MEZE AUDIO ARTA Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones

The Meze Audio ARTA is Meze's new summit-fi open-back planar magnetic headphone. Built around the high-impedance Rinaro MZ5 HΩ driver, it delivers a rich, speaker-like presentation with lifelike detail and the most immersive sound Meze has ever created – music that you do not just hear, but feel around you.

A new dimension of realism

The soundstage opens well beyond the ears, like music played in an acoustically treated listening room. Bass has real physical weight and authority, instruments sit in precise positions within a three-dimensional stage, and the warm-neutral tuning avoids any brightness, so ARTA stays comfortable during long sessions while resolving fine detail.

Rinaro MZ5 HΩ high-impedance planar driver

With 225 Ω, the MZ5 HΩ is the highest-impedance planar magnetic headphone driver to date. Instead of the usual low-voltage, high-current operation it works in a high-voltage, low-current mode, which means excellent electrical linearity, less heat and stress on the diaphragm and ultra-low distortion at any volume. The planar trace is 2.5x longer and 2.8x thinner for an even drive across the membrane, and the new low-mass Parus ARTA® diaphragm (0.10 g, 4,650 mm²) resists thermal drift. A switchback coil handles the low frequencies, while a spiral coil sends mids and highs directly towards the ear canal.

Consistent with any amplifier and cable

The high impedance makes ARTA less sensitive to amplifier output impedance and cable resistance, so its tuning stays the same with tube or solid-state amplifiers, while still revealing the character of your source. ARTA is designed for desktop amplification: Meze recommends at least 200 mW (ideally 500 mW+) into 225 Ω and a voltage swing of ±12 V (ideally ±15–18 V).

Design, comfort and two ear pad options

ARTA blends futuristic, bionic shapes with Art Nouveau elegance, using precision metals, carbon fibre and leather. Angled acoustic blades in the open grille protect the driver without limiting its performance. The fit is optimised for both larger and smaller heads, with extra padding on the leather headband. Two pairs of ear pads let you choose the sound: Duo Angled (perforated lambskin and Alcantara®) for a richer, more impactful presentation, or Slim Alcantara for a more neutral, smoother sound. ARTA ear pads are not compatible with ELITE and EMPYREAN headphones.

Made in Romania, built for generations

ARTA is tuned, assembled and quality-checked at Meze headquarters in Baia Mare, Romania. Every component – ear pads, headband, drivers and ear cups – can be disassembled, serviced or replaced. Meze provides a 4-year warranty (2 years standard + 2 years after registering the headphones on MY MEZE).

Key features

• Flagship open-back, over-ear planar magnetic headphones
• Rinaro High Impedance Isodynamic® Hybrid Array MZ5 HΩ driver, 225 Ω
• Rich, speaker-like sound with a large, three-dimensional soundstage
• Distortion below 0.05%, frequency range 3 Hz – 115 kHz
• Two pairs of ear pads: Duo Angled and Slim Alcantara
• Two 2 m silver-plated LC-OFC cables: 6.3 mm and 4-pin XLR balanced
• Fully serviceable, 4-year manufacturer warranty after registration

Specifications

• Driver: Rinaro High Impedance Isodynamic® Hybrid Array MZ5 HΩ, 102 x 73 mm, ovoid
• Operating principle: open-back, circumaural
• Frequency range: 3 Hz – 115 kHz
• Impedance: 225 Ω
• Sensitivity: 98 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz
• Total harmonic distortion: <0.05%
• Maximum SPL: >130 dB SPL
• Diaphragm: Rinaro Parus ARTA®, 0.10 g, active area 4,650 mm²
• Driver weight: 84 g
• Input connector: dual 4-pin mini XLR
• Weight: 495 g

In the box

• Meze Audio ARTA headphones
• 2 m mini XLR to 6.3 mm silver-plated LC-OFC cable
• 2 m mini XLR to 4-pin XLR balanced silver-plated LC-OFC cable
• Slim Alcantara® ear pads
• Duo Angled ear pads (lambskin/Alcantara®)
• Black PU leather cable pouch
• High-strength ABS suitcase with foam inserts and leather handle