The meze STRADA - REVIEW
The meze STRADA - review
I have reviewed a number of Meze’s headphones, nearly all of them, and now with the serial review of three of its ‘latest’ headphones—STRADA, POET, EMPYREAN II—I am getting closer to having reviewed them all. To a one, there was a ‘sound profile’ given there ‘types’—dynamic, planar, reference planar—regardless of price, which was always musical, technically adept, and imminently comfortable. Their comfort has always accommodated long listening sessions.
Meze’s headphones via their respective personalities, and ‘voices’, their sound profiles brought their own revelations to the music. This often turned review sessions into listening-for-pure-enjoyment sessions, where note taking was suspended, for a time. In this, Meze’s headphones have also brought a ‘collective’ warmth, an engaging musicality like listening to good vinyl. I was told, during an AXPONA event, by a man, who was both familiar with Meze and also with Romania, that the ‘voice’ of Meze’s headphones represented the collective, warm, smooth voice of Romania. I then imagined the Romanians were/are definitely music lovers first and foremost. The voice of Meze’s headphones may well serve as validation of his statement.
However, there is one outlier outside of Meze’s ‘collective’ voice—the Empyrean Elite—which is more ‘objective’ or what some might call ‘neutral’, which eschews a good deal of the warmth and certainly the lushness of the original Empyrean. In truth, it’s voice took me aback, though it was technically quite competent and received a good review, nonetheless. Given its collective voice, Meze’s headphones have been and continue to be well regarded throughout the world.
Headphones, in general, have come so very far from what they used to be, in terms of their design or the design of some, their technical acumen, and the way they offer up music. They are not your granddads headphones. Meze’s headphones, in particular, might be considered works of modern art, as I’ve referred to them in a number of reviews and have even thought them good additions to any modern art museum’s portfolio. And the three Meze headphones—STRADA, POET, EMPYREAN II— currently up for review fit this description to a tee—modern art.
These reviews of the three Meze headphones will speak to each headphone individually and then, subsequently, to their relatively strengths, as one climbs the Meze hierarchy. I begin with the Meze STRADA ($799), a near-entry level, dynamic, closed-back headphone and then I move on to its planar brethren. How does the STRADA sound relative to its nearly three times and nearly four times more expensive siblings?
REFRAIN: Unlike most reviews, this review will be non-sequential, as it will start with how the equipment actually sounds and not the process of physically “undressing” it and/or laying out its various accoutrement, specifications, etc. Think of this review then, as a non-linear movie—Memento, Kill Bill, Pulp Fiction, etc—that, likewise, starts at the end and winds its way to the beginning.
The Review System
Shanling ONIX XST20 SACD/CD Transport
Bricasti Design M1SE DAC w/ethernet
Rega P8 Turntable w/Ania Pro cartridge
Rega P10 Turntable w/Apheta cartridge
Aurorasound Step-Up Transformer
Grimm Audio PW1 Phono Preamplifier
Allnic ASRA 7500 Headphone Amplifier/Integrated
Allnic HPA-300B Headphone Amplifier/Integrated
Atma-Sphere MP-3 Preamplifier
Atma-Sphere S-30 Amplifier
Aurorasound HFSA-01 Integrated/Headphone Amplifier
Lyric Audio Ti 100 MkII Integrated
Audience FrontRow Reserve Cables/Wires
BlackCat Level 2 Interconnects
BlackCat Level 3 Speaker Cables
BlackCat TRON AES/EBU and SPDIF Digital Cables
Grimm Audio SQM Interconnects (XLR, RCA)
Kubala-Sosna Realization Speaker Cables
RSX Technology BEYOND and MAX Power Cords
Devore Fidelity Orangutan O/96 Speakers
TORUS RM20 Power Conditioner
SEISMION Amplifier Stand (powered)
The Sound
First, the STRADA unlike Meze’s planar headphones will need, at least, 50 hours and nearly 100 hours to sound their best. The initial listening session, prior to their burn-in, was very concerning. I initially thought I had happened upon a bad Meze headphone. Well, no I hadn’t. It is, however, crucial for a good, thorough burn-in before listening for pleasure and certainly before reviewing them.
