Great review, Lachlan! As an owner of the 109 Pros, I agree on most points. If it helps, my steel band is dead silent. I have never heard a single creak from mine. I watched this entire video listening through the 109 Pros and not a sound. Maybe that will help any prospective buyers. I’ll just say that the 109 Pros have probably become my most satisfying Headphone purchase EVER. I just love them so much. They have won the place of honor on the single headphone stand in my main listening center - on display between my Burson Soloist 3X GT and Violectric V281 on the left and my Feliks Audio Espressivo Mk II and Cayin HA-1A MK2 on the right. The 109 Pros sound outstanding with all of my amplifiers and DACS and with all genres of music. The rest of my headphones are starting to gather dust, and some of them cost four times the amount of the 109 Pros. Their comfort is second to none and they just disappear on my head for hours on end - bringing the various artists right into my room like no other headphones in my collection. I got to attend the 2022 So Cal Can Jam in Irvine, CA with my 19-year old son late last year. My 109 Pros were in transit at the time, so I hadn’t heard them yet. My son and I listened to them at the show and we both fell in love with them. My son played “No Quarter” by Led Zeppelin through them and we were both speechless. The surreal effects of John Paul Jones keyboard playing and then the thundering cracks of John Bonham’s snare and toms were like Zeppelin was playing right in the room with us. They are a beautiful sonic experience and if I ever have to limit myself to just one pair of headphones … it will be the 109 Pros hands down. 🎼❤️🎼 Thanks again, Lachlan. I love the quality reviews you bring us. The work you put into them is evident and very much appreciated.
So glad you're loving the 109 Pros!! They are just a very enjoyable headphone, aren't they? Thanks for sharing your experiences and I'm glad you like the content so much! 🙂🙂
I bought two months ago Meze 109 pro. What a fantastic, warm, fun, chill, punchy and space sound. It's make music /song sound great again. Best buy 2022 and definitely also 2023. I love it ❤.
I like this format - well done! You are getting the accurate info without having to speak everything, and you get to the core part of the review more smoothly. These seem like they are close to perfect in many ways - I *love* their design, and materials are wonderful. I really am annoyed by so many plastic things, and there is almost none in this headphone. Meze has hit it out of the park, in that regard.
@@PassionforSound I am curious to hear your opinion on the 109 Pro compared/contrasted with the Sivga SV023? They both have a 50mm dynamic driver, and they both use beryllium on the diaphragm - but the 109 use it on the outside, and the 023 has it on the center of the driver. My guess is the 109 driver has a larger diameter coil, and obviously they are very different impedance. I like both of their designs, and their similar headband. They are at very large difference in prices.
I don't have the 109 Pro here anymore, but it's a clearly better headphone IMO. It's one of my absolute favourites at any price and I've been thinking lately about buying a pair.
Oh yes, beautiful and comfortable. The steel headband seems overdone for my liking, but acceptable overall. The black spokes behind the grill are metal, not plastic. For sound I had a fun comparison with my Focal Elex and Cleer Next (both dynamic in $700 range). Simply, the 109 scored best in imaging, timbre and dynamic range on my source and gear (Tidal Masters, SMSL-SU9, SH9, xDuoo TA-20, Apos Flow HC, ~75-80db volume at the cups).
Loving the new scoring system and specs in the glamour reel man! Very slick. I was thinking of either these or the Auteur Classic, but I think I'll go for the ACs because I hear that there is some high upper treble emphasis with the 109s and that really killed the Clear Mgs for me. But since you mentioned they fixed the treble peak I'm still thinking!
I've got the Auteur Classics coming very soon now if you can sit tight. They should arrive by mid February. The 109s manage the treble spike really well by keeping it high in the range, but the ACs might still be better...
AC and Clear mg its a battle of details over overall smoothness and soundstage. If you want detail and more sparkle in highs go with MG otherwise AC for pure pleasure of music sacrificing a bit of sparkle and punch :) out of 3 ZMF is solid choice for pleasure if you want analytical sound MG should fit
@@PassionforSound I just purchased the 400 pros. I'm done for a while. Thinking of saving up till I get enough for a Dan Clark headphone. I still enjoy your videos. Ty
Spot on review. I knew they were my best right out of the box. Prior to buying these I had targeted the HiFiman Arya to purchase. Glad I bought these. Absolute value.
I agree that the Aryas are brilliant, but they're basically twice the price of the 109s. That's why I'm so impressed with the 109s and the performance they offer at the price
You didn't recommend any better cables Lachlan although you said you were disappointed with the supplied cable which you said was just basic? Worth buying a better cable? How much of an improvement would that make and any recommendations?
I don't think the 109s need a better cable from a sonic perspective so much as ergonomic. I did use them a bit with a nice copper litz cable and they sounded good with it, but it didn't ever feel like they were lacking anything with the stock cable (in terms of sound) Hope you love them as much I do.
Finally. This might be what I've long been searching for. A comfortable, non fatiguing sonic Swiss army knife. The bass extension is something I'm particularly interested in because I want to listen to a wide range of genres including cathedral sized pipe organs (they can go subsonic, some with harmonics down to 8hz!) I know I'll like the headband because I liked the 99 Classics, only returning them because my ears just barely didn't fit. I believe these have larger pads. I also like that Meze stock replacement parts and make these user serviceable. I better start saving now. Btw, I found an IEM case with separate compartments on Amazon. Naturally it's when I wasn't looking for cases that I found it lol. It's from Linsoul.
That's a good description of them as a Swiss Army Knife headphone and yes, they're very comfortable. I do think the pads are larger too - definitely the opening seems a little larger - I don't know about the depth, but I think deeper too. Great news on the case! I clearly was using the wrong search terms 😂
@@PassionforSound I wouldn't have found it either if I used the search box lol. I was going through all products on Linsoul's "storefront" to see what else they carried. Annoyingly I've found things Amazon has through Google results after the fact.
The Noires are noticeably warmer overall, but also have slightly harsher treble (depending on the internal filter pad used). I would choose the 109 Pros every time over the Noires unless you need a closed-back design or want something thicker and warmer. The 109 Pros have better separation and soundstage size as well as better articulation and detail retrieval (based on memory, but I am pretty confident on those points)
Just bought a set of these beauties tonight and can’t wait to get them in hand to try out! Fantastic detailed review, and it was very helpful in making up my mind to finally buy these. Also considering picking up a HIFIMAN HE1000 V2 Stealth Magnet Edition as I’ve heard good things about them, & they’re currently on a really good sale price online. Curious what your thoughts are (if you have any thoughts or experience with them yet) on the new Topping A70 Pro Amp & D70 Pro SABRE DAC paired up and compared to the Topping A90 Discrete amp with the D90LE DAC?
I've got the A70 & D70 Pro stack here at the moment and I like it. I haven't yet considered them in relation to the 90-series, but they're nice on their own. Good choice on the 109 Pros - they're brilliant!
I traded my Clear OG's for these and regretted my decision after a while. My pair were extremely sibilant, the treble was just too much to be enjoyed. I've since gone back to Clear MG's and haven't looked back.
That's really interesting as I find the pair I have here now on loan to be less fatiguing than the MGs (which are less fatiguing than the OGs). I wonder if there's significant burn-in with the 109s? I don't know because this pair was a demo pair and probably well used when I first heard them so it's just a theory.
After alot of conversation on Headfi I'm convinced there's some kind of unit variation. My pair were more harsher/fatiguing then my Arya's or Clear OG's, this was after 50 odd hours of burn in.
I have the 109pro and they are one of the best headphones I've owned. However, most comparisons I've seen for it are with cheaper headphones which they outperform. I want to know how it performs against Arya and HD800s now that they aren't that much more expensive than 109s. I wonder if either of those would be a proper upgrade.
The HD800 is quite a different sound because it lacks the bass of the 109s so I wouldn't consider it an upgrade so much as a change to go to the HD800 and probably a sideways change in many ways. As for the Arya, the new Arya models (Stealth and Organic) are excellent so that probably is an upgrade in some ways, but also a shift in sound to a slightly more treble tilted experience, but still with excellent bass.
I've used them with both the stock cables and a quality copper litz cable. I didn't find a significant improvement and wonder if their tuning with the upper treble emphasis kind of balances out with a more basic copper cable and therefore works better than fancy cables.
Lachlan, fantastic review. Love the new format. As you know, I am breaking in my new gear and I am loving it. I will definitely get in touch and let you know how much I like it. I am very interested in headphone reviews because at some point this year I will upgrade my LCD-XCs.
Thanks for the excellent review. How do they compare with Ananda Nano for bass and soundstage? Is Ananda Nano better than these for sound quality? Thanks!
I have the Nano here now for review, but haven't done proper listening yet to say. I'll try to answer this in the Nano review, but my first impressions are that the 109s are still superior overall.
Glad you liked the review! I can't recall which cables I tried while these were in the office, but I'd go with a high quality copper on the 109s for sure.
I love them too 🤘! One of our local reviewer believes with the meze’s pcuhd cables what meze suggest for the lyric and for these will improve the sound on every level!I didnt try yet but i planning!
Thanks for this Lachlan, I’m a big fan of the Elite but the 109 Pro has too much treble energy for me, I prefer the LCD-2 Classic which is slightly cheaper than the 109 Pro.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I haven't yet tried the LCD-2 Classic. When I first tried the 109s (the prototype pair) I felt the same about the treble, but this demo pair are great. Not sure if the pads are different and/or if there's been more burn-in. Maybe my tastes have altered a bit too - that's definitely possible with all the headphones I try!
A bit too zingy in the treble for my taste when I had them at home for a week. It seems a lot of reviewers love these which starts to trigger some alarm bells for me. But hey, we all hear differently. Anyway, great review Lachlan!
@@PassionforSound It is a concern for me. I don't mean to be cynical, but when something is universally praised it strikes me as being another hype train. Whereas if there are some negative reviews, it makes the product seem more real. For the 109 Pro, I've only watched your review, Zeos, Josh Valour, and Chrono. All of which were very positive. But just because I didn't like them doesn't mean that no one else should like them haha.
I'm not sure if you've seen my other reviews, but I'm a lot like you and I'm the first one to be sceptical and seek to derail a hype train because I feel like they lead people into bad decisions due to peer pressure. I actually came into this expecting to give them a mediocre review based on my experience with the prototypes, but they really won me over. Check out my Holo Audio Spring and May review for an example of me not boarding the hype train 🙂
@@PassionforSound I have watched your other videos (especially on TOTL headphones) and I enjoy your opinion and the production on your videos. I didn't mean to insinuate that you're on the hype train for nefarious reasons / affiliate links. I was speaking in general about the audiophile hobby. Everybody hears differently and the odds of there being a universally great headphone for everyone is low. Something that is universally praised doesn't really excite me but something with some divisive opinions does. I own a pair of LCD-5's and Zeos' extremely negative review of them is what got me interested in them haha. I've been meaning to try Sennhesier HD820's because of how disliked they are too .
Thanks for the reply! Apologies from me too if I sounded defensive as I'm have had a few fairly critical comments about this being a 'hype-train' review. I'm right there with you that I am always a bit sceptical about the hyped products and curious about the ones that get slammed. I happen to really like the HD820s. Hope you do too!
