Daily Audio News — January 01, 2026

In Defence of the Christmas Song Hifi Pig https://www.hifipig.com/in-defence-of-the-christmas-song/ In Defence of the Christmas Song A few weeks ago, I went off on one about Christmas songs. Specifically, Christmas songs being played far too early in the year. Shops, cafes, restaurants, all piping out obligatory festive cheer while the leaves were still clinging on to the trees and autumn had not even packed its […]

Revox Club Launched Hifi Pig https://www.hifipig.com/revox-club-launched/ REVOX CLUB MEMBERSHIP LAUNCH OFFERS NEW BENEFITS FOR HiFi ENTHUSIASTS Revox has announced the new Revox Club, introducing an annual membership scheme aimed at music and HiFi enthusiasts. The programme offers access to product information, events, and exclusive experiences connected to the long-running audio brand. REVOX CLUB BUILDS ON BRAND HISTORY Revox says that the […]

Meze Audio celebrates 10 years of iconic sound and design with a second generation of the 99 Classics A decade after their debut, the 99 Classics continue their legacy in the world of personal audio. First introduced in 2015, these headphones quickly became an icon, praised for their warm sound signature and premium craftsmanship. Now, they come renewed for both long-time fans and a new generation of listeners, honouring the original’s timeless design while embracing today’s needs. 10 Years, 10 Improvements The new Meze Audio 99 Classics highlight their evolution with 10 key enhancements: 1. Refined tuning direction: Closer to a balanced, neutral target; bass is engaging yet more controlled, letting mids and treble shine with greater clarity. 2. Improved driver matching: Advanced algorithms reduce inter-driver variance, improving stereo imaging accuracy and ensuring consistent performance across pairs. 3. Increased ear cup size: Subtle internal enlargement shifts resonances downward, improving low-frequency control and aligning with the new tuning, all while creating more space for your ears. 4. Improved acoustic sealing and bass port: Precision sealing at key junctions, paired with a dedicated vent in the jack shell, provides precise tuning, left–right consistency and higher unit-to-unit reproducibility. 5. Re-engineered baffle architecture: A more open grille and streamlined beams reduce diffraction and high-frequency artefacts. 6. New ear pad system: Adjusted shape for refined midrange balance, now with a secure clip-in system that maintains fixed orientation for consistent frequency response and easy replacement. 7. Improved sound technicalities: A more precise spatial presentation with clearer imaging, separation, and soundstage. 8. Enlarged input socket: Now 7 mm diameter, ensuring compatibility with a wider range of cables. 9. Upgraded stock cable: A 1.8 m dual-twisted, Kevlar-sheathed OFC conductor with 3.5 mm jack. 10. Modern portability: Includes a USB-C DAC/AMP dongle and a 6.3 mm gold-plated adapter for seamless use with today’s devices lacking headphone outputs. The 99 Classics are defined by their thoughtful craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each pair features walnut wood ear cups that are CNC-machined, hand-finished, and polished, showcasing the material’s natural strength, rich colour, and elegant grain. The frame’s cast zinc hardware, finished with a deep gold finish, adds both resilience and a timeless sense of refinement. Comfort remains a hallmark of the design, thanks to a self-adjusting headband made from vegan leather and supported by spring steel, ensuring an effortless fit for long listening sessions. The detachable ear pads, crafted from soft vegan leather and medium-density foam, now use a secure clip-in system with six points, making them easier to replace while also enhancing acoustic performance. Designed for today’s listening habits, a compact USB-C DAC/AMP is included to deliver optimal performance with modern devices that no longer feature a headphone jack. True to Meze Audio’s philosophy, the 99 Classics are sustainable by design. Every component, from the drivers to the cables, headband, and cups, can be replaced, extending the product’s lifespan. Also, the 2nd generation of the 99 Classics comes in fully recyclable cardboard packaging, eliminating plastic, foam, and excess materials, thus reducing waste and lowering our environmental impact.

“A premium high-fidelity headphone with object d’art looks, the finely crafted Meze Audio POET brandishes an open-back design to deliver airy detail and an engaging bass performance. Going hand in hand with the POET’s refined, immersive performance is an all-around design packed with attention to detail, from the magnetically attached earpads and lightweight headband to the robust carry case and braided 6.35mm cable. A marriage of sound quality, style, and ergonomics, Meze Audio’s POET will delight headphone enthusiasts.” - EISA JURY The POET won this year's EISA award for Best Premium Headphones! The Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) is a community comprising 54 technology magazines, websites, and social media commentators from 27 countries, specializing in Hi-Fi, home theater, photography and video, in-car, and mobile electronics. Every year, the EISA jury of experts rewards the best products in each class with a coveted EISA Award. ABOUT EISA EISA is the unique association of 54 special interest magazines and websites from 27 countries. Internationally known for the Expert Imaging and Sound Awards, EISA started in 1982 when the editors-in-chief from five European photo magazines came together to select “The Camera of the Year” for the first time. They had no idea that out of this meeting EISA - the European Imaging and Sound Association - would emerge some years later. This historic moment took place in 1989 after another 10 photo magazines had joined the group in the meantime. Every year, the EISA Awards celebrate those new products that combine the most advanced technology and desirable features with class-leading performance. The EISA Awards extend from the most affordable, high-value products to the most aspirational expressions of modern consumer electronics. Award categories change from year to year, reflecting the evolution of product design and connectivity, but every EISA Award winner remains the very best in its class. The sheer strength in depth of EISA’s members ensures the EISA Awards logo carries tremendous weight with all informed consumers. THE JUDGING PROCESS Based on their own reviews and tests throughout the year, each member magazine nominates an initial short-list of products that best reflect the star performers in their particular Expert Group(s). All these individual recommendations are collated into a master list before the merits of these products are discussed in detail, and in person, by the members of each Expert Group at EISA’s Awards Meeting in late June. The final voting takes place here and all nominations are kept strictly confidential. In 2022, Meze Audio’s Elite received the EISA Best Product distinction in the High-End Headphones category, then in 2023, 109 PRO received the same award. We are thankful beyond words to all the people who took the time to listen to our headphones and deemed them worthy of this valuable distinction. Discover more about EISA, here . Learn more about Meze Audio POET, here .

Meze Audio launches 105 SILVA, an open-back headphone that captivates all senses Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio, renowned for its timeless craftsmanship and emotionally engaging sound, proudly announces the launch of its newest creation: 105 SILVA, a dynamic open-back headphone designed to breathe life into every note and redefine how we experience music. 105 SILVA boasts an exquisite design inspired by the Mid-Century Modern movement. Fusing vintage charm with contemporary aesthetics, the radial grille sublimely intertwines with the walnut wood to form the ear cups, creating a feel that never truly ages. Finely balanced between musicality and refinement, 105 SILVA offers a smooth blend of clarity and richness. Through continuous development, the 105 SILVA delivers a clear, rich, and engaging sound that easily brings out the finer details in your favourite tracks. Inside the headphones, there is audio technology to match — a 50 mm dynamic driver with a cellulose composite dome and a titanium-covered surround helps produce a crisp, engaging, and detailed audio experience. Its titanium-coated semicrystalline polymer torus, and copper-zinc stabilizer ensure the driver membrane’s rigidity and strength, for a fast transient response and pleasantly textured bass with minimal distortion. 105 SILVA’s sound signature is a new take on Meze Audio’s iconic characteristics, including the technicalities of 109 PRO combined with the warmth and genre versatility of 105 AER. 105 SILVA specializes in mid-range presentation for vocals and strings, meaning listeners can enjoy the liveliness and impact of any music without sacrificing the micro details present in well-recorded tracks. 105 SILVA’s emblematic design also ensures that all materials used in the headphones positively contribute to the overall performance. Building on the premium contact materials used in the full design of the headphones, including its deep-cushioned earcups and self-adjusting headband, 105 SILVA reflects Meze Audio’s ongoing pursuit of ergonomic comfort, shaped by years of thoughtful research and refinement.  In parallel, every component of 105 SILVA is crafted for lasting wearability and performance, by allowing every component to be disassembled and replaced, supporting longevity and sustainable use over time.

Introducing POET – A new era of compact, high-performance planar-magnetic headphones Meze Audio, the acclaimed Romanian manufacturer of high-end headphones, proudly announces the release of POET, its newest planar-magnetic headphones.  POET is a carefully crafted audio masterpiece inviting listeners to experience a journey through inner worlds, where sound, emotion, and purpose intertwine. Combining cutting-edge Rinaro Isodynamic® Hybrid Array technology, luxurious materials, and ergonomic design, POET elevates audio performance by redefining what is possible in a compact, open-back form factor. At the heart of POET lies a sonic experience with lush, airy vocals and precise bass impact, balancing low-end depth with delicate high-frequency clarity. The headphones’ natural tonality is enhanced by subtle hints of sparkle, providing a lively yet effortless listening experience. POET’s exceptional detail retrieval and separation breathe life into your music, delivering a harmonious blend of technical finesse and emotive expression. With POET, every note resonates deeply, every detail emerges vividly, and the listener is immersed in a soundscape that feels both expansive yet intimate. “From the very beginning of our POET journey, we knew we wanted to create something unique — a more compact planar-magnetic open-back headphone that is every bit as capable as our flagship models. Well then, what better place to look than at the very apex? In collaboration with our friends at RINARO ISODYNAMICS, we synthesized the essence of ELITE’s driver technology and gave it new life. I believe POET turned out to be more than just a headphone; it’s a nod to a huge stepping stone in our development as a team and a testament to how far we’ve come,” says Alex Grigoras, Acoustic Engineer at Meze Audio. POET is a true testament to Meze Audio’s commitment to perfection, blending high-performance materials with an aesthetic of luxury. Featuring a compact, open-back design, POET houses MZ6 Isodynamic® Hybrid Array drivers, a state-of-the-art planar-magnetic technology developed exclusively for Meze Audio by Rinaro Isodynamics.  The headphone’s intricate steel grill, magnesium chassis, and soft suede leather headrest are not only visually striking but also contribute to POET’s durability and unparalleled acoustic performance. Designed for comfort and longevity, POET’s flexible titanium alloy headband evenly distributes weight, ensuring a snug fit that enhances listening pleasure for hours on end. The lightweight design and magnetic ear pads also make POET incredibly user-friendly, offering seamless pad swapping for long-term care and convenience. Rinaro Isodynamics, with over three decades of expertise in planar-magnetic technology, brings its acclaimed Isodynamic® Hybrid Array technology to POET. The MZ6 driver, born from years of research and development, stands as proof of Rinaro’s precision and innovation. Each driver is hand-assembled and tested at Rinaro’s state-of-the-art facility in Ukraine, ensuring unmatched quality and performance. POET incorporates several breakthrough features that set it apart in the world of high-end headphones. These include a Hybrid Magnet Array designed to create a uniform, powerful magnetic field across the diaphragm, as well as a Parus® diaphragm with an incredibly low weight (just 0.06g) and expansive active area for pristine audio reproduction. The result is ultra-low distortion (<0.05%) and ultra-high-resolution audio that captures every nuance, from the deepest sub-bass to the highest treble frequencies. Meze Audio’s commitment to craftsmanship goes beyond mere performance – it extends to longevity. POET is fully serviceable, with every component designed to be easily disassembled and replaced. Whether it’s the magnetic ear pads or the high-performance materials used throughout the chassis, POET is built to stand the test of time. The headphone’s durable construction, together with its luxurious finish, makes it an enduring companion for years of immersive listening. Coupled with a premium hand-braided copper cable, POET guarantees not only technical superiority but also the ultimate in aesthetic pleasure.

Renowned Romanian manufacturer of artisan, high-end headphones, Meze Audio, has announced the latest additions to its industry leading product line-up to be previewed at HIGH END Munich 2025. 105 SILVA Proudly introducing its latest dynamic open-back headphones, 105 SILVA, Meze Audio promises further immersion in the world of high-end audio through the brand’s signature rich, broad and warm sound soundstage. 105 SILVA boasts an exquisite design inspired by the Mid-Century Modern movement, combining vintage charm and contemporary aesthetics. Encased in a freshly designed combination of walnut wood and high-strength polymer ear cups, 105 SILVA brings together iconic signatures from the full product line-up to deliver the next major step forward for audio innovation. Inside the headphones there is audio technology to match — a 50 mm dynamic driver engaging and detailed audio experience. Its titanium-coated semicrystalline polymer torus, and copper-zinc stabiliser ensure the driver membrane’s rigidity and strength, for a fast transient response and pleasantly textured bass with minimal distortion. 105 SILVA’s sound signature is a new take on Meze Audio’s iconic characteristics, including the technicalities of 109 PRO combined with the warmth and genre versatility of 105 AER. 105 SILVA specialises in mid-range presentation for vocals and strings, meaning listeners can enjoy the liveliness and impact of any music without sacrificing the micro details present in well-recorded tracks. Also carrying over the self-adjusting spring steel headband found on its acclaimed predecessor, 105 AER, 105 SILVA is a culmination of years of leading ergonomic research and development from Meze Audio. Not only resulting in an unmatched experience for comfort listening, this iconic design also ensures all materials used in the headphones positively contribute to the overall performance. Thanks to premium contact materials used in the full design of the headphones, including its deep-cushioned earcups, every component of 105 SILVA can be disassembled and replaced to last a lifetime. ULTRA CABLE Also being introduced at High End Munich, Meze Audio’s latest high-performance headphone cable, Ultra, boasts an innovative Y-splitter design that allows for a continuous 16-to-8-wire braid without the use of soldering. With conductors made of 99.9% pure silver — the metal with the highest electrical conductivity — Ultra allows for faster signal transmission with minimal resistance. Each individual cable is made of 40 conductors with a 0.08mm diameter, meaning the intricately engineered cable and high electrical resistance produces an incredible response and signal processing time. Featuring dual 4-pin mini-XLR connectors, Ultra is a premium cable designed to be paired with Meze Audio’s Elite and Empyrean II ranges, combining the finest headphones available today with a cable specifically engineered for quality performance. Also available with the cable are  3.5mm, 4.4mm, 6.3mm connections, taking any headphones which support such inputs. Pricing and availability will be announced later in the year, closer to the launch dates. Attendees at HIGH END Munich are invited to see the latest products and complete range from Meze Audio and meet the hearts and minds behind the brand at its booth, located in MOC Event Center, Hall 1, Atrium 7, booth B02 . *Please note that the images featured are for illustrative purposes only. The final product may differ slightly in appearance.

Introducing ALBA in-ears – a new addition to the Meze Audio portfolio Meze Audio is delighted to introduce ALBA to its impressive range of headphones, which as its Romanian translation signifies, is a ‘first light’ for those inspired by the world of elevated audio enjoyment. Designed to act as the first touchpoint in Meze’s growing portfolio, ALBA in-ears beautifully preserve the brand’s design language while providing high levels of comfort, noise isolation, and most importantly, an unmistakable immersive listening experience. ALBA is the bridge between the current in-ear market and Meze Audio’s best-in- class collection, perfectly tuned with a neutral sound profile and an added touch of warmth, reminding listeners of the virtues of wired earphones. And thanks to the combination of zinc alloy and anodized aluminium parts, the ALBA’s resilient build doesn’t undermine its precious, lustrous pearl appearance. ALBA is the perfect earphone partner for a wide range of music sources, including the latest iPhone and all other smartphones with USB-C connectivity, as well as those with a 3.5mm headphone socket – thanks to a cable with a gold-plated 3.5mm connector. Portable and sociable, ALBA comes with a custom-made USB-C adapter, which features a built-in DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter), not only boosting the sound quality of your chosen source but ensuring an immersive audio experience. “It was a combination of factors that brought ALBA into existence. Coming from a musical background, having maintained direct contact with our customers daily, and being an audiophile myself for the better part of a decade, really helped me understand the expectations for a complete and immersive listening experience,” says product manager, Vlad Toca. “Designed for those who dance to their own beat, for the curious and the free-spirited, ALBA comprises a perfectly accessible and qualitative introduction into the world of elevated audio enjoyment.” With a 10.8mm dynamic driver and a 15-25kHz frequency range, ALBA’s impressive sound profile complements the stylish design perfectly. Packing a significant punch in a subtle, assured finish, the in-ears have a sound pressure level (SPL) of 109dB. Meanwhile, specially designed silicone ear tips in four sizes (S, M, L, XL) help listeners improve comfort and portability without missing a beat in any scenario.

Meze Audio introduces 105 AER: light, lush-sounding open-back headphones Meze Audio proudly introduces 105 AER, the Romanian artisan brand’s latest addition to its best-in-class range. An over-ear and open-back headset, Meze Audio has crafted 105 AER for music lovers who value a deeper connection to their sound. Rich in detail, versatile, and perfectly suited for all genres of music, 105 AER is Meze Audio’s invitation to experience the multi-dimensional depth of sound. Inspired by the natural world, 105 AER “lets the air in” and is attuned to the expression of all music, using vibrations to deliver a spacious, warm, and immersive listening experience. Meticulously crafted using premium materials including cast zinc alloy, stamped manganese spring steel and PU leather in its headband design, along with velour ear coverings, the 105 AER provides comfort listening, true to form for Meze Audio’s ergonomic design language in the rest of its class-leading range. But as the lightest open-back model to date from Meze Audio at just 336g, extended and uninterrupted listening sessions with 105 AER have never been easier. "105 AER carries a feeling of Art Deco opulence, almost like a piece of jewellery masked in a mechanical structure. Certain curves and surfaces are not obvious at first glance; there's an ambiguity to the three-dimensional shape inviting you to discover it over time," explains Paul Șteț, Meze Audio’s Senior Product Designer. Also featuring a newly refined voicing within the headset’s 50mm dynamic driver membranes, 105 AER proves as responsive and well-suited to all music types as they are reliable. With a slight emphasis on bass and sub-bass capabilities, these marvels provide a more resonant foundation, enhancing the overall sense of immersion and adding a satisfying and full-bodied depth to your music. A metaphysical structural design provides a vast, natural soundstage. And with a self-adjusting headband which spreads the headband’s weight to deliver an even pressure along with soft velour cushions surrounding the ears to create the optimal seal, you can enjoy these trailblazing headphones for hours without missing the finer details to your music. Designed to last a lifetime and beyond, Meze Audio has adopted a modular design philosophy to the range. This means, the 105 AER can be taken apart and serviced endlessly, as well as have individual parts and components replaced and repaired, making ownership a personal and proud experience.

