Abyss JOAL Vs Meze POET Comparison Review

The Meze POET and Abyss JOAL are two of the hottest new audiophile headphones, and we’re putting them head to head to see which one might be the best fit for you. Both promise exceptional sound quality, unique design philosophies, and premium build materials, but they deliver vastly different listening experiences. Whether you’re looking for intimate, holographic imaging or expansive, layered spatial detail, these headphones cater to distinct audiophile preferences. In this detailed comparison, we’ll break down their design, comfort, sound signature, and overall performance to help you determine which one is the better fit for your listening needs.

What You Get

Look & Feel

In terms of style, the JOAL and POET are in top form for their respective brands. The POET is more compact and has a more refined construction, but the JOAL also has excellent build quality with strong support and durability. I’ve not been a huge fan of Abyss’s earpads in the past, but the JOAL has significantly improved on this front. The POET doesn’t have anything to prove here if you’re familiar with the Liric. It’s the same basic design, just with an open-back grille. Comfort-wise, both headphones have a great fit that can support hours of listening time without fatigue. The hybrid suede pads on the JOAL have a great feel to them and will encompass more of your head compared to the POET’s pads. You might prefer the POET for its tighter, more secure grip.

Design

The Abyss JOAL and Meze POET are both planar headphones with very specific technology attached to them. For instance, the POET has its hybrid array configuration made with RINARO, and the JOAL is a 63mm unit. In practice, the driver units inside these headphones inform how well they will amplify from your source. I found myself upping the gain on the JOAL more regularly than the POET, but both headphones aren’t too hard to drive. The JOAL seems to synergize better with higher-end gear, while the POET delivered more general power.

Soundstage

Regarding spaciousness, it’s hard not to pick the JOAL over the POET. With the JOAL, you get more width and separation from the space between instruments, with a clearer stereo field that entwines the sound signature. The POET doesn’t sound as elegant, but it makes up for it with its intimate holographic imaging that encapsulates your head better than the JOAL can. If I need a headphone for realistic localization and discernable layers, I would go for the JOAL, however, if you’re looking for something that has a closer proximity while showcasing a more dome-like sound field.

Low End

While both headphones have substantial bass responses, the JOAL and POET couldn’t be more different from each other. The JOAL is able to get better definition from individual bass notes and show a greater form to its frequencies. With the POET, the frequencies are more spread out and jumbled into a pool of thick tonality that never resembles a clear shape. You also get a more dynamic bass response from the JOAL in comparison to the POET, which has a consistent bloom of intimate warmth that is supplied to you no matter the genre.

Mids

Both the JOAL and POET leave you a lot to decipher in the midrange. Switching back and forth between the headphones offered a lot of insight into how they handled instrumental technicality and texture. Where the JOAL excels is in its unfolding of specific artifacts from most non-synthesized instruments. You get the full details of instrument recording, including microdetails like plucks and breaths. It’s a very informative picture of the sound, resulting in vivid soundscapes. The POET isn’t quite as elegant, but if you prefer a smoother response with more flavor, then you might prefer it. It has a more casual midrange performance, all while maintaining detail and dynamism. Upper-midrange frequencies even resolve a bit better on the POET, compared to the slight veil the JOAL puts over some vocal ranges.

Highs

Neither the JOAL nor the POET totally give me what I’m looking for in the highs, but they both come very close. The JOAL definitely comes the closest and makes a valiant effort delivering excellent height and technical prowess. With the POET, the highs are a lot more lenient, with softer brightness and strike, but still capable of fulfilling detail. I would have liked more sizzle and defined tails from both headphones, and they might be able to get there with the proper gear, but I wasn’t able to get there with the POET and JOAL. The JOAL is the closest though, with its surface of sparkle that never really resonates into brilliance. This is where I can see some preferring the POET, which has a more satisfying click and snap.

Summary

Choosing between the Meze POET and Abyss JOAL ultimately depends on what you value most in a headphone. The JOAL impresses with its expansive soundstage, precise bass articulation, and intricate midrange detailing, making it ideal for those who prioritize accuracy and spatial clarity. On the other hand, the POET offers a more intimate, immersive experience with a warmer tonality and a smoother midrange, appealing to those who enjoy a more relaxed but engaging sound signature. While neither headphone perfects the high frequencies, both bring unique strengths to the table. Whether you seek analytical precision or lush musicality, both the POET and JOAL are worthy contenders in the world of premium planar magnetic headphones.

The Abyss JOAL and the Meze POET are available at Audio46.