Antonio Meze's LIRIC: Redefining Headphone Design

Blending Aesthetics and Functionality in High-End Audio Gear

Antonio Meze, the lead designer, and his team, Paul Stet and Remus Feldman, embarked on a journey to create a product that would embody their vision of the perfect balance between aesthetics and functionality. The result is LIRIC, a headphone that delivers the benefits of an open-back, planar magnetic design in a portable frame. The design was inspired by the team's passion for great aesthetics and good craftsmanship, coupled with their desire to challenge the status quo in audio gear design.

LIRIC is not just another headphone. It is the first closed-back headphone powered by the Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver, a testament to Meze Audio's state-of-the-art engineering. The headphone's contemporary aesthetic is achieved through a blend of magnesium, leather, stainless steel, and aluminum in an ergonomic, ovoid design. This makes LIRIC one of the very few high-end closed-back planar magnetic headphones available in the market.

The realization of LIRIC's design was a meticulous process. The team prioritized creating a compact, light, and comfortable headphone that would work seamlessly with the Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver. After experimenting with various materials, magnesium was found to be the best solution for creating a lightweight, yet reliable frame. A stainless-steel headband and aluminum rods were added for easy adjustment and to ensure the proper pressure needed to keep the headphone in place while moving around.

But LIRIC is not just about aesthetics and comfort. It is also about delivering an exceptional audio experience. The headphone is powered by the innovative Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver created by Rinaro Isodynamics. This, combined with the closed-back design, helps preserve the original clarity and emotion of music, enhancing sound and minimizing external noise. The headphone can be driven by almost any portable source without needing amplification. When paired with a device of choice, it delivers natural, detailed sound, with impressive transparency and an undeniable feeling of space.

Antonio Meze's LIRIC is a testament to the power of design and innovation. It is a product of intense research and thousands of iterations over nearly two years. The result is a no-compromise, audiophile-grade portable headphone that preserves the qualities of true hi-fi and pairs them admirably with an ergonomic design approach and a sleek, modern finish. This design has earned LIRIC the Silver A' Audio and Sound Equipment Design Award in 2022, a testament to its outstanding expertise and innovation.