A beautifully crafted headphone tuned to perfection

The Mirph-1 by MirphDesigns is a testament to years of thoughtful engineering and design. Built with an elegant aesthetic, including industrial-grade plastics and a stainless steel/aluminum chassis, this headphone brings together looks, comfort, and sound performance.

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Note: I would like to thank MirphDesigns for providing the Mirph-1 for the purposes of this review.

If you want to check out more details about the Mirph-1, here is a non-affiliated link to their product page: here.

Designed with balanced tuning in mind with some tweaks to deliver a more extended and controlled bass response while keeping the overall tonality balanced and with some clever (and I believe unique) design decisions, you also get excellent comfort and a wide soundstage. So, what more could you ask for?

I have been using it as my ‘coffee table’ headphone for the past month:

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We are living in the golden age of creators about to make “homegrown” headphones but what I immediately thought was different about the Mirph-1 was that this headphone does not feel like it is the first headphone from a small startup headphone company, this headphone has the polish and build quality that should embarrass most high-end headphone companies.

But, let’s take a look at the unboxing experience:

Unboxing experience

The Mirph-1 arrives in a clean, minimalist though unremarkable cardboard box: box.jpg

Note: Product packaging is probably one area where I feel MirphDesigns can improve over the next few years, but it is perfectly acceptable and I appreciate when money is spent on the headphones themselves and not on the packaging especially as this box is easily recycled.

The back of the box features some helpful specifications and I do like it when a company is proud of the frequency response of their headphone and posts it on the box: back-box.jpg

Inside, the box is the first thing you notice is obviously the headphone itself: openbox.jpg

Since, this arrived as part of a review tour, it is missing a “manual” that is normally provided in the box which includes many details including how to take the headphone apart, I love when headphones are provided with this level of detail, it adds great confidence that this headphone will be user repairable:

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Cable

Initially I thought the cable looked a little cheap and didn’t actually use them, though this was probably due to the bag it came in: cable-bag.jpg

So I initially used this balanced cable for my subjective listening paired with a few different amplifiers: cable-recommendation.jpg

But in the past week I decided to properly check out the provided cable, and it is actually pretty good, with zero microphone issues, it has a nice weight and a lovely feel and in general you will be happy with the cable: IMG_4077.jpg

The connectors are nice quality too: IMG_4076.jpg

So while the unboxing is mostly unremarkable, the headphone themselves are fantastic, so let’s have a look:

Design, Build Quality, and Comfort

The Mirph-1 is an extremely well-built headphone, combining lightweight construction with some premium materials:

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Zooming in on the design there is a lovely speckled finish:

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I love the large and comfortable earpads, they are definitely a reason these have become my coffee table headphones for the past month: IMG_4079.jpg

Here is a detailed look at the grills:

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Taking off the earpads reveals the drivers you can see ‘dampening’ material and the red 3D printed mesh: IMG_3848.jpg

Note: While nobody see this unless they take off the earpads, I do think this is another area where I feel MirphDesigns can refine in future headphones. It does look a little “homemade”, though it obviously serves a very important goal, helping to dampen the reflections to tune the sound.

Unique Driver placement?

The drivers are much more recessed in the ear cup than I think any other headphone I have reviewed. I believe this distance from your ear provides a more spacious sound but the remarkable thing this design allows the headphone to be very independent of placement on your ear or even seal issues (so you still get good bass with glasses).

Basically the nearer your ear the driver the more interaction it has with your ear i.e. typically called HRTF (Head related Transfer function), so the further from your ears and more space the sound waves have, the more a headphone can sound more spacious like speakers in a room (which is typically the goal) while keeping that neutral tonality. But usually with this design it is hard control so it is a triumph of the dedication of many years of refinement applied to this headphone that you get a very balanced sound signature with this unusual design.

