Audio T Verdict
The Meze 109 PRO occupies a particularly sweet spot in the company's headphone range. It has much of the material quality, engineering ambition and comfort associated with Meze's more exotic models, but uses an easy-to-drive dynamic driver that makes it considerably less demanding of the equipment plugged into it.
At its heart is a 50mm dynamic driver designed specifically for the 109 PRO. Rather than relying on one diaphragm material to do everything, Meze has engineered different sections for different mechanical jobs: a carbon-fibre reinforced cellulose W-shaped dome, an ultra-thin beryllium-coated semicrystalline polymer torus, a precision aluminium frame and a copper-zinc stabiliser.
The torus is particularly interesting. At just 22 microns thick, its polymer membrane receives a beryllium coating through Physical Vapor Deposition, increasing stiffness and durability without adding excessive moving mass. Precisely positioned 45.5-degree corrugations provide further reinforcement.
Meze's open-back acoustic structure then exposes the driver from both sides using a spider-shaped structure and acoustically transparent grille. The driver itself is positioned at a carefully chosen angle and distance from the ear, rather than simply sitting flat inside the cup.
The electrical specification is refreshingly accommodating. With 40-ohm impedance and 112dB SPL/mW sensitivity, the 109 PRO can work from a broad range of suitable portable and home headphone outputs. A better DAC or headphone amplifier can certainly improve the system around them, but you do not need an enormous specialist amplifier merely to make the headphones function properly.
Materials are equally important to the experience. Black walnut earcups are combined with cast zinc, manganese steel, velour and a self-adjusting vegan-leather headband, resulting in a full-size headphone that weighs just 375g.
Meze also includes both 1.5m and 3m detachable cables, allowing the 109 PRO to work equally naturally at a desk or across the room from a conventional hi-fi amplifier.
Perhaps most importantly, the 109 PRO has been designed for longevity. Meze specifically engineers the headphone so that it can be dismantled and serviced rather than discarded when an individual component eventually wears.
If you want a genuinely premium open-back headphone without moving into the much greater amplifier demands and prices associated with some flagship planar designs, the 109 PRO remains one of the easiest Meze models to recommend.
Meze 109 PRO Open-Back Dynamic Headphones
The Meze 109 PRO is a premium full-size open-back headphone built around a specially developed 50mm dynamic driver, black walnut earcups and Meze's characteristic focus on comfort, materials and long-term serviceability.
It combines a 40-ohm impedance with high 112dB SPL/mW sensitivity, making it suitable for a broad range of portable and home headphone systems.
Meze's First Open-Back Dynamic Headphone
The 109 PRO marked Meze's first open-back dynamic headphone.
Rather than adopting the planar magnetic technology used by models such as Empyrean and Elite, Meze designed a new 50mm dynamic driver specifically for the 109 Series.
50mm Dynamic Driver
Each earcup contains a:
50mm dynamic driver.
Meze developed and tunes the driver with particular focus on:
- Speed
- Accuracy
- Dynamic range
- Low distortion
- Detail and clarity
Multi-Material Diaphragm Engineering
The 109 PRO driver combines several specialised materials rather than treating the entire diaphragm as one uniform surface.
Its principal components include:
- Carbon-fibre reinforced cellulose W-shaped dome
- 22-micron beryllium-coated semicrystalline polymer torus
- CNC-machined aluminium frame
- Neodymium magnet
- Copper-zinc alloy stabiliser
W-Shaped Dome
The central dome is made from:
Carbon-fibre reinforced cellulose composite.
Meze selected this material to combine low mass, durability and structural rigidity.
The W-shaped geometry and reinforced composite are designed to support detailed high-frequency reproduction while reducing unwanted resonances that could contribute to harmonic distortion.
Carbon-Fibre Reinforced Cellulose
Cellulose is a lightweight diaphragm material, while carbon-fibre reinforcement increases its mechanical rigidity.
The intention is to create a dome capable of responding rapidly to the music signal without excessive flexing.
Ultra-Thin 22-Micron Torus
Surrounding the central dome is an ultra-thin torus measuring:
22 microns.
The torus is made from:
Beryllium-coated semicrystalline polymer.
Beryllium Coating
Meze applies the beryllium coating using:
Physical Vapor Deposition, or PVD.
The purpose of the coating is to increase the stiffness and durability of the diaphragm while maintaining the low moving mass required for fast transient response.
Why Beryllium?
Meze also highlights the material's damping characteristics, using the beryllium coating to help suppress unwanted resonances within the moving membrane.
