear.
Well, im happy to report that you are not find the LIRIC’s sound as being “too sub” or “bright”.
I would categorize the LIRIC’s Treble as “very nice presence”. “Crisp”
Also, and in fact, the Bass is extremely well balanced, and the overall tonality is more clear then bright, tho the sound of the LIRIC is definitely not dark.
Treble : Its very natural, and its slightly airy and smooth and nicely detailed. Its is also slightly crisp and present.
its the kind of Treble that lets you hear a Vocalist’s breath and causes cymbals to sound exciting and live, yet, trumpets do not punish your ears. It lets you hear the microphone, and gives electric guitars a bit of bite and acoustic guitars a bit of zing… So, its like that…
You know what i mean…Its the good stuff.
ITs not HEKSE overcooked, nor is it Audeze underwhelming. It is in fact quite possibly some of the most sweet and natural treble you’ll find in a closed back set of headphones. Layering and resolution are very good and yes there is a touch of added presence in the Treble FR, but its not sizzly, nor is it etched.
Midrange : Here is the debating point that is going to be debated once everyone who is going to own the LIRIC comes to the forum to tell us how they hear it.
I hear it like this. Its sweet and its engaging and seducing, and not out front and punched. It is in fact, just very well presented. There is ample wideness and detail, yet, the smoothness and balanced presentation of the midband is best defined as natural. Layering and resolution are very good.
Something you’ll notice is that the LIRIC’s lower mids are 1 step back, and this allows for more midrange clarity.
Bass : Its Linear, its round, sweet, and very balanced. The LIRIC is not a Sub-canon, and its not a bass recessed set of headphones. The LIRIC"s bass is expertly created to be a part of the total FR package, vs, being something that robs the mids of their precision or take centerstage regarding the LIRIC’s overall sonic presentation.
Its good bass, and its not a bass head bass. Its an audiophile performance low end presentation, exactly as you find with the LIRIC’s midrange and treble.
Instrument Separation : Meze does this very good in their Empyrean, and better with their Elite, and again in the LIRIC its excellent.
Soundstage : Its very good. It has good depth, width, and competes easily with many open backs. Its much wider and deeper than the Diana V2, for example.
There is a nice sense of Immersion, but not so much that you feel lost in a big room somewhere in the back of the auditorium while listening.
Timbre : Natural, clear, suggesting analytical.
In my opinion MEZE has created a world class set of closed headphones with the LIRIC
Its a comfortable wear and, it has a very balanced and natural sound signature, and its impressive as a build.
Nothing about the FR feels too aggressive or lacking in audiophile sound quality. The LIRIC’s voice is not a fatiguing sound nor is it dark, laid back, or lacking in precision and clarity.
Final analysis : Very Good gear, not overpriced., and now that MEZE has decided to offer the buyer the “pad replacement kit”, all systems are GO and get it.
This will be a set of headphones that everyone will want to try, and Future Audiophiles will buy for years and years.