Meze 109 Pro Impressions - NOT just an open 99 Classic!
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- Опубліковано 1 лип 2024
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00:00 - Intro
01:10 - Build, Design & Comfort
04:18 - Sound: Resolve's take
08:22 - Sound: DMS's take
12:23 - Source & Amplification
14:29 - That's it for now
I liked the “tag team” approach of this impressions video!
This headphones is so gorgeous I swear I dreamed about having these tonight after watching this video
Yeah I would like to see it compared to the Elex, Borealis, Ananda, and some stuff slightly more expensive LCD-X, Arya Stealth, and ZMF Aeolus. And ofcourse test it on a wide range of Sources from the low end to high end of the price spectrum
Thanks for the video. A comparison to Elex, Ananda and other headphones in this price range would be awesome! Two 3.5mm cables seem redundant. They really should start putting balanced cables in the box.
not as detailed as Ananda according to Andrew
@@levansaginashviliskidney8726 Nothing is as detailed as hifimans because all of them have to much treble and not enough energy around 1.5khz. It only creates an illusion of more detail and people would say its not just the tuning because if you EQ it out it still sounds detailed however thats not the case because you cant EQ away the narrow band peaks that hifimans have completely.
@@Jordonater true, they sound THIN comparing to anything more normal like Sennheiser 600/650
@@zamedoeswtever5267 Yeah. To be honest i did actually quite like the edition XS but it was lacking punch for me and still has some of the treble peak. These Meze are very interesting to me because they still have the hifiman dip but with more punch and warmth hump whilst seemingly also having no treble peaks apart from above 10khz but that isn't what i hear as sibilant or annoying treble. For me its in the 4-8khz range because i have hyper sensitive hearing. For example the Senny HD598 ages ago was my favourite headphone because it was at borderline too much in this whole range but just below where it was not nice to listen too.
How is it redundant? One cable is really long, one is much shorter? Very few ppl care about high end audio, and even fewer of those people are using XLR cables. Its a waste of resources to make them by default when most are using standard connectors, which is why Focal stopped including XLR too
Please continue with comparisons.
Thanks for a great video. I have these and love them! How would these pair with the Schitt Jotunheim 2? I have the Meze regular balanced cables for these. Could you recommend a third party balanced xlr cable that I could use with these?
im a huge fan of the tuning and detail of the 7hz timeless, would this be a nice headphone to compliment?
Good video. Do you think it is an upgrade compared to sennheiser hd 600?
And between this and sennheiser HD 800s what do you prefer?
Thanks for the video! I would really like to see a comparison with the Grado RS series!
Grado dont compare to anything its unique in sound, you can hate or love them :)
Great video!
Nice! This looks good and the general consensus is quite positive about them. To me this feels like Meze's true redemption arc from their shaky start and history. Fully designed and built in house. Excited to see what they come up with next.
what do you mean by shaky start and history ?
@@HiPnautique Apparently Meze started out by selling generic and fairly bad-sounding headphones that they didn’t design themselves… they just slapped their logo on them, upped the price and called it a day, which resulted in some very bad sound for a rather high price. Naturally they received criticism for this (and rightly so), but starting with their 99 Classics headphones they began to turn their bad reputation around by making all their parts in-house, and now they are a highly regarded audio company. Quite a comeback!
@@JohnathanElySmithnever even heard of Meze before the 99s TBH, but it makes sense that a audiophile company in Romania of all places would have a shaky start, really glad they have persevered though - their headphones are amazing
I hope they come out with 109 Pro Closed Backs in year or so..
Is that an actual production unit in your hands? If it is, then this is a first review.
The big question for me is value. Does the 109 offer value at its $800 price tag?
Tuning is very similar to Arya Stealth, slight bass boost, dip in 1khz and the stealth magnet air treble spike.
Curious on how detailed the driver is. I love larger 50mm dynamic drivers
The graph may seem similar at first glance but Arya has peaks in sibilance range and one at around 4.5khz that sucks out the response and makes it way too splashy sounding on all but the best recorded music. Its bass is also not as humped. The meze bass is closer to a Focal clear than anything.
