Why you possibly can belief TechSwitch
We spend hours testing each services or products we assessment, so that you could be positive you are shopping for the very best. Find out more about how we test.
Meze Audio Alba review
In Romanian, the word ‘Alba’ translates to ‘first light’. Instantly, this makes me think of new beginnings; of fresh experiences. And so, in come the Meze Audio Alba – an affordable pair of in-ear monitors aiming to be the first light for entry-level audiophiles, everywhere.
And I’m not going to beat around the bush here, Meze Audio absolutely nailed it with this model. These IEMs have a list price of $159 / £139 / AU$239, meaning they’re easily on the budget side of things. But very little about these in-ears feels or sounds budget to me.
First of all, these deliver fantastic sound quality – the most important quality needed to compete with the best wired earbuds round. If you’re new to the world of audiophile sound, you’ll be wowed with superior consideration to element proper throughout the frequency vary, in addition to clear, surprisingly expansive audio output.
Meze itself describes the Alba as having “a neutral sound profile with an added touch of warmth” – and that’s a largely correct description for my part. Mids by no means sound recessed, treble is expressive, and bass is impressively weighty given these IEMs’ small measurement. I actually sensed that slight choice in direction of low-frequency sounds when listening to Overflow by Kolter, the place the meaty, spacey bass hit with critical affect.
When tuning into Where Do We Go From Here by Jamiroquai, lead vocals have been pleasingly clear within the total combine, whereas rhythm guitar was effortlessly separated and afforded loads of room to breathe. Groovy bass and percussion was additionally excellently outlined, serving to the observe’s funk-infused character to movement, with out compromise.
You’ll get a dynamic, detailed hear from the Alba too. I attempted enjoying Rains once more by Solji, and each breath got here by way of clearly, whereas delicate vocals remained managed and emotive all through.
In reality, my solely slight difficulty with these IEMs sonically talking, is that higher-pitched treble sounds can get slightly harsh at increased volumes. For occasion, I listened to Straight From The Underground by Riordan, and snappy percussion sounded slightly edgy as I ventured into the higher echelons of loudness. Again, although, these provide an excellent hear total.
Beyond sound, these IEMs proceed to plate up critical high quality. They’re made up of zinc alloy and anodized aluminium elements, and the outer casing is meant to characterize the looks of a pearl. In hand, the Alba really feel way more luxurious than their value would counsel. As a lot as I like the Sennheiser IE 200, their plastic casing doesn’t come near the Alba’s extra sturdy, flashy design.
In addition, the braided cable is elegant and even felt good to run by way of my fingers. It is slightly vulnerable to tangling, particularly after taking out of the satisfyingly compact carry case (included within the field). And if you would like a quantity controller for on-the-go use, you’re out of luck right here – you’ll want to contemplate a third-party possibility.
Back to the good things: there are a few connectivity choices right here. You can both use the usual 3.5mm connector, or make use of the included custom-made USB-C adapter. This has a built-in DAC and AMP, making certain you possibly can entry hi-res audio on the go, even along with your smartphone. It additionally has an LED gentle that shines in case you’re linked up correctly – good contact! It’s value noting, although, that there’s no 4.4mm adapter within the field.
I used to be additionally more than happy with the consolation and match of the Meze Audio Alba. I sometimes use the Sony WH-1000XM6 to take heed to my music, as I can typically discover in-ear choices to really feel slightly tiresome after an hour or two. But not these. They match snugly for me, and are light-weight sufficient to really feel non-invasive. There are a spread of different-sized eartips within the field, too, so yow will discover the proper seal.
Of course, you don’t get the advantages of energetic noise cancellation with wired IEMs – one thing you’d count on from the best wireless earbuds. But that agency seal was all I wanted to unearth the complete advantages of the Alba’s passive noise isolation skills. Even when listening at middling volumes, chatter across the workplace and passing by autos have been dulled considerably, serving to me to stay immersed in my music.
So, all in all, I believe it’s clear. The Meze Audio Alba are a superb possibility for anybody trying to enter the audiophile world, with a low value, gorgeous seems, and detailed sound. They’ll enable you see your favourite songs in a brand new gentle. And for that alone, they’re nicely deserving of my suggestion.
Meze Audio Alba review: price and release date
- $159 / £139 / AU$239
- Launched in June 2024
The Meze Audio Alba are a highly affordable pair of IEMs, coming in with a list price of $159 / £139 / AU$239. Interestingly, they appear to be regularly priced a little higher than this in both the UK and Australia, but only by a small margin. They were released in June 2024, and are available in a single colorway.
Meze Audio Alba review: specs
|
Drivers |
10.8mm dynamic |
|
Weight |
14g |
|
Frequency range |
15Hz-25kHz |
|
Connectivity |
3.5mm; USB-C |
Should I buy the Meze Audio Alba?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Features |
Brilliant USB-C adapter, great passive noise isolation, detachable cable, no in-line controller or mic. |
4.5/5 |
|
Sound quality |
Well separated, defined sound with impressive bass and attention to detail. |
4.5/5 |
|
Design |
Gorgeous outer casing, beautiful braided cable, a little prone to tangling. |
4.5/5 |
|
Value |
Phenomenally priced for the luxurious sound and looks on offer. |
5/5 |
Buy them if…
Don’t buy them if…
Meze Audio Alba: also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Meze Audio Alba |
Sennheiser IE 200 |
Activo Volcano |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$159 / £139 / AU$239 |
$149.95 / £129.99 / AU$239.95 |
$80 / £99 (about AU$120) |
|
Drivers |
10.8mm dynamic |
7mm dynamic |
1x 8mm, 2x 6mm dynamic triple-driver |
|
Weight |
14g |
4g (per bud) |
5g (per bud) |
|
Frequency range |
15Hz-25kHz |
6Hz-20kHz |
20Hz-20kHz |
|
Connectivity |
3.5mm; USB-C |
3.5mm |
3.5mm; 4.4mm; USB-C |
How I tested the Meze Audio Alba
- Tested for two weeks
- Used in the office and while out and about
- Predominantly tested using Tidal
I tested the Meze Audio Alba in-ear monitors across the course of two weeks, after a thorough run-in. I predominantly used their 3.5mm connectivity option, while hooked up to my laptop – but I also tried the USB-C dongle with my phone when listening on the go.
Most of the time, I used the Alba while playing tracks via Tidal, in an effort to entry higher-res music recordsdata. On Tidal, I ran by way of the TechSwitch testing playlist, which options tracks from a variety of genres. However, I additionally performed numerous tracks from my very own private library, together with some go-to tunes I use for testing audio gear.
Where applicable, I in contrast the Meze Audio Alba side-by-side with the Sennheiser IE 200 on elements corresponding to sound high quality, design, and options.
More typically, I’ve examined tons of merchandise right here at TechSwitch, the place I largely give attention to the audio-visual section. I’ve reviewed every part from all-action social gathering audio system, such because the LG xboom Stage 301, by way of to premium IEMs, just like the Sennheiser IE 600. As a consequence, I’ve a powerful understanding of what’s required for audio gear to face out in a extremely aggressive market, and what makes a product nice, slightly than good.
- First reviewed: September 2025
- Read extra about how we test