Meze Audio's new Poet earphones have been designed to be "a more compact planar-magnetic open-back headphone that is every bit as capable as our flagship models", according to Alex Grigoras, Acoustic Engineer at Meze Audio.

To this end, Meze states it has blended "high-performance materials with an aesthetic of luxury." The Poet features a compact, open-back design and benefits from 92 mm x 63 mm ovoid MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers, a state-of-the-art planar-magnetic technology developed exclusively for Meze Audio by Rinaro Isodynamics.

These drivers deliver what Meze characterises as a "lively yet effortless listening experience," combining "lush, airy vocals and precise bass impact, balancing low-end depth with delicate high-frequency clarity" throughout its claimed 4 Hz-96 kHz frequency response. Impedance is listed as 55 Ω, and sensitivity is 101 dB SPL/mW at 1kHz.

The new open-back circumarual cans boast several unique technologies that Meze believes set it apart from other high-end headphones. These include the Romanian company's Hybrid Magnet Array, designed to create a uniform, powerful magnetic field across the 0.06g Parus diaphragm that combines incredibly low weight and expansive 3,507 mm2 active area for "pristine audio reproduction." We're told that this results in ultra-low distortion (THD <0.05%) and ultra-high-resolution audio.

Meze's Poet, like many of the brand's previous offerings, features an attractive intricate grill. The steel grill is housed on a magnesium chassis. Meanwhile, the flexible titanium alloy headband is wrapped in soft suede leather. The manufacturer tells us that the Poet's 350g weight is evenly and comfortably distributed.

Furthermore, the Poet is devised to be fully serviceable, with every component, including the magnetic ear pads and chassis materials, designed to be disassembled and replaced if and when required.

Finally, the headphones are bundled with a premium hand-braided copper cable connected by dual 3.5 mm TS jacks.

The Meze Audio Poet are available to buy now, priced at £1,850/US$2,000/€2.000.

Visit Meze Audio for more information