Will upgraded balance Meze silver cables help with the vocal sound quality in movies?
i would love a maple version of these
I kinda love how Z Reviews put it.
"Your music taste is sh*t, your music is sh*t but these headphones don't care, they make it sound good no matter what"
And i did feel that with other meze headphones (i own the 99 Classics and have heard both the empyrean and Liric).
I hope I'll get to have a listen on these soon
What were the empyreans like? Worth 2k?
Which do you prefer? Focal clear OG or Meze 109 Pro?
They may be really solid. My feeling is that the mid-fi bracket is so competitive that these would end up being an aesthetic show piece that I would sit and admire while listening to the Aeon 2 Open
I don't think so. Have you heard the 99 with the small/original pads? I bought 3 pairs when it first came out. Though they're not really that technical, they sound balanced, really fun, and organic, and in some areas can even beat the most expensive headphones on the market. Does the Senn HD800 sound a lot more detailed and spacious and all that? Yes, on paper it's a far superior headphone, but a big part of listening to music is enjoyment, to my ears it doesn't sound natural at all and fatiquing and the bass is almost non existent. Unfortunately Meze changed the pads on the 99 some years back, and the current version is nowhere as good sounding, however they're still pretty popular, that's definitely saying something. I'd bet this 109 Pro will quickly become a lot of people's favourite, becoming their daily drivers, REGARDLESS OF PRICE. It's very likely that it'll be my favourite all round headphone, too. (just ordered one)
You mean until the pads on the Aeon 2 become misshapen 2 weeks later and have to be replaced.
You know i really wanted to be a full on objectivist but when i tried the aeon noire it really did have the issue that some people mention and that was it lacked dynamics and sounded "lifeless". I believe this is not due to the tuning or drivers used like others say but rather to do with the way it seals. For me it WASNT a comfortable headphone because the pads where to small along with its shape and i could never get them to fit right no matter where i adjusted them. This also affected the bass and some of the upper mids and as a result the headphone didn't sound like it measures to me however if your lucky enough to get a good seal and have small ears then it is a unbeatable headphone.
Hello. Tell me FIIO M11 PLUS ess in terms of balance (660mW at 32Ohm, 400mW at 16Ohm) will it be able to swing (open potential) Hifiman Edition XS?
It will be nice if you explain to us how they tune the drives in the design of the headphones. Thanks!
No dust protection for the drivers?
Hey brother how are they for FPS games and single player games
Hope you're having a awesome day!
Thank you
Kevin
how do they compared with some Dan Clark Aeon or AKG 712pro?
How does this compare to the lcd-x 2021? Just recieved mine and I love the sound after eq but it's 3x the weight of my r70x. I use oratory eq settings for it but boosted bass and lowered treble. I'm pretty sensitive to too much sharpness and listen to alot of edm and metal. While I love the sound, I'm still using my r70x most of the time which is far lower in quality but bliss for comfort.
Meze 109 looks amazing design-wise but worried I would be disappointed by the bass
For me, the ATH-R70X is 1 of the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever had.
It’s also 1 of the lightest full sized over ear headphones ever made, weighing only 210g!
One of the few reviewers on here that knows what they're talking about. It sad when people are rolling different cables thinking they make significant sound character changes to these and don't know anything about frequency response tuning.
I recently purchase ananda stealth for 350$ it probably would kill 109 in any aspect for like 1/3 price, build quality yes 109 is better but I want sound at the end
I would love to see a comparison to the Focal Clear OGs, Hifiman Edition XS, and ZMF Aeolus
strong competition at that price point, I would never give up my Clear's for that
The HEADPHONE Show Thanks Much !
I owned them alone w/ Fiio
M 17, the sound warm, but the don't do well sealing ears.
I know it, because people around me have told me the can hear what I'm listening 🎧
Don't know if it's on purpose and even if it isn't it's super nitpicky of me to point it out 🤣but your channel photo is off centered by 1-2 pixels, its shifted slightly to the right.
Great video I've been debating picking these up.
please, do soundstage headphones (include the 712pro)
does this compete favorably with the HE6 SEv2 which is just a bit under this price point... Once you do the grill mod and change the cable along with cup roll you're about the same price. I'm wondering if they are about the same level technically ?
