Meze Alba
Meze Alba: The ‘Dawn’ of pure sound
The name “Alba” is an excellent choice for this IEM, as it carries meanings such as “clarity” and “purity” in some languages, and “first light of the dawn” in others. In Romanian, it can also mean “white” all of which are evocative terms that seem to perfectly reflect the spirit and design of this IEM.
These qualities appear to have inspired the look and character of the Alba:
Meze Audio’s newest IEM takes their classic over-ear sound and outstanding design aesthetics and shrinks them down to fit comfortably in your ear.
But is the Alba the right IEM for you? Read on to find out.
I would like to thank Meze for providing the Alba for the purposes of this review.
If you are interested in finding out more about the Alba, please check out their
product page here.
The Alba typically retails for $159.
Before I get into the sound, let me first show you what you can expect out of the box:
What’s in the box
The Meze Alba arrives with a sleek and well-presented unboxing experience with a small box
containing a usb-c adapter attached to the main box containing the Alba:
Inside the box, you’ll find:
• A semi-hard carrying case
• 4 pairs of silicone eartips (small, medium, large, and extra-large)
• A 3.5mm standard cable with silver-plated copper wiring
• And a nice USB-C to 3.5mm dongle for added flexibility
The accessories complement the Alba’s beautiful design, though a few extra tip choices would have been appreciated.
Here is everything you get:
Carrying Case
The white carrying case is nice and is a perfect size to be useful - I see too many massive carrying cases that are really too big to carry around with you - this one is about the perfect size to actually fit in your pocket:
Cable
The cable does tangle a little too easily, but it is built well and the connectors are very good quality and follow the excellent “pure” design language:
A modular cable option would have been welcome, but this remains a minor issue at the price point.
Similarly, the usb-c connector has nice quality connectors on either end:
And one touch I really like is that the cable lights up when it’s powered:
Note: the only “technical” issue I had with the Alba was with the cable, it had the left and right channels reversed so possible something to look out for.
IEM Build Quality
The Alba’s all-metal shell construction, with a zinc alloy and anodized aluminum mix, gives it a unique and durable yet lightweight feel:
The pearlescent white finish is visually striking, with an organic design that fits the ear beautifully and looks
fantastic. While I have used some amazing IEM’s in the past year, I think the Alba is the best looking and most
unique looking IEM:
Here is a small video of the IEM from all angles showing the beautiful curved shape of the shell:
Meze’s attention to detail extends to the unique left/right colour indicators embedded into the 2-pin connectors, making it stand out from the competition.
Comfort
One of the standout features for me is the comfort this beautiful design provides. Thanks to its lightweight design and smooth curves, the Alba excels in comfort, allowing long listening sessions without any discomfort. The nozzles are slightly shorter than average but hold eartips securely. For those who prefer a deeper fit, you might need to experiment with longer ear tips, for me the IEM provided a great seal even when out walking without every feeling I was losing the seal.
The nozzle is a reasonable size at 6.0mm:
Comparison of the IEM shell
Here is a couple of pictures comparing the Meze Alba shell with from left to right: The Meze Alba, then the FiiO FD15, Truthear Zero Red, Kiwiears KE4 and the very large FiiO FH15 :
Here is a short video showing these IEMs from all angles:
Sound Quality
The Meze Alba offers a signature sound with a twist: a neutral-warm midrange, punchy bass, and controlled, non-sibilant treble. It stays true to the Meze house sound while providing a slightly Harman-esque balance.
Bass
The bass on the Alba is tight and controlled, delivering ample sub-bass presence without overwhelming the midrange. Tracks like Massive Attack’s Angel showcase its punch and depth, while electronic music and rock genres remain well-balanced with clean, non-boomy bass.
Midrange
This IEM shines in the midrange, offering smooth and slightly warm lower mids. Vocals, especially male, come across with natural weight and clarity, while the upper mids have a slight lift to bring out female vocals and higher-pitched instruments without sounding harsh. For fans of vocal-heavy music, this is an outstanding choice. I thought tracks like “My Favourite Things” by “Youn Sun Nah” sounded fantastic with her beautiful voice coming to the forefront.
Treble
The treble has a natural timbre, never straying into brightness or harshness. Tracks like In One Ear feature precise cymbal crashes and high-frequency details without any uncomfortable sharpness. It’s not the most forward or detailed treble, but it balances well with the rest of the spectrum, ensuring fatigue-free listening. Tracks like “Billie Jean” by “Michael Jackson” was just about the right balance between detailed but not harsh.
Soundstage and Imaging
The Alba provides an intimate but well-defined soundstage, excelling in imaging. Instruments and voices are placed with precision, allowing for a satisfying spatial experience in both simple and complex mixes. But like most well tuned IEM’s it can be hard to get a wide soundstage without messing with midrange tonality.
Specifications and Measurements
Specification | Details |
---|---|
Cable length (meters) | 1.2 |
Color | White |
Connection types | USB-C, 3.5mm |
Efficiency (dB) | 109 |
Frequency response (Hz) | 15Hz-25kHz |
Resistance (Ohms) | 32 |
Frequency Response
The Alba leans toward a Harman-like tuning, with a slightly elevated upper mid-bass but thankfully has a relaxed 6K mid-treble which is one of the regions where the JM-1 target typically has a lower target:
The frequency response is smooth, and while it doesn’t have a peak in the treble region, it maintains an airy quality, the 10K dip in the treble you see in these measurements (and other 711 coupler measurements) was not present at that frequency when I listened to frequency sweep.
Distortion
Here is a distortion measurement at 104dB showing a well controlled IEM even at crazy loud volumes:
And as a percentage showing less than 2% at most:
Comparison Measurements
I have highlight 4 different areas in the following comparison chart:
- The bass on the Alba is very similar to the Aful Explorers and almost a perfect Harman sub-bass - while the KE4 has a little too much sub-bass
- Shows a perfect harman midrange - with the KE4 having that “new meta” recessed midrange
- Shows that Alba has almost perfect Harman treble but does have a little lower in the 6K region - each of these IEMS makes has a different level of recession in this “controversal” area
- Shows that the upper treble region is very bright in my measurements - I did not hear it that bright, but possible a younger ear might not like this treble level
Rating
I have given the Alba a very pragmatic 5-star rating. It captures the essence of what you’d expect from any Meze product, Stunning design and exceptional comfort. I appreciate how the name perfectly complements the aesthetic, reflecting the thoughtful attention to detail that defines the Alba.
Its sound signature not only echoes the quality of Meze’s higher-end headphones but also stays aligned with modern tuning trends that you should expect from a $159 IEM.
Conclusion
For $149, the Meze Alba punches well above its weight in both build and sound quality. Its beautiful design, comfortable fit, and warm, engaging sound signature make it a strong competitor in the crowded budget IEM market. Minor issues like the easily tangled cable or the reverse channels on the usb-c don’t detract from what is otherwise an impressive offering from Meze Audio.
The Meze Alba is an easy recommendation from me.