You can see the driver behind the mesh - the Mirph-1 uses an exceptional good 50mm Peerless driver: mirph-internal-driver.jpg

The chassis is made from CNC-machined aluminum and stainless steel, while the industrial-grade plastic ear-cups feature a textured black splatter finish, giving the headphone a vintage yet modern look: IMG_3851.jpg

Comfort

The comfort of the Mirph-1 is exceptional and it not just the earpads, as probably one of my favourites aspect of the design is the leather headband: headband.jpg

The headband has a stiffness and padded with real ‘Portuguese’ leather that has a nice design where it is slightly pointed so the top of your head does not get hot: headband2.jpg

The clamping force is minimal, and the rods extend easily to accommodate all head sizes:

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One minor criticism about the design would that the ‘rod’ mechanism is not stiff enough, so sometimes when you take them off your head they swivel out: earxuo-swivel.jpg

Note: I believe the latest models have a more rigid ‘rod’ and won’t swivel as easily.

The earpads are soft and plush, though they were a magnetic for cat hair as you might see:

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If you want to experiment with alternatives it is super easy to take off the earpads, though in my experience the stock earpads are exceptional good for both sound quality and comfort, but I did try a few alternatives, though none were as comfortable or sounded as neutral as the ones provided.

Here are one an alternative all leather earpad I tried though these were not quiet as comfortable: mirph-alt-earpad.jpg

Sound Quality

The tuning of these headphones delivers a highly engaging listening experience, striking a balance between neutrality and musicality. Tested with a variety of classic audiophile tracks, their performance demonstrates impressive technical capability and tonal balance across the frequency range.

Bass

The bass is extended, controlled, and articulate, avoiding any sense of boominess. Listening to “Flight of the Cosmic Hippo” by Béla Fleck and the Flecktones highlights the textured low-end performance, where each bass pluck resonates with clarity and weight. The sub-bass in Hans Zimmer’s “Why So Serious?” is deep and impactful, maintaining power without overwhelming the rest of the spectrum.

Midrange

The midrange shines with a natural timbre, offering excellent vocal reproduction and instrument separation. On “Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley, the emotion in Buckley’s voice is conveyed with remarkable intimacy, while the delicate guitar strings maintain their organic warmth. Diana Krall’s “The Look of Love” further demonstrates the headphones’ ability to highlight nuanced vocal textures and subtle dynamics, making them ideal for vocal-centric tracks.

Treble

The treble is detailed and airy without being harsh, offering a crisp and refined sparkle. Tracks like “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck Quartet showcase the cymbal strikes with excellent precision and decay, while maintaining a smooth tonality. The shimmering violins in Hilary Hahn’s performance of Bach’s “Violin Concerto in E Major” come through with exceptional clarity and no trace of sibilance.

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage is moderately wide but immersive, creating a sense of space that feels natural rather than exaggerated. On Pink Floyd’s “Time”, the ticking clocks and distant chimes are presented with remarkable dimensionality, placing each element accurately within the sound field. Imaging is pinpoint, as heard on Yosi Horikawa’s “Bubbles”, where the movement of sound sources is rendered with striking precision.

Dynamics and Resolution

The headphones handle microdynamics with ease, delivering subtle shifts in intensity and volume with finesse. On “Hotel California” (Live on MTV Unplugged), the rise and fall of the acoustic guitars and percussion are lifelike and engaging. Resolution is equally impressive, revealing fine details in tracks like “So What” by Miles Davis, where each instrument maintains its distinct character in the dense arrangement.

Overall Performance

These headphones perform remarkably across all genres, catering equally to audiophiles and casual listeners. Their ability to extract details while maintaining a cohesive and enjoyable tonal balance makes them a versatile choice for everything from orchestral performances to modern electronic tracks. Classic audiophile recordings truly come to life, offering an elevated listening experience that captures the heart of the music.

Specifications and Measurements

Specification Details
Driver Information 50mm Dynamic Driver
Impedance 32 Ω
Sensitivity Approx 100 dB/mW
Weight 405g
Cable Details Dual 3.5mm connectors, balanced-ready
Build Materials CNC Aluminum, Stainless Steel, Leather

The Mirph-1 is relatively easy to drive, with its 32 Ω impedance and 103 dB sensitivity. It works well with most portable sources, I even used it with the Apple usb-c dongle and the uber cheap Hiby R1 DAP.

