As long as the compromises inherent in a hard-wired open-backed headphone design aren’t a deal-breaker for you there’s really nothing to take any issue with here The Meze Audio 105 AER are a fine pair of headphones and well worth the asking price Built and finished to an impressive standard May prove too large for some smaller-headed listeners Meze Audio doesn’t just stick to the super-high end with its headphone designs – it just seems that way sometimes because its super-high end headphones are so very good its idea of what constitutes ‘entry level’ won’t chime with everyone – these 105 AER open-backed over-ears are $399 / £369 / AU$799 a pair though certainly they’re a notch or two up from the equivalent Grados And while the lack of a balanced cable option is a bit stingy there’s no arguing with the lengths Meze Audio has gone to where the dynamic drivers that do the audio business are concerned open-backed headphones – with all of the caveats those descriptions imply – and you have this sort of money to spend it would be grossly negligent not to check the 105 AER out Just like every other pair of wired over-ear headphones the Meze Audio 105 AER are not exactly overburdened with features But just like every other pair of Meze Audio headphones I’ve tested the 105 AER features are very thoroughly implemented though; when I talk about ‘features’ really I’m talking about the drivers that deliver sound to your ears Everything else about the 105 AER is more correctly found in the ‘design’ section – so let’s talk about the drivers The ‘feature’ here is a 50mm full-range dynamic driver – or It’s closely based on the driver Meze Audio fits to its considerably more expensive models with some minor adjustments to the frame and driver membrane to keep weight (and costs) down The ‘W’-shaped dome is made of a carbon-fibre/cellulose composite Meze Audio prizes it for its durability and light weight and reckons it rejects resonances more effectively than any alternative material The torus – the ring that surrounds the dome – is made of semicrystalline polymer and its impressive damping characteristics keep vibrations and resonances to a minimum there’s a copper/zinc alloy stabiliser around the outside of the membrane to further reduce distortion This arrangement results in a frequency response of 5Hz - 30kHz So while the 105 AER are light on features One of the major benefits of the open-backed arrangement is a spacious and open presentation of music The Meze Audio 105 AER are one open-backed model that validate this theory A 2.8MHz DSD file of Radiohead’s Reckoner delivered by the 3.5mm output of a FiiO M15S digital audio player proves the point in some style element-heavy recording that modulates through a number of dynamic variations but throughout it the 105 AER maintain a big well-defined and properly organised soundstage on which every individual element gets plenty of space in which to express itself The resolution of the stage is straightforwardly impressive and even though the Meze Audio offer plenty of separation they nonetheless present the record as a singular There’s a coherence to the way the song is delivered that makes it seem of a whole The 105 AER load on the information at every point but are especially adept at offering lots of variation at the bottom of the frequency range and the midrange is articulate too… but where bass is concerned the Meze Audio are able to offer a great deal of textural and tonal variety while still maintaining straight-edged control and ample weight The whole frequency range hangs together nicely and there’s a smooth transition from top to bottom – the 105 AER play no favourites and transitions from lowest to highest frequencies evenly The tonal balance is quite carefully neutral which allows recordings to reveal their balance without the headphones sticking their oar in too obviously So a 16bit/44.1kHz file of Aretha Franklin’s How I Got Over is as warm as an 18 tog duvet while similarly sized file of Kraftwerk’s Europe Endless has just the right sort of austerity The Meze Audio handle the dynamics of harmonic variation with just as much confidence and positivity as they do the dynamic shifts in volume or intensity They offer convincing rhythmic expression and a naturalistic way with tempo management unequivocal overall personality that makes every listen an event and makes every recording sound like it deserves your attention I’ve previously described the design of some of Meze Audio’s pricier over-ear headphones as ‘overwrought’ – and at the time I thought I was being quite kind So it’s nice to be able to report that having to keep costs down has resulted in a design that makes the 105 AER look coherent and definitely no more than ‘wrought’ The detachable ear pads are of velour-covered memory foam sit comfortably without warming your head too quickly The almost-semicircular outer headband that connects the two earcups is of slender stamped magnesium and the inner headband that’s the actual contact point is self-adjusting and made of PU leather The outer part of the earcups is an interestingly organic design and made from ABS-PC thermoplastic The result is Meze Audio’s lightest over-ear headphone to date – a very manageable 336g and the 105 AER are supplied with a 1.8m length of braided cable that has the necessary pair of 3.5mm connections at one end and a single 3.5mm connection at the other There’s also a 6.3mm adapter included It’s a pity there’s no option of a balanced cable but perhaps if we all pester Meze Audio then something might be forthcoming zip-fastening travel case that’s a cut or two above the alternatives supplied by rival brands with their $399-ish over-ear headphones A little pouch inside keeps your cable tangle-free when the headphones are not in use – and there’s enough room in there for a second cable It’s not even a question of ‘value’ really – but about the only way the Meze Audio 105 AER don’t make a strong-going-on-compelling case for themselves concerns the way they fit the number of people they will fit – because although that headband is self-adjusting and the lower limit isn’t all that low it’s hard to make a justifiable complaint about the value that’s on offer here As features within designs such as this go The only possible nit to pick here is the lack of 4.4mm cable It's very generous (possibly a tad too generous for smaller heads?) insightful and organised soundThat description could conceivably be interpreted to mean the 105 AER are not much fun - but that’s not the case It’s just that ‘fun’ isn’t all they are… You do your listening aloneOpen-backed headphones are quite anti-social at the best of times and the 105 AER leak sound in the manner of a sonic colander Your source(s) have unbalanced headphone socketsA 3.5mm connection with a 6.3mm adapter is all well and good but what about those of us whose source equipment has a balanced output too You’re after outright low-frequency wallopThe 105 AER are a balanced and nicely poised listen - which means low frequencies are given the correct sort of emphasis rather than being overstated Your head is on the small sideThe headband is self-adjusting The more petite-headed among us may find it tricky to get a satisfactory fit the 105 AER aren’t really candidates for mobile use So all my listening took place either at my desk connected to my laptop or to a digital audio player (the 4.4mm balanced output of which went sadly unused) or in my listening space connected to a Naim Uniti Streamer listening consisted of digital audio files of various types and sizes while the connection to the Naim allowed for vinyl and CD content as well as network-attached stuff Simon LucasSocial Links NavigationSimon Lucas is a senior editorial professional with deep experience of print/digital publishing and the consumer electronics landscape. Based in Brighton Simon worked at TechRadar's sister site What HiFi as both a features editor and a digital editor before embarking on a career in freelance consultancy and journalism for some of the biggest brands and publications in the world.  