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Comparisons
Of course, the FiiO FT5 has an impressive design, but the 105 AER has Meze excellence all over it with elegance. The FT5 is also fantastic in terms of build quality, but it feels very industrial compared to the Meze. Meze is much more comfortable since FiiO’s headband design applies more pressure to the head, and its earcups are somewhat strange on the ear.
The FT5 sounds warmer, with a more definite mid-bass and heavier overall bass performance. The 105 AER is quicker with a better pace, and its decay suits fast-paced music better. So the 105 AER has a shier bass but better speed, decay, and recovery. Mids are cleaner in the 105 AER, with better transparency, dynamism, clarity, and timbre. Treble is smooth on both headphones, without too much sparkle and clarity, but good enough for the price. The AER 105 is more detailed, though.
The FT5 has a slightly wider soundstage, but the difference is subtle. Overall, the 105 AER is cheaper, and it’s the better overall package.
With a similar price tag, the Chinese offering Sivga P2 Pro also offers good value for the price. It offers the usual Sivga trait—wooden earcups and a metal build—which feels fantastic overall. It also has a better stock cable. In sound, it performs better in the bass with its planar drivers, providing better impact and texture.
In the mid-range, Meze performs excellently, with better timbre, clarity, and musicality. The treble range is soft and smooth on both, so they’re not fantastic regarding extension and articulation. For the price, the performances are understandable, but if I had to differentiate, the Meze offering has better detail performance and transparency in the treble range. The Meze offering wins this comparison when I combine that with its excellent mid-range.
Conclusion
Meze Audio kept it simple: They utilized the fantastic design language and premium build, made a tuning appealing to most people, created a headphone that is easy to drive, and priced it competitively. There you have it. The 105 AER is a good option for casual listeners needing good and comfortable headphones. There is no need for complex desktop systems; just a DAP or maybe even a smartphone output, and you’re good to go.
I prefer the performance of the 109 Pro, which is still one of the best below the $1,000 USD budget barrier, but not everyone is willing to invest that much money in headphones. So, for its target audience, I think the 105 AER delivers. Its tuning is perfect for a broader audience, and it’s excellently coherent, with a consistent and smooth performance. From the design to the materials and sound quality, it’s hard to find an apparent weakness in the overall performance.
Again, I would still go for the 109 Pro, but that doesn’t mean the 105 AER isn’t good. If anything, for what it does, it’s very good for the price. So, Meze Audio gets a recommended badge from us in the Best Headphones category. It is a very good value, and if you are ever looking for vibrant, smooth, and mid-focused headphones for under $500, I strongly recommend them.
Summary
Pros
- Classic Meze elegance in design
- Good build quality
- Light and comfortable
- All rounder sound quality
- Good technical performance
Cons
- Doesn’t impress as much as the 109 Pro
- Bass lacks punch
- Treble lacks some brightness and extension
Page 1: Information, Packaging, Design, Build, Fit