The time is finally upon us to meet up for yet another year at the biggest dedicated Hi-Fi event for all music lovers and audio enthusiasts worldwide – High End Munich! Since last year, your constant support and feedback has been the driving force behind our creativity and innovation. We are very grateful for this and we feel like it’s high time we make it up to you. To celebrate our long-lasting friendship, let’s just say we have some surprises in store for everyone who comes by our booth – MOC Event Center, Hall 1, booth B04. MORE THAN EVER BEFORE As our team is steadily growing, even more of us will be present this year. This means that you will have ample opportunity to meet the hearts and minds behind Meze Audio. So, do not hesitate to come say hi! IN BLOOM In the popular Romanian calendar, the fifth month of the year is called Florar, or “the month of flowers”, because it is precisely now that the landscapes of our ancestral home are filled with blooming flowers and everything from pastures to mountain peaks acquires color and fragrance. It is no wonder that Munich High End takes place during this time – a showcase of progress and rejoice. Our entire line-up will be available for your auditory pleasure, including our latest evolutions – Empyrean II and the 2nd Generation LIRIC! Book your ticket here .

12 Years and Counting Evolution is not an easy process for anyone. It involves a great deal of reflection and exploration, but, ultimately, what is most important is facing challenges head-on, together as a team. Looking back on the past 12 months, and by extension, the past 12 years, there is one driving force that has never failed to deliver - you, the community. We wish to thank each and every one of you sincerely for all the amazing moments we shared together during 2023. Thank you for attending the shows we participate at, coming up to our stand and hanging out with us, and just plain having a good time. Thank you for the heartwarming online messages that we often share among ourselves and rejoice. Thank you for the overwhelming support provided along this incredible journey, as none of our accomplishments would have been possible without you. Achievements come in different shapes: fruitful collaborations with artists and content creators we love, well organized and successful tradeshows, or perhaps the positively embraced release of a new product. They also translate into a multitude of esteemed awards that our products have received throughout 2023. Top Picks, Crowd Cheers From our lineup, the standout performers and top community picks were the 109 PRO and our newest addition to the high-end roster, the Empyrean II. One of the biggest and most cherished surprises of the year was the 109 PRO getting formally recognized as one of the best products of 2023 by an organization of seasoned experts in everything that has to do with electronics. The Empyrean II unveiled itself to the world later during the year in November, but it did not go unnoticed during this short amount of time. Standout Awards for Each Headphone 109 PRO – EISA "Best Product 2023 - 2024" Award For the second year in a row, our expertise was acknowledged by one of the most prestigious institutions in the field of electronics – EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association). The 109 PRO has been voted by EISA’s international committee of journalists as the Best Product of the year 2023-2024, in the Headphones category. Additionally, it was honored with the Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity "Best Open-Back Headphones" award and the Rolling Stone "Best Audiophile Headphones" award. Empyrean II - Loved by Critics The Empyrean II barely came out the gate and it has already garnered recognition with the Trusted Reviews "Highly Recommended" award, Stereonet "Applause Award", Headfonics "Editor's Choice", and the Headfonia "Recommended" award. Elite - Gold Standards The Elite stood out, securing the "VGP Lifestyle 2023 Gold Award Winner" and the "HiFiLive maxima calidad 2023" award. Advar - Double Gold The Advar received the "VGP Lifestyle 2023 Gold Award Winner" and the "A' Design Awards Gold 2023" awards, recognizing its excellence in both lifestyle and design. New Year, New Horizons 2023 is gone, but the memories will stay with us indefinitely. Entering 2024, we have something to say to you, the community: Chapeau! Stay awesome! Your continuous support has fueled our drive for improving ourselves bit by bit every day so we can share our passion for audio with you. Looking ahead to the current year, we are excited to continue pushing boundaries and providing even more soulful experiences. Cheers!

“When creating Empyrean II, our goal was to enhance the headphones’ ability to reproduce fine details and achieve a more neutral sound signature, all the while preserving the original “easy to listen to” character. With this in mind, our engineers have masterfully harnessed the driver’s power to reveal new possibilities in terms of responsiveness and accuracy and even make the driver more reliable in challenging acoustic environments.” - Mircea Fanatan, Managing Director Building on the acclaim of the original Empyrean - already one of the most technologically advanced designs – the new Empyrean II emerges as a symphony of artistry, innovation and craftsmanship. For the second-generation model, our specialists have further refined the exceptional Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver design from Rinaro Isodynamics, delivering a step-change performance. Artistry meets impeccable comfort Crafted with precision via CNC milling, Empyrean II’s frame features a sleek black matte finish with silver accents, and a redesigned aluminium grille inspired by art deco artistry. With a nod to the past and a vision for the future, the new headphone is a testament to our passion for blending classic aesthetics with modern sophistication. You will want to listen to the Empyrean II for hours. Following the same comfort standards as the entire Meze portfolio, these headphones are deliberately structured to minimise weight and pressure and instantly adapt to the shape of your head. New Duo earpads for a tailored experience Empyrean II also comes with two sets of earpads included, each designed for a different experience. - DUO EARPADS - Our most advanced earpads in the Empyrean series to date, the all-new Duo Earpads are bespoke to Empyrean II. Crafted from a precise blend of premium leather and Alcantara, they introduce a contemporary look and tone. With leather forming the base half and Alcantara covering the rest, these earpads deliver a harmonious tonal balance that resonates across all music genres. - ANGLED ALCANTARA EARPADS - For a classic audiophile experience, the Angled Alcantara Earpads excel at rendering intricate details and nuances in your recordings. The angled shape creates more space inside the earpad, which translates to an airier sound signature, with cleaner bass and improved midrange presence. Enhanced sound signature In terms of sound, we reached out to you, our community, eager to gather your feedback and understand your expectations.

Meet Gianluca Madotto – the mind behind the 109 PRO Primal. Avid nature-lover, trail biker and tattoo artist in his spare time, he is an artisan at Meze Audio who made his mark by pushing the boundaries of what's possible in terms of headphone design, while paying homage to the roots of his craft. At the beginning of 2023, Gianluca embarked on a creative journey that led to the birth of the 109 PRO Primal headphones, a remarkable addition to the prestigious Art Gallery collection here at Meze Audio. The Genesis of the 109 PRO Primal It all began when Gianluca decided to personalize his pair of 109 PRO headphones. He wanted to infuse them with a sense of raw, primal energy and connect them with the ancient craft of knapping – the practice of shaping stone tools by striking them together. Think arrowheads crafted by early humans. In doing so, Gianluca caught Antonio Meze’s eye, who was not just impressed; he was captivated by the concept. The idea of combining the precision of modern audio engineering, Romanian traditional woodworking elements, and the raw, instinctive feel of ancient tools appealed to his artistic sensibilities. Inspired by Gianluca's unique vision, Antonio made the bold decision to include them in the coveted Art Gallery collection. Why bold? Because there’s a tedious process behind every single cup of the 109 PRO Primal, each step being equally important. From the careful selection of the wood grain, to the carving process itself, to the sanding and finishing, then applying the linseed oil, letting the cups rest for 24 hours in order for the oil and black walnut wood to bond, then another layer of linseed oil… not to mention the numerous stages of quality control, culminating in matching the cups to make the perfect pair. It is a laborious handmade process that takes time, effort, and careful attention to detail. Preserving Tradition with Linseed Oil In a departure from convention, Gianluca chose to treat the wooden earcups of the 109 PRO Primal with linseed oil instead of the usual wood lacquer. This decision was deliberate; it reflects his commitment to preserving the traditional Romanian woodworking feel. Linseed oil not only enhances the natural beauty of the wood but also protects it for generations to come. The Significance of "Primal" The name "Primal" was not chosen arbitrarily. It embodies the essence of these headphones – a connection to prehistoric tools and the craftsmanship of a time when the finer details weren't the main focus, but it was still art. "Primal" captures the raw, instinctive beauty of the headphones, reminding us of our ancient roots and the innate creativity of humanity. The 109 PRO Primal offers a refreshing reminder that artistry, tradition, and a touch of primal inspiration can create something truly extraordinary. As you listen to your favorite tunes through these headphones, you're not just experiencing headphone-of-the-year grade sound quality; you're also connecting with the ancient spirit of craftsmanship that birthed them. Find out more about the 109 PRO Primal.

We're very happy to announce the launch of our 109 Pro Primal: a very special edition of the award-winning 109 Pro headphones and the latest addition to the exclusive Meze Audio Art Gallery collection. These headphones are handmade by our skilled artisans, drawing from a proud wood crafting heritage combined with cutting-edge audio technology and a sustainable design, for a timeless blend of performance and elegance. The walnut earcup frames are chiseled groove by groove and delicately sanded to ensure the smoothest feel, before having a coat of linseed oil applied. This final touch infuses the wood with a natural, matte texture that accentuates the wood grain and restores its innate, captivating color. Like all Meze Audio headphones, Primal is painstakingly crafted following the principle of "Graba strică treaba" - a Romanian expression translating to "Haste ruins the work" in English. It emphasizes the importance of taking one's time and paying careful attention to detail to achieve exceptional results. This new edition also follows our commitment to sustainability. The headphones are designed to be taken apart and serviced endlessly if ever needed, which can extend the life of the product beyond limit. From cables to ear cups and beyond, every element can be replaced and upgraded. Finally, you’re not sacrificing performance for principles, either: 109 Pro Primal features the same technology as the original 109 Pro, which have just been named Best Headphones of 2023-2024 by the audio experts in the global EISA Awards . Primal is now for pre-order on mezeaudio.com, mezeaudio.eu and from selected stockists worldwide.

With its alluring combination of expansive, detailed soundstaging and tight, controlled bass, the 109 PRO is a superior headphone suited to all types of music. It triumphs in the looks department too, its acoustically smart design being built around opulent black walnut housings and a slender, lightweight frame. And thanks to its elegant self-adjusting headband and velour earpads, listening comfort is guaranteed. - EISA JURY For the second year in a row, Meze Audio’s expertise was acknowledged by one of the most prestigious institutions in the field of electronics – EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association). The 109 Pro has been voted by EISA’s international committee of journalists as the Best Product of the year 2023-2024 , in the Headphones category. ABOUT EISA A global network of 61 of the most respected magazines covering Hi-Fi, Home Theater Audio, Photography, Video, In-Car Electronics and Mobile Devices, EISA brings together the best journalists in the audio and video sectors. Each year, EISA members review and reward products that combine the most advanced technology and desirable features with class-leading performance, ranging from the most affordable products to the most aspirational expressions of modern electronics. THE JUDGING PROCESS The first step is the nomination process - each member magazine nominates an initial short-list of products that best reflect the top qualities in their particular Expert Group, based on their own reviews and tests throughout the year. All these individual recommendations are collated into a master list until late June, when the members of each Expert Group get together to discuss the merits of each product in detail. The final voting takes place during the same meeting and all nominations are kept strictly confidential. In 2022, Meze Audio’s Elite received the EISA Best Product distinction in the High-End Headphones category. We are thankful beyond words to all the people that took the time to listen to our headphones and deemed them worthy of this valuable distinction. Discover more about EISA, here . Learn about the 109 Pro, here .

For us, the first half of 2023 was all about human connection. After closing one of the best years of Meze Audio so far, we took some time to focus on our company’s “inner self” – our team. We believe our success is driven by the people who make it all happen, so human connection comes first for us. Over the past few months, we've shifted our focus to connecting with our team in a deeper and more meaningful way, prioritizing communication, making sure that everyone feels valued and supported. This kind of friendship is what keeps our wheels turning. We learn from each other, we share perspectives and we challenge each other to experiment and explore, coming up with the most exciting projects. We're happy to announce that a big part of our team will be attending this year’s High End Munich show, from May 18th to May 21st. We invite you to come meet us in person and experience the Meze Audio’s tightly-knit culture for yourself. We'll be showcasing all the Meze favorites in some of the most impressive setups we’ve ever tested, including the Elite, 109 Pro and Advar. We want to get to know you, hear your feedback, and learn how we can continue to improve and grow as a brand. So, mark your calendar and come join us in Munich. Oh, and don't miss out on our surprise event on Saturday, May 20th, at 4PM - we promise it'll be worth it. We can't wait to meet you! May 18th - May 21 st at MOC Veranstaltungscenter, Munich | Hall 1, Booth C04 Book your ticket here .

We make headphones that last; inspiring works of functional art that are meant to accompany you on a lifelong journey through the universe of your emotions. Going beyond trends and short-lived fashions, aiming for timelessness, we set out to create something to fall in love with, over and over again. We take inspiration from everything around us. Growing up in Maramures, surrounded by old traditions faithfully respected to this day, we’ve made it part of our mission to preserve our cultural gift and share its meaning and value with the entire world. Here, our ancestral learnings are frozen in time, taking the shape of symbols and patterns still carved on our wooden houses and gates, embroidered on our carefully weaved clothes. Inspired by our cultural heritage, the artwork on the 109 PRO box is a visual manifesto of our aim for resilience. A stylized representation of a traditional wooden gate, this intricate geometric pattern is the ultimate testimony of craftsmanship and pride that defines the people from Maramures. Hand-carved with artistic refinement from various kinds of wood, these colossal arches are usually adorned with symbols passed down throughout history - the Sun, the Tree of Life or various anthropomorphic figures. An intricate alphabet with secret, ancient meanings for the villagers here. These gates are unique in Romania and the world and, while the true meaning of these motifs is lost, time drew them out from this magical, mythical world and gave them a new sense as true works of art. In the center of the pattern, repeated on each corner, the square spirals depict one of our oldest archetypes – the horns of a ram. A sacred symbol of strength, rebirth and creativity, the ram holds in its horns the power to lead, achieve and overcome. A perfect metaphor for all the things we stand for. Discover the 109 PRO beyond the story, here: https://mezeaudio.com/products/109-pro .

The newest addition to the Meze Audio lineup of products made in Romania, the brand’s first dynamic open-back headphone, will make its debut at CanJam London, at the end of this month. During 30 and 31st of July, visitors at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge will have the chance to try out the 109 PRO in a variety of pairings at the Meze Audio booth, and discover the story behind the product. Set to launch in October 2022, the 109 PRO combines open-back design with a walnut wood chamber that follows the unmistakable aesthetic language of Meze Audio, and is precisely engineered to deliver an exceptional soundstage and a highly detailed, enveloping sound, with just the right amount of punch. With this headphone, we have proudly achieved our goal of delivering the same level of workmanship found in Empyrean and Elite, at a lower price point. We know that fans have high expectations from us so, when making the 109 PRO, our goal was to build something to surpass those expectations. We focused a lot of resources on sound development, and I think the result is sublime. - Mircea Fanatan, Managing Director of Meze Audio In true Meze Audio fashion, the 109 PRO blends together carefully selected materials such as walnut wood, zinc, manganese steel, assembled together using only nuts and bolts, making this headphone fully and endlessly serviceable. At the core of it all, music is an expression of emotion, a celebration of life and a token of everlasting memories. Every part of the 109 PRO headphones, from the premium materials we used to the intricate engineering, embodies that same emotion our favorite music makes us feel. - Antonio Meze, Lead Designer and Founder of Meze Audio Come meet us at booth A5-A6!

We’ve always been amazed by the amount of passion and enthusiasm that bring together the audiophile community and we’ve always used this as some kind of fuel for our creative process. Not just that, but during these 10 years in the business, that same enthusiasm gave us the opportunity to meet new people that share the same excitement and values, when it comes to high-end audio. That’s exactly how our relationship with dCS started, but ended up becoming one of the connections that we value greatly. For anyone who knows our brand, it’s a known-fact that we always challenge ourselves to create not just functional products, but true audio art pieces that offer an experience that goes beyond sound. Having this common goal with dCS is what makes this friendship so special to us. Through fearless engineering and meticulous craft, they redefine the limits of audio by producing digital hi-fi sources which let music lovers enjoy the highest sound quality in their own home. As a company that makes headphones, researching pairings is an ongoing task in our office and, among the countless products we’re testing, their systems remain a constant in our listening rooms – both at the office and at trade shows. Lina began with a desire to create the definitive system for headphone playback: a system that reveals the full potential of your chosen headphones, plus the full breadth of detail, artistry and emotion in your music. With a dedicated Network DAC, Headphone Amplifier and Master Clock, Lina is the first dCS system built especially for headphone listening. Designed to work with a vast range of headphones, it sets out to deliver the ultimate sonic escape for music and head-fi connoisseurs. Since the first time we’ve tried it, we felt that Lina does exactly what it vows. When paired with our TOTL headphones, such as Elite or Empyrean, the performance is splendid – it’s detailed, transparent, without becoming overwhelming. The sound is immersive with an out-of-this-world soundstage. Micro-details are brought to the fore, which makes them very easy to discern, while instruments are well defined and easy to position. So, no matter what you pair it with, it brings out nothing but the best. For those looking for a potential end-game setup, dCS Lina can now be purchased through Meze Audio directly, on mezeaudio.com and mezeaudio.eu .

