Meze 105 AER

Introduction to the Meze 105 AER Review

Meze continues to surprise with its approach to the headphone market. Founded in 2011 in Baia Mare, Romania, Meze Audio has built a reputation for crafting headphones that seamlessly blend cutting-edge technology with timeless design. The company’s philosophy revolves around a deep appreciation for both engineering excellence and emotional connection to music, which is evident in every product they release.

After years of dominating the high-end segment with models such as the Empyrean, Empyrean II, Elite, and the closed-back Liric, Meze has recently shifted its focus slightly downward, making their signature craftsmanship and tuning more accessible. This shift was first evident with the release of the Meze 109 Pro, a dynamic-driver headphone that delivered a high-end listening experience at a more approachable price point. Now, the brand returns to its roots, revisiting the price category of the beloved Meze 99 Classics — an iconic model that debuted in 2015 and remains a fan favorite to this day.

Today, I’ll be reviewing their latest creation: the Meze 105 AER. A fresh take on open-back dynamic headphones, this model promises an intriguing blend of affordability, striking design, and sonic versatility. With Meze’s signature attention to detail and a decade of experience refining their craft, the 105 AER aims to offer a high-fidelity experience that caters to both audiophiles and casual listeners alike. But does it live up to the company’s legacy of excellence? Let’s dive into the details in this in-depth review.

Packaging & Build Quality

Meze 105 AER which we review today arrive in an elegant box adorned with high-quality graphics showcasing the headphone’s design. From the very first glance, it’s clear that Meze has maintained its commitment to premium presentation.

Inside, we find a familiar accessory set — one that Meze enthusiasts have come to expect. The package includes a sturdy hard-shell carrying case, reminiscent of the one provided with the Meze 99 Neo, ensuring excellent protection for the headphones during transport. Additionally, there’s a soft pouch designed to store the included cable and accessories, keeping everything neatly organized. The core of the package consists of the headphones themselves, a 1.8-meter braided cable, and a 6.35 mm jack adapter, allowing for seamless integration with a variety of audio setups. 

It’s a bit disappointing that Meze didn’t include a balanced cable in the package, but given the price point, this omission is understandable. On the bright side, the use of standard 3.5mm connectors on the headphones themselves ensures that finding a high-quality aftermarket cable is both easy and relatively affordable.

When it comes to build quality, reviewed Meze 105 AER certainly doesn’t disappoint. These headphones are crafted from high-quality materials that exude durability and refinement. The plush, suede-like velour earpads — described in detail earlier — offer exceptional comfort, while the headband is wrapped in premium-feeling synthetic leather that adds to the overall luxurious aesthetic.

The ear cups themselves are constructed from ABS-PC, a high-density polymer known for its rigidity and durability. Meze has added a subtle texture to the surface, which not only enhances the premium look but also helps prevent fingerprints and smudges. This thoughtful design choice, combined with the excellent earpads, makes the reviewed Meze 105 AER remarkably easy to maintain, ensuring that they remain pristine with minimal effort.

Comfort

Meze has built a strong reputation for the exceptional comfort of their headphones, and the 105 AER is no exception — though it isn’t entirely without its quirks. But before diving into the drawbacks, let’s start with the positives.

The velour ear pads are among the best I’ve ever used. And that’s saying something, considering I typically prefer leather pads — mainly because of my beard. Hair from my beard often gets caught in fabric ear pads, which not only looks messy but can also be mildly irritating. However, Meze’s velour pads are different. They are incredibly smooth, gentle on the skin, and have just the right level of plushness. Despite the relatively light clamping force, they mold well to the shape of the head, providing a secure yet pressure-free fit.

That clamping force, however, is where things get a little tricky. The Meze 105 AER features a self-adjusting headband, which, in theory, is a fantastic design choice. But this time, the Romanian manufacturer may have overdone it slightly. The combination of minimal clamping force and a relatively loose tension in the headband means that the headphones tend to slide down slightly over time, requiring occasional readjustment every 30 to 40 minutes. That being said, aside from this minor issue, they are so lightweight and well-balanced that they’re almost imperceptible on the head.

This next point doesn’t strictly fall under comfort, but I feel it’s relevant to mention here. As previously noted, the Meze 105 AER comes with a braided cable measuring 1.8 meters in length. While this is a subjective issue, I personally find this length less than ideal. It’s somewhat too long for use with a laptop yet just a bit too short to be conveniently routed on my desk setup. Additionally, the cable connects symmetrically to both ear cups, with the jacks angled straight downward. This has led to a few instances where I accidentally put the headphones on the wrong way — though, to be fair, I’m accustomed to my Audeze LCD-X, which features forward-angled mini XLR connectors.

