Meze LIRIC Liric2

The Meze Liric 2 sounds like a million bucks and wears like a cinder block. Pure sonic bliss, if your neck can take it.

The Meze Liric 2nd Generation is an audiophile's dream stuffed into a portable closed-back, and it sounds absolutely spectacular. The one thing to know: these are wired, heavy, and mercilessly reveal every detail in your music—both the gorgeous and the poorly mixed. If you're chasing reference sound in a package that won't disturb your seatmate, there's nothing quite like it at this price. But that sound comes with a serious ergonomic tax.

What surprised us most—and not in a good way—was the comfort. In our database, these rank in the bottom 6% for long-term wear. At 427 grams with a noticeable clamp, they start nagging your temples within an hour. That's a tragic mismatch because the sound is a 99th-percentile revelation: lightning-fast planar transients, a cavernous 4Hz-92kHz tunnel of detail, and a newly tamed treble that dials back the original's shouty peaks around 7kHz. They practically disappear sonically, but physically, you'll never forget you're wearing them.

At a reported $1,999, you're paying for a piece of Romanian audio art that prioritizes sonic fidelity above all else. For the target buyer—the chasing-every-last-harmonic-in-a-lossless-file crowd—it actually justifies itself. But if you expect any remote semblance of modern convenience or all-day wearability, the value collapses. The accessory kit is generous, and the build screams heirloom, so you're getting something built for life, not a disposable tech toy.

Comparing the Liric 2 to the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 is like pitting a Formula 1 engine against a luxury SUV—they're for completely different tasks. Those wireless ANC kings give you airplanes, commuting, and podcasts with ease. The Meze gives you a sound microscope for acoustic nirvana in a quiet room. If you're cross-shopping closed-back planars in this bracket, your real rivals are the Audeze LCD-XC or Focal Radiance, where the Liric 2 trades blows on tonal accuracy but falls behind on comfort. It's the king of transient speed in its class, but you'll pay in neck fatigue.

If you're looking for a wireless travel companion, lightweight daily driver, or anything with a usable microphone, skip this entirely. Go grab a Sony WH-1000XM6 or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 and call it a day. The Liric 2 is a stationary reference monitor that happens to look like headphones, not a portable lifestyle gadget.

Buy the Meze Liric 2 if you're a dedicated audiophile who needs closed-back isolation without sacrificing an ounce of detail. It's an exceptional critical-listening tool and a beautiful object that will outlast any wireless headphone. But if your listening sessions stretch beyond an hour or you need a headset for calls and travel, walk away—this isn't your all-rounder, and it doesn't pretend to be.