Meze Audio Strada Evaluation: An Inexpensive Closed-Again Improve

Final 12 months, Meze Audio revisited the 99 Classics to make a 2nd model for the tenth anniversary of the unique launch. Now, they’ve began 2026 with a brand new closed-back headphone that’s positive to make waves. The Meze Strada is the newest launch from the Romanian firm, retailing for $799. It has the identical look because the Liric II and a dynamic driver that guarantees steadiness and exact element. On this evaluation, we break down all the small print and options of the brand new Strada, from aesthetic design to sound high quality. Is that this going to be the most popular headphone of the 12 months? Will it outperform the flagship Liric II? 

Meze Audio has by no means didn’t ship stunning-looking headphones. The Meze Strada follows a line of extremely sculpted masterpieces, together with the 105 Silva, 109 Professional, Elite, and Empyrean II. The Strada has the identical form because the flagship closed-back from the corporate, the Liric II. The earcups utterly cowl the ear and relaxation comfortably on the pinnacle, even whereas carrying glasses. I may undoubtedly see carrying these for hours with out fatigue. The Strada’s ebony wooden earcups are encased in a light-weight magnesium body, so they do not really feel heavy in any respect throughout use. The inexperienced spotlight makes it stand out and have a extra earthy aesthetic. 

Meze contains two cables within the packaging: one with a 3.5mm termination and one other with a 4.4mm termination. With the included 6.35mm adapter, it’s simple to make use of these headphones with any setup you might have at house. The cables are simply interchangeable, both with different Meze Audio cables or third-party choices. I opted to make use of a Strauss & Wagner improve cable to combine into the Chord Mojo 2, and it was a terrific synergy of sound. 

The Strada is not a really onerous headphone to drive; you would plug this immediately into your laptop and be capable to get some respectable sound from it. Nonetheless, pairing it with a nicer amplifier undoubtedly helped to raise the sound and add some extra taste to the sound profile. 

• Driver Sort: Dynamic
• Driver Dimension: 50mm
• Frequency Vary: 5 Hz – 30 kHz
• Impedance: 40 Ω
• Sensitivity: 112 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz
• Headphone Connectors: 3.5 mm TS jack
• Weight: 332 g or 11.7 oz

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Now we get to the half everybody has been ready for: the sound evaluation. Upon a primary take heed to the Strada, I used to be instantly hit with vibrant treble and ahead vocals. Singers have been proper in entrance of me, and the devices filtered round them. The soundstage was wider than I anticipated for a closed-back headphone, and it wrapped across the head fairly nicely to create an immersive expertise. The imaging was additionally very correct, so you would simply place issues in teh sound discipline to create the proper picture of your tracks. The earcups supplied good passive isolation, so you would be distraction-free throughout your listening. 

The Strada’s total response has a powerful treble and midrange presence, with the low finish taking a backseat and never coming by as a lot. This headphone is loud and would not maintain again from exhibiting off spectacular element. It has nice dynamics that make issues really feel a bit floaty and really light-weight, particularly accounting for the relaxed low finish. I can see the Strada being directed in direction of individuals who need a detail-first listening expertise. This might be for gaming, films, or simply informal music enjoyment. It is not actually a reference headphone, so mixing or mastering engineers could need to look elsewhere. For immersive listening, the Strada is a wonderful alternative. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

The one fault I am going to give to the Strada is the dearth of bass response. It is not very robust and takes a giant step again from the sound signature while you take a look at the response as a complete. Due to this, the Strada can sound a bit skinny or as if it lacks a number of depth. This is not to say the vary disappears utterly; it’s nonetheless current however comes by in treble tonality and texture. The treble is sort of sharp and extremely detailed, however the refined bass is available in simply sufficient to maintain issues grounded. There may be good punch and drive in these extra upbeat genres that rely upon the bass to maneuver them ahead. The Strada has a little bit of rumble from the sub-bass to make these decrease tones come by a bit extra, however the bulk of the low finish would not come by as a lot. If a powerful bass response is what you are after, different headphones could supply a greater match to your required sound signature.  

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange of the Strada was very spectacular. It is likely one of the most noticeable issues within the sound signature while you first take heed to the headphones. The timbres and textures of devices are well-tuned to be recognizable and colourful. Vocal tracks get a direct function, the place they arrive as much as the entrance and sit proper within the middle. You’ll be able to hear how the opposite devices fall into place behind the vocals. It provides on to the immersive high quality of the sound signature; devices filter backwards and broaden the depth of the sound discipline versus simply to the facet. The mid bass is powerful and helps decrease frequencies get a lift in quantity and texture. The midrange on the Strada makes positive you possibly can hear each component of the observe with ease, and the way in which they float within the sound discipline makes tracks enjoyable to take heed to. You undoubtedly cannot miss a single element with the response from this midrange, and the separation means that you can hear all of them clearly irrespective of the style. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

The Strada had a really ahead treble that held the majority of the sound signature’s taste. This brightly tuned treble opened up the soundstage significantly and made every thing sound a lot lighter. Closed-backs can generally tend to sound heavier as a result of frequencies are caged within the headphones, however the Strada does a wonderful job of combatting that stereotype and opening up the highest finish to sound far more pure. The brightness that comes from the treble is sharp and punchy, and it would not get too harsh to be uncomfortable or piercing. As a substitute, it brings a way of precision to the sound signature as a complete and retains every thing tight and managed. For listeners who worth pristine element and spacious high finish, the Strada undoubtedly delivers. 

Selecting between the totally different Meze fashions will be daunting, particularly with a brand new contender within the lineup. Wanting on the Strada in comparison with different Meze Audio closed-back headphones, there are some noticeable variations that make it stand out above others. For starters, the Strada is an honest step above the 99 Classics V2. It has a extra luxurious aesthetic and the standard of sound is a degree up for extra centered listening. The damage-style could also be totally different, however each are very snug and nice for long-listening periods. The Strada offers you extra element and area than the 99 Classics V2, although you’ll be sacrificing bass response within the Strada. 

To have a look at the opposite finish of the spectrum, evaluating the Liric II and the Strada is an attention-grabbing dialog. You get the identical match and magnificence because the Liric II for greater than half the price within the Strada, and also you additionally select between a black or inexperienced earth aesthetic. By way of sound high quality, you run into the identical dilemma of sacrificing bass or compromising on element. Should you’re on the lookout for nice worth, the Strada’s sub-1k worth level is unquestionably engaging and could also be price contemplating. You’d undoubtedly get an in depth response that will work in any style. Nonetheless, in case you desire one thing with hotter sound and nonetheless has good element, the Liric II could also be a better option. Its excessive worth level could make the Strada seem like a greater choice. 

The Meze Strada is a wonderful addition to the Meze Audio lineup. On high of all of their open-backs, we now have one other closed-back within the ring for different listeners. The Strada exhibits off spectacular element and immersive listening that’s good for players and informal listeners alike. The bass could also be missing and the sound signature could also be thinner than you count on, however the consolation and magnificence of the Strada makes up for what it’s possible you’ll be missing. On the finish of the day, this headphone is a superb worth for these seeking to improve for lower than $1000.

You will get the Meze Strada from Audio46.