Meze Liric 2 Review – Closed-Back Maximiser

Comparisons –

Meze Liric ($2000): To summarise the above analysis, the Liric and Liric II definitely share the same foundation, but the end result is remarkably different. The Liric is more contrasted and neutrally toned while the Liric II is more natural and coherent but also warmer and fuller. The Liric offers higher dynamics and better punch and slam. The Liric II offers superior linearity and texture with a more balanced bass presence. The Liric has a more scooped out lower midrange that gives it a cleaner voicing but also slightly strained vocals.

The Liric II sounds immediately more natural with a more even bass to midrange transition. As it is more articulate, the Liric II sounds just as clear but introduces additional richness into its voicing. The treble is far more desirable to me on the Liric II. It has more lower-treble and a similar upper-treble sparkle. However, it tones down the mid-treble producing a more controlled presentation with superior background cleanliness. This gives it a much more accurate imaging performance albeit at the expense of separation due to its warmer voicing.

DCA E3 ($1999): The E3 is a more neutrally orientated headphone, showcasing a slightly more balanced and linear tuning. While this may be more accurate, it doesn’t necessarily equate to greater musical enjoyment. The E3 has a similar bass quantity but a more predominant sub-bass focus. It offers a more affirmative slam and greater weight and dynamics. The Liric II is warmer, fuller and smoother. The E3 has better separation and slightly higher definition but the Liric II is more textured and forgiving whilst offering similar responsiveness and overall resolution. The midrange is slightly more upfront on the E3 and offers a cleaner tonality. Once again, it showcases superior separation and slightly higher definition. The Liric II by comparison is warmer, smoother and more laid-back.

Both headphones strike as natural with no notable tonal oddities, they just achieve this in slightly different manners. The E3 offers slightly higher fine detail retrieval while the Liric II is more listenable for longer listening sessions.  Treble is more linear on the E3 with exception of a small mid-upper treble boost. The Liric II has a bit more articulation to its lower-treble giving it more bite and crispness while the E3 sounds airier and more open. Both extend brilliantly and offer sparkle and headroom in spades. The E3 may fatigue a little due to its brighter leaning treble tuning while the Liric II is crisp but still quite clean and well damped. The E3 has a slightly wider stage and better separation. The Liric II has higher coherence and better layering.

Meze Elite ($4000): The Elite is obviously far pricier, but the Liric II is definitely cut from the same cloth. Both headphones are warm leaning, but the Elite simply sounds scaled up in every regard. Most notably, its bass tuning is a little flatter but its low-end extends better and is slightly more elevated. As a result of its flatter tuning, the Elite has noticeably more definition and separation. The Liric II has a bit more of an upper-bass hump that gives it a fuller sound but at the expense of separation. While its definition is good, the Elite simply resolves better. The midrange voicing is very similar, however, the Elite has notably bigger vocals. It is a touch laid-back also but sounds more filled-in and spacious.

The Liric II has slightly smaller, leaner vocals that are a bit more transparent but lack the same liquidity and layering. The top-end is more present on the Liric II and it sounds more incisive with greater lower-treble presence. The Elite once again is more linear, sharing a dark background but offering more texture and body in the foreground and more information in the upper-treble. The Liric II sounds a bit more brittle if not sounding bad in isolation. The soundstage is where the Elite really takes the cake, sounding much larger and spacing its layers with aplomb. The Liric II is a respectable performer but can’t escape the shackles of its closed-back design. Obviously, the Elite is a bigger, better-sounding headphone but the Liric offers the same qualities scaled down sonically and physically in a much more portable package.

Verdict –

When Meze released the Liric, it was immediately apparent that this was a creation born from passion and relentless dedication. Though not everyone jived with the sound tuning, all appreciated its captivating design and nigh flawless ergonomics and build quality. With such a foundation, the Liric II serves as a refinement rather than replacement. It brings the same balance of function and form whilst introducing a far superior cable and serviceable ear pads. The sound tuning represents a great response to popular feedback from the original model, boasting an instant improvement in midrange voicing and much improved overall coherence. Though not perfectly balanced, the Liric II is now far more in line with the company’s open-back headphones with an added layer of warmth and richness that contribute to excellent long-term listenability. The Liric II suits those wanting a sound that is rich and relaxed yet articulate and genre-flexible all in a premium closed-back form factor that still manages all-day comfort.  

The Liric II is available from Meze Audio (International) for $2000 USD at the time of writing. I am not affiliated with Meze and receive no earnings from purchases made through these links.

Track List – 

Billie Eilish – dont smile at me

Bob Seger – Night Moves

Courtney Barnett – Rae Street

Cream – Wheels of Fire

Dire Straits – Communique

Dirty Loops – Next To You

Eagles – Hotel California

Elton John – Honky Chateau

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

H.E.R – I Used To Know Her

Jasen – BYE

John Mayer – Continuum

Kanye West – Ye

Missy Higgins – The Sound of White

Radiohead – OK Computer

TALA – ain’t leavin` without you

The Beatles – Abbey Road

The weeknd – After Hours

Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride