1 CommentSound: 
Value:
(Read about our ratings)
I’m a big fan of unique-looking headphones. Sure, there’s a place for the myriad pill-shaped offerings from the major manufacturers, but in their drive to be as acceptable as possible to the widest audience, they all start looking the same. That’s definitely not the case with the 105 AER headphones from Romanian manufacturer Meze. With big steel arches for the headband and a spiderweb-esque earcup structure, they are visually interesting in a way most headphones in their price range are not.
The open-back design is fairly lightweight. Behind the velour earpads are large 50mm drivers. Price-wise, the 105 AERs are solidly in the middle range for open-back over-ear headphones, at $399 (all prices USD). That’s a bit more than some more mainstream options, but certainly close to or under a variety of audiophile options.
In the box
In the box is a hard-shell case, which is fairly large since the earcups don’t pivot or twist like those on more travel-friendly headphones. Inside this is a smaller case for the removable cable and a 3.5mm-to-6.35mm adapter.
Use
“AER” means “air” in Romanian, so it’s easy to understand where Meze was going with the 105s. At 336gm, they’re reasonably light—lighter than some over-ears I’ve reviewed recently, including the Sivga P2 Pros (435gm), about the same as the HiFiMan Sundaras (342gm), and heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM5s (250gm), though admittedly, those are almost entirely plastic.
The clamping pressure, on my head anyway, is just enough for them to feel secure. The replaceable velour earpads are soft to the touch, and will likely break in nicely with more use.
So overall, they’re not the most comfortable headphones I’ve ever worn, but they’re up there. My only complaint, and it’s a minor one, is that the “stamped manganese spring steel headband” rings like a ship’s bell if you bump or brush against it. Not something you’ll likely do often, in fairness. Maybe I just wave my hands in the air more than most.
Sound
Overall, the 105 AERs are a little on the darker side, with a well-balanced midrange and a bit of extra but well-controlled bass. High treble is a little rolled off.
First up was “Untitled” by Seryn (This Is Where We Are, 16-bit/44.1kHz FLAC, Seryn / Qobuz). This instrumental track features some impressive banjo work over a variety of Americana instruments, bass, and percussion. The individual plucks and twangs of the banjo were clear and detailed. The hand claps toward the end were precise and immediate. However, there wasn’t much air above them or the banjo. While not dull, the 105 AERs are definitely not bright. They’re more chill than that. Personally, I find that makes them easy to listen to, but some people like a preponderance of treble.
Compared to strictly neutral headphones, the AERs have extra bass, but it’s fairly well controlled. For instance, the beginning percussion strikes in the title track of Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors (24/96 FLAC, Epic Records / Qobuz) hit strongly and deeply. The lighter sounds of this track, like the tambourine and guitar, never got lost among the bigger bass sounds. Perhaps a bit more low bass would have been nice, but certainly not vital.
Next I put on “People Power” by the Funky Buffalos from the Audiophile Society’s Headphone Evaluation and Spatial Audio Test Album (24/48 WAV, Audiophile Society). This funk track has a fast-moving bass line and a growly guitar. It was easy to follow said bass with the 105 AERs, though it never overwhelmed the mix, nor did it sound bloated or mushy. The various instruments were well spaced across the soundstage, but for open-back headphones the Mezes didn’t sound particularly “big.” They certainly didn’t sound small or closed-in, but other open-back headphones sound bigger.
In terms of power, the 105 AERs aren’t as hard to drive as big planar-magnetic headphones, but they do like a bit beefier of an amp than easier-to-drive models. With the meagerly powered Sony NW-A306, I was able to get a decent volume, but not one that I’d call particularly loud.
Comparison
I compared the 105 AERs to the Sivga P2 Pro and the HiFiMan Sundara headphones. The P2 Pros are $50 more expensive, the Sundaras $100 less.
One aspect that the Sivgas have over the 105 AERs is a bit more visual flair. I like the 105 AER headphones’ spiderweb lattice, but the black-on-black color scheme is a bit too understated for $400, at least to my tastes. Even the pieces that aren’t black are a dark gray/silver. The Sivgas have a lovely wood exterior, but the price for that aesthetic is being about 30 percent heavier. They sit well on your head, though, so the weight isn’t felt as much as the numbers suggest.
For this comparison, I cued up New Order’s “Love Vigilantes” (Low-Life, 24/96 FLAC, Warner Bros. / Qobuz). The Sivgas had a lumpier-sounding profile than the better-balanced Mezes. The Mezes had deeper, fuller, better-controlled bass with a smoother midrange. For my tastes, I’d go for the 105 AERs.
Speaking of black on black, the Sundaras are certainly mostly that, but with a few splashes of silver. Bon Iver’s “Speyside” (Sable, 24/96 FLAC, Jagjaguwar / Qobuz) is mostly just vocal and acoustic guitar, with a hint of strings. The 105 AERs let Vernon’s voice take center stage, their extra bass giving the song a bit more heft than the Sundaras. The Sundaras, on the other hand, gave this song an airier feel, with more emphasis on the strums of the guitar compared to the 105 AERs’ darker sound. I love the Sundaras, but I’ve always wanted a little more bass. The 105 AERs have that, but don’t have the Sundaras’ delicacy, likely because of the latter’s planar drivers. Tough call between these two. If your music tends to benefit from some extra bass, the 105 AERs for sure.
I again cued up “People Power” and a few other tracks from the Spatial Audio Test Album to compare the soundstages between these two mighty open-back headphones. Both created sounds that seem to emanate out over my shoulders, but the Sundaras seemed to extend out a bit farther, with a wider, larger, more—as the category name suggests—open sound. The Sundaras also needed a bit more power to get to similar volume levels as the 105 AERs, but any decent amp could power them both easily.
Conclusion
The 105 AERs are a comfortable, interestingly designed pair of headphones with great midrange and a bit of extra bass. They’re a little on the darker side, but still have enough treble that they don’t sound dull. Overall, it’s a great sound if you’re not looking for the ultimate in high-frequency performance. When I’m working, I tend to listen to a lot of techno and EDM, and the 105 AERs excelled with those genres, their bass never sounding bloated and the treble never annoying but still clear. They’re easy to listen to, even over long stretches. I’d call all that a solid success.
. . . Geoffrey Morrison
Associated Equipment
- PC: iBuyPower Windows 10
- DAC/headphone amplifier: Schiit Audio Magni
- Portable media player: Sony NW-A306
Meze Audio 105 AER Headphones
Price: $399
Warranty: One year.
Meze Audio
1-3 Morii Street
Baia Mare, 430162, Romania
Phone: +40 770-769-376
Website: www.mezeaudio.com
