Founded in 2011, Romania-based Meze Audio has been engineering award-winning headphones and earphones that have received a lot of praise for their design and performance.
Born out of the ashes of the Cold War in Eastern Europe, Meze Audio has proven to be one of the greatest success stories of the Head-Fi Revolution. Continuing that trend, Meze Audio has announced the ALBA wired in-ear headphones, which join the higher-end ADVAR IEMs.
As its Romanian translation signifies, the ALBA is a ‘first light’ for those inspired by the world of elevated audio enjoyment.
Meze ALBA
Designed as an entry-level product in Meze’s product line the ALBA in-ears are designed to deliver the quality that Meze is known that includes comfort, noise isolation, and audiophile performance.
ALBA is the bridge between the current in-ear market and Meze Audio’s best-in-class collection tuned with a neutral sound profile and an added touch of warmth for an immersive audio experience.
The ALBA uses a combination of zinc alloy and anodized aluminum parts, that provide resilience without detracting from its pearl appearance.
ALBA provides access to a wide range of music sources, including smartphones with USB-C connectivity, as well as those with a 3.5mm headphone socket – thanks to a cable with a gold-plated 3.5mm connector.
The ALBA comes with a custom-made USB-C adapter, which features a built-in DAC/AMP, not only boosting the sound quality of your chosen source but also ensuring plug-n-play connectivity with iPhone 15.
ALBA incorporates a 10.8mm dynamic driver with a 15-25kHz frequency range. ALBA’s sound profile complements the stylish design. Packing a significant punch in a subtle, assured finish, the in-ears have a sound pressure level (SPL) of 109dB. Specially designed silicone ear tips are provided in four sizes (S, M, L, XL) to provide listener and portability.
From Product Manager Vlad Toca: “It was a combination of factors that brought ALBA into existence. Coming from a musical background, having maintained direct contact with our customers daily, and being an audiophile myself for the better part of a decade, really helped me understand the expectations for a complete and immersive listening experience,…Designed for those who dance to their own beat, for the curious and the free-spirited, ALBA comprises a perfectly accessible and qualitative introduction into the world of elevated audio enjoyment.”
Meze ALBA vs. ADVAR
| ALBA | ADVAR | |
| Price | $159 (US) | $699 (US) |
| Headphone Type | Wired In-Ear Monitor | Wired In-Ear Monitor |
| Materials | Diecast Zinc Alloy and Anodized Aluminum | Injection Molded Stainless Steel |
| Speaker Driver | Dynamic 10.8 mm | Dynamic 10.2 mm |
| Frequency Range | 15 Hz – 25 kHz | 10 Hz – 30 kHz |
| Impedance at 1kHz | 32 Ω | 31 Ω |
| SPL (Sound Pressure Level) @ 1 kHz, 1 mW | 109 dB | 111 dB |
| Distortion | <0.1% at 1kHz | <1% @ 1 kHz, 1 V |
| Included Accessories | 2-pin (78mm) connectors with 3.5mm gold-plated jack termination 4 Pairs of silicone Ear Tips Hard EVA Pouch | 48″ Braided audio cable with two MMCX (Micro-miniature coaxial) connectors on one end and a straight 3.5mm plug on the other end 5 Pairs of Final Audio silicone ear tips Cleaning tool MMCX connector removal tool Hard zippered case |
Initial Impressions
The ALBA marks Meze Audio’s entry into the lower-priced wired in-ear headphone category but it looks like the ALBA doesn’t cut corners. Keep in mind that the ALBA is not Bluetooth-compatible.
This means that your smartphone or other source device has to be physically connected to the ALBA via the provided cable connection options. If you are looking for a pair of wired in-ear headphones or in-ear monitors Meze is a brand to consider.
Price & Availability
The Meze Audio ALBA earphones will be available for order from June 20, 2024 for $159 at mezeaudio.com. International pricing is set at €159 or £139.
The Meze Audio ADVAR is available for $699 at Amazon.
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