For HIFI aficionados worldwide, the High-End Munich show is one of the most important and impressive get-togethers in the audio world, a place where trends are set, inspiration is shared and groundbreaking ideas are born. Back in 2019 we had no idea that our trip to Munich was going to be the last, for a while, and we definitely had no clue that 3 years later we’ll be back with a much bigger team and another 4 highly appreciated products added to our portfolio. We’ve done a lot of growing in the past years so, naturally, we were excited to finally be back. After a 12-hour car trip from Romania to Germany, a dinner with the team at the hotel and a much-needed sleep, the first show day was about to start and we had no idea what to expect. The immense floor of MOC was almost immediately crowded once the doors were open. From then on, the 4 days of the show went by so fast. I guess time does fly when you’re having fun, and even now, a few days later, the show feels more like a lucid dream than an actual event that happened. I can’t say what we enjoyed best this year – the smiles people had on their faces when they put our headphones on, the insightful talks we had with some of the most representative members of the press, or the fruitful change of ideas we had with partners from the industry… It’s hard to tell, but what I can say is that Munich left us with a lot of new ideas, opportunities, and a massive supply of good vibes. Introducing the 109 PRO (officially) We brought all the big guns at Munich – the renowned 99 Classics and Empyrean, the ones that started this whole journey, the Liric and Elite, our newest models, plus the Rai Penta and Advar, for those who love in-ears. However, the star of the show was, by far, the 109 PRO – a future addition to our headphone lineup. The 109 PRO is the first dynamic open-back headphone from Meze Audio, precisely engineered to deliver an exceptional soundstage and a highly detailed, enveloping sound, with just the right amount of punch. In true Meze Audio fashion, the 109 PRO blends together carefully selected materials such as walnut wood, zinc, manganese steel, assembled together using only nuts and bolts, making this headphone fully and endlessly serviceable. Currently in production, set to launch in the next months, the 109 PRO seems to have already gained the appreciation of the audiophile community, which makes us even more excited to share it with the entire world. Autograph signing session with Alan Parsons Together with our partner in Germany, Thomas Halbgewachs from Headphone.shop, we had a plan of getting people at the show together on Saturday evening and celebrate the opportunity we had to meet with everyone in person. We had Alan Parsons, Brand Ambassador and face of High-End Munich 2022, to come by our booth for an autograph signing session which has made guests so happy. We had the chance to continue the discussions that began during the day over a few beers, and needless to say it was a blast. We took a ton of photos, too, so take a look: Many thanks to everyone who made all of this possible, from the team at High End Society to all the people who came visit us at the show, and especially our partners from Astell&Kern , Auris Audio , Cayin , Chord Electronics , DCS , EarMen , Feliks Audio , Ferrum Audio , iFi Audio , Innuos , Mytek Audio and Headphone.shop . Getting together after such a long time was extraordinary, looking forward to the next one!

To us, the people working behind the scenes at Meze Audio, 2021 was remarkable! Full of new launches that brought some hard working, yet rewarding days, long brainstorming sessions that gave birth to amazing ideas, new team members that brought a fresh perspective on the things we do. In essence, this year, we learned how to be our best selves and bring forth the same love for high-end audio and exquisite aesthetics that you’re already used to. To celebrate all we’ve accomplished, here are some Meze Audio highlights of 2021: NEW LAUNCHES When it comes to new products, projects we had been working on for over 2 years were finally completed. No headphone leaves our factory unless deemed perfect, following our highest standards, so what we did was take our time to research and experiment with new designs, technologies and materials, in order to bring our visions to life. From the limited-edition Empyrean Phoenix , to ELITE , our newest flagship headphone, and LIRIC , the first ever closed-back powered by Rinaro’s Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver, these new launches represent our way of strengthening our long-term commitment to create one of a kind, reference headphones. ICONIC PAIRINGS There’s something magical about cars and hi-fi coming together, and even our founder himself finds a lot of inspiration in the automotive industry, when designing new products. This year, we had the chance to showcase our products next to two outstanding companies – BMW and Rolls Royce. For the second consecutive year, Meze Audio was part of the latest BMW event - “Fall in Drive & Sound” . The event was held in Samsung-dong, Gangnam district, which is the heart of Seoul, by BMW’s distributor Han-dok Motors and Scheherazade (Sorishop). Our brand was also selected to appear in the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club (RREC) official 2021 yearbook, titled Strive for Perfection: The Royal Edition . Meze Audio products, including the renowned Elite and 99 Classics, were also showcased during the yearbook launch, which took place at Grosvenor House, London on October 8th. A STATEMENT OF TIMELESS DESIGN When talking headphones, to us, design is just as important as performance. With this in mind, our products are made from pure passion for great aesthetics, good craftsmanship and breakthrough engineering. They are created to last through years and years of industry changes, bringing long-lasting value to those who choose them – that’s our philosophy. Even years after their launch, Meze Audio headphones receive recognition not only for the way they sound or the technology they use, but for their timeless design, as well. In 2021, our headphone models were featured in highly-acclaimed design publications, such as Wallpaper , Design Milk , Dexigner . SOUND THAT BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO YOUR MUSIC No headphone design is complete without our unmistakable, natural sound signature. In 2021, we celebrated 10 years of Meze Audio and, in those 10 years, the way our headphones sound got us over 90 awards from reference names in the industry, and hundreds of positive reviews. Ever since the beginning, we made a commitment to break the barriers of the audio industry, making no compromises. Our work and vision got featured by iconic publications, including Rolling Stone , Louder , Forbes or What HiFi? , and here’s what they had to say about us: REWARDING HARD WORK Another thing we’re beyond grateful for is having our hard work honored by major names in the audiophile industry. In 2021, Meze Audio products, all time staples and new additions altogether, were awarded some of the highest distinctions for their refined audio quality and unique design from names like Hifi+, Headfonia, Soundstage! Network or International Design Awards. ARTISTS Our supported artists family is constantly growing and, last year, singers, composers, producers we’ve admired for years have shared the same love for our craft that we do for theirs and joined our community of artists. Yann Tiersen , Christopher Tin , Michael Price are some of the people who’ve marked our artistic journey for a long time, with their amazing work, and we’re proud and grateful to have them try out our headphones and use them with such enjoyment. There are many more memories we could include on this list, but these are definitely the top milestones of this past year, for us. What was your favorite moment of 2021?

We’re happy to announce that Meze Audio was selected to appear in the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club (RREC) official 2021 yearbook, titled Strive for Perfection: The Royal Edition . Strive for Perfection: The Royal Edition is a beautifully presented, fully illustrated hardback book, produced by leading publisher St James’s House and written by an editorial team of experts, aficionados and tastemakers. The 448-page hardback book celebrates the year of Her Majesty the Queen’s 95th birthday by exploring the ties between The Queen, the British Royal Family and royalty around the world with Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars. The articles in the book range from the bespoke vehicles of the Royal Mews, to the regal splendor of the Hampton Court Concours of Elegance, to the cars of the Maharajas. It also features a luxury lifestyle guide for ultra-high net-worth individuals, which includes a select portfolio of exceptional products and services. We are truly honored to be part of this amazing project. Rolls Royce is a staple of quality and luxury, and we, at Meze Audio, pursue the same goals of achieving perfection. Being recognized for our values and getting a chance to share our story by a brand with such an iconic reputation and heritage can only be seen as a fantastic reward , said Antonio Meze, Founder of Meze Audio Meze Audio products, including the renowned Elite and 99 Classics, were also showcased during the yearbook launch, which took place at Grosvenor House on October 8 th . Strive for Perfection: The Royal Edition is available to order  at www.stjamess.org .

For those who know us and have followed our journey in the past 10 years, it is no secret that, to us, design is just as important as performance when it comes to our headphones. Our founder himself, Antonio Meze, is an industrial designer who, one day, decided to build a pair of headphones that would rise up to his standards, in both aesthetics and technology. Headphones are not really perceived as works of art and, most of the time, functionality and performance are viewed as more important than design. At Meze, we think that these three go hand in hand, so our products are meant to shift the paradigm and prove that great sound can look extraordinary, too. With this in mind, we create headphones and in-ear monitors from pure passion for great aesthetics, good craftsmanship and breakthrough engineering. Products that are meant to persist through years and years of industry changes, bringing long-lasting value to those who have them. From looks to technology, they are designed to surpass all short-living trends and become heirlooms, rather than just headphones. Probably the most emblematic, the 99 Classics was our first headphone embodying all of these values. It is precisely this vision that turned the 99 Classics into an affordable benchmark for sound, design and comfort. Six years after their launch, they still receive the praise and recognition of audiophiles and design lovers alike, which can only stand as testament to their timelessness. And since we’re talking design, we’ve gathered for you the latest features that highlight the 99 Classics, from some of the world’s most renowned design publications. Take a look: WALLPAPER* A global authority on design since 1996, Wallpaper* magazine provides a monthly look into the realm of architecture, interior design, fashion, travel, entertainment and contemporary lifestyle. Spot the 99 Classics in this year’s Innovation Issue, a celebration of fresh perspectives and bold ideas. A must read for anyone with an eye for cutting-edge consumer tech that can be discovered here . DESIGN MILK Since 2006, Design Milk has been fixated on making modern living effortless and accessible, by discovering and highlighting emerging talent. Dedicated to modern and innovative design, the magazine features highly curated and hand-picked designs for their millions of readers from all over the world. A staple in its industry, Design Milk has recently reviewed our 99 Classics, saying: Walnut-veneered closed-back earcups with gold metal detailing infuse a classical warmth suggestive of mid-century hi-fi systems. Whether listening to classical, indie, electronic or hip-hop, every listening session left us warmed by the sound, as if the harshest elements of any song was softened and everything desirable expanded outward. Read the entire article here . DEXIGNER Founded in 2001, in New York, Dexigner is a leading platform for designers, architects, illustrators. Named one of the top five sites for creatives by Forbes, Dexigner is an ever-growing source of design news, events, competitions, and resources. The 99 Classics are now featured on Dexigner.com, in their Industrial Design section. Enjoy the story here . Stay in touch with Meze Audio! Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for all the latest news and reviews.

Music is a language we can all understand, a universal way of self-expression, and creativity in the purest form. Who among us doesn’t have those unforgettable stories related to a favorite album, a first concert or a song they’ve heard on the radio? You probably already know about ours. It all started when Antonio was searching for a pair of headphones that he could relate to in the same way he felt connected to his Fender Stratocaster guitar. He wanted an object to pour his passion for music in, so he decided to make it himself. So, it’s no secret that music is at the core of everything we’ve worked on for the past 10 years and, to this day, each product we create serves the same purpose – to do justice to all the artists we love and their work. During our journey, remarkable singers, composers, producers we’ve admired for years or just recently discovered have shared the same love for our craft that we do for theirs and joined our community of artists. Through their work, these musical masterminds evoke and validate emotions, provide comfort and inspire us to create. Today, the Meze Artists family has over 90 members from all over the world. Scroll down to discover the inspirational stories of the latest musicians to join us! YANN TIERSEN An absolute musical genius, Yann Tiersen marked our student life and artistic journey in the past 20 years with his whimsical work for AMELIE and GOODBYE LENIN. Award-winning composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who excels at melancholic, thought-provoking music divided into more than a dozen albums. Tiersen is now one of the most revered artists of his generation. Growing up in Rennes, Tiersen has been involved in music for most of his life. He started learning piano at the age of four, took up violin at the age of six and received classical training at musical academies in Rennes, Nantes and Boulogne. At 13, he broke his violin into pieces, got a guitar and formed a rock band. When his band broke up later on, he bought a cheap mixing desk, an eight-track reel to reel and started recording music solo with a synth, sampler and drum machine, poring over the grooves of old records. Through the summer of 1993, Tiersen stayed in his apartment, recording music alone with guitar, violin and accordion, guided not by the classical canon, but by intuition and his vision of “a musical anarchy”. “One day I thought, instead of spending days on research and listening to tons of records to find the nearest sound of what I have in mind, why don’t I fix this violin and use it?” By the end of the summer of 1993, Tiersen had recorded over 40 tracks, which would form the bulk of his first two albums - 1995’s La Valse Des Monstres and Rue des Cascades. Six years later, the record would find a much larger audience when several tracks, along with music from Le Phare, would be used on the soundtrack to Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s film Amelie (2001). Le Phare went on to sell over 160,000 copies, confirming Tiersen’s status as one of the most pioneering and original artists of his generation and commencing a run of successful albums like 2001’s L'Absente (featuring orchestral group Synaxis, Lisa Germano and the Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon) and 2005’s Les Retrouvailles (with guests Stuart Staples of Tindersticks, Jane Birkin and Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins). 2016 saw Tiersen’s first solo piano release, EUSA, a move into more minimalist contemporary sounds showing the continuation of Tiersen’s diversity.The album gave a musical map of Ushant, the island he has called home for the past several years, with electronically manipulated original field recordings of the natural sounds on the island creating subtle drone that runs throughout. Tiersen explains, “You may get this intuitive thinking of, ‘oh it's piano stuff’, but actually it's not. I worked on piano tracks to begin with but that's not the core of it, they are not important. The context is the most important thing - the piano was a precursor to create something for the electronics to work around. CHRISTOPHER TIN Christopher Tin is a two-time Grammy-winning composer of concert and media music. At Time Magazine, his music is called 'rousing' and 'anthemic', while The Guardian says it’s 'an intelligent meeting of melody and theme'. His music has been performed and premiered in many of the world's most prestigious venues - the United Nations, Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, the Hollywood Bowl - and by diverse ensembles, such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra, and US Navy Band. His song 'Baba Yetu', originally written for the video game 'Civilization IV', holds the distinction of being the first piece of music written for a video game ever to win a Grammy Award. In 2011, his debut album, Calling All Dawns, brought a second Grammy for Tin - Best Classical Crossover Album. The follow-up release named The Drop That Contained the Sea debuted at #1 on Billboard's classical charts, and premiered to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium. In 2020 Christopher signed with the legendary Decca label, releasing his oratorio about the history of flight as told by 11 of our greatest astronomers, investors, visionaries, and pilots: 'To Shiver the Sky'. His works are now published by Concord Publishing/Boosey & Hawkes and he works out of his own custom-built studio in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. MICHAEL PRICE Michael Price is one of the UK’s most sought-after composers. His critically acclaimed debut album on Erased Tapes Records, Entanglement, released in April 2015, was described as ‘gorgeous’ by Rolling Stone, as ‘a neo-classical treat’ by Uncut, and Clash remarked that ‘the emotional clout of this music is quite staggering’. A new album, Tender Symmetry, was released on August 31st 2018. This ambitious musical project takes in a series of iconic National Trust locations across England as its inspiration, turning them into unlikely recording spaces. Michael’s work for film and television has been also widely recognized, bringing him an EMMY award in 2014, as well as the Royal Television Society, Music & Sound and Televisual Bulldog awards. His work for BBC series Sherlock, which he scored with David Arnold, received a BAFTA nomination and 2 further EMMY nominations. Other recent TV projects include the 4th season of BAFTA-winning crime drama Unforgotten and the BBC’s new Dracula adaptation, created by Stephen Moffat and Mark Gatiss. Prior to achieving acclaim as a composer, Michael enjoyed significant achievements as a music editor on a number of blockbuster films such as Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Richard Curtis’ Love Actually, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men. As a music editor, Michael has been nominated for 4 MPSE Golden Reel Awards, winning in 2001 for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Michael’s first film experience was as a musical assistant, co-producer and arranger to the late Michael Kamen, with whom he collaborated for 5 years. During this time, Michael worked on a number of prestigious projects including X-Men, Band of Brothers, The Iron Giant, Metallica – S&M, and plenty of other live concerts around the world. Michael has also arranged and written additional music on a number of major film projects, including Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Having studied there as an undergraduate, Michael has recently been appointed Visiting Professor of Composition on the Tonmeister Course at the University of Surrey, and is a full member of BAFTA, BASCA, MU, PRS and ASCAP. Uncover all the other artists stories on mezeaudio.com/blogs/artists .