With enormous expertise in all things home entertainment Simon reviews everything from turntables to soundbars for TechRadar and also likes to dip his toes into longform features and buying guides you will then be prompted to enter your display name the Meze Alba are a great starting point for more critical listening there is some lovely clarity in the top end and the soundstage is impressive for in-ears they’re a wonderful pair of wired in-ear buds wireless circuitry and often touch controls into something that’s going to sit in your lugholes Wired earbuds on the other hands have a less tricky task and that means they can focus on arguably the most important part of their existence: the sound Price $159/£149/AU$249Connectivity 3.5mm jackWeight 0.5ozColors WhiteCompatibility iOS WindowsFrequency response 15 Hz – 25 kHz you might expect something aimed at "audiophiles" would cost a whole lot of money — but thankfully more impressive IEMs tend to be slightly less expensive than you might expect They cost $159 — so they’re not cheap you don’t get the same kind of features as with flagship wireless earbuds they feel like they’ll last a long time They come with a little carrying pouch in the box as well so you don’t have to worry when you want to take them out and about There’s only one small issue I found with the buds and that’s the connection between the buds and the included cable The fact you can replace the cable is a good thing It means that you can get a new one if the old one breaks and you can change it out for a balanced cable should you want to use it with a different output (side note: you can buy a separate balanced cable from Meze) The issue is the connection between earbud and cable the tiny little holes that you need to stuff the needle-like connectors into are alarmingly small — and it feels tight and uncomfortable when you need to disconnect and reconnect them I am worried about bends as well — although I am yet to experience any kind of breakage Comfort-wise though the Alba are impeccable There are plenty of earbuds options in the box and the cable has a portion that sits over your ear for a secure fit Their shape makes them fit into your ear well and I found them very comfortable to wear for long periods of time don’t have anywhere near as many features as the best wireless earbuds and a 3.5mm headphone jack to connect them up to your devices That might leave you wondering how you can connect them to your Android phone or iPhone — thankfully That means improved audio quality out of your phone You can also use it to improve the sound of other wired earbuds and headphones as well I played Tidal streams through my MacBook Pro attached to my Chord Mojo 2 DAC That’s got a better-quality amplifier than my MacBook I plugged them into my Fiio M15 Digital Audio Player where I played tracks from my high-quality Flac collection Immediately I noticed the more pronounced high-end something I was expecting from in-ear buds What I wasn’t expecting was the very solid bass extension as well — as a general rule thanks to the small size of the drivers in IEMs Meze has brought its signature excellent warmth and body to a small pair of earbuds which makes the earbuds feel much bigger sonically than they are physically and it blows wireless options out of the water There is just one sonic niggle I have with the buds and that’s the slight sibilance you’ll notice when you listen to spoken word content like YouTube videos The strummed electric guitar intro of Katatonia’s Hypnone was a delight and the distorted guitars create a solid wall of noise that hits like a freight train Buds like these make for a great way to listen to your music critically showing you the minute details that you might miss with wireless options it’s easy to miss some of the more subtle bass notes — but that’s to some great clarity in the mid-bass they’re picked out very nicely by the Alba In Hell is Where She Waits For Me from The Black Dhalia Murder presents very well in the Alba the guitar solos being a particular highlight There’s great body to the distorted guitar lines as well and the drums lay down a gloriously solid foundation for the whole ensemble Instrument separation is a particular highlight here as nothing blends into anything else — you can pick the two guitarists apart from each other where sometimes they become an amorphous mass of syncopated guitar rhythms and I think the Meze Alba present a great stepping on point for critical listening to your music you’ll really be able to hear all the little details in your music so they won’t stand up to as much punishment as the likes of Sony or Sennheiser but they still look great and they’re built very well At $159 they’re not too expensive either and could be just want you’ve been looking for if you want to see what the audiophile fuss is all about After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day Our editors carefully select every product we recommend. We may earn a commission from these links. Learn more After industrial designer Antonio Meze had a hard time finding headphones that could match his love for both hi-fi audio and visual aesthetic he launched his namesake Meze Audio in 2011 With its first in-house monitors in 2015 with the award-winning Meze 99 Classics the Romanian audio firm began dabbling in innovative planar magnetic drivers it wasn’t until the debut of their Empyrean a few years later that they became a major player in the crowded hi-fi arena However, with a $3,000 price tag, the Empyrean wasn’t necessarily as accessible for some looking to get into audiophile-quality monitors. Now, with its new model, the POET, Meze offers more affordable — yet still relatively steep — planar magnetic headphones at two-thirds of the price and half the price of Meze’s top-shelf Elite headphones Unlike your typical dynamic driver technology for hi-fi headphones planar magnetic drivers place thin diaphragms between a pair of magnets which creates an electromagnetic field when electrical current passes through the wires embedded within after which sound is produced from the vibration produces superb clarity across the frequency range of audio You’ll also experience lower distortion at high volumes and highly accurate sound reproduction and instrument distinction Around the same $2,000 price point as Meze’s Liric planar model their latest POET headphones actually feature an open-back design They leverage tech from Meze’s longtime partners at Rinaro Isodynamics but whereas the pricier Empyrean headphones utilize the MZ3 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers the POET features the MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers which feature a smaller and simpler magnet configuration while still producing a warm sound signature The POET is also more compact and lightweight in its design with premium yet more affordable materials This means a magnesium chassis with a steel grill While higher-end models might have more cable length and termination options the POET’s dual 3.5mm TS jacks certainly get the job done and feature braided copper material.  For audiophile-grade headphones at a relatively accessible price point head over to Meze Audio’s website to pre-order the POET Headphones for $2,000 ShareSaveCommentInnovationConsumer TechMeze Audio Anounces POET High-Performance Planar-Magnetic HeadphonesByMark Sparrow Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Technology journalist specializing in audio computing and Apple Macs.Follow AuthorFeb 20 06:00am ESTShareSaveCommentThe new Meze Audio POET planar magnetic headphones are a combination of technology and luxury .. Meze Audio the Romanian manufacturer of high-end headphones has announced its latest pair of planar-magnetic headphones aimed at the audiophile market The POET headphones combine Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array technology with luxurious casing materials and an ergonomic design that showcases what can be achieved in a pair of compact At the heart of the POET headphones is a sound signature that Meze Audio describes as offering: “Lush balancing low-end depth with delicate high-frequency clarity.” With a frequency range starting at a subsonic 4Hz and extending to a bat-squeaking 96kHz these headphones have a tonality enhanced with high-frequency sparkle but with a comfortable sound signature The headphones have been designed to extract as much detail as possible from the music by separating the instruments into a convincing soundstage Thanks to MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers the POET headphones leverage the innovative technology that’s been jointly developed by Meze Audio and Rinaro Isodynamics The headphones’ housings feature an intricate steel grille in a copper tone and a magnesium chassis which gives the construction an understated feel of luxury The thin leather headband looks a little uninviting at first but its soft suede underside contributes to the headphones’ durability and comfort levels The ultra-soft ear cushions provide a high level of comfort The new Meze Audio POET feature a smart metal grille and a soft suede-lined headband The flexible titanium alloy headband is designed to evenly distribute the weight of the headphones across the wearer’s head ensuring a relaxed fit for more comfortable listening The lightweight design and use of magnetic ear pads make these easy headphones to wear and swapping over the ear pads is easy should they ever need replacing The planar magnetic drivers in the POET are made in Ukraine by a company called Rinaro Isodynamics Isodynamic Hybrid Array technology has been developed by the company over three decades and the MZ6 drivers used in the POET headphones are the result of many years of research and development The drivers are hand-assembled and tested at Rinaro’s Lviv factory There are several breakthrough features in the design of these new headphones including a Hybrid Magnet Array that produces a uniform and powerful magnetic field across the whole surface of the diaphragm The Parus diaphragm weighs a mere 0.06g and has a large active area for audio reproduction The resulting sound has ultra-low distortion (<0.05%) alongside high-resolution Meze Audio claims its commitment to craftsmanship and longevity goes as far as making every component in the POET headphones easy to disassemble and replace Whether it’s the magnetic ear pads or the materials used throughout the chassis the headphone’s construction and finish is designed to provide years of listening POET planar magnetic headphones from Meze Audio with their deluxe copper braided cable And now we come to the sound quality of these premium headphones balancing low-end depth with delicate high-frequency clarity,” they’re not joking The POET exhibit an