Meze Audio - 105 AER

Meze 105 AER do pretty good bass with good clarity .

Just to let you know I bought the Meze 105 aer thanks to your recommendation and a bit of research. They are exactly what I was looking for and I love them so thanks again .

Thanks , exactly the info I was looking for

Meze 105 aer. Great headphones. Super comfortable. Sound is like a 560s with slightly more bass. They're just superb.  And they are easily serviceable if needed

Secret option #3. Meze 105 AER.

Why not? To my hears it has smoother high end, warmer sound overall, nicer low end, and is levels above in comfort. Build quality also worth mentioning, although the Senn are absolutely well built also.

You could go for a Meze headphone and add their boom mic accessory (https://mezeaudio.com/products/boom-mic) Depending on your budget you could go for a 99 Neo https://mezeaudio.com/products/99-neo for $199 99 classic walnut for $309 https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-99-classics-walnut-silver-wood-headphones Or the open back 105 AER for $399 https://mezeaudio.com/products/105-aer In my opinion they sound really good for the price, and they look really good, at least to me. All locally crafted in Romania so you're directly supporting the European economy. The one caveat being that they're not wireless. Edit : and I think they'd look dope in meetings, no flashy lights, and the walnut is really classy if you're going for that one. No gamer design here

Lots of good answers here. I’ll plug the Meze 105 AER: they’re a headphone I expected not to like because I thought they were just nerfed 109 PROs. Nope: they are actually better in some way, despite the 109’s $800 price tag. They have replaced my HiFiMan Anandas and Sennheiser HD599’s as the 109 Pro is the perfect mix of the two.

If you're on a budget or want to buy second-hand: I liked the Meze 105 AER. With a bit of EQ I could be happy with it (for rock/techno). Others are better at classical music.

A lot of good recs here. But as you came from a bassy headphone, maybe you prefer that, so I will say add Meze 105 AER to your shortlist, demo it if you can. I prefer a bassy sound and they suprised me when I tried them. So much so I may get a pair. But one to check either way.

Personally the HD600s doesn't sound great to me either. I am not sure about the hype, but the Meze AER 105 are fantastic in a similar price range.

Personally, I wouldn’t jump from the Sonys to a $500 headphone until you know what you like. I’d recommend starting with the Sennheiser x Drop HD 6XX; they’re on sale right now for $180 and they’re a really, really great pair of audiophile grade headphones for you to see if that’s even something you like. Alternatively, the Hifiman Sundara is under $200 right now and it’s a great example of an entry-level planar magnetic headphone. If you’re committed to going all out, I’d recommend the Meze 105 AER at $399 and a JDS Atom Amp+ for $99. Reviews: - 6XX: https://daemonxar.com/2025/01/27/sennheiser-x-drop-6xx-review-seven-years-in-the-making/ - Sundara: https://daemonxar.com/2025/10/26/hifiman-sundara-a-classic-in-open-back-headphone-design/ - 105 AER: https://daemonxar.com/2025/06/05/meze-105-aer-review-another-great-meze-product/

Skip the Beyerdynamics unless you can listen to them first. They’re … very trebly. If you go that route, buy from somewhere with a good return policy AND get the lowest Ohm version you can find. If you can buy them from someone with a better return policy than Hifiman directly, the Arya Stealth is a great gaming headphone around $500 USD. I prefer the Meze 105 AER and 109 Pro personally for music (warmer tune), but any of those will be great. If you really want closed backs (and it doesn’t sound like you do), the best value on the market is the Fiio FT1, an excellent headphone at any price but currently $160 USD. (Their open back sister the FT1 Pro are also excellent). The closed back upgrade pick is the DCA Aeon Closed. Reviews: - Arya https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/hifiman-arya-stealth-my-new-favorite-objective-open-back/ - 109 pro https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/meze-109-pro-review/ - 105 AER https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/06/05/meze-105-aer-review-another-great-meze-product/ - FT1 https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/04/17/the-fiio-ft1-a-truly-excellent-budget-closed-back/

I'd recommend the Meze 109 Pro (used, MSRP is $799) or 105 AER (new, $399); both have a really lovely, buttery, warm character and will compare favorably to Sennheisers as well as probably my favorite aesthetic in hifi AND the most comfortable headphones I own. I bought the 109 for myself as a "job stability is awesome" gift right before I got laid off, and they're hands down my favorite headphone of the 100 or so I have right now. I'd recommend the Focal Elex instead but it's been out of production for years and they're a little challenging to source, but they're basically a super-6XX with incredible vocals. Reviews: 109: [https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/meze-109-pro-review/](https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/02/08/meze-109-pro-review/) 105: [https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/06/05/meze-105-aer-review-another-great-meze-product/](https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/06/05/meze-105-aer-review-another-great-meze-product/)

Great compliment to each other; VERY different tuning and style. The 105 are much warmer, and better for really everything to my ear except maybe just a hair of resolution and detail (though that might be more a function of the XS' spicy-to-me treble). Better bass, better vocal presentation, and a (to me at least) more pleasant treble response. My XS are with a friend on loan because I won't really use them outside of testing anymore; I'm always going to grab the 105/109/6XX for the kinds of listening I do (or the Arya/HE6se v2 when I'm feeling spicy). But yeah; I'm working on a "I want to spend $x, what should I get" post and a bunch of the middle tiers are going to be a planar paired with a dynamic driver and Meze/Hifiman are a great compare/contrast matchup.

I'd suggest either the Hifiman Arya Stealth or the Meze 105 AER in that price range. Arya is incredibly detailed, the 105 is rich, buttery magic. Reviews: [https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/hifiman-arya-stealth-my-new-favorite-objective-open-back/](https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/02/02/hifiman-arya-stealth-my-new-favorite-objective-open-back/) [https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/06/05/meze-105-aer-review-another-great-meze-product/](https://daemonxar.wordpress.com/2025/06/05/meze-105-aer-review-another-great-meze-product/)

Great sound quality and ANC? Nothing in that price range (though at $180, where they are regularly on sale, the Airpods Pro 2 qualifies). Good enough sound quality and ANC? Anker Soundcore A40, Beats Studio Buds, Moondrop Space Travel.