Disclosure: I’d like to thank Meze for sending me the 105 AER for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and Meze had no say or input on the contents of this review.

The Meze 105 AER might be one of the more interesting options in the mid-range headphone market today. At $399 USD, these open-back headphones represent a more accessible entry point into Meze’s renowned sound signature without requiring the investment that something like their 109 PRO ($799 USD) demands. “AER” is Romanian for “air”, which is the overall theme of these headphones.  

To lower the price compared to the 109 PRO, sacrifices undoubtedly needed to be made. The question will be, then, despite bringing the cost down, how does the sound quality hold up, and thus the overall value? Let’s get into the review and find out.

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• Meze 105 AER
• Hard EVA carrying case
• 1.8m Kevlar OFC cable with standard 3.5mm connections
• Dedicated cable pouch
• 6.3mm gold-plated adapter

The hard carrying case provides excellent protection during transport, though it does take up a fair bit of space in a bag. The included cable feels robust without being too unwieldy, and the Kevlar reinforcement should make it more resistant to damage from daily use compared to standard cables. You also get a 6.3mm adapter. I particularly like the packaging as well. It’s simple and minimalistic, just the way I like it.

The Meze 105 AER looks and feels like a genuinely premium product despite the $399 price tag. Many headphones in this price range make obvious compromises in build quality, but Meze has managed to create something that retains all the key hallmarks of a high-end headphone, from the build quality to the overall look.

The 105 AER weighs in at 336 grams, which makes it light enough for extended use but with enough heft to feel properly built. Meze didn’t cut corners on materials here either. The hardware features a cast zinc alloy with PVD coating that feels remarkably durable, while the headband uses spring steel that provides just the right balance of flexibility and strength. The earcups are made from PC-ABS, which keeps the weight down while maintaining structural integrity.

Putting the headphones on the PU leather on the headband feels soft and distributes weight evenly; I never noticed any hot spots or pressure points. It adjusts extremely well to any head shape thanks to the generous width of the headband itself. My wife told me it’s the most comfortable headphone she’s ever used, and I would have to agree with her.

For me, though, the velour earpads are the standout comfort feature. Unlike leather pads that can get hot and sticky during long listening sessions (or hot summer days), these remain breathable even after hours of use. During my testing, I regularly wore these for 2-3 hour stretches without any discomfort or hotspots developing. The clamping force is on the lighter side, but they still create an effective acoustic seal around my ears without feeling constrictive.

The 105 AER are symmetrical headphones, meaning the left and ride sides are determined by the cable you are using. The bottom of each earcup has a 3.5mm connection where the cable goes. That being said, the outside edges of the headband have the letters L and R embossed into it to help you consistently identify each side.

Lastly, the Meze 105 AER can be completely disassembled and each part replaced if necessary. This ensures that the headphones will last a considerably long time, and don’t need to be sent in to be serviced. That’s a really nice touch in my opinion.

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The Meze 105 AER features a 50mm dynamic driver, with a “W” shaped dome made of a carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite. Supposedly, this is more durable than most other dynamic driver materials, as well as being very lightweight, with a tuning that is suitable for all music genres.

The 105 AER is extremely easy to drive, and can be used with even the most basic of dongle DACs and outputs while still getting sufficient loudness and headroom. I did find that when you move up from something like the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle, to the likes of the iFi GO Link Max or Qudelix T71, the 105 AER is given some extra musicality and a slightly expanded soundstage. This would indicate it scales very well with better sources, but that it also isn’t held back by budget devices.

I also used various DAPs (digital audio players) with the Meze 105 AER, and found it to sound excellent even when using devices like the Sony NW-A306, which doesn’t have a high power output even when using the uncapped version. If you happen to have a device with the power output capped but has a 4.4mm balanced output (like the North American version of the Sony NW-ZX707), you can use a 4.4mm balanced cable to get some additional power to drive the 105 AER. Again, it doesn’t make a huge difference in sound quality, it simply adds some qualities to the experience.

Meze has a fantastic 4.4mm balanced cable that I’ve been using for years, even with non-Meze headphones.

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I found the sound character of the 105 AER to be uniquely engaging. These headphones deliver a balanced presentation that leans slightly warm without sacrificing detail or clarity, leading to a sound signature that makes them versatile across nearly all music genres. The overall sound profile is very balanced, with some emphasis in the upper treble that gives it some…..…air. Sorry, I had to.

