Today we’re checking out the new $159 Meze Audio Alba single dynamic IEM.
Disclaimer: The Meze Audio Alba was sent to us directly from Meze Audio. The review reflects my honest opinion.
Meze Audio
Meze Audio has quickly gained a strong reputation in the audio world. Known for its top-quality sound, excellent build, and budget-friendly options, Meze has something for everyone. If you’re unfamiliar with their products, their website is a great place to start.
Their units have received numerous awards globally, which isn’t surprising given the widespread appreciation for their designs. Moreover, the Meze team is known for being friendly, knowledgeable, and great to interact with, making them one of the most pleasant companies in the audio industry.
We’ve reviewed many of Meze’s products on Headfonia, which you can find here. Additionally, you can check out our review of the Meze Advar IEM below:
Meze Audio Alba
The new Meze Audio Alba is a budget-friendly single dynamic driver IEM designed to attract newcomers to the audiophile world. It’s perfect for those using smartphones, USB dongles, or entry-level DAPs. If you’re looking to upgrade from standard TWS or wired earphones, the Alba is an excellent starting point.
In Romanian, “Alba” means “first light,” which is a fitting name considering its light, white-dominated design and entry-level price aimed at beginners.
Technical specifications include a 10.8mm driver with a 32 Ω impedance. The Alba is crafted from aluminium and zinc, ensuring a premium feel despite its affordable price, staying true to Meze’s reputation for high-quality design and materials.
“Alba comprises a perfectly accessible and qualitative introduction into the world of elevated audio enjoyment.”
Packaging
The new Meze creation arrives in a square box with a geometric symbol on top. For those who do not know what it means, this represents the Romanian heritage, symbolizing the people together and united, just like the planets around the sun.
Inside you’re greeted with both earpieces, and under that, you have your very small carrying case, ear tips and cable. Other than that, the box doesn’t contain anything else. However, Meze Audio supplies a USB type C to 3.5mm adapter for using the IEM with smartphones. That also acts as a USB dongle so that’s a nice move from Meze.
Alba surprises with its 2-pin connectors since Meze utilized MMCX for the Advar. The cable I believe is a silver-plated copper terminated with a 3.5mm jack. You can get a 4.4mm cable with an additional purchase. Yet I think the customers should get an option to terminate their stock cables with 4.4mm. But maybe Meze thought that would be pointless for the entry-level market.
Design & Build Quality
It’s hard to find faults in the build or design of Meze Audio products, and this is especially true for the Alba, given its low price tag. Meze’s headphones are renowned for their exceptional quality, and their IEMs share this authentic and classy design language. The new Alba is no exception.
The Alba beautifully combines aluminium and zinc, creating an impressive harmony. The overall design is minimalistic yet elegant, featuring a rounded, low-profile shape that fits comfortably inside the ear. The shell design is identical to the Advar, only smaller.
The build quality of the Alba is excellent. The earpieces are robust, and the assembly is seamless and perfect. The 2-pin cable connectors are sturdy, with the male sockets of the cable fitting tightly.
The nozzle area is perfectly assembled, and the wax filter on the tip is high quality. The material quality is very good, consistent with Meze’s previous products. However, the cable does feel a bit cheap in comparison to the rest of the build.
Fit
As previously mentioned, the Alba features a low-profile chassis that nearly disappears when worn, making it comfortable enough for napping. This IEM provides an excellent fit, ensuring long-term comfort.
Unlike the Advar, which comes with Final Audio Type B tips, the entry-level Alba does not include them. However, the stock tips provided are still good quality and complement the Alba’s design and shape effectively.
Despite the comfortable fit, the isolation offered by the Alba is not as strong as some conventional monitors. The nozzles are relatively short, and the small chassis doesn’t provide a completely flush fit. Additionally, the ventilation port on the faceplate, designed for the dynamic driver, further reduces isolation. Therefore, the Alba offers only fairly good isolation rather than outstanding noise blocking.
Page 3: Technical Performance, Comparisons, Conclusion
Isi
Very nice and comprehensive review, congratulations. I’m considering buying an IEM for when I can’t use my Liric II, and I wonder if this model is sufficient enough. Is there any IEM under $500 that represents a good step up in sound quality? What do you recommend?
Johny K.
Would you prefer alba or MP145?
Johny K.
Would you prefer Alba or MP145.
I am a bit skeptic which of the two iem to choose.