The STRADA scaled beautifully, expertly from DAC/dongle—Clarus Audio—to Digital Audio Processor (DAP)—Shanling M8, Cayin—to mid-entry level HPA—Aurorasound HFSA-01—to high-end HPAs—Allnic RHPA-7500, Allnic HPA-300B. If you’re only planning to use the STRADA with a DAC/dongle or a DAP, then you will not hear what this mid-entry level headphone is capable of, as its ‘voice’ and it abilities continue to improve as amplification improves.
The Meze STRADA is accomplished technically and musically, as one would expect of a Meze headphone, again, after burn-in. The STRADA’s express a wonderful tonality and timbre, which is not tilted up, nor is it overly lush or honey-voiced, it’s natural. Musical notes show good decay and air and ambiance are well presented, as, in fact, is a venue’s space or atmosphere.
The STRADA’s handled the entirety of the frequency spectrum very well. The STRADA’s treble, even with the Clarus Audio DAC/dongle, resolved treble+ information—cymbals, brushes over drum skins, etc.—across countless streamed albums and digital downloads very well. Further, its treble was never harsh, nor strident, and, again, always very well resolved. Sarah Vaughan’s voice on Sassy (Mercury) is clear, detailed, textured, and dimensional via the STRADA and the HFSA-01’s headphone section. There is air and ambiance and dimensionality, which, at times, lead one to believe the STRADA is more of an open-back headphone than a closed-back headphone. Or, perhaps, it is the HFSA-01’s EL84s and its open, dimensional voicing, which the STRADA conveys beautifully. The STRADA, once again, leveled up, as it was paired with the Allnic Audio RHPA 7500 HPA and then the Allnic HPA-300B. Bass extension increased and was more resolute, dynamic, and detailed, its midrange bloomed, there was more texture, and its treble soared with more air and ambiance.
The STRADA’s abilities far surpass its relatively modest pricing as a mid-entry-level headphone. This is a thought I kept coming back to, which also motivated wanting to keep the STRADA, certainly as a result of its easy adaptability to a range of amplifiers and DACs, its technical chops, the way it beautifully brings the music, and its compact nature. The STRADA is, indeed, a clear improvement on Meze’s closed-back, dynamic headphones, well beyond its previous designs. And in this, the STRADA is a very competent and accomplished near-entry-level headphone.
The Design—Look and Feel
I did not know what to think of the STRADA’s green liquid-metal frame via the web images. However, to see them up close, is to see the continuity of Meze’s renown, design acumen and just how beautiful they, truly, are. Its magnesium frame is of a green liquid-metal and its ear cup covers are Macassar Ebony, which elicit a quiet, “Wow!” The STRADA’s look and feel like all Meze headphones, which speaks to an elegant design concept, which has, once again, been beautifully realized.
The STRADA’s are light, small, compact, and thus easily transferrable for on-the-road or on-the-walk travel or on-the-plane travel. Though given their good looks, I’d advise care in walking about with them in populous, unsafe areas. Just saying.
Drivability
The STRADA’s are extremely easy to drive given their 111dB sensitivity rating and, they may be driven easily by your iPad, if not your clock radio! I began the review of the STRADA’s with Clarus Audio’s DAC dongle. It drove the STRADA’s easily across all streams of music regardless of the music’s dynamic range, genre, and they remained always steady and unflinching.
Conclusion
Suffice to say, I could happily live with the Meze STRADA’s, this despite the fact I count myself a dedicated fan of open-back planar and electrostatic headphone designs. In truth, I’ve seldom been impressed with even expensive dynamic headphones and have often found them lacking in key areas or unmusical. This near-entry-level headphone checked-off all of my ‘needs’, proved to be a truly wonderful performer, and a breath of fresh air, certainly at its price point. I may have to adopt them.
To the Meze STRADA I happily give our HIGH NINES AWARD for its superb rendering of music, across multiple different devices—DAC/dongles to reference-level headphone amplifiers—its wonderful technical performance/acumen, and its easy and welcoming musicality. Highly recommended.
Technology and Specification
The Company
Meze Audio
Meze STRADA ($799)
Iuliu Maniu str., nr. 38,
1st floor, ap. 2,
Baia Mare, 430131, Romania
info@mezeaudio.com
www.mezeaudio.com