Back in 2015, when Antonio Meze founded Meze Audio, he had no idea of the things that lay ahead. It all started from a deep belief that design should enrich life and inspire people in the right way, that headphones should be more than just functional. When he first started tinkering with headphones, he would play around with existing products and spare parts, until he turned them into something else. Now, we’re always looking to build something innovative, whether we’re talking technology or design. With few exceptions, audio gear is rarely considered a work of art and design often comes second to performance. Born out of love of sound and artistry, as a celebration of self-expression and individuality, we believe Empyrean Phoenix breaks that barrier. Our goal was to make a headphone without any compromises, without cutting short on quality, build, materials or technology, and that didn’t come from a business decision. It was more like an art project for us. With a name inspired by the myth of the Phoenix, this fiery red and black Empyrean is a rare collector’s item, the first from the Meze Art Gallery collection – a Meze Audio collection of exclusive products born out of passion for art and craftsmanship. This open-back headphone features a CNC sculpted chassis milled from a single piece of aluminum, hand-finished with irregular patterns made through marbling techniques such as those used for custom-painting cars or bikes. This allowed us to have control over the composition, while also enjoying a spontaneous flow of color that makes each of the pairs unique. We played around with colors and placement, creating distinctive contrast and play of light that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to create purposefully. After meticulously cleaning and prepping the surfaces, five layers of paint are applied to each piece of the frame, using different techniques. First, the first priming layer, followed by a layer of black paint. We let it dry for four to five hours, make sure no impurities made their way through the paint, then add the pattern in silver, using a marbling technique. Two layers of candy red come on top, plus the final lacquer top coat, applied in two layers, only after we do another careful inspection of the texture. The entire painting process takes about 16 hours just for one headphone. To that, we add another 24 hours needed for the paint to dry, before we can start the final product assembly. Blending this intricate design with the innovative technology of the original Empyrean, this limited-edition headphone embodies our pledge to the one thing that makes us Meze: art in its most functional form. Behind the artfully redesigned frame, an Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver creates a complex, balanced sound signature that allows you to enjoy a listening experience worthy of a live performance. Passion-infused and carefully assembled, Empyrean Phoenix is here to set new standards in comfort, high-quality sound and aesthetics. Read more about it here .

An ancient heritage Growing up in Maramures, Romania, you’re surrounded by forests so old, so dense, where secular treetops work like a natural fortress to shelter over 10,000 species, from plants to bugs to wolves and bears. Ancient, magical places where human touch is almost nonexistent. The history, philosophy of life and the culture of the villagers are intertwined with the forests. High churches with hand-sculpted heavy fir or oak poles and shingle roofs, traditional houses made of timber, they are guarded by colossal gates with intricate woodcarvings of the Sun, the tree of life, or ropes and wolves' teeth meant to protect a sacred space from harm. Here, in the “land of wood”, the trees are sources of deep pride and honor, and the architecture is one with the nature. Working with wood To us, the smell of wood is the smell of home, so building our own products with it was simply natural. In our attempt to give old trees a chance to shine again, we managed to create an unexpected statement piece - the 99 Classics. It’s been about 6 years since the Classics came about and they continue to receive recognition from the audiophile community, especially for their distinctive design. Essentially, our admiration for wood and woodworking is what gave birth to this aesthetic language that’s particular to Meze. Unlike any other short-lived color or pattern trends, wood can be ever lasting. Growing in concentric layers around the trunk, limbs and roots, wood develops a pattern that’s completely unique to each tree. Color, luster, texture, grain, and figure come into play to create its final character. But wood doesn’t just make something look good. When used in instruments, for instance, it reveals unique acoustic properties that give life to unparalleled sound. Being so passionate about music, taking that sound essence and put it into an audiophile headphone was a conspicuous step for us. The choice of walnut Treasured for their rich, dark color, specific grain character and beautiful smell, walnut trees are strong and durable, yet, somehow, lightweight and malleable. For woodworkers, walnut is somewhat like a “jack of all trades”. As part of the 99 Classics, walnut has the power to vibrate in a harmonious way, producing warm, detailed sound, while naturally enhancing noise isolation. Combined with a closed-back headphone design, the wooden frame balances the energy of all frequencies, creating better sound resonance. Working with wood is no child’s play. The walnut we use comes from certified, sustainably managed sources, harvested from mature trees that have reached the end of their life cycle. This way, the environment is protected, leaving room for new life to sprout. The rich colors of walnut require the use of air drying, a long and expensive process, and it takes eighteen months just for the wood to dry properly. Steam or kiln drying could be easier, but the colors tend to be washed out and the structure compromised. After that, the process of shaping just a single pair of earcups takes up to 8 hours. The sanding, lacquering and finishing last for 45 more days. The craftsmanship of our designs is paramount, so all wooden components are then carefully inspected and no flaws are permitted to reach the final assembly. We work so hard on them and build them this way because we wanted to create something to last a lifetime. A high-end headphone with multiple layers waiting to be uncovered one after another, with each listening session. It’s a long wait until we get to feel the final product in our hands, but building a timeless piece that transcends all seasonal trends to become a favorite for so many… that’s worth it. Find out more about the 99 Classics here . *The photos from Maramures are from our personal archive.

For those who’ve known us for a long time, it’s no secret that Meze Audio is constantly fueled with passion for sound, for art and innovation. In the beginning, it was all about wanting to build a pair of headphones that people could connect to emotionally, that would inspire people in the right way without having to compromise sound, comfort or looks. Now more than ever, we aim to raise the bar in terms of audio quality, design and durability. When we launched our first planar magnetic headphone, we took this “no compromise” approach to an entire new level. Empyrean was both a sophisticated piece of audio art, and one of the most technologically innovative planar magnetic headphones in the world, thanks to the unique engineering behind the frame. Combining our distinctive aesthetic approach with Rinaro’s experience, we designed and integrated the first Isodynamic Hybrid Array® driver into an extremely comfortable chassis, delivering an unparalleled Hi-Fi experience. The resulting technology is one of the lightest and most advanced on the market, making Empyrean a true game changer for audiophiles, highly acclaimed even 3 years after its launch. To us, comfort is just as important as sound quality, so when we were designing Empyrean our top priority was to find a way to give it highest level of comfort, so that listeners could immerse themselves into their music for hours on end. A part of known headphones is being supported on the listeners head through a curved shape element that follows the natural shape of the head, so the headphone actually rests directly on top of the head. Having a rather rigid feel, this curved shape causes the pressure to concentrate only on a few small areas, which can cause discomfort when large headphones are worn for long periods of time. To increase wearing comfort in Empyrean, we designed an innovative support system, elongated and curved at both ends, that we called “pressure distribution wings”. What it does is descend further on the side of the head and distribute the weight of the headphone evenly. These unique suspension wings successfully increase the leather headrest’s contact surface area with your head and relieve pressure points. Made of two overlapped fusiform pieces of leather, each end of the headband has an extension reinforced with a metallic sheet spring of the same shape as the extension, inserted between the two pieces of leather. Both the extension and the metallic sheet spring are provided with three holes for screw fastening, keeping them in place. This patent pending revolutionary support mechanism sets a new standard in high-end audio, demonstrating that headphones can and should be light and comfortable. More details on our patent process can be found here .

Sometime last year, the team at Ubisoft Romania challenged us to create some anniversary gifts for them, and we simply couldn’t say no. Ubisoft is well-known as a global leader in video-game production and publishing. Headquartered in France, they are creators of the original worlds of Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, The Crew or Watch Dogs. In their own words, Ubisoft is “committed to enriching people’s lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences”. Sharing the same values, of excellency and uniqueness, this collab was definitely on point. Ubisoft Romania has been an important pillar for the local gaming industry since its launch, in 1992. With 1800 employees, the Bucharest Studio is the second largest Ubisoft studio in the world, and is now leading all 5 studios in their East European Hub. For a team of tech geeks, like the one we have at Meze Audio, pairing up with one of the biggest video game companies was exciting, so when we got their request, we immediately started thinking about customizing options. After some deliberation and a few brainstorming sessions, the Meze 99 Series x Ubisoft pairs came to life – 99 Classics & Neos with specially designed boxes, custom-made headbands branded with the Ubisoft logo, and the same sound the 99 series headphones are well-known for. At the end of 2020, each of the custom pairs arrived to their rightful owners – Ubisoft talents from their East European Hub, represented by Romania, Ukraine and Serbia. No doubt that this was one special project, and we can’t wait to see what other collaboration opportunities this new year brings. Are you one of the lucky ones to receive a custom Ubisoft pair? Don’t hesitate to share your impressions of your Meze 99 Neo or Classics with us! Here are some Instagram snaps of Ubisoft employees boasting their new gear.

It’s no secret that 2020 was a hard one, and our desire to experience in-person interactions is honestly already through the roof. Lockdown has us missing all the opportunities we had to hang out, to share insightful experiences and get inspired by your love for good audio. It’s been a bit dull, not gonna lie, so this august, when McIntosh made its way into our inbox and asked if we would like to showcase our headphones inside of World of McIntosh Townhouse, we were frenzied. Founded in 1949, McIntosh is a truly iconic brand amongst audiophiles, a distinguished pioneer of pop culture. In 1965, their home intended amps were powering president Lyndon B. Johnson’s inaugural event. Few years later, they went commercial, building the MI350 - a better, more powerful amplifier with lower distortion and better signal-to-noise, more reliable than anything available on the market at that time. In 1969, McIntosh was powering the most iconic music festival in history, Woodstock, using 20 amplifiers located underneath the stage. Planning-wise, the whole event was chaotic, but the sound just kept working, as Charlie Randall, McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. president, described in a recent interview. Later on, in 1974, hippie royalty Grateful Dead used 48 McIntosh MC-2300 amps to build their renowned Wall of Sound – 26,000 watts of continuous power with natural, low-distortion stereo sound. It’s obvious that McIntosh has not only witnessed history, they have shaped and even made possible pivotal moments in music history. Today, somewhere in the heart of SoHo, New York, McIntosh has managed to seamlessly combine music and design into an immersive sensory experience like no other. Previously an art gallery built as a substation in 1926, the Townhouse now hosts McIntosh Laboratory and their Sonus faber, Audio Research, and Sumiko brands, and it is so much more than a store – it’s an "experience center" equipped with audio products that represent the ultimate in craftsmanship and integrity. Starting this fall, our Empyrean, Rai Penta and 99 Classics are bringing music history to life inside the World of McIntosh Townhouse. Meze was born out of passion for sound, design and technology, and being paired with such an influential brand as McIntosh, one that shares our love for luxurious audio, is truly a great honor. Explore the World of McIntosh Townhouse right here .

We’re back from another unforgettable year at High End Munich, and what a show it was! Cary Audio returned to the world’s largest hi-fi event alongside our European distributor, MGY Europe, with an incredible reference system and two brand-new product debuts that sparked a ton of excitement. Our main demo system featured the SLP-05 preamplifier, CAD-211FE monoblock amplifiers, and DMS-800PV network streamer/DAC, paired with Fyne Audio Vintage Classic 12 speakers, The Chord Company cabling, and room treatments from GIK Acoustics. … Read More

We’re excited to announce that Qobuz Connect is now the exclusive method for streaming Qobuz on your DMS-650, DMS-700, and DMS-800PV. This upgrade allows you to enjoy seamless high-resolution streaming directly from the Qobuz app, with no need for the Cary app. To help you get started, we’ve created a step-by-step PDF guide that walks you through the setup process. You can download it here. Why Qobuz Connect? Direct connection for the highest audio fidelity Seamless … Read More

We’re packing our bags and heading to Germany for the High End Show 2025, one of the world’s biggest high-fidelity audio shows, which will be held May 15–18 at the MOC in Munich. This year’s Cary Audio setup in Hall 4, Booth W16 features an incredible reference system: SLP-05 Preamplifier CAD-211FE Monoblock Amplifiers DMS-800PV Network Streamer/DAC Fyne Audio Vintage Classic XII Speakers The Chord Company cabling GIK Acoustics room treatments We’ll … Read More

Long-time Cary Audio customer Victor recently upgraded to the DMS-800PV Network Audio Player. After thoroughly testing it, he shared how its dual mono design enhances his favorite genres, from hard rock to holiday music, with a more open soundstage and improved clarity. A Worthwhile Upgrade “I really like the sonic presentation of Cary Audio products. With respect to their Network Audio Players, I started with their DMS-500 and then upgraded … Read More

Island’s 30th anniversary edition of Different Class asks collectors to pay €110 for a 4LP set that includes precisely zero era-appropriate B-sides. That’s not a typo. The label that stewarded one of Britpop’s finest albums and its treasure trove of associated recordings decided the best way to celebrate three decades […]

The Focal Aria Evo X No3 drop from £3499 to 2789

I really liked Bowers & Wilkins’ original Px8, but I gave them away. Just like the Focal Bathys. Both sets went to Patreon supporters who’d appreciate them more than a reviewer drowning in Bluetooth headphones ever could. But the Px8 S2? These are staying put. At €729, they cost €230 […]

Meze Audio celebrates 10 years of iconic sound and design with a second generation of the 99 Classics A decade after their debut, the 99 Classics continue their legacy in the world of personal audio. First introduced in 2015, these headphones quickly became an icon, praised for their warm sound signature and premium craftsmanship. Now, they come renewed for both long-time fans and a new generation of listeners, honouring the original’s timeless design while embracing today’s needs. 10 Years, 10 Improvements The new Meze Audio 99 Classics highlight their evolution with 10 key enhancements: 1. Refined tuning direction: Closer to a balanced, neutral target; bass is engaging yet more controlled, letting mids and treble shine with greater clarity. 2. Improved driver matching: Advanced algorithms reduce inter-driver variance, improving stereo imaging accuracy and ensuring consistent performance across pairs. 3. Increased ear cup size: Subtle internal enlargement shifts resonances downward, improving low-frequency control and aligning with the new tuning, all while creating more space for your ears. 4. Improved acoustic sealing and bass port: Precision sealing at key junctions, paired with a dedicated vent in the jack shell, provides precise tuning, left–right consistency and higher unit-to-unit reproducibility. 5. Re-engineered baffle architecture: A more open grille and streamlined beams reduce diffraction and high-frequency artefacts. 6. New ear pad system: Adjusted shape for refined midrange balance, now with a secure clip-in system that maintains fixed orientation for consistent frequency response and easy replacement. 7. Improved sound technicalities: A more precise spatial presentation with clearer imaging, separation, and soundstage. 8. Enlarged input socket: Now 7 mm diameter, ensuring compatibility with a wider range of cables. 9. Upgraded stock cable: A 1.8 m dual-twisted, Kevlar-sheathed OFC conductor with 3.5 mm jack. 10. Modern portability: Includes a USB-C DAC/AMP dongle and a 6.3 mm gold-plated adapter for seamless use with today’s devices lacking headphone outputs. The 99 Classics are defined by their thoughtful craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each pair features walnut wood ear cups that are CNC-machined, hand-finished, and polished, showcasing the material’s natural strength, rich colour, and elegant grain. The frame’s cast zinc hardware, finished with a deep gold finish, adds both resilience and a timeless sense of refinement. Comfort remains a hallmark of the design, thanks to a self-adjusting headband made from vegan leather and supported by spring steel, ensuring an effortless fit for long listening sessions. The detachable ear pads, crafted from soft vegan leather and medium-density foam, now use a secure clip-in system with six points, making them easier to replace while also enhancing acoustic performance. Designed for today’s listening habits, a compact USB-C DAC/AMP is included to deliver optimal performance with modern devices that no longer feature a headphone jack. True to Meze Audio’s philosophy, the 99 Classics are sustainable by design. Every component, from the drivers to the cables, headband, and cups, can be replaced, extending the product’s lifespan. Also, the 2nd generation of the 99 Classics comes in fully recyclable cardboard packaging, eliminating plastic, foam, and excess materials, thus reducing waste and lowering our environmental impact.

“A premium high-fidelity headphone with object d’art looks, the finely crafted Meze Audio POET brandishes an open-back design to deliver airy detail and an engaging bass performance. Going hand in hand with the POET’s refined, immersive performance is an all-around design packed with attention to detail, from the magnetically attached earpads and lightweight headband to the robust carry case and braided 6.35mm cable. A marriage of sound quality, style, and ergonomics, Meze Audio’s POET will delight headphone enthusiasts.” - EISA JURY The POET won this year's EISA award for Best Premium Headphones! The Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) is a community comprising 54 technology magazines, websites, and social media commentators from 27 countries, specializing in Hi-Fi, home theater, photography and video, in-car, and mobile electronics. Every year, the EISA jury of experts rewards the best products in each class with a coveted EISA Award. ABOUT EISA EISA is the unique association of 54 special interest magazines and websites from 27 countries. Internationally known for the Expert Imaging and Sound Awards, EISA started in 1982 when the editors-in-chief from five European photo magazines came together to select “The Camera of the Year” for the first time. They had no idea that out of this meeting EISA - the European Imaging and Sound Association - would emerge some years later. This historic moment took place in 1989 after another 10 photo magazines had joined the group in the meantime. Every year, the EISA Awards celebrate those new products that combine the most advanced technology and desirable features with class-leading performance. The EISA Awards extend from the most affordable, high-value products to the most aspirational expressions of modern consumer electronics. Award categories change from year to year, reflecting the evolution of product design and connectivity, but every EISA Award winner remains the very best in its class. The sheer strength in depth of EISA’s members ensures the EISA Awards logo carries tremendous weight with all informed consumers. THE JUDGING PROCESS Based on their own reviews and tests throughout the year, each member magazine nominates an initial short-list of products that best reflect the star performers in their particular Expert Group(s). All these individual recommendations are collated into a master list before the merits of these products are discussed in detail, and in person, by the members of each Expert Group at EISA’s Awards Meeting in late June. The final voting takes place here and all nominations are kept strictly confidential. In 2022, Meze Audio’s Elite received the EISA Best Product distinction in the High-End Headphones category, then in 2023, 109 PRO received the same award. We are thankful beyond words to all the people who took the time to listen to our headphones and deemed them worthy of this valuable distinction. Discover more about EISA, here . Learn more about Meze Audio POET, here .

