Meze Audio Launches Lightest Affordable Open-Back Headphones

The Romanian brand Meze Audio has garnered a passionate following among audiophiles thanks to its luxurious lineup of open-back and closed-back wired headphones. With some models priced at an impressive $4,000, Meze’s offerings have typically been out of reach for many. However, the introduction of the new 105 AER could change that, as they are priced at $399, making them the most accessible open-back headphones from the company to date. Weighing in at just 11.8 ounces, they are also the lightest model in their collection, and they will be available on mezeaudio.com starting early December.

Meze Audio 105 AER open-back headphones. — Meze Audio

The design of the 105 AER marks a progression from the higher-end 109 Pro ($799). It features Meze’s signature self-adjusting headband and plush over-ear padding. However, this new model distinguishes itself through its unique combination of materials and shapes. Constructed from cast zinc alloy, stamped manganese spring steel, and polyurethane (PU) leather, the 105 AER deliberately omits the wood used in the 109 Pro, which contributes to the weight difference: 11.8 ounces for the 105 AER compared to 13 ounces for the 109 Pro.

Meze claims that the 105 AER’s 50mm dynamic drivers, noted for their detail and versatility across genres, have been finely tuned to emphasize bass and sub-bass frequencies for enhanced listening experiences.

The 105 AER also boasts the same high-resolution audio capabilities and wide frequency response (5Hz to 30kHz) found in the 109 Pro, along with a sensitivity rating of 112 decibels SPL at 1kHz, 1 milliwatt. The impedance, however, sees a slight increase at 42 ohms, compared to the 40 ohms of the 109 Pro.

In line with many of Meze’s offerings, the 105 AER employs a modular design, allowing users to disassemble and replace various components, which helps prolong the life of these open-back headphones.

The 105 AER comes equipped with a double-sided, 3.5mm Kevlar-coated cable measuring 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) and includes a hard carrying case for protection.