MEZE 105 AER HEADPHONES REVIEW

Meze 105 AER Headphones have an open-back design, 50mm dynamic driver, PC/ABS earcups, velour earpads and a self-adjusting headband – these could well be a strong contender in the sub-£500 price bracket.

BUILD QUALITY AND FEATURES OF THE MEZE 105 AER HEADPHONES

Starting off with the headphones themselves, the earcups are made from PC/ABS, which is used for both its strength and weight. The black earcups are open in design and feel sturdy yet lightweight in use. The 105 AER use the same self-adjusting suspension strap headband as the rest of the range – it’s both strong and comfortable. The earpads can be easily replaced, and the cable is detachable, terminating in the commonly used dual 3.5mm jacks (which are not recessed like on the 109 Pro or 99 Classics), meaning it is easy to find balanced cables for these.

Meze build headphones that last, in my own experience, and the 105 AER are no different. They have made them in such a way that every single part can be replaced should anything happen to them – this is great for both users and sustainability credentials.

The 105 AER come supplied in a fabric hardshell carry case. Inside the case is a small, round pouch that holds the cable, which is a basic copper cable coated in fabric and terminated with a standard 3.5mm jack (a 3.5mm to 6.3mm jack adapter is included). For £399, you do get a good set of accessories, which is always a bonus.

These are passive over-ear headphones, so they don’t really have any special features – simply plug them into your source and enjoy high-quality audio playback. Speaking of sources, the sensitivity rating of these is 112dB/mW @1kHz, along with impedance at a low 42 Ohms. These are very easy-to-drive headphones and will work with most sources without a problem. Both the iFi GO Link and Zen DAC 3 had no issues at all with the 105 AER.

I will note that the comfort is excellent. The combination of breathable velour earpads, open-back cups and lightweight build means you can listen for hours on end. I have always found comfort strap-based headbands to work the best for my head shape (personally). I’ve seen people mention that having the cables exit straight down instead of being angled like on the 109 Pro is not ideal when using them. With the two cables I have that work well with them, I never found this to be an issue, even when turning my head side to side.

SOUND QUALITY

I’ve been using these with my usual reference amplifier, the iFi iCAN Phantom, as well as using them through the iFi Hip DAC 3, as they really don’t need a huge desktop amp to do them justice.

Meze have tuned these to be quite a fun-sounding headphone. They are not outright bass monsters, but they do have a little bit of emphasis added to the low end that really fills out the sound. Those who found the 109 Pro to be a bit precise will enjoy this headphone – it tones down the treble a little, adds some body, yet still retains a thoroughly enjoyable sound signature. These are not inherently skewed to one frequency range either – they still retain a nice overall balance. However, it’s a balance that leans more towards the full and warm side of the spectrum than strictly neutral.

Take Tool – Invincible: the delicate guitar intro is well placed and has great tactility, with weight to the notes that gives the sound some added body. The vocals cut through the middle with authority. Luckily, the lower midrange is well separated and is not coloured by the added body these have down low. When the kicks start, you get a good sense of impact, yet they never lack control. Toms are taut and you can hear the drum skins reverberate. The thick bassline is delivered with fullness and control, never once overstepping the line and muddying the overall mix. This is a subtle bass lift that has been tactfully implemented – it never encroaches on the rest of the spectrum, whilst giving these headphones an enjoyable helping of body and energy. The soundstaging is a highlight here – there is excellent width, allowing for great instrument separation, which is especially evident on mixes like this.

There are some listeners who found the 109 Pro to be borderline bright for their tastes and, whilst I personally have not found this to be the case, I can understand where they are coming from. The 105 AER, on the other hand, tone it down a notch whilst still retaining an airy and well-extended treble response, as highlighted by the cymbals in this track – never once sounding overly forward or piercing.

