Meze Audio has been a number one title in audiophile headphones for years. Their open-back flagships, just like the Elite and Empyrean II, nonetheless flow into in audiophile circles as goals for endgame setups. Now, we flip to their closed-back choice. The Meze Strada is a brand new launch that has turned heads on the high of 2026, delivering high-quality sound for lower than $1000. However questions are rising about the place the Liric II stands with this newer, cheaper competitor. Does the Strada outperform the Liric II at greater than half the price? Or does the Liric II nonetheless stand as the highest possibility for closed-back headphones? On this comparability assessment, we’ll dive into all the small print that make these headphones completely different and what makes them related.
Let’s begin with the bodily qualities of those headphones. Each the Strada and the Liric II have ebony wooden earcups and a curved body to sit down in your head most comfortably. The principle seen distinction within the two headphones is the inexperienced body on the Strada versus the black on the Liric II. This makes the Strada look just a little extra earthy in its shade palette. The Liric II stays modern and on a darker theme with the black highlights. The 2 headphones equally relaxation in your head and have an adjustment possibility through poles on the left and proper sides. Each are secure to put on, although the Liric II weighs 100g greater than the Strada. For those who want just a little extra weight to really feel just like the headphone is extra secure in your head, it’s possible you’ll want the texture of the Liric II over the extra light-weight Strada.
By way of equipment, you get quite a lot of the identical equipment from Strada to Liric II. They use the identical cable ends (twin 3.5mm male), and it’s straightforward to make use of any improve cable. The Liric II comes with the next high quality cable than the Strada, although it is extremely straightforward to improve cables must you need to use 4.4mm or one other termination with the headphone. You are given a tough shell case with each headphones, so touring with them is simple and doable.
It is arduous to say which one in all these headphones is healthier than the opposite for aesthetics and luxury. For me, I want the Strada’s extra light-weight construct and the contact of inexperienced (my favourite shade). The Liric II is unquestionably a pleasant possibility for individuals who want a modern and extra delicate aesthetic than an accent shade, and also you’re given a nicer high quality cable from the get-go reasonably than needing to improve. Relying in your private preferences for type and luxury, the Strada or Liric II might win extra factors in your e-book.
SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING
We begin to see probably the most stark variations between the Strada and the Liric II of their sound signatures. They each have a reasonably huge sound signature, one which expands fairly far in width. The closed-back design makes each signatures sound just a little extra intimate and narrower than what you would possibly discover in Meze’s open-back lineup. The Strada has a soundstage that wraps round you very simply, and every thing sounds up entrance and private in every observe. The Liric II has the identical quantity of intimate element, and the area feels bigger for layers to take a step again and develop into the area extra. It’s much less in-your-face and extra laid again to create a much bigger picture. The Liric II has extra distinct separation between devices than the Strada, however each have glorious placement, so you possibly can decide the place issues are within the stereo subject.
The sound signatures of those headphones are fairly completely different from each other. The Meze Strada is extra balanced from bass to treble, with a ahead push within the midrange to create a slight V-shape within the signature. In comparison with the Liric II, this sound signature has extra pure sound replica, which makes devices sound extra reasonable. The Liric II has an equally balanced sound signature, however the reverse placement of the midrange. The midrange recedes again to create a U-shape that places bass and treble on the forefront over every thing else. The element may be very sharp, and the sound replica steers away from naturalness. As a substitute, you get one thing that’s tuned in the direction of leisure and listening that’s not like something you have heard earlier than.
For those who’re on the lookout for a headphone with pure sound replica and cautious stability, the Strada could also be extra your pace. The Liric II is geared in the direction of listeners on the lookout for one thing completely different and distinctive in tuning. How do the person frequency ranges sound? We dive into these subsections subsequent.
BASS FREQUENCIES
Bass response is one thing that Meze Audio is aware of produce. That is clear in each the Strada and the Liric II, as they each have extremely punchy and distinct bass responses. There are delicate variations between them, although. The Strada’s bass shouldn’t be as robust as you would possibly anticipate out of a closed-back headphone, because it takes a little bit of a backseat and helps the element and punch coming from the treble and midrange as a substitute. This is not to say the bass is misplaced fully within the Strada; as a matter of truth, it’s nonetheless very current and provides good depth to everything of the signature. Nevertheless, it would not drive as strongly as you’d anticipate, so you’ll be able to admire different components within the observe with out getting overwhelmed by the bass.
