Over-Ear Headphones
Sony WH-1000XM5
8.6/10SoundGuys scoreRead our review ›
$239.99at Amazon
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1 / 7MEZE AUDIO
MEZE AUDIO Empyrean
A stellar offering that's close to perfect—at a price.
Key specs
Connection Type
Wired-3.5mmMost commonWired-3.5mm48%Bluetooth44%Wired-usb-c7%Others2%
Wired-3.5mm is the most common — on 48% of the 239 over-ear headphones we've cataloged (of 239).
Weight
430 gAbove average430 g
133 g420 g
above average for over-ear headphones — based on 196 of 239 we've cataloged.
Connectivity
- Connection Type
- Wired-3.5mm
- Headphone Jack
- Yes
- USB Charging
- No
Design
- Weight
- 430 g
- Clamping Force
- Low g
- Color Options
- Gunmetal
- Ear Pad Inner Dimensions
- 75×48 mm
- Ear Pad Type
- Leather, Alcantara
- Foldable
- No
- Headband Type
- Adjustable over-head
Build
- Material Chassis Primary
- Aluminum, carbon fiber
- Water Resistance
- No
- Material Ear Cups
- Memory foam, PU leather, Alcantara
- Material Headband
- Carbon fiber, leather
Sound
- Acoustic Design
- Open-back
- Driver Count
- 1
- Driver Type
- Planar magnetic
- Frequency Response
- 8-110000 Hz
- Frequency Response High Hz
- 110000 Hz
- Frequency Response Low Hz
- 8 Hz
- Impedance
- 31.6 Ω
- Max Spl
- 130 dB SPL
- Sensitivity
- 100 dB/mW
Battery
- Battery
- No
Identity
- Model Number
- Empyrean
Microphone
- Microphone
- No
Release
- Date
- 2018-05
- Msrp Usd
- 2999 USD
- Year
- 2018
SoundGuys review
Read the full review ›Comfort & fit9.4
Connectivity2.0
Design7.0
Portability2.0
Features1.0
Value4.0
The verdict
If the Empyrean is in your price range you owe it to yourself to take a close look and an even closer listen to see if this might be your endgame headphones.
✓What we like
✓Nice frequency response
✓Innovative planar magnetic driver design
✓Outstanding build quality
✓Very comfortable fit
✕What could be better
✕Frequency response inconsistent with Alcantara pads
✕Not the most stable on the head
Features & Opinions
More from the team ›Commentary and deep dives from the SoundGuys editorial team.
Meze just made a $999 headphone cable that nobody really needsSure, it's gorgeous and hand-built one per day, but it can't do the one thing Meze claims.
Adam BirneyManaging EditorI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help you
Christian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.
Tom TriggsContributor
Adam BirneyManaging EditorI've reviewed headphones for over a decade: Here are 5 things I wish they did differentlyHeadphone companies: help me help youChristian ThomasEditor-at-large5 ways headphones are going to change in 2027Here's where things are headed.Christian ThomasEditor-at-largeWired vs wireless headphones: Which should you buy?Wired headphones do not automatically sound better.Tom TriggsContributorMore Over-Ear Headphones
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