No doubt its an interesting headphone with strong competition in ~1000$, Clear or Arya are champions to beat and thats not easy task. I personally am keen to try 109 since my Focal Clear is not so much in use as before I bought verite closed, VC is something else that changed my mind about dynamic drivers, I really love them but have an option to switch Clear for something new. My Arya is planar of choice so it cant be replaced, 109 cant even touch it all I need is to upgrade my dac/amp combo so Arya can really start to shine I know it can :) nothing to loose in that direction because VC react exactly the same with better source
The retail price of the Arya and Clear (obviously the OG clear is discounted these days) put them in a different price category so it's not an entirely fair comparison I think. If buying secondhand, both of those can be better in some ways.
Fantastic review again! I share your enthusiasm. I live in Toronto. We have a stereo shop with a nice big headphone bar, lots of choices. Went to it the other day tried all of the 2000ish dollar and under headphones. The only things that competed were the 800 more then twice the money, better detail and sound stage but no bass to speak of, and the Hifiman Aryas better depth also at twice the price. But these are more natural, more real, more beautiful both form factor and sound. The Focal Clears had a similar sound but with everything overdone and completely unnatural by comparison. And again at twice the price. My only disagreement with your review is that you didn’t give the form factor and comfort an A+. Of the 3 headphones listed above, all more expensive, the only one in the same league for build and comfort are the Focals, same league but the Meze 109s are better in both regards. That disagreement aside you packed more information into less time in this review which for me improved your already great reviews.
Thanks for sharing all that, Rob! I held back from an A+ on comfort because the Elites exist 🙂. Comfort for me isn't subject to price and these don't quite match the Elites (or the Sivga Luan which are a cheaper A+ example). Form factor took a hit from the steel bands over the head, but I do agree that the 109s are exceptional value for money in every aspect.
Do you have the edition XS there? it could be an interesting comparsion since its a much better value than the Arya or Ananda, its almost for half price compare to 109 pro.
The hype is so big around the 109pro, some people say it is better than TOTLs like the Elite. As an Elite owner, that is hard to believe. Any thoughts?
The 109 Pro are trully excellent. You could try the AKG K812 at roughly the same price point, they might sound pretty similar to the Meze, but I'm not sure (I couldn't make a direct comparison, but I heard the AKGs some time ago).
I’m really torn between ananda stealth and 109 pros. I’m upgrading from dt880 to something within 700-1000 dollar range, and will be using my headphones for music movies and gaming (non competitive, immersive sound) what do you think will be the better choice? Ananda or 109 pro?
A piece of advice needed from the more experienced .. So, I am a speakers person and considering the 109 Pros for my 1st (and only most probable) headphone set. I do not own a dedicated headphone amp, and plan to drive them through my main Integrated Amplifier and DAC (Accuphase E380 + Denafrips Ares II .. soon to be upgraded to Venus II). My plan is to listen to music late an night in my living room , when kids are asleep. So my question is do you think they will perform good enough through the Accuphase or a dedicated headphone amp would be required to drive them properly. The E380 is a great speakers amp but I have no idea how the headphone amplification performs.. i guess it is at least decent, but i have really no idea. Do you think spending 800 euros would be too much if i have no dedicated HP amp, and i would be better if with somethink like a HiFiman Sundara at 350 euros? Thank you for your feedback
Unfortunately, I have no sense of how the headphone stage of that amp will perform so I can really help on that one - sorry! Maybe ask on some forums to get a sense of how that amp performs with headphones.
I recently ordered the Meze 109 Pro. I've watched your Dongle DAC videos (super informative) and was wondering which of the following you think would be the best choice for the Meze 109 Pro: Moondrop Moon River 2, Shanling UA5, Cayin RU6, or Questyle M15? My music source will either be my iPhone or my iPad, and I'll be using a balanced 4.4 mm cable. I'm new to all this audio stuff, so your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Edith, nice choice of headphones! Of the dongles you've listed, I'd probably choose the Cayin RU6 or Questyle M15. The Shanling UA5 is also excellent, but those other two will be a great match for the 109s I think.
@@PassionforSound Thanks so much for your recommendation! I'll take a closer look at the Cayin RU6 and Questyle M15 so I can decide which one to get. Do you have a preference of one or the other?
That's a fair point - I hadn't considered that! Are you blind and do you know if TH-cam is a platform that blind people turn to for this type of information?
@@PassionforSound Yes, totally blind here for a looooong, long time. :) To be honest, I do not know how many blind people really follow headphone and other audio gear reviewers. I would imagine quite a few, but I'm only basing that off my love of music and wanting the best gear I can afford.
Well I appreciate the feedback and will aim to balance the discussion of specs with the onscreen text in future. I'll likely share on screen what can be read elsewhere online and then talk about it in the context of what's relevant to the performance of the device in real-world use situations
So it's going to be a few days before they arrive, but I pulled the trigger on Meze Audio 109 Pro and Chord Mojo 2. Watched you for a while and always took in and appreciated your considered comparisons for what you get as you go up in price. These two sounded like a winner for spending a lot of money once then being set! Cheers :)
@@PassionforSound End game achieved, you know how much of a relief that is?! Ha. Bass and clarity is magic, all I'll ever need, did blind a/b test on 320kbs vs lossless too and couldn't distinguish so no extra steps needed there. Now to the music in peace :) Thanks for your recommendation!
It really depends on where in the world you are, but I like them with a quality copper litz cable so any manufacturer with a nice copper litz can sort you out.
Hi, This is a very specific question. My cans at present are Ananda stealth & HD6XX, I only listen via CD transport, Co-Ax to SMSL D300 into Singxer SA-1 all balanced and 4.4 balanced cables on both sets of cans. I have over 2500 CD's and 90% are vocal CD's. I find the Ananda a bit nasally, and the vocals are not as clear or defined as the HD6XX, which although an inferior listen overall, are much nicer for congested mid ranges as lyrics are more followable as they are cleaner & clearer, more forward, ie you can hear the words more clearly and better defined. SO, sorry for the long intro, would these 109 pro be more like the 6XX or Ananda, as I much prefer the detailing of the vocals of the 6XX (but veiled bass) rather than a larger soundstage, deeper or wider, and l still listen predominantly to the 6XX, and think these 109 pro might be my answer, .................. or a recommendation of something that gives excellent performing vocals at under $1k 👍 On a separate note, I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, and the 6XX DO SCALE UP with each better amplifier or DAC, much more so than any of my other cans, HE400i, Edition XS, Dan Clark, Ananda SE, Grado, AKG, etc etc, only other contender was LCDX but was too dark for me, with D300 & SA-1, any help appreciated as can’t get a demo on the 109, so would be a blind buy, and am worried they may not be a good replacement for my much loved 6XX.🙂
The 109s are kind of a mid-point between the Ananda and 6XX, I think. They are less peaky than the Ananda, but not as mid-forward as the 6XX might be considered. They are definitely more pronounced in the treble than the HD6XX, but the treble quality isn't as sharp as the Anandas. My only other thought is to wait and see what the new HD660S v2 from Sennheiser are like, but I don't know anything more than that they are rumoured to come out this month
@@PassionforSound Thank you Lachlan, watched loads of reviews, which nearly all say "fun" cans, I don't want that, the XS were fun, I want the most clear and defined vocals I can find, might even up my price band, ($1500) 🙃, I did try the 660S, but were too bright, but that was not on the D300 & SA-1, I didn't know a new V2 was on the way, I know the 6XX are bad at some things but they excel at clear vocals in the congested mid range, and want the same, but with better soundstage and more defined bass with better treble, search continues 😂
If you can stretch to something like the Sendy Peacock, you might find your perfect option. The HarmonicDyne G200 is another great option if you're ok with a slightly annoying headband design.
These are a step up to both of those in sound quality and comfort. The 660s to the extent it is different is not leagues beyond its 600/650 brethren. The elex is a great can, but not at technical level of 109. Having owned all of the above I think youll hear a clear difference and be pleased. Just burn them in a bit, they are bright at first.
That's a tricky one because they all have different sounds that will appeal to different people, but I'd choose either Clear OG or 109 Pro first, then Ananda, then HD600, but all are excellent
It's a tough call! I think the Clears are a bit more technical, but the 109 Pros are a headphone I would probably reach for more often if I had them both here.
@@PassionforSound I'm scared by comments saying that the 109 have too much treble or being sibilant. Is this a matter of not enough breaking-in or wrong pairing, or really the treble may be too much for some people?
It's a tough one because I felt that way on first listen to the prototypes, but not on this demo pair. I can only assume it's a burn-in thing or just different people having different treble sensitivities
I just purchased a pair of cordless over head closed head phones, I was just wondering if it's possible to install a socket so I can convert them into a corded headphone. TIA for your help, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Actually, that is possible from some companies, but I can't recall their name off the top of my head. A quick search for "headphone modifications, "balanced headphone modifications" or "headphone rewiring" should get you sorted. Thanks for watching and commenting! ;)
I have a question I am looking for an allrounder headphone under 800 pounds and 109 pros seems nice I essentially want to use them for movies music and anime at home I wanted to know if meze would be your recommendation for my use case or should I go for a different headphone? I won't be buying a new headphone for years after this purchase But my thought now is to get meze and buy an amp down the road
From what I heard: bass slam, imaging, separation goes to Clear OG and soundstage, clarity, comfort goes to 109 Pro. But both are great headphones on their own. Focal is better in the said areas.
@@phanindramvr2215 The soundstage and separation seem curious to me. the 109 Pro seems like an inbetween the Clear and the HD800s, with a bit lower technicalities.
@@RaggaDruida Seperation isn’t as good as Clear even though you may feel in some songs that 109 has wider and deeper soundstage. 109’s stage is mixed bag.
I didn't compare with the Clear OG because I don't own them anymore. I didn't compare them with the Clear MG because they are very different prices. As for the performance, I think the Clear OGs are probably more technically impressive with things like separation, etc. (as others have also said), but I prefer the overall tonality and 'enjoyability' (to me at least) of the 109s
Hi Lachlan; I’ve heard and read so many overwhelmingly positive reviews about these they almost seem too good to be true and I find myself wanting some kind of critique, besides the headband. So when you say “not exactly as good as higher priced products” what specifically are you getting at? Separation? depth of staging? I’ve read people saying the higher priced hifi headphones are overpriced and these 109s represent a revolution of sorts setting a new bar for quality sound at a more reasonable price. Ie high end headphones are overpriced.
Hi Cassie, yes, the higher models have greater resolution, imaging, soundstage, etc. What I find in this hobby (and probably all hobbies) is that there are those who may have heard higher end headphones, but on a lower level system and so the 109s might have been reaching their full potential while the higher end cans were held back. Another common behaviour is that people who own the 109 and maybe don't want to (or can't) spend more will try to convince themselves and others that their new headphone is all anyone ever needs. I love the 109s and will be buying a pair, but the reality is that they do have slightly unnatural tonality (as all headphones do - there's no truly perfect headphone) even though that colouration is enjoyable and they also can't match higher end headphones for the factors you mentioned. In short, I think these are the best headphones I've heard under $1000 and probably under $1500 USD, but the HiFiMan Arya Stealth is just one example of a more expensive headphone that I think is even better. Then there are the Elites, HE1000SE, Susvara, LCD-5, Expanse (maybe), etc.