This forms part of the company's intended neutral, vivid and transparent character for the 109 PRO.
45.5-Degree Corrugations
The torus incorporates precisely formed corrugations positioned at:
45.5 degrees.
These further reinforce the diaphragm and influence the mechanical behaviour of the ultra-thin torus.
CNC-Machined Aluminium Driver Frame
The diaphragm and magnet assembly are held within a:
High-precision CNC-machined aluminium frame.
Meze uses aluminium for its combination of rigidity, strength and thermal stability.
Why Frame Rigidity Matters
The driver frame provides the fixed mechanical reference around which the diaphragm moves.
Maintaining rigidity and surface flatness helps keep the moving assembly operating within its intended geometry.
Neodymium Magnet
The driver assembly incorporates a:
Neodymium magnet.
It sits within the CNC-machined aluminium frame alongside the diaphragm assembly.
Copper-Zinc Alloy Stabiliser
A:
Copper-zinc alloy stabiliser
is positioned around the membrane.
Meze uses the component to improve the absorption of vibration and further reduce unwanted distortion.
Less Than 0.1% Total Harmonic Distortion
Meze specifies:
THD below 0.1% at 1kHz.
This is an important manufacturer specification currently missing from the Audio T product page.
5Hz to 30kHz Frequency Range
Meze specifies a frequency range of:
5Hz–30kHz.
This is the manufacturer's complete published frequency-range figure for the 109 PRO.
40-Ohm Impedance
Nominal impedance is:
40 ohms.
This relatively modest impedance forms part of Meze's intention that the 109 PRO should work successfully with a broad variety of suitable headphone outputs.
112dB SPL/mW Sensitivity
Meze specifies sensitivity at:
112dB SPL/mW at 1kHz.
The combination of 40-ohm impedance and high sensitivity makes the 109 PRO substantially easier to drive than many specialist high-end headphones.
Do I Need a Dedicated Headphone Amplifier?
Not necessarily.
Meze deliberately designed the 109 PRO to work with both portable sources and more elaborate home systems.
Potential sources include:
- Dedicated headphone amplifiers
- DAC and headphone amplifier combinations
- Network streamers with headphone output
- Integrated amplifiers
- Portable digital audio players
- Computers with a suitable analogue output
- Phones and tablets using an appropriate external DAC
A good dedicated headphone amplifier can still improve source quality, control and system performance, but the 109 PRO does not require unusually high amplifier power simply to operate.
Audio T and the 109 PRO
The 109 PRO has become something of a reference headphone within Audio T since its introduction.
Our own listening has highlighted its combination of openness, detail, comfort and musical drive, with the headphone proving equally useful for dedicated headphone systems and evaluating other hi-fi equipment.
Read: Meze 109 PRO - The Open-Back Headphone That Sets the Benchmark
Open-Back Acoustic Architecture
The 109 PRO is completely open backed.
A spider-shaped internal structure and acoustically transparent grille expose the driver from both sides rather than sealing its rear surface inside an enclosed cup.
Meze's Most Open Pattern
Meze describes the 109 PRO earcup structure as:
Its most open pattern developed for the model.
The aim is to minimise obstruction around the driver and allow air to move freely through the structure.
Driver Positioned at an Angle
The driver is not positioned arbitrarily or simply mounted flat against the ear.
Following anthropometric principles, Meze places it at a carefully selected:
- Angle
- Distance from the ear
This is intended to provide a more natural anatomical relationship between the transducer and listener.
Why Driver Position Matters
The distance and angle between a headphone driver and the ear can influence:
- Frequency response at the ear
- Spatial presentation
- Imaging
- Perceived openness
Meze therefore treats physical placement as part of the acoustic design rather than simply a comfort consideration.
Vivid and Emotionally Engaging Sound
Meze deliberately tunes the 109 PRO for an engaging rather than purely clinical presentation.
The company describes its intended qualities as including:
- Detail
- Clarity
- Controlled punch
- Strong dynamics
- Precise imaging
- Full-bodied vocals
- Organic musical character
Open Back Does Not Mean Thin Bass
An open-back headphone does not automatically have to sound lightweight.
Meze has tuned the 109 PRO to retain an appropriate amount of low-frequency impact alongside the openness and imaging benefits of the vented construction.
Black Walnut Wood Earcups
Meze specifies the earcups as:
Black walnut wood.
The natural wooden structure provides one of the most distinctive visual elements of the 109 PRO.
Natural Wood Means Natural Variation
No two pieces of walnut are visually identical.