Tech

Meze designed the 105 AER with longevity in mind, staying true to their philosophy of timeless craftsmanship and premium materials. Every element of these headphones exudes quality—from the cast zinc alloy hardware with a durable PVD coating to the stamped manganese spring steel headband, ensuring both resilience and flexibility. The ear cups, made from a robust ABS-PC blend, provide a lightweight yet sturdy frame, while the velour ear pads and soft PU leather headband contribute to exceptional comfort during extended listening sessions.

At the heart of the Meze 105 AER lies a pair of meticulously engineered 50 mm dynamic drivers. Meze has refined both the diaphragm and its surrounding structure to enhance sonic performance. The drivers feature a W-shaped dome, crafted from a carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite, designed to deliver outstanding detail retrieval while maintaining an impressively low weight.

Surrounding the dome is a torus made of PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone), a high-performance semicrystalline polymer known for its remarkable mechanical properties. PEEK’s superior tensile strength and rigidity ensure that the diaphragm retains its structural integrity even under high stress, allowing for precise and controlled movement. At the same time, its lightweight nature enables faster response times, enhancing clarity and articulation across the frequency spectrum. Additionally, PEEK’s excellent internal damping properties help minimize unwanted resonances and distortions, resulting in a cleaner, more natural sound reproduction.

By combining advanced materials with meticulous engineering, Meze aims to create a headphone that not only looks and feels premium but also delivers a rich, immersive listening experience. But how does this translate to real-world performance? We will talk about that later, but right now I’ll answer another question.

Sound of reviewed Meze 105 AER

When it comes to sound, I believe Meze has made a mistake—but one that only harms them, not the listener. In my opinion, the Meze 105 AER is significantly better than the Meze 99 Classics, a pair of headphones I once held in high regard. This new model surpasses its predecessor in nearly every aspect, offering a more refined and balanced listening experience.

Overall, the Meze 105 AER delivers a sound signature that is rich and engaging without being overdone. Tonally, they lean toward neutrality, though there is a noticeable emphasis on the midrange, which adds warmth and presence to vocals and instruments. At first glance, they might seem incredibly easy to drive—and to some extent, that’s true. As is often the case with Meze headphones, they perform well straight out of the box, delivering a satisfying experience even when powered by a laptop or a mobile DAC. However, to truly unlock their full potential—especially in terms of bass depth and soundstage expansion — a more powerful amplifier with strong low-end control and high detail retrieval is highly beneficial.

In terms of musical versatility, the Meze 105 AER is a fantastic all-rounder — under one condition: the music shouldn’t be overly complex or congested. These headphones excel with smaller ensembles, acoustic arrangements, and both mellow and energetic tracks, offering an impressively clear and well-separated presentation. The sound remains dynamic and fast-paced, with a sense of precision that enhances the listening experience. However, when the music becomes too layered or dense, the presentation starts to flatten, and some of that engaging dynamism is lost.

The bass response of the reviewed Meze 105 AER aligns perfectly with my personal preferences, reminding me in some ways of the Audeze LCD-X. It primarily focuses on the midbass region, slightly rolling off in the subbass — though this can be mitigated with the right amplification. When paired with a more powerful amp (around 1W output) that adds a little of the low-end, the subbass presence noticeably increases, adding extra depth and weight.

In terms of speed, the upper bass of tested Meze 105 AER performs exceptionally well for this price range, delivering tight, punchy hits without any unwanted sluggishness. Another standout quality is the bass differentiation—remarkably nuanced and, in some cases, even surpassing more expensive models in its ability to separate textures and layers within the low frequencies.

A perfect example of the 105 AER’s bass control and articulation is Oxytocin by Billie Eilish. This track, from the Happier Than Ever album, poses a significant challenge for audio gear — if a headphone struggles with separation and bass control, the mix can quickly become overwhelming, with low frequencies drowning out everything else. Reviewed Meze 105 AER handles it beautifully, keeping the bass tightly controlled and preventing it from dominating the track while maintaining a rich, textured presence.

Another great test track is HUMBLE. by Kendrick Lamar. Here, the subbass subtly reinforces the atmosphere of the song, while the midbass remains active and engaging. Many headphones tend to either overemphasize one or the other, sometimes even pushing the vocals into the background. The Meze 105 AER avoids this pitfall entirely. The kickbass is strong and natural, delivering impact without excessive hardness, while the subbass remains an essential yet balanced component of the track’s energy.