They are. I own the LCD-2 and LCD-X, the Elex, the 5909 and others less expensive but with the 109 Pro added to what I have I think I have covered my needs/desires well enough to back myself out of the proverbial rabbit hole a bit. I've done it before and been successful enough over the decades to have amassed an enormous amount of music.
Not sure if I'd bother if you already have the Clears. I don't see these as a guaranteed upgrade. I personally prefer them slightly, but I think many people will like the extra punch that the Clears provide.
Hi, i bought on your recommendation these headphone and it’s fantastic!!!! Thanks for the review! But…my cat destroyed the supplied cable😂 Do you have an recommendation for a replacement cable (1.5m) that improves also the sound? Greetings from germany!
Oh no! Sorry to hear about the cable. I like what Antonio at Gladiator Cables is doing in terms of pricing and wire quality in his range. The Caesar line copper litz cable would be my recommendation.
That's a good question. The 109s are definitely easier to enjoy for me because the treble is easier on the ears, but as to whether they're comparable technically, I'd love to compare them directly and find out!
Yes, but it's also a very different sounding headphone so some might find it too energetic and lively if they're used to the "comfy slipper" that are the HD650. 😁
I have 99 Classics, tried and returne edition XS, and bought these 109 Pros after. I will only comment the sound here, because for confort, build and looks these 109 are TOTL quality, period. If the driver last 20 years, the rest of the headphone will last 100 years and still look great-Premium build here. At first, I did not like the 109 sound. Very strange highs, hollow mids and boomy bass. After 100 hrs of sound burn-in without listening, and maybe 10 hours of listening afterwards, the strange highs have disapeared and the bass amount has reduced. I tried them with balanced and non-balanced cables and the sound is quite different. It is similar to the 99 reaction to balanced vs non balanced; non balanced too boomy, balanced much more acceptable. I use the silver platted copper cable from Meze (i.e.the cheapest option) for my balanced cable. I agree that the 99 are more forward and fulller on the mids and maybe tonality, especially if EQ near Harman curve (Wavelet app preset is great with these !!) . What the 109 have much better is the depth and 3D spatial qualities, instruments separations in the space. It puches harder and faster too. However, with some tweaks of Eq, you can better the mids and vocals but it costs you a bit of 3D. So for me, I do have a choice now between what sound I want and once I accepted this tradeoff, I started to appreciate the 109 more and more. But I listen balanced to tamper the bass. Based on this I also believe them to be able to scale very well on higher quality gear, maybe tube amps. I have a fiio m11 and litle dot 1+; good but entry level source. So I will try to upgrade and I expect them to improve also cause they have the qualities fotlr it. Comparing to Edition XS, the XS were great on electronic and orchestral; better stage width and heights. But somehow less fun engagement for tracks because everything seems further appart and less cohesive, effortless but lesser "natural". I think I will buy again edition XS one day; with all those I will have a clear choice of color I want to have for specific tracks. So these 109 are very good but not perfect; they are worth the price for long term build and listening engagement and experience, but beware they are far from neutral and not the best for mids/voices/intimate feeling. Happy listening!
This Sivga Luan vs Meze 109 Pro? I know the price difference is huge, but both seem to be very very comfortable and build quality both are very good. Both are also rated highly in performance. All these factors together put them on my list. I'm now looking for additional pros and cons. Any advice?
Both are lovely headphones, but they're in very different categories of performance and the 109 is definitely the far better headphone (as it should be)
@@PassionforSound that's what I figured. Until today I was very much dead set on Hifiman's Ananda nano, but thinking of my bad experiences with my Edition XS, the big earcups, loose fit, quality control. Maybe find something else. I find the Meze and Sivga stunning. Gorgeous! And impressed by their performances
Oh my, I don’t know... these just seem to be hyped too much. I had a chance to try them at a headphone show back in September. I compared them directly with Sivga SV023 - and preferred the Sivgas. For nearly HALF the price, mind you. Don’t get me wrong, 109s are not a bad headphone by any means. It’s just that I simply don’t think they are the „absolute value“ some claim them to be. They are similarly well built as Sivgas, similarly comfortable (actually, I find SV023 a bit more comfortable because they are lighter), similar in terms of sound technicalities but a bit too agressive sounding. Plus SV023 has an outstanding holographic sound. I‘m just sad they don‘t get as much attention as the Mezes, especially considering the price difference... I don’t want to discourage you from buying 109s. All I am saying is have a listen first, compare them with other options if possible and then decide.
I definitely love the SV023 as well and regularly recommend them. Keep in mind that hearing any headphone at a headphone show is never ideal because of the levels of background noise, etc. Also, are you sure they were a production model and not the prototypes that went to a lot of shows early on? The SV023s are great, but (on this occasion) the reason the 109s are getting hyped is because they are incredibly impressive.
@@PassionforSound Hmm, I don’t know which model - prototype or production - I tried. Maybe I will have another chance to compare them at some point, this time with the guaranteed final version of 109s. Also, thank you for your review of SV023. I find it one of the best (if not the best) on youtube :)
Hey, first, I really like your reviews. I am thinking about getting the 109 pro, but the treble is a bit worrying for me. I had the dt 1990 pro, and they just made my ears bleed with their piercing highs. Even the Amiron Home had to much treble for my liking (it had a problem with s sounds). Would you say, that the 109 pro are worth testing for me? Because some people say, that the treble can be hot. I mostly listen to prog metal.
It's always hard to know because we all have different specific frequencies that we're sensitive to. I'm generally also treble sensitive, but found the 109s to manage the treble extremely well - probably due to their balanced overall tuning. Our perception of frequencies is also based on what else is happening around them so this helps the 109s to not have the same troubles as the DT1990. I can't guarantee you'll be fine with the 109s, but I am fairly confident that they're different enough from the beyerdynamics to be worth a shot.
@@PassionforSound thank you so much for that detailed answer. No worries, I wasn't looking for a guarantee. At this point I've read so much about them, saw them used today for 575 and couldn't resist, so I bought them. I have a chord mojo 2 and from what I've read, I assume it will be a good pairing. Looking forward to it. Again, thank you for your evaluation:)
@@PassionforSound The mojo 2 ist wonderful. I also watched your Review, where you talked about Pans and I totaly agreed to that :D. I will let you know how I like them.
So, the Mezes were not for me. They were just too sharp for my taste. I don't know if its just the treble or also how the upper midrange is tuned, but with metal (and sub genres) they often sound a little bit piercing. But, I also bought the sennheiser hd 660s2, and I love them so much. The highs are perfect for me, some guitar solos are just fire with them. Also the midrange (its a sennheiser). And the Bass is really good too, in my opinion. With the Senns and my beloved T5 3. Gen I think I will be done for a long time :)
Ooh. That's a tough one. I would personally choose the 109s over those, but there's a degree of lost value when selling both of those to get just a single headphone to replace them...
If you're not loving the Clears then I'd go for it. I never quite loved them (I did really like them) and the 109s are next level for enjoyment to my ears. Hopefully they'll do the same for you
Funny ... as soon as you mentioned the creaking sound, I gave up on this review. My Sony XM3’s do this, and it makes me crazy. Such a distraction, and it’s surprising to me that manufacturers don’t pick up on this in their testing.
Really nice review thank you for that :) I bought the 109 pro and love them. They are something special and work really well with every kind of music. Bought the meze empyrean 2 because they have to be better right? well no, not for me. I listened to them for a few hours and altough technically a better headphone, they do not have the magic the 109 have. The 109 pro work really well with the Hifiman EF499, tames the treble a bit.
@@PassionforSound If you don't mind, i would really like to hear your opinion. If you had to choose between Arya Stealth V3 and the Meze 109 pro which would you take and why?
@@PassionforSound I tried the Arya yesterday and think they are a bit boring/thin compared to the 109 pro. I liked the bigger soundstage for classical music but overall pefer the 109. Is there a Headphone you would consider a reasonable upgrade from the 109 pro?
It's a tough call to say that they're a better option - they're different and I won't try to say exactly how because I don't have them side-by-side . I definitely find myself thoroughly enjoying the 109s in a way I don't remember enjoying the Clears. Also, the 109s are more comfortable to me.
@@waynewong6570 If you want more simple fun the 109, but if you want more sophistication then maybe Arya. Do you EQ since you can do more for the Arya with that? I usually go for planars since they EQ do nicely and have some technical benefits, but the Arya has somewhat rounded unimpactful bass so if that's something you want then 109 would likely be better, but I would have to EQ them at least a bit.
Wouldn't mind comparing these to the JM Audio XTC. If you haven't tried those, they will likely ruin the 109 Pro for everyone, because the sound value for $800 rivals multi-$1000 headphones. At least they did for me.
This thing looked a lot like the Sennheiser HD800s with many hard to clean surfaces. If you hang it out on the headphone stand it will collect a lot of dust.
If you have a dusty location, the fins on the back of the headphones might collect some dust, but nothing a feather duster every now and then wouldn't solve 🙂
I know, Soulfulfool. It was a largely tongue-in-cheek comment, but the price-to- performance of the 109s makes them a great option for more people than a Susvara, Elite, etc. As for the headband, I am guessing there's a significant price difference between the 109 band and the Liric band so it might have undone the whole price-to-performance equation.
I'm a firm believer that they benefit from pad swaps. I've settled on the ZMF Focal suede pads that I was using for the Radiance. It was between that and the protein leather Xenon pads for the Argon Both are great but the ZMF pads just pull ahead for my preferences. Pad swaps are a pain in the arse too on the 109 because of how little room you have to slide in the pad sleeving. But absolutely worth it. Better comfort, deeper bass (or perception of depth), and less bite from the treble. After having them for a couple of months I have to admit I prefer them to the Arya Stealth because of their engagement and comfort. I actually don't enjoy them for background listening because they like to force my attention to the music. Excellent review as always, I'm not sure they're prefect though but they are pretty mageickle. ✌️
Yeah, the term "perfect" was more referring to how good they are for the price rather than saying they are a perfect headphone. I can't bring myself to pad roll them because I enjoy them just as they are and can't come at the Frankenstein look of them with wrong-sized pads (I don't think I have anything the right size and shape here). Glad you're enjoying them so much though!
@@PassionforSound I'm just teasing about the perfect-thing, no doubt they're one of Meze's most compelling product offering because of the price point. I'd agree there's a strong argument for keeping them stock. Saves the aggravation of trying to get pads to slot onto them. I'm just lending a testimonial that you can tweak them to taste is all. ✌
@@bling5279 Pad swaps on the 109 are a PITA. I am able to reliably fit the Xenon pads that Mod House sells for the Argons. They're commissioned from Dekoni, they're larger and very soft against the head. I like the protein leather ones for the 109 but after my initial comment here I switched to the lambskin Xenons and absolutely love them with the 109. I think the ZMF suede pads for Focals are the best overall for sound quality with the 109 but the fit is better (for me) with the Xenon lambs and the difference in sound isn't really all that wide for it to be an issue. Just food for thought.