Introducing POET – A new era of compact, high-performance planar-magnetic headphones Meze Audio, the acclaimed Romanian manufacturer of high-end headphones, proudly announces the release of POET, its newest planar-magnetic headphones.  POET is a carefully crafted audio masterpiece inviting listeners to experience a journey through inner worlds, where sound, emotion, and purpose intertwine. Combining cutting-edge Rinaro Isodynamic® Hybrid Array technology, luxurious materials, and ergonomic design, POET elevates audio performance by redefining what is possible in a compact, open-back form factor. At the heart of POET lies a sonic experience with lush, airy vocals and precise bass impact, balancing low-end depth with delicate high-frequency clarity. The headphones’ natural tonality is enhanced by subtle hints of sparkle, providing a lively yet effortless listening experience. POET’s exceptional detail retrieval and separation breathe life into your music, delivering a harmonious blend of technical finesse and emotive expression. With POET, every note resonates deeply, every detail emerges vividly, and the listener is immersed in a soundscape that feels both expansive yet intimate. “From the very beginning of our POET journey, we knew we wanted to create something unique — a more compact planar-magnetic open-back headphone that is every bit as capable as our flagship models. Well then, what better place to look than at the very apex? In collaboration with our friends at RINARO ISODYNAMICS, we synthesized the essence of ELITE’s driver technology and gave it new life. I believe POET turned out to be more than just a headphone; it’s a nod to a huge stepping stone in our development as a team and a testament to how far we’ve come,” says Alex Grigoras, Acoustic Engineer at Meze Audio. POET is a true testament to Meze Audio’s commitment to perfection, blending high-performance materials with an aesthetic of luxury. Featuring a compact, open-back design, POET houses MZ6 Isodynamic® Hybrid Array drivers, a state-of-the-art planar-magnetic technology developed exclusively for Meze Audio by Rinaro Isodynamics.  The headphone’s intricate steel grill, magnesium chassis, and soft suede leather headrest are not only visually striking but also contribute to POET’s durability and unparalleled acoustic performance. Designed for comfort and longevity, POET’s flexible titanium alloy headband evenly distributes weight, ensuring a snug fit that enhances listening pleasure for hours on end. The lightweight design and magnetic ear pads also make POET incredibly user-friendly, offering seamless pad swapping for long-term care and convenience. Rinaro Isodynamics, with over three decades of expertise in planar-magnetic technology, brings its acclaimed Isodynamic® Hybrid Array technology to POET. The MZ6 driver, born from years of research and development, stands as proof of Rinaro’s precision and innovation. Each driver is hand-assembled and tested at Rinaro’s state-of-the-art facility in Ukraine, ensuring unmatched quality and performance. POET incorporates several breakthrough features that set it apart in the world of high-end headphones. These include a Hybrid Magnet Array designed to create a uniform, powerful magnetic field across the diaphragm, as well as a Parus® diaphragm with an incredibly low weight (just 0.06g) and expansive active area for pristine audio reproduction. The result is ultra-low distortion (<0.05%) and ultra-high-resolution audio that captures every nuance, from the deepest sub-bass to the highest treble frequencies. Meze Audio’s commitment to craftsmanship goes beyond mere performance – it extends to longevity. POET is fully serviceable, with every component designed to be easily disassembled and replaced. Whether it’s the magnetic ear pads or the high-performance materials used throughout the chassis, POET is built to stand the test of time. The headphone’s durable construction, together with its luxurious finish, makes it an enduring companion for years of immersive listening. Coupled with a premium hand-braided copper cable, POET guarantees not only technical superiority but also the ultimate in aesthetic pleasure.

Renowned Romanian manufacturer of artisan, high-end headphones, Meze Audio, has announced the latest additions to its industry leading product line-up to be previewed at HIGH END Munich 2025. 105 SILVA Proudly introducing its latest dynamic open-back headphones, 105 SILVA, Meze Audio promises further immersion in the world of high-end audio through the brand’s signature rich, broad and warm sound soundstage. 105 SILVA boasts an exquisite design inspired by the Mid-Century Modern movement, combining vintage charm and contemporary aesthetics. Encased in a freshly designed combination of walnut wood and high-strength polymer ear cups, 105 SILVA brings together iconic signatures from the full product line-up to deliver the next major step forward for audio innovation. Inside the headphones there is audio technology to match — a 50 mm dynamic driver engaging and detailed audio experience. Its titanium-coated semicrystalline polymer torus, and copper-zinc stabiliser ensure the driver membrane’s rigidity and strength, for a fast transient response and pleasantly textured bass with minimal distortion. 105 SILVA’s sound signature is a new take on Meze Audio’s iconic characteristics, including the technicalities of 109 PRO combined with the warmth and genre versatility of 105 AER. 105 SILVA specialises in mid-range presentation for vocals and strings, meaning listeners can enjoy the liveliness and impact of any music without sacrificing the micro details present in well-recorded tracks. Also carrying over the self-adjusting spring steel headband found on its acclaimed predecessor, 105 AER, 105 SILVA is a culmination of years of leading ergonomic research and development from Meze Audio. Not only resulting in an unmatched experience for comfort listening, this iconic design also ensures all materials used in the headphones positively contribute to the overall performance. Thanks to premium contact materials used in the full design of the headphones, including its deep-cushioned earcups, every component of 105 SILVA can be disassembled and replaced to last a lifetime. ULTRA CABLE Also being introduced at High End Munich, Meze Audio’s latest high-performance headphone cable, Ultra, boasts an innovative Y-splitter design that allows for a continuous 16-to-8-wire braid without the use of soldering. With conductors made of 99.9% pure silver — the metal with the highest electrical conductivity — Ultra allows for faster signal transmission with minimal resistance. Each individual cable is made of 40 conductors with a 0.08mm diameter, meaning the intricately engineered cable and high electrical resistance produces an incredible response and signal processing time. Featuring dual 4-pin mini-XLR connectors, Ultra is a premium cable designed to be paired with Meze Audio’s Elite and Empyrean II ranges, combining the finest headphones available today with a cable specifically engineered for quality performance. Also available with the cable are  3.5mm, 4.4mm, 6.3mm connections, taking any headphones which support such inputs. Pricing and availability will be announced later in the year, closer to the launch dates. Attendees at HIGH END Munich are invited to see the latest products and complete range from Meze Audio and meet the hearts and minds behind the brand at its booth, located in MOC Event Center, Hall 1, Atrium 7, booth B02 . *Please note that the images featured are for illustrative purposes only. The final product may differ slightly in appearance.

Introducing ALBA in-ears – a new addition to the Meze Audio portfolio Meze Audio is delighted to introduce ALBA to its impressive range of headphones, which as its Romanian translation signifies, is a ‘first light’ for those inspired by the world of elevated audio enjoyment. Designed to act as the first touchpoint in Meze’s growing portfolio, ALBA in-ears beautifully preserve the brand’s design language while providing high levels of comfort, noise isolation, and most importantly, an unmistakable immersive listening experience. ALBA is the bridge between the current in-ear market and Meze Audio’s best-in- class collection, perfectly tuned with a neutral sound profile and an added touch of warmth, reminding listeners of the virtues of wired earphones. And thanks to the combination of zinc alloy and anodized aluminium parts, the ALBA’s resilient build doesn’t undermine its precious, lustrous pearl appearance. ALBA is the perfect earphone partner for a wide range of music sources, including the latest iPhone and all other smartphones with USB-C connectivity, as well as those with a 3.5mm headphone socket – thanks to a cable with a gold-plated 3.5mm connector. Portable and sociable, ALBA comes with a custom-made USB-C adapter, which features a built-in DAC (Digital to Analogue Converter), not only boosting the sound quality of your chosen source but ensuring an immersive audio experience. “It was a combination of factors that brought ALBA into existence. Coming from a musical background, having maintained direct contact with our customers daily, and being an audiophile myself for the better part of a decade, really helped me understand the expectations for a complete and immersive listening experience,” says product manager, Vlad Toca. “Designed for those who dance to their own beat, for the curious and the free-spirited, ALBA comprises a perfectly accessible and qualitative introduction into the world of elevated audio enjoyment.” With a 10.8mm dynamic driver and a 15-25kHz frequency range, ALBA’s impressive sound profile complements the stylish design perfectly. Packing a significant punch in a subtle, assured finish, the in-ears have a sound pressure level (SPL) of 109dB. Meanwhile, specially designed silicone ear tips in four sizes (S, M, L, XL) help listeners improve comfort and portability without missing a beat in any scenario.

“When creating Empyrean II, our goal was to enhance the headphones’ ability to reproduce fine details and achieve a more neutral sound signature, all the while preserving the original “easy to listen to” character. With this in mind, our engineers have masterfully harnessed the driver’s power to reveal new possibilities in terms of responsiveness and accuracy and even make the driver more reliable in challenging acoustic environments.” - Mircea Fanatan, Managing Director Building on the acclaim of the original Empyrean - already one of the most technologically advanced designs – the new Empyrean II emerges as a symphony of artistry, innovation and craftsmanship. For the second-generation model, our specialists have further refined the exceptional Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver design from Rinaro Isodynamics, delivering a step-change performance. Artistry meets impeccable comfort Crafted with precision via CNC milling, Empyrean II’s frame features a sleek black matte finish with silver accents, and a redesigned aluminium grille inspired by art deco artistry. With a nod to the past and a vision for the future, the new headphone is a testament to our passion for blending classic aesthetics with modern sophistication. You will want to listen to the Empyrean II for hours. Following the same comfort standards as the entire Meze portfolio, these headphones are deliberately structured to minimise weight and pressure and instantly adapt to the shape of your head. New Duo earpads for a tailored experience Empyrean II also comes with two sets of earpads included, each designed for a different experience. - DUO EARPADS - Our most advanced earpads in the Empyrean series to date, the all-new Duo Earpads are bespoke to Empyrean II. Crafted from a precise blend of premium leather and Alcantara, they introduce a contemporary look and tone. With leather forming the base half and Alcantara covering the rest, these earpads deliver a harmonious tonal balance that resonates across all music genres. - ANGLED ALCANTARA EARPADS - For a classic audiophile experience, the Angled Alcantara Earpads excel at rendering intricate details and nuances in your recordings. The angled shape creates more space inside the earpad, which translates to an airier sound signature, with cleaner bass and improved midrange presence. Enhanced sound signature In terms of sound, we reached out to you, our community, eager to gather your feedback and understand your expectations.

We're very happy to announce the launch of our 109 Pro Primal: a very special edition of the award-winning 109 Pro headphones and the latest addition to the exclusive Meze Audio Art Gallery collection. These headphones are handmade by our skilled artisans, drawing from a proud wood crafting heritage combined with cutting-edge audio technology and a sustainable design, for a timeless blend of performance and elegance. The walnut earcup frames are chiseled groove by groove and delicately sanded to ensure the smoothest feel, before having a coat of linseed oil applied. This final touch infuses the wood with a natural, matte texture that accentuates the wood grain and restores its innate, captivating color. Like all Meze Audio headphones, Primal is painstakingly crafted following the principle of "Graba strică treaba" - a Romanian expression translating to "Haste ruins the work" in English. It emphasizes the importance of taking one's time and paying careful attention to detail to achieve exceptional results. This new edition also follows our commitment to sustainability. The headphones are designed to be taken apart and serviced endlessly if ever needed, which can extend the life of the product beyond limit. From cables to ear cups and beyond, every element can be replaced and upgraded. Finally, you’re not sacrificing performance for principles, either: 109 Pro Primal features the same technology as the original 109 Pro, which have just been named Best Headphones of 2023-2024 by the audio experts in the global EISA Awards . Primal is now for pre-order on mezeaudio.com, mezeaudio.eu and from selected stockists worldwide.

Meze Audio launches 105 SILVA, an open-back headphone that captivates all senses Romanian manufacturer Meze Audio, renowned for its timeless craftsmanship and emotionally engaging sound, proudly announces the launch of its newest creation: 105 SILVA, a dynamic open-back headphone designed to breathe life into every note and redefine how we experience music. 105 SILVA boasts an exquisite design inspired by the Mid-Century Modern movement. Fusing vintage charm with contemporary aesthetics, the radial grille sublimely intertwines with the walnut wood to form the ear cups, creating a feel that never truly ages. Finely balanced between musicality and refinement, 105 SILVA offers a smooth blend of clarity and richness. Through continuous development, the 105 SILVA delivers a clear, rich, and engaging sound that easily brings out the finer details in your favourite tracks. Inside the headphones, there is audio technology to match — a 50 mm dynamic driver with a cellulose composite dome and a titanium-covered surround helps produce a crisp, engaging, and detailed audio experience. Its titanium-coated semicrystalline polymer torus, and copper-zinc stabilizer ensure the driver membrane’s rigidity and strength, for a fast transient response and pleasantly textured bass with minimal distortion. 105 SILVA’s sound signature is a new take on Meze Audio’s iconic characteristics, including the technicalities of 109 PRO combined with the warmth and genre versatility of 105 AER. 105 SILVA specializes in mid-range presentation for vocals and strings, meaning listeners can enjoy the liveliness and impact of any music without sacrificing the micro details present in well-recorded tracks. 105 SILVA’s emblematic design also ensures that all materials used in the headphones positively contribute to the overall performance. Building on the premium contact materials used in the full design of the headphones, including its deep-cushioned earcups and self-adjusting headband, 105 SILVA reflects Meze Audio’s ongoing pursuit of ergonomic comfort, shaped by years of thoughtful research and refinement.  In parallel, every component of 105 SILVA is crafted for lasting wearability and performance, by allowing every component to be disassembled and replaced, supporting longevity and sustainable use over time.

Meze Audio introduces 105 AER: light, lush-sounding open-back headphones Meze Audio proudly introduces 105 AER, the Romanian artisan brand’s latest addition to its best-in-class range. An over-ear and open-back headset, Meze Audio has crafted 105 AER for music lovers who value a deeper connection to their sound. Rich in detail, versatile, and perfectly suited for all genres of music, 105 AER is Meze Audio’s invitation to experience the multi-dimensional depth of sound. Inspired by the natural world, 105 AER “lets the air in” and is attuned to the expression of all music, using vibrations to deliver a spacious, warm, and immersive listening experience. Meticulously crafted using premium materials including cast zinc alloy, stamped manganese spring steel and PU leather in its headband design, along with velour ear coverings, the 105 AER provides comfort listening, true to form for Meze Audio’s ergonomic design language in the rest of its class-leading range. But as the lightest open-back model to date from Meze Audio at just 336g, extended and uninterrupted listening sessions with 105 AER have never been easier. "105 AER carries a feeling of Art Deco opulence, almost like a piece of jewellery masked in a mechanical structure. Certain curves and surfaces are not obvious at first glance; there's an ambiguity to the three-dimensional shape inviting you to discover it over time," explains Paul Șteț, Meze Audio’s Senior Product Designer. Also featuring a newly refined voicing within the headset’s 50mm dynamic driver membranes, 105 AER proves as responsive and well-suited to all music types as they are reliable. With a slight emphasis on bass and sub-bass capabilities, these marvels provide a more resonant foundation, enhancing the overall sense of immersion and adding a satisfying and full-bodied depth to your music. A metaphysical structural design provides a vast, natural soundstage. And with a self-adjusting headband which spreads the headband’s weight to deliver an even pressure along with soft velour cushions surrounding the ears to create the optimal seal, you can enjoy these trailblazing headphones for hours without missing the finer details to your music. Designed to last a lifetime and beyond, Meze Audio has adopted a modular design philosophy to the range. This means, the 105 AER can be taken apart and serviced endlessly, as well as have individual parts and components replaced and repaired, making ownership a personal and proud experience.

The newest addition to the Meze Audio lineup of products made in Romania, the brand’s first dynamic open-back headphone, will make its debut at CanJam London, at the end of this month. During 30 and 31st of July, visitors at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge will have the chance to try out the 109 PRO in a variety of pairings at the Meze Audio booth, and discover the story behind the product. Set to launch in October 2022, the 109 PRO combines open-back design with a walnut wood chamber that follows the unmistakable aesthetic language of Meze Audio, and is precisely engineered to deliver an exceptional soundstage and a highly detailed, enveloping sound, with just the right amount of punch. With this headphone, we have proudly achieved our goal of delivering the same level of workmanship found in Empyrean and Elite, at a lower price point. We know that fans have high expectations from us so, when making the 109 PRO, our goal was to build something to surpass those expectations. We focused a lot of resources on sound development, and I think the result is sublime. - Mircea Fanatan, Managing Director of Meze Audio In true Meze Audio fashion, the 109 PRO blends together carefully selected materials such as walnut wood, zinc, manganese steel, assembled together using only nuts and bolts, making this headphone fully and endlessly serviceable. At the core of it all, music is an expression of emotion, a celebration of life and a token of everlasting memories. Every part of the 109 PRO headphones, from the premium materials we used to the intricate engineering, embodies that same emotion our favorite music makes us feel. - Antonio Meze, Lead Designer and Founder of Meze Audio Come meet us at booth A5-A6!

