Meze Audio Alba IEM – Full Review

Hi Guys, 

The Alba, a new and reasonably priced in-ear monitor (IEM) from Meze Audio, is up for review today. Just a few weeks ago, the Alba was launched to the public and retails for a reasonable $159USD. Nowadays, there is a lot of competition at this price point, particularly from “chi-fi” companies who claim to provide better performance at lower prices. Despite Meze’s Romanian roots, the Alba appears to continue the brand’s legacy of thoughtful design, high-quality construction and craftsmanship, and pleasing aesthetics.

The Alba has a thin, attractive silver-plated copper cable that is both very flexible and non-microphonic, and it comes with four sets of matching white tips ranging from small to large. Surprisingly, for the price, it also includes a compact 3.5mm to USB-C dongle adapter, so you can use it with your laptop or smartphone. As an added travel accessory, the Alba is packaged in a compact white “eco-leather” case. The Alba’s driver topology is based on a single dynamic driver.

So, on to the sound

Meze Audio Alba IEM – Full Review

When I hear an Alba, I picture a little v-shaped sound.

The Alba’s bass is just above neutral, and I find it leans more towards the sub-bass than the mid-bass. The combination of the dynamic driver and the remaining mid-bass does produce a respectable level of low-end impact. I enjoy a more robust low end than the usual listener, thus I can listen to the Alba contentedly without adjusting the EQ for the low end. This obviously means that it is not straight neutral.

Even though the bass isn’t as crisp and clear as on a more costly model like the Audeze Euclid, it wouldn’t be fair to compare the two. Throughout my time listening to the Alba, I never once complained about the low end, and it does a decent job of keeping up with comparable IEMs in this price point.

In my opinion, the Alba’s midrange is a whole other animal. Its interpretation of the low mids is excellent. The overall somewhat V-shaped response is attributable to their slightly receded position and lack of neutrality. Naturally, I appreciate it here as well, since I usually do with IEMs that use this approach to the low mids.

The high mid-range is a little bit of a problem for me, and it appears to be related to the 1-2kz region. It sounds a little sharp and has a nasal, honky character. After trying several tips with varying diameters, I found that one with a somewhat narrower opening helped, but it still wasn’t enough to solve the problem. Overall, the mids don’t feel warm and enveloping, but they do assist the Alba in producing a remarkably transparent tone and responsiveness.

Personally, the only thing that bothers me is the slightly rough and nasal upper mids area. I gave EQ a shot and got it to work a little more according to my tastes. The user’s ears, their shape, and other personal factors will likely play a significant role in this. I still think the Alba would be great for you in this regard; it wouldn’t be enough to make me quit listening to them (I am listening to them right now).

Once again, the Alba’s rather v-shaped tuning is helped along by its little over-neutral highs. Personally, I’d like a little more top treble, and the bottom treble is much more noticeable than the higher treble. With that said, the treble is excellent otherwise. The treble is superbly executed, and I thoroughly loved the tuning, for a pair of IEMs that cost $159 USD (not including shipping) and feature a single DD. I never felt it was too harsh or overwhelming, but I also never felt like I was missing out on detail or space due to a tuning that was too dark. When it comes to single dynamic driver based IEMs, treble may be a bit of a mixed bag, but the Alba truly delivered.

From a technological standpoint, I think the Alba is a good value for the money. You can get more bang for your buck with some of the other Chi-Fi brands in this price range, and it isn’t even close to being a monster killer.

The Alba, in my opinion, establishes its presence via means other than its technical performance alone. While not as wide or open as some other IEMs, the soundstage is also not too small or “in your head” either. All things considered, the levels of detail are excellent, and they are on par with other single Dynamic Drivers in this price range.

While it’s true that the Alba is manufactured in China, the usual meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail are hallmarks of Meze products. Regarding this aspect, the Alba is flawless. It is compact and provides a great deal of comfort. In terms of aesthetics, the Alba is first-rate, and the accessories add that finishing touch. Edges that were excessively harsh or uncomfortable for my ears were never an issue.

I made heavy use of the included USB-C dongle with my laptop’s USB-C ports; it’s a handy device that comes with the Alba. I couldn’t test it with my iPhone because it has a lightning connector, but it sounded great for an included device on my laptop. The white paint on the Alba’s spherical face chips and rubs off quickly, but that’s the only real drawback I could find. In general, Meze’s attention and management of product design and build quality never cease to amaze.

All things considered, the Alba appears to make a case for its adoption in terms of the total package, as I indicated before. The $159 USD MSRP makes it affordable for a wide range of people, including those who aren’t particularly interested in headphones or audiophile gear. Not only is it sturdy and comfy, but it also has a USB C converter for charging smartphones.

The Alba doesn’t need any EQ adjustments; I can listen to it for hours and not get tired of it. I truly can’t think of anything negative to say about the Alba, with the possible exception of a small gripe I have with the higher mid-range.

I believe that if you prioritise technical performance and attention to detail over comfort and overall packaging, you might find better solutions from Chifi manufacturers. On the other hand, the Meze Alba is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a less expensive IEM that still provides a really attractive bundle for the money.