Meze Audio 109 Pro

Meze Audio 109 PRO – A tribute to music

The Meze 109 PRO is a tribute to what music is all about: emotion, presence and memories. It is designed for the listener who wants to not just hear details, but feel the music as a living, organic experience. From the first lines on the drawing board, the goal has been to create headphones that invite immersion – one you put on, forget you are wearing it, and just disappear into your favorite album.

Every part of the 109 PRO is selected and engineered with the purpose of supporting this experience. Materials like walnut wood, die-cast zinc, manganese steel, and vegan leather combine to create a lightweight yet robust construction that feels as solid as it sounds.

Highlights

• 50 mm dynamic driver engineered for speed, precision and high dynamic range
• W-shaped dome in carbon fiber reinforced cellulose for high resolution and low resonance
• Ultra-thin torus with beryllium coating for fast response and neutral character
• Open construction with maximum transparency and air
• Black walnut wood in the ear cups for natural sound and exclusive expression
• Velour cushions and self-adjusting headband for long-lasting comfort
• Easy to operate from both portable devices and desktop setups
• Completely service-friendly construction for long life and sustainability

A dynamic driver with high-end ambitions

In an era where planar technology is prevalent, Meze has chosen to delve deeper into the dynamic principle with the 109 PRO – and do so at a level where the driver feels just as sophisticated as in much more expensive designs. The 50mm dynamic driver is assembled and tuned with great precision to combine speed, clarity and a large dynamic range.

The driver dome is shaped in a W-profile and made from a carbon-fiber-reinforced cellulose composite. This combination provides both low mass and increased rigidity, which is essential for reproducing high frequencies with clarity and without harshness. By keeping resonances under control, the distortion and sharpness that often plague conventional dynamic drivers are avoided.

Surrounding the dome is an ultra-thin torus of a semi-crystalline polymer material, beryllium-coated via a PVD process. The layer is only 22 microns thick, but provides significantly increased stiffness and better damping, allowing the driver to respond extremely quickly without “ringing” afterwards. The precisely designed corrugations in the torus, cut at a carefully calculated angle, contribute to both strength and further damping of unwanted movements.

The whole thing is mounted in a CNC-milled aluminum frame, which provides perfect flatness, thermal stability and mechanical control. A copper-zinc alloy stabilizer around the diaphragm absorbs micro-vibrations and further reduces distortion. Overall, the driver is a piece of accomplished mechanical and acoustic engineering, packed into a sub-$1,000 headphone.

A revealing sound

The sound signature of the 109 PRO is tuned to be both musical and revealing. There is a lively and dynamic character that makes drums, strings, guitars and voices present and full of energy. The midrange is rich and natural, with vocal reproduction that feels intimate and realistic. The treble range is detailed and open, but controlled, avoiding fatigue during long listening sessions.

The open construction contributes to a spacious and ventilated reproduction, where the music does not feel squeezed in, but rather unfolds in front of the listener. The combination of openness, fast transient response and precise driver control provides stereo imaging with good depth, precise positioning and a sense of true acoustic space.

Acoustic design with a focus on air and anatomy

The inside of the ear cup is designed with a spider-like structure and an acoustically transparent grill that exposes the driver from both sides. It is Meze's most open pattern to date and is designed to minimize reflections and create the freest possible airflow around the diaphragm.

The driver is positioned at a carefully calculated distance and angle from the ear, based on anthropometric principles. This means that sound hits the ear in a way that better matches how we naturally perceive sound sources in space. This helps with imaging, focus, and the overall sense of realism.

The velour cushions softly surround the ear, creating a seal that is comfortable enough to support bass, but more open and breathable than leather. This limits heat build-up and sweat, making the 109 PRO ideal for long sessions.

The headphone that "disappears"

Meze has transferred their experience from the 99 Classics and other models to the 109 PRO's wearing comfort. The self-adjusting headband distributes weight evenly and automatically adapts to different head shapes and sizes. The combination of low weight, flexible headband construction and soft, ventilated cushions means that the headphones quickly "disappear" physically, allowing you to focus fully on the music.

Clear Meze signature

The ear cups are turned from black walnut wood, which both contributes to the visual identity and supports the natural, organic sound. The wood is combined with cast zinc, manganese steel and vegan leather, giving an expression that feels just as tactile and solid as Meze's other models.

The design is not only beautiful but also functional. Each component is engineered to withstand daily use and years of listening without losing any stiffness, adjustability or comfort.

Sustainability throughout life

In line with Meze’s philosophy, the 109 PRO is designed to last – and to be repairable. All essential parts can be taken apart and serviced if needed, from the ear cushions and cable to the headband, brackets and driver. By prioritizing longevity and serviceability, the need to replace the entire product is reduced, and thus the overall environmental impact is reduced.

109 PRO is therefore not only a strong sonic investment, but also a product that is designed into a more responsible approach to consumption and ownership.