The Meze Audio 105 AER was kindly provided free of charge in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t receive monetary or any other kind of compensation and I don’t use affiliate links.
The price of the 105 AER is $399 and you can buy it directly from Meze Audio.
Meze Audio
Meze Audio is an audio brand based in Baia Mare, Romania. They make headphones and earphones that combine timeless design and premium craftsmanship with high quality sound.
They are best known for their planar magnetic headphones, like the Empyrean II and the Elite, but they also make headphones and earphones with dynamic drivers such as the Meze Audio ADVAR and the 109 PRO.
Meze Audio 105 AER
The 105 AER is Meze Audio’s most affordable open-back headphone with dynamic drivers. The entry-level model in a line that also comprises the 105 SILVA and the 109 PRO headphones.
The headphone features the same 50mm dynamic driver architecture found in the 109 PRO but with slight modifications in the driver membrane and frame in order to make it as accessible as possible.
The W-shaped dome is made of a carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite, a material that is more durable than conventional alternatives used in dynamic drivers, yet lightweight enough.
The torus surrounding the dome is made of PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone), a semicrystalline polymer with excellent mechanical properties. Stiffness and durability are also enhanced through the grooves on the torus, which are precisely positioned at a 45.5° angle, while a copper-zinc alloy stabilizer is positioned around the membrane.
Design and wearing experience
The Meze Audio 105 AER is a lightweight headphone (336g) that has the exact same headband and frame design as the more expensive 109 PRO.
The spring-steel frame is assembled together with cast-zinc alloy parts in a silver colored PVD coating that adds a nice contrast to the total black finish of the headphone.
The self-adjusting headband is covered with soft PU leather and is stuffed with soft memory foam. It is generously wide to help with weight distribution without irritating the head.
The clamping force is just enough to keep the headphone stable without exercising much pressure to the face. Wearing the headphone can produce some crackling sounds on the frame but it doesn’t happen when listening to music.
The oval shaped ear cups are made of black colored PC-ABS material and have beautiful looking outer grills with Art Deco inspired patterns.
The detachable ear pads are covered with soft velour material and are large enough to engulf the whole ear. The inner foam is of medium density that feels smooth to the face. The velour can get a little warm after a while but it doesn’t cause much sweat.
The Meze Audio 105 AER is so comfortable, well-built, and premium in appearance that it’s hard to believe it comes at such an affordable price. Even better, the headphones are fully serviceable and can be taken apart with ease.
Stock cable and accessories
The 105 AER comes equipped with a 1.8m long, OFC cable with dual 3.5mm mono plugs and a 3.5mm jack. The cable is reinforced with kevlar sheathing, it is well made, relatively soft and easy to handle.
Unlike the 109 PRO, the 3.5mm connectors sit flush to the ear cups so you can use a great variety of aftermarket cables. In case that you are interested, Meze Audio makes their own upgrade cables.
The stock cable is not bad for the price but now that most sources on the market are balanced, a cable with a 4.4mm plug and a 3.5mm adapter would make better sense.
The generously accessorized bundle also includes a small pouch for storing the cable, a 6.35mm adapter and a high quality hard EVA carrying case.
Power requirements
42Ω impedance with 112dB SPL/mW of sensitivity means that the Meze Audio 105 AER is very easy to drive and pairs well with portable sources like the FiiO KA17 or the iBasso DC07PRO.
The 105 AER might not need much power but it scales pretty well so don’t be afraid to experiment with higher quality portable sources like the iBasso DX180 or even desktop gear like the D&A Alpha Pro. Just remember that the 105 AER doesn’t need more power but better quality in order to start scaling.
A Lavricables pure silver cable with a balanced 4.4mm plug was used for the review.
Listening impressions
Browsing on the Meze Audio 105 AER marketing material we can read that the headphone was tuned to deliver an exceptionally lush audio presentation with a rich and warm sound signature.
This is one of the few instances where the marketing literature aligns with the actual listening experience. Truly enough, the 105 AER is tuned to sound fun and emotional without much compromises in its tonal accuracy and transparency.
The low-end is characterized by a gentle sub-bass lift that adds rumble and solid foundation to the music without overpowering the rest of the frequencies. Then follows a combination of a tasteful bass and mid-bass emphasis that doesn’t mess with mid-range transparency. The bass is present enough but doesn’t bleed into the mid-range that is left plenty of space to breathe and shine on its own.
This is a chameleon tuning that works wonders as it makes the headphone sound very exciting and enjoyable while not excluding more critical listening moods. The low-end isn’t, strictly speaking, tuned to reference standards, but it’s not so off that you could call it out of tune.
The 105 AER would not be my primary choice for listening to classical music (the 105 SILVA is) but I love the fact that I can use it to go through my whole playlist without the need to reach for another headphone. At the end of the day, rock, pop, EDM, jazz and even classical, all sound great with the 105 AER.
More listening impressions
The bass is not short of technical skills either as it is pretty quick, tight and controlled enough with good timing. The driver is not lighting fast and doesn’t have military discipline, some gentle echo and a slightly longer decay are audible, but it compensates with its full bodied and visceral textures.
The bass is weighty and elastic (not lean or dry ) while at the same time it is well textured and defined. The dynamic behavior is also excellent but not class leading, the 105 AER can hit hard and fill your ears with high quality bass, without sounding soft or anemic, but it doesn’t have the raw physical impact of some other headphones like the 109 PRO.