extremely low bass frequency that I haven’t heard from a pair of planar magnetic drivers before one might think that these headphones are built with dynamic drivers the clarity of the midrange and the delicacy of the upper frequencies suggest that Meze Audio has combined the best qualities of dynamic drivers with the finesse and subtlety of planar magnetic drivers to produce an airy quality with a foundation of a solid bass This feat of sonic engineering should resonate well with the POET’s intended audience The Meze Audio POET planar magnetic headphones are available from February 20, 2025, at mezeaudio.com and more affordable than the flagship Empyrean II the $2,000 Meze Audio Poet have planar magnetic fans rather excited Home > Latest > New Products > Headphones > Over-Ear Headphones > Meze Audio’s POET is About to Shake-up the High-End Headphone Market Below $2,000: CanJam NYC 2025 the Tivoli Audio Model One BT 70's Color Collection is both a Bluetooth speaker and table-top radio in five retro colors Unlock the gates of Asgard with Schiit Valhalla 3 — a fully modern OTL/OCL tube headphone amp forged for high-impedance cans and audiophiles who.. the Audiolab D7 and D9 DACs feature ESS chips and versatile connectivity for audiophiles $160,000 flagship loudspeakers designed to rival the best from DALI Discover how Danish engineering and over a decade of innovation come.. and AURUS subwoofer at High End Munich 2025 Upgrade Mom's home audio and video experiences this Mother's Day with 10 gift ideas she'll absolutely love -- and you might too With Amazon's current deal on the 65-inch Panasonic Z85A 4K OLED TV I finally got off the sidelines and bought a new TV Digital Trends claims ownership of Caleb Denison's new YouTube channel called CalebRated leading to all videos being removed from public view KEF speaker prices are going up on May 5 due to 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Read more → Copyright © 1999-2024 ecoustics | Disclaimer: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more Meze Audio is well known for its beautiful (and relatively affordable) hi-fi headphones. However, in recent years, the Romanian audio maker has become one of the leaders in planar magnetic headphones … which can be rather pricey And while its newest cans, the Meze Audio Poet they offer a more affordable way for hi-fi enthusiasts to get into planar magnetic headphones the Poet is very similar to the brand’s Liric which are also $2,000 planar magnetic headphones The most significant difference is that the Liric have a closed-back design planar magnetic headphones are known for delivering a higher-fidelity sound than dynamic headphones (a category most popular headphones fall into) And since most have a traditional 3.5mm headphone jack and don’t necessarily require a separate amp Meze Audio partnered with Rinaro Isodynamics a Ukrainian audio company with over 30 years of planar magnetic experience integrating its MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers into the Poet These MZ6 drivers combine a uniform magnetic field design with an extremely lightweight diaphragm resulting in an extremely high-resolution sound with ultra-low distortion (<0.05%) the Poet headphones capture “every nuance from the deepest sub-bass to the highest treble frequencies.” They produce a sound “akin” to that of its higher-end Elite series of planar magnetic headphones Meze Audio’s Poet are luxury open-back headphones made of premium materials The headband is made of a flexible titanium alloy that The Poet comes with a hand-braided copper cable that matches the color of the headphone’s grills These cables are detachable and feature dual 3.5mm TS jacks One interesting thing about the Poet headphones is that they are designed to be fully serviceable The Meze Audio Poet open-back planar magnetic headphones are available now They cost $2,000 and can be purchased from Crutchfield or Meze Audio’s website Meze Audio is back with a new-and-improved version of the Empyrean The Empyrean II headphones betters its predecessor from 2018 in terms of detail retrieval   Jacob is a music-lover and audiophile who enjoys convincing his friends to buy audio gear that they can't afford He's also a freelance writer and editor based in Los Angeles Copyright © 1998–2025 Audioholics Accessibility After closing its doors in January 2020 following seven years in downtown Frederick Ayse Meze Lounge is poised to return to the culinary scene—this time about 25 miles south as AYSE the driving force behind the Mediterranean restaurant named for his mother has applied for a liquor license on behalf of AYSE for the new location at 700 King Farm Rd A public hearing regarding the liquor license application is scheduled for October 17th marking a significant step in the restaurant’s revival AYSE will be taking over the location that was previously home to Nick’s Chophouse which closed in 2021 after a twenty year run as it was known during its run in Frederick had a 4.4 Google rating with over 500 reviews and a 4.1 Yelp rating with over 420 reviews Pistarro’s Ristorante and Isabella’s Taverna and Tapas Bar also have favorable reviews across different platforms We will provide updates regarding an opening timeframe and specific menu once the information becomes available ShareSaveCommentInnovationConsumer TechMeze Audio Launches Premium AER 105 Open-Back HeadphonesByMark Sparrow computing and Apple Macs.Follow AuthorNov 19 09:00am ESTShareSaveCommentThe new Meze Audio 105 AER open-back headphones are the kind of headphones for listening to music in .. Romania-based Meze Audio has released its latest open-back headphones for music lovers who like to get up close and personal with their record collection The 105 AER headphones are the Romanian artisan brand’s latest addition to its best-in-class range With an over-the-ear design and open-backed drivers Meze Audio has made something rather special with the 105 AER I’ve had a week or so to sample the 105 AER and they are one of the best pairs of open-back headphones for the money but it’s the warmth and pitch-perfect soundstage that makes these mid-priced headphones stand out from the crowd The reason for the 105 AER’s mellow sound is down to how the open-back design lets the air in the soundwaves produced by the 105 AER aren’t restricted to the earcups The music can breathe and find its limits to produce a tone that’s spacious The lightweight design of the Meze Audio 105 AER make them so easy to wear The 105 AER headphones are made from premium materials like cast zinc alloy and stamped manganese spring steel There’s a soft PU leather headband and sumptuous velour upholstery on the ear coverings The result is a pair of headphones that feel incredibly light to wear and weigh just 336g These headphones are the lightest open-back model that Meze Audio has ever made making extended and uninterrupted listening sessions easy Paul Șteț is Meze Audio’s senior product designer and he says: “The 105 AER have a feeling of Art Deco opulence almost like a piece of jewelry masked in a mechanical structure Certain curves and surfaces are not obvious at first glance; there's an ambiguity to the three-dimensional shape inviting you to discover it over time.” the 105 AER has a definite feel of fin de siècleBucharest But it’s not just the looks that are special the 105 AER have been fitted with large 50mm diameter dynamic driver membranes The wide frequency response makes these headphones at home with a wide variety of musical genres Meza Audio produces such beautifully designed headphones and the 105 AER are no exception If you like a smidge more bass with your music There’s bass and sub-bass aplenty without ever becoming boomy or out of control The overall effect is an enhanced presentation that makes it so easy to slip into the music and enjoy a full-bodied sound that won’t tire the listener’s ears Part of the reason for the comfortable fit of the 105 AER is down to the clever self-adjusting headband which manages to distribute the weight of the headphones so that they feel much lighter with an even pressure across the head The plump velour ear cushions create a passive seal although because the 105 AER are open backed there is sound leakage from the rear of the drivers but the ear cushions help to cut some of that down so you don’t miss the nuances in the music I returned to one of my favorite Fado albums The recording on this album is exemplary with the first track “Manjericos” able to open up the soundstage of the 105 AER all the while underpinned by the Spanish and Portuguese guitars Cristina Clara's Lua Adversa album is a superb test for the 105 AER headphones The atmosphere that the 105 AER headphones manage to convey with this album is nothing short of spine tingling The second track “Flor Amorosa” gives the drivers on the headphones a workout as the bass provides the firm foundations for a soaring flute accompaniment The delicacy of this music shows what the 105 AER are capable of with their revealing headphones and warm tone with just enough treble to create a sharply focused soundstage these headphones have been designed for a long life and are made with a modular construction This means the headphones can be taken apart and serviced ad infinitum Individual parts and components can be replaced and repaired ensuring the headphones can become an heirloom This latest launch from Meze Audio is exceptional for the