Some products sent for review require you to search for something unique to say, or to distinguish them from the crowd. Others immediately sweep you into enthusiasm—bordering on the hyperbolic—because they are simply a joy to experience. The Meze Audio Poet headphones fall emphatically into the latter category.
Unboxing begins the journey. The polycarbonate hard shell case—so reminiscent of luxury luggage that I could believe a Rimowa collaboration—opens with a single aluminum clasp to reveal what are, perhaps, the most beautiful headphones I have ever seen. Nestled in protective foam, the Poet commands attention. Their design is quite simply breathtaking.
About Meze Audio
Meze Audio is a boutique headphone company, founded in 2011 by industrial designer Antonio Meze in Baia Mare, Romania. The town, established in 1329, sits in the Săsar River valley, framed by the Igniș and Gutâi mountains.
Antonio Meze is renowned for blending advanced technology with a design ethos that evokes a timeless nostalgia. His work doesn’t chase fleeting trends nor indulge in retro pastiche—instead, it feels as though it has always belonged. His portfolio, prior to Meze Audio, spans water bottle branding for Aqua Carpatica, carbon ski poles for Atomic, and even reimagined beer packaging. True to form, Meze’s products incorporate natural materials such as wood, metal, and leather. Durability is central: Meze headphones are modular, fully serviceable, and built to last a lifetime.
The Meze Audio Poet
For its premium offerings—including the Empyrean, Empyrean II, Elite, Liric II, and now the Poet—Meze Audio partners with Rinaro Isodynamics, a Ukrainian firm specializing in planar magnetic drivers. The Poet, a compact open-back planar magnetic headphone, features the Rinaro Hybrid Array MZ6 driver, derived from Meze’s flagship models. Some reviewers consider the Poet a spiritual successor to the Empyrean, yet with its own distinct tuning. Notably, Rinaro’s partnership with Meze is exclusive; they do not OEM for other brands.
Weighing in at 405g, the Poet is comfortable during long listening sessions. The suede leather headrest evokes classic 1970s headphones like the Pioneer SE L40, but with a contemporary, timeless flair. Released in 2025 or 1985, they would look equally at home—a testament to Antonio Meze’s design prowess, akin to the enduring appeal of the Eames LCW Plywood Lounge Chair, designed in 1946 and still coveted generations later.
The headphones are rated at 55 Ohms and 101 dB SPL/mW; they are easy to drive without a powerful amplifier, yet benefit from quality amplification. For my testing, I used the Bryston Bi-200 2-channel amplifier and a Rega P6 turntable, spinning 180g and 200g vinyl.
The build utilizes titanium alloy, magnesium, and steel, with a bronze-coloured grill so intricate I didn’t immediately realize the Poet was open-back. Bronze accents extend to the hinge and the braided cable (3.5mm left and right plugs, 6.3mm termination) designed for serious, seated listening. The suede earcups attach magnetically, staying true to Meze’s commitment to modularity and longevity.
Listening Experience
Now for the part of the review that I least enjoy, actually presenting how the headphones sound, a descriptor in itself, that is purely subjective and usually full of hyperbole using words like depth, warmth, low-end, high-end and so on. I sometimes wonder why people read this stuff!! For my listening, I played a number of high-quality vinyl pressings from Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Jerry Garcia, Ben Webster and Beck. All the pressings were live recordings, except for Beck’s Morning Phase, one of the best studio recordings in my opinion. I like using live recordings for audio reviewing since crowd noise, nuance in the way songs are delivered tend to have a way of separating great audio gear from good audio gear. Sometimes you just don’t hear the whole experience on a product that lacks technical sophistication. My listening experience with the Meze Audio Poet can only be described with a single word and that is effortless.
Garcia’s voice, accompanied by David Grisman’s mandolin on “Shady Grove,” was so immediate and detailed it brought a lump to my throat—an emotion amplified by the 40th anniversary of Garcia’s passing. Beck’s “Say Goodbye”—a meditation on marital loss—revealed emotional layers I hadn’t noticed before. I chose the Beck track for its bass-heavy instrumentation, fully expecting open-back headphones to struggle, yet the Poet handled it superbly. Switching to digital, I played St. Vincent’s “Fast Slow Disco” a song featured in the latest season of the hit show The Bear. I played the track via Spotify through the superb DAC from the Bluesound Node, attached to the Bryston Bi-200. The infectious beat had me dancing. Sometimes, enough said is just that, enough.
Conclusion
The Meze Audio Poet is every bit the high-end audiophile headphone you’d expect at nearly $3,000. More than that, it represents a harmonious blend of elegance and engineering, elevating ordinary listening to something extraordinary. Its aesthetic delights as much as its sound; this is a work of art as much as a functional tool. The Poet’s exclusivity, craftsmanship, and passionate design make it an easy Editor’s Choice for me. Few products inspire joy simply by their presence—these headphones do.
Meze Audio is distributed in Canada by Erikson Consumer. The Meze Audio Poet retails for $2,800.00 CDN.