Music is a language we can all understand, a universal way of self-expression, and creativity in the purest form. Who among us doesn’t have those unforgettable stories related to a favorite album, a first concert or a song they’ve heard on the radio? You probably already know about ours. It all started when Antonio was searching for a pair of headphones that he could relate to in the same way he felt connected to his Fender Stratocaster guitar. He wanted an object to pour his passion for music in, so he decided to make it himself. So, it’s no secret that music is at the core of everything we’ve worked on for the past 10 years and, to this day, each product we create serves the same purpose – to do justice to all the artists we love and their work. During our journey, remarkable singers, composers, producers we’ve admired for years or just recently discovered have shared the same love for our craft that we do for theirs and joined our community of artists. Through their work, these musical masterminds evoke and validate emotions, provide comfort and inspire us to create. Today, the Meze Artists family has over 90 members from all over the world. Scroll down to discover the inspirational stories of the latest musicians to join us! YANN TIERSEN An absolute musical genius, Yann Tiersen marked our student life and artistic journey in the past 20 years with his whimsical work for AMELIE and GOODBYE LENIN. Award-winning composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who excels at melancholic, thought-provoking music divided into more than a dozen albums. Tiersen is now one of the most revered artists of his generation. Growing up in Rennes, Tiersen has been involved in music for most of his life. He started learning piano at the age of four, took up violin at the age of six and received classical training at musical academies in Rennes, Nantes and Boulogne. At 13, he broke his violin into pieces, got a guitar and formed a rock band. When his band broke up later on, he bought a cheap mixing desk, an eight-track reel to reel and started recording music solo with a synth, sampler and drum machine, poring over the grooves of old records. Through the summer of 1993, Tiersen stayed in his apartment, recording music alone with guitar, violin and accordion, guided not by the classical canon, but by intuition and his vision of “a musical anarchy”. “One day I thought, instead of spending days on research and listening to tons of records to find the nearest sound of what I have in mind, why don’t I fix this violin and use it?” By the end of the summer of 1993, Tiersen had recorded over 40 tracks, which would form the bulk of his first two albums - 1995’s La Valse Des Monstres and Rue des Cascades. Six years later, the record would find a much larger audience when several tracks, along with music from Le Phare, would be used on the soundtrack to Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s film Amelie (2001). Le Phare went on to sell over 160,000 copies, confirming Tiersen’s status as one of the most pioneering and original artists of his generation and commencing a run of successful albums like 2001’s L'Absente (featuring orchestral group Synaxis, Lisa Germano and the Divine Comedy’s Neil Hannon) and 2005’s Les Retrouvailles (with guests Stuart Staples of Tindersticks, Jane Birkin and Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins). 2016 saw Tiersen’s first solo piano release, EUSA, a move into more minimalist contemporary sounds showing the continuation of Tiersen’s diversity.The album gave a musical map of Ushant, the island he has called home for the past several years, with electronically manipulated original field recordings of the natural sounds on the island creating subtle drone that runs throughout. Tiersen explains, “You may get this intuitive thinking of, ‘oh it's piano stuff’, but actually it's not. I worked on piano tracks to begin with but that's not the core of it, they are not important. The context is the most important thing - the piano was a precursor to create something for the electronics to work around. CHRISTOPHER TIN Christopher Tin is a two-time Grammy-winning composer of concert and media music. At Time Magazine, his music is called 'rousing' and 'anthemic', while The Guardian says it’s 'an intelligent meeting of melody and theme'. His music has been performed and premiered in many of the world's most prestigious venues - the United Nations, Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, the Hollywood Bowl - and by diverse ensembles, such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra, and US Navy Band. His song 'Baba Yetu', originally written for the video game 'Civilization IV', holds the distinction of being the first piece of music written for a video game ever to win a Grammy Award. In 2011, his debut album, Calling All Dawns, brought a second Grammy for Tin - Best Classical Crossover Album. The follow-up release named The Drop That Contained the Sea debuted at #1 on Billboard's classical charts, and premiered to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium. In 2020 Christopher signed with the legendary Decca label, releasing his oratorio about the history of flight as told by 11 of our greatest astronomers, investors, visionaries, and pilots: 'To Shiver the Sky'. His works are now published by Concord Publishing/Boosey & Hawkes and he works out of his own custom-built studio in Santa Monica, Los Angeles. MICHAEL PRICE Michael Price is one of the UK’s most sought-after composers. His critically acclaimed debut album on Erased Tapes Records, Entanglement, released in April 2015, was described as ‘gorgeous’ by Rolling Stone, as ‘a neo-classical treat’ by Uncut, and Clash remarked that ‘the emotional clout of this music is quite staggering’. A new album, Tender Symmetry, was released on August 31st 2018. This ambitious musical project takes in a series of iconic National Trust locations across England as its inspiration, turning them into unlikely recording spaces. Michael’s work for film and television has been also widely recognized, bringing him an EMMY award in 2014, as well as the Royal Television Society, Music & Sound and Televisual Bulldog awards. His work for BBC series Sherlock, which he scored with David Arnold, received a BAFTA nomination and 2 further EMMY nominations. Other recent TV projects include the 4th season of BAFTA-winning crime drama Unforgotten and the BBC’s new Dracula adaptation, created by Stephen Moffat and Mark Gatiss. Prior to achieving acclaim as a composer, Michael enjoyed significant achievements as a music editor on a number of blockbuster films such as Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Richard Curtis’ Love Actually, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men. As a music editor, Michael has been nominated for 4 MPSE Golden Reel Awards, winning in 2001 for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Michael’s first film experience was as a musical assistant, co-producer and arranger to the late Michael Kamen, with whom he collaborated for 5 years. During this time, Michael worked on a number of prestigious projects including X-Men, Band of Brothers, The Iron Giant, Metallica – S&M, and plenty of other live concerts around the world. Michael has also arranged and written additional music on a number of major film projects, including Edgar Wright’s Hot Fuzz, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace. Having studied there as an undergraduate, Michael has recently been appointed Visiting Professor of Composition on the Tonmeister Course at the University of Surrey, and is a full member of BAFTA, BASCA, MU, PRS and ASCAP. Uncover all the other artists stories on mezeaudio.com/blogs/artists .

It’s no secret that 2020 was a hard one, and our desire to experience in-person interactions is honestly already through the roof. Lockdown has us missing all the opportunities we had to hang out, to share insightful experiences and get inspired by your love for good audio. It’s been a bit dull, not gonna lie, so this august, when McIntosh made its way into our inbox and asked if we would like to showcase our headphones inside of World of McIntosh Townhouse, we were frenzied. Founded in 1949, McIntosh is a truly iconic brand amongst audiophiles, a distinguished pioneer of pop culture. In 1965, their home intended amps were powering president Lyndon B. Johnson’s inaugural event. Few years later, they went commercial, building the MI350 - a better, more powerful amplifier with lower distortion and better signal-to-noise, more reliable than anything available on the market at that time. In 1969, McIntosh was powering the most iconic music festival in history, Woodstock, using 20 amplifiers located underneath the stage. Planning-wise, the whole event was chaotic, but the sound just kept working, as Charlie Randall, McIntosh Laboratory, Inc. president, described in a recent interview. Later on, in 1974, hippie royalty Grateful Dead used 48 McIntosh MC-2300 amps to build their renowned Wall of Sound – 26,000 watts of continuous power with natural, low-distortion stereo sound. It’s obvious that McIntosh has not only witnessed history, they have shaped and even made possible pivotal moments in music history. Today, somewhere in the heart of SoHo, New York, McIntosh has managed to seamlessly combine music and design into an immersive sensory experience like no other. Previously an art gallery built as a substation in 1926, the Townhouse now hosts McIntosh Laboratory and their Sonus faber, Audio Research, and Sumiko brands, and it is so much more than a store – it’s an "experience center" equipped with audio products that represent the ultimate in craftsmanship and integrity. Starting this fall, our Empyrean, Rai Penta and 99 Classics are bringing music history to life inside the World of McIntosh Townhouse. Meze was born out of passion for sound, design and technology, and being paired with such an influential brand as McIntosh, one that shares our love for luxurious audio, is truly a great honor. Explore the World of McIntosh Townhouse right here .

Audiophile Mistakes: Mini Series for Better Sound Mistake #6: Subwoofer Placement  DUAL SUBWOOFER BOOKENDS Positioning stereo subwoofers as bookends for your main speakers creates a visually impressive setup. Many people place them just inside or outside the left and right speakers or in the corners behind them. While this setup creates a pleasing, symmetrical look, it may not deliver optimal bass performance. This is because most listening positions aren’t naturally … Read More

Will LG’s lifestyle TV offer style and substance?

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Earlier this week, a finish preference poll followed my extensive article weighing the pros and cons of black versus silver hi-fi components. I invited Darko.Audio YouTube subscribers and Patrons to choose between the two. The results are in. And they’re spookily consistent. YouTube (10,000 votes): Black: 63% Silver: 37% Patreon […]

The time is finally upon us to meet up for yet another year at the biggest dedicated Hi-Fi event for all music lovers and audio enthusiasts worldwide – High End Munich! Since last year, your constant support and feedback has been the driving force behind our creativity and innovation. We are very grateful for this and we feel like it’s high time we make it up to you. To celebrate our long-lasting friendship, let’s just say we have some surprises in store for everyone who comes by our booth – MOC Event Center, Hall 1, booth B04. MORE THAN EVER BEFORE As our team is steadily growing, even more of us will be present this year. This means that you will have ample opportunity to meet the hearts and minds behind Meze Audio. So, do not hesitate to come say hi! IN BLOOM In the popular Romanian calendar, the fifth month of the year is called Florar, or “the month of flowers”, because it is precisely now that the landscapes of our ancestral home are filled with blooming flowers and everything from pastures to mountain peaks acquires color and fragrance. It is no wonder that Munich High End takes place during this time – a showcase of progress and rejoice. Our entire line-up will be available for your auditory pleasure, including our latest evolutions – Empyrean II and the 2nd Generation LIRIC! Book your ticket here .

We’re happy to announce that Meze Audio was selected to appear in the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club (RREC) official 2021 yearbook, titled Strive for Perfection: The Royal Edition . Strive for Perfection: The Royal Edition is a beautifully presented, fully illustrated hardback book, produced by leading publisher St James’s House and written by an editorial team of experts, aficionados and tastemakers. The 448-page hardback book celebrates the year of Her Majesty the Queen’s 95th birthday by exploring the ties between The Queen, the British Royal Family and royalty around the world with Rolls-Royce and Bentley motor cars. The articles in the book range from the bespoke vehicles of the Royal Mews, to the regal splendor of the Hampton Court Concours of Elegance, to the cars of the Maharajas. It also features a luxury lifestyle guide for ultra-high net-worth individuals, which includes a select portfolio of exceptional products and services. We are truly honored to be part of this amazing project. Rolls Royce is a staple of quality and luxury, and we, at Meze Audio, pursue the same goals of achieving perfection. Being recognized for our values and getting a chance to share our story by a brand with such an iconic reputation and heritage can only be seen as a fantastic reward , said Antonio Meze, Founder of Meze Audio Meze Audio products, including the renowned Elite and 99 Classics, were also showcased during the yearbook launch, which took place at Grosvenor House on October 8 th . Strive for Perfection: The Royal Edition is available to order  at www.stjamess.org .

Get £140 off the five-star PM6007

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The mid-range speaker and amp market saw a lot of awesome stuff appear this year

QUAD has announced the 3CDT, a dedicated CD transport designed to partner with its recently launched QUAD 3 integrated amplifier. The new tray-loading transport (not a slot-loader) maintains the 3 Series’ retro styling. The 3CDT shares the QUAD 3 amplifier’s compact 30cm-wide footprint and aesthetics  – that matt silver front […]

12 Years and Counting Evolution is not an easy process for anyone. It involves a great deal of reflection and exploration, but, ultimately, what is most important is facing challenges head-on, together as a team. Looking back on the past 12 months, and by extension, the past 12 years, there is one driving force that has never failed to deliver - you, the community. We wish to thank each and every one of you sincerely for all the amazing moments we shared together during 2023. Thank you for attending the shows we participate at, coming up to our stand and hanging out with us, and just plain having a good time. Thank you for the heartwarming online messages that we often share among ourselves and rejoice. Thank you for the overwhelming support provided along this incredible journey, as none of our accomplishments would have been possible without you. Achievements come in different shapes: fruitful collaborations with artists and content creators we love, well organized and successful tradeshows, or perhaps the positively embraced release of a new product. They also translate into a multitude of esteemed awards that our products have received throughout 2023. Top Picks, Crowd Cheers From our lineup, the standout performers and top community picks were the 109 PRO and our newest addition to the high-end roster, the Empyrean II. One of the biggest and most cherished surprises of the year was the 109 PRO getting formally recognized as one of the best products of 2023 by an organization of seasoned experts in everything that has to do with electronics. The Empyrean II unveiled itself to the world later during the year in November, but it did not go unnoticed during this short amount of time. Standout Awards for Each Headphone 109 PRO – EISA "Best Product 2023 - 2024" Award For the second year in a row, our expertise was acknowledged by one of the most prestigious institutions in the field of electronics – EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association). The 109 PRO has been voted by EISA’s international committee of journalists as the Best Product of the year 2023-2024, in the Headphones category. Additionally, it was honored with the Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity "Best Open-Back Headphones" award and the Rolling Stone "Best Audiophile Headphones" award. Empyrean II - Loved by Critics The Empyrean II barely came out the gate and it has already garnered recognition with the Trusted Reviews "Highly Recommended" award, Stereonet "Applause Award", Headfonics "Editor's Choice", and the Headfonia "Recommended" award. Elite - Gold Standards The Elite stood out, securing the "VGP Lifestyle 2023 Gold Award Winner" and the "HiFiLive maxima calidad 2023" award. Advar - Double Gold The Advar received the "VGP Lifestyle 2023 Gold Award Winner" and the "A' Design Awards Gold 2023" awards, recognizing its excellence in both lifestyle and design. New Year, New Horizons 2023 is gone, but the memories will stay with us indefinitely. Entering 2024, we have something to say to you, the community: Chapeau! Stay awesome! Your continuous support has fueled our drive for improving ourselves bit by bit every day so we can share our passion for audio with you. Looking ahead to the current year, we are excited to continue pushing boundaries and providing even more soulful experiences. Cheers!

Meet Gianluca Madotto – the mind behind the 109 PRO Primal. Avid nature-lover, trail biker and tattoo artist in his spare time, he is an artisan at Meze Audio who made his mark by pushing the boundaries of what's possible in terms of headphone design, while paying homage to the roots of his craft. At the beginning of 2023, Gianluca embarked on a creative journey that led to the birth of the 109 PRO Primal headphones, a remarkable addition to the prestigious Art Gallery collection here at Meze Audio. The Genesis of the 109 PRO Primal It all began when Gianluca decided to personalize his pair of 109 PRO headphones. He wanted to infuse them with a sense of raw, primal energy and connect them with the ancient craft of knapping – the practice of shaping stone tools by striking them together. Think arrowheads crafted by early humans. In doing so, Gianluca caught Antonio Meze’s eye, who was not just impressed; he was captivated by the concept. The idea of combining the precision of modern audio engineering, Romanian traditional woodworking elements, and the raw, instinctive feel of ancient tools appealed to his artistic sensibilities. Inspired by Gianluca's unique vision, Antonio made the bold decision to include them in the coveted Art Gallery collection. Why bold? Because there’s a tedious process behind every single cup of the 109 PRO Primal, each step being equally important. From the careful selection of the wood grain, to the carving process itself, to the sanding and finishing, then applying the linseed oil, letting the cups rest for 24 hours in order for the oil and black walnut wood to bond, then another layer of linseed oil… not to mention the numerous stages of quality control, culminating in matching the cups to make the perfect pair. It is a laborious handmade process that takes time, effort, and careful attention to detail. Preserving Tradition with Linseed Oil In a departure from convention, Gianluca chose to treat the wooden earcups of the 109 PRO Primal with linseed oil instead of the usual wood lacquer. This decision was deliberate; it reflects his commitment to preserving the traditional Romanian woodworking feel. Linseed oil not only enhances the natural beauty of the wood but also protects it for generations to come. The Significance of "Primal" The name "Primal" was not chosen arbitrarily. It embodies the essence of these headphones – a connection to prehistoric tools and the craftsmanship of a time when the finer details weren't the main focus, but it was still art. "Primal" captures the raw, instinctive beauty of the headphones, reminding us of our ancient roots and the innate creativity of humanity. The 109 PRO Primal offers a refreshing reminder that artistry, tradition, and a touch of primal inspiration can create something truly extraordinary. As you listen to your favorite tunes through these headphones, you're not just experiencing headphone-of-the-year grade sound quality; you're also connecting with the ancient spirit of craftsmanship that birthed them. Find out more about the 109 PRO Primal.

With its alluring combination of expansive, detailed soundstaging and tight, controlled bass, the 109 PRO is a superior headphone suited to all types of music. It triumphs in the looks department too, its acoustically smart design being built around opulent black walnut housings and a slender, lightweight frame. And thanks to its elegant self-adjusting headband and velour earpads, listening comfort is guaranteed. - EISA JURY For the second year in a row, Meze Audio’s expertise was acknowledged by one of the most prestigious institutions in the field of electronics – EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association). The 109 Pro has been voted by EISA’s international committee of journalists as the Best Product of the year 2023-2024 , in the Headphones category. ABOUT EISA A global network of 61 of the most respected magazines covering Hi-Fi, Home Theater Audio, Photography, Video, In-Car Electronics and Mobile Devices, EISA brings together the best journalists in the audio and video sectors. Each year, EISA members review and reward products that combine the most advanced technology and desirable features with class-leading performance, ranging from the most affordable products to the most aspirational expressions of modern electronics. THE JUDGING PROCESS The first step is the nomination process - each member magazine nominates an initial short-list of products that best reflect the top qualities in their particular Expert Group, based on their own reviews and tests throughout the year. All these individual recommendations are collated into a master list until late June, when the members of each Expert Group get together to discuss the merits of each product in detail. The final voting takes place during the same meeting and all nominations are kept strictly confidential. In 2022, Meze Audio’s Elite received the EISA Best Product distinction in the High-End Headphones category. We are thankful beyond words to all the people that took the time to listen to our headphones and deemed them worthy of this valuable distinction. Discover more about EISA, here . Learn about the 109 Pro, here .

