Meze 105 AER Review – More for Less

Pros –

Attractive and fully serviceable chassis, Superlative wearing comfort, Natural and nicely balanced sound, Easy to drive, Excellent included carrying case

Cons –

Middling stock cable, Treble could be more linear and detailed

Verdict –

If you are looking for a headphone that is easy to drive with best-in-class comfort and wide genre versatility, the 105 AER is tough to beat and doesn’t feel compromised in any key area despite its cheaper asking price.

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About Meze –

Meze is an award-winning audio company from Romania that specializes in high-end headphones. They focus on superlative craftsmanship, authenticity, immersive yet emotive sound tuning and excellent ergonomics and design. In addition, a core value for Meze is longevity, delivering serviceable products and sale of replacement parts straight to the consumer. This philosophy has granted the company a dedicated worldwide fanbase that continues to grow with each release.

Introduction –

Meze have long been renowned for their closed-back headphones, but this changed when they released the Empyrean, a full-size open-back model. Although soon to become renowned, the Empyrean was inaccessible to the majority due to its price that matched its gravitas. The 109 Pro was introduced as a medium between the more affordable 99-series and the flagship planars, yet even still, this was not a model that could be considered cheap. The 105 AER seeks to fill in the blanks as the most affordable open-back offered by the brand. It offers a stepping stone into the Meze house sound and form factor at a highly competitive price point that puts it near the entry level among open-back headphones.

 The 105 AER is available for $399 USD at the time of writing. You can read more about it and secure one for yourself at Meze Audio!

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Alexandra very much for reaching out to organise a review of the 105 AER. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the headphones free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.

Contents –

• Page 1: Intro, Unboxing, Design
• Page 2: Sound and Source Pairings
• Page 3: Comparisons & Verdict

Specifications –

• Weight: 2336
• Drivers: 50mm Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 42 ohms
• Sensitivity: 112 dB
• Frequency Range: 5 Hz – 30 kHz

Unboxing –

The unboxing experience will be familiar to any returning customer of Meze. The headphones come in a protective hard box that contains the lovely moulded leather carrying case. This is similar to those seen on the 109 Pro and 99 models, boasting a moulded hard shell that conforms to the shape of the headphones alongside a soft velvet interior and premium leather exterior. Inside is the cable and 1/4″ adaptor within a zipper velvet pouch. The cable is the generic rubber sheathed unit seen on most of Meze’s models using dual 3.5mm mono connectors and terminating in a single-ended 3.5mm connector. Besides this, no other accessories are included. However, I do appreciate that Meze invest in good quality essentials rather than a range of accessories the end users are unlikely to fully utilise.

Design –

If one thing sets Meze apart from the rest, it’s undoubtedly their product design. In this regard, the 105 AER is more affordable but no more diluted than its compatriots. The overall silhouette harkens back to the 99-models and the 109 Pro, but its ear cups assume a more modern geometric aesthetic finished in a clean matte black that feels more gadget and less ornament. The 105 AER chases supreme comfort and, to this end, employs more composite materials.

The earcups are ABS-PC, a rigid form of plastic, while the frame assumes the same manganese construction as Meze’s other models, with zinc alloy hardware to top it off. Earpads offer a breathable velour construction with a PU leather headband distributing wearing pressure with aplomb. Some may lament the loss of harder wearing alloys, woods and authentic leather; however, as always, the headphones are fully user serviceable, which means you get all of the weight savings with less concern of longevity. So long as Meze supports this headphone, I can appreciate the decision, though the 105 doesn’t handle quite like its more premium brethren as a result.

As before, the factory cable leaves to be desired and, unlike the company’s dearer models, only includes a single 3.5mm cable in the box. The 105 AER uses dual mono 3.5mm connectors. It has a tacky rubber sheath and is quite springy. Though microphonic noise isn’t too bad, this is far from my favourite cable to live with. The stock cable does the job but I would strongly recommend factoring in an aftermarket replacement into your budget.

Fit & Comfort –

Weight & Headband

Coming in at 336g, the 105 AER is appreciably lighter than the 109 Pro, which left an exceedingly positive impression of comfort from my experience. The 105 AER shares the same strengths; the thick padded suspension headband, well-tuned clamp force and breathable open-back design all contribute towards near perfect wearing comfort. The headband system, in particular, strongly contributes due to the large leather strap that distributes weight over a large surface area and conforms to individual head shapes. Meze has mastered the suspension system that provides enough tension to hold a stable position but never too much that it creates discomfort. Meze have proven time and again that they are masters of ergonomic design.

Earpads

Velour earpads make a return, as seen on the 109 Pro. Though not quite as opulent as lambskin leather, they wear nicely if kept clean and offer excellent breathability. As with that model, comfort and breathability in hotter months are superb. There is heaps of depth within the pads and earcups to fully engulf the ears, forming a true over-ear fit – something that isn’t always guaranteed with cheaper, more compact open-back models. In addition, the foam padding doesn’t compress over time, which maintains a consistent sound. Models with softer foam often experience some shape alteration with wearing, which makes them far more of a serviceable item. The earpads are removable and easily replaceable.

Next Page: Sound Breakdown