Firstly I would like to thank Meze Audio for providing this sample of the 109 Pro for review.
*disclaimer: This sample was provided for the purpose of writing a review, no incentive was given to write a favourable review. All opinions expressed are my own subjective findings
Gear Used:
iBasso DX200 / iFi Go Link > 109 Pro
JDS Labs Atom DAC+ > Sinxger SA-1 > 109 Pro
Tech Specs:
• Transducer Size: 50mm
• Frequency Response: 5Hz – 30KHz
• Sensitivity: 112dB SPL at 1KHz, 1mW
• Impedance: 40 Ω
• Weight: 375 gr (13 oz) without cables
• Ear-Cups Black Walnut Wood
• MSRP: $799
https://mezeaudio.com/products/109-pro
Packaging, Accessories and Build Quality
The 109 Pro come in a lovely black box with a pattern etched in gold on the outside along with the model number on it. Its eye catching, and once you open the box you’ll be greeted by a foam insert neatly holding the carry case in place. You’ll find the headphones securely stowed in their case along with the accessories, ensuring they are well protected during transport. The packaging isn’t extravagant; however, it is elegant and looks great when you first unbox the product.
Accessory wise you get a very impressive hardcase to keep them in, the case is excellent quality and of perfect size to transport them in too. Aside from this, you get 2 cables and jack adapter, one of the cables is a shorter 1.5m for desktop use and the other is 3m for when you sit further away from your source. Nothing else is really needed and it’s nice to see a good case is included.
Build quality is something that should applauded, the headphones themselves are perfectly finished without a hint of any blemishes anywhere. The wooden cups are smooth to touch, the headband is like that of the 99 Classics and works very well in terms of longevity and comfort. The headphones use recessed 3.5mm jack sockets for the cable, this means they fit tight and securely however the recessed design does make it more difficult to find generic cables that fit. The standard cables are absolutely fine in terms of quality, a fairly standard rubberised design but one that is finished with aluminium housings for the jacks, the standard cables should last well if looked after. The earpads are a very soft velour design and the grille protecting the drivers is a work of art in terms of the CNC machining.
The 109 Pro are a beautifully crafted headphone, when you have then in your possession you really do appreciate the engineering that has gone into the making of them, yet there is an organic quality to them and the wooden cups are sheer class in my opinion. Sustainability is something Meze Audio believe is important, and I agree, which means every part of the 109 Pro is serviceable and replaceable should anything ever go wrong – this is great and something more brands need to embrace.
Comfort
The 109 Pro uses a self-adjusting headband design that has vegan leather cover along with velour earpads. The earpads are deep enough to prevent your ears from touching the inner baffle, and the self-adjusting headband is excellent, conforming well to the shape of your head. I can honestly wear the Meze 109 Pro for hours on end with no discomfort they are one of the most comfortable headphones out there. The headband pressure is just right for them to be secure yet not clamping too hard for my tastes and the weight isn’t an issue as they are lightweight and the design distributes the weight very evenly.
Sound
To me, the Meze 109 Pro have what I would call a “goldilocks” sound, they have just enough of everything to sound very well balanced and hit the sweet spot whilst doing so. They’re not necessarily studio flat as they are a little more engaging with a little colour added to the mix, but they come across balanced and very coherent.
The bass is tight and punchy, these won’t be the best for those looking for massive thumping bass but they do have very natural body down low and the extension is there when needed. The lows never put a foot wrong in terms of control, it provides a solid and full foundation for the rest of the sound without muddying any other part of the spectrum. The driver is responsive, so even when the mix gets complex, they manage to keep up and you never lose track of the beat. For an open back headphone, they don’t sound thin in the slightest, having a mild boost in body if anything.
Take Spiritbox – Sun Killer for example, the bass guitar is always crisp and articulate, the kicks have good punch but don’t ever overstep the mark, and the midrange remains clean without interference from the bass.
The midrange cuts through the mix with excellent clarity and detail retrieval, but the midrange is not pushed overly forward in the mix, it sits in the perfect spot in my opinion. Layered guitars are easy to separate, male and female vocals sound ever so sweet but without too much added colouration. They transition into the lower treble without emphasis or sibilance and they have a very natural tonality to them allowing you to listen fatigue free for hours.
James Bay – Save Your Love comes through beautifully with excellent tonality to the acoustic guitar and crystal-clear vocals without any emphasis on any part of the sound. When the bass beat comes in midway the Meze 109 Pro handle it with ease, adding body but without taking anything away. Harmonies sound coherent and the sound is presented as a whole, yet is still easily separated if you wish to listen that way.
The treble is refined with good energy and presence, they avoid being too brash and upfront which is great for longer listening sessions. Their positioning is excellent with accurate instrument placement within the stage, the treble also sounds accurate in terms of timbre and tonality. Cymbals are never splashy, they are crisp and extend well, violins sound very impressive too. There is no audible roll-off in the upper regions, allowing the treble to extend naturally with ease.
Silverstein – Defend You has an excellent bass guitar line, yet the snappy snares stand out with cymbals crashing around, the Meze 109 Pro have good energy and you don’t ever feel like you’re missing anything out in terms of the sound.
Soundstage wise, the Meze 109 Pro are very impressive, the give you a great sense of width but without sounding detached. They don’t rival the kings of soundstaging like the HD800, however the slightly more upfront sound is a little more energetic and fun. There are sound effects in Ice Nine Kills – The People in the Attic that had me thinking the sound was coming from outside and not the headphones.
Conclusion
The Meze 109 Pro are an excellent headphone, the build quality is superb and I love the attention to detail. The sound is ever so slightly soft however is handles pretty much any genre you throw at them with a warm and full low end that’s well controlled, a clean and crisp midrange that sounds natural and a well extended treble that’s never fatiguing. The Meze 109 Pro are ultimately a very engaging, energetic, and fun headphone that have excellent detail retrieval and accurate tonality.
It’s so easy to while away a couple of hours listening to the 109 Pro, they are a pure joy in my opinion and should suit a lot of people out there.
Sound Perfection Rating: 10/10 (superb build and design backed up with genuinely excellent sound quality)
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