Meze 105 Silva

Introduction to the Meze 105 Silva Review

Meze Audio shows no signs of slowing down. The Romanian manufacturer has once again delivered a pair of remarkable headphones — though this time, they’ve taken a step back to their roots, at least in terms of naming and heritage. When talking about the Meze 105 AER, which I reviewed not too long ago, and their very close relationship to the new 105 Silva, it’s hard not to think of the Meze 99 Neo and 99 Classics. Those earlier models were almost identical in construction, yet offered distinctly different sonic signatures thanks to the use of wood in the higher-tier Classics.

With the 105 Silva, however, the difference goes far beyond the choice of materials. It makes you wonder — why not call them the 107 Silva instead? Perhaps this review will help answer that question. At the very least, I’ll do my best to clearly explain the key differences and similarities between the reviewed Meze 105 Silva, the Meze 105 AER, and the Meze 109 Pro. I hope it will give you a complete picture of where these new headphones stand in the brand’s ever-expanding lineup.

Packaging & Build Quality

Reviewed Meze 105 Silva arrive in the brand’s signature style of presentation — simple yet elegant, with a clean and tasteful graphic design on the box. Inside, you’ll find a sturdy hard-shell carrying case, identical to the one supplied with the Meze 105 AER. All included accessories are neatly stored inside the case: a soft pouch for the cable, the main 1.8-meter cable*, a 6.35 mm adapter, and a compact USB-C DAC/Amp. The latter is perfect for pairing with a smartphone or laptop on the go, though many users will likely find it just as useful in a stationary setup.

*It’s worth noting that the review unit came with the same cable included with the Meze 105 AER. Official product images and description from Meze show a different cable, which, according to the manufacturer, is tuned for even better sound performance.

When it comes to build quality and first impressions, Meze delivers once again. These headphones feel like a complete, well-thought-out product right out of the box. They are noticeably heavier than the 105 AER, yet that extra weight translates into a more substantial, premium feel in the hand — even though the 105 AER already impressed in this regard. And let’s be honest: wood will almost always feel more luxurious than plastic, no matter how high-quality the latter may be.

Beyond that, it’s classic Meze through and through — comfortable, well-contoured earpads, a flexible and ergonomic headband, and a design that makes many other headphones look rather ordinary by comparison. And as a final touch, they are proudly designed and made in Romania, which will be a strong selling point for many audiophiles who value European craftsmanship.

Comfort of Meze 105 Silva

When it comes to comfort, it’s hard to say anything new about Meze — they’ve simply mastered it. Tested Meze 105 Silva sit on the head with reassuring stability, offering a noticeably stronger clamping force than the 105 AER. With the AER, I occasionally had to adjust the fit, but here that issue is entirely absent. Despite the firmer grip, there’s no feeling of excessive pressure, so long listening sessions remain fatigue-free.

The headband is classic Meze: made from eco-leather, suspended on elastic bands, and lacking any mechanical adjustment mechanism. It’s a simple, reliable, and comfortable solution that has become something of a trademark for the brand since the 99 series.

The earpads are velour-style, with medium firmness. They wrap naturally around the arms of glasses without creating uncomfortable pressure. Their size is fairly standard, though listeners with larger ears might feel a slight touch on the edges. Depth is respectable, and Meze has chosen a soft, skin-friendly fabric to cover the driver, adding to the overall comfort. In short, these are among the best velour earpads I’ve used — smooth, pleasant to the touch, resistant to hair snagging, and surprisingly resistant to dirt. On top of that, they’re easy to clean, and even machine-washing them is straightforward.

One small drawback — the same one found in the 99 Classics and the 105 AER — is that the cable exits the earcups straight down. Since the overall design is completely symmetrical, this can make it tricky to immediately tell whether you’re holding the headphones the right way around. Meze has also gone with recessed 3.5 mm connectors on the reviewed 105 Silva, just like in the 99 Classics, rather than the flush-mounted ones used in the 105 AER.

That said, the Silva offer a touch more clearance around the connectors, which makes it much easier to use third-party cables should you ever want to upgrade or simply change the look and feel of your setup. It’s a small but welcome tweak that adds a bit of extra flexibility for those who like to experiment with different cables.

As for the cable, I won’t dwell on it here, since, as mentioned earlier, my review unit came with a different version than the one currently shipping with the headphones.

The included USB-C DAC/Amp is almost comically small — barely larger than a simple USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter. The cable is soft and flexible, with an ideal 10 cm length for portable use. It’s a practical addition for on-the-go listening with a phone or laptop, though its sound performance will be discussed in a later section of this review.

Tech

Meze has always placed great emphasis on building products that stand the test of time — both in terms of sound and physical durability. That philosophy is evident in the tested Meze 105 Silva, where natural walnut wood is paired with premium PC-ABS polymer, creating a structure that is as solid as it is beautiful.