If/when I can get the 660S2, I'd love to answer that. Clear MG and 109 are at quite different price levels though so not exactly comparable. The 109 is more neutral with that dash of treble. The MG is distinctly coloured (in a good way) to be more dynamic and punchy, but is also a little more fatiguing to me due to where the treble emphasis lies
I think when you are reviewing headphones you should do a review where the frequency responses are the same. Like make both headphone frequencies flat. This way there are no colorations and a fair comparison can be given because some type of coloration and make one headphone sound much better
@@PassionforSound Yes. i think that way they are on a level playing field... sonarworks or some other program could be good for that. just a thought though.
I've tried that in the past and it is definitely an interesting experience to hear two headphones both EQ'ed flat and yet still sounding quite different (I think I discussed this in either my HD800S or Focal Utopia review). Perhaps I can do something along these lines in the future... Thanks for the suggestion.
Definitely not. They highlight some details that other headphones don't because of the high frequencies that are boosted, but they perform technically like a $1000 dynamic driver headphone, not a planar or estat. That's not a knock either because dynamic drivers have their own sonic benefits too
Yes, I'm not a fan of elastic headbands either. The good news is that the Meze headphones are highly serviceable for replacement parts. As for the LCD series comparison, I can't help there because I have difficulty accessing the Audeze range due to the local supplier/distributor
that creaking headband is a shame. i remember years ago i had an Audio Technica AD2000 which i just had to sell for this reason alone. it used to creak with all head movement
Bought these about a month ago and absolutely love them. One thing you did not mention, and to me a con, is that this pair of $799 headphones, 'does not come with extra earpads. Other than that, these are very awesome!
There are many, many headphones that don't come with a second set of pads so it's not really something I expect and is more a bonus if it's there rather than an expectation. Glad you're loving the 109s!
@@PassionforSound I totally understand where you are coming from. However, when you're spending this kind of money on headphones, it is just something I think headphone makers really should do (a) because of the price, and (b) because you never know when, heaven forbid, something could happen making a company like Meze, as an example, no longer support a product or manufacture replacements.
Focal Clear OG isn't truly a sub-$1000 headphone. When it was new it was >$1000 and I'm not sure if it's being discontinued at some point. It's true that the Clear OG is an amazing option at the current price and some will definitely prefer it over the 109 Pros, but I would probably reach for the 109s for pure enjoyment.
Focal clear is way better, as in more balanced across the frequency spectrum. The 109 is more coloured and the treble is hit or miss. For me I'm leaning towards a miss. Bass and treble are emphasized, too much for my taste. Technical it's good but nothing more Creaking is annoying but so is Focal with their headbands..
This is not to say you're wrong, but the 109s are actually less coloured than the Clears which have a noticeable mid bass lift and then their own treble emphasis too. None of this is to say one is better or worse - just wanted to provide some objective details for others reading
I bought the 109 pro's because all the reviews like these, and for $620 used but never found what every reviewer was saying about them. I also re bought a pair of 99 classics (for a closed back option) with a balanced cable and Brainwavz oval hybrid pads, and to me they sound better than the 109's. What's wrong with me???
It could be your personal preferences, Bob, or maybe your source chain is a bottleneck and you're not getting the full performance of the 109s, but you're getting most of the performance of the 99s
@@PassionforSound Okey, but how i can hear the difference? What is better on the 109 pro exactly? As i see the XS have a 100mm planar driver which has more wide and deep and tall soundstage. Furthermore the XS planar driver has better instrument separation (planars are the best in this), and maybe a better, softer high range, as i read many have problem with the 109 pros sibilance/graininess. So if the bass and the midrange are better on the 109 pro at least its a draw between the two. + as i wrote i admit that build quality is much better on the meze.
I'm not sure where you've heard those benefits of planars or that the XS has a deep soundstage because neither is accurate IME. The 109 Pro is at least as good with separation, has a more balanced overall tonality, and the staging depth is far better. I'm not knocking the XS for what it is, but the 109 Pro is really in a different league.
@@PassionforSound Hmm, interesting, okey i trust u, although its brilliant how subjective could be this from person to person. I just saw RTings big headphone soundstage list, they tested many and made a tierlist from them regarding the soundstage. Meze is not on the list, but the edition XS is in the top3 with HD800s and ananda. Its a totally obejctive test, with only mechanical measurements, not including human hearing. I just say that the XS objectively one of the most open sounding in the market, those insanely big earcups and drivers dont lie. I appreciate your opinion, but its veery hard for me to believe that the 109 pro can reproduce this kind of soundstage with its 50mm dynamic drivers, its just physics.
The size of the driver and cups has no direct bearing on the soundstage size IME. Also, if the RTings rankings are based only on measurements then I would question their validity given that the science around how we perceive sound is still incomplete with new information coming to light about the importance of ultrasonic harmonics in the sound, the accuracy of timing down to 1-2 micro-seconds, etc.
Sounds like a lustful type sound. So in a couple months? When you're lustful intent wanes? And the coloration (that every transducer has) paints itself on every recording? Will it stand the test of time? Past a year?
They're actually not lustful - they're very neutral with some extra high end treble. I've had them on loan for many weeks (months?) now and they're just an easy headphone to live with. So much so that I'm planning a purchase for use as my editing, video call and general usage (gaming, video watching) type headphone.
It's really not a good idea to make judgements about any headphone from a graph. Firstly, the compensation curves I use are different from the ones you'll see elsewhere. Secondly, the sound of a headphone is dictated by so much more than the frequency response. There's the speed of decay (longer can sound smoother/warmer and can also become muddy), the exact balance of frequencies is also important as peaks on the mids or treble can be masked by lower frequencies or a midrange bump (for example) can draw your attention (neurologically speaking) to those frequencies over others.
Not Meze hype train, just a headphone I happen to really like, but we all hear a little differently due to our ear anatomy so there'll always be different opinions.
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Great review, Lachlan! As an owner of the 109 Pros, I agree on most points. If it helps, my steel band is dead silent. I have never heard a single creak from mine. I watched this entire video listening through the 109 Pros and not a sound. Maybe that will help any prospective buyers.
I’ll just say that the 109 Pros have probably become my most satisfying Headphone purchase EVER. I just love them so much. They have won the place of honor on the single headphone stand in my main listening center - on display between my Burson Soloist 3X GT and Violectric V281 on the left and my Feliks Audio Espressivo Mk II and Cayin HA-1A MK2 on the right. The 109 Pros sound outstanding with all of my amplifiers and DACS and with all genres of music. The rest of my headphones are starting to gather dust, and some of them cost four times the amount of the 109 Pros.
Their comfort is second to none and they just disappear on my head for hours on end - bringing the various artists right into my room like no other headphones in my collection.
I got to attend the 2022 So Cal Can Jam in Irvine, CA with my 19-year old son late last year. My 109 Pros were in transit at the time, so I hadn’t heard them yet. My son and I listened to them at the show and we both fell in love with them. My son played “No Quarter” by Led Zeppelin through them and we were both speechless. The surreal effects of John Paul Jones keyboard playing and then the thundering cracks of John Bonham’s snare and toms were like Zeppelin was playing right in the room with us.
They are a beautiful sonic experience and if I ever have to limit myself to just one pair of headphones … it will be the 109 Pros hands down. 🎼❤️🎼
Thanks again, Lachlan. I love the quality reviews you bring us. The work you put into them is evident and very much appreciated.
So glad you're loving the 109 Pros!! They are just a very enjoyable headphone, aren't they?
Thanks for sharing your experiences and I'm glad you like the content so much! 🙂🙂
This comment just cost me 800€.. thanks... 😅
You'll be glad when you hear them 😉
@@nikb6528 xd
I bought two months ago Meze 109 pro. What a fantastic, warm, fun, chill, punchy and space sound. It's make music /song sound great again. Best buy 2022 and definitely also 2023. I love it ❤.
It's brilliant, isn't it? I need to get a pair too. I miss having them here.
I like this format - well done! You are getting the accurate info without having to speak everything, and you get to the core part of the review more smoothly.
These seem like they are close to perfect in many ways - I *love* their design, and materials are wonderful. I really am annoyed by so many plastic things, and there is almost none in this headphone. Meze has hit it out of the park, in that regard.
Glad you liked the review, the look of the 109s and the new format! 🙂🙂🙂
@@PassionforSound I am curious to hear your opinion on the 109 Pro compared/contrasted with the Sivga SV023? They both have a 50mm dynamic driver, and they both use beryllium on the diaphragm - but the 109 use it on the outside, and the 023 has it on the center of the driver. My guess is the 109 driver has a larger diameter coil, and obviously they are very different impedance.
I like both of their designs, and their similar headband. They are at very large difference in prices.
I don't have the 109 Pro here anymore, but it's a clearly better headphone IMO. It's one of my absolute favourites at any price and I've been thinking lately about buying a pair.
Oh yes, beautiful and comfortable. The steel headband seems overdone for my liking, but acceptable overall. The black spokes behind the grill are metal, not plastic. For sound I had a fun comparison with my Focal Elex and Cleer Next (both dynamic in $700 range). Simply, the 109 scored best in imaging, timbre and dynamic range on my source and gear (Tidal Masters, SMSL-SU9, SH9, xDuoo TA-20, Apos Flow HC, ~75-80db volume at the cups).
Thanks for sharing your experiences
Loving the new scoring system and specs in the glamour reel man! Very slick.
I was thinking of either these or the Auteur Classic, but I think I'll go for the ACs because I hear that there is some high upper treble emphasis with the 109s and that really killed the Clear Mgs for me. But since you mentioned they fixed the treble peak I'm still thinking!
I've got the Auteur Classics coming very soon now if you can sit tight. They should arrive by mid February. The 109s manage the treble spike really well by keeping it high in the range, but the ACs might still be better...
AC and Clear mg its a battle of details over overall smoothness and soundstage. If you want detail and more sparkle in highs go with MG otherwise AC for pure pleasure of music sacrificing a bit of sparkle and punch :) out of 3 ZMF is solid choice for pleasure if you want analytical sound MG should fit
Wonderful review. You're getting even better. Love your comparisons, it really helps.
So glad you liked it! I'm always looking for improvement opportunities
I've never jumped the glamour roll but now this is even better. This seems to be a very good headphone, thank you Lachlan.
Glad you liked the new additions to the glamour video! Yes, the 109s are brilliant at their price
@@PassionforSound I just purchased the 400 pros. I'm done for a while. Thinking of saving up till I get enough for a Dan Clark headphone. I still enjoy your videos. Ty
Always a pleasure
Spot on review. I knew they were my best right out of the box. Prior to buying these I had targeted the HiFiman Arya to purchase. Glad I bought these. Absolute value.
dont underestimate Arya it can destroy headphones in 1000$ range all depends on source :)
I agree that the Aryas are brilliant, but they're basically twice the price of the 109s. That's why I'm so impressed with the 109s and the performance they offer at the price
@@PassionforSound Not really twice the price, maybe if you can buy used pair but at this moment 109 do not exist on used market
Arya stealth will stomp all over 109 pro. As a matter of fact edition xs is better than 109 pro. Imo of course
That's a very black and white statement, Jeet. What's right for you isn't right for everyone
Great review Lachlan. Glad I held off to see it but it looks like the 109s are a definite purchase now 😊
You didn't recommend any better cables Lachlan although you said you were disappointed with the supplied cable which you said was just basic? Worth buying a better cable? How much of an improvement would that make and any recommendations?