As I mentioned earlier, the midrange of the Meze 105 AER is undoubtedly its greatest strength. It’s incredibly rich, organic, and almost “sticky” in its saturation — engaging yet never overdone. There’s a subtle warmth to it, or rather, an absence of any clinical coldness. While details are presented in a gentle and natural manner, these headphones do an exceptional job of weaving them seamlessly into the overall presentation, ensuring that no nuance feels lost.

Vocals, in particular, shine across genres with remarkable consistency. Whether it’s Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Eminem, Sinéad O’Connor, Michael Jackson, or virtually any other artist, the performance is always at least good — and often outstanding. After spending over a month with the Meze 105 AER, frequently listening for up to 10 hours a day, I have yet to find a vocal presentation that sounds outright bad on these headphones. They simply deliver a naturally engaging and enjoyable listening experience — unless, of course, you’re specifically seeking a hyper-technical and analytical sound signature. In that case, a different headphone might be a better fit.

Interestingly, despite not being a huge fan of jazz or softer, more delicate music, the timbre of the 105 AER actually made me want to explore those genres more. A perfect example is Thank You by Dido—a track I had nearly forgotten about but rediscovered through these headphones. It’s incredibly soothing and works beautifully as background music. Well, at least in theory — because in practice, it’s quite difficult to focus on anything else when listening to it through the Meze 105 AER.

This also extends to certain jazz albums, where the 105 AER’s midrange richness truly shines. Night Train by The Oscar Peterson Trio, for example, sounds wonderfully smooth and immersive, with each piano note carrying weight and warmth. Similarly, Midnight Blue by Kenny Burrell, a classic laid-back jazz guitar album, highlights the organic texture and tonal depth that these headphones excel at reproducing.

The only minor drawback is that, with poorly recorded tracks, the upper midrange can occasionally introduce slight sibilance, particularly when using a weaker amplifier and at higher volume levels. However, this is a relatively small issue that only surfaces in specific circumstances.

The treble on the Meze 105 AER is natural, though Meze stays true to its signature approach of gently tempering the upper frequencies. However, this does not come at the cost of musicality—quite the opposite. The highs remain vibrant and engaging while maintaining an almost concert hall-like realism, albeit with slightly dampened acoustics. Is this a drawback? That ultimately depends on personal preference. Personally, I dislike excessive sibilance, and this subtle treble roll-off does not bother me in the slightest.

A great example of this presentation is Dreams by Fleetwood Mac. The transient response is pleasant and refined, with well-defined yet non-fatiguing cymbals and plenty of high-frequency details woven into the track. Tested Meze 105 AER keeps these elements slightly in the background but still delivers surprising clarity and precision. At the same time, the treble remains open and airy, avoiding any sense of congestion. This openness contributes significantly to the sense of space and imaging, which becomes particularly apparent in a seemingly simple track like Maneater by Daryl Hall & John Oates. The well-structured layering and instrument separation make the soundstage feel expansive and immersive, showcasing the headphones’ ability to create an engaging spatial presentation without artificial exaggeration.

And speaking of soundstage, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s impressively wide and deep, offering excellent separation and a strong sense of spatial placement. On the other, it lacks rear depth—most of the sonic elements remain in a forward-facing semicircle, leaving little happening behind the listener. This makes the reviewed Meze 105 AER less than ideal for gaming or cinematic experiences, where a fully immersive, wraparound soundstage is often preferred.

However, what the soundstage does exceptionally well is rendering positional cues with an organic, natural feel. Instruments and vocals shift effortlessly across the space, taking on different sizes and positions without sounding artificially stretched or misplaced. The center image is particularly engaging—whether close or slightly farther out, it always feels present and well-defined. Thankfully, despite this forward presentation, the Meze 105 AER avoids the common pitfall of sounding overly aggressive or “in-your-face,” which can be fatiguing over long listening sessions.

A great example of the headphones’ spatial capabilities is the intro of Minute by Minute by The Doobie Brothers. In the first ~30 seconds, the sound moves smoothly from right to left, rising and swirling with precision. For a headphone in this price range, the level of spatial differentiation is quite impressive, reinforcing Meze’s reputation for crafting an engaging and immersive listening experience.

Meze 105 AER review – summary

To sum up, the Meze 105 AER are, in my opinion, among the most compelling headphones in their price range. They offer a rich, engaging sound with excellent detail retrieval, an interesting and immersive soundstage, and an ease of drivability that makes them accessible to a wide range of setups. On top of that, they boast exceptional build quality and provide a high level of comfort for extended listening sessions.

These are undoubtedly headphones worth auditioning if you’re in the market for a new pair.

Highly recommended.