The Meze Audio 105 Silva 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 Meze Audio 105 Silva is $499 and you can buy it from the Meze Audio online shop.
Meze Audio
Meze Audio is a headphones and earphones manufacturing company based in Romania. Their products are well known for combining timeless design and premium craftsmanship with high quality sound.
The brand is famous for their flagship planar magnetic headphones, like the Empyrean II and the Elite, but not only as they also make many headphones and earphones with dynamic drivers, such as the entry-level Alba and the 105 AER.
Meze Audio has been extensively covered by Ichos Reviews, click here to read more reviews and discover their products.
Meze Audio 105 Silva
The company currency makes three open-back headphones with dynamic drives. The flagship 109 Pro, the entry level 105 AER and the recently released 105 Silva that is priced as the mid tier of the other two models. Each member of the family has its own unique tuning and an individual but not radically different appearance.
Technical overview
According to Meze Audio, the 105 Silva is equipped with a 50mm dynamic driver that has a W-shaped dome made from carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite. A material that is more durable than conventional alternatives, yet lightweight enough and helps reduce resonances that may lead to harmonic distortion.
The torus surrounding the dome is composed of titanium-coated semicrystalline polymer designed to optimize stiffness, speed, and tonal balance. The torus features precisely positioned grooves at a 45.5° angle, effectively controlling resonances and enabling the driver to reproduce sound with accuracy and fluidity. A copper-zinc alloy stabilizer, positioned around the membrane, improves the absorption of vibrations to further reduce distortion.
Design and wearing comfort
Every Meze Audio headphone is designed drawing inspiration from a major art movement. The 105 Silva follows the mid-century modern movement, focusing on clean shapes, functionality, and durability, while integrating natural and more modern materials in its construction.
The radial grilles intertwine with the walnut wood to form the ear cups, blending vintage charm with contemporary aesthetics. The spring steel frame of the headphone is adorned with extra zinc alloy parts that add a touch of discreet luxury. All three headphones of the family are visually attractive, however the 105 Silva is my favorite one.
The self-adjusting headband is ergonomically shaped and made from PU leather that is stuffed with soft cushion material. It is wide enough to help with the even distribution of the headphone weight (354g) without creating hot spots on the head. The clamping force is medium, while the ear cups are made from breathable velour and are large enough to engulf the whole ear without letting it touch the driver.
Generally speaking, the Meze Audio 105 Silva is an exceptionally comfortable headphone that feels like hugging your head and ears. Build quality is excellent and moreover the headphone is fully serviceable. The only thing to note is that the frame/headband system can produce some faint noise during adjustment or sudden head movements.
Cable and accessories
The 105 Silva is generously accessorised. The bundle includes a hard EVA carrying case in black color, a 1.8m long OFC cable, a custom 3.5mm to USB type-C cable adapter with an integrated DAC/amp, a 6.35mm hard adapter and a pouch to store the cables. A cable with a balanced 4.4mm plug is not included but you can order one from the Meze Audio online shop.
The cable is reinforced with a Kevlar outer sheath in its main run, while the side wires are coated with soft PVC. It is a well made cable that is soft, easy to handle without getting too tangled, and only just a little bit microphonic. Please note that the 3.5mm cable sockets on the headphone side are recessed so they can accept plugs up to a certain diameter.
Sensitivity and associated equipment
With a sensitivity as high as 112dB SPL/mW and 42Ω of impedance, the 105 Silva is easy to drive from portable USB DAC dongles, like the Cayin RU3 or the ONIX Beta. You can even drive them with the included USB type-C DAC cable.
However, it responds very well to upstream gear, not necessarily much more powerful but of higher quality, like the iBasso DX180 and the FiiO M23.
All these sources are balanced, so I had to use Meze Audio’s dual mono 3.5mm copper PCUHD premium cable, as well as the Lavricables ultimate pure silver cable.
Listening evaluation
Meze Audio decided to go with a tuning that sits somewhere between the 109 Pro and the 105 AER. The sonic character of the 105 Silva combines a great deal of the 109 Pro’s technical supremacy with the easy listening nature of the 105 AER to form its own unique personality.
The low-end of 105 Silva is the most neutrally tuned out of the three, the frequency response is almost flat by reference standards, making it ideal for critical listening. The sub-bass extension is satisfying for an open-back headphone, and then the bass aims for tonal precision rather than following one of the popular target curves. The 105 Silva doesn’t induce any coloration of its own, all low-pitched instruments are reproduced with strict accuracy and their realistic pitch.