Then again, the Liric II doesn’t draw back from a powerful bass response. It is likely one of the highlights of this sound signature, the place the bass dominates in each observe with exact readability and punchy sound. It toes the road between overly aggressive and warmly grounding, so it is an attention-grabbing listening expertise. It’s extra distinguished within the signature than within the Strada, so you possibly can hear extra depth within the low finish. It is rather grounding and fills out the area properly, so that you get a stable basis. For individuals on the lookout for a robust and dominant low-end, it’s possible you’ll want the Liric II over the Strada.
MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES
The midrange is the place the Strada and Liric II are full opposites. The Strada has a extra ahead midrange, the place the vocals come to the very entrance to sit down at middle stage. The element coming from the midrange is exceptional, and it looks like you possibly can pinpoint all of the smaller, minute components with ease. The Strada has layers which might be stacked backwards to fill out that center area within the sound signature. This headphone is great at reproducing trustworthy timbres in devices, however nonetheless offers them added element and area to ensure the stereo subject would not really feel empty. I appreciated all of the element and the forwardness of vocals, so that you felt such as you have been within the room when these tracks have been recorded.
Contrarily, the Liric II presents a midrange that’s much more recessed. It is like all these most important melodic devices simply get pushed backwards, save for some feminine vocal tracks that get a spotlight. It makes the bass and treble come ahead rather more, so you might be left with this U-shape because the signature. The midrange itself is very detailed, even whether it is hidden behind some layers of highly effective bass and brilliant treble. Devices like pianos and guitars have been colourful and textured, although they did not have the identical reasonable high quality because the Strada. Listening to the Liric II made me admire the smaller particulars of my music, because it took extra centered listening to listen to the acquainted components of the tracks I used to be used to.
TREBLE FREQUENCIES
Within the treble, the Strada and Liric II begin to share some similarities once more. The Strada displayed a high-end that was brilliant and ethereal, conserving issues mild and uncompressed. It will have been straightforward for this sound signature to turn out to be overly heavy with the punchy bass, however as a substitute, the Strada will get a raise in the fitting path with the colourful treble. There was loads of element that stayed relaxed and easy reasonably than piercing. I appreciated how frequencies may develop up and outwards into the open area of the highest finish and really feel pure as they rolled off. The treble additionally took a backseat in comparison with the midrange, however the element offered by this vary carried all through the entire signature to make every thing really feel lighter and simpler to take heed to for longer.
The Liric II takes a extra ahead and energetic method. The place the Strada was extra relaxed and took a step again to spotlight the midrange, the Liric II made positive the treble was heard and on the entrance of the signature. Strings and horns have been sharp with element, and readability was pristine from component to component. At some factors, the treble appeared just a little too harsh and was tremendous aggressive in high-energy tracks. My ear, over time, bought used to this sharper response within the treble, and I used to be capable of hear comfortably. The Strada’s response was positively much less aggressive, so individuals with extra delicate ears might want the relaxed tone that the headphone takes over the Liric II.
On the finish of the day, there actually is not any flawed alternative when selecting a closed-back headphone from Meze. Sure components like price range or compatibility might steer you in the direction of one alternative over one other, however neither can be an incorrect or dangerous alternative while you’re on the lookout for a high-quality closed-back headphone. Each the Strada and the Liric II supply glorious worth, high quality, and elegance for his or her worth factors, making them high contenders in a race for the perfect closed-back headphone.
For those who’re somebody who values dynamic element and modern aesthetics, the Liric II is an effective alternative for you. It has dynamic sound that is not fairly impartial, however is partaking and entertaining throughout the board. You will get a delicate and complex look with the black and ebony earcups that match the high-class audio high quality.
For those who’re on the lookout for one thing extra impartial and with heavy midrange element, the Strada could also be a better option. It’s light-weight and accented with an natural darkish inexperienced, so that you get an attention-grabbing look with its straightforward compatibility. The extra relaxed bass might go well with extra delicate ears, so you can hear for longer and do extra in-depth evaluation along with your listening.
You may get each the Strada and the Liric II at Audio46.