I don't think the 109s need a better cable from a sonic perspective so much as ergonomic. I did use them a bit with a nice copper litz cable and they sounded good with it, but it didn't ever feel like they were lacking anything with the stock cable (in terms of sound)
Hope you love them as much I do.
Thanks Lachlan 😊👍
Pretty great set of hps from meze. The build and sq look fantastic for the money. I enjoyed your latest change for broll/glamour shots.
Thanks for letting me know you liked the glamour vid change! The 109s are fantastic for the money 🙂🙂
Finally. This might be what I've long been searching for. A comfortable, non fatiguing sonic Swiss army knife. The bass extension is something I'm particularly interested in because I want to listen to a wide range of genres including cathedral sized pipe organs (they can go subsonic, some with harmonics down to 8hz!)
I know I'll like the headband because I liked the 99 Classics, only returning them because my ears just barely didn't fit. I believe these have larger pads. I also like that Meze stock replacement parts and make these user serviceable. I better start saving now.
Btw, I found an IEM case with separate compartments on Amazon. Naturally it's when I wasn't looking for cases that I found it lol. It's from Linsoul.
That's a good description of them as a Swiss Army Knife headphone and yes, they're very comfortable. I do think the pads are larger too - definitely the opening seems a little larger - I don't know about the depth, but I think deeper too.
Great news on the case! I clearly was using the wrong search terms 😂
@@PassionforSound I wouldn't have found it either if I used the search box lol. I was going through all products on Linsoul's "storefront" to see what else they carried. Annoyingly I've found things Amazon has through Google results after the fact.
Beautiful review. Thank you!
So glad you liked it!
hi, thanks for the great review.
What would you say how they compare to the Dan Clark Audio AEON 2 Noire?
The Noires are noticeably warmer overall, but also have slightly harsher treble (depending on the internal filter pad used). I would choose the 109 Pros every time over the Noires unless you need a closed-back design or want something thicker and warmer. The 109 Pros have better separation and soundstage size as well as better articulation and detail retrieval (based on memory, but I am pretty confident on those points)
@@PassionforSound thx👍
Just bought a set of these beauties tonight and can’t wait to get them in hand to try out! Fantastic detailed review, and it was very helpful in making up my mind to finally buy these. Also considering picking up a HIFIMAN HE1000 V2 Stealth Magnet Edition as I’ve heard good things about them, & they’re currently on a really good sale price online.
Curious what your thoughts are (if you have any thoughts or experience with them yet) on the new Topping A70 Pro Amp & D70 Pro SABRE DAC paired up and compared to the Topping A90 Discrete amp with the D90LE DAC?
I've got the A70 & D70 Pro stack here at the moment and I like it. I haven't yet considered them in relation to the 90-series, but they're nice on their own.
Good choice on the 109 Pros - they're brilliant!
Thank you for another wonderful review!
Always a pleasure
definitely the comparison i wanted to see. possibly the two best headphones under $1k. ananda stealth b-stock at $499 is a steal though
At that price, it definitely is!
Great review from the best reviewer.
So glad you liked it!
I traded my Clear OG's for these and regretted my decision after a while. My pair were extremely sibilant, the treble was just too much to be enjoyed. I've since gone back to Clear MG's and haven't looked back.
Thanks for sharing this, sibilance and too much treble is a dealbreaker for me so you may have saved me a bad purchase.
That's really interesting as I find the pair I have here now on loan to be less fatiguing than the MGs (which are less fatiguing than the OGs). I wonder if there's significant burn-in with the 109s? I don't know because this pair was a demo pair and probably well used when I first heard them so it's just a theory.
After alot of conversation on Headfi I'm convinced there's some kind of unit variation. My pair were more harsher/fatiguing then my Arya's or Clear OG's, this was after 50 odd hours of burn in.
Agree with this but in my case I buy zmf aeolus since used one suddenly appeared for $600.
That's really interesting, Skeza!
I have the 109pro and they are one of the best headphones I've owned. However, most comparisons I've seen for it are with cheaper headphones which they outperform. I want to know how it performs against Arya and HD800s now that they aren't that much more expensive than 109s. I wonder if either of those would be a proper upgrade.
The HD800 is quite a different sound because it lacks the bass of the 109s so I wouldn't consider it an upgrade so much as a change to go to the HD800 and probably a sideways change in many ways.
As for the Arya, the new Arya models (Stealth and Organic) are excellent so that probably is an upgrade in some ways, but also a shift in sound to a slightly more treble tilted experience, but still with excellent bass.
Great review. It would be interesting to see if these could be improved with a better cable.
I've used them with both the stock cables and a quality copper litz cable. I didn't find a significant improvement and wonder if their tuning with the upper treble emphasis kind of balances out with a more basic copper cable and therefore works better than fancy cables.
Lachlan, fantastic review. Love the new format. As you know, I am breaking in my new gear and I am loving it. I will definitely get in touch and let you know how much I like it. I am very interested in headphone reviews because at some point this year I will upgrade my LCD-XCs.
Glad you like the review and the new glamour video approach! Keen to hear your thoughts on the new gear!!
realmente nadie lo sabe
Thanks for the excellent review. How do they compare with Ananda Nano for bass and soundstage? Is Ananda Nano better than these for sound quality? Thanks!
I have the Nano here now for review, but haven't done proper listening yet to say. I'll try to answer this in the Nano review, but my first impressions are that the 109s are still superior overall.
Still Waiting for your review of Ananda Nano.@@PassionforSound
Great review, thank you. Tried tuning with upgraded cable? I’m going to order and see Meze have silver or copper versions. Love your work.
Glad you liked the review! I can't recall which cables I tried while these were in the office, but I'd go with a high quality copper on the 109s for sure.
Gave a pair to my grandson. He loves them.
A very generous and thoughtful gift!!
I love them too 🤘! One of our local reviewer believes with the meze’s pcuhd cables what meze suggest for the lyric and for these will improve the sound on every level!I didnt try yet but i planning!
I think, sonically, the stock cable suits their tuning really well, but I have used a nice copper litz cable with them and it worked nicely
Silver or copper?
I'd go with the copper on these
Thanks for this Lachlan, I’m a big fan of the Elite but the 109 Pro has too much treble energy for me, I prefer the LCD-2 Classic which is slightly cheaper than the 109 Pro.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I haven't yet tried the LCD-2 Classic.
When I first tried the 109s (the prototype pair) I felt the same about the treble, but this demo pair are great. Not sure if the pads are different and/or if there's been more burn-in. Maybe my tastes have altered a bit too - that's definitely possible with all the headphones I try!
A bit too zingy in the treble for my taste when I had them at home for a week. It seems a lot of reviewers love these which starts to trigger some alarm bells for me. But hey, we all hear differently. Anyway, great review Lachlan!
Glad you like the review. Are you saying reviewers liking them is a concern or just that it makes you want to try them again?
@@PassionforSound It is a concern for me. I don't mean to be cynical, but when something is universally praised it strikes me as being another hype train. Whereas if there are some negative reviews, it makes the product seem more real. For the 109 Pro, I've only watched your review, Zeos, Josh Valour, and Chrono. All of which were very positive.
But just because I didn't like them doesn't mean that no one else should like them haha.
I'm not sure if you've seen my other reviews, but I'm a lot like you and I'm the first one to be sceptical and seek to derail a hype train because I feel like they lead people into bad decisions due to peer pressure. I actually came into this expecting to give them a mediocre review based on my experience with the prototypes, but they really won me over.
Check out my Holo Audio Spring and May review for an example of me not boarding the hype train 🙂
@@PassionforSound I have watched your other videos (especially on TOTL headphones) and I enjoy your opinion and the production on your videos. I didn't mean to insinuate that you're on the hype train for nefarious reasons / affiliate links. I was speaking in general about the audiophile hobby. Everybody hears differently and the odds of there being a universally great headphone for everyone is low.
Something that is universally praised doesn't really excite me but something with some divisive opinions does. I own a pair of LCD-5's and Zeos' extremely negative review of them is what got me interested in them haha. I've been meaning to try Sennhesier HD820's because of how disliked they are too .
Thanks for the reply! Apologies from me too if I sounded defensive as I'm have had a few fairly critical comments about this being a 'hype-train' review.
I'm right there with you that I am always a bit sceptical about the hyped products and curious about the ones that get slammed. I happen to really like the HD820s. Hope you do too!
meze 109 pro is well match with Cayin RU6 R2R dongle dac. . very comfortable long hour wearing
That would make for a lovely combo I expect. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
No doubt its an interesting headphone with strong competition in ~1000$, Clear or Arya are champions to beat and thats not easy task. I personally am keen to try 109 since my Focal Clear is not so much in use as before I bought verite closed, VC is something else that changed my mind about dynamic drivers, I really love them but have an option to switch Clear for something new. My Arya is planar of choice so it cant be replaced, 109 cant even touch it all I need is to upgrade my dac/amp combo so Arya can really start to shine I know it can :) nothing to loose in that direction because VC react exactly the same with better source
The retail price of the Arya and Clear (obviously the OG clear is discounted these days) put them in a different price category so it's not an entirely fair comparison I think. If buying secondhand, both of those can be better in some ways.
Fantastic review again! I share your enthusiasm. I live in Toronto. We have a stereo shop with a nice big headphone bar, lots of choices. Went to it the other day tried all of the 2000ish dollar and under headphones.
The only things that competed were the 800 more then twice the money, better detail and sound stage but no bass to speak of, and the Hifiman Aryas better depth also at twice the price. But these are more natural, more real, more beautiful both form factor and sound. The Focal Clears had a similar sound but with everything overdone and completely unnatural by comparison. And again at twice the price.
My only disagreement with your review is that you didn’t give the form factor and comfort an A+. Of the 3 headphones listed above, all more expensive, the only one in the same league for build and comfort are the Focals, same league but the Meze 109s are better in both regards.
That disagreement aside you packed more information into less time in this review which for me improved your already great reviews.
Thanks for sharing all that, Rob! I held back from an A+ on comfort because the Elites exist 🙂. Comfort for me isn't subject to price and these don't quite match the Elites (or the Sivga Luan which are a cheaper A+ example). Form factor took a hit from the steel bands over the head, but I do agree that the 109s are exceptional value for money in every aspect.
@@PassionforSound who makes the Elites?
Also Meze. They know comfort
Do you have the edition XS there? it could be an interesting comparsion since its a much better value than the Arya or Ananda, its almost for half price compare to 109 pro.
It's not that good of a headphone IMO. Very flat soundstage that's all left/right.
Nice review man, thanks. Wondering if you've compared the focal clears with the 109 pros at all. These sound so tempting.
I've never directly compared them, but the 109s are the headphone I want to own more of that helps.
The hype is so big around the 109pro, some people say it is better than TOTLs like the Elite. As an Elite owner, that is hard to believe. Any thoughts?
Interesting point and question. I’ll be curious and would love if I can save some thousands
They lack resolution, compared to top-of-the-line headphones.
I agree with Tristan. They're an amazing headphone at their price and up to about $1000 or maybe $1500, but they're not flagship level.
@@phototristan saw your review on the Sony MDR-Z1R. Love it!
