James opinions the Meze Audio Strada, a brand new set of closed-back dynamic-driver headphones that includes a Macassar ebony ear cup design. They’re presently priced at $799.
Disclaimer: This pattern was despatched to me in change for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or standing. I thank Meze Audio for his or her help.
You possibly can click on right here to be taught extra about Meze Audio merchandise beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our present scoring pointers, which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
Meze Audio Strada Assessment
Abstract
The Meze Audio Strada fantastically adapts the refined chassis of the flagship Liric II right into a extra reasonably priced worth level. Geared up with a fastidiously retuned 50mm dynamic driver derived from the 109 PRO, the Strada delivers a energetic, textured, and agile output for a closed design that does not really feel veiled, sluggish, or curtained.
Professionals
Straightforward to drive.
Prime quality construct.
First rate readability.
Cons
Sounds barely brittle when underpowered.
Cable a bit lengthy for out of doors use.
The Strada is Meze’s newest transportable closed-back headphone, whose title, when translated instantly from Romanian, means “road”.
The Strada borrows unmistakable visible and structural DNA from the flagship Liric II and makes use of a light-weight magnesium-alloy body. The entire package deal jogs my memory of a Lamborghini Aventador ULTIMAE completed in darkish inexperienced, which is aggressive but elegant.
Priced at $799 USD, the Strada is clearly one of many coolest-looking transportable headphones in the marketplace, however how does it carry out and evaluate to Meze Audio’s mid-range open-back 105 SILVA and closed-back headphones, similar to Remaining’s latest DX3000 CL?
I discover out whether or not the sound matches the assured, street-ready aesthetic in my full assessment under.
Options
Underneath the hood, the Strada encompasses a 50 mm massive dynamic driver. You may need heard that it’s derived from the 109 PRO and retuned for closed-back utility.
The diaphragm has a dual-composite building, utilizing carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose as the bottom and a beryllium polymer coating that provides stiffness to enhance transient response and transparency.
There’s additionally a copper-zinc stabilizer ring inside to boost precision additional, tightening every thing up for stronger distortion management.
When it comes to measurements, the Strada achieves <0.1% THD at 1 kHz. Measuring 40Ω for impedance and 111 dB SPL/mW at 1kHz, the Strada will get loud simply with any supply, and there’s room for it to scale with larger output swings.
Design
In contrast to most manufacturers that stick safely to black or silver, Meze boldly chooses a really cool, deep inexperienced end for the Strada, fantastically blended with hand-crafted darkish Macassar ebony wooden ear cups.
The result’s an unusually subtle but streamlined look that stands out instantly, and the mix of supplies appears to be like cohesive.
Since every bit of Macassar ebony is of course distinctive, each pair of Strada showcases its personal distinct grain and figuring. You’ll additionally discover a delicate air vent on the housing, which is adorned with devoted metallic venting elements.
Regardless of utilizing a metallic band with wooden inserts, the general weight stays impressively low at under 350g, but it feels stable and durable in hand and on the top.
The sliding mechanism is friction-based, making it smoother and simpler to regulate. Each factor feels thoughtfully designed, similar to the glossy, streamlined traces of hypercars. It strikes an ideal steadiness between futuristic magnificence and the pure allure of actual wooden panels.
Moreover, once you flip it over, you possibly can see the meticulously designed metallic grills between the drivers. That’s some good consideration to element, and the entire package deal feels very premium and thoughtfully designed.
Consolation & Isolation
The Meze Strada borrows the chassis, headband design, and premium padding structure from the Liric II, although it’s a lot lighter, making it a lot simpler to hold.
With its massive, well-distributed headband, the load is evenly distributed, and isolation is pretty much as good as anticipated. It blocks out most noise with out sounding overly dampened, permitting faint atmosphere to leak by.
The clamping drive is good, offering an ideal seal with none discomfort even after hours of listening.
The magnetic-locked earpads are simple to switch and really feel premium and breathable. The seal stays wonderful even with sun shades on, and the cups have adequate depth, which helps ship deeper bass, accommodate bigger ears, and supply a safe match.
Inventory Cable
The Meze Strada contains two OFC inventory cables within the field: a 3.5mm one and a 4.4mm-terminated one, with Kevlar reinforcement wraps for sturdiness, flexibility, and low microphonics.
It is suggested to make use of the 4.4mm connection for larger output energy from most sources, and together with a 3.5mm-terminated cable supplies flexibility to make use of suitable single-ended amplifiers, mixers, or laptops.
The cables are 1.8m lengthy, which is nice for desktop use or once you put your Bluetooth receivers in your backpack, however could really feel a bit lengthy when you’ve it linked to a DAP in your pocket.
That is one space the place it falls in need of the Liric II, which might be why they’ll drop the worth so drastically. These cables are nonetheless very solidly constructed and ship nice dynamics and readability. There’s additionally little reminiscence impact and no microphonics.
Packaging & Equipment
The Strada arrives in a easy cardboard field with a sticker label. Upon opening the packaging, you’ll discover a small introduction card and the protecting arduous case inside.
Curiously, no foam inserts are used. Meze seems very assured within the headphone’s construct high quality and the case’s protecting capabilities.
The arduous case is exactly formed to suit the Strada snugly, holding it securely in place. Contained in the case, you’ll additionally discover a leather-based pouch containing the 2 cables.
I recognize this simple presentation and the considerate small extras. At this worth level, practicality takes precedence over fanciness.
Sound Impressions
After greater than every week of burn-in, the impressions under are primarily based on pairing the Strada with varied desktop amplifiers, together with the D&A Alpha PRO, FiiO’s K17, K19, and the Luxsin X9.
I additionally in contrast the Strada to the 105 SILVA later, which I feel shares some tonal similarities.
Abstract
Driving on a confirmed framework and drivers derived from the 109 Professional, however now in a closed configuration, the Strada delivers an open but immersive presentation for a sealed design.
There’s a good trace of heat within the mid-lows and slightly emphasis on the higher treble. You possibly can clearly really feel Meze’s intention in making a holographic stage that tasks extra from the top than conventional closed designs.
The design borrows composure from Meze’s higher-end fashions and stays emotionally participating whereas being cleaner. I might name it a W-shaped tuning with a slight tilt towards the right-hand facet of the spectrum, with good brilliance and management that doesn’t sound medical.
The Strada is straightforward to drive, conscious of energy for tighter, firmer transients, and sounds resolving even when listening in a espresso store or on the practice.
Timbre
The hardwood faceplate on the metallic body provides delicate resonance, bringing the tonality to life and making it really feel extra natural, regardless of its wonderful distortion measurements.
In follow, the bass is impactful with reasonable tightness and agility, whereas the treble exhibits good brilliance throughout sources, however stays properly managed with out sacrificing dynamics.
On trending Pop tracks, dynamics and coherence are passable, with mild heat within the vocal physique enhancing holography, and a slight upper-mid elevation that helps the mids lower by open air.
Even from weaker sources like a MacBook Air or a FiiO BTR15, vocals sound energetic and have good presence. The bass softens barely however stays punchy and dynamic. Sharper voices and operas can sound a contact brittle but keep enough harmonic richness.
I like how the vocal supply stays clear and pure, with adequate chunk and fullness, given the closed-back design. The presence of upper vocal frequencies can also be useful for FPS gaming, because it enhances the presence of footsteps.
On vocal tracks and acoustic guitars by way of K17 and Luxsin X9, the Strada delivers stable affect at medium to excessive achieve. There are clear decay, good affect, and upper-vocal emphasis.
Regardless of being closed again, it affords shocking openness and transparency. Quick strings and guitar licks sound moist and swift with enough lower-register weight.
The tuning fits lovers of ethereal voices and synthesized devices preferring the bass to not dominate. Tuning with minimal coloring additionally emphasizes spatial positioning and focuses on midrange high quality over open-back counterparts.
Staging & Dynamics
With its responsive driver and slight emphasis on higher vocal frequencies, the Strada helps place vocal photos extra clearly, strengthening selecting particulars and the sting of string devices, whereas flutes and woodwinds stay free from sounding too scorching. General decision and expansiveness are respectable.
The Strada reaches fairly deep within the subs, with faint rumbles audible, so bass devices don’t really feel omitted.
Percussion stands out distinctly within the combine, although in massive ensembles, you could discover some constraints on presence and separation, and there’s slight dynamic compression when the bass line thickens or turns into complicated, which is a standard caveat with closed-back design.
Transients really feel tight general, and the stage rendered stays fairly spacious, even when pushed by much less highly effective sources.
You might wish to tame the treble barely with EQ for Ok-pop or sharper voices, however typically, the treble brilliance lends an uplifting, responsive, and naturally articulated character, selling readability particularly when listening open air.
Click on on web page 2 under for my really useful pairings and chosen comparisons.