brand that was founded in 2011 and has put Romania on the map as a center for headphone excellence Sennheiser also has some of its headphone production in the Eastern European nation Meze Audio’s current range also includes its evergreen 99 series headphones two open-back Isodynamic Hybrid Array headphones Empyrean II and Elite and one in-ear monitor The build quality of the Meze Audio 105 AER is exquisite Verdict: This latest pair of headphones from Romania’s Meze Audio is a triumph The clarity and tonal balance of the 105 AER is superb If I didn’t already have so many pairs of headphones I would buy the 105 AER because they are an example of how good a well-designed pair of open-back headphones with dynamic drivers can sound I’d put them on a par with the excellent Sennheiser HD660 S2 which are my favorite pair of open backs for now The 105 AER are perfect headphones for solitary listening at home with a premium audio source Pricing & availability: Meze Audio’s 105 AER headphones are available now from mezeaudio.com and priced at $399 / £359 / €399 The latest headphones from Romania’s Meze are a design and sonic treat Click that 3.5mm headphone connector into your nearest jack and you’ll be treated with a well rounded pleasing warm yet detailed and clear sound is not great and they’re not one for long-haul flights or train journeys but they’re a stunner for dedicated indoor listening Isolation and sound bleed issues with open back design We've already seen the headphone jack slip into obscurity Your smartphone doesn’t have one anymore If you have any appreciation for top-quality audio it’s a bit of a tragedy because it makes using headphones like the Meze 105 AER just that bit more of a pain Considering they’re a wired pair of headphones which in some circles means "geriatric," you might think that $399 is a high price Headphones like the Sennheiser HD800s — my chosen reference headphones — cost $1,400 and even they’re not considered the most expensive The Sennheiser Orpheus will set you back the same as a decently specced BMW and the Focal Utopia costs more than a second-hand Porsche from their incredibly well-crafted frames and earcups to their hard case that rivals those found with even the most expensive wireless headphones it doesn’t feel like they’re asking too much of your wallet From the top of their almost wire-thin support band to the floating so they don’t look as brutish as some audiophile headphones do so you won’t feel too bad about people spotting them if you keep them on a stand near your listening space The earcups feature a kind of webbed design on their outer panel and they look interesting without being too in your face It also leaves those open-backs more open than some of the competition so your audio is going to be good and spacious All of this lightweight design doesn’t just make them look good it also makes them feel incredibly comfortable on your head The audio hardware inside doesn’t weigh all that much and thanks to the lack of wireless circuits and antennas Combine that light weight with the firm but comfortable clamping force and you’ve got a pair of headphones that feel comfortable to wear for long listening sessions It’s topped off with some Alcantara-covered earpads for a lovely fit around your ears That floating leather band sits perfectly on the top of your head spring-loaded with the perfect elasticity so that it doesn’t press on the top of your head while these aren’t headphones you might want to wear on your long-haul flight or commuting on the bus you will almost certainly want to listen to them in hotel rooms Meze has made it easy for them to travel as well thanks to the inclusion of a really solid hard case There’s space inside for the headphones themselves and the cables but it does make it far more confidence-inspiring should you want to take them out and about so you can’t expect there to be anywhere near as many features as something like the Focal Bathys or the Dali IO-8 You do get everything you could want out of a pair of wired headphones The cable is detachable and attaches (and detaches) with ease so wrapping it up to put in its dedicated bag is simple but if you want to plug it into a different device you can opt to use the included 6.35mm adapter that clips on for a secure fit Your traditional headphones are closed back which means there’s no way for air inside to escape These have no covering for the drivers inside (or at least very little) airier sound stage for a more immersive audio experience these aren’t a pair of headphones for use in noisy environments it’s important to be detailed and thorough while testing the audio they can play The thing you notice first and foremost with the 105 AER is the soundstage despite an underlying warmness that makes them a great experience whether you want to do some relaxed listening or more critical analytical listening with plenty to be found up top and around the mid-range Bass impact is impressive for a pair of open ears and you’ll never find yourself wanting for low-end with plenty of hit and presence — it’s fast bass too vocals in all genres are clear and precise and made all the better by the immersion offered by the open-backed soundstage there's immense clarity in the plucked guitar strings There’s detail too — the sliding of fingers on the fretboard the subtle orchestral notes in the background The strings are well-rounded and perfectly formed You’re surrounded by the ensemble throughout the short track as well and while there are closed-back headphones that produce an out-and-out bassier performance pounding synth of Carpenter Brut is at its most unnerving in Blood Machines Theme and there is loads to enjoy in the 105 AER It’s a track that is traditionally fairly restricted in its soundstage but the Meze do an incredible job of immersing you in its horrifying organ-like synth lines and jarring digital stabs although it relies on the tight and controlled low-end of the headphones Pink Floyd rounds us out with Comfortably Numb if not only for Dave Gilmour’s genre-defining guitar solo get comfortable and get ready for 2:04 and what might be the best-known first note in the history of rock Dave’s fingers dance on the fretboard and you soon forget that you’re sitting in a chair in your living room as the headphones take you away to… wherever the band is The 105 AER show remarkable restraint in the low end as the bass guitar is easily locatable and pin-sharp precise The build of the music shows dynamism in the headphones too with the quiet parts quiet and the loudest parts loud Let me just briefly touch on the last point there for a second Dynamics are a hard thing for headphones to nail down particularly when they’re wireless and feature their own built-in DACs you want to make sure that the quiet parts are actually quiet and not just ‘this bit has less things in it so it’s quieter’ and you want the loud parts to be loud ANC headphones tend to level out the sound — they’re all effectively the same volume This is where a pair of wired headphones and a dedicated DAC can do a great job of actually giving you a musical experience — one that the Meze 105 AER deliver with aplomb Let’s get one thing out of the way — if you want a pair of wireless headphones that you can use to block out crying children and angry people on the bus you’re looking at the wrong set of cans They are dedicated listening headphones for use in a home office They are portable by virtue of being headphones but they are not "headphones to use anywhere and everywhere." Once you remember that — and that excellent materials design and hardware come at a price — their $399 tag doesn’t seem so bad look amazing hanging on a headphone stand wherever you might put them and they make other similarly priced headphones you might have used sound like toys this is a luxury purchase — but it’s one that I’d willingly make and I’ll make a bet that once you’ve tried them out the Meze Audio ALBA in-ear headphones include a convenient inline USB-C adapter to easily to connect to iPhone 15 Home > Latest > New Products > Headphones > Earbuds & In-Ear Headphones > Meze Audio’s ALBA IEMs Promise Better Sound Quality At a More Affordable Price Is POET a breakthrough for planar magnetic headphones a Romanian headphones manufacturer behind some of the best planar magnetic headphones available today claims its new POET model marks a breakthrough for the high-end audio technology These headphones are designed with aesthetes and audiophiles in mind with an open-backed construction and wired connection to ensure you get high-quality audio and a well-sized soundstage to appreciate the resonance of the POET’s planar magnetic drivers – as well as the "audible emotion" that Meze professes for its latest cans But the POET headphones are also carefully crafted aesthetic objects alongside braided 3.5mm copper cabling for connecting to a source device Planar magnetic drivers have existed for many years now, offering an alternative to the dynamic driver design used in the vast majority of the best headphones Planar headphones essentially deploy a set of magnets on either side of a vibrating ultra-thin diaphragm in order to emit sound heavier hardware than standard drivers – achieving planar’s unique magnetic resonance and improved bass response The POET headphones boast a frequency response of 4Hz-96kHz vastly expanding the usual 20Hz-20kHz range in both directions Meze Audio