@@PassionforSound ahhh save some money too
The 109 Pro are trully excellent. You could try the AKG K812 at roughly the same price point, they might sound pretty similar to the Meze, but I'm not sure (I couldn't make a direct comparison, but I heard the AKGs some time ago).
I owned the 812s for a fair while, but they lack a certain something. They're decent, but not special like the 109s are (IMO)
@@PassionforSound You're probably right. I remember I really liked the AKGs, but the 109 Pro simply blew my mind. Without a doubt they are amazing.
That's about how I'd sum the two up as well although a little more Luke warm on the 812s for me... 🙂
I’m really torn between ananda stealth and 109 pros. I’m upgrading from dt880 to something within 700-1000 dollar range, and will be using my headphones for music movies and gaming (non competitive, immersive sound) what do you think will be the better choice? Ananda or 109 pro?
Those are both fantastic, but I'd definitely choose the 109 Pro - they are exceptional for the price
A piece of advice needed from the more experienced .. So, I am a speakers person and considering the 109 Pros for my 1st (and only most probable) headphone set. I do not own a dedicated headphone amp, and plan to drive them through my main Integrated Amplifier and DAC (Accuphase E380 + Denafrips Ares II .. soon to be upgraded to Venus II).
My plan is to listen to music late an night in my living room , when kids are asleep.
So my question is do you think they will perform good enough through the Accuphase or a dedicated headphone amp would be required to drive them properly.
The E380 is a great speakers amp but I have no idea how the headphone amplification performs.. i guess it is at least decent, but i have really no idea.
Do you think spending 800 euros would be too much if i have no dedicated HP amp, and i would be better if with somethink like a HiFiman Sundara at 350 euros?
Thank you for your feedback
Unfortunately, I have no sense of how the headphone stage of that amp will perform so I can really help on that one - sorry! Maybe ask on some forums to get a sense of how that amp performs with headphones.
109s are insanely sensitive!
I recently ordered the Meze 109 Pro. I've watched your Dongle DAC videos (super informative) and was wondering which of the following you think would be the best choice for the Meze 109 Pro: Moondrop Moon River 2, Shanling UA5, Cayin RU6, or Questyle M15? My music source will either be my iPhone or my iPad, and I'll be using a balanced 4.4 mm cable. I'm new to all this audio stuff, so your advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Edith, nice choice of headphones! Of the dongles you've listed, I'd probably choose the Cayin RU6 or Questyle M15. The Shanling UA5 is also excellent, but those other two will be a great match for the 109s I think.
@@PassionforSound Thanks so much for your recommendation! I'll take a closer look at the Cayin RU6 and Questyle M15 so I can decide which one to get. Do you have a preference of one or the other?
That's a tough one! I probably like the M15 just a little more, but I've never had them side-by-side
On behalf of blind people everywhere, thank you for not talking about the specs, as that is something we surely don't need to know about. :)
That's a fair point - I hadn't considered that! Are you blind and do you know if TH-cam is a platform that blind people turn to for this type of information?
@@PassionforSound Yes, totally blind here for a looooong, long time. :) To be honest, I do not know how many blind people really follow headphone and other audio gear reviewers. I would imagine quite a few, but I'm only basing that off my love of music and wanting the best gear I can afford.
Well I appreciate the feedback and will aim to balance the discussion of specs with the onscreen text in future. I'll likely share on screen what can be read elsewhere online and then talk about it in the context of what's relevant to the performance of the device in real-world use situations
BI too .
I think the Ananda stealth would be my go to especially as a mathcore junkie such as myself
It's a great headphone! I don't know mathcore so can't speak to that synergy 😁
It almost seems that the 109 are more comparable to the edition XS ... maybe my next upgrade :)
Personally, I'd take the 109s every time over the XS. Definitely a headphone I'm recommending
So it's going to be a few days before they arrive, but I pulled the trigger on Meze Audio 109 Pro and Chord Mojo 2.
Watched you for a while and always took in and appreciated your considered comparisons for what you get as you go up in price. These two sounded like a winner for spending a lot of money once then being set! Cheers :)
You're in for a real treat! Enjoy 🎧😁
@@PassionforSound
End game achieved, you know how much of a relief that is?! Ha.
Bass and clarity is magic, all I'll ever need, did blind a/b test on 320kbs vs lossless too and couldn't distinguish so no extra steps needed there.
Now to the music in peace :)
Thanks for your recommendation!
So glad you're loving it! 🙂🙂
I ordered the 109 Pro’s last week. Can you recommend a cable upgrade for them?
It really depends on where in the world you are, but I like them with a quality copper litz cable so any manufacturer with a nice copper litz can sort you out.
Hi, This is a very specific question. My cans at present are Ananda stealth & HD6XX, I only listen via CD transport, Co-Ax to SMSL D300 into Singxer SA-1 all balanced and 4.4 balanced cables on both sets of cans. I have over 2500 CD's and 90% are vocal CD's. I find the Ananda a bit nasally, and the vocals are not as clear or defined as the HD6XX, which although an inferior listen overall, are much nicer for congested mid ranges as lyrics are more followable as they are cleaner & clearer, more forward, ie you can hear the words more clearly and better defined.
SO, sorry for the long intro, would these 109 pro be more like the 6XX or Ananda, as I much prefer the detailing of the vocals of the 6XX (but veiled bass) rather than a larger soundstage, deeper or wider, and l still listen predominantly to the 6XX, and think these 109 pro might be my answer, .................. or a recommendation of something that gives excellent performing vocals at under $1k 👍
On a separate note, I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, and the 6XX DO SCALE UP with each better amplifier or DAC, much more so than any of my other cans, HE400i, Edition XS, Dan Clark, Ananda SE, Grado, AKG, etc etc, only other contender was LCDX but was too dark for me, with D300 & SA-1, any help appreciated as can’t get a demo on the 109, so would be a blind buy, and am worried they may not be a good replacement for my much loved 6XX.🙂
The 109s are kind of a mid-point between the Ananda and 6XX, I think. They are less peaky than the Ananda, but not as mid-forward as the 6XX might be considered. They are definitely more pronounced in the treble than the HD6XX, but the treble quality isn't as sharp as the Anandas.
My only other thought is to wait and see what the new HD660S v2 from Sennheiser are like, but I don't know anything more than that they are rumoured to come out this month
@@PassionforSound Thank you Lachlan, watched loads of reviews, which nearly all say "fun" cans, I don't want that, the XS were fun, I want the most clear and defined vocals I can find, might even up my price band, ($1500) 🙃, I did try the 660S, but were too bright, but that was not on the D300 & SA-1, I didn't know a new V2 was on the way, I know the 6XX are bad at some things but they excel at clear vocals in the congested mid range, and want the same, but with better soundstage and more defined bass with better treble, search continues 😂
If you can stretch to something like the Sendy Peacock, you might find your perfect option. The HarmonicDyne G200 is another great option if you're ok with a slightly annoying headband design.
Prefectorial class you say!? Color me intrigued.
Yeah, that was a typo ;)
Are these a step up from Elex and or 660s? I realize it's all subjective, but I'm just trying to gather opinions from several people.
New 660S V2 is coming late February.
Those are two headphones I can't comment on, but if there is a new 660S coming, I will be sure to chat to Sennheiser about it!
These are a step up to both of those in sound quality and comfort. The 660s to the extent it is different is not leagues beyond its 600/650 brethren. The elex is a great can, but not at technical level of 109.
Having owned all of the above I think youll hear a clear difference and be pleased.
Just burn them in a bit, they are bright at first.
@@Guerilla_law3516
Thank you. That brings the picture into focus 👍
109 Pro vs. Ananda vs. Clear OG vs HD600 (for reference). Please? Thanks!
That's a tricky one because they all have different sounds that will appeal to different people, but I'd choose either Clear OG or 109 Pro first, then Ananda, then HD600, but all are excellent
These vs OG Clears? People on Reddit seem to much prefer the Clears, basically in all aspects except build.
I traded my clear og for the meze. For the Moment i like them more.
It's a tough call! I think the Clears are a bit more technical, but the 109 Pros are a headphone I would probably reach for more often if I had them both here.
@@PassionforSound I'm scared by comments saying that the 109 have too much treble or being sibilant. Is this a matter of not enough breaking-in or wrong pairing, or really the treble may be too much for some people?
It's a tough one because I felt that way on first listen to the prototypes, but not on this demo pair. I can only assume it's a burn-in thing or just different people having different treble sensitivities
@@PassionforSoundand/or a bright system. Mine are great though a J2S and Archel, as well as Lyr+. Even the TA66.
I just purchased a pair of cordless over head closed head phones, I was just wondering if it's possible to install a socket so I can convert them into a corded headphone. TIA for your help, I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Actually, that is possible from some companies, but I can't recall their name off the top of my head. A quick search for "headphone modifications, "balanced headphone modifications" or "headphone rewiring" should get you sorted. Thanks for watching and commenting! ;)
I have a question
I am looking for an allrounder headphone under 800 pounds
and 109 pros seems nice
I essentially want to use them for movies music and anime at home
I wanted to know if meze would be your recommendation for my use case
or should I go for a different headphone?
I won't be buying a new headphone for years after this purchase But my thought now is to get meze and buy an amp down the road
The Meze 109 Pro would definitely be my recommendation for what you're describing. They're brilliant IMO!
@@PassionforSound thank you!
A comparation with the Focal Clears (both OG and MG) would have been nice!
No comparison, Focal is real music Meze is not.
From what I heard: bass slam, imaging, separation goes to Clear OG and soundstage, clarity, comfort goes to 109 Pro. But both are great headphones on their own. Focal is better in the said areas.
@@phanindramvr2215 The soundstage and separation seem curious to me. the 109 Pro seems like an inbetween the Clear and the HD800s, with a bit lower technicalities.
@@RaggaDruida Seperation isn’t as good as Clear even though you may feel in some songs that 109 has wider and deeper soundstage. 109’s stage is mixed bag.
I didn't compare with the Clear OG because I don't own them anymore. I didn't compare them with the Clear MG because they are very different prices.
As for the performance, I think the Clear OGs are probably more technically impressive with things like separation, etc. (as others have also said), but I prefer the overall tonality and 'enjoyability' (to me at least) of the 109s
Any chance you will be doing a review on the cheaper alternative: the 99 Classics?
I reviewed those years ago. Maybe I should revisit them?
Hi Lachlan; I’ve heard and read so many overwhelmingly positive reviews about these they almost seem too good to be true and I find myself wanting some kind of critique, besides the headband. So when you say “not exactly as good as higher priced products” what specifically are you getting at? Separation? depth of staging?
I’ve read people saying the higher priced hifi headphones are overpriced and these 109s represent a revolution of sorts setting a new bar for quality sound at a more reasonable price. Ie high end headphones are overpriced.
Hi Cassie, yes, the higher models have greater resolution, imaging, soundstage, etc. What I find in this hobby (and probably all hobbies) is that there are those who may have heard higher end headphones, but on a lower level system and so the 109s might have been reaching their full potential while the higher end cans were held back. Another common behaviour is that people who own the 109 and maybe don't want to (or can't) spend more will try to convince themselves and others that their new headphone is all anyone ever needs.