Variations in grain, pattern and colour are therefore normal rather than defects.
Meze specifically notes that slight visual variations can occur as a consequence of the individual craftsmanship of each headphone.
Walnut, Zinc and Manganese Steel Construction
The principal structural materials include:
- Black walnut wood
- Cast zinc
- Manganese steel
- Vegan leather
- Velour
Meze combines these materials to create a structure intended to be relatively lightweight while remaining durable and serviceable.
Manganese-Steel Outer Headband
The outer headband structure uses:
Manganese steel.
This forms the flexible structural frame connecting the two earcups.
Self-Adjusting Headband
The inner support band automatically adjusts to the listener rather than requiring a conventional ratcheting mechanism.
Meze designed it to spread the 109 PRO's weight evenly over a variety of head shapes and sizes.
Vegan-Leather Support Strap
The self-adjusting inner headband uses:
Vegan leather.
It forms the principal contact surface across the top of the head.
375g Headphone Weight
The manufacturer-specified headphone weight is:
375g / 13oz.
375g - Not 1.65kg
The 1.65kg figure previously shown on this Audio T page is shipping weight rather than the weight of the headphones themselves.
Meze's official specification for the 109 PRO is 375g.
Deep Velour Earpads
The circumaural cushions use:
Soft velour.
They surround the ears and provide the acoustic relationship between the headphone and listener while remaining more breathable than a conventional leather-style surface.
Designed for Long Listening Sessions
Meze specifically uses velour to reduce heat build-up and perspiration during extended listening.
The self-adjusting headband then spreads weight across the top of the head rather than creating one concentrated pressure point.
Open Back Is Not Isolation
The earpads help establish the intended acoustic fit around the ear, but the headphone remains deliberately open backed.
Do Not Expect Noise Isolation
The 109 PRO is designed to allow air and sound through the open earcups.
People nearby will hear some of your music, and environmental noise will remain audible.
Dual 3.5mm TS Headphone Inputs
Meze specifies:
Dual 3.5mm TS jack inputs.
Each earcup therefore receives its own detachable cable connection.
Fully Detachable Cable System
The cable is not permanently connected to the headphones.
This allows:
- Easier storage
- Cable replacement
- Different cable lengths
- Potential cable upgrades
- Simpler long-term servicing
Two Cables Included
Meze supplies two soft TPE cables:
Both terminate in a conventional:
3.5mm source jack.
Why Two Cable Lengths?
The shorter 1.5m cable is convenient for:
- Desktop systems
- Portable players
- DAC/headphone amplifiers positioned nearby
The longer 3m cable is better suited to:
- Conventional hi-fi systems
- Listening chairs positioned away from equipment racks
- Integrated amplifier headphone outputs
6.3mm Gold-Plated Jack Adaptor Included
Meze supplies a:
6.3mm gold-plated jack adaptor.
This makes the 109 PRO directly compatible with the full-size headphone sockets commonly found on:
- Integrated amplifiers
- Dedicated headphone amplifiers
- DACs
- Professional audio interfaces
Hard EVA Carrying Pouch
A:
Hard EVA carrying pouch
is included to protect the headphones during storage and transport.
PU Leather Cable Pouch
Meze also supplies a separate:
PU leather pouch
for storing the cables and adaptor.
No Bluetooth
The 109 PRO is a passive wired headphone.
There is no:
- Bluetooth
- Wi-Fi
- Built-in DAC
- Rechargeable battery
- Active noise cancellation
- App requirement
No Battery to Charge
The headphones themselves contain no powered electronics.
They remain ready to use whenever connected to a suitable analogue headphone output.
No Active Noise Cancellation
The 109 PRO is designed specifically around acoustic openness rather than environmental isolation.
It is therefore best suited to quieter home, office or listening-room environments.
Built to Be Serviced
Long-term serviceability is one of the central principles behind the 109 PRO.
Meze specifically designs the headphones so they can be:
Taken apart and serviced repeatedly if required.
Sustainability Through Longevity
Rather than designing the complete headphone as one disposable assembly, Meze takes the view that replacing individual worn or damaged components can extend the useful product life.