claims to have advanced the technology further with help from electro-acoustic engineers at Rinaro Isodynamics in Ukraine A press release says “POET incorporates several breakthrough features that set it apart in the world of high-end headphones These include a Hybrid Magnet Array designed to create a uniform powerful magnetic field across the diaphragm as well as a Parus diaphragm with an incredibly low weight (just 0.06g) and expansive active area for pristine audio reproduction The result is ultra-low distortion (<0.05%) and ultra-high-resolution audio that captures every nuance from the deepest sub-bass to the highest treble frequencies.” Meze adds that “Each driver is hand-assembled and tested at Rinaro’s state-of-the-art facility in Ukraine ensuring unmatched quality and performance.” Meze Audio has certainly impressed us before: in our five-star review of the Meze Audio 105 AER headphones we called them “open-backed wired over-ear headphones that easily trounce all rivals at the level” The luxurious price tag may keep it out of bounds for many shoppers but for anyone after a truly premium listening experience Meze Audio’s lineup increasingly looks like one of the best options out there The POET headphones are available now for £1,850 / $2,000 (around AU$3,100) Henry St LegerSocial Links NavigationHenry is a freelance technology journalist and former News & Features Editor for TechRadar where he specialized in home entertainment gadgets such as TVs ShareSaveCommentInnovationConsumer TechMeze Audio’s Alba Earphones Are A True Breath Of Fresh AirByMark Sparrow computing and Apple Macs.Follow AuthorDec 15 07:00am ESTShareSaveCommentMeze Audio's Alba earphones not only look fabulous the Romanian headphone maker’s most affordable pair of in-ear monitors to date I didn’t write a review at the time as supply issues delayed stock levels and readers wouldn’t have been able to order them I decided to delay my review until the Meze Audio Alba were in stock and ready to ship The word Alba means “First Light” in Romanian and these IEMs have been designed for people wanting to dip their toe into the world of premium earphones without having to remortgage their home These are Meze’s first entry-level earphones they offer a comfortable fit with over-the-ear hooks a detachable twisted-pair cable and a selection of superbly soft silicone ear tips in four different sizes The ear tips create a reasonable level of passive noise isolation although I think I would have liked to see an extra-large pair for my ears These earphones are probably best used in quieter surroundings where you can focus on the music If you’re a commuter riding on noisy trains you would probably be better with a pair of active noise-canceling earphones or headphones if you care about audio quality and want to listen somewhere quiet then Meze Audio’s Alba deserve a closer listen The fit of the Alba uses an over-the-ear hook so they stay in place The company makes some fabulous-sounding products that have a unique styling that echoes the Art Nouveau designs so beloved by Romanians Alba earphones are made with a combination of zinc alloy and anodized aluminum parts but they are tough enough to endure daily use without any danger of their stunning pearlescent appearance wearing away They look beautiful; the colorway will appeal to anyone who appreciates stylish design Meze Audio claims Alba have been tuned to deliver “a neutral sound profile with a splash of warmth.” I’d say they pretty much got the description spot on These earphones have superb clarity that is underscored with deliciously warm bass without booming or sounding overbearing I could listen to these earphones for hours on end They are perfect for late-night listening and they lap up almost any genre of music because they are so well balanced Ward's Gaye And Other Stories was the perfect album for testing Meze Audio's Alba Meze Audio says Alba can pair well with a wide range of music sources including the iPhone 16 and other smartphones with USB-C connectivity using the included DAC convertor They also have a traditional 3.5mm stereo jack and whether you are using that gold-plated 3.5mm connector to plug into a digital audio player or use the custom-made USB-C DAC adaptor these Alba earphones deliver a truly immersive listening experience To test the ability of the Alba to convey delicate tunes, I fired up Clifford T. Ward’s Gaye And Other Stories album on Tidal Ward was an English songwriter from Worcestershire who deserved far greater success than he enjoyed during his lifetime Ward wrote some amazing and poignant songs that can break your heart Alba articulated every track on that album with an emotional delivery that was perfect please look up Ward’s “Home Thoughts From Abroad” track and tell me that it doesn’t send a tingle down your spine Ward died from MS in 2001 and the world lost a unique talent Listening to his anthology again with the Meze Alba was a moving experience These earphones can convey so much nuance in a recording The sound is underpinned by a solid bass thanks to the 10.8mm dynamic drivers used in each earpiece that cover an impressive frequency range of 15 to 25kHz The sound pressure level registers a healthy 109dB so there’s enough muscle to play the quieter tracks and distortion is minimal The Meze Audio Alba come with a 3.5mm to USB-C DAC adapter so you can use the earphones with a .. More smartphone that has a USB-C interface Verdict: The Meze Audio Alba earphones are a triumph I love the sound and the decision by Meze Audio to bundle a decent-quality DAC adapter for smartphone listening is a smart one If you want a pair of wired earphones that deliver top-notch sound at a relatively affordable price Pricing & Availability: Meze Audio’s new ALBA earphones are available now from mezeaudio.com freshly made hummus with wood-fired pita bread Mediterranean Greek food is absolutely dreamy especially when served along the pristine seaside of where it originates from And for Israeli-born British Chef Yotam Ottolenghi he would choose this exact setup for his last meal The chef, restaurateur, and cookbook author shared details in his column in The Guardian about where he would want his last meal to take place he would want to be on the small teardrop-shaped Greek island of Kea — one hour from Athens by ferry — surrounded by friends and family A beach shack would supply morning mojitos and a leisurely feast would follow after where Ottolenghi would rather leave the cooking to a local chef for a more hands-off day his last meal would include dishes like garlicky aubergine with tahini sauce and a fava puree made from yellow split peas There would be a generous serving of fried calamari followed by white peaches with cream for dessert What chef Yotam Ottolenghi has described as his perfect last meal is what is essentially considered to be a Greek meze which involves sharing a variety of small plates with drinks over lively conversation Meze can be thought of as an appetizer or a light meal and normally takes place before dinner — similar to the tradition of apertivo time in Italy the main focus is connection and community A key part of the meze table is ouzo, an anise-flavored Greek aperitif meant to stimulate the appetite. Ottolenghi said he would want plenty of this flowing during the meal, after an evening of drinking Campari, an Italian aperitif, while watching the sunset. After the drinks and savory eats, it's customary to end the meze on a sweet note. Greek coffee, which is similar to Turkish coffee or a liqueur is served up alongside a dessert like baklava Meze Audio is renowned for its exceptional audio products and the new Alba in-ear headphones are no exception the Alba headphones bring Meze’s renowned audio quality within reach of a wider audience the Alba headphones deliver a frequency range of 15-25kHz ensuring a balanced sound profile suitable for all music genres with a pearl-like finish and a construction that combines zinc alloy and anodized aluminum for durability and aesthetics The Alba headphones are not just about sound quality; they also offer convenience and versatility The headphones come with a gold-plated 3.5mm connector for reliable connectivity and a custom-made USB-C adapter with a built-in DAC for improved audio performance the Alba includes specially designed silicone ear tips in four sizes to ensure a comfortable and secure fit Meze Audio’s Alba in-ear headphones are now available for purchase online Experience premium sound quality without breaking the bank with the Meze Audio Alba Upgrade your listening experience with Meze Audio’s Alba in-ear headphones. Order yours today at mezeaudio.com Input your search keywords and press Enter ShareSaveCommentInnovationConsumer TechMeze Audio Unveils Boom Mic And Manta Headphone Stand For GamersByMark Sparrow computing and Apple Macs.Follow AuthorAug 22 08:00am EDTShareSaveCommentThe new Boom Mic from Meze Audio is a traditional analog condenser boom mic aimed at gamers Meze Audio is boosting its offering to gamers by adding the Boom Mic to its range of premium audio accessories Boom Micx is a detachable microphone with an omnidirectional polar pickup pattern The Boom Mic can be used with Meze Audio’s 99 Classics More other headphones that use dual 3.5mm inputs The boom is encased in a laser-engraved aluminum cover and includes a control clip that has in-line mute and rotary volume controls Designed to