Inside, Meze claims to use a custom 50 mm dynamic driver developed after numerous iterations, experiments with materials, and tuning adjustments — all with the goal of achieving a voicing that appeals to both audiophiles and casual listeners. At the heart of the driver is what they call a W-shaped dome, made from a carbon fiber–reinforced cellulose composite. According to the company, this material reproduces high frequencies with exceptional detail and clarity while minimizing resonances that could cause harmonic distortion.

Surrounding the dome is a titanium-coated torus, made from semicrystalline polymer to balance stiffness, speed, and tonal accuracy. Meze explains that the titanium layer is applied using Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), reinforcing the diaphragm without adding weight, which should contribute to fast transient response and textured, controlled bass. They also point to precisely angled 45.5° grooves on the torus as a way of controlling resonances for a more accurate and fluid sound.

Finally, the driver assembly includes a copper–zinc alloy stabilizer. Meze says this component helps absorb vibrations and reduce distortion, further refining the sound. In the company’s view, all of these elements come together to deliver a headphone that reflects their commitment to timeless design and meticulous audio engineering.

That all sounds highly convincing — but later in this review, we’ll find out whether these claims truly translate into great sound.

Sound of reviewed Meze 105 Silva

Reviewed Meze 105 Silva were intended to serve as a sonic bridge between the 105 AER and the 109 Pro. In some ways, that goal has been achieved — but in my opinion, they should still be regarded as a distinct creation. After all, sound signature is only part of the story; there are plenty of other factors here that set them apart.

Meze describes the reviewed 105 Silva’s tuning as follows:

“Tuned with a keen balance between musicality and refinement, 105 SILVA delivers a sound that is clear, rich, and effortlessly engaging. Transients are fast and articulate, bringing out intricate details with a natural sense of ease. The treble extends gracefully, smooth yet revealing, while the bass remains tight and well-controlled, never overpowering but always present when needed.”

I rarely find myself in full agreement with a manufacturer’s official sound description — but in this case, Meze has come impressively close to reality, even if there’s still room for refinement.

The brand is best known for its warm, highly musical, and versatile sound signature. You won’t find piercing treble or an ultra-fast, ultra-tight bass response in their lineup. However, it’s clear that Meze has been responding to shifts in the market and the steady stream of new releases from competitors like HiFiMAN. This, I believe, explains the subtle change in approach we first saw in the 109 Pro — and now in the 105 Silva.

With the 105 Silva, you still won’t get a sharp, analytical top end or a purely technical, ruler-flat tuning, but you will hear a definite step in that direction. There’s more openness and precision compared to the classic Meze warmth, without the overt smoothing present in the flagship Meze Elite. It’s still unmistakably Meze, but with a fresher, slightly more modern twist.

Bass

The bass provided by the reviewed Meze 105 Silva is… interesting. If I had to pick one word to describe it, it would be delicate. I wouldn’t call it recessed, but it’s certainly not forward or in-your-face. Instead, it feels more like a supporting element — filling in the overall presentation, wrapping itself gently around the listener rather than demanding attention. You can hear this clearly in Muse’s Unravelling, where the low end spreads across the entire soundstage, yet there’s a distinct “wall” separating it from the rest of the frequency spectrum.

One of my go-to tracks for evaluating bass is Billie Eilish’s Oxytocin. Ideally, this song should deliver a thick, weighty, highly textured low end — but here, the 105 Silva smooth things out a bit too much, losing some of that mass and punch. The bass stays in the background, and with a high-end DAC and an amplifier offering exceptional separation, it can even feel somewhat detached from the mids and highs, despite everything playing together cohesively.

On the positive side — and this is worth highlighting — the bass is remarkably even across its range. While there isn’t a huge amount of it overall, there’s no imbalance between sub-bass, mid-bass, and kick-bass; each is given equal importance in the presentation. Control is also excellent — in fact, for this price category, it’s exemplary. It’s a smoother bass than what you’d get from something like the HiFiMAN Arya, but that should come as no surprise given Meze’s house sound.

The midrange of the tested Meze 105 Silva is a thoughtful blend of neutrality and naturalness — a combination that’s not always easy to pull off. This character comes largely from the slightly smoothed vocal delivery, which maintains a convincing sense of realism without tipping over into excessive warmth. Vocals are presented with a focused precision, sitting just slightly forward in the soundstage so they feel present without crowding the listener. There’s a strong sense of texture and fine detail, and the layering within the mids feels deliberate and carefully constructed.

A great example of this can be heard in Björk’s Cover Me. The track’s arrangement is sparse yet intricate, with subtle spatial cues and microdetails that can easily get lost on less resolving headphones. Through the 105 Silva, each element — from the intimate vocal lines to the faintest background textures — is clearly separated, giving the track an almost three-dimensional quality. It’s the kind of presentation that invites you to lean in and rediscover familiar music.

