Expertly built open-back ‘phones with an inspired design
The Meze 109 PRO headphones are meticulously assembled in Meze’s Romanian headquarters.
These headphones look gorgeous and feel extremely well-put-together. Each set is assembled by hand in Meze’s Romanian headquarters, using premium parts and fine materials. And the design is very open-air, with little in the way to obstruct the precise movement of the premium 50mm dynamic drivers.Â
A charming blend of old and new
If you’re familiar with the closed-back Meze Audio 99 Classics, you might assume these are the open-back “version” of those. Yes and no. The dark walnut wood earcups definitely give them a similar look and vibe. And their relaxed, secure fit is based on the winning ergonomics of the 99 Classics — named Crutchfield’s “most comfortable” after extensive in-house testing.
But while these headphones may resemble that storied model, the 109 PROs have their own tale to tell. They offer unique design touches, and the open-air earcups are physically larger. Inside, the drivers have been completely revamped to deliver a distinct sonic signature.Â
Premium drivers built from high-grade materials
Meze designed the 50mm dynamic drivers from scratch. Each diaphragm is a dual-membrane composite, with an inner material made of carbon fiber and cellulose that’s covered by a beryllium-based film. All of these materials are rigid and lightweight, so they can move quickly and fluidly.
It’s deliciously textured with a delightful, natural timbre and quick, emphatic bass. The soundstage is more immediate and forward than you might expect from open-back headphones, but there is quite a bit of depth and airiness.Â
The steel headband and spring-suspension system help the headphones “pop” into place.Â
Comfortable, no-fuss fit
The 109 PRO headphones use the same spring-suspension system developed for the 99 Classics, with the geometry slightly adjusted for the bigger earcups. A large spring stretches over the head to ensure the pressure remains even, regardless of head size. Padded vegan leather lines the spring, so it snugly hugs the crown of the head. The oversized soft velour earpads felt pleasant and helped hold the headphones in place. The earcup openings are spacious, so the pads covers more area on the sides of your head than most headphones this size — but still managed to avoid pressure points. Â
Plenty of listening options
The headphones arrive packed inside their form-fitting zippered travel case. Meze includes two detachable cables — one extra-long nearly 10-foot cable and a shorter 5-foot cable — both terminated with an unbalanced 3.5mm miniplug. There’s also a 1/4″ adapter, so you have a variety of options for headphone amps or portable music players.Â
Product highlights:
- over-the-ear, open-back headphones
- smooth walnut wood earcup housings with open-air mesh openings
- 50mm dynamic drivers deliver an airy, detailed sound with bite and punch
- dual-membrane diaphragms made of stiff, lightweight materials like beryllium and carbon fiber
- acoustically transparent grilles on inside of earcup allows air to move freely
- designed and hand-assembled at Meze’s headquarters in Romania
Comfort and build:
- solidly constructed, lightweight design
- magnesium steel frame with zinc alloy hardware
- headband with spring-suspension system for a comfortable, easily adjustable fit
- padded vegan leather headband liner
- soft velour earpads with thick memory foam
Accessories and specs:
- two detachable cables included:
- 9.8-foot extra-long listening cable terminated with a gold-plated 3.5mm miniplug
- 5-foot cable terminated with a gold-plated 3.5mm miniplug
- 1/4″ adapter included
- frequency response: 5-30,000 Hz
- sensitivity: 112 dB
- impedance: 40 ohms
- weight: 13 oz.
- warranty: 2 years
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