deliver natural-sounding voice the Boom Mic’s flexible arm makes getting the ideal mic position really easy the Boom Mic has a wired 3.5mm auxiliary connection and performs without any lag or interruption Meze Audio also claims the Boom Mic is an ideal purchase for remote workers the Boom Mic uses dual 3.5mm inputs and is also compatible with Sony PlayStation “Gaming and gadgets are two realms I’ve always been passionate about I followed one simple principle: create something I know for sure I’m going to enjoy using,” says Alex Balazsi The Manta is a deluxe statement headphone stand for gamers and office workers Inspired by the elegant curves of marine life Manta brings together premium design and meticulous engineering Featuring a folding fin for cable management Manta is functional and is made form a zinc alloy and finished with a matte black powder coating and vegan leather music enthusiasts and gamers who like to display their rigs The Boom Mic can be bought on its own or as a part of a bundle deal with either the 99 NEO or 99 Classics headphones BoomMic + 99 NEO: $249 / £269 / €249 and BoomMic + 99 Classics is $349 / £349 / €349 the Meza Audio Manta costs $300 / £289 / €300 PALEOS Meze Tavern is located in one of the most touristic streets of Athens, the busy Andrianou. It is a breath away from the Thissio train station, opposite the Athens Agora archaeological site, and overlooks the Parthenon Sitting in the small shaded “courtyard” drinking and eating, with the sound of all the languages ​​of the world from the tourists and the songs of Vamvakaris Angelos went back to the past to explain the how and what of the new venture “My grandfather had a taverna in Kefalonia which was called ‘Antzoulo’s Taverna.’ Grandpa was known for two things: his cooking and being a dancer Even songs have been written about him and my grandmother Darmera,” he said “This is the feeling we are trying to revive here always in the context of seasonality as far as the climatic conditions and the alum of the weather allow.” Many recipes have been collected by loved ones, such as Athena’s chickpeas, with the aroma of cumin, a recipe by the grandmother of a friend of Angelos from Astypalaia coarsely chopped with pieces of red pepper and vinegar and a very appetising caramelised gigandes in red sauce They cook a certain amount of food every day, once a day. So everything you eat will have been prepared only a few hours ago by chef Dionysis Mousoura from Zakynthos In general, they do not skimp on the use of extra virgin olive oil In the moussaka, eggplant is abundant and combined with a few potatoes to tie the food together. The eggplant pieces added to the béchamel are an innovation. The well-fried minced meat, with its spices and the measured tomato (paste) The wine list is small which means no fertilisers and pesticides in the field but only sulphur and no sulphites in the winemaking Among the dishes always on the menu is pie almost as thick as the sheet of Kefalonia’s famous meat pie In the end, they brought me fine, warm loukoumades filled with Aegina pistachio cream But the surprise was the honeyless melomakaronakia, crispy in the biscuits, which they brought together with cream ice cream from the “Proveio” shop in Athens foreign visitors will occupy the lime-coloured solid tables They will be immersed in quiet pleasure as they discover Greek food bite by bite and the atmosphere returns to the native rhythms of the well-known hustle and bustle of well-fed people with groups singing their hearts out and dancing across the street Info: 3 Adrianou, Thissio Artemis Tzitzi is a columnist for Cantina. Translated by Paul Antonopoulos READ MORE: Focacceria Napul’e: Handmade focaccia and arancini in Athens But how often is that dining experience superb from start to finish ambience—and it’s rare when a restaurant gets everything right.  on the ground floor of uptown’s Duke Energy Building almost 18 months after the Kindreds announced their expansion to the city center This is the kind of place that gets national attention—and holds a permanent spot on this magazine’s list of best restaurants.  Albertine is named after Queen Charlotte’s mother and Katy made every inch of the 6,100-square-foot interior feel luxurious and regal and the 100-seat dining room teems with custom millwork The lighting is soft but not so dim you can’t read the menu and the music doesn’t compete with the hum of conversation The wait staff sports freshly pressed blue shirts and keeps hands tucked behind their backs as they glide through the dining room Servers know the menu inside and out and remember each order without writing anything down.  Five-time James Beard semifinalist Joe designed the menu alongside Chef de Cuisine Mark Machanic and wine director Danny Ike created a beverage program with signature cocktails and Mediterranean-leaning wines Cocktail highlights include the Bohemian ($17) and pink grapefruit and has a swirl on top that looks like latte art The Infante ($18) is a tequila-based libation with lime The Chilled Seafood section features Rock Crab ($28) and a Shellfish Platter ($109) with the chef’s daily selections Meze is an absurdly good lineup of dips and spreads served with wedges of Lebanese flatbread The Red Schug ($6) is a spreadable blend of chili peppers and the Whipped Feta ($7) comes with a drizzle of marjoram oil and sumac These flavor mashups will throw your tastebuds a magnificent curveball before you even reach the appetizers.  The Venetian-style Asparagus ($17) is a shareable plate of asparagus coated in a tempura-style batter and topped with pomegranate molasses Wood-Grilled Chicken Liver Toast ($16) is a thick slice of sourdough topped with savory chopped chicken liver and a dash of black mustard that gives the dish a bold The Crispy Pickle-Brined SC Quail ($26) is served atop a cucumber-yogurt salad that’s similar to tzatziki and topped with Aleppo pepper hot honey Umami isn’t an adequate word to describe these mind-bending flavor combinations—this deserves its own category Smoked Game Bird Panzotti is topped with baby kale and fried pork skin The Wood-Grilled Mahi Mahi ($42) is plated with a citrusy herb salad that punches up the mild The triangular-shaped ravioli are stuffed with foie gras and served in a bowl of rich savory sauce that’s damn near impossible to stop sopping up with bread While dessert is a mandatory finale to the fine-dining experience many high-end restaurants rely on a predictable menu of chocolate lava cake The Sicilian Pistachio Gelato ($8) is made with Greek olive oil for a velvety texture and Maldon sea salt to balance the sweetness The Wood-Grilled Milkbread Babka ($13) is a slab of the Kindreds’ signature Japanese milk bread drenched with sherry and topped with date caramel and a scoop of labneh ice cream (like a frozen Greek yogurt) Don’t leave without trying: The Knafeh Cheesecake is a culinary masterpiece It’s got a whole world of texture going on starting with a thick graham cracker base and a layer of silky The apricot crème anglaise is both sweet and tangy and the shower of pistachios and fried phyllo dough shavings gives it a satisfying crunch Desserts like this one are why #foodporn exists Surely Queen Charlotte and her mom would understand Parking is available in the Duke Energy Plaza building direct and engaging sound from comfortable I'm tempted to ask what more you could want (apart from a balanced cable) The Meze Audio 105 AER open-back headphones are an impressive offering indeed Will probably prove too large for the smaller-headed Meze Audio has plenty of experience where high-end headphones are concerned but not quite so much in what I tend to call 'the real world' over-ear headphones designed to change all that – so what happens when a high-end hero decides to slum it a little bit The Meze Audio 105 AER were announced in November 2024 and went on sale a month later In the United Kingdom they currently sell for £369 in the United States they go for $399 a pair while Australian customers will have to part with AU$799 Even the best headphones in the wired over-ear category don't tend to have all that much going on where 'features' are concerned – and the 105 AER are no exception The drivers that deliver the sound have had care and attention lavished on them these Meze Audio cans don't really have 'features' The drivers here are a 50mm full-range dynamic design that's based on those fitted to Meze Audio's pricier headphones – and it's undergone remarkably little amendment in order to serve in a relatively affordable model Aside from changes to the driver membrane and the frame – which keeps weight down at the same time as cost – it's carried over more-or-less intact This means a 'W'-shaped dome made of a carbon-fibre/cellulose composite that's specified for both its light weight and durability It's surrounded by a semicrystalline polymer torus that is similarly light and has impressive credentials where damping of resonance and vibration are concerned there's a zinc/copper alloy stabiliser to further minimise distortion Meze Audio reckons this arrangement delivers good sensitivity and impedance figures (112dB and 42 ohms respectively) If it's a sort of sonic fireworks display you're after from your new headphones it's possible the balanced and judicious sound of the Meze Audio 105 AER won't be for you unequivocal and positive account of your favourite recordings these headphones have an