Poet for the ages

HiFi, DAC

Meze Poet Headphones – A Listener’s Review

Introduction

Meze Audio has built a reputation over the last decade for creating headphones that combine sculptural design with a musical, human touch to their voicing. Their flagship models — Empyrean and Elite — became darlings of the headphone world, praised as much for their craftsmanship as for their sound.

The Poet slots in as a more approachable entry in their line-up, but don’t mistake “approachable” for “compromised.” I’ve spent several weeks with the Poet across both HiFi and home-studio contexts, and here’s how it has held up against long listening sessions, reference gear, and, most importantly, the music itself.

Build and Comfort

The first impression is always tactile. The Poet arrives with the kind of attention to finish we’ve come to expect from Meze: sculpted earcups, lightweight suspension headband, and metalwork that feels solid without being ostentatious.

On the head, the Poet manages to disappear quickly. At 320g, it’s lighter than many planar designs and distributes weight beautifully. The ear pads — memory foam wrapped in hybrid material — don’t feel luxurious for luxury’s sake, but practical. After three hours I noticed no hotspots, which is more than I can say for many “reference” cans that cost significantly more.

Listening Tests

Sources and Chain

  • RME ADI-2 DAC FS (line out and balanced)
  • Sparkos Aries discrete headphone amp
  • Schiit Magni Piety (for a contrasting flavour)
  • Lossless files (FLAC/ALAC), Qobuz streaming, and some vinyl transfers

Tonal Balance

The Poet has a tonal balance that leans ever so slightly warm. Bass reaches deep, but it isn’t loose; it has that Meze knack of being full without bloat. On double bass recordings, you feel the resonance of the body without smearing the pluck of the strings. Kick drums have the right thump, not the over-inflated slam some “fun” tunings deliver.

Mids are the heart of the Poet. Vocals come across with body and immediacy — Norah Jones sounds present in the room, Thom Yorke’s falsetto retains its fragility. Acoustic guitar transients have bite without harshness.

Treble is smooth rather than forensic. Cymbals shimmer, but they don’t etch. This is not the can you’d pick for maximum sparkle or air; rather, it trades some ultimate top-end extension for long-term listenability.

Imaging and Soundstage

Soundstage is intimate but not claustrophobic. Think “row five” rather than “balcony.” Imaging precision is excellent left-to-right, though depth layering is more hinted at than fully developed. In the studio, I’d call it good enough for panning decisions, less ideal for pinpoint placement in dense mixes.

Dynamics

Where the Poet shines is in microdynamics. Low-level detail comes through effortlessly: the intake of breath before a vocal phrase, the reverb tails on a snare. Macrodynamics — the big swings from quiet to loud — are solid, but not on the jaw-dropping scale of the big planar flagships. Still, orchestral crescendos retain impact without collapsing into congestion.

Comparisons

  • Meze 99 Classics: The Poet is more refined, with tighter bass and better mids. It avoids the “fun but coloured” character of the 99s.
  • Sennheiser HD600: The HD600 still sets the benchmark for midrange truth. The Poet is warmer, with more sub-bass presence, but slightly less linear in the mids.
  • Audeze LCD-2 (Classic): The LCD-2 goes deeper and has more weight, but at the cost of heft and comfort. The Poet is the headphone I’d rather wear for three hours straight.

Studio Use

While Meze doesn’t market the Poet as a studio tool, I tested it on a mixing chain. The forgiving top end makes it less than ideal as the sole reference can — sibilance is softened, so you might miss problem frequencies. But as a second opinion headphone, especially for checking vocal presence and bass balance, it’s excellent. Producers used to consumer-tilted tunings will find the Poet a useful reality check.

Verdict

The Meze Poet is a headphone that understands listening as more than measurement. It doesn’t dazzle with ultimate technicalities, nor does it pretend to be ruthlessly neutral. What it offers is a balanced, warm-tilted signature wrapped in superb ergonomics and build quality.

For the audiophile who wants long-session comfort, engaging mids, and a natural musical flow — without climbing into four-figure price brackets — the Poet makes a compelling case.

Pros

  • Superb comfort and build
  • Warm, musical tonal balance
  • Excellent mids, fatigue-free treble
  • Easy to drive; scales with better amps

Cons

  • Slightly polite treble for those who crave air and sparkle
  • Soundstage depth not as expansive as pricier planars
  • Less suited as a primary studio reference

In short: the Meze Poet lives up to its name — expressive, engaging, and human, with a voice of its own.