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Meze Audio Elite vs ZMF Caldera

Both are planar magnetic open-back headphones.

The Caldera needs 6 dB more power to reach a loud 110 dB peak, so it asks more of the amplifier.

The Caldera lists for $500 less.

$4,000

$3,499.99

Side by side

EliteCaldera
Driver
Planar magnetic
Planar magnetic
Diaphragm
Rinaro Parus MZ3SE ultra-thin polymer film, 0.11 g
Four-trace, eight-pathway planar diaphragm
Driver size
102 x 73 mm ovoid, 4,650 mm² active area
80 mm
Enclosure
Open-back
Open-back
Weight
433 g
Not published
Impedance
32 ohms
60 ohms
Sensitivity
101 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz
~95 dB/mW
Power for 110 dB
7.94 mW, 0.50 V
31.6 mW, 1.38 V
Caldera needs 6 dB more
Drive
Easy to drive
Easy to drive
Frequency response
3 Hz – 112 kHz
Not published
Made in
Romania
United States
Released
2021
2022
List price
$4,000
$3,499.99
Caldera is $500 less
Materials
Carbon fibreAluminiumLeather
AluminiumWoodLeather
Both use aluminium, leather

From each maker’s published figures; sources are on each headphone’s page. Power for 110 dB is worked out from sensitivity and impedance.

Amplifiers that drive both

How the matching works

Each of these has 10 dB or more in reserve above a loud 110 dB peak on both headphones, so one amplifier serves either.

Build a setup with the Elite →Build a setup with the Caldera →

Where to buy the Elite

List $4,000

Retailer prices checked 2026-10-21. We may earn a commission on purchases. How this works

Where to buy the Caldera

List $3,499.99

None of the boutiques we track list this model right now. Manufacturer page: shop.zmfheadphones.com.

Retailer prices checked 2026-10-21. We may earn a commission on purchases. How this works

More head to head