The Meze Audio Alba earphones see audiophile meet affordable
Cables look cool again with these pearl-like IEMs
Meze Audio is practically still in diapers compared to some long-running audio brands, but the Romanian headphone upstart knows a thing or two about great sound – and great design. The new Alba in-ear monitor wired headphones promise both, at a price point that won’t make you wince.
These aren’t Meze’s first in-ears – the firm has been around for more than a decade now, after all. But considering previous efforts could run you north of four figures, the Alba ($159/£139 via Meze Audio) looks like a relative bargain. Especially as you’re also getting a 3.5mm to USB-C dongle in the box; this diminutive in-line DAC lets you plug in to almost any gadget, not just ones with a headphone port. That includes the latest crop of iPhones, which no longer ship with adapters in the box.
Made from a mix of zinc alloy and anodised aluminium treated with an iridescent white finish, the Alba in-ears (which apparently means “first light” in Romanian) continue the firm’s penchant for intricate designs inspired by nature. I think they look a bit like pearls that’ve washed up on the beach.
An over-the-ear cable arrangement should keep each earbud comfortably in place, while the braided cable is long enough to comfortably reach whatever pocket you keep your music player in. There’s also a choice of four different silicone ear tips to find a perfect fit. A carry case made from eco-leather should then keep them safe while in transit.
Inside, each bud holds a 10.8mm dynamic driver good for 15-25kHz, which as been tuned to match Meze’s neutral sound profile with “an added touch of warmth”. A low 32ohms impedance means even the weediest of phones, music players or other devices will be able to drive them at peak performance.
The Meze Audio Alba is available to pre-order right now directly from Meze Audio, for $159/£139. That’s a big leap from value-minded ‘buds such as the Soundmagic E80D, but head to head with entry audiophile models including the Sennheiser IE200.
Tom Morgan-Freelander
Deputy Editor 