The mid-range is rich and warm yet tonally balanced and flat enough minus a generous upper mid-range emphasis that adds prominence and clarity to this part of the frequency range. Do expect some overtones to sound more amplified and forward than others but without shouting into your ears or messing that much with the tonal balance. The textures are lush and weighty but also combined with excellent definition so you won’t miss a note.
The 105 AER is a musical and emotionally engaging headphone that connects the listener with the music. Its timbre is natural and realistic while it is very skillful in highlighting the harmonic richness of the music. That is, if it is present in the source as it is also transparent enough and doesn’t add much coloration of its own.
And some more…
The higher frequencies have a mix of smoothness and vividness, the 105 AER is not lacking in treble extension and energy but it avoids sounding too bright or sharp. I wouldn’t call the tuning as too safe, the higher frequencies have plenty of sparkle and luminosity to show but with a gentle politeness.
The 105 AER is detailed and resolving enough but it doesn’t have the analytical skills or the monitoring attitude of other more “audiophile” headphones. Not accidentally of course but on purpose as Meze Audio chose to tune it this way because not all cats are grey.
The textures are more refined than expected for the category and the timbre is true-to-life without metallic artificiality. The decay is also not too fast or that slow but balanced enough to make higher pitched instruments sound realistic and full bodied.
The soundstage is wide and spacious enough with sufficient depth and good imaging accuracy. It is not that open sounding or layered but it fairs much better than the Sennheiser HD650. The sound elements are focused and projected in a way that is not too intimate or too forward, the music doesn’t extend that much out of your head but it is not shoved into it either.
The Meze Audio 105 AER is a headphone that is transparent enough and not that sonically colored to pair well with most sources except maybe some too thick or warm sounding ones. As an example it sounds better from the solid-state mode of the Muse HiFi M5 Ultra than its tube stage.
Vs the Meze Audio 105 SILVA and 109 PRO
Physical comparison
From the most expensive to the least expensive, Meze Audio’s open-back headphones with dynamic driver technology are the 109 PRO, the 105 SILVA, and the 105 AER.
Three siblings who resemble each other, yet each has a distinct sense of style. While the 109 PRO, 105 SILVA, and 105 AER share the same headband and frame design, each features distinct earcup styles.
They have slightly different weights (109 PRO/375g, 105 SILVA/354g, 105 AER/336) but all three offer the same comfortable wearing experience and are equally well made with high quality materials.
Sonic comparison
These three headphones might have subtle tuning variations but they share the same house sound.
The 105 SILVA is a more “audiophile” version of the 105 AER. Its bass is slightly less emphasized and more neutrally tuned thus offering reference-standard tonal accuracy. It is technically superior and more defined but a little drier and not as visceral.
It has a cleaner and slightly more forward sounding upper mid-range while it is more brilliant and airy. The higher frequencies have more sparkle and energy but also come across as sharper and with a slightly metallic timbre, giving them a more aggressive character and leaner texture. The SILVA lacks the casual and fun approach of the 105 AER as it adheres to a more austere presentation of the music.
The 109 PRO combines the emphasized bass of the 105 AER with the brilliance of the SILVA and adds more prominence to the mid-range. It balances warmth with clarity and sparkle. Its overall sound signature is like listening to a fusion of the other two headphones. The 109 PRO is musical and engaging with lush textures and plenty of harmonic richness but it also has excellent transparency and fidelity.
Technical comparison
Apart from their obvious tuning differences, which we have previously discussed, Meze Audio has ensured that the technical performance of each headphone aligns with its price.
The 109 PRO is the best of the three as it is the most transparent and resolving one with higher quality textures. The bass is faster with better definition and control while it is the most dynamically contrasted and impactful. The soundstage is wider and deeper with more precise imaging and a much grander presentation. The 105 SILVA follows close and the 105 AER comes as the third but it still fares much better than expected.
Verdict
Considering all the above and if someone was asked to categorize the headphones from a price to performance perspective, then the SILVA would stand out as the best value of the three. The 105 AER remains an excellent option for anyone seeking an affordable, high-quality headphone, while those chasing the full flagship experience will need to dig deeper into their pockets and get the 109 PRO.
In the end
The Meze Audio 105 AER is an excellent sounding and tonally balanced headphone that favors the fun elements of the music without foregoing more critical listening applications. A true all-rounder headphone that you can use all day long without feeling the need to reach for another one.
Additionally, it is easy to drive but it also scales with higher quality sources, it is exceptionally well made and premium looking while it offers a truly comfortable wearing experience.
The 105 AER might be Meze Audio’s most affordable open-back headphone but it still manages to offer high quality sound and craftsmanship without the premium price tag.
Copyright – Petros Laskis 2025.
+ Excellent sonic performance
+ Balanced tuning suitable for most applications
+ Musical and engaging
+ Full bodied and weighty bass
+ Good clarity and transparency
+ Competitive technical performance
+ Easy to drive with good scaling potential
+ Timeless “Meze Audio” design
+ Well made and premium looking
+ Lightweight and very comfortable
+ A High quality cable and carrying case are included
+ Reasonably priced with great value
- The bass is slightly lacking in physical impact and control
- Relatively flat and shallow soundstage
- Not the most refined or resolving treble
- Not for those looking for specialised tunings
- Doesn't come with a balanced cable
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