Meze Audio Closed-Back Comparison: Strada vs Liric II

Meze Audio has been a leading name in audiophile headphones for years. Their open-back flagships, like the Elite and Empyrean II, still circulate in audiophile circles as dreams for endgame setups. Now, we turn to their closed-back selection. The Meze Strada is a new release that has turned heads at the top of 2026, delivering high-quality sound for less than $1000. But questions are rising about where the Liric II stands with this newer, cheaper competitor. Does the Strada outperform the Liric II at more than half the cost? Or does the Liric II still stand as the top option for closed-back headphones? In this comparison review, we'll dive into all the details that make these headphones different and what makes them similar. 

Let's start with the physical qualities of these headphones. Both the Strada and the Liric II have ebony wood earcups and a curved frame to sit on your head most comfortably. The main visible difference in the two headphones is the green frame on the Strada as opposed to the black on the Liric II. This makes the Strada look a little more earthy in its color palette. The Liric II remains sleek and on a darker theme with the black highlights. The two headphones similarly rest on your head and have an adjustment option via poles on the left and right sides. Both are stable to wear, though the Liric II weighs 100g more than the Strada. If you prefer a little more weight to feel like the headphone is more stable on your head, you may prefer the feel of the Liric II over the more lightweight Strada. 

In terms of accessories, you get a lot of the same accessories from Strada to Liric II. They use the same cable ends (dual 3.5mm male), and it is easy to use any upgrade cable. The Liric II comes with a higher quality cable than the Strada, though it is very easy to upgrade cables should you want to use 4.4mm or another termination with the headphone. You're given a hard shell case with both headphones, so traveling with them is easy and doable. 

It's hard to say which one of these headphones is better than the other for aesthetics and comfort. For me, I prefer the Strada's more lightweight build and the touch of green (my favorite color). The Liric II is definitely a nice option for those who prefer a sleek and more subtle aesthetic than an accent color, and you're given a nicer quality cable from the get-go rather than needing to upgrade. Depending on your personal preferences for style and comfort, the Strada or Liric II may win more points in your book. 

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

We start to see the most stark differences between the Strada and the Liric II in their sound signatures. They both have a fairly wide sound signature, one that expands pretty far in width. The closed-back design makes both signatures sound a little more intimate and narrower than what you might find in Meze's open-back lineup. The Strada has a soundstage that wraps around you very easily, and everything sounds up front and personal in each track. The Liric II has the same amount of intimate detail, and the space feels larger for layers to take a step back and expand into the space more. It is less in-your-face and more laid back to create a bigger image. The Liric II has more distinct separation between instruments than the Strada, but both have excellent placement, so you can determine where things are in the stereo field. 

The sound signatures of these headphones are quite different from one another. The Meze Strada is more balanced from bass to treble, with a forward push in the midrange to create a slight V-shape in the signature. Compared to the Liric II, this sound signature has more natural sound reproduction, which makes instruments sound more realistic. The Liric II has an equally balanced sound signature, but the opposite placement of the midrange. The midrange recedes back to create a U-shape that puts bass and treble at the forefront over everything else. The detail is very sharp, and the sound reproduction steers away from naturalness. Instead, you get something that is tuned towards entertainment and listening that is unlike anything you've heard before. 

If you're looking for a headphone with natural sound reproduction and careful balance, the Strada may be more your speed. The Liric II is geared towards listeners looking for something different and unique in tuning. How do the individual frequency ranges sound? We dive into those subsections next.  

BASS FREQUENCIES

Bass response is something that Meze Audio knows how to produce. This is clear in both the Strada and the Liric II, as they both have incredibly punchy and distinct bass responses. There are subtle differences between them, though. The Strada's bass is not as strong as you might expect out of a closed-back headphone, as it takes a bit of a backseat and supports the detail and punch coming from the treble and midrange instead. This isn't to say the bass is lost completely in the Strada; as a matter of fact, it is still very present and adds good depth to the entirety of the signature. However, it doesn't drive as strongly as you'd expect, so you are able to appreciate other elements in the track without getting overwhelmed by the bass. 

On the other hand, the Liric II does not shy away from a strong bass response. It is one of the highlights of this sound signature, where the bass dominates in every track with precise clarity and punchy sound. It toes the line between overly aggressive and warmly grounding, so it's an interesting listening experience. It is more prominent in the signature than in the Strada, so you can hear more depth in the low end. It is very grounding and fills out the space nicely, so you get a solid foundation. For people looking for a powerful and dominant low-end, you may prefer the Liric II over the Strada. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange is where the Strada and Liric II are complete opposites. The Strada has a more forward midrange, where the vocals come to the very front to sit at center stage. The detail coming from the midrange is remarkable, and it feels like you can pinpoint all the smaller,  minute elements with ease. The Strada has layers that are stacked backwards to fill out that middle space in the sound signature. This headphone is excellent at reproducing honest timbres in instruments, but still gives them added detail and space to make sure the stereo field doesn't feel empty. I liked all the detail and the forwardness of vocals, so you felt like you were in the room when these tracks were recorded. 

Contrarily, the Liric II presents a midrange that is far more recessed. It's like all those main melodic instruments just get pushed backwards, save for some female vocal tracks that get a highlight. It makes the bass and treble come forward much more, so you are left with this U-shape as the signature. The midrange itself is highly detailed, even if it is hidden behind some layers of powerful bass and bright treble. Instruments like pianos and guitars were colorful and textured, though they didn't have the same realistic quality as the Strada. Listening to the Liric II made me appreciate the smaller details of my music, as it took more focused listening to hear the familiar parts of the tracks I was used to. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

In the treble, the Strada and Liric II start to share some similarities again. The Strada displayed a high-end that was bright and airy, keeping things light and uncompressed. It would have been easy for this sound signature to become overly heavy with the punchy bass, but instead, the Strada gets a lift in the right direction with the colorful treble. There was plenty of detail that stayed relaxed and smooth rather than piercing. I liked how frequencies could expand up and outwards into the open space of the top end and feel natural as they rolled off. The treble also took a backseat compared to the midrange, but the detail provided by this range carried throughout the whole signature to make everything feel lighter and easier to listen to for longer. 

The Liric II takes a more forward and energetic approach. Where the Strada was more relaxed and took a step back to highlight the midrange, the Liric II made sure the treble was heard and at the front of the signature. Strings and horns were sharp with detail, and clarity was pristine from element to element. At some points, the treble seemed a little too harsh and was super aggressive in high-energy tracks. My ear, over time, got used to this sharper response in the treble, and I was able to listen comfortably. The Strada's response was definitely less aggressive, so people with more sensitive ears may prefer the relaxed tone that the headphone takes over the Liric II. 

At the end of the day, there really is no wrong choice when choosing a closed-back headphone from Meze. Certain factors like budget or compatibility may steer you towards one choice over another, but neither would be an incorrect or bad choice when you're looking for a high-quality closed-back headphone. Both the Strada and the Liric II offer excellent value, quality, and style for their price points, making them top contenders in a race for the best closed-back headphone. 

If you're someone who values dynamic detail and sleek aesthetics, the Liric II is a good choice for you. It has dynamic sound that isn't quite neutral, but is engaging and entertaining across the board. You'll get a subtle and sophisticated look with the black and ebony earcups that match the high-class audio quality. 

If you're looking for something more neutral and with heavy midrange detail, the Strada may be a better choice. It is lightweight and accented with an organic dark green, so you get an interesting look with its easy compatibility. The more relaxed bass may suit more sensitive ears, so you'll be able to listen for longer and do more in-depth analysis with your listening. 

You can get both the Strada and the Liric II at Audio46.