In case you ask us reviewers, Meze has by no means made a mediocre headphone. And whereas the 109 Professional has been round for some time now, it continues to be some of the desired headphones in its class, even for seasoned audiophiles. What qualities separate the 109 Professional from the gang? And does its general efficiency warrant the value tag?
What’s Within the Field?
- Meze 109 Professional headphones
- Onerous Carrying Case
- Leather-based Cable Pouch
- Two 3.5mm cable (1.5m and 3m)
- 1/4 inch Adapter.
Look and Really feel
I not often care about how a headphone seems, however the 109 Professional is so elegant in its look and stable in its development that even earlier than listening, it’s onerous to to not contact. Meze appears to have nearly cloned the overall design of its entry-level mannequin, the Meze 99, in all probability as a result of it simply works. Light-weight, with cozy velour ear pads and a mild match across the ears, these cans by no means felt fatiguing or uncomfortable. So, should you’re notably delicate to agency suits, the 109 Professional might be one of many extra forgiving decisions.
Design
The 109 Professional contains a 50mm driver with a twin membrane diaphragm, incorporating a mix of supplies together with beryllium-coated polymer, cellulose carbon fiber composite, and copper-zinc alloy. The TPE cables are enclosed in black aluminum and geared up with 3.5mm connectors on each ends. So, must you select to improve your sound, you would simply swap out the unique cable with the next grade cable from Meze.
With a 40 Ohm impedance, the 109 Professional additionally stands out as a some of the environment friendly open-back headphones in its echelon. In truth, for this evaluate, I paired the 109 Professional with the very modest FiiO Q3 DAC/amp, and nonetheless discovered that I had loads of headroom to spare. So, even a direct connection to your telephone, for instance, ought to offer you sufficient quantity.
Sound Impressions
Soundstage
The soundstage on the 109 Professional feels considerably centered. That’s, devices really feel much less scattered far within the distance, and extra directed to the main focus of the pinnacle. On the similar time, there’s nonetheless tons of dimension with respect to the imaging. So, though instrument placement feels tremendous exact , there’s a nonetheless a contained high quality to the soundstage that displays the excessive degree of management the 109 Professional delivers general. And this deliciously restrained taste manifests all through the 109 Professional’s character, and in my view, it’s a part of what makes this sound signature so stylish.
Low-Finish
The low-end feels tastefully reserved. Listening to pop tracks, for instance, although the bass was current, it didn’t have a beneficiant quantity of punch or energy. (The high-bass frequencies in all probability really feel essentially the most distinguished.) And hip-hop tracks revealed little or no sub-bass presence; definitely sub frequencies didn’t attain visceral ranges. However what the bass lacks in smack, it makes up for with its extremely tidy and detailed supply of acoustic parts. Devices sound remarkably pure and minimally coloured all through the low-end. And mixed with the notably multidimensional soundstage, folks, jazz and classical performances felt notably life-like and immersive on this vary.
Mids
Any richness or heat lacking within the low-end is compensated for within the low-mids, which offers simply the correct quantity of physique and lushness to the combination. On the similar time, the high-mids keep away from protruding via the observe, by no means bringing vocals too far ahead or introducing any harshness to the steadiness. Evidently reasonably than going for a extremely dynamic sound profile, Meze has as a substitute delivered a tightly managed sound that creates a clean and regular momentum. So, don’t anticipate to be knocked off your chair. This headphone is extra of a simple rider, by no means offending the ears, however all the time driving the track ahead with a clean and measured vitality. And general, the midrange profile sounds very pure, whereas nonetheless sustaining a richness in tone. In brief, its aways reasonable, however by no means scientific.
Highs
I definitely didn’t expertise any FOMO on this vary. The highs are superbly prolonged, delivering shine and crispness to percussion devices. And when balanced with the comparatively mellow decrease frequencies, this vary simply provides a contact of brilliance to the combination. On the similar time, the 109 Professional nonetheless stays a forgiving listening expertise even on the highest treble peaks. And it goes with out saying that transparency continues to be prime notch on this vary, revealing each crackle and breath of vocal performances, whereas nonetheless retaining the subtly polished high quality that makes the 109 Professional such a chic sounding headphone.
Abstract
Each Meze headphone I’ve skilled has left me enamored, and the 109 Professional isn’t any completely different. Whereas it might not ship thunderous bass or ultra-vibrant higher mids, what it does provide is a meticulously managed vitality and a barely refined character that’s unexpectedly heat, radiant and straightforward on the ears. In brief, it’s the epitome of sonic class. And though 800 bucks will not be thought-about low-cost for a headphone, there is no denying that the 109 Professional is without doubt one of the most gifted and complex choices out there underneath $1000.
You should buy the Meze 109 Professional at Audio 46.