We make headphones that last; inspiring works of functional art that are meant to accompany you on a lifelong journey through the universe of your emotions. Going beyond trends and short-lived fashions, aiming for timelessness, we set out to create something to fall in love with, over and over again. We take inspiration from everything around us. Growing up in Maramures, surrounded by old traditions faithfully respected to this day, we’ve made it part of our mission to preserve our cultural gift and share its meaning and value with the entire world. Here, our ancestral learnings are frozen in time, taking the shape of symbols and patterns still carved on our wooden houses and gates, embroidered on our carefully weaved clothes. Inspired by our cultural heritage, the artwork on the 109 PRO box is a visual manifesto of our aim for resilience. A stylized representation of a traditional wooden gate, this intricate geometric pattern is the ultimate testimony of craftsmanship and pride that defines the people from Maramures. Hand-carved with artistic refinement from various kinds of wood, these colossal arches are usually adorned with symbols passed down throughout history - the Sun, the Tree of Life or various anthropomorphic figures. An intricate alphabet with secret, ancient meanings for the villagers here. These gates are unique in Romania and the world and, while the true meaning of these motifs is lost, time drew them out from this magical, mythical world and gave them a new sense as true works of art. In the center of the pattern, repeated on each corner, the square spirals depict one of our oldest archetypes – the horns of a ram. A sacred symbol of strength, rebirth and creativity, the ram holds in its horns the power to lead, achieve and overcome. A perfect metaphor for all the things we stand for. Discover the 109 PRO beyond the story, here: https://mezeaudio.com/products/109-pro .

Upon a close examination of Advar's chassis, people found one small detail that caught their attention and intrigued them: the serial number. More

For HIFI aficionados worldwide, the High-End Munich show is one of the most important and impressive get-togethers in the audio world, a place where trends are set, inspiration is shared and groundbreaking ideas are born. Back in 2019 we had no idea that our trip to Munich was going to be the last, for a while, and we definitely had no clue that 3 years later we’ll be back with a much bigger team and another 4 highly appreciated products added to our portfolio. We’ve done a lot of growing in the past years so, naturally, we were excited to finally be back. After a 12-hour car trip from Romania to Germany, a dinner with the team at the hotel and a much-needed sleep, the first show day was about to start and we had no idea what to expect. The immense floor of MOC was almost immediately crowded once the doors were open. From then on, the 4 days of the show went by so fast. I guess time does fly when you’re having fun, and even now, a few days later, the show feels more like a lucid dream than an actual event that happened. I can’t say what we enjoyed best this year – the smiles people had on their faces when they put our headphones on, the insightful talks we had with some of the most representative members of the press, or the fruitful change of ideas we had with partners from the industry… It’s hard to tell, but what I can say is that Munich left us with a lot of new ideas, opportunities, and a massive supply of good vibes. Introducing the 109 PRO (officially) We brought all the big guns at Munich – the renowned 99 Classics and Empyrean, the ones that started this whole journey, the Liric and Elite, our newest models, plus the Rai Penta and Advar, for those who love in-ears. However, the star of the show was, by far, the 109 PRO – a future addition to our headphone lineup. The 109 PRO is the first dynamic open-back headphone from Meze Audio, precisely engineered to deliver an exceptional soundstage and a highly detailed, enveloping sound, with just the right amount of punch. In true Meze Audio fashion, the 109 PRO blends together carefully selected materials such as walnut wood, zinc, manganese steel, assembled together using only nuts and bolts, making this headphone fully and endlessly serviceable. Currently in production, set to launch in the next months, the 109 PRO seems to have already gained the appreciation of the audiophile community, which makes us even more excited to share it with the entire world. Autograph signing session with Alan Parsons Together with our partner in Germany, Thomas Halbgewachs from Headphone.shop, we had a plan of getting people at the show together on Saturday evening and celebrate the opportunity we had to meet with everyone in person. We had Alan Parsons, Brand Ambassador and face of High-End Munich 2022, to come by our booth for an autograph signing session which has made guests so happy. We had the chance to continue the discussions that began during the day over a few beers, and needless to say it was a blast. We took a ton of photos, too, so take a look: Many thanks to everyone who made all of this possible, from the team at High End Society to all the people who came visit us at the show, and especially our partners from Astell&Kern , Auris Audio , Cayin , Chord Electronics , DCS , EarMen , Feliks Audio , Ferrum Audio , iFi Audio , Innuos , Mytek Audio and Headphone.shop . Getting together after such a long time was extraordinary, looking forward to the next one!

To us, the people working behind the scenes at Meze Audio, 2021 was remarkable! Full of new launches that brought some hard working, yet rewarding days, long brainstorming sessions that gave birth to amazing ideas, new team members that brought a fresh perspective on the things we do. In essence, this year, we learned how to be our best selves and bring forth the same love for high-end audio and exquisite aesthetics that you’re already used to. To celebrate all we’ve accomplished, here are some Meze Audio highlights of 2021: NEW LAUNCHES When it comes to new products, projects we had been working on for over 2 years were finally completed. No headphone leaves our factory unless deemed perfect, following our highest standards, so what we did was take our time to research and experiment with new designs, technologies and materials, in order to bring our visions to life. From the limited-edition Empyrean Phoenix , to ELITE , our newest flagship headphone, and LIRIC , the first ever closed-back powered by Rinaro’s Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver, these new launches represent our way of strengthening our long-term commitment to create one of a kind, reference headphones. ICONIC PAIRINGS There’s something magical about cars and hi-fi coming together, and even our founder himself finds a lot of inspiration in the automotive industry, when designing new products. This year, we had the chance to showcase our products next to two outstanding companies – BMW and Rolls Royce. For the second consecutive year, Meze Audio was part of the latest BMW event - “Fall in Drive & Sound” . The event was held in Samsung-dong, Gangnam district, which is the heart of Seoul, by BMW’s distributor Han-dok Motors and Scheherazade (Sorishop). Our brand was also selected to appear in the Rolls Royce Enthusiasts’ Club (RREC) official 2021 yearbook, titled Strive for Perfection: The Royal Edition . Meze Audio products, including the renowned Elite and 99 Classics, were also showcased during the yearbook launch, which took place at Grosvenor House, London on October 8th. A STATEMENT OF TIMELESS DESIGN When talking headphones, to us, design is just as important as performance. With this in mind, our products are made from pure passion for great aesthetics, good craftsmanship and breakthrough engineering. They are created to last through years and years of industry changes, bringing long-lasting value to those who choose them – that’s our philosophy. Even years after their launch, Meze Audio headphones receive recognition not only for the way they sound or the technology they use, but for their timeless design, as well. In 2021, our headphone models were featured in highly-acclaimed design publications, such as Wallpaper , Design Milk , Dexigner . SOUND THAT BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO YOUR MUSIC No headphone design is complete without our unmistakable, natural sound signature. In 2021, we celebrated 10 years of Meze Audio and, in those 10 years, the way our headphones sound got us over 90 awards from reference names in the industry, and hundreds of positive reviews. Ever since the beginning, we made a commitment to break the barriers of the audio industry, making no compromises. Our work and vision got featured by iconic publications, including Rolling Stone , Louder , Forbes or What HiFi? , and here’s what they had to say about us: REWARDING HARD WORK Another thing we’re beyond grateful for is having our hard work honored by major names in the audiophile industry. In 2021, Meze Audio products, all time staples and new additions altogether, were awarded some of the highest distinctions for their refined audio quality and unique design from names like Hifi+, Headfonia, Soundstage! Network or International Design Awards. ARTISTS Our supported artists family is constantly growing and, last year, singers, composers, producers we’ve admired for years have shared the same love for our craft that we do for theirs and joined our community of artists. Yann Tiersen , Christopher Tin , Michael Price are some of the people who’ve marked our artistic journey for a long time, with their amazing work, and we’re proud and grateful to have them try out our headphones and use them with such enjoyment. There are many more memories we could include on this list, but these are definitely the top milestones of this past year, for us. What was your favorite moment of 2021?

For those who know us and have followed our journey in the past 10 years, it is no secret that, to us, design is just as important as performance when it comes to our headphones. Our founder himself, Antonio Meze, is an industrial designer who, one day, decided to build a pair of headphones that would rise up to his standards, in both aesthetics and technology. Headphones are not really perceived as works of art and, most of the time, functionality and performance are viewed as more important than design. At Meze, we think that these three go hand in hand, so our products are meant to shift the paradigm and prove that great sound can look extraordinary, too. With this in mind, we create headphones and in-ear monitors from pure passion for great aesthetics, good craftsmanship and breakthrough engineering. Products that are meant to persist through years and years of industry changes, bringing long-lasting value to those who have them. From looks to technology, they are designed to surpass all short-living trends and become heirlooms, rather than just headphones. Probably the most emblematic, the 99 Classics was our first headphone embodying all of these values. It is precisely this vision that turned the 99 Classics into an affordable benchmark for sound, design and comfort. Six years after their launch, they still receive the praise and recognition of audiophiles and design lovers alike, which can only stand as testament to their timelessness. And since we’re talking design, we’ve gathered for you the latest features that highlight the 99 Classics, from some of the world’s most renowned design publications. Take a look: WALLPAPER* A global authority on design since 1996, Wallpaper* magazine provides a monthly look into the realm of architecture, interior design, fashion, travel, entertainment and contemporary lifestyle. Spot the 99 Classics in this year’s Innovation Issue, a celebration of fresh perspectives and bold ideas. A must read for anyone with an eye for cutting-edge consumer tech that can be discovered here . DESIGN MILK Since 2006, Design Milk has been fixated on making modern living effortless and accessible, by discovering and highlighting emerging talent. Dedicated to modern and innovative design, the magazine features highly curated and hand-picked designs for their millions of readers from all over the world. A staple in its industry, Design Milk has recently reviewed our 99 Classics, saying: Walnut-veneered closed-back earcups with gold metal detailing infuse a classical warmth suggestive of mid-century hi-fi systems. Whether listening to classical, indie, electronic or hip-hop, every listening session left us warmed by the sound, as if the harshest elements of any song was softened and everything desirable expanded outward. Read the entire article here . DEXIGNER Founded in 2001, in New York, Dexigner is a leading platform for designers, architects, illustrators. Named one of the top five sites for creatives by Forbes, Dexigner is an ever-growing source of design news, events, competitions, and resources. The 99 Classics are now featured on Dexigner.com, in their Industrial Design section. Enjoy the story here . Stay in touch with Meze Audio! Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for all the latest news and reviews.

Back in 2015, when Antonio Meze founded Meze Audio, he had no idea of the things that lay ahead. It all started from a deep belief that design should enrich life and inspire people in the right way, that headphones should be more than just functional. When he first started tinkering with headphones, he would play around with existing products and spare parts, until he turned them into something else. Now, we’re always looking to build something innovative, whether we’re talking technology or design. With few exceptions, audio gear is rarely considered a work of art and design often comes second to performance. Born out of love of sound and artistry, as a celebration of self-expression and individuality, we believe Empyrean Phoenix breaks that barrier. Our goal was to make a headphone without any compromises, without cutting short on quality, build, materials or technology, and that didn’t come from a business decision. It was more like an art project for us. With a name inspired by the myth of the Phoenix, this fiery red and black Empyrean is a rare collector’s item, the first from the Meze Art Gallery collection – a Meze Audio collection of exclusive products born out of passion for art and craftsmanship. This open-back headphone features a CNC sculpted chassis milled from a single piece of aluminum, hand-finished with irregular patterns made through marbling techniques such as those used for custom-painting cars or bikes. This allowed us to have control over the composition, while also enjoying a spontaneous flow of color that makes each of the pairs unique. We played around with colors and placement, creating distinctive contrast and play of light that we wouldn’t otherwise be able to create purposefully. After meticulously cleaning and prepping the surfaces, five layers of paint are applied to each piece of the frame, using different techniques. First, the first priming layer, followed by a layer of black paint. We let it dry for four to five hours, make sure no impurities made their way through the paint, then add the pattern in silver, using a marbling technique. Two layers of candy red come on top, plus the final lacquer top coat, applied in two layers, only after we do another careful inspection of the texture. The entire painting process takes about 16 hours just for one headphone. To that, we add another 24 hours needed for the paint to dry, before we can start the final product assembly. Blending this intricate design with the innovative technology of the original Empyrean, this limited-edition headphone embodies our pledge to the one thing that makes us Meze: art in its most functional form. Behind the artfully redesigned frame, an Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver creates a complex, balanced sound signature that allows you to enjoy a listening experience worthy of a live performance. Passion-infused and carefully assembled, Empyrean Phoenix is here to set new standards in comfort, high-quality sound and aesthetics. Read more about it here .

An ancient heritage Growing up in Maramures, Romania, you’re surrounded by forests so old, so dense, where secular treetops work like a natural fortress to shelter over 10,000 species, from plants to bugs to wolves and bears. Ancient, magical places where human touch is almost nonexistent. The history, philosophy of life and the culture of the villagers are intertwined with the forests. High churches with hand-sculpted heavy fir or oak poles and shingle roofs, traditional houses made of timber, they are guarded by colossal gates with intricate woodcarvings of the Sun, the tree of life, or ropes and wolves' teeth meant to protect a sacred space from harm. Here, in the “land of wood”, the trees are sources of deep pride and honor, and the architecture is one with the nature. Working with wood To us, the smell of wood is the smell of home, so building our own products with it was simply natural. In our attempt to give old trees a chance to shine again, we managed to create an unexpected statement piece - the 99 Classics. It’s been about 6 years since the Classics came about and they continue to receive recognition from the audiophile community, especially for their distinctive design. Essentially, our admiration for wood and woodworking is what gave birth to this aesthetic language that’s particular to Meze. Unlike any other short-lived color or pattern trends, wood can be ever lasting. Growing in concentric layers around the trunk, limbs and roots, wood develops a pattern that’s completely unique to each tree. Color, luster, texture, grain, and figure come into play to create its final character. But wood doesn’t just make something look good. When used in instruments, for instance, it reveals unique acoustic properties that give life to unparalleled sound. Being so passionate about music, taking that sound essence and put it into an audiophile headphone was a conspicuous step for us. The choice of walnut Treasured for their rich, dark color, specific grain character and beautiful smell, walnut trees are strong and durable, yet, somehow, lightweight and malleable. For woodworkers, walnut is somewhat like a “jack of all trades”. As part of the 99 Classics, walnut has the power to vibrate in a harmonious way, producing warm, detailed sound, while naturally enhancing noise isolation. Combined with a closed-back headphone design, the wooden frame balances the energy of all frequencies, creating better sound resonance. Working with wood is no child’s play. The walnut we use comes from certified, sustainably managed sources, harvested from mature trees that have reached the end of their life cycle. This way, the environment is protected, leaving room for new life to sprout. The rich colors of walnut require the use of air drying, a long and expensive process, and it takes eighteen months just for the wood to dry properly. Steam or kiln drying could be easier, but the colors tend to be washed out and the structure compromised. After that, the process of shaping just a single pair of earcups takes up to 8 hours. The sanding, lacquering and finishing last for 45 more days. The craftsmanship of our designs is paramount, so all wooden components are then carefully inspected and no flaws are permitted to reach the final assembly. We work so hard on them and build them this way because we wanted to create something to last a lifetime. A high-end headphone with multiple layers waiting to be uncovered one after another, with each listening session. It’s a long wait until we get to feel the final product in our hands, but building a timeless piece that transcends all seasonal trends to become a favorite for so many… that’s worth it. Find out more about the 99 Classics here . *The photos from Maramures are from our personal archive.

For those who’ve known us for a long time, it’s no secret that Meze Audio is constantly fueled with passion for sound, for art and innovation. In the beginning, it was all about wanting to build a pair of headphones that people could connect to emotionally, that would inspire people in the right way without having to compromise sound, comfort or looks. Now more than ever, we aim to raise the bar in terms of audio quality, design and durability. When we launched our first planar magnetic headphone, we took this “no compromise” approach to an entire new level. Empyrean was both a sophisticated piece of audio art, and one of the most technologically innovative planar magnetic headphones in the world, thanks to the unique engineering behind the frame. Combining our distinctive aesthetic approach with Rinaro’s experience, we designed and integrated the first Isodynamic Hybrid Array® driver into an extremely comfortable chassis, delivering an unparalleled Hi-Fi experience. The resulting technology is one of the lightest and most advanced on the market, making Empyrean a true game changer for audiophiles, highly acclaimed even 3 years after its launch. To us, comfort is just as important as sound quality, so when we were designing Empyrean our top priority was to find a way to give it highest level of comfort, so that listeners could immerse themselves into their music for hours on end. A part of known headphones is being supported on the listeners head through a curved shape element that follows the natural shape of the head, so the headphone actually rests directly on top of the head. Having a rather rigid feel, this curved shape causes the pressure to concentrate only on a few small areas, which can cause discomfort when large headphones are worn for long periods of time. To increase wearing comfort in Empyrean, we designed an innovative support system, elongated and curved at both ends, that we called “pressure distribution wings”. What it does is descend further on the side of the head and distribute the weight of the headphone evenly. These unique suspension wings successfully increase the leather headrest’s contact surface area with your head and relieve pressure points. Made of two overlapped fusiform pieces of leather, each end of the headband has an extension reinforced with a metallic sheet spring of the same shape as the extension, inserted between the two pieces of leather. Both the extension and the metallic sheet spring are provided with three holes for screw fastening, keeping them in place. This patent pending revolutionary support mechanism sets a new standard in high-end audio, demonstrating that headphones can and should be light and comfortable. More details on our patent process can be found here .