The technical performance is exceptional and among the best in its class. The bass is fast, tight and controlled without any audible cup reflections or echoing effects. The textures might not be that weighty but you wouldn’t call them too dry or lean either. They are not the most elastic or visceral but they are especially clear and well defined. You can hear every last note, even in large scale symphonic works with massive orchestras. The bass is powerful and hits hard straight off portable sources, while it gains extra punch and liveliness when fed with some extra current.
More to read
The mid-range is relatively balanced but with an upper mid-range prominence that is not present in the other two models. The Silva is not as mid-centric as the 109 Pro, it goes for a slightly different presentation where upper mid harmonics are more emphasized and intense. However, this intensity is smartly controlled to keep the sound vivid and fresh while avoiding making it sharp or fatiguing on the long run. The Silva might not be as melodic and expressive as the 105 AER, but it still sounds engaging with all kinds of music while offering superior clarity and separation, close to that of the 109.
The treble strands out as especially energetic and brilliant, more sparking and also brighter than the other two models. The Silva is even less forgiving than the 109 Pro and might end sounding as a little fatiguing with poorly mastered recordings or too bright sources. On the other hand it resolves exceptionally well and offers excellent detail retrieval without sounding clinical or analytical.
The textures are not as full as in the 105 AER and not as refined as in the 109 Pro but they still manage to strike a good balance. The timbre is generally speaking natural with just a touch of some metallic artificiality. Something that gets more audible when reproducing the upper high registers of certain instruments, like the harpsichord, the trumpet or the violin. Transient speeds are fast, the Silva is a vivid and agile headphone, however its decay is not that rushed and as a result high pitched instruments don’t sound lifeless or flat.
The open soundstage
The soundstage of the Meze Audio 105 Silva is wider and more expansive than certain similarly priced headphones, like the Sennheiser HD660S2. It offers a focused center image with precise positioning around it, but it has a relatively limited depth. The overall presentation is flatter than deeper, so although it has plenty of scale to sound convincing with full orchestral or choral works, it just slightly falls short of providing a truly immersive and holographic presentation.
Vs the Meze Audio 109 Pro and 105 AER
The core sonic differences between these three headphones have already been discussed in the listening evaluation section. For a more detailed and exhaustive comparison, please visit the Meze Audio 105 AER review where you can read my original and very detailed analysis.
For those too lazy to do it, I have asked AI to help me write a short summary.
“The three Meze Audio models share a clear family identity, yet each one interprets that house sound slightly differently.
The 105 SILVA is the more neutral and technically focused version of the 105 AER. It has slightly leaner, more accurate bass, cleaner upper mids, and brighter, airier treble. While more resolving and precise, it sounds drier and less playful than the AER.
The 105 AER offers fuller bass and a warmer, more relaxed presentation, making it the more fun and easygoing option.
The 109 PRO blends the stronger bass of the AER with the sparkle of the SILVA, adding a richer and more forward midrange. It sounds musical and lush, yet more transparent and refined overall.
Technically, the 109 PRO leads with better resolution, faster bass, stronger dynamics, and a wider, deeper soundstage. The SILVA follows closely, while the AER ranks third but remains impressive for its price. In terms of value, the SILVA stands out, the AER is the budget-friendly choice, and the 109 PRO delivers the most complete flagship experience.”
In the end
Third time’s a charm as they say, after two great and much acclaimed headphones, Meze Audio enriches the lineup with a third model that is like their sonic and visual fusion. The 105 Silva is for all those that were looking for a more transparent and tonally balanced version of the 105 AER but didn’t have the budget for the 109 Pro.
However, the 105 Silva is not just a technically scaled down version of the 109 Pro because it has its own unique personality that is going to appeal to a lot of people, while it is equally well made, visually attractive and comfortable to use.
The 105 Silva is one of Meze Audio’s best headphones, that successfully establishes the Romanian brand as a major name in the very competitive $500 category. It holds strong against many legendary models by makers like Sennheiser, Hifiman, Audio Technica and Beyerdynamic, while it is one of the best options for anyone looking for a balanced sounding and very comfortable headphone.
Copyright – 2026.
Authored by Petros Laskis for Ichos Reviews. All content is original and copyrighted. Republishing full reviews or substantial portions without written permission is prohibited. Excerpts up to 100 words are allowed with a direct link.
+ Stellar sound quality
+ Neutral-reference tuning
+ Excellent technical performance and resolution
+ Clean and transparent
+ Wide and spacious soundstage
+ Easy to drive but it also scales well
+ Lightweight and very comfortable
+ Visually striking appearance
+ Exceptionally well made and fully serviceable
+ Plenty of high quality accessories
+ Competitive price
- Slightly bright and unforgiving treble
- Not that visceral or weighty textures
- Limited soundstage depth
- The balanced cable is not included as a standard accessory
- Recessed 3.5mm plugs limit aftermarket cable compatibility
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