Today, we will discuss one of my favorite new open-back headphones under $500, the Meze 105 AER! We will discuss their build quality, design, and sound quality paired with several headphone amplifiers and DACS such as the Ferrum Audio ORR, WANDLA, HYPSOS 2 stack, the Ferrum ERCO, the Chord Hugo TT2, Chord Hugo 2, and the Woo Audio WA22 and McIntosh MHA200 headphone tube amplifiers.

 

 

We will also discuss how the headphones sound when driven by a Questyle M12i portable dongle DAC/Amp and briefly compare them to a few other similarly priced headphones and Meze Audio’s more expensive 109 Pro, which I have in-house.

 

So, let’s get down to business. The Meze 105 AER is very easy to drive, and you don’t need a powerful headphone amplifier to enjoy them. However, depending on the quality of the amplifier, you will notice some improvements in the overall sound quality.

 

For the 105 AER, Meze Audio’s 50mm dynamic driver was used with some slight modifications, specifically for the driver membrane and frame. These changes, along with the tuning, allow for a universally enjoyable sound quality for all music genres.

 

The W-shaped dome is made of a durable, lightweight carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite, which aids in low harmonic distortion. The torus surrounding the dome is made of Polyether Ether Ketone, or PEEK, a semicrystalline polymer. This gives the driver membrane excellent strength and stiffness while still being lightweight for faster movement.

 

Using a copper-zinc stabilizer positioned around the membrane helps improve vibrations' absorption. The headphones have an impedance of 42 ohms, a frequency range of 5Hz-30kHz, a sensitivity of 112 dB SPL/mW, and a weight of only 336 grams!

 

The headphones are incredibly comfortable for long listening sessions, thanks to their self-adjusting headband and plush velour ear pads, which also breathe well.

 

The earcups are made of PC-ABS, a departure from the wood cups of the 105 PRO. I love the spider web-type design of the cups and the blacked-out look. The rest of the headphone’s hardware is made from cast zinc alloy with a PVD coating, a stamped manganese spring steel headband, and soft PU leather for the headband.

 

All the parts are easily replaceable, and the headphones feel very well-built. Again, they are oh-so comfortable, allowing you to forget you are even wearing headphones. So, the build quality is magnificent for a $399 headphones, as is the look and feel.

 

Let’s talk about how they sound! They are warmer than true neutral while still sounding incredibly natural and engaging to listen to. There is an emphasis on the bass regions that allow the headphones to slam and punch in a pleasing way.

 

The midrange sounds pretty flat compared to the treble and bass regions, but it sounds quite beautiful for instruments that fall in this range, along with most vocals. It has some warmth and engaging body, while still providing enough definition for vocals and strings without going overboard in the upper midrange, never causing me any listening fatigue.

 

The treble has good sparkle and air without sounding too bright, a welcome change for my preferences compared to the more technical and brighter-sounding 109 PRO from Meze. More on that in a bit.

 

The detail presentation is quite good at this price, with plenty of detail for my preferences. Pairing the headphones with the Chord TT2 or Hugo 2 will allow for a bit more perceived technical performance, while pairing them with the Ferrum Stack or ERCO allows for excellent technical performance with a bit more natural sound than the Chord gear.

 

They sound jaw-dropping good with the McIntosh MHA200 and Woo Audio WA22 headphone tube amplifiers for a bit more mid-range magic for the headphones not present from the solid-state headphone amplifiers.

 

The headphones sound excellent with the Questyle M12i and are easily driven by this affordable yet well-performing dongle DAC/AMP. The sound stage sounds open and well separated, especially when paired with the higher-end amplifiers and DACS I have in-house, like the Ferrum ORR and WANDLA, as well as the Chord TT2 and Hugo 2.

 

Although it is not the most open-sounding of open-back headphones, it performs superbly, especially at a very reasonable price. It still sounds more open than many similarly priced dynamic driver headphones.

 

Timbre sounds natural and lifelike, like listening to a live concert, with a bit of additional warmth in the bass regions that, for my preferences, sound realistic and never overly analytical, which is extremely important to me.