Note: The following measurements were taken with my KB501X soft ear Pinna and a 711 clone coupler and are available on my measurement database here

Frequency Response

So lets start by looking at the “average” frequency response from various measurements: FR-.jpg As you can see there is excellent channel matching and the overall frequency response is excellent, with that now typical slightly recessed 1-2Khz region providing some extra “soundstage” and a slight roll off in the sub-bass.

I measured the Mirph is various positions including with glasses where the “seal” would be broken and as you can see it is very consistent: Mirph different positions.jpg

Note: this is much more zoomed in than normal graphs (the treble is not as emphasized as it looks) I have just done this to allow me to show very subtle differences.

So there is a slight difference in that “soundstage” region with a loose fit or a more ‘clampy’ fit and then the other difference is wearing glass ( in red ) has a very minor effect on the sub-bass.

Overall I think this is result where it is very consistent from very varied placements and a very good indication that this headphone will sound similar for most people, though some people will get more ‘soundstage’ due to that difference in the ’loose’ versus ’tight’ fit.

Distortion

Distortion looks very good with nothing to worry about: Mirph Distortion.jpg

And as a percentage again nothing to be concerned about: Mirph Distortion Perct.jpg

Some EQ recommendation:

This headphone does not really need any EQ, but I did play around with some changes, boosting that sub-bass rolloff and tweaking the treble:

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Note: this treble modification will be variable for most people so it is best to just listen to your favourite music first and see if the treble sounds normal before changing anything with EQ. Mostly this headphone doesn’t need EQ, but I personally do like to tweak.

Some comparisons:

These are unique headphones at this price but here are some comparisons with other quality open back headphones:

HD600 and HD800s

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The Mirph-1 has been tuned exceptionally so I do think it deserves some comparisons with these 2 classic Sennheiser headphones. Personally, I would say the Mirph-1 is between both of these classics, it is more comfortable and has more bass than the HD600 but probably isn’t quiet at the level of the HD800s yet ( maybe the Mirph2 ).

But the size of the earpads does match that of the HD800s: ComparedWithHD800s.jpg

Hifiman Edition XS

ComparedWithXS2.jpg Placing the Mirph-1 against these classic “mid-fi” Hifiman headphones is probably unfair as the Mirph-1 is more expensive but also has better build quality. But lacks that smooth “planar” bass that is exceptional on the “egg shaped” hifiman headphones. But for those who find the large ’egg shaped’ cups on the EditionXS uncomfortable the Mirph-1 off a better experience.

Whether you like the large round earpads on the Mirph-1 or the egg shape ones of these Hifiman’s is probably more of a personal preference as both are large and very comfortable: ComparedWithXS.jpg

Some other earpads comparisons

Finally, here are some other very comfortable headphones earpads, compared to the Meze 105 AER, it has much large earpads, though I do like the Velvet texture of the 105 AER’s for shorter listening sessions as they do eventually get too hot:
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Compared to the Modhouse Tungstens earpads, it was very close, but I did like the Tungstens comfort slightly more but that is a more expensive headphone:
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Rating

I’ve given the Mirph-1 a very pragmatic 5 stars. Its combination of excellent sound, premium build quality, great comfort, and beautiful design make it a headphone worth considering, especially for those who value craftsmanship and tonal balance.

This is a lightweight yet robust headphone that feels both vintage and modern, thanks to its textured black cups. These German made headphones are designed to last.

While the packaging and cable are maybe a little sub-par for a headphone in this price range, the Mirph-1 themselves are exceptional and I personally can’t wait to see what the Mirph-2 might sound like.

Conclusion

The Mirph-1 are an impressive blend of bespoke craftsmanship, premium materials, and well-considered sound tuning. It’s a great option for audiophiles looking for something unique and handmade. Whether you’re diving into acoustic, electronic, or orchestral music, the Mirph-1 delivers a balanced and engaging performance and a super comfortable experience.

With a price that punches above its weight class, the Mirph-1 has carved a niche for itself with excellent quality, comfort, style, and a stellar tuning. Highly recommended!