Parts subject to eventual wear can include:
- Earpads
- Cables
- Headband components
- Structural hardware
109 PRO or 105 AER?
105 AER
- Open-back dynamic headphone
- 50mm driver
- 5Hz–30kHz
- 42-ohm impedance
- 112dB SPL/mW sensitivity
- Below 0.1% THD at 1kHz
- Carbon-fibre reinforced cellulose dome
- PEEK torus
- PC-ABS earcups
- 336g
- 1.8m cable
109 PRO
- Open-back dynamic headphone
- 50mm driver
- 5Hz–30kHz
- 40-ohm impedance
- 112dB SPL/mW sensitivity
- Below 0.1% THD at 1kHz
- Carbon-fibre reinforced cellulose dome
- 22-micron beryllium-coated torus
- Black walnut earcups
- 375g
- 1.5m and 3m cables
The headline frequency range and sensitivity are similar, but the 109 PRO moves to a more ambitious driver assembly with beryllium-coated torus, CNC-machined aluminium frame and natural black walnut construction.
Audio T's own listening has found the 109 PRO to offer a step up in detail and openness while remaining extremely easy to drive.
Compare the Meze 105 AER at Audio T.
109 PRO or 105 SILVA?
105 SILVA
- 50mm dynamic driver
- Titanium-coated torus
- 42-ohm impedance
- 112dB SPL/mW
- 354g
- Walnut and PC-ABS earcups
- Expressive midrange tuning
- USB-C DAC/headphone adaptor included
109 PRO
- 50mm dynamic driver
- Beryllium-coated 22-micron torus
- 40-ohm impedance
- 112dB SPL/mW
- 375g
- Black walnut earcups
- Dedicated 109 PRO tuning
- Two analogue cable lengths included
The SILVA is not simply a cheaper 109 PRO. Its titanium-coated diaphragm implementation and more expressive midrange give it a distinct identity.
The 109 PRO moves further into Meze's premium dynamic headphone engineering with its beryllium-coated torus, CNC-machined driver frame and full black-walnut earcups.
Compare the Meze 105 SILVA at Audio T.
109 PRO With Naim Uniti Atom HE
Audio T Brighton has specifically identified the Meze 109 PRO as a suitable headphone partner for the Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition.
The combination makes sense where you want network streaming, DAC and headphone amplification in a single premium system.
Read: This Time It's Personal - The Naim Uniti Atom HE
109 PRO With High-End Headphone Amplification
The easy-to-drive specification does not mean the 109 PRO cannot benefit from better electronics.
Audio T has also used the headphones while reviewing the McIntosh MHA200 valve headphone amplifier alongside considerably more expensive headphone models.
Read: McIntosh MHA200 Vacuum Valve Headphone Amplifier
Who Are the Meze 109 PRO For?
Well Suited To
- Dedicated home headphone listening
- Customers wanting premium open-back headphones
- Listeners who value natural materials
- Customers wanting black walnut earcups
- Long listening sessions
- Listeners wanting detailed imaging and spacious presentation
- Portable DAC and headphone amplifier systems
- High-quality desktop systems
- Integrated amplifier headphone outputs
- Premium dedicated headphone amplifiers
- Customers wanting replaceable components
- Listeners looking beyond the 105 Series
Check Before Buying
- Open-back construction leaks sound
- Provides little isolation from external noise
- Wired only
- No Bluetooth
- No active noise cancellation
- No built-in microphone
- 375g headphone weight
- Natural walnut grain varies between individual headphones
- Primarily intended for quieter listening environments
Key Features
- Meze 109 PRO
- Open-back over-ear headphones
- Dynamic transducer
- 50mm driver
- W-shaped driver dome
- Carbon-fibre reinforced cellulose composite
- 22-micron torus
- Beryllium-coated semicrystalline polymer torus
- PVD beryllium coating
- 45.5-degree torus corrugations
- CNC-machined aluminium driver frame
- Neodymium magnet
- Copper-zinc alloy stabiliser
- 5Hz–30kHz frequency range
- Less than 0.1% THD at 1kHz
- 40-ohm impedance
- 112dB SPL/mW sensitivity at 1kHz
- Black walnut wood earcups
- Spider-shaped open earcup structure
- Acoustically transparent grille
- Angled driver positioning
- Manganese-steel outer headband
- Cast zinc components
- Vegan-leather self-adjusting headband
- Velour circumaural earpads
- 375g headphone weight
- Dual 3.5mm TS headphone inputs
- Detachable cable system
- 1.5m soft TPE cable included
- 3m soft TPE cable included
- 3.5mm source connection
- 6.3mm gold-plated adaptor included
- PU leather cable pouch included
- Hard EVA carrying pouch included
- Fully serviceable construction
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Meze 109 PRO open or closed back?
They are fully open-back over-ear headphones.
What size driver do they use?
Meze specifies a 50mm dynamic driver.