How does this sound with the Kenzie tube amp?
At the price, I'd probably be cross shopping this with a Focal Clear OG as I'm looking for headphones that are easy to drive so I'm not stuck at a desk. These seem better for long term comfort though.
Also probably more serviceable than Focal
Also the Focal Clears get very dirty and oily over time (I owned them), both in earpad and headband. Also Im not really a fan of complaining about cables, every headphone reviewer just calls the original bad and buys another one that is often just a side-grade, but in the OG Focal Clear case it really is as bad as they say. The long cable is way too long and it holds shape way too much, and the shorter cable is much better but just is like 1 ft too short to be comfortable unless your amp is a few inches a way from you on a desk.
Good luck on your search!
@@PantsaBear I can second this. The Focal clear pads where disgusting after 1 year of use and the headband not much better. The memory foam absorbs all the sweat and oil then it gets trapped in the suede like material. In the UK you cant even buy replacement pads and they would be £220 if you could which is idiotic. Using the cable over short distances made me want to use it to strangle myself and you probably could its so stiff and feels like climbing rope. The headphone build itself was good but its hard to see why they had to charge what they did when Elex is basically the same build and materials cost. This Meze looks far better to me and uses velour which is the best pad material in my opinion a reason why Sennheiser use it and beyer use it too.
109 Pro vs. Ananda vs. Clear OG vs HD600 (for reference). Please? Thanks!
It looks absolutely amazing. I'd buy them for the looks alone although they probably sound great too.
lucky you. looks like you have money to burn.
nah not rlly quz im studying but i was quite stunned by the way they looked. Like it was one of the first ones i have seen where i was really like thats beautiful. Like most headphones look nice but still very much look like a machine wich has its purpose. But to me this one really looks like a piece of art.
best dac and amp for the classic 99?
I have Meze 99 classics. How much better they are than them? Because in price are on a big distance.
BG sound kicks in as the clip is shifted to dms's part. If this was a game there might be something going on.
This is the one headphone I have high hopes for. I own the HD600 and HD6XX and absolutely love the HD600. I hope this one is "better" in terms of a more fun approach to FR combined with a less 3 blob Soundstage compared to the HD600, whilst retaining very good timbre and having better technicalities. I guess I have to find a local dealer so that I can audition it.
HD600 and 650 still have a more natural treble presentation overall, but the 109 pro has better bass and more air up top.
How do you think the 6XX and 600 are in comparison? My only audiophile experience is with my 6XXs and I've been considering selling them just to try some 600s.
@@BionicSammich I have both 6xx and 600 (marble). The 6xx is very warm compared to the 600. I would used the 6xx for early morning listening because of the warmth and easy listening but would always switch to the 600 later in the day for the detail and liveliness. The 600 are not bright/lively compared to AKG or Beyer. They are still mid-forward but with more clarity then the 6xx. If you can, get both.
@@BionicSammich To me the HD600 sounds more defined, with more slam (not bass quantity) and instruments in orchestras sound more lifelike. Voices are presented quite a bit clearer as well. However, the presentation is even closer to your head compared to the HD6XX. As of now, it is my go-to headphone between the two. I only use the HD6XX to not use up the pads of the HD600 too much, since they are out of stock for months now. My HD600 is from 2009.
Wait, hi! I have hd600+ DarkVoice and I still haven't found a better sounding headphone. Talking about that infamous 3 blob?? Why people repeat what they hear on youtube? No way my setup sounds like that, the space is not very wide but there is beautiful stage created by both drivers, allowing you to clearly hear all reverbs defining the recording space. Off course, just using natural,acoustic instruments and voices.I went up to LC d2 c, Aeon noir,Ananda and still prefer the musical naturalness of 600on tubes.
I wonder how Lotoo Paw Gold Touch balanced would work with these...
so this thing or a set of NDH 30s?
Do I need these? No. Do I want these.... Oh no....
So you don't want or need them cool 😎
WANT TO HAVE xD these look amazing
It looks like it would be incredibly easy to EQ. How does it sound on the 5K? How does it compare to the Elegia?
