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Sound Quality
Meze Audio is a master brand for designing and crafting beautiful headphones. But how about the sound performance of the 105 AER? The new 105 AER is aimed at the casual listener rather than all-in audiophiles who usually invest in equipment. So, the sound presentation is safe, without too much coloration or extension on the polar ends, and it is in an airy and spacious environment.
With this tuning, it is an all-rounder, performing very well across different scenarios. Furthermore, the 105 AER is crisp, fast, energetic, and vibrant in the mid-range. It’s a joyful headphone with excitement, spaciousness, and high pace. However, I would say that the tuning is a bit ”too safe”, but that’s an audiophile’s perspective.
Bass
The 105 AER delivers a conservative approach to the bass region, offering a speedy, controlled, and natural response. The presentation emphasizes balance and breathiness, with the dynamic driver excelling in control and definition. While the bass isn’t the standout feature, it is enjoyable for genres like Pop and R&B, providing sufficient impact when needed, though lacking the pronounced depth or rumble of bass-focused headphones.
The bass showcases good decay and recovery, with a well-balanced mid-bass region free from excessive colouration. The transition from mid-bass to mid-range is seamless and well-organized, contributing to a cohesive sound.
The bass quantity feels subdued compared to more impactful headphones like Meze’s own 109 Pro, which offers more pronounced rumble and weight. Sub-bass performance is on the lighter side, with limited depth and impact. The mid-bass also lacks prominence, leading to a flatter overall bass presentation. While the 105 AER impresses with its clean and refined bass quality, those seeking a more dynamic and engaging bass response might find the 109 Pro better suited to their preferences. The 105 AER is a solid option for listeners prioritizing balance, speed, and control over sheer bass impact.
Mids
The 105 AER excels in the mid-range, delivering a vibrant and engaging presentation that stands out for its musicality. The mid-range balances energy and refinement, ensuring a lively yet controlled listening experience.
The mid-range has an “in-your-face” character with vibrant tones and lifelike vocal delivery, making it highly engaging. True to the qualities of dynamic drivers, the timbre is natural and flowing, enhancing realism in instruments and vocals. The mids are transparent and definitive, offering high clarity and precision. Dynamism, resolution, and instrument separation are excellent, contributing to an immersive and well-detailed presentation.
The 105 AER’s mid-range performance stands out for its balance of musicality and technical refinement. It combines clean execution, strong definition, and vibrancy, ensuring an enjoyable and highly detailed listening experience. Whether you prioritize natural tones or technical accuracy, the mid-range delivers on all fronts, making it a highlight of the 105 AER.
Treble
105 AER delivers commendable performance in high frequencies, balancing definition, articulation, and realism. Treble clarity and detail stand out, with crisp highs that enhance instrument textures and vocals without being overly bright. The dynamic and airy nature of the treble adds a sense of space and openness to the soundstage, while cymbals and high-frequency instruments exhibit realistic timbre. The attack is good, and the separation between treble and mids ensures a clean and transparent presentation.
Treble extension, however, is not as pronounced as that of the 109 Pro. In choosing a smoother and safer approach, the 105 AER sacrifices some upper treble sparkle and airiness, offering a less bright but more forgiving high-frequency response.
Despite these trade-offs, the treble remains transparent and resolving, with excellent stage positioning and articulation. While it lacks the brilliance and extension of its higher-end counterpart, the 105 AER’s treble tuning strikes a balance that works well across various genres and listening setups. For its price, the high frequencies are well-tuned and technically proficient, making the headphones a versatile and enjoyable choice.
Technical Performance
105 AER offers a fair soundstage for its price, particularly in width. While it may not rival higher-end headphones, its staging performance is not bad for a sub-$500 category headphone. The soundstage provides a sense of space and openness, giving instruments and vocals a defined and airy placement. The 105 AER strikes a good balance for its class, delivering spatial characteristics that are quite good at this price point.
105 AER excels in imaging, offering excellent layering and separation that lets listeners quickly focus on individual elements like instruments and vocals. While it doesn’t quite reach the level of 109 Pro or higher-end headphones, its performance remains strong for its class. The presentation is quick, with sharpness, focus, and separation contributing to a cohesive and engaging listening experience.
Detail retrieval, resolution, and transparency are standout qualities of 105 AER, with impressive micro-detail capabilities, realistic timbre, strong PRaT, and coherence.
Page 1: Information, Packaging, Design, Build, Comfort
Page 3: Driving, Comparisons, Conclusion