What is the driver dome made from?
The W-shaped dome is made from carbon-fibre reinforced cellulose composite.
What is the torus made from?
Beryllium-coated semicrystalline polymer.
How thick is the torus?
22 microns.
How is the beryllium applied?
Meze applies the coating through Physical Vapor Deposition, or PVD.
What angle are the diaphragm corrugations?
45.5 degrees.
What is the driver frame made from?
High-precision CNC-machined aluminium.
What magnet does the driver use?
Meze specifies a neodymium magnet.
What is the stabiliser made from?
Copper-zinc alloy.
What is the frequency range?
5Hz to 30kHz.
What is the impedance?
40 ohms.
What is the sensitivity?
112dB SPL/mW at 1kHz.
What is the total harmonic distortion?
Meze specifies less than 0.1% at 1kHz.
Are the 109 PRO difficult to drive?
No. Meze specifically designed them to work with a broad range of portable and home headphone sources.
Do I need a dedicated headphone amplifier?
Not necessarily. A better DAC or headphone amplifier can still improve the complete system, but the 40-ohm, 112dB specification is deliberately accommodating.
What are the earcups made from?
Meze specifies black walnut wood.
Is the walnut real wood?
Yes. Natural differences in grain and colour are therefore normal.
Will every pair look exactly the same?
No. Meze specifically notes that slight visual variations can occur because of the individual craftsmanship and natural materials.
What is the outer headband made from?
Meze describes manganese steel as part of the headband construction.
What is the support headband made from?
Vegan leather.
Does the headband adjust automatically?
Yes. The self-adjusting support band spreads weight evenly across different head shapes and sizes.
What are the earpads made from?
Soft breathable velour.
Do the velour earpads provide noise isolation?
No. They provide the acoustic fit around the ear, but the headphone itself is deliberately open backed and offers little environmental isolation.
How much do the headphones weigh?
375g or 13oz.
Is the 1.65kg figure correct?
Not as headphone weight. The Audio T page previously displayed 1.65kg as shipping weight. Meze's manufacturer specification for the headphones is 375g.
What are the dimensions?
Meze does not publish overall headphone dimensions in the current 109 PRO technical specification, so we have not substituted shipping-package dimensions.
Are the cables detachable?
Yes. Each earcup uses an individual 3.5mm TS input.
How many cables are included?
Two.
What cable lengths are supplied?
A 1.5m cable and a 3m cable.
What are the supplied cables made from?
Meze describes them as soft TPE cables.
What source connector do the cables use?
A conventional 3.5mm headphone jack.
Is a 6.3mm adaptor included?
Yes. A gold-plated 6.3mm jack adaptor is supplied.
Is a carrying case included?
Yes. Meze supplies a hard EVA carrying pouch.
Is there a separate cable pouch?
Yes. A PU leather pouch is included.
Do the 109 PRO have Bluetooth?
No.
Do they have active noise cancellation?
No.
Do open-back headphones leak sound?
Yes. Sound leakage and low isolation are inherent characteristics of the open-back design.
Can the 109 PRO be repaired?
Yes. Meze specifically designed the headphone so it can be taken apart and serviced repeatedly if needed.
Are parts replaceable?
The serviceable construction is specifically intended to allow individual parts to be maintained or replaced rather than requiring the complete headphone to be discarded.
Are the 109 PRO better than the 105 AER?
The 109 PRO sits further up Meze's range and uses more ambitious driver and material construction, including a 22-micron beryllium-coated torus, CNC-machined aluminium driver frame and black walnut earcups. The best choice still depends on budget, system and personal listening preference.
Is the 105 SILVA just a cheaper 109 PRO?
No. SILVA uses its own titanium-coated diaphragm treatment and acoustic tuning, including a deliberately more expressive midrange.
Can I hear the 109 PRO before buying?
Yes. Where demonstration stock is available, contact your local Audio T store to arrange a listen.
Related Meze Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy From Audio T?
- Headphone demonstrations where available
- Open-back versus closed-back advice
- 105 AER versus 109 PRO comparisons
- 105 SILVA versus 109 PRO guidance
- Headphone and amplifier matching
- DAC and headphone amplifier advice
- Portable and desktop system matching
- Premium headphone system demonstrations
- Cable and connector guidance
- Fit and comfort demonstrations
- Meze replacement-part guidance
- Serviceability advice
- Part-exchange options
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store for advice on the Meze 109 PRO, arranging a demonstration or matching the headphones with a suitable DAC, headphone amplifier or music source.