I love the 109s and will be buying a pair, but the reality is that they do have slightly unnatural tonality (as all headphones do - there's no truly perfect headphone) even though that colouration is enjoyable and they also can't match higher end headphones for the factors you mentioned. In short, I think these are the best headphones I've heard under $1000 and probably under $1500 USD, but the HiFiMan Arya Stealth is just one example of a more expensive headphone that I think is even better. Then there are the Elites, HE1000SE, Susvara, LCD-5, Expanse (maybe), etc.
A superb headphone. I just love mine.
They're brilliant, aren't they!? I'm trying to hold onto the demo pair as long as possible 😁
They are. I own the LCD-2 and LCD-X, the Elex, the 5909 and others less expensive but with the 109 Pro added to what I have I think I have covered my needs/desires well enough to back myself out of the proverbial rabbit hole a bit. I've done it before and been successful enough over the decades to have amassed an enormous amount of music.
So glad you're enjoying them, Tom!
This is one on my list
Definitely a great option!
I have a set of focal clears. worth the trouble to pick one of these up?
Not sure if I'd bother if you already have the Clears. I don't see these as a guaranteed upgrade. I personally prefer them slightly, but I think many people will like the extra punch that the Clears provide.
I've had these on my "list" since I saw the first picture of them, but have so far resisted. This doesn't help, lol.
Do it! 😈
😁
Hi, i bought on your recommendation these headphone and it’s fantastic!!!!
Thanks for the review!
But…my cat destroyed the supplied cable😂
Do you have an recommendation for a replacement cable (1.5m) that improves also the sound? Greetings from germany!
Oh no! Sorry to hear about the cable. I like what Antonio at Gladiator Cables is doing in terms of pricing and wire quality in his range. The Caesar line copper litz cable would be my recommendation.
@@PassionforSound Thank you! I like really your channel, keep on with the great job👍😃
How would you compare this to the DT 1990 pro Lachlan?
That's a good question. The 109s are definitely easier to enjoy for me because the treble is easier on the ears, but as to whether they're comparable technically, I'd love to compare them directly and find out!
Is it a worthy upgrade from hd650?
Yes, but it's also a very different sounding headphone so some might find it too energetic and lively if they're used to the "comfy slipper" that are the HD650. 😁
I have 99 Classics, tried and returne edition XS, and bought these 109 Pros after. I will only comment the sound here, because for confort, build and looks these 109 are TOTL quality, period. If the driver last 20 years, the rest of the headphone will last 100 years and still look great-Premium build here.
At first, I did not like the 109 sound. Very strange highs, hollow mids and boomy bass.
After 100 hrs of sound burn-in without listening, and maybe 10 hours of listening afterwards, the strange highs have disapeared and the bass amount has reduced.
I tried them with balanced and non-balanced cables and the sound is quite different.
It is similar to the 99 reaction to balanced vs non balanced; non balanced too boomy, balanced much more acceptable. I use the silver platted copper cable from Meze (i.e.the cheapest option) for my balanced cable.
I agree that the 99 are more forward and fulller on the mids and maybe tonality, especially if EQ near Harman curve (Wavelet app preset is great with these !!) .
What the 109 have much better is the depth and 3D spatial qualities, instruments separations in the space. It puches harder and faster too. However, with some tweaks of Eq, you can better the mids and vocals but it costs you a bit of 3D.
So for me, I do have a choice now between what sound I want and once I accepted this tradeoff, I started to appreciate the 109 more and more.
But I listen balanced to tamper the bass.
Based on this I also believe them to be able to scale very well on higher quality gear, maybe tube amps. I have a fiio m11 and litle dot 1+; good but entry level source. So I will try to upgrade and I expect them to improve also cause they have the qualities fotlr it.
Comparing to Edition XS, the XS were great on electronic and orchestral; better stage width and heights. But somehow less fun engagement for tracks because everything seems further appart and less cohesive, effortless but lesser "natural".
I think I will buy again edition XS one day; with all those I will have a clear choice of color I want to have for specific tracks.
So these 109 are very good but not perfect; they are worth the price for long term build and listening engagement and experience, but beware they are far from neutral and not the best for mids/voices/intimate feeling.
Happy listening!
So glad you're enjoying the 109s! Thanks for sharing your experiences!!
This Sivga Luan vs Meze 109 Pro? I know the price difference is huge, but both seem to be very very comfortable and build quality both are very good. Both are also rated highly in performance. All these factors together put them on my list. I'm now looking for additional pros and cons. Any advice?
Both are lovely headphones, but they're in very different categories of performance and the 109 is definitely the far better headphone (as it should be)
@@PassionforSound that's what I figured. Until today I was very much dead set on Hifiman's Ananda nano, but thinking of my bad experiences with my Edition XS, the big earcups, loose fit, quality control. Maybe find something else. I find the Meze and Sivga stunning. Gorgeous! And impressed by their performances
The only reviewer to comment a year after he posted the video. Color me impressed!@@PassionforSound
I try to read and respond to every comment on any video. Some slip through the cracks of TH-cam's notifications system, but I get to most of them. 🙂🙂
Oh my, I don’t know... these just seem to be hyped too much.
I had a chance to try them at a headphone show back in September. I compared them directly with Sivga SV023 - and preferred the Sivgas. For nearly HALF the price, mind you.
Don’t get me wrong, 109s are not a bad headphone by any means. It’s just that I simply don’t think they are the „absolute value“ some claim them to be.
They are similarly well built as Sivgas, similarly comfortable (actually, I find SV023 a bit more comfortable because they are lighter), similar in terms of sound technicalities but a bit too agressive sounding.
Plus SV023 has an outstanding holographic sound. I‘m just sad they don‘t get as much attention as the Mezes, especially considering the price difference...
I don’t want to discourage you from buying 109s. All I am saying is have a listen first, compare them with other options if possible and then decide.
I definitely love the SV023 as well and regularly recommend them. Keep in mind that hearing any headphone at a headphone show is never ideal because of the levels of background noise, etc. Also, are you sure they were a production model and not the prototypes that went to a lot of shows early on?
The SV023s are great, but (on this occasion) the reason the 109s are getting hyped is because they are incredibly impressive.
@@PassionforSound Hmm, I don’t know which model - prototype or production - I tried.
Maybe I will have another chance to compare them at some point, this time with the guaranteed final version of 109s.
Also, thank you for your review of SV023. I find it one of the best (if not the best) on youtube :)
So glad I could help!!
Hey, first, I really like your reviews. I am thinking about getting the 109 pro, but the treble is a bit worrying for me. I had the dt 1990 pro, and they just made my ears bleed with their piercing highs. Even the Amiron Home had to much treble for my liking (it had a problem with s sounds). Would you say, that the 109 pro are worth testing for me? Because some people say, that the treble can be hot. I mostly listen to prog metal.
It's always hard to know because we all have different specific frequencies that we're sensitive to. I'm generally also treble sensitive, but found the 109s to manage the treble extremely well - probably due to their balanced overall tuning. Our perception of frequencies is also based on what else is happening around them so this helps the 109s to not have the same troubles as the DT1990. I can't guarantee you'll be fine with the 109s, but I am fairly confident that they're different enough from the beyerdynamics to be worth a shot.
@@PassionforSound thank you so much for that detailed answer. No worries, I wasn't looking for a guarantee. At this point I've read so much about them, saw them used today for 575 and couldn't resist, so I bought them. I have a chord mojo 2 and from what I've read, I assume it will be a good pairing. Looking forward to it. Again, thank you for your evaluation:)
That will be a magic pairing. You can always use the Mojo 2 EQ to tame the treble a bit if needed. Hope you love them!
@@PassionforSound The mojo 2 ist wonderful. I also watched your Review, where you talked about Pans and I totaly agreed to that :D.
I will let you know how I like them.
So, the Mezes were not for me. They were just too sharp for my taste. I don't know if its just the treble or also how the upper midrange is tuned, but with metal (and sub genres) they often sound a little bit piercing.
But, I also bought the sennheiser hd 660s2, and I love them so much. The highs are perfect for me, some guitar solos are just fire with them. Also the midrange (its a sennheiser). And the Bass is really good too, in my opinion. With the Senns and my beloved T5 3. Gen I think I will be done for a long time :)
Really debating sell my Focal Clear OG and Sundara to a guy for 1100 CAD and buying the Meze 109 pro. Thoughts?
Ooh. That's a tough one. I would personally choose the 109s over those, but there's a degree of lost value when selling both of those to get just a single headphone to replace them...
@Passion for Sound I plan on selling the sundaras anyways. It's either I keep the clears are sell them for the 109 pros.
That's a tough one. Some people will prefer the Clears, others the 109s. I like the 109s more. Any chance you can hear the 109s before deciding?
@Passion for Sound Not easily. I'm not really a fan of the clears though.
If you're not loving the Clears then I'd go for it. I never quite loved them (I did really like them) and the 109s are next level for enjoyment to my ears. Hopefully they'll do the same for you
Do you like it better than the ARIA organic
I do, but it's a close call...
Funny ... as soon as you mentioned the creaking sound, I gave up on this review. My Sony XM3’s do this, and it makes me crazy. Such a distraction, and it’s surprising to me that manufacturers don’t pick up on this in their testing.
Not sure how bad it is on the XM3s, but it's thankfully quite mild on these.
Really nice review thank you for that :) I bought the 109 pro and love them. They are something special and work really well with every kind of music. Bought the meze empyrean 2 because they have to be better right? well no, not for me. I listened to them for a few hours and altough technically a better headphone, they do not have the magic the 109 have. The 109 pro work really well with the Hifiman EF499, tames the treble a bit.
I tend to agree about the Empy 2s. Glad you got to try them if for no other reason than to reinforce your appreciation of the 109s.
@@PassionforSound If you don't mind, i would really like to hear your opinion. If you had to choose between Arya Stealth V3 and the Meze 109 pro which would you take and why?
@Mjay1320 I'd take the 109 Pro because I love their sound and their comfort is wonderful too.
@@PassionforSound I tried the Arya yesterday and think they are a bit boring/thin compared to the 109 pro. I liked the bigger soundstage for classical music but overall pefer the 109.
Is there a Headphone you would consider a reasonable upgrade from the 109 pro?
@Mjay1320 what would be your budget?
Let's see where the upcoming Sen HD660SV2 lands on the scale.
I'm looking forward to that one!!
Better option than Focal Clear for Same price?
I traded my clear og for the 109pro and do not regret
@@Atomicman123 main difference?
It's a tough call to say that they're a better option - they're different and I won't try to say exactly how because I don't have them side-by-side . I definitely find myself thoroughly enjoying the 109s in a way I don't remember enjoying the Clears. Also, the 109s are more comfortable to me.
@@LandsPlanes in my point of view they are more intimate sounding and more engaging. Further they are more comfortable for me.
@@Atomicman123 you are refering Focal Clear of Meze?
meze 109 pro vs arya stealth? may i know which is better?
For what and in what way is the question. There is no objectively better or worse when neither is objectively bad.
@@hartyewh1 dilemma on which to get. any opinions or suggestions?
@@waynewong6570 If you want more simple fun the 109, but if you want more sophistication then maybe Arya. Do you EQ since you can do more for the Arya with that? I usually go for planars since they EQ do nicely and have some technical benefits, but the Arya has somewhat rounded unimpactful bass so if that's something you want then 109 would likely be better, but I would have to EQ them at least a bit.