Sometime last year, the team at Ubisoft Romania challenged us to create some anniversary gifts for them, and we simply couldn’t say no. Ubisoft is well-known as a global leader in video-game production and publishing. Headquartered in France, they are creators of the original worlds of Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, The Crew or Watch Dogs. In their own words, Ubisoft is “committed to enriching people’s lives with original and memorable entertainment experiences”. Sharing the same values, of excellency and uniqueness, this collab was definitely on point. Ubisoft Romania has been an important pillar for the local gaming industry since its launch, in 1992. With 1800 employees, the Bucharest Studio is the second largest Ubisoft studio in the world, and is now leading all 5 studios in their East European Hub. For a team of tech geeks, like the one we have at Meze Audio, pairing up with one of the biggest video game companies was exciting, so when we got their request, we immediately started thinking about customizing options. After some deliberation and a few brainstorming sessions, the Meze 99 Series x Ubisoft pairs came to life – 99 Classics & Neos with specially designed boxes, custom-made headbands branded with the Ubisoft logo, and the same sound the 99 series headphones are well-known for. At the end of 2020, each of the custom pairs arrived to their rightful owners – Ubisoft talents from their East European Hub, represented by Romania, Ukraine and Serbia. No doubt that this was one special project, and we can’t wait to see what other collaboration opportunities this new year brings. Are you one of the lucky ones to receive a custom Ubisoft pair? Don’t hesitate to share your impressions of your Meze 99 Neo or Classics with us! Here are some Instagram snaps of Ubisoft employees boasting their new gear.

Music has always brought people together, in more ways than one. The road from creation to enjoying the final product is filled with opportunities for likeminded individuals to connect, collaborate and share. So, of course we were delighted when we realized our headphones were chosen to be part of some truly cool and inspiring recording projects with beautiful stories behind. Sometime this year, we received a package at our headquarters in Baia Mare, containing a CD with the Empyrean on the cover, a beautiful compilation of jazzy tracks and audition sound effects, produced using our flagship as reference. As an audio gear company that started from the love for music and design, this felt like a milestone. Hey, our Empyrean is now studio-confirmed! All thanks to the hard work of the folks from Sts-digitalshop in the Netherlands, who compiled the Headphone Heaven Vol 1 CD with the Empyrean in mind. If you are curious to see the tracks chosen for an Empyrean test drive, you can check them out here . Another exquisite initiative that we have been part of is the recording of a 300-year-old classical instrument, a viola da gamba, in a 13th-century old church – the magnificent Geertekerk from Utrecht, Netherlands. TRPTK, the mixing and mastering studio in charge with the project, chose Empyrean as their monitoring headphone. Brendon Heinst of TRPTK wrote about the whole behind the scenes experience on the studio’s blog . The experience was about finding the perfect location, getting the perfect power, using the perfect microphones, listening through perfect monitoring and, like in the case of any outstanding achievement, going the extra mile. On occasions like these, we find that we are part of a crowd of inspiring people, who imagine, create, build. And sometimes we are lucky to be included in fulfilling their dreams.

Because there’s always room for improvement

Our audio wizards have dusted off their crystal balls…

I really liked Bowers & Wilkins’ original Px8, but I gave them away. Just like the Focal Bathys. Both sets went to Patreon supporters who’d appreciate them more than a reviewer drowning in Bluetooth headphones ever could. But the Px8 S2? These are staying put. At €729, they cost €230 […]

Moondrop’s latest headphones take direct aim at those of us who remember foam-covered on-ear headphones from the Walkman era. The Old Fashioned isn’t just another retro-styled product, though – it’s a proper attempt to modernise a form factor that largely disappeared when the iPod generation embraced in-ears and noise-cancelling became […]

For us, the first half of 2023 was all about human connection. After closing one of the best years of Meze Audio so far, we took some time to focus on our company’s “inner self” – our team. We believe our success is driven by the people who make it all happen, so human connection comes first for us. Over the past few months, we've shifted our focus to connecting with our team in a deeper and more meaningful way, prioritizing communication, making sure that everyone feels valued and supported. This kind of friendship is what keeps our wheels turning. We learn from each other, we share perspectives and we challenge each other to experiment and explore, coming up with the most exciting projects. We're happy to announce that a big part of our team will be attending this year’s High End Munich show, from May 18th to May 21st. We invite you to come meet us in person and experience the Meze Audio’s tightly-knit culture for yourself. We'll be showcasing all the Meze favorites in some of the most impressive setups we’ve ever tested, including the Elite, 109 Pro and Advar. We want to get to know you, hear your feedback, and learn how we can continue to improve and grow as a brand. So, mark your calendar and come join us in Munich. Oh, and don't miss out on our surprise event on Saturday, May 20th, at 4PM - we promise it'll be worth it. We can't wait to meet you! May 18th - May 21 st at MOC Veranstaltungscenter, Munich | Hall 1, Booth C04 Book your ticket here .

One of the best things happening when you are part of a global brand is getting to know and befriend people from so many different backgrounds and cultures. Ever since the beginning, we sought to make friends, not business contacts, and we made sure to put in effort to build and maintain meaningful connections with the people we meet. We love learning about the things that matter for the people we have the opportunity to work with, and many of those things often become part of our beliefs. One of those, for instance, is learning that numbers hold a great symbolism in many Asian cultures, where they consider even numbers most auspicious, with number 2 being of great importance. In our country, the number 2 holds magical values and is considered to be a divine number. So we guess we could say triple the number, triple the luck, right? Add in the hard work, some inspiration and new products that turned out just the way you imagined them, and you should have the perfect recipe for an amazing year. For us, that’s what 2022 was. Amazing! This year leaves us with newfound creativity, hope that things will only get better when we do good things, and infinite ideas on what to do next. We have to say a big “thank you” to everyone who was part of this journey! We look forward to keep spreading the love for sound, music and art together, in the new year. Cheers to 2023! Music credits: Marlon Gibbons (IG @marlon_gibbons)

Long-time Cary Audio customer Victor recently upgraded to the DMS-800PV Network Audio Player. After thoroughly testing it, he shared how its dual mono design enhances his favorite genres, from hard rock to holiday music, with a more open soundstage and improved clarity. A Worthwhile Upgrade “I really like the sonic presentation of Cary Audio products. With respect to their Network Audio Players, I started with their DMS-500 and then upgraded … Read More

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[Editor’s note: This is the seventh in a series of fifteen observations from fifteen years of audio writing] Black or silver? It’s the question that keeps us scrolling through product photos at 2 am, agonising over a choice that has nothing to do with sound quality and everything to do […]

🎥 Camera: John Darko / Olaf von Voss 🎬 Editor: John Darko 🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss 🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko 💰 Ad segment: Jana Dagdagan 🎵 Song IDs? Playlists of all music heard in this video – and other videos – can be found on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/johndarko 0:00 […]

2025 really has been the year of the CD player comeback. Just when we thought the announcements were done for the year, Shanling slides another under the door. The new CT90 top-loading CD transport picks up where the ET3 left off, but with key differences. The compact ET3 was a […]

[Editor’s note: This is the sixth in a series of fifteen observations from fifteen years of audio writing] I’ve been reading my own comments sections for fourteen years now – seven on this website, seven on YouTube – and the cope is real. Particularly when expensive gear enters the chat. […]

🎥 Camera: John Darko & Olaf von Voss 🎬 Editor: John Darko 🌈 Colour: Olaf von Voss 🕺🏻 Motion GFX: John Darko 🎵 Song IDs? Playlists of all music heard in this video – and other videos – can be found on PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/johndarko 0:00 Intro 1:12 The Bowers basics […]

FiiO’s product release schedule has gone properly bonkers in 2025. At roughly one new announcement per week, keeping up with its catalogue has become a full-time job – and that’s before we’ve even plugged anything in. Build and basics The company’s latest offering is the DM15 R2R, a portable CD […]

Island’s 30th anniversary edition of Different Class asks collectors to pay €110 for a 4LP set that includes precisely zero era-appropriate B-sides. That’s not a typo. The label that stewarded one of Britpop’s finest albums and its treasure trove of associated recordings decided the best way to celebrate three decades […]

The HiFi PiG Selection Box December 2025 Hifi Pig https://www.hifipig.com/the-hifi-pig-selection-box-december-2025/ THE HiFi PiG SELECTION BOX – DIVERSIONARY STRATEGIES FOR THE MODERN WORLD DECEMBER 2025 Inspired by the seventies children’s television program Why Don’t You, HiFi PiG is putting together a monthly digest of links to music, literature, film, and more to inspire, motivate, and stimulate you into exploring beyond your typical sensory comfort zone. Every […]

A Year In HiFi Shows Hifi Pig https://www.hifipig.com/a-year-in-hifi-shows/ A year in HiFi shows As this is the final Sunday Thoughts of the year, it feels like the right moment to take a breather and look back at what 2025 has meant for us at HiFi PiG. It has been a year dominated by HiFi shows, by travel, by conversations, and by the simple […]

We’ve always been amazed by the amount of passion and enthusiasm that bring together the audiophile community and we’ve always used this as some kind of fuel for our creative process. Not just that, but during these 10 years in the business, that same enthusiasm gave us the opportunity to meet new people that share the same excitement and values, when it comes to high-end audio. That’s exactly how our relationship with dCS started, but ended up becoming one of the connections that we value greatly. For anyone who knows our brand, it’s a known-fact that we always challenge ourselves to create not just functional products, but true audio art pieces that offer an experience that goes beyond sound. Having this common goal with dCS is what makes this friendship so special to us. Through fearless engineering and meticulous craft, they redefine the limits of audio by producing digital hi-fi sources which let music lovers enjoy the highest sound quality in their own home. As a company that makes headphones, researching pairings is an ongoing task in our office and, among the countless products we’re testing, their systems remain a constant in our listening rooms – both at the office and at trade shows. Lina began with a desire to create the definitive system for headphone playback: a system that reveals the full potential of your chosen headphones, plus the full breadth of detail, artistry and emotion in your music. With a dedicated Network DAC, Headphone Amplifier and Master Clock, Lina is the first dCS system built especially for headphone listening. Designed to work with a vast range of headphones, it sets out to deliver the ultimate sonic escape for music and head-fi connoisseurs. Since the first time we’ve tried it, we felt that Lina does exactly what it vows. When paired with our TOTL headphones, such as Elite or Empyrean, the performance is splendid – it’s detailed, transparent, without becoming overwhelming. The sound is immersive with an out-of-this-world soundstage. Micro-details are brought to the fore, which makes them very easy to discern, while instruments are well defined and easy to position. So, no matter what you pair it with, it brings out nothing but the best. For those looking for a potential end-game setup, dCS Lina can now be purchased through Meze Audio directly, on mezeaudio.com and mezeaudio.eu .

The Disc joins the Echo Mini and Nano to bolster the Snowsky range

Forget music streaming for a moment. While the hi-fi press was obsessing over touchscreens, Spotify Lossless and Qobuz Connect in 2025, something rather unexpected happened: CD players staged a comeback. Today, we’re looking at ten newcomers: a mix of CD transports (digital output only, requiring an external DAC) and CD […]

Pro-Ject has introduced another CD transport that now doubles as a CD player. The CD Box RS2 Tube joins the Austrian manufacturer’s RS2 line with a top-loading mechanism, a pair of E88CC tubes in its output stage and – perhaps surprisingly for a transport – an integrated DAC. Local mechanisms […]

It’s surprising how many Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Qobuz Connect users aren’t actually streaming in the highest sound quality. Why? Because many people accidentally connect to their DMS or AiOS devices via Bluetooth or AirPlay, both of which downgrade audio quality. To get true high-resolution, lossless audio, your device must connect directly over your network using each service’s Connect feature. HOW TO KNOW IF YOU’RE CONNECTED INCORRECTLY If the Now Playing screen on your DMS shows “Bluetooth” or “AirPlay” in the upper left … Read More

We’re excited to announce that Qobuz Connect is now the exclusive method for streaming Qobuz on your DMS-650, DMS-700, and DMS-800PV. This upgrade allows you to enjoy seamless high-resolution streaming directly from the Qobuz app, with no need for the Cary app. To help you get started, we’ve created a step-by-step PDF guide that walks you through the setup process. You can download it here. Why Qobuz Connect? Direct connection for the highest audio fidelity Seamless … Read More

Bingeing without the price tag

Comparing the picture quality of physical discs and streaming

We’re back from another unforgettable year at High End Munich, and what a show it was! Cary Audio returned to the world’s largest hi-fi event alongside our European distributor, MGY Europe, with an incredible reference system and two brand-new product debuts that sparked a ton of excitement. Our main demo system featured the SLP-05 preamplifier, CAD-211FE monoblock amplifiers, and DMS-800PV network streamer/DAC, paired with Fyne Audio Vintage Classic 12 speakers, The Chord Company cabling, and room treatments from GIK Acoustics. … Read More

We’re packing our bags and heading to Germany for the High End Show 2025, one of the world’s biggest high-fidelity audio shows, which will be held May 15–18 at the MOC in Munich. This year’s Cary Audio setup in Hall 4, Booth W16 features an incredible reference system: SLP-05 Preamplifier CAD-211FE Monoblock Amplifiers DMS-800PV Network Streamer/DAC Fyne Audio Vintage Classic XII Speakers The Chord Company cabling GIK Acoustics room treatments We’ll … Read More

Genesis Simplicity Phono Preamplifier Hifi Pig https://www.hifipig.com/genesis-simplicity-phono-preamplifier/ GENESIS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES LAUNCHES BATTERY-POWERED SIMPLICITY PHONO Genesis Advanced Technologies has unveiled its new entry-level phono preamplifier, the Genesis Simplicity Phono. Following the release of the Series 7 loudspeakers, this new model is intended to bring the design and engineering principles of Genesis’ higher-end phono preamplifiers to a more accessible format. The Simplicity Phono uses […]

Audiophile Mistakes: Mini Series for Better Sound Mistake #8: Ignoring Speaker Placement SPEAKER PLACEMENT Don’t just set it and forget it. Speaker placement is crucial and can make a significant difference in your listening experience. Even minor adjustments—just a few inches to the left, right, forward, or backward—can improve bass response, imaging, soundstage, and overall sound quality. Experimenting with toe-in angles can also help with certain speakers. Avoid defaulting to the … Read More

Audiophile Mistakes: Mini Series for Better Sound Mistake #7: Ignoring Your Listening Space ROOM ACOUSTICS Like it or not, your room has the most significant influence on how your audio system sounds. You might love how a speaker or component sounds in one room, but take it home, and it could sound completely different. If you can’t move the walls of your room and have limited speaker placement options, room treatment … Read More

Audiophile Mistakes: Mini Series for Better Sound Mistake #5: Choosing the Right Speakers: Why Bigger Isn’t Always Better USING FULL-RANGE FLOOR-STANDING SPEAKERS If you buy floor-standing speakers for big sound and great bass, think again. The reality is that a big floor-standing speaker with “great” bass may not actually produce great bass in your room. Why? Because the bass coming from the speaker and its position in the room relative … Read More

Audiophile Mistakes: Mini Series for Better Sound Mistake #4: EQ or Not EQ? When to Adjust and When to Avoid It Using EQ Why you shouldn’t use EQ: Equalizers (EQs) have recently regained some attention, particularly parametric EQs in digital sources. However, they are often misused as a shortcut to “fix” something undesirable in a sound system rather than addressing the root cause of the issue. If you have components and speakers … Read More

A New Year's dilemma

The Focal Aria Evo X No3 drop from £3499 to 2789

The mid-price speaker market is in rude health

One of our favourite wireless speakers is now cheaper than Black Friday

You can’t go wrong with the Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)

A big saving on a bold, powerful speaker

The LS50 Meta are £700 off, but stocks are running low

Bose has given us an early present

We round up the biggest hi-fi and home cinema news from the past seven days

This Bluetooth speaker is making things sweeter

Good things can come in small packages, especially when well-engineered

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 smartphone changed how I browse for streamable music. The FiiO FT7 pumped the brakes on my search for more luxurious headphones. And the DALI Kupid loudspeakers proved that a little over three hundred Euros can buy genuine sonic satisfaction. So, just like last year, […]

DALI has unveiled SONIK, a seven-model speaker range positioned to succeed its OBERON lineup that’s been floating around since 2018. The Danish manufacturer is introducing two standmount models and three floorstanders, along with on-wall and cinema-specific variants. Standmount duo The SONIK 1 and SONIK 3 two-way standmounts follow familiar sizing […]

Bang & Olufsen has announced two new limited edition versions of its flagship Beolab 90 loudspeaker: the Phantom Edition and Mirage Edition. Each will be limited to ten pairs worldwide. Ten. Pairs. Stealth mode vs. colour explosion The Phantom Edition goes full stealth mode with semi-transparent black PVD acoustic mesh […]

There’s something special about the unique charm of analogue