I don't need a high end headphone. All the refinement this gear brings is way beyond my listening abilities. Yet I still watch it because I would watch Darko analyze even a refrigerator.

Everything about your channel gets better and better with time. It is a study in refinement. As a professional musician and as a person with a high interest in “things” I am constantly inspired by your use of language and personality, for lack of a better word, to bring us into a space of critical considerations. I think I am going to have to join the paetreon circle out of sheer appreciation for all the work that goes into what you and your team do here. Just excellent work. Thank you.

i gotta be honest, i would not walk around in public with those cans on......reason 1, they look expensive and in my region of the London underground district line that would be like having a 'mug me' sign on your back. Reason 2 They are for me too CYBERMAN...Playboy Cyberman in fact.....just my personal taste......for those that dont know what a cyberman is look up Doctor Who Enemies on wikipedia.

I own both the Liric and the Stellia. My personal take is the Liric has a better low end (if amped well) due to some low end bump but the Stellia has much better detail retrieval and overall imaging. Both are fantastic but I'd argue the Liric is more comfortable and has a much better look. Both of these headphones are warm sounding and handle isolation quite well. I'd be happy owning just one of the two of them since they are both great.

I love the look of them and my preference is closed back. So I may have to give them a try.

John, thanks for making headphones reviews. I'd like to see more of them (and make them longer). I wish you would have gone into comfort and maybe some more comparisons of the headphones from different dac/amps you own. The real treat of this video was seeing Berlin and you/your stylish clothing choices.

I bought one of these yesterday, but not so much because they are great-sounding headphones, but because I got an excellent deal on them used.

These prolly sound fabulous but the practicality is what keeps me at pause.

Great to see you out and about and get a feel of the Berlin urban texture.

Many people have said that the Denon 9200 is as good as the Stelia. The Biocelulose driver is the star of the show. This comparison with the Liric would be interesting, especially as the Denon is 1400.

Sir, such a treat to wake up on a Sunday make coffee and enjoy your work. Thank you.

*Hi. Thanks for this review. After listening closely to all this I would throw in the Focal Bathys, which does so much and maybe even more than the 3 mentioned above. It has its built in DAC when using USB connection. You can use it with any of your DAC & AMP combo as a wired headphone and it is also bluetooth. When using it with high level AMP it shines even more than with its built in DAC which shines even more than with bluetooth connection. It is going for about US$800.*

RIP Robbie Shakespeare 🙏

Lookout people! Audiophile Badass walking the streets of Berlin. 🤟

Don't know why this particular video hit me with its excellent videography and sound quality but I just have to say it made me smile and MADE we want to see and hear more. Hats off for the excellent production values. One of the reasons I like this channel so much. Also I notice a distinct improvement to how you sound when talking in your room with the new acoustic treatment in place.

Headphone listening is not my main thing. Speakers are the way to go. With that said... I love my Meze 99 Classics when I do listen at home. I loved your review on those several years ago. Thanks again for another great review.

More headphone reviews please!!!

I wouldn’t risk using them on the street. My Focal Elegia was killed by a tiny droplet of rain. I purposefully tested that before I decide whether to take out my Stellia.

I would be scared to use 2K headphones on the street. I mean, most people wouldn’t know they are 2K but they do still look premium.

Ya'll be careful crossing the street...busses don't care what ur listening to. Never-more on my bicycle. Love headphones

I would’ve loved to see John compare this to the Denon AH-D9200.

Hi, love the content and have been a quiet fan until now. I've recently reached some kind of endgame for my speaker system and am focusing on headphones now. I have the Susvara and Stellia, have been curious if there are driver / build types I should have in the collection as well to deal with more diverse kinds of music. Keep up the good work.

its pitty that for a 3000 USD / EUR product you loose those screws up top the copper tube that hold the ear cups, it happened to me on my empyreans, luckly i sent meze an e-mail telling them about it and they sent me free of charge 2 3 more screws. and my empyread is as brand new , i screwed the new one putting a bit of nail polish over them to make sure won't happen again.

I would love to know if you (John) wear 2k headphones as your portable option around Berlin? If you do; would you mind sharing the routes you normally take? Thanks so much! 😁

Will you do a video on DAPs? I know in previous videos you discussed how DAPs are dead, but in this video you were featured using one. I'm more curious about the Astell & Kern line of products. I've seen others review them, but I'd like your take. Thanks.