When it comes to tonal differences, lower-register male vocals are given a touch more weight and fullness compared to higher-pitched female vocals. Male voices carry a richer timbre and feel more anchored in the mix. Female vocals, while generally accurate, can occasionally lose a bit of their sparkle when paired with a notably warm source, resulting in a subtle “veil” effect. Madonna’s Material Girl is a clear case — on warmer setups, her voice can feel slightly withdrawn. Swap in a neutral or slightly brighter source, however, and that veil is lifted, restoring presence and clarity.

Male vocals in general sound accurate and versatile on the 105 Silva, though the headphones’ neutral tuning means they won’t always be the most emotionally charged for every listener. Still, the performance varies depending on the artist. Michael Kiwanuka’s You Ain’t the Problem, for instance, retains all its grit and vitality, with his voice cutting through the mix in a way that feels both raw and engaging. Eminem’s delivery in Fall, by contrast, comes across with a bit more restraint — not lifeless by any means, but lacking some of the aggressive edge that fans of his style might expect.

Midrange of the reviewed Meze 105 Silva prioritizes accuracy and separation over exaggerated warmth or intimacy. It’s a tuning that rewards careful listening, giving each vocal performance space to breathe while maintaining a coherent, balanced presentation across different genres and recording styles. 

Treble

For perhaps the first time in a Meze headphone, the treble is ever so slightly brightened. There’s no trace of harshness here — even when paired with relatively bright or lower-quality sources — but it is undeniably more present than in most of the brand’s previous models. This extra sparkle may be partly the result of the slightly pulled-back bass and upper midrange, but to my ears, it gives the overall presentation a cleaner and more open character.

The treble on the Meze 105 Silva feels remarkably airy. There’s a generous sense of space between individual notes, allowing the smallest microdetails to emerge clearly without being pushed aggressively forward. This isn’t a treble that’s been sharpened for effect, nor has it been softened to smooth over flaws — instead, it strikes a rare balance, one that’s difficult to achieve even in headphones at significantly higher price points.

The result is a top end that breathes easily, lending the entire sound signature a sense of openness and dimension. Cymbals shimmer with natural decay, acoustic guitar strings have a crisp yet realistic bite, and atmospheric elements in ambient or orchestral recordings hang delicately in the air. It’s the kind of treble tuning that enhances detail retrieval without turning the spotlight entirely on the highs, allowing them to integrate seamlessly with the rest of the frequency spectrum.

For a company known for its warm, inviting sound, this subtle shift toward brightness is an unexpected — and welcome — surprise. It’s not a radical departure from the Meze house sound, but it adds an extra layer of clarity and refinement that broadens the 105 Silva’s versatility across genres.

The soundstage is without a doubt my favorite aspect of the reviewed Meze 105 Silva. For me personally, it often plays a crucial role in music reproduction — it largely determines how we perceive detail, vocals, and the character of each instrument. What immediately stands out here is the remarkable variety: both in distances and in the size and placement of the perceived sound sources. There’s no repetitive pattern — every recording tells a different story, offering a unique arrangement of sounds and a fresh sonic landscape. The result is that you end up surrounded by an ever-changing space, with each track surprising you with a new stage layout. It’s a bit like a winding mountain road — each curve reveals a new view, yet despite the constant change, you navigate it with complete control.

An interesting and somewhat unexpected choice for testing soundstage performance is m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar. Right from the opening, you can clearly hear the artist subtly moving closer to and farther from the microphone, with the sound mass shifting forward and then receding. Meanwhile, the female vocals in the background play just behind you, perfectly balancing the scene.

In gaming, tested Meze 105 Silva would likely become one of my favorite headphone pairs. They’re impressively versatile, with excellent directional cues and precise distance rendering. In my opinion, they stand out as one of the best options for gamers currently available in this price range.

DAC/Amp

The small bundled digital-to-analog converter with integrated headphone amplifier does its job. Its sound is fairly neutral, making it more of an emergency solution or a convenient option for use with phones and low-quality laptop outputs. In my own case, when comparing it directly to the built-in headphone jack on a MacBook, I actually preferred the latter — it delivered a more engaging tonal character and greater energy. Still, it’s a thoughtful addition on the manufacturer’s part. Including it for free is a nice touch that will surely prove useful to many users.

Pairings

Reviewed Meze 105 Silva are highly versatile headphones when it comes to pairing. They don’t require a lot of power, but they certainly won’t shy away from it either. I’d lean towards matching them with gear that offers a wide soundstage, complementing what the headphones already deliver in this area. I’d also avoid sources that are heavily boosted in the bass, as this could overshadow the upper midrange — though, as always, that comes down to personal taste. Out of the many setups I tried with the Meze 105 Silva, all of them performed objectively well.

Comparisons

Meze 105 Silva review – summary

The Meze 105 Silva represent a significant step forward toward freshness in the Romanian brand’s lineup. Their sound is exceptionally well-organized and balanced, combining excellent detail retrieval with a wide, nuanced, and immersive soundstage — qualities that many listeners highly value and expect. Personally, I know I’ll be returning to these headphones often, especially when I’m after comfort and a huge soundstage for extended gaming sessions.

Highly recommended.