It's a lot more balanced than elegia, so no EQ needed on this one.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow it looks like it could do with a slight sub bass shelf, a slight midbass trim, a bit of a 2K boost and possibly some air trim depending on your age.
The other meze headphones looked good yes but this looks glorious. I'm so sad that they are 800usd (if I remember correctly I am writing this at the end of the video)
I know these two are not the same but almost similar price bracket. Given that, HarmonicDyne G200 VS Meze 109 Pro and which will you pick? I do not own any Meze or HarmonicDyne, so I am a bit confused which to pick.
I'd go 109 for ergonomics alone. If you EQ, the G200 is definitely more technical, but otherwise I wouldn't consider it.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thank you so much for your reply. Since most of my headphones are open back except Audeze LCD-XC, Dan Clark Noire 2, and Elegia, I decided to get a closed back. Placed the order with headphones.com for Meze Liric. So excited. Thanks again.
Regarding the sound-stage I hope you didn't wore the headphones with the sides flipped perhaps?
Have you heard the Caldara yet?
I'm about to pull the trigger on an LCD-X used, you guys think I should get this instead new? Edit: Im new to the audio genre, and I just own a sundara
dont do silly thing and buy LCD X, after that sell sundara :) or at same price Focal Clear if you want punchier bass and overall warmer presentation with details
Whow,great headphone for fun and enjoy music 🎀
When you guys wear headphones with the cable not attached it makes me wish they were wireless. I understand that wires make for a better sound but always wanted something like a 6XX wireless.
I wonder how these compare to the Focal Clear? Similar price point and niche
not giving them any chances to be better than Clear
Can't wait to see the 199 Classic Pro Special Max Elite.
To me the Sennheiser HD5XX series are the most comfortable headphones of all time. Are these even more comfortable?
i would say the shp9500 and k712 pro and hd800s are the most comfortable i have had over the years.
Love my HD600. Is this an "upgrade"? Typically I listen to rock & blues for some idea of where I am coming from.
I felt like my Focal Clear is upgraded hd600
@@soulfulfool Appreciate the suggestion. I'll have a look into them.
Definitely an upgrade. My 600 is collecting dust since I got 109 pro.
My favourite Maze
00:20 you mean it's a First Impressions Pro
Where are they made???
Are the vocals presented in front of you or like on top of your forehead?
Has anyone heard and compared the Meze 109 Pro vs. Sennheiser HD800 headphones? I own the HD800 and the Meze 99 Classic and I love them, so I would like to know if the Meze 109 Pro is that much better than the classic and possibly outperform my HD800? Thanks in advance to anyone who can offer their impressions between the 109 Pro and HD800 headphones.
so you have 1 bright and 1 very dark headphones, 99 is just wrong with their tuning its not music as intended its pile of bass mud all over the spectrum, HD800 is something entirely different from 99 and 109
About to listen to these at Canjam SoCal, may be my first "audiophile" headphone purchase as well. Ticks all the boxes.
Please let us know what you think!
@@RayceManyon00 Will do.
What dac/amp you have? The signal path is just as important and will play a MAJOR part in how they sound. At CanJam they will most likely be using high-end items so they may not sound as good for you if your equipment isn't as good.
Just food for thought.
@@LakerTriangle Right now its the dacmagic 200m for all different types of media, from music to games to movies to online content.
@@LakerTriangle Just listened to them at the headphone show booth in which they so happened to bring a dacmagic 200m which completely cleared the sibilance issue. Bought two pairs from them on the spot, beautiful clean airy and detailed highs, mildly recessed mids with a nice refined bass. Also extremely impressed with the VZR Model 1's and bought them too.
talking about wood and headphones and not thinking of kennerton tells me something, right?
This thing looks fun… *adds to amazon wishlist* haha
Please compare to HD650
meze is comfortable for anyone? i stopped using the 99 because they annoyed me to oblivion i just couldnt keep it on my head
Tbf about the comment on the meze 99s being to flashy because of the gold accents, you could get the 99s with silver accents instead which in my opinion looks so much better for the same price.
no matter the colour its still tuned to satisfy basshead kids not a serious music enthusiast
How it is compared to Focal clear and hd800s? Pls :)
I just heard them next to HD800s.
