Meze Alba Review – Adaptable

Sound –

Testing Methodology: Measured using Arta via IEC 711 coupler to Startech external sound card. 7-9KHz peaks may be artifacts/emphasized due to my measurement setup which I found to be the case here. Measurements besides channel balance are volume-matched at 1KHz. Fit depth normalized to my best abilities to reduce coupler resonance. Still, due to these factors, my measurements may not accurately reflect the earphones or measurements taken by others.

Tonality –

I was very pleasantly surprised by the Alba which sports an appealing, balanced sound. This diverges from the rather V-shaped Advar and is far more reminiscent of the company’s popular over-ear. Specifically, though no one frequency band stands out at the fore, the Alba still sports a modest warmth in the bass and a crisp but never aggressive lower treble. Between, there is ample pinna gain with a slightly earlier rise granting a slight vocal bias. The Alba isn’t superbly resolving or detailed but performs well above your average entry-level single-DD and has a wonderful tonality. It’s engaging, tastefully coloured and natural but also balanced enough to uphold excellent versatility.

Bass –

While modern tastes have acclimatized more towards sub-bass-forward tunings, I find the slightly warmer, mid-bassier sound of the Alba very approachable. It doesn’t swing too far in either direction with sub and mid-bass both sporting a light rise with a slight bias towards the latter. The low end is more punch over slam in turn, but also brings textures and body to the fore in a way that sub-bas-focused sets do not. Bass notes are a touch round, but they aren’t clearly bloated or smeared at all due to the relative balance between sub and mid-bass. Above, the bass to midrange transition is relatively linear which provides a modest warmth throughout.

Quality-wise, you aren’t getting an especially assertive and aggressive attack but good tightness and control overall. Bassy tracks don’t command the best power at the very bottom, but lows are well-defined and impressively responsive when the mix gets more complex. Decay speed is on the quicker side which aids solid separation at all times. Though I can’t say the objective bass quality is class topping, the combination of good definition and control with great tuning makes the Alba a very enjoyable listen. They are forgiving and once again, versatile as I never ran into a track that become problematic in any way no matter the genre.

Mids –

Meze has achieved their signature warm, relaxed midrange with a combination of two zones of colouration. Specifically, the modest mid-bass rise imbues a slight warmth and an earlier 2.5kHz peak with subsequent fall-off creates density and coherence, minimizing fatigue. A centre-midrange hump retains clarity and definition, bringing vocals more to the fore and increasing their size. Accordingly, the Alba delivers large but powerful and filled-in vocals. Male vocals have a light warm cast while female vocals sound present, defined but smooth.

A small 6kHz bump aids in this endeavour, retaining articulation and drawing focus to small details. Mids aren’t breathy or bright in the slightest despite these emphases due to the added warmth and density at play. The end result is a coherent midrange that also never lacks clarity or separation. Vocals are balanced overall in presence with the bass and treble and the voicing is highly natural with well-compensated colourations. Though not the most transparent, the Alba once again delivers an appealing, clear but very forgiving voicing that will feel familiar to returning customers of the brand.

Highs –

Once again, the top-end of the Alba is clear and appropriately present with no offensive qualities. A small 6kHz bump is apparent, but the overall treble tuning is impressively even besides this which prevents over-sharpening and thinness. Notes are pleasantly crisp with good bite and definition. They decay naturally which aids a natural sense of texture and shimmer. The Alba does fall off into the mid-treble but not too low to the extent that they sound dark or lacking in openness. While the inverse is also true, being that the Alba isn’t especially airy, it does have a good sense of headroom to avoid claustrophobia.

Above, extension is what you would expect from the asking price, there is a measurable upper-treble peak but little actual information retrieved here. The Alba really focuses on its appealing tonality and solid fundamental foreground detail presentation. It has good definition and above-average fine detail retrieval set to a clean background that doesn’t distract or fatigue. Extension and resolving power aren’t outstanding but never stand out as lacking. Stepping up to a more premium IEM, the jump in nuance is apparent. However, in isolation of comparison to similarly priced models you never feel like you are missing out and the Alba benefits from a more even-handed tuning than most competitors too.

Soundstage –

Due to the technical limitations, the soundstage is on the more intimate side extending just beyond the head. Again, it never sounds claustrophobic but also never overtly spacious either. The stage is otherwise well-rounded with a slight width bias. The imaging is quite a good performer on behalf of sound balance and strong coherence overall. Directional cues are sharp and layers are well defined. There is a clear separation between the background and foreground albeit background details aren’t especially apparent. Separation is good all around, not outstanding but surprising considering the warmer voicing. Complex tracks are handled quite well with minimal smearing or overshadowing of small details.

Drivability –

Output Impedance Sensitivity

The Alba benefits from a simple single dynamic driver setup that permits easier source pairing. It has a flat impedance curve translating to a consistent sound signature from myriad sources. This means there are less prerequisites to enjoying the wonderful tonality Meze have crafted.

Driving Power

Despite its relative efficiency, I did find the Alba scaled nicely with better amplification. Chiefly, switching from a portable source like the included dongle to a larger DAP like the Shanling M2S provided a notable jump in note definition and bass extension. Treble was slightly more vibrant and open. Stepping up again to a desktop source reveals a smaller but still noticeable jump. It’s not a night and day difference but will be appreciated by discerning listeners.

Suggested PairUps

The Alba is quite forgiving of the source. It isn’t discerning of output impedance and can be driver well by compact dongle-style sources. With that said, it does scale nicely with better amplification. Tonally, it can benefit from both greater brightness and bass power. I would be most hesitant to recommend a warmer source which may skew the sound too thick and full. However, brighter and neutral sources are both suitable for the Alba depending on your preferences.

Type-C Dongle

Meze’s included dongle offers a pleasing design, look and feel. Sonically, it offers a flat frequency response with no DSP or other similar features. The plug also illuminates to denote power which is handy. In listening, I noted high volume output and a lack of background hiss. However, current output appears limited which is to be expected given its minute dimensions. It delivers a balanced sound profile but much better can be had for cheap; for instance, I think Apple’s dongles are better in terms of driving power and resolution. With that said, I cannot complain at this asking price and it definitely suffices in a pinch.

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