Meze Audio ALBA Review – Best Tuned
Meze Audio, recognized for its top-notch sound and fine craftsmanship, has entered the IEM market with the new Alba. Priced affordably, Alba is a great introduction to the audiophile world for anyone seeking a natural sound, a bit of warmth, smoothness, and mostly neutral tuning.
Alba borrows its basic shape from the Meze Advar, but it’s much lighter, both in color and mass, providing a more comfortable fit and easy, comfortable insertion. Meze also switched things up with its shift from MMCX connectors to standard 2-pin with an included cable akin to the stock Meze Rai series cable.
Alba came into existence due to a combination of many factors: Meze Audio’s extensive musical background, their direct connection with their customers, and the understanding that audiophiles crave a complete, immersive listening experience. Designed for the free-spirited who dance to their beat, Alba comprises a perfectly accessible and qualitative introduction into the world of elevated audio enjoyment.
By preserving the Meze Audio design language, high levels of comfort, ergonomics, and noise isolation are assured. The combination of zinc alloy and anodized aluminum parts ensures a resilient build. Additionally, the shell feels precious due to the iridescent color finish, giving Alba the appearance of a lustrous pearl.
The ALBA is a pair of monitors that says class. Its all-white design makes it look fit for royalty, with its shining silver logo that reflects the light. The monitors fit comfortably in the ears, and I know by the way they fit that they will stay there for hours upon hours of use. I could see these being worn by performing musicians, as the lightweight feel and secure fit make these seem like a reliable pair for such an occasion. Not only that, but the design makes for a neutral and subtle accessory that would aid any performer. If not performing, causal listening with these is comfortable and relaxing.
The Meze Audio custom-designed 3.5mm to USB-C adapter lets you connect your earphones to any music source that has a USB-C connector. Made from the same high-quality materials as the headphone cable, this custom-made adapter has a built-in DAC/AMP to ensure an immersive audio experience. The adapter also features an LED indicator that turns on when properly connected.
Unboxing
- ALBA IEMs
- 2-pin to 3.5mm Silver-plated braided cable
- Custom-designed 3.5mm to USB-C DAC/Amp dongle
- Hard eco-leather carrying pouch
- 4 pairs of ear tips (S/M/L/XL)
- User manual
Specifications
- Driver: 10.8mm Dynamic
- Frequency Range: 15 Hz-25 kHz
- Impedance: 32Ω
- SPL: 109 dB/mW
- Distortion: <0.1% at 1kHz
- Weight (w/o cable): 0.5 oz
- Price: $159
I would like to thank Meze Audio for providing me with the review sample of the
Sound
The impedance level of 32Ω at 1kHz, along with a sensitivity rating of 109 dB/Vrms, indicates that the ALBA is relatively efficient and sufficiently sensitive to perform effectively with a variety of sources. Nevertheless, it should not be regarded as exceptionally sensitive, although it does exhibit a positive response to enhanced power.
The ALBA delivers a well-balanced sound. The bass is substantial and of satisfactory quality, the mids are balanced with a hint of warmth, and the treble offers a commendable degree of detail.
The timbre is naturally rich, typical of a single dynamic driver IEM. The tuning is safe and avoids any harshness in the upper frequencies.
Lows
Its performance achieves a good mix of sub-bass and mid-bass. The sub-bass is present and has a deep, echoing quality, staying noticeable without being too strong. It delivers a pleasing rumble, which is common in bass-heavy setups.
The bass is fast and hits clearly, with a nice fade. It has good texture and layering, allowing you to easily pick out basslines from different instruments, even in busy music sections.
The mid-bass has a nice balance and control, making sure it doesn’t overpower the higher frequencies. Its emphasis is well-handled, so the sound doesn’t become too boomy or too warm.
Mids
The upper midrange is nicely balanced, showing no harshness or sharp sounds. It is slightly boosted to make the vocals stand out more. There is plenty of energy, and the vocals flow well in this area.
The stereo sound was sharp in this range, with great sound quality and clear notes. It can be tough to catch all the details in a song, but thanks to the smart noise isolation, I could hear everything clearly. I enjoyed listening to many songs with the ALBA, as the quality of the sound made it easy to get immersed.
The elevated mids allowed the vocals to stand out, while the lower range gave room for the percussion. Each element was distinct, creating a nice balance overall.
Treble
The high-end frequencies had stunning clarity, and there wasn’t a track I listened to that I didn’t enjoy how they were featured. They were crisp and clean and helped relieve some of the powerful low-end that came out in a lot of modern songs.
The ALBA demonstrates a respectable amount of energy in the highs. The details of the instruments in this region are subtly present, though not very prominent. The notes are well-defined and distinctly perceptible; however, the right amount of sparkle may seem missing.
Soundstage
The soundstage on these IEMs is fairly wide. Once you plug yourself in, you are immediately taken into your own space where you can enjoy your audio. The noise isolation kicks in immediately, which is to be expected of an IEM. You get a nice stereo image, and you can lay out where all the instruments are in the field and where the layers are in a more complex track.
The frequency range is just outside the normal range for human hearing, giving them just a bit more space to let the audio feel more natural as it comes from the monitor. The sound isolation is always a nice bonus in my opinion; you get to enjoy your tracks without the worry of sound bleeding into the room around you.
Sum-Up
Meze Audio Alba is an excellent all-around IEM, and for $159 you get a design and total package that holds up to the Meze legacy, and a sound that captures a blend of accuracy and musicality for the budget and sound-conscious listener. In my opinion, the ALBA is the best-tuned Meze IEM so far.