Back in June, Meze Audio released Alba, the Romanian headphone maker’s most affordable pair of in-ear monitors to date. I didn’t write a review at the time as supply issues delayed stock levels and readers wouldn’t have been able to order them. I decided to delay my review until the Meze Audio Alba were in stock and ready to ship, which I am pleased to say they now are.
The word Alba means “First Light” in Romanian and these IEMs have been designed for people wanting to dip their toe into the world of premium earphones without having to remortgage their home. These are Meze’s first entry-level earphones, they offer a comfortable fit with over-the-ear hooks, a detachable twisted-pair cable and a selection of superbly soft silicone ear tips in four different sizes.
The ear tips create a reasonable level of passive noise isolation, although I think I would have liked to see an extra-large pair for my ears. These earphones are probably best used in quieter surroundings where you can focus on the music. If you’re a commuter riding on noisy trains, buses or aircraft, you would probably be better with a pair of active noise-canceling earphones or headphones. However, if you care about audio quality and want to listen somewhere quiet, then Meze Audio’s Alba deserve a closer listen.
If you’re new to Meza Audio’s products, you’re in for a visual treat. The company makes some fabulous-sounding products that have a unique styling that echoes the Art Nouveau designs so beloved by Romanians.
Alba earphones are made with a combination of zinc alloy and anodized aluminum parts, but they are tough enough to endure daily use without any danger of their stunning pearlescent appearance wearing away. They look beautiful; the colorway will appeal to anyone who appreciates stylish design.
Meze Audio claims Alba have been tuned to deliver “a neutral sound profile with a splash of warmth.” I’d say they pretty much got the description spot on. These earphones have superb clarity that is underscored with deliciously warm bass without booming or sounding overbearing. I could listen to these earphones for hours on end. They are perfect for late-night listening and they lap up almost any genre of music because they are so well balanced.
Meze Audio says Alba can pair well with a wide range of music sources, including the iPhone 16 and other smartphones with USB-C connectivity using the included DAC convertor. They also have a traditional 3.5mm stereo jack and whether you are using that gold-plated 3.5mm connector to plug into a digital audio player or use the custom-made USB-C DAC adaptor, the sound is superb. No matter what the source, these Alba earphones deliver a truly immersive listening experience, that’s positively infectious.
To test the ability of the Alba to convey delicate tunes, I fired up Clifford T. Ward’s Gaye And Other Stories album on Tidal. For those who don’t know, Clifford T. Ward was an English songwriter from Worcestershire who deserved far greater success than he enjoyed during his lifetime. With a similar vibe to Nick Drake, Ward wrote some amazing and poignant songs that can break your heart. Alba articulated every track on that album with an emotional delivery that was perfect.
If you have a streaming subscription, please look up Ward’s “Home Thoughts From Abroad” track and tell me that it doesn’t send a tingle down your spine. Sadly, Clifford T. Ward died from MS in 2001 and the world lost a unique talent. Listening to his anthology again with the Meze Alba was a moving experience. These earphones can convey so much nuance in a recording. The sound is underpinned by a solid bass thanks to the 10.8mm dynamic drivers used in each earpiece that cover an impressive frequency range of 15 to 25kHz. The sound pressure level registers a healthy 109dB so there’s enough muscle to play the quieter tracks and distortion is minimal.
Verdict: The Meze Audio Alba earphones are a triumph. I love the sound and the decision by Meze Audio to bundle a decent-quality DAC adapter for smartphone listening is a smart one. If you want a pair of wired earphones that deliver top-notch sound at a relatively affordable price, you must audition the Meze Audio Alba. Highly Recommended.
Pricing & Availability: Meze Audio’s new ALBA earphones are available now from mezeaudio.com. priced at $159 / £139 / €159.
Tech Specs:
- Driver: 10.8 mm Dynamic.
- Frequency range: 15Hz – 25kHz.
- Impedance: 32Ω at 1kHz
- Frequency response: 4 – 92,000Hz.
- SP: 109 dB SPL/V at 1kHz.
- Distortion: <0.1% at 1kHz.
