Meze Audio 109 PRO

Expertly built open-back 'phones with an inspired design

"We're not selling gadgets...I'm trying to build products that feel precious and [offer] value on different levels." That's what Meze Audio founder and lead designer Antonio Meze told me earlier this year about his company's thoughtful approach to headphones. Soon after, I auditioned the open-back 109 PRO headphones — and once again — the company has shown me exactly what he meant. 

These headphones look gorgeous and feel extremely well-put-together. Each set is assembled by hand in Meze's Romanian headquarters, using premium parts and fine materials. And the design is very open-air, with little in the way to obstruct the precise movement of the premium 50mm dynamic drivers. 

A charming blend of old and new

If you're familiar with the closed-back Meze Audio 99 Classics, you might assume these are the open-back "version" of those. Yes and no. The dark walnut wood earcups definitely give them a similar look and vibe. And their relaxed, secure fit is based on the winning ergonomics of the 99 Classics — named Crutchfield's "most comfortable" after extensive in-house testing.

But while these headphones may resemble that storied model, the 109 PROs have their own tale to tell. They offer unique design touches, and the open-air earcups are physically larger. Inside, the drivers have been completely revamped to deliver a distinct sonic signature. 

Premium drivers built from high-grade materials

Meze designed the 50mm dynamic drivers from scratch. Each diaphragm is a dual-membrane composite, with an inner material made of carbon fiber and cellulose that's covered by a beryllium-based film. All of these materials are rigid and lightweight, so they can move quickly and fluidly.

To my ears, the sound is refined, though not buttoned-up. It's deliciously textured with a delightful, natural timbre and quick, emphatic bass. The soundstage is more immediate and forward than you might expect from open-back headphones, but there is quite a bit of depth and airiness. 

Comfortable, no-fuss fit

The 109 PRO headphones use the same spring-suspension system developed for the 99 Classics, with the geometry slightly adjusted for the bigger earcups. A large spring stretches over the head to ensure the pressure remains even, regardless of head size. Padded vegan leather lines the spring, so it snugly hugs the crown of the head.  

For me, the fit was one and done — the headphones needed no adjustments. The oversized soft velour earpads felt pleasant and helped hold the headphones in place. The earcup openings are spacious, so the pads covered more area on the side of my head than most headphones this size — but still managed to avoid pressure points.  

Plenty of listening options

These headphones arrive packed inside their form-fitting zippered travel case. Meze includes two detachable cables — one extra-long nearly 10-foot cable and a shorter 5-foot cable — both terminated with an unbalanced 3.5mm miniplug. There's also a 1/4" adapter, so you have a variety of options for headphone amps or portable music players.