It has a very open sound that is clear and exciting to listen to. Audiophiles may be underwhelmed and find this tuning to be on the safe side, but since the 105 AER is targeting the casual audiophile (is there such a thing?) with versatility in mind, I find this very acceptable. Especially since Meze executed it so well.

The main drawbacks to this type of tuning are resolution and detail retrieval, but those qualities were never the intention with this headphone. Still, if that is something that is important to you, then you might want to look at similarly priced planar headphones like the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Sennheiser HD 600.

Bass

The bass response of the 105 AER has a noticeable mid-bass emphasis that delivers the richness that Meze has been known for, though the sub-bass does gently roll off at the low end. It’s tight and controlled, and provides enough depth to satisfy without being overwhelming. Naturally, this means that those who love an emphasis on the bass will need to look elsewhere, but for me, it sounds very satisfying.

The sub-bass presence can be slightly increased with a more powerful source, such as the iFi ZEN DAC V2, adding extra depth and extension to it. What truly impressed me was the bass differentiation. These headphones are remarkably nuanced at separating textures within low frequencies, sometimes even surpassing more expensive models in this regard.

Listening to Avaritia by deadmau5, the mid and sub-bass impacts sound substantial but clear, with the synthetic loops never being overwhelmed or pushed out by the bass.

Midrange

The midrange is undoubtedly the 105 AER’s greatest strength. It’s incredibly rich, organic, and almost “sticky” in its saturation. It’s engaging yet never overdone. Vocal performances shine across genres with remarkable consistency. From Baracho by Mark Lanegan to Blue Banisters by Lana Del Ray, voices come through with natural timbre and presence.

Interestingly, it also performs very well with jazz or softer acoustic music as the 105 AER’s natural midrange presentation adds a subtle warmth that avoids clinical coldness, making these headphones particularly enjoyable for vocal-centric tracks, as well as instrumentals.

Treble

The treble strikes an impressive balance in being smooth enough to prevent fatigue yet detailed enough to avoid sounding dull or veiled. There’s a subtle “airy-ness” that lives up to the AER name, creating a sense of space without losing cohesion with the midrange and bass.

Although the treble isn’t as extended as some higher-end models, it maintains good definition and articulation. For long listening sessions, this slightly attenuated treble tuning proves to be a wise choice, as I never experienced listening fatigue even after many hours of listening.

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage of the 105 AER is fairly wide and tall, with excellent depth thanks to the open-back design and airy treble. There is a large sense of space with nothing ever sounding constrained, with the vocals and instruments spaced appropriately when called for. Imaging is simply excellent, with accurate layering and directionality.

Gaming Performance

I wasn’t expecting to use these for gaming, but curiosity got the better of me, and I do like to see how well all headphones can perform in this regard. In first-person shooters like Call of Duty, the 105 AER’s open-back design provides better-than-average spatial reproduction. Footsteps are mostly clear and directionally consistent, though the mid-bass can occasionally mask enemy movements during intense firefights with lots of explosions. The same thing applies to PUBG.

Single-player games, such as the recently released The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remaster, sound wonderful. Directionality is excellent, dialogue is clear, and in-game music sounds fantastic. Sound effects such as sword strikes and magic casting are easily heard in the overall mix, with no effects ever tripping over other ones.

The 105 AER is not the best for competitive games, but they aren’t bad either. If you intend to use them as your all-in-one music and gaming headphone, they will perform well enough for you, though, especially if you pair them with Meze’s boom-mic for voice chat.

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After spending significant time with the Meze 105 AER, I can confidently say these headphones represent one of the most compelling value propositions in the mid-range audio market today. Meze has created something special here, with headphones that deliver excellent sound quality and are easy to drive, yet affordable enough in the sense that you’re getting almost high-end performance for a mid-range price.

The 105 AER excels precisely where it matters most, sound quality. Their warm, engaging sound signature creates an emotional connection to music rather than merely reproducing it. The comfort level during listening sessions proved exceptional, while the thoughtful design choices demonstrate Meze’s commitment to both build quality and function.

Resolution and detail retrieval are not the strongest points of the 105 AER, at least compared to similarly priced headphones. That being said, the sound profile is accessible enough not to put off casual listeners, but gives enough depth and nuance to satisfy experienced listeners and audiophiles. The fact that these headphones can be used in a versatile way, from gaming to listening to most music genres, simply adds to the value.

If you’re looking for a well-rounded headphone with the sound profile I described in this review, I highly recommend that you check out the Meze 105 AER.

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