Meze Audio Elite Tungsten

Meze Elite – The sound of emotion

Meze Elite is the culmination of years of development, craftsmanship and sonic ambition. Created in close collaboration between Meze Audio and Rinaro Isodynamics, Elite represents a new benchmark in open, planar magnetic headphones. Combining advanced driver technology, honest materials and a design language that is as sculptural as it is functional, the result is a headphone that not only reproduces music, but conveys it with an emotional depth that invites the listener right into the recording.

Highlights

• Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array® driver with ultra-low distortion
• Rinaro Parus® ultralight diaphragm for high resolution and fast response
• Cerakote®-coated chassis in a tungsten-inspired finish
• Isomagnetic® ear cushion system with replaceable cushions
• Two sets of ear cushions with different sound signatures
• Patented Pressure Distribution Wings for exceptional comfort
• Open, circumaural design with large, natural soundstage
• 101 dB sensitivity at 32 ohms – easy to drive
• Fully service-friendly design, all parts are replaceable
• Hand-built in Europe with a focus on detail and durability

The driver – the heart of Elite

At the heart of the Meze Elite is the custom-designed Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array® driver. It uses two different coil geometries in a single diaphragm: a switchback coil, optimized for low-frequency reproduction, and a spiral coil, positioned directly in front of the ear canal for maximum precision in the midrange and treble. This architecture provides an exceptionally even distribution of energy across the frequency range, and a sound reproduction that is both fast, dynamic and natural.

The diaphragm is made from the proprietary Rinaro Parus® material, an ultra-light, biaxially oriented polymer film that combines low mass with high stiffness and stability. The low weight means the driver can respond extremely quickly to the signal, resulting in excellent resolution, clear transient reproduction and a sense of lightness and control even in complex passages. Distortion is kept to a minimum, so the nuances of the music remain intact.

A soundscape with depth, air and a natural sense of space

Elite is designed as an open, circumaural headphone, which gives a large and airy soundstage. The music is not experienced as closed inside the head, but as a space that unfolds around the listener. The combination of the large active membrane surface and the advanced driver control gives a convincing sense of depth, placement and perspective, where instruments and voices are given their natural place.

The overall result is a reproduction that is both analytically precise and pleasantly organic. You can listen critically, but also just sit back and let the music take over without the sound becoming tiring.

Materials, finishes and Cerakote®

Meze has chosen a tungsten-inspired color and texture as a visual metaphor for durability and strength. The chassis is coated with Cerakote®, a ceramic coating commonly used in the aerospace, medical, and defense industries. This finish provides remarkable resistance to abrasion, scratches, and UV light, without adding unnecessary weight.

All supporting elements are designed to be both robust and elegant, giving Elite a sense of solidity and luxury that matches the sound quality.

Comfort for long listening sessions

Comfort is a central part of the Elite experience. The headphones use Meze's patented Pressure Distribution Wings, a suspension system where the headband design distributes weight evenly across the head. This reduces pressure points and allows the Elite to be worn for many hours without discomfort. At the same time, the drivers are lightweight and the clamping force is carefully tuned so that the headphones fit securely without feeling tight.

Ear cushions and sound adjustment

The Elite comes with two different sets of ear cushions, each offering a slightly different sound character and feel. The angled Alcantara cushions increase the volume in front of the ear slightly, resulting in a more airy and open sound with cleaner bass and a more pronounced midrange presence. The hybrid cushions, which combine genuine leather on the outside with perforated Alcantara on the inside, provide a slightly fuller and warmer sound and a more enveloping feel around the ear.

The pads are attached via Rinaro's Isomagnetic® system, which both makes replacement simple and improves the magnetic efficiency of the driver. This means you can easily switch between the two sound signatures while ensuring optimal fit and placement.

Sustainability, service and lifespan

Meze sees Elite as a product that should be able to accompany its owner for many years. That is why the headphones are designed so that all vital parts can be replaced. The ear cushions, cable, headband, frame parts and even the drivers can be serviced or replaced if necessary. This reduces the need to replace the entire product and makes Elite a long-term investment rather than a consumable item.

An emotional reference experience

Created for the listener who seeks something beyond the purely technical, Meze Elite is a headphone that combines extreme engineering precision with a deep musical expression, where sound, space and dynamics merge into a higher unity. It is as much an audiophile tool as it is a piece of applied art, designed to be used, loved and preserved.