HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite – Sound Impressions
HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite is an energetic sounding headphone that features a decently balanced signature. It sounds warmer than neutral, slightly emphasizing the midbass and upper mid regions. Its presentation is adequately airy, with a decently wide headroom that complements a variety of music genres. It’s a dynamic sounding headphone, thanks to its emphasized regions. It does not feel dull and plays well with both warm and neutral sources. It is fairly easy to drive as well.
Bass
The Zeus Elite’s low end is articulated with finesse; it doesn’t overpower but rather provides an underlying thickness that supports the rest of the signature well. The sub-bass, while not the deepest, is fast and agile. The Zeus Elite’s mid-bass has a slight emphasis, providing warmth and dynamism to the presentation. The texture and resolution of the bass are quite good, especially with sources that feature a balanced signature, like the Chord Mojo 2. The Zeus Elite handles tracks with complex passages with ease with this bass tuning.
Mids
The midrange of the Zeus Elite is a mixed bag of tricks. The vocals and instruments are rendered with good weight thanks to the midbass and lower mid thickness. The upper midrange emphasis improves the detail retrieval and lends extra energy to the presentation without introducing sharpness to the mix. The resolution of the midrange is decent and heavily depends on the pairing. Going full tube with these improves the bass response but hurts the midrange, as Zeus Elite gets a huge clarity boost from the upper midrange / lower treble. That’s why I recommend sticking with balanced sources such as Chord Mojo 2, Topping G5, DO300EX, etc.
Treble
The treble of the Zeus Elite is smooth and delicate, offering plenty of details and a smooth listening experience. Unlike the energetic upper midrange, the high treble is more conservatively tuned. The treble never becomes too sharp or discomforting due to this tuning decision. Also, it does not hurt the overall dynamics and resolution, so it strikes a good balance between delicacy and resolve.
Technical Capability
The Zeus Elite has a pleasantly wide soundstage with less impressive depth. The instruments are rendered with precision and have adequate air between them, allowing the listener to pinpoint individual elements within the headroom. Its PRaT is very good, and its overall dynamic presentation adds to its ability to render tracks with energy. I found Zeus Elite quite a good performer when it comes to genres like R&B, hip-hop, pop, and jazz.
Comparisons
vs. Moondrop PARA ($299 USD)
The Moondrop PARA is one of the latest additions to the planar magnetic headphone market. It features 100mm planar drivers with Moondrop’s FDT technology.
It offers a balanced and neutral sound signature that is easy to listen to.
Compared to the Zeus Elite, the PARA sounds more relaxed and less dynamic. It has a better tonal balance across the spectrum. The bass response is similar. However, the Zeus Elite has more mid-bass, which enhances the overall dynamics. The PARA, with its more relaxed and easy-going nature, performs better with genres that feature acoustic instruments. The Zeus Elite has a more consumer sound, a tuning aimed at a wider audience. As for the mid-range, the upper mid-range of the Zeus Elite is more energetic and lively compared to the PARA. Compared to the more neutral PARA, the Zeus Elite feels more saturated and colored. For hip-hop, EDM, rap, and pop, I found the Zeus Elite to be a more satisfying and engaging experience. For other genres, the PARA is a superior performer due to its more neutral signature.
The PARA leaks twice as much noise as the Zeus, even though both have an open-back design. They are similar in terms of comfort, although the Zeus Elite is lighter. The Zeus Elite comes with two high-quality cables, while the Para comes with a standard cable that really can’t be compared with the Zeus’. With the Zeus Elite’s briefcase carrying case and two high-quality cables, the $79 price difference between the two can be easily justified.
Choosing between the two is a taste question. If you enjoy more neutral headphones and like the Planar magnetic tonality, go for the PARA, you won’t be disappointed, especially with its pricing. If you want a more energetic, more engaging, but less accurate (tonality-wise) headphone, go for the Zeus Elite. It’s a crowd-pleaser.
Hifiman Edition XS ($499 USD)
The Edition XS is, in my opinion, the planar equivalent of the Zeus Elite. They have a similar, warmer-than-neutral tonality with increased dynamics across the spectrum. Both are energetic sounding headphones.
In comparison, the HiFiMan Edition XS has more sub-bass and extension, similar mid-bass, and a more transparent midrange with improved resolution. The Edition XS’s bass is punchy, its mid-range is crisp and clear, and its upper mid-range is lively without being overpowering, contributing to an overall dynamic presentation. The Zeus Elite’s midrange is a little more relaxed, and its bass is more conservative than the XS. Treble-wise, the XS has better extension, air, and sparkle, whereas the Zeus Elite is tuned smoother.
In terms of technical performance, the XS offers a more spacious and airy soundstage than the Zeus Elite. Both headphones offer excellent PRaT. However, to my ears, the XS’s imaging is more precise due to the greater headroom. Both headphones are versatile enough to be enjoyed with a wide range of genres, and their price difference is not negligible, so the choice depends on the budget.
Last Words
The HarmonicDyne Zeus Elite, priced at $379, is a persuasive choice in the dynamic headphone market. Its warm, energetic signature emphasizes the midbass and upper mids, which is appropriate for a wide range of genres, highlighted by an impressive PRaT and dynamic presentation. It is relatively easy to drive and does not nitpick sources, so it can even be enjoyed with a small DAC/AMP dongle.
It is bundled with two premium cables and an eccentric briefcase-carrying case, offering an excellent unboxing experience in this price bracket. The Zeus Elite’s comfort, versatility, and engaging sound make it an ideal choice for new-to-hobby audiophiles looking for an engaging open-back dynamic headphone.
Pros
+ Engaging and energetic consumer-friendly signature
+ Great unboxing experience and cables
+ Good all-rounder
+ Good pricing
Cons
– Could include more metal parts
– Could include extra earpads in the package
– Wood color could be lighter
Page 1: HarmonicDyne, Zeus Elite, Packaging & Accessories, Design, Build Quality & Comfort
Page 2: Sound Impressions, Low, Mid, High, Technical Capability, Comparison, Last Words
