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A Renowned Audio Brand’s New Audiophile Headphones Promise Elite Hi-Fi Sound for Less

The hi-fi company introduced its most affordable pair of open-back planar magnetic headphones.

Meze Audio Poet headphonesMeze Audio

By Tucker Bowe

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Meze Audio is well known for its beautiful (and relatively affordable) hi-fi headphones. However, in recent years, the Romanian audio maker has become one of the leaders in planar magnetic headphones … which can be rather pricey.

And while its newest cans, the Meze Audio Poet, aren’t cheap by any means, they offer a more affordable way for hi-fi enthusiasts to get into planar magnetic headphones.

Meze Audio Poet

Meze Audio Poet headphones
The Poet are smaller and more affordable than the brand’s other open-back planar magnetic headphones.
Meze Audio

Affordable planar magnetic cans?

The Poet is the brand’s most compact and affordable pair of open-back headphones with planar magnetic drivers. They cost $2,000, while Meze Audio’s two higher-end planar magnetic lines, the Elite and Empyrean, cost $4,000 and $3,000, respectively.

In fact, the Poet is very similar to the brand’s Liric, which are also $2,000 planar magnetic headphones. The most significant difference is that the Liric have a closed-back design, while the Poet are open-backed.

As a refresher, planar magnetic headphones are known for delivering a higher-fidelity sound than dynamic headphones (a category most popular headphones fall into). And since most have a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack and don’t necessarily require a separate amp, you can use them with most sources.

Meze Audio Poet headphones
The compact and lightweight design of the Poet promise increased comfort for long listening sessions.
Meze Audio

Refined driver tech

Meze Audio partnered with Rinaro Isodynamics, a Ukrainian audio company with over 30 years of planar magnetic experience, integrating its MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers into the Poet.

These MZ6 drivers combine a uniform magnetic field design with an extremely lightweight diaphragm, resulting in an extremely high-resolution sound with ultra-low distortion (<0.05%).

According to Meze Audio, the Poet headphones capture “every nuance, from the deepest sub-bass to the highest treble frequencies.” They produce a sound “akin” to that of its higher-end Elite series of planar magnetic headphones.

Meze Audio Poet headphones
The new driver tech promises a high-fidelity, low-distortion sound that’s akin to Meze Audio’s more expensive planar magnetic headphones.
Meze Audio

Fully service

At $2,000, Meze Audio’s Poet are luxury open-back headphones made of premium materials. They feature a steel grill, magnesium chassis, and soft suede leather headrest. The headband is made of a flexible titanium alloy that, according to the brand, evenly distributes weight.

The Poet comes with a hand-braided copper cable that matches the color of the headphone’s grills. These cables are detachable and feature dual 3.5mm TS jacks.

One interesting thing about the Poet headphones is that they are designed to be fully serviceable. Every component can be disassembled and, if damaged or worn out, can be replaced. And that’s neat.

Meze Audio Poet headphones
The Poet feature the same magnetic ear pad system as featured in Meze Audio’s Liric.
Meze Audio

Price and availability

The Meze Audio Poet open-back planar magnetic headphones are available now. They cost $2,000 and can be purchased from Crutchfield or Meze Audio’s website.

Meze Audio Poet headphonesMeze Audio

Meze Audio Poet

The Meze Audio Poet are the Romanian hi-fi brand’s most affordable and compact pair of open-back planar magnetic headphones. They feature MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers — which the brand partnered with Rinaro Isodynamics, a Ukrainian audio company with over 30 years of planar magnetic experience, to create — that deliver an extremely high-resolution sound with ultra-low distortion (<0.05%). They also have a fully serviceable design, so if components get damaged or worn out over time, they can be replaced.

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