Amazing review, thank you so much ♥️

Loving this! The vibe walking on the street, the B-roll music and your descriptions; Art dude! Keep doing this! 👍🏾

Really interesting to watch even though all of these are way beyond my willingness to pay for a set of headphones at this time. So much good information to use when auditioning next cans, so thanks again. 👍

Any chance to share that playlist at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="301">5:01</a>? Looks like Tidal, HEY Tidal! give Darko Audio a playlist!

Great video, thanks. Well-timed release too; was looking into those models.

Man I love the Euro approach to music. So much classics so alive there still.

My wife wouldn’t let me buy such expensive headphones, if I would like to. BUT I do appreciate your videos and the different products and all the new music you play that I search for on Spotify and are adding my own playlist. Keep up the great work. Happy Christmas to ya!

Excellent music choice. By the way I saw that you used the unbalanced out from the Ibasso DX300 . The balanced output is rated at 1.2 watts which I think is adequate to power these HP's.

Totally get that you "can" wear these around outside, but like most audiophile cans, they still look really silly lol just not as bad as most.

Nice shots of checkpoi t Charlie. Been there many years ago 😀

🤗👍🤔 I THINK YOU NEED ALL THREE 😉 for the different music 😂 😍😍😍

This is great - listening to these closed back headphones while walking around Berlin sounds exactly the same as doing the same thing in Chicago or Tokyo. Now I just need two grand!

Should see where the DC stealth compares to the Liric

How do the Liric go while wearing glasses? Did the frames cause a break in a seal and affect the bass response? I've found it to be a problem with my Lagoons.

What is that audioplayer he listens to when he's on the go? <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="358">5:58</a> at least shows it's Android based.

I got to check out that Aleksi Perala album now. He seems to be releasing about an album a week, it's tough to know where to start. I'll take your mention of it as a recommendation and start there!

that's one sexy pair of headphones!

Good Schiit!

Maybe use them in an airport or cafe, lounge or in the forest. No way I'm strapping 2k on my head.

Have you used any of Aeon`s 2 filters ? Currently I own Aeon 2 Closed but I`m looking for something to level up, Liric looks like major contender. As to A2C I use use them with white and black filter, otherwise theyare much to bright to my ears.

I have, for a long time been a " Slave to the Rythem".

Great job coming from Romania!

Awesome review

I am interested in getting a good pair of closed backs that I might wear in public. However, I am wondering if I should get the T&A Solitare (the idea of HQ mode really appeals to me) and then use them passively as a closed back at home OR consider getting a Liric or Stellia and use an iFi GO Blu (or similar device) to make them wireless. Thoughts? I agree with John that the Stellias would probably be too C3PO for most citizens, but they would much less cliche than another grey haired man driving a BMW convertible.

They would look loads better with some LEDs on them. Bling BLiNGU$$ for the Berlin massive,,

I walk around with my open back akg k712s and a portable amp set to high gain 🤷 i like hearing my surroundings but no doubt they sound better in quiet room.

No comments on fit and comfort? I’m surprised. Or is that just a given?

Susvara deserves this guy , the guy deserves Susvara ! We need a review 🙏🙂

Thank you for your reviews, got the liric and Eon 2, liric - music coming from the shoulders and even down the arms Eon 2 just from neck area, sound on a different leage.

Meze for the win! Loved the bloopers at the end.

Wondering if there is a faux surround sound headphones you could recommend

Great video as always JD. Question to the masses: can you plug these into a phone or will it be too quiet for them? If not, what would be needed? Cheers.

Hey John, another great video thank you. How would compare the comfort between these headphones. How about compared to the Empyrean’s

What about the idea of getting a 1000 eur headphones and spend the other 1000 on a quiet refrigerator? ;)

John, what is the brand of beautiful lava lamp which you are using? p.s.many thnkx for your cozy videos!

Wearing those cans on a snowy winter walk makes them look warm and toasty! Thanks as always for a robust and nuanced review of product. I think the word on the street is that two grand is called two grand and one grand is referred to as "a grand". Of course Darko Audio videos are always grand!

