MEZE 105 SILVA HEADPHONES REVIEW
Meze 105 Silva Headphones are made by Romanian manufacturer Meze. At Munich this year, they showcased an upcoming model that fits the gap between the Meze 105 AER and the 109 Pro, both models, Oscar Stewart is very familiar with. Priced at £499, the 105 SILVA are keenly priced, but how do they stack up?
BUILD QUALITY AND FEATURES OF THE MEZE 105 SILVA
The 105 SILVA feature walnut earcups with an attractive radial grille made of plastic. The headband will be familiar to those who have experience with Meze, with a steel outer band and self-adjusting comfort strap. The cables are detachable, as per usual, and unlike the 105 AER, where they could hit some people’s shoulders, the sockets have been moved up and recessed a little to ensure better ergonomics. The earpads are made from velour and are easily replaceable. The cable is now twisted in its design with a new y-splitter and jack housings on both ends, a nice departure from their normal cable. One thing that Meze do well is making the headphones repairable; they are built to be sustainable, and every single part can be replaced on them.
These are beautifully designed, classically styled headphones that are built to last. I appreciate their efforts in terms of making sustainable headphones, and my experience is that they do last if looked after. They are also extremely comfortable to wear for long periods. These are open back, and the velour pads also aid in keeping your ears cool during long listening sessions. The headband does a fantastic job of distributing the weight evenly, and the cable is flexible and comfortable.
The 105 SILVA come with a clamshell case to store them in when not in use. They also feature a 50mm dynamic driver with a cellulose composite dome and a titanium-coated semicrystalline polymer surround. They are rated at 42Ohms with a sensitivity of 112dB/mW @1kHz – meaning these are nice and easy to drive – so easy in fact, that Meze have included a nice little USB-C to 3.5mm dongle with the headphones for use with a mobile phone.
SOUND QUALITY
As per usual, I used my reference iFi iCAN Phantom amplifier with S.M.S.L D6s DAC as the base for this review. I also tested them with my reference DAP, the Fiio M15s and my Google Pixel 8 with the included USB-C to 3.5mm dongle. Whilst these headphones do scale up a little with better amplification, they sound excellent paired with the included dongle.
I made a start with one of my favourite bands, Mayday Parade’s 12 Through 15. Their albums are not always the best in terms of recording quality, and yet this track sounds excellent through these headphones. Whilst they can reveal recording quality, they are not as ruthless as some more analytical headphones, and there is a wonderful fullness to the sound here, whilst never losing track of the finer details. The bass line is full and articulate, kick drums have great impact, snares are snappy, and the cymbals crash and extend with ease. The vocals, however, are the standout feature of these headphones; pitch-perfect presentation, with air around them, and the ability to cleanly cut through the mix. These have been carefully tuned to deliver an engaging and enjoyable listen, that’s also crisp and detailed without ever sounding harsh, rendering this track in a totally believable way.
Up next was Sleep Token’s Sugar. This band may divide opinion, yet this track is a brilliant vocal showcase that works very well on the 105 SILVA. They deliver a clean and detailed midrange with great body for the underlying beat, and plenty of air and detail for the other audible effects going on in the mix. This isn’t a fast or complex mix; it is, however, great for testing tonality, and these headphones pass with flying colours. They may have a slight warm tilt, yet it’s subtle and doesn’t upset the overall tonal balance. It provides a lovely sense of body and impact without upsetting the midrange clarity.
Now for something a little more poppy, Against The Current by Friendly Reminder. I love Chrissy’s vocals, and the beat here has plenty of punch and body, whilst remaining well controlled. Her vocals cut through with great clarity and tonality. The transition from upper midrange is smooth without any unwanted sibilance or harshness. High-hat taps cut through, as do the synths and cymbals. The overall balance is one that is engaging, slightly full, and punchy yet well balanced. They handle more poppy beats with ease and good detail.
