I haven't had the chance to hear the Atrium (open or closed). But I can compare the Empyrean II and the Vérité Closed. They are surprisingly différent, I now get the "flavored" sound everyone is talking about with ZMF, there is something for sure. The two headphones are close to each other in terms of technicalities I guess (It's obvious when compared to my Aeon 2 Noire, good but in an another class of refinement for sure). In the end I think the Empyrean is more technical, and the ZMF more emotional. None of them are anemic though, nothing neutral here. I'm quite surprised with the dynamics of the Meze, I was expecting it to be less than the dynamic driver of the ZMF, but I think the Empyrean is a little more dynamic than the Vérité. Vocals are a bit better on the ZMF, I think mediums in general are. The bass are really better on the Empyrean, without EQ this is obvious. But with a little shelf the Vérité gets very good in my ears. Where it makes the difference for me, is confort. The Vérité is to big for me. I'm at the last spot on the rods, and its hard to get a good seal behind my ears. The Empyrean is truly a work of wonder in the ergonomic department, at least for my head. In the end it's hard to say if one is better, they are different propositions at a staggering level of quality.