Would have liked to see you compare them to another 2000 euro pair of headphones for a euro to euro comparison.

Thanks for the great video. How would you rate the difference in the base region between the Stellia and the Liric? I am also really intrigued about your take on the ibasso dx 300, especially its performance as an android based streamer with coax out into a Hi-Fi system. Here is to hoping you will make a video on that ^^

anyone know who makes that coat hes wearing in the outdoor scenes like at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="318">5:18</a>?

Why these over high end iems?

Superb as usual Bro John.

Anyone know where i can get that headphone stand he has the mezze lirics on?

I have recently tried it (and some other headphones like hd820 at the same time) and it had too much bass. It sounded good with some music but started to disturb after some minutes.

So, John shirt and sweet sadly I could get me some of that, Meze Lyric, even at tha $ point, but what I'd rather know is the Meze compared to the Sudara Hifiman. As I'd prefer a balanced system not over shadowed by H Phones which equal 2/3rds of what I plan to spend. Unless I go all Phones, Preamp, and Streamer and no CD Transport, no Speakers.

Great jacket 🐨

would you go as far as saying they are also less fatiguing than the Focal Stelia ? I like the understatement look indeed !

Link for the headphone stand 🧐

Curious the pros/cons in relation to the Empyrian

Nailed it. Again. Superb production and as someone in the market for a 1K+ headphone, I thought that open back was the only option. Well done for making my life harder. Great to see this channel growing.

Loved it when I tested Meze Liric!! Really confortable and enjoyable. Amazing quality

Get some Chris and Cosey into your 🎧

DCA Aeon2 closed . Space glitter cherry with carbon fibre... Not Berlin , but which city would you place these ? I feel this would be a great game to play

John please try to get your hands on the 7HZ Timeless Planar IEM's, my new favorites for electronic

I rigged my table lamp to flash as i dont hear the doorbell when i have headphones on ?

I thought these headphones was a nobrainer due to all good reviews they got and I bought them. Where I live there is no store that have them, so I had to order online. Got them, really nice look, really comfy, but… they aren’t very fun to listen to. Amazing details and amazing soundstage, but voices sounds a bit analytic, even metallic, they certenly lack in the lower end. I used them on Audioquest Dragonfly Cobolt on an iPhone 13 Pro. My Audioquest Nighthawk was actually more pleasant to listen to, more ”musical”, and voices was way more natural. I know Nighthawk is far from perfect, and that’s why I’m shopping for new and better headphones. I sent the Meza Liric back. I know so many say it’s the best headphone ever. Well, it’s not, at least not for me. Music just died in them.

But as we know with focal. Wait 2 years and you will already have 40% on it.

Are there in the pricerange 1000€ (or less) headphones where the sound get in front of you and not in your head, between your ears?

I must admit I’ve liked the neutrality of the top line Shure products. Both head and earphones. Cheers.

It's huge.not for outdoors

Single ended?...?

Check out the denon ah-d9200!

Sorry but although these are closed, they look out of place on the street. Just because you can, doesn't mean that you should! Great review nonetheless - I love my Empyreans!

Hi The black plate, that the headphones and amp are resting on, says "Acoustics" - Im guessing its an anti-acoustics plate - Which brand is it? :)

A tad pricey for street strolling...careful the neighborhood choose peruse but, very nice.

I really like your reviews John, but part of my watching this video was for some good shots of Berlin (I used to live there). The Haus am Checkpoint Charlie and Friedrichstrasse is a good location for testing their noise blocking, but if you had gone to Rosenthaler Platz or U-Bhf Eberswalder Str., even Unter den Linden, and said they're good at blocking the noise, then you'd have really tested them :) Gruesse!

Now imagine, you buy a car and the tyres and wheels are glued to the car, you cannot put winter ones or racing ones, you cannot change if you get a flat tyre. How do you like that!? Since this is the case with the Liric - the earpads are glued and Meze are not selling replacement ones. Big flaw!

I know when someone spent 3000 dollars and it's feels like in heaven

dear God streets are rich as fvck to own them ! my car is cheaper

New glasses!

Nice to hear some good news about Meze for a change, thanks.

what brand is your headphone stand?

Got them myself, though have not yet walked around with them in public.

nice leopold keyboard at the start of the video

Great, thank you !