It has noticeably more and higher quality bass and bit more pleasant mid range and I actually like the sparkle of 109.
800s have pretty much one of the most interesting sound stages and imaging capabilities but other than that and fairly neutral mids I actually prefer even HD660 over HD800s I think HD800s without EQ isn't that amazing headphone but yeah with enough bass HD800s would be more interesting but still don't think it can perform technically on the Meze level except with bigger sound stage...
Thank you so you think the resolution is on pair with hd800?
I’d prefer if it came in the noire finish.
I bet there will be other variations later on, especially if these will be popular.
@@rem792 I got that feeling they wont be popular at that price
@@soulfulfool Yeah, I don't think they are worth it. You pay a lot just for the design and build rather than the sound
you had a leisurely trip to Munich with DMS? did you kiss? ihihihihih
love your reviews man!
FR looks like a hifiman, Dynamic version of Ananda anyone?
Yet another open back, though.
We already have incredible options for open backs. It’s closed backs which are slim pickin’s.
Have you listen to the DCA Aeon Noire? I thought those were amazing... just not $900 amazing.
@@RayceManyon00 Just the Closed X. But that’s what I mean though. Well tuned, affordable closed-backs are limited to the K371 and NTH-100. Both of which have serious issues with comfort.
in that price I am considering LCD XC (lightly used condition ofc)
More headphones need the auto adjust mechanism.
Neumann NH30 is monitor grade. Elegant titanium and lovely pads. For all those saying this is the one to best sub-1000… rubbish.
to be honest these days nh30 can be bitchslap by hifimans offfers, way cheaper with better performance
For me it is this or the HE6SEv2 - would love a comparison…
Resolve here - He6se v2 has better instrument separation, but meze 109 is more spacious and more comfortable. Also he6se v2 needs an amp, while meze 109 pro doesn't.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thanks a lot Resolve. Much appreciated and very helpful. It sounds like they are on par trading blows on performance? - so, if I have the amp muscle and quality (Taurus mk2) would you still say it is a matter of preference sound wise? - and what would your preference be?…for looks and comfort there is little doubt.
How does this compare with the Celestee?
Oh wow focal Celestee blows these out the water I returned the Meze 109 pros nothing can’t top my celestees yet 🤷♂️
Very tough competition at this price...
I'd really like it if it had a similar tonality to the 99 classics. There aren't that many good open back headphones with that warm, lush and smooth tonality for all day, everyday use. I'd also like it better if it had a similar pricing to the 99 classics. 😀
You could always buy a HD650 and eq in a 12db bass shelf below 150hz. Personally i dont like using EQ because i cant get the thought out of my head that it alters the sound resolution but if you dont mind its an option.
@@Jordonater i do most of my music listening on headphones using tidal (direct mode) on my pc and this way I can't use eq (i could, using for example jriver, but i don't want to pay extra for that) Also, i use eq but only for smaller tweaks so it doesn't cause distortion or completely alter the headphones personality (like the lack os resolution you mention for example).
@@JoseFerreira-zb7wh Oh no problems. Im very tempted by this Meze but waiting to see if quality control is consistent across buyers. Seems like it extends so low it wouldn't need EQ.
@@Jordonater I bought one and after 5 hours of use the left side quit working. Pity as I really enjoyed it. I have another one coming. We'll see how this one goes.
Aw man its 800$. Thats really up there in price, I was hoping for something closer to 400$. Tough to justify this given the competition.
Yep. Their competitors will get my money.
@@epicmike3915 Which ones are getting your money?
@@disco4535 Sivga/Sendy make a bunch wooden headphones. I haven't decided what yet.
@@epicmike3915 Wooden lol? So I guess there aren't any competitors with this level of sound quality, comfort and overall detail? You haven't heard these yet. What for $800 is better than these?
