Meze Audio Alba review: affordable and truly awesome-sounding IEMs
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Méze Audio Alba Review
In Romanian, the word “alba” is translated as “first light”. Instantly, it reminds me of new beginnings; new experiences. And so, in the Alba audio meze – an affordable pair of intra -ear monitors aimed at being the first light for entry -level audiophiles, everywhere.
And I’m not going to beat in the bush here, Meze Audio absolutely nailed her with this model. These IEMs have a list price of $ 159 / £ 139 / $ 239, which means that they are easily on the budget side of things. But very little on these ears seem to me or seem to me a budget.
First of all, these offer fantastic sound quality – the most important quality necessary to compete with the best wired headphones in the world. If you are new in the world of audiophile sound, you will be seduced with particular attention to details in the frequency range, as well as clear and surprisingly large audio results.
Meze himself describes the Alba as having “a neutral sound profile with a touch of additional heat” – and this is a widely precise description in my opinion. The mediums never seem to be embedded, the treble is expressive and the bass is impressively given the small size of these IEMs. I certainly felt this slight preference for low frequency sounds while listening Overflow By Kolter, where the meat and space bar struck with a serious impact.
When listening to Where are we going from here By Jamiroquai, the main voices were pleasantly clear in the general mixture, while the rhythmic guitar was effortless and had given a lot of room to breathe. The bass and the Groovy percussion have also been defined well, helping the infused character of funk of the track to flow, without compromise.
You will also get a dynamic and detailed listening to the Alba. I tried to play Rains again By Solji, and each breathing has clearly passed, while the delicate voices remained controlled and emotional throughout.
In fact, my only slight problem with these speaking sounds, is that triple more acute sounds can become a little harsh to higher volumes. For example, I listened Directly from the basement By Riordan, and the catchy percussion seemed a little pissed off while I ventured in the upper levels of intensity. Again, however, they offer excellent listening overall.
Beyond the sound, these IEMs continue to mark a serious quality. They are made up of zinc alloy and anodized aluminum parts, and the exterior case is intended to represent the appearance of a pearl. In hand, the Alba feels much more luxurious than their price suggested. As much as I like the Sennheiser IE 200, their plastic case does not approach the more durable and lasting design of the Alba.
In addition, the braided cable is elegant and was even pleasant to pass through my fingers. He East A little prone to tangles, especially after withdrawing the satisfactory transport case (included in the box). And if you want a volume controller for traveling use, you are not lucky here – you will need to consider a third -party option.
Back to good things: there are some connectivity options here. You can either use the standard 3.5 mm connector or use the custom USB-C adapter included. This has an integrated DAC and amplifier, ensuring access to high resolution audio on the go, even with your smartphone. It also has a LED light that shines if you are properly connected – nice touch! It should be noted, however, that there is no 4.4 mm adapter in the box.
I was also very satisfied with the comfort and adjustment of the Alba Meze audio. I generally use the Sony Wh-1000XM6 to listen to my music, because I can often find intra-ear options to feel a little tedious after an hour or two. But not these. They adapt perfectly for me and are light enough to feel non -invasive. There is also a range of ears of different sizes in the box, so you can find the perfect seal.
Of course, you do not get the advantages of active noise cancellation with wired IEMs – something you expect from the best wireless headphones. But this firm seal was everything I needed to find the total advantages of the passive noise isolation of the Alba. Even when listening to the intermediate volumes, chatter around the office and the passage through vehicles were considerably blurred, helping me stay immersed in my music.
So, overall, I think it’s clear. The Alba Audio Meze is a brilliant option for all those who seek to enter the audiophile world, with a low price, breathtaking looks and a detailed sound. They will help you see your favorite songs in a new light. And for that alone, they deserve my recommendation well.
Alba Review Audio Meze: Price and release date
- $ 159 / £ 139 / $ 239 at
- Launched in June 2024
The Alba Audio Meze is a very affordable pair of IEM, with a list price of $ 159 / £ 139 / $ 239 in. Interestingly, they seem to be regularly at a little higher price than that in the United Kingdom and Australia, but only by a small margin. They released in June 2024 and are available in a single color.
Méze Audio Alba Review: Specs
|
Drivers |
Dynamics of 10.8 mm |
|
Weight |
14g |
|
Frequency range |
3 p.m.-25khz |
|
Connectivity |
3.5 mm; USB-C |
Do I have to buy the Alba audio meze?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Notation |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
USB-C glossy adapter, Large passive noise insulation, detachable cable, without online controller or microphone. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Sound quality |
Sound well separated and defined with impressive bass and detail. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Design |
Magnificent outdoor box, beautiful braided cable, a little subject to tangle. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Value |
At phenomenal prices for luxurious sound and seems to be offered. |
5/5 |
Buy them if …
Do not buy them if …
Alba Audio Meze: also consider
| Header cell – column 0 |
Alba Audio Meze |
Sennheiser ie 200 |
Activo volcano |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$ 159 / £ 139 / $ 239 at |
$ 149.95 / £ 129.99 / $ 239.95 |
$ 80 / £ 99 (about $ 120 A) |
|
Drivers |
Dynamics of 10.8 mm |
Dynamics of 7 mm |
1x 8 mm, 2x 6 mm Triple pilot dynamic |
|
Weight |
14g |
4G (by bud) |
5g (by bud) |
|
Frequency range |
3 p.m.-25khz |
6h -z 20khz |
8 p.m.-20khz |
|
Connectivity |
3.5 mm; USB-C |
3.5 mm |
3.5 mm; 4.4 mm; USB-C |
How I tested the Alba audio
- Tested for two weeks
- Used in the office and outside your trips
- Mainly tested using tidal
I tested the intra-ear monitors of the Alba audio Meze in two weeks, after an in-depth race. I mainly used their 3.5 mm connectivity option, while being connected to my laptop – but I also tried the USB -C Dongle with my phone when listening on the go.
Most of the time, I used the Alba while playing tracks via Tidal, in order to access higher musical files. On Tidal, I have traveled the Test Techradar Playlist, which has tracks from a wide range of genres. However, I also played a number of tracks on my own personal library, including essential tunes that I use to test audio equipment.
If necessary, I compared the Alba Audio Meze side by side with the Sennheiser IE 200 on aspects such as sound quality, design and features.
More generally, I tested tons of products here in Techradar, where I focus largely on the audiovisual segment. I examined everything, speakers of the All-Action party, such as the LG Xboom Stage 301, up to IEM Premium, such as the Sennheiser IE 600. Consequently, I have a solid understanding of what is necessary for audio equipment to stand out on a highly competitive market, and what makes a product great rather than good.
- For the first time: September 2025
- Learn more about how we test
