Meze Audio Anounces POET High-Performance Planar-Magnetic Headphones

1 year ago 14

The new Meze Audio POET planar magnetic headphones are a combination of technology and luxury ... [+] design.

Meze Audio

Meze Audio, the Romanian manufacturer of high-end headphones, has announced its latest pair of planar-magnetic headphones aimed at the audiophile market. The POET headphones combine Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array technology with luxurious casing materials and an ergonomic design that showcases what can be achieved in a pair of compact, open-back headphones.

At the heart of the POET headphones is a sound signature that Meze Audio describes as offering: “Lush, airy vocals and precise bass impact, balancing low-end depth with delicate high-frequency clarity.” With a frequency range starting at a subsonic 4Hz and extending to a bat-squeaking 96kHz, these headphones have a tonality enhanced with high-frequency sparkle but with a comfortable sound signature.

The headphones have been designed to extract as much detail as possible from the music by separating the instruments into a convincing soundstage. Thanks to MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers, the POET headphones leverage the innovative technology that’s been jointly developed by Meze Audio and Rinaro Isodynamics.

The headphones’ housings feature an intricate steel grille in a copper tone and a magnesium chassis which gives the construction an understated feel of luxury. The thin leather headband looks a little uninviting at first but its soft suede underside contributes to the headphones’ durability and comfort levels. The ultra-soft ear cushions provide a high level of comfort, even for extended listening sessions.

The new Meze Audio POET feature a smart metal grille and a soft suede-lined headband.

Meze Audio

The flexible titanium alloy headband is designed to evenly distribute the weight of the headphones across the wearer’s head, ensuring a relaxed fit for more comfortable listening. The lightweight design and use of magnetic ear pads make these easy headphones to wear and swapping over the ear pads is easy should they ever need replacing.

The planar magnetic drivers in the POET are made in Ukraine by a company called Rinaro Isodynamics. Isodynamic Hybrid Array technology has been developed by the company over three decades and the MZ6 drivers used in the POET headphones are the result of many years of research and development. The drivers are hand-assembled and tested at Rinaro’s Lviv factory.

There are several breakthrough features in the design of these new headphones, including a Hybrid Magnet Array that produces a uniform and powerful magnetic field across the whole surface of the diaphragm. The Parus diaphragm weighs a mere 0.06g and has a large active area for audio reproduction. The resulting sound has ultra-low distortion (<0.05%) alongside high-resolution.

Meze Audio claims its commitment to craftsmanship and longevity goes as far as making every component in the POET headphones easy to disassemble and replace. Whether it’s the magnetic ear pads or the materials used throughout the chassis, the headphone’s construction and finish is designed to provide years of listening.

POET planar magnetic headphones from Meze Audio with their deluxe copper braided cable.

Meze Audio

The detachable cable that ships with these headphones is a premium, hand-braided design made from high-quality copper. The cable connects to each ear cup with a mono 3.5mm TS jack plug. The two cables join into one thicker braided cable that terminates with a 6.35mm stereo jack plug for use with serious hi-fi systems. There’s no 6.35mm-to-3.5mm adapter provided in the box but Meze should be able to provide custom cables or users could opt for a third-party solution such as the range of Dekoni Ensemble cables.

And now we come to the sound quality of these premium headphones. When Meze Audio says the POET have “lush, airy vocals and precise bass impact, balancing low-end depth with delicate high-frequency clarity,” they’re not joking. The POET exhibit an extremely low bass frequency that I haven’t heard from a pair of planar magnetic drivers before.

In a blind listening test, one might think that these headphones are built with dynamic drivers. However, the clarity of the midrange and the delicacy of the upper frequencies suggest that Meze Audio has combined the best qualities of dynamic drivers with the finesse and subtlety of planar magnetic drivers to produce an airy quality with a foundation of a solid bass. This feat of sonic engineering should resonate well with the POET’s intended audience.