 

Compared to Meze Audio’s more expensive 109 PRO headphones, the 105 AER has more perceived bass, while the 109 PRO has a slightly more detailed and defined bass. The midrange sounds similar between the two headphones, so if you are a fan of the 109 PRO, you will likely enjoy the 105 AER’s midrange as well.

 

The vocals from both headphones depend on the singer and the song’s production. The 109 PRO’s more prominent treble can make the vocals of singers like Sam Smith less pleasing. Too Good At Goodbyes and Say It First by Sam Smith are good examples of where the 105 AER is more pleasing.

 

On the other hand, songs like Gasoline from the Weekend on his Dawn FM album, which land some of his vocals more in the upper mid-range vs. the treble region of Sam Smith, make the 109 Pro sound a little smoother. So, it depends on the type of music you listen to and the vocalist.

 

I prefer the 105 AER over the 109 PRO in the treble region. While I can enjoy the bass signature and mids of the 109 PRO, the sweeter, more delicate-sounding treble of the 105 AER provides a more enjoyable listening experience, especially for longer listening sessions when brighter-tuned headphones can give me some listening fatigue.

 

If you prefer a more forward treble and a slightly more analytical technical quality of sound, you will likely prefer the more expensive 109 PRO headphones. The 109 PRO are amazing-sounding headphones, but I like them in smaller doses, whereas I can listen to the 105 AER all day!

 

The sound quality and level of listening enjoyment are very close between the two headphones.. However, at half the price of the 109 PRO, the 105 AER, at $399, with its slight increase in bass and slightly softer treble, makes it the easy choice for me which headphones I would buy.

 

I listen to nearly every genre of music, and the 105 AER is the more versatile of the two headphones, especially if you listen to alternative, hard rock, metal, or recordings that may not be perfectly recorded or mastered.

 

I love that Meze offers multiple types of tunings in its product lineup, not forgetting the fantastic roots and house sound that made it so popular in the first place. At the same time, Meze also listens to their customers who prefer headphones with a slightly more technical sound, and the new Empyrean II and 109 PRO are great examples of this.

 

For my sound tastes, my favorite Meze headphones are the Original Empyrean, the Meze Elite, the Liric II, and now the 105 AER. Well done, Meze. I am a big fan of these headphones!

 

Compared to the Sennheiser HD650 and HD660S2, the 105 AER is much more comfortable, with less clamp force, softer pads, and a better headband system. As you might expect, the Sennheiser headphones sound slightly less colored than the 105 AER. They also emphasize the mid-range, bringing vocals and strings to the forefront of your listening experience compared to the Meze 105 AER.

 

Comparing the 105 AER to the HD 650, the Meze headphones sound more detailed, with a wider, more defined, and better-layered soundstage. The bass is also more prominent and detailed from the 105 AER, with more sparkle and air on the top end.

 

I have long been a fan of the HD650 and still am, but I would have to give the nod to the 105 AER for my preferred sound quality and build quality between the two headphones. The HD650 sounds a bit too relaxed, not quite technical enough, and a bit too intimate from a sound stage perspective when doing side-by-side listening with the Meze 105 AER.

 

The HD660S2 and the 105 AER are much closer competitors. I dig both of these headphones, and it is too close to call, as I would like to own and have them both in my collection.

 

I like the Meze 105 AER's extra weight and slam in the bass regions, its better comfort and visual design, and its superior sound stage presentation. However, the HD660S2 presents vocals a bit forward with a touch more body while still having decent slam and treble extension.

 

For dynamic driver headphones in this price range, these are two of my favorite headphones I can listen to all day and night. However, the 105 AER is still better priced, retailing at $399 vs. $599 when the HD660S2 is not on sale. The Meze headphones have a decent travel case, whereas the HD660S2 has a soft bag.

 

The build quality of the Sennheiser and Meze headphones is fantastic; however, the Meze 105 AER is much better looking and feeling. So, I will let you decide which suits you better. We recommend visiting our showroom or your local dealer to listen to and feel the headphones yourself.

 

So, let’s wrap up. Meze Audio, you have done it again. You have created what I think is one of the best values in the dynamic headphone world. Bravo!

 

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Please tell us what you think of the new 105 AER from Meze Audio in the comments. Until next time, friends, remember, let the music be your guide!