@@hartyewh1 i do not know how to eq haha. if i dun eq any opinions on which should i get?
i am using hd660s. the arya stealth has more bass rite? thinking to upgrade
Wouldn't mind comparing these to the JM Audio XTC. If you haven't tried those, they will likely ruin the 109 Pro for everyone, because the sound value for $800 rivals multi-$1000 headphones. At least they did for me.
I've had a channel patron put me onto JM Audio so I'll hopefully check them out if the future.
This thing looked a lot like the Sennheiser HD800s with many hard to clean surfaces. If you hang it out on the headphone stand it will collect a lot of dust.
If you have a dusty location, the fins on the back of the headphones might collect some dust, but nothing a feather duster every now and then wouldn't solve 🙂
The microphonic nature of the headband was my only negative feedback to meze and I said that this headphone deserved to have the Lyric headband
With the Liric headband, this might have been the best headphone ever made! 😉😁
@@PassionforSound I agree. Such a missed opportunity and told them before the release after trying a demo unit for extended period of time
@@PassionforSound oh stop it lol :D Susvara exist and many more
I know, Soulfulfool. It was a largely tongue-in-cheek comment, but the price-to- performance of the 109s makes them a great option for more people than a Susvara, Elite, etc.
As for the headband, I am guessing there's a significant price difference between the 109 band and the Liric band so it might have undone the whole price-to-performance equation.
I'm a firm believer that they benefit from pad swaps. I've settled on the ZMF Focal suede pads that I was using for the Radiance. It was between that and the protein leather Xenon pads for the Argon Both are great but the ZMF pads just pull ahead for my preferences. Pad swaps are a pain in the arse too on the 109 because of how little room you have to slide in the pad sleeving. But absolutely worth it. Better comfort, deeper bass (or perception of depth), and less bite from the treble. After having them for a couple of months I have to admit I prefer them to the Arya Stealth because of their engagement and comfort. I actually don't enjoy them for background listening because they like to force my attention to the music. Excellent review as always, I'm not sure they're prefect though but they are pretty mageickle. ✌️
Yeah, the term "perfect" was more referring to how good they are for the price rather than saying they are a perfect headphone.
I can't bring myself to pad roll them because I enjoy them just as they are and can't come at the Frankenstein look of them with wrong-sized pads (I don't think I have anything the right size and shape here). Glad you're enjoying them so much though!
@@PassionforSound I'm just teasing about the perfect-thing, no doubt they're one of Meze's most compelling product offering because of the price point. I'd agree there's a strong argument for keeping them stock. Saves the aggravation of trying to get pads to slot onto them. I'm just lending a testimonial that you can tweak them to taste is all. ✌
Totally. And I do know how you love a good rolling of pads 😉🙂
I tried the ZMF DT pads but they dont really stay on. Maybe I should try the Focal Pads.
@@bling5279 Pad swaps on the 109 are a PITA. I am able to reliably fit the Xenon pads that Mod House sells for the Argons. They're commissioned from Dekoni, they're larger and very soft against the head. I like the protein leather ones for the 109 but after my initial comment here I switched to the lambskin Xenons and absolutely love them with the 109. I think the ZMF suede pads for Focals are the best overall for sound quality with the 109 but the fit is better (for me) with the Xenon lambs and the difference in sound isn't really all that wide for it to be an issue. Just food for thought.
Sennheiser HD660S2 vs Meze 109 PRO and Focal Clear MG ?
If/when I can get the 660S2, I'd love to answer that. Clear MG and 109 are at quite different price levels though so not exactly comparable. The 109 is more neutral with that dash of treble. The MG is distinctly coloured (in a good way) to be more dynamic and punchy, but is also a little more fatiguing to me due to where the treble emphasis lies
@@PassionforSound thank you very much. I am looking forward for your hd660S2 review
Me too!
Haven’t finished the review yet, but title says “prefect”…not sure if that’s trying to be intentionally ironic?
I was thinking the same thing
Not being ironic, but maybe unclear. I do think it's the best headphone I've heard under $1,000, but no headphone is truly perfect.
I think when you are reviewing headphones you should do a review where the frequency responses are the same. Like make both headphone frequencies flat. This way there are no colorations and a fair comparison can be given because some type of coloration and make one headphone sound much better
Do you mean EQ'ing both headphones to a flat response?
@@PassionforSound Yes. i think that way they are on a level playing field... sonarworks or some other program could be good for that. just a thought though.
I've tried that in the past and it is definitely an interesting experience to hear two headphones both EQ'ed flat and yet still sounding quite different (I think I discussed this in either my HD800S or Focal Utopia review).
Perhaps I can do something along these lines in the future... Thanks for the suggestion.
resolution like estats?
Definitely not. They highlight some details that other headphones don't because of the high frequencies that are boosted, but they perform technically like a $1000 dynamic driver headphone, not a planar or estat. That's not a knock either because dynamic drivers have their own sonic benefits too
This or LCD2c or 2f or maybe 3? I fear over time the elastic band will loose its retention similiar to the AKG K7** series.
Yes, I'm not a fan of elastic headbands either. The good news is that the Meze headphones are highly serviceable for replacement parts.
As for the LCD series comparison, I can't help there because I have difficulty accessing the Audeze range due to the local supplier/distributor
This or lcd x?
I still haven't had a chance to try LCD-X :(
At my local dealer the clear og is $740(brand new stock) and the 109pro is $850🤣
Wow! That's a huge drop on the Clear OG
that creaking headband is a shame.
i remember years ago i had an Audio Technica AD2000 which i just had to sell for this reason alone.
it used to creak with all head movement
Yeah, the 109 Pro isn't bad, but it's not the best headband around the price point.
the other downside for me is the low impedance. i have an otl tube amp on order
Low impedance is becoming the norm these days. It's getting hard to find good, high impedance cans
Bought these about a month ago and absolutely love them. One thing you did not mention, and to me a con, is that this pair of $799 headphones, 'does not come with extra earpads. Other than that, these are very awesome!
There are many, many headphones that don't come with a second set of pads so it's not really something I expect and is more a bonus if it's there rather than an expectation. Glad you're loving the 109s!
@@PassionforSound I totally understand where you are coming from. However, when you're spending this kind of money on headphones, it is just something I think headphone makers really should do (a) because of the price, and (b) because you never know when, heaven forbid, something could happen making a company like Meze, as an example, no longer support a product or manufacture replacements.
I refuse to believe these are better than focal clear og
Focal Clear OG isn't truly a sub-$1000 headphone. When it was new it was >$1000 and I'm not sure if it's being discontinued at some point. It's true that the Clear OG is an amazing option at the current price and some will definitely prefer it over the 109 Pros, but I would probably reach for the 109s for pure enjoyment.
@@PassionforSound They still go for $1100 brand new in the US
There you go then, that's a big jump from the 109s
Focal clear is way better, as in more balanced across the frequency spectrum. The 109 is more coloured and the treble is hit or miss. For me I'm leaning towards a miss. Bass and treble are emphasized, too much for my taste. Technical it's good but nothing more
Creaking is annoying but so is Focal with their headbands..
This is not to say you're wrong, but the 109s are actually less coloured than the Clears which have a noticeable mid bass lift and then their own treble emphasis too. None of this is to say one is better or worse - just wanted to provide some objective details for others reading
I bought the 109 pro's because all the reviews like these, and for $620 used but never found what every reviewer was saying about them. I also re bought a pair of 99 classics (for a closed back option) with a balanced cable and Brainwavz oval hybrid pads, and to me they sound better than the 109's. What's wrong with me???
It could be your personal preferences, Bob, or maybe your source chain is a bottleneck and you're not getting the full performance of the 109s, but you're getting most of the performance of the 99s
The 99 classics do sound great with the hybrid pads. Big improvement over stock. I’m also loving the 109 pro. Took a little to fall in love.
The 109s might have a bit of a burn-in period - I'm not sure because I received them well-used.
L, I have the $200 version coming in the mail. #Zeos. Best, D.
$200 version? Tell me more...
@@PassionforSound Z Reviews of the Ghost. Best, D.
Interesting! Thank you
Hmmm, edition XS at almost half of the price? Maybe a better buy, although probably worse build quality
The XS is nowhere near the performance level as sound quality of the 109 Pro. It's definitely worth spending more IMO
@@PassionforSound Okey, but how i can hear the difference? What is better on the 109 pro exactly? As i see the XS have a 100mm planar driver which has more wide and deep and tall soundstage. Furthermore the XS planar driver has better instrument separation (planars are the best in this), and maybe a better, softer high range, as i read many have problem with the 109 pros sibilance/graininess. So if the bass and the midrange are better on the 109 pro at least its a draw between the two. + as i wrote i admit that build quality is much better on the meze.
I'm not sure where you've heard those benefits of planars or that the XS has a deep soundstage because neither is accurate IME. The 109 Pro is at least as good with separation, has a more balanced overall tonality, and the staging depth is far better.
I'm not knocking the XS for what it is, but the 109 Pro is really in a different league.
@@PassionforSound Hmm, interesting, okey i trust u, although its brilliant how subjective could be this from person to person. I just saw RTings big headphone soundstage list, they tested many and made a tierlist from them regarding the soundstage. Meze is not on the list, but the edition XS is in the top3 with HD800s and ananda. Its a totally obejctive test, with only mechanical measurements, not including human hearing. I just say that the XS objectively one of the most open sounding in the market, those insanely big earcups and drivers dont lie. I appreciate your opinion, but its veery hard for me to believe that the 109 pro can reproduce this kind of soundstage with its 50mm dynamic drivers, its just physics.
The size of the driver and cups has no direct bearing on the soundstage size IME. Also, if the RTings rankings are based only on measurements then I would question their validity given that the science around how we perceive sound is still incomplete with new information coming to light about the importance of ultrasonic harmonics in the sound, the accuracy of timing down to 1-2 micro-seconds, etc.
Sounds like a lustful type sound. So in a couple months? When you're lustful intent wanes? And the coloration (that every transducer has) paints itself on every recording? Will it stand the test of time? Past a year?
They're actually not lustful - they're very neutral with some extra high end treble. I've had them on loan for many weeks (months?) now and they're just an easy headphone to live with. So much so that I'm planning a purchase for use as my editing, video call and general usage (gaming, video watching) type headphone.
@@PassionforSound Okeedokee. That's what I was thinking.
That frequency response looks horrendous...! No thanks....😖
It's really not a good idea to make judgements about any headphone from a graph. Firstly, the compensation curves I use are different from the ones you'll see elsewhere. Secondly, the sound of a headphone is dictated by so much more than the frequency response. There's the speed of decay (longer can sound smoother/warmer and can also become muddy), the exact balance of frequencies is also important as peaks on the mids or treble can be masked by lower frequencies or a midrange bump (for example) can draw your attention (neurologically speaking) to those frequencies over others.
109 is super metallic sounding... No thank you, Meze hype train. Neumann NDH 30 wins.
Not Meze hype train, just a headphone I happen to really like, but we all hear a little differently due to our ear anatomy so there'll always be different opinions.
Great review, made me want to buy 🫠
Glad you liked the review and hope you love the cans if you go ahead with a purchase!