@@disco4535 what are you talking about? There isn't 800$ of sound level here to me. I literally just said I listened to these at Axpona in another comment. I know what they sound like. To quote No theme reviews "Better is not an objective standard. You’re asking to discuss personal preferences. If you like the sound signature, that’s perfectly fine, but it’s a bit much to say it’s the best in its price range"
Man I know it’s probably worth the price in todays economy with it’s R&D… but it’s not competitive in pricing at all. I’d argue that it needs to be dropped to $600 but then again I don’t know what kind of sacrifices they’d have to do in order to achieve that price and still get a decent margin.
Yeah, Meze don't seem to care about competing in the price/performance category. I'd love to buy a domestic-made headphone with enjoyable sound and be able to go around recommending it to everyone, but Meze's price/performance (on all models) is just... nah thanks.
That dip in the mid is a no for me. I've lived all my life without those frequencies, I can't lose them again.
Lol
My brother in Christ you may want to look into EQ
@@smo7089 My brother in sound, I already used EQ for like 3 years. Getting it to work across all of the audio of the PC, while changing multiple sample rates, between music and regular work stuff, was a hassle. Equalizer APO didn't work beyond some sample rates, crashed on some files, or didn't work in games; or worked when it felt like it, all of that to add makeup on top of acne. The alternative was getting an analog external equalizer, stuff like Schiit Loki or the RME ADI-2 DAC.
After all that I came to the conclusion that all the tweaking I will do to the sound of headphones is going to be pad rolling at most. If the headphone at its base level doesn't deliver what I want, I won't bother with EQ again.
@@sand9577 fuck EQ 👍😂 I got variety of headphones and amps
Do the headband metal arches transfer sound (microphonic?) to your ears when you touch/bump them?
Yes. But I had not heard it till you suggested it.
It would be impossible not to. You're just not touching it when listening.
explain logo
how many ohms are they?
40. Fairly easy to drive.
10:22 there is popping on the left chanel
Nice. But can they just make something much better than an HD 600? That's an old model but even Meze can't at it's price. Hmmm, even Sennheiser couldn't but can't other companies build something better sounding for the price???
the word pro is such a dead marketing term nowadays
D, $800... 3.5 mm...? My Jotunheim was just wondering.
First impression-PRO
13:41 "You don't even need a watt" The specs state "Sensitivity: 112dB SPL at 1KHz, 1mW" 112dB with 0.001 watt. Yeah, a watt would launch those into low earth orbit. It's hard to take his review with any confidence with statements like that.
Ugh, I hate the "tarantular" looking rear grille. Maybe for some people that looks like some soopercool car rim, but it looks like a scary black spider to me.
Unfortunately it's a bit expensive. You can get open box Arya Stealth (V3) for around this price starting recently
Stealth is $1,000 more expensive, what are you talking about?
@@MeteoraEra Arya Stealth is $1300 new in the US and Open Box is probably about 1k, what do you mean?
That being said, theres definitely a jump between 800 New and 1k to 1.1k Open Box. That isnt insignificant, and Im sure the Arya arent an undisputed upgrade
Just by looking at the graphs, you can easily tell that the 109 would sound WAY more balanced and natural than the Arya Stealth. That's on top of being a dynamic headphone (planar headphones, regardless of price, simply don't sound as natural, that's just the way it is). If the 109 Pro was priced $3,000, people would be saying different things. And also there's just some areas planar headpones simply can't compete with dynamic ones. An exteme example is the classic (dirt cheap) HD600, in some areas this still can give the most expensive planar headphones a run for their money, and despite it's shortcomings, the legendary midrange has really stood the test of time. The reason why it's in every true audiophile collection!
"Oh cool I get to be in the video" LOL
Like comment & subscribe!
So it's......V shaped?
What about the earth being flat?
12:34 - that’s euphonic, not euphoric!
I'd say my TakeT H2+ are still better than these. With a little bit of tape and a hammer 🔨 you'd be surprised what headphones can transform into.😎
Now give it to crin--the Meze hater
carhartt is a construction worker brand, yes work clothing. i love how people who generally haven't lifted a finger in their life love to wear this stuff. i work in a steel foundry, you wouldn't catch me dead wearing that brand.
thats a lot of mud in the FR