"Recommended" Award – headfonia.com
Highly Recommended – ear-fidelity.com
Discover a Sanctuary of Clarity, Comfort, and Connection
Meze Audio's new 105 AER open-back headphone invites you to discover a sanctuary of clarity, comfort, and connection.
Rich in detail and versatility, the 105 AER was created for music lovers who value a deeper connection to their sound. This adaptable open-back headphone is perfectly suited for all genres of music. Inspired by what Meze terms "bio-architecture and nature’s balancing act," 105 AER stands at the peak point of tonal equilibrium.
"Aer" is the Romanian word for "air." Silent. Unseen. Essential. Air finds expression through invisible vibrations that become audible poetry. The 105 AER is an invitation to let the air in and experience the multi-dimensional depth of music.
Award-Winning Performance
The 105 AER earned a "Recommended" award from headfonia.com. "Meze Audio kept it simple: They utilised the fantastic design language and premium build, made a tuning appealing to most people, created a headphone that is easy to drive, and priced it competitively. There you have it. The 105 AER is a good option for casual listeners needing good and comfortable headphones. There is no need for complex desktop systems; just a DAP or maybe even a smartphone output, and you’re good to go."
It also pulled in a Highly Recommended rating from ear-fidelity.com, which observes, "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."
An Exceptionally Lush Audio Presentation
With its large 2" dynamic driver tuned by Alex Grigoras – one of Meze Audio's talented acoustic engineers – the 105 AER delivers an exceptionally lush audio presentation. The sound is rich and refined, with a warm and full-bodied quality that envelops you.
A slight emphasis on the bass and sub-bass regions allows for a deeper, more resonant foundation, enhancing the overall sense of immersion and adding a satisfying depth to your music. And the 105 AER is easy to drive with most devices, from portable sources to home gear.
"A Solid Success"
"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," reports Geoffrey Morrison, soundstagesolo.com, December 1, 2024. "They’re easy to listen to, even over long stretches. I’d call all that a solid success."
"As you might expect from Meze Audio, the 105 AER is another beautifully designed set of headphones. However, importantly, it achieves a good balance in its sound signature, setting itself apart from many of its competitors by prioritizing versatility and compatibility with lower-powered devices," notes reviewer James at headfonics.com, November 27, 2024.
Reliable and Versatile Driver Architecture
Meze Audio's 2" dynamic driver architecture has proven to be remarkably reliable and versatile. To keep the 105 AER as accessible as possible, the driver membrane and frame underwent slight modifications. Meze engineers took this opportunity to introduce a unique new headphone voicing that fits all musical genres.
Made of a carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite, the W-shaped dome can reproduce high-frequencies with incredible detail, clarity, and definition. More durable than conventional alternatives used in dynamic drivers, yet lightweight, this composite helps reduce resonances that may lead to harmonic distortion.
Ultra-Thin Torus Helps Every Nuance Come Alive
The ultra-thin torus surrounding the dome is made of PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone), a semicrystalline polymer with excellent mechanical properties. PEEK’s high tensile strength and stiffness ensure the driver membrane maintains structural integrity under high stress, while its lightweight nature allows for quicker movement in response to audio signals. This enhances clarity and detail, making every note and nuance in your music come alive.
Additionally, PEEK boasts superior internal damping characteristics, which reduce unwanted resonances and vibrations. Stiffness and durability are also enhanced through the grooves on the torus, which are precisely positioned at a 45.5° angle. The copper-zinc alloy stabilizer, positioned around the membrane, improves the absorption of vibrations to further reduce distortion.
Crafted for Comfort and Durability
The 105 AER is built with timelessness in mind, with an emphasis not only on sonic excellence, but also on comfort and durability. Every component is made using premium materials. These include cast zinc alloy hardware with PVD coating, stamped manganese spring steel headband, ABS-PC earcups, velour earpads, and a soft PU leather headband.
Combined with Meze Audio's high standards in terms of ergonomics, the 105 AER is a pair of headphones that is not only extremely resilient but also the company's lightest open-back model to date. These phones are designed to offer a listening experience so comfortable and engaging that you'll forget you're wearing them.
The open-back design and self-adjusting headband distribute weight for an ideal fit, while soft velour ear cushions create an optimal seal. This ergonomic design ensures hours of comfortable listening while capturing a natural soundstage, making every session an immersive escape.
Impressive Specifications
With a frequency range spanning 5 Hz to 30 kHz, an impedance of 42Ω, and a sensitivity of 112 dB SPL at 1 kHz, 1 mW, the 105 AER is compatible with any setup, from portable devices to dedicated home systems. This makes it versatile for any listening journey.
Beautiful, Intriguing Styling
The phrase that an audio product "looks as spectacular as it sounds" may occasionally be overused, but it is definitely the case with the 105 AER.
"The 105 AER carries a feeling of Art Deco opulence, almost like a piece of jewelry masked in a mechanical structure," observes Paul Șteț, Senior Product Designer at Meze Audio. "Certain curves and surfaces are not obvious at first glance; there's an ambiguity to the three-dimensional shape inviting you to discover it over time."
Sustainable Through Longevity
Meze Audio has never made headphones that are in any sense 'disposable.' Our choices today can greatly impact the world of tomorrow, so Meze designs products that last. A longer product lifespan means a smaller footprint. Following this philosophy, the 105 AER can be taken apart and serviced whenever needed, extending the product's life beyond limit.
Included Extras
The 105 AER comes with all the accessories you need to get the maximum enjoyment from such a superb headphone. Included are a hard EVA pouch for storage and transportation, a premium 6 ft. Kevlar OFC cable with 1/8" to 1/8" (3.5 mm to 3.5 mm) termination and featuring a mic and black aluminum casings, plus a 1/4" (6.3 mm) adapter with gold-plated jack, which extends the compatibility with audio gear.