Up next, a new band I’ve recently got into: Paleface Swiss – Suppressing Times. This is heavy. Classed as a deathcore band, they do have a little more groove to their sound than some in the same genre, yet these headphones do this kind of music so well. Those looking for headphones for metal that are not fatiguing will really enjoy what Meze have done here with the 105 AER. This is a thick mix and the 105 AER present it as such. There is plenty of impact from the double kick drums, the China cymbal hits at around 1:55 are very distinctive, and the vocals just sound angry (as they should). This song is not going to be to everyone’s taste, but the breakdown at 2:30 really digs low and showcases this headphone’s ability to extend into the sub-bass with ease.

Changing the pace a bit, Florence + the Machine – Between Two Lungs is a good test of soundstaging and female vocal presentation. Nothing to worry about here – the subtle clicks are well outside the physical width of the headphones, Florence’s vocals come in with excellent presence and these headphones sound tonally correct here. The deep drum beat does have a little helping of extra body, yet every small detail in this mix is still easily picked out when listening through the 105 AER.

As a whole, the Meze 105 AER do a really good job at presenting an engaging and enjoyable sound with technicalities to back up their fun sound. These are not a dry, boring headphone. They are not a studio monitor and don’t ever try to be. These are all about enjoying what you are listening to. The 109 Pro caters to those who want more micro-detail and more accuracy; the 105 AER want you to just have fun. I do truly believe these are one of the best headphones for metal/rock in this price range. Some models sound too polite, yet these are full of energy. One surprising thing about these is how revealing they are of poor recordings too – if the recording is quite flat, these will let you know.

The Fiio FT5 are in the same sort of price bracket and go for that slightly fuller sound signature. As mentioned in my review of them, I do prefer their sound with the leatherette earpads. Both headphones represent great value, yet I feel the Meze have the upper hand when it comes to absolute control and separation. The FT5 have a slightly cleaner midrange, yet there is a little mid-bass emphasis that throws off the balance a bit more compared to the 105 AER. I do enjoy the 105 AER a little more – the separation really does make a difference and they come across just a tad more controlled, whilst still retaining a fuller sound signature. It will, however, depend on your tastes and the genres you listen to.

QUIBBLES

The slightly warmer sound signature won’t be to everyone’s taste.

CONCLUSION

The Meze 105 AER are a fantastic headphone for the money. Aiming for the Sennheiser HD660 S2 and Fiio FT5, they offer up an alternative in this price range with a full yet controlled sound signature that is so very easy to enjoy. Whilst not bass-heavy, they have a warmth to their overall sound that is highly enjoyable without ditching the finer details. They manage to do this whilst having good energy and a fun factor to them, that prevents them from ever sounding boring – all wrapped up in a comfortable and well-built headphone.

AT A GLANCE

Build Quality And Features

Lightweight yet solid build quality

User-replaceable earpads and cable

Self-adjusting headband

Sound Quality:

Smooth, full and fun

Punchy and detailed without harshness

Value For Money:

Excellent value for money

We Loved:

The fit, the comfort, the sound

We Didn’t Love So Much:

Elevator Pitch Review: For £399 you get a brilliantly engaging pair of headphones that do the fundamentals of sound extremely well. There is a slight fullness to their sound that makes them easy on the ear whilst retaining enough detail and clarity to ensure you don’t miss out on nuances in recordings. These are fun whilst still having a good grip of the music playing through them – well worth a listen if you are looking for a model in this price range (and possibly a new favourite of mine at this price).

Price:  £399

Oscar Stewart

SUPPLIED BY MEZE

SUPPLIED SPECIFICATION

• Transducer Type – Dynamic
• Input connector – Dual 3.5 mm TS Jack
• Transducer Size – 50 mm
• Total Harmonic Distortion – <0.1% at 1 kHz
• Frequency Range – 5 Hz – 30 kHz
• Ear-Cups – PC-ABS
• Impedance – 42 Ω
• Weight – 336 g (11.8 oz)
• Sensitivity – 112 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz