A $159 single 10.8 mm dynamic-driver IEM in a zinc-alloy shell, tuned to a fun-but-safe, warm-tinged signature that sources variously label a mild V-shape, a gentle U-shape, or 'warm-neutral' — all agreeing it's coherent and non-fatiguing rather than analytical. The near-unanimous strengths are build and comfort: a small, light, jewel-like shell that most reviewers and owners call among the most comfortable IEMs they've worn, plus a genuinely useful bundled USB-C DAC dongle. Bass wins broad praise for mid-bass punch and control, though sub-bass quantity divides listeners between 'satisfying rumble' and 'a little thin.' It's easy to drive, and detail and soundstage are treated as merely competent — coherent over resolving, and largely in-your-head. Opinion splits most on the treble (a touch hot to some, short on air and sparkle to others), on isolation (impressive to some, only fair thanks to a faceplate vent), and — loudest of all — on value, where fans see a fantastic whole-package deal and skeptics see a 'Meze tax' the cheaper Chi-Fi crowd can match on pure sound.
About this product
Meze Audio's first sub-$200 in-ear — a single 10.8 mm dynamic driver in a zinc-alloy and anodized-aluminium pearlescent-white shell, ~$159, launched mid-2024. Ships with a 2-pin (0.78 mm) cable terminated in 3.5 mm plus a custom USB-C DAC/AMP dongle. Distinct from Meze's pricier single-DD Advar (~$699) and the wood-and-metal 99 Classics / 105 headphones.
Meze Audio's Alba is the Romanian brand's first genuinely affordable in-ear: a single 10.8 mm dynamic driver in a zinc-alloy, pearlescent-white shell, launched in mid-2024 at $159. Its name is Romanian for 'first light,' and it arrives with a 2-pin cable and a custom USB-C DAC/AMP dongle — pitched as an approachable, plug-and-play entry into 'real' audio from a maker better known for the $699 Advar and its wood-and-metal headphones.
It landed to warm reviews and a devoted, comfort-first following, and quickly became a common 'premium budget' recommendation. It's also one of the more argued-over sets at its price: fans call it a fantastic whole-package deal, while the value-focused Chi-Fi crowd insists cheaper sets match or beat it on pure sound. Almost everyone agrees on the build and the comfort — the fights are about tuning nuance and whether the Meze name is worth the premium.