On to Pearl Jam and Upper Hand. The drums are clear and snappy, the guitars are panned hard right and left in this mix and are very well separated, whilst the vocals are dead centre. These are headphones that give you good air and space between instruments, yet have a wonderfully coherent sound overall. They are an easy listen; they have toned down the treble compared to the 109 Pro, which can be borderline bright to some, and smoothed out some of the peaks. This does lead to a slight loss in resolution; they don’t have quite the same capabilities of resolving fine detail as the 109 Pro, but overall, they are an easier listen.
Back-to-back with the 105 AER, they share a family sound. However, the 105 AER is a little darker and more intimate in its presentation, whilst the 105 SILVA adds a bit more air and space to the sound and tighten things up a little. The 105 AER have a thicker sound that is enjoyable with certain genres. The 105 SILVA still have excellent bass response; it is just packaged in a slightly cleaner and more controlled presentation. Which is better? It depends on the genres you listen to. If you want more heft and punch, the 105 AER. If you want a more balanced and detailed sound, the 105 SILVA. And if you want impressive dynamics and resolution, then the 109 Pro may suit your needs better.
To finish off with, a bit of summer pop-punk in the form of Neck Deep and When You Know. This is a track that will get you tapping your feet and bopping along. Perfect for this warm weather we’ve been having in the UK, and this track put a smile on my face through the 105 SILVA. It’s just fun, and that is well portrayed through these. The vocals are crystal clear, the bouncing bass line is there to back it all up with good impact from the drums too. There are little details sprinkled throughout that are there should you want to listen for them; however, you probably won’t, as you’ll be busy enjoying the music.
QUIBBLES
I cannot think of any quibbles here.
CONCLUSION
The 105 SILVA have come to sit between the 105 AER and the 109 Pro, and they do so brilliantly. If you want a thicker and darker sound, then the 105 AER might be more to your liking. If you value midrange clarity and overall balance, then the 105 SILVA are worth a listen, whilst the 109 Pro give you huge amounts of clarity and resolution with excellent dynamics to boot.
On the one hand, I love the 105 AER for their superb handling of metalcore. On the other hand, I really do love the 105 SILVA’s midrange clarity and the additional separation and air in their presentation. The 105 SILVA are a headphone that sounds “right”; they have great balance and control with excellent tonality, whilst still retaining a sense of energy and punch.
Currently, Meze is really killing it in this segment of the market, with something for everyone, and all backed up by excellent build quality and comfort. They have a great range of products from the 99 Classics up to the 109 Pro, all sub £1000, and all with slightly different flavours of sound.
AT A GLANCE
Build Quality And Features:
Solid build quality with easily replaceable parts and sustainability built in
Great carry case, and the USB-C to 3.5mm adapter is a nice addition
Sound Quality:
Well balanced yet still dynamically engaging
Expressive midrange that’s clear and detailed
Great instrument separation and air
Value For Money:
At £499, these are great value for money
We Loved:
The fit, the sound and the overall package
We Didn’t Love So Much:
Nothing to note
Elevator Pitch Review: The 105 SILVA are an excellent headphone; it wasn’t long ago that I was listening to the 105 AER, and now we have a follow-up product to sit alongside them with a slightly different sonic presentation. If you prefer a little more balance to your sound with a detailed and open midrange, punchy yet controlled low end, and crisp yet non-fatiguing treble, you might be interested in these. They still get me bopping along to the right music, yet the overall tonal balance and control keep everything in check; there is plenty of air between instruments, and they are an easy-to-love headphone.
Price: £499
Oscar Stewart
Additional Photography by Kelly Bowden
SUPPLIED SPECIFICATION
- 50 mm dynamic driver
- Carbon fibre-reinforced cellulose composite diaphragm
- Impedance: 42 ohms
- Frequency response: 5 Hz – 30 kHz
- Sensitivity: 112 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz
- Weight: 354 grams
- Walnut wood ear cups