awful lot to recommend them There's no appreciable heat or chill to the tonality here but rather a careful neutrality that allows the headphones to get out of the way and let the recording dictate terms is evenhanded and convincing – from the bright Those who crave low-end heft might be disappointed by the realistic balance these headphones strike but the rest of us can get on with admiring their fidelity Detail levels are high at every point of the frequency range with the 105 AER able to tease out even the most minor and/or most fleeting events in a recording and put them into proper context with just the right amount of weighting And where the finest details of harmonic variation in a voice or an instrument are concerned And everything that's presented by the Meze Audio is presented as a tightly unified whole – the sensation of 'singularity' and 'performance' is very strong here Part of the charm of open-backed headphones is their ability to create a big spacious soundstage – and the 105 AER certainly do so But despite the rigorous nature of the layout the control and separation the headphones can summon everything on the stage relates to everything else in the most unforced and direct manner thanks to the nice straight edges the 105 AER describe at the onset of bass sounds so the shifts in intensity and/or volume in a recording are tracked faithfully and given all the power and drive they require just as capable of entertaining as they are functioning as a tool of analysis Both of the earcups of the 105 AER need to be wired – so Meze Audio supplies a 1.8m length of braided cable with a couple of 3.5mm jacks at one end and a 3.5mm connection at the other A balanced alternative with a 4.4mm termination would have been nice but I guess you can't ask for the moon when you have the stars… The headphones themselves weigh a trim 336g and a lot of that is down to the use of very slim stamped magnesium for the outer headband On the inside there's a PU leather headband that acts as the contact point – it's self-adjusting and should prove adequate for all but the most modest sizes of head and not only is it a comfortable arrangement but it resists absorbing your body heat for a fair while too The velour covering can be detached for cleaning the earcups are made of ABS-PC thermoplastic and feature an interesting segmented design above the open grille zip-fastening travel case that's a more upmarket proposition than is the norm There's a little circular pouch inside in which to keep your cable when it's not attached to the headphones If you're interested in the Meze Audio 105 AER then you're already primed to deal with the fact that they leak sound and have no balanced cable option sure – but when it comes to the nuts and bolts of sound quality The Meze Audio 105 AER are a triumph – and deserve a place very near the top of your shortlist You can save a fair chunk of money by buying a pair of Grado SR325x – but while it seems unlikely in the extreme you'll be disappointed in the sound they don't compare all that favourably to the 105 AER when it comes to looks Or you could pick up the Meze Audio baton of 'serious yet entertaining' and run with it – which will lead you to the Sennheiser HD 660S2 nor as light – but they most certainly have it where it counts… home and active products from the T3 experts Simon LucasSimon Lucas is a freelance technology journalist and consultant with particular emphasis on the audio/video aspects of home entertainment Before embracing the carefree life of the freelancer Should he find himself with a spare moment Simon likes nothing more than publishing and then quickly deleting tweets about the state of the nation (in general) the state of Aston Villa (in particular) and the state of his partner's cat Grado and Écoute Audio offer up their latest wired and wireless headphones for a premium audio experience Sennheiser and Master & Dynamic in that list) there’s a growing number of smaller firms looking to get into the high-end headphone market we’ve rounded up five alternatives to the status quo in audiophile-quality over-ear headphones Meze Audio is gaining a reputation for highly crafted as opposed to the more common dynamic drivers although it’s definitely a case of personal preference The new open-back headphones combine a striking design with high quality materials (suede leather band swappable ear pads and a premium copper cable All parts of the Poet can be replaced or repaired The new FoKus Apollo from Noble brings together a number of technologies with a hybrid driver design that combines dynamic and planar magnetic drivers along with a noise-cancelling system driven by three microphones Other innovations include a removable boom mic for calls (all microphones can be muted) as well as an impressive 80 hours of battery life Bluetooth 5.3 provides the wireless connectivity and there’s also a cable for wired listening Noble FoKus Apollo ANC wireless headphones, £589, NobleAudio.com Dyson have added another option to their well-received OnTrac wireless headphones with a new colour way Part of the attractions of the OnTrac – besides 55 hours of noise cancelled listening – is the ability to customise the colour combos The introduction of optional Chrome Red caps draws special attention to the machined aluminium end caps of these exceptionally well crafted wireless headphones Écoute Audio’s Satin Aluminium Vacuum Tube headphones claim to be the only set in the world with an in-built vacuum tube pre-amp and dual mono amplifiers (one for each channel) Whether this translates to a more immersive audio experience very much depends on how golden your hearing is but there’s no doubting the care and craft that has gone into shaping the headphones and case The trade-off for the tube experience is a shorter battery life (20 hours) but there’s a 3.5mm jack for a conventional cable Ecoute Audio Vacuum Tube Headphones, £644, EcouteAudio.com The new Grado Signature S950 headphones follow the Brooklyn-based family company’s long-standing tradition of working with wood Combining machined aluminium with Brazilian walnut the Signature S950 headphones emphasise the unique quality of each pair thanks to the wood grain as well as the acoustic properties the wood housing gives to the overall sound These wired headphones come with detachable cables and a fully adjustable Grado Signature S950 Headphones, £2,495, Grado.co.uk Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox. Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999 covering everything from architecture and transport design to books He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast We got our first look at the Meze Audio 105 AER at this year's High End Munich showcase Meze Audio launches the 105 AER open-back cans Romanian audio brand Meze has announced the launch of its latest wired open-back headphones Billed as a versatile and detail-rich pair of headphones that will excel across all musical genres Meze's 105 AER seek to explore the "multi-dimensional depth of sound" At the heart of the new headphones is a 50mm dynamic driver with refined voicing technology The driver design leans towards an emphasis on bass and sub-bass reproduction providing what Meze calls a "more resonant foundation" for your music and promising an immersive the structure of the headphones' open-back configuration promotes a more open soundstage in pursuit of delivering a "spacious and immersive experience" Crafted using premium materials such as cast zinc alloy leather for the adjustable headband and velour ear cushions the 105 AER strive for exceptional listening comfort Inspired by the rest of Meze's open-back range the company's lightest open-back model to date Meze has designed the 105 AER to last "a lifetime and beyond" – as with other Meze headphones with individual parts and components replaced more easily when needed Meze Audio's Senior Product Designer: "105 AER carries a feeling of Art Deco opulence almost like a piece of jewellery masked in a mechanical structure Certain curves and surfaces are not obvious at first glance; there's an ambiguity to the three-dimensional shape inviting you to discover it over time" We first caught a glimpse of Meze's new cans when they were previewed at this year's High End Munich showcase a good few months before their unveiling to the wider world Now that they are set to be officially released the Meze Audio 105 AER will be available in early December Best wired headphones: the 7 top pairs tested by our in-house experts These are our favourite open-back headphones What Hi-Fi? Awards 2024: our 25 Product of the Year winners revealed Harry McKerrellSocial Links NavigationSenior staff writerHarry McKerrell is a senior staff writer at What Hi-Fi? he has written countless news stories alongside features advice and reviews of products ranging from floorstanding speakers and music streamers to over-ear headphones He has covered launches from hi-fi and consumer tech brands When not at work he can be found playing hockey practising the piano or trying to pet strangers' dogs the Meze Audio POET planar-magnetic headphone pulls you into audible emotion and inner reflection Life’s highs and lows blend in its ethereal –Luxurious Details: Artisans braid copper cable Serviceable parts ensure years of flawless use This headphone turns every song into a personal escape We use cookies to personalize your experience. Learn more here ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " When industrial designer Antonio Meze realized over a decade ago that the headphone market wasn’t offering anything that would satisfy his sophisticated taste in sound and design he decided to take matters into his own hands which quickly established itself as one of the most respected in the audiophile world they impressed with the Meze 99 Classics model and the turning point came with the Empyrean the first high-end planar-magnetic headphones that left the competition far behind – both in quality and price setting a new threshold for those who want the extras but don't want to sell their car Planar magnetic driver technology is not new but Meze Audio interprets it in its own way Classic headphones usually use dynamic drivers where sound is created by a membrane that vibrates under the influence of a magnetic field Planar magnetic headphones work differently - an ultra-thin membrane is clamped between magnets and vibrates when an electric current passes through it This allows for exceptional sound accuracy which is why this technology is popular among connoisseurs with a few compromises compared to more expensive models Instead of the MZ3 Isodynamic Hybrid Array drivers used by Empyrean which has a less complex magnetic structure it retains the characteristic warm and open sound that has become a trademark of Meze Audio the headphones are more compact and lighter which means better ergonomics and comfort during extended listening POET remains true to the brand's prestigious nature while the headband is made of titanium alloy while the cables are braided and connected via two 3.5mm jacks which is standard for headphones of this type The main difference between the POET and its more expensive siblings is primarily in the soundscape as the Empyrean and Elite are still the reference in this area it will be Meze Audio POET offered more than enough - an open and spacious soundstage natural reproduction of instruments and extremely low distortion levels Certainly not for those looking for powerful bass and isolation from the outside world as this is an open model that is not intended for use in noisy environments But for those who experience music as art and want to hear every last detail the POET offers a great experience at a significantly more affordable price than previous Meze Audio models POET headphones are now available witha pre-order on the official Meze Audio website priced at $1,999 with first deliveries expected in mid-March 2025 but in the world of premium planar magnetic headphones it may be the best compromise between price and quality currently on the market mezeaudio.com From 2004 we research urban trends and inform our community of followers about the latest in lifestyle From year 2023 we offer content in major global languages From 2004 we research urban trends and inform our community of followers daily about the latest in lifestyle style and products that inspire with passion we offer content in major global languages You will be automatically redirected to the requested page after 3 seconds.Don't close this page Enjoy a new take on the Meze Classic when you wear the Massdrop x Meze 99 Noir closed-back headphones Offering a darker look for different styles these collaborative headphones have a deep matte espresso finish deep bass sound that headphone and speaker enthusiasts alike are sure to love and the headphones consist of very little plastic they use walnut wood for the CNC-carved ear cups and screws—along with memory foam ear pads wrapped in PU leather The accessories include much-needed frequently used items to keep the price point reasonable the 99 in the name represents the ear cup size of 99 mm tall They bundle a DAC-toting USB-C adapter in the box Meze Audio has attracted quite the following in recent years having designed several aesthetically and sonically pleasing wired over-ear headphones in its native Romania Two years ago it added a pair of high-end in-ears to its ranks and now it welcomes a more accessible earbud to the family – Alba This adaptor naturally features a built-in DAC which you would hope is more advanced when it comes to the all-important digital-to-analogue conversion process than 'standard' off-the-shelf USB-C adaptors With 'Alba' meaning ‘first light’ in Romanian, they have been designed for those who are "inspired by elevated audio enjoyment" and thus looking to transition from wireless earbuds to wired the best wired earbuds sound significantly better than the best similarly priced wireless earbuds Meze says that their combination of zinc alloy and anodized aluminium parts make for a resilient build at the heart of which is a 10.8mm dynamic driver.  The Alba's £139 / $159 asking price puts them in the firing line of Shure's class-leading Aonic 3 and they will need to be more than a pretty face to overcome their closest rival If Meze's over-ear efforts are anything to go by the Alba should be a promising package indeed Meze Audio celebrates Romanian heritage with high-end ADVAR wired earbuds The best wired headphones you can buy Read our Meze Audio reviews During her 11+ years in the hi-fi industry from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices Meze Audio is offering a way to add a mic to its audiophile headphones Follow us for daily PC games news, guides and reviews on X, Facebook, Google News, and Steam. Or sign up to our free newsletter These high-end hybrid over-ears are "more than just a headphone" Meze Audio's new Poet hybrid headphones promise premium sound without the flagship price tag arty member of the Meze family – the Poet headphones which the firm describes as "a carefully crafted audio masterpiece" Meze Audio have been making extremely impressive high-end headphones for over a decade Its premium Poet pair are open-back and feature hand-assembled MZ6 Isodynamic hybrid array drivers developed exclusively for the brand by Rinaro Isodynamics The array is designed to create a uniform magnetic field across the ultra-lightweight diaphragm resulting in ultra-low distortion (<0.05%) Frequency range is a very low 4Hz to a very high 96kHz The Poets are made from a magnesium chassis for light weight and feature steel grilles and soft suede leather The headband is made from titanium alloy and designed for even weight distribution while the ear pads are magnetic for easy swapping One of the key selling points here is longevity Meze says that the Poet headphones are "fully serviceable" with every component designed for easy disassembly and replacement According to the company's acoustic engineer Alex Grigoras: "I believe Poet turned out to be more than just a headphone – it’s a nod to a huge stepping stone in our development as a team and a testament to how far we’ve come." some of the biggest names in hi-fi have announced new headphones — including Audio-Technica ranging from models wireless noise-canceling to wired headphones aimed squarely at audiophiles (and will likely hold a permanent place on our wish list) we’ve rounded up all the most interesting headphone releases you might have missed from the past month Meze's open-backs "breathe life into your music" Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio has announced the release of its latest pair of planar-magnetic headphones Conceived as a "carefully crafted audio masterpiece" and blending the brand's latest technologies and materials the new open-back headphones tease high-end performance at a similarly rarefied price point the Poet house 'MZ6 Isodynamic Hybrid Array' drivers a "state-of-the-art" planar-magnetic design developed exclusively for Meze Those drivers deliver what Meze describes as a "lively yet effortless listening experience" which combines "lush airy vocals" with precise bass and outstanding clarity at the upper end The new open-back cans incorporate several technologies which Meze hopes will set it apart from the competition The Meze's Hybrid Magnet Array has been designed to create a "uniform powerful magnetic field" across the lightweight diaphragm aiding the cans' "pristine reproduction" with minimal distortion and high resolution across the frequencies The new open-backs are constructed using an intricate steel grill housed on a magnesium chassis Along with their adjustable suede leather headband the Poet aim for a design which prioritises visually striking aesthetics alongside long-lasting durability and exceptional acoustic performance The Poet are designed to be fully serviceable including the magnetic ear pads and the chassis materials crafted so that it can be disassembled and replaced if needed The headphones come equipped with a premium hand-braided copper cable which again aims for durability and performance that will last Meze Audio's Acoustic Engineer: “From the very beginning we knew we wanted to create something unique – a more compact planar-magnetic open-back headphone that is every bit as capable as our flagship models I believe Poet turned out to be more than just a headphone; it’s a nod to a huge stepping stone in our development as a team and a testament to how far we’ve come" The Meze Audio Poet are set to be showcased at this year's Bristol Hi-Fi Show and are available to buy now priced at £1850 / $2000 / €2000 These are the best wired headphones you can buy Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2025: all the latest news and info Read our Meze Audo Empyrean II review