BNTR

I haven't been in the head-fi space for a while but I'm thinking about picking up a pair of open back headphones and one of the popular "mid-fi" Dac/Amp combos (probably a FiiO given some preferences for price and form factor). I've heard really good things about the musicality and "forgiveness" of Meze headphones and I'm curious if anyone here owns a pair.

I have not, but would love to hear your thoughts if you demo or pick them up.

I run HD6XX through a Little Dot II on my headphone rig for reference.

Chris S wrote: Wed Sep 16, 2026 7:31 am I have not, but would love to hear your thoughts if you demo or pick them up.

I run HD6XX through a Little Dot II on my headphone rig for reference.

What are you running for a source?

I only have my vinyl rig through that, so it's all analog. Pioneer PLX 1000/ AT745xML / Schiit Mani. When I listen to vinyl, I think it's now a completely analog signal chain.

On my computer I have an OLD pair of Sennheiser 580s (replaced the pads a few times in these workhorses) through a Schiit magni/modi stack. I love these headphones, because of how broken in they are, they might be the most comfortable ones I've ever put on. But I've worn them daily for probably close to 20 years.

I'm a big fan of Sennheisers

Chris S wrote: Wed Sep 16, 2026 8:13 am I only have my vinyl rig through that, so it's all analog. Pioneer PLX 1000/ AT745xML / Schiit Mani. When I listen to vinyl, I think it's now a completely analog signal chain.

On my computer I have an OLD pair of Sennheiser 580s (replaced the pads a few times in these workhorses) through a Schiit magni/modi stack. I love these headphones, because of how broken in they are, they might be the most comfortable ones I've ever put on. But I've worn them daily for probably close to 20 years.

I'm a big fan of Sennheisers

I actually dig this as a side setup. I have found over the years that listening to music on my HT rig is just not very satisfying. I chalk it up to the AVR ultimately. Using any processing always feels super compressed to me but turning off all processing on many AVRs can result in loss of even basic bass management. So its like, do you want a compressed, EQ'd sound or do you want your subs off? I actually haven't played with music much on the setup in the new house. Its really nice for movies for what I spent. REALLY solid. But the best music listening I've ever had was way back in the DEEP rabbit hole days when I either had a completely separate stereo system or at a minimum had a separate front end and swapped cables for music.

All of that is why I'm considering the headphone rig in the first place.

imahawki wrote: Wed Sep 16, 2026 8:18 am I have found over the years that listening to music on my HT rig is just not very satisfying. I chalk it up to the AVR ultimately. Using any processing always feels super compressed to me but turning off all processing on many AVRs can result in loss of even basic bass management.

When I listen to vinyl NOT on headphones, I do send them through my Onkyo RZ50 with total Dirac enabled, etc. I can switch it to direct and turn off all the DSP, but I just think it sounds better with it on. But when I REALLY want to listen to an album, I break out the headphones.

I ended up pulling the trigger on the Meze 105 Silva. I don't have any frame of reference to post an objective review but I will say, the mid-century style design with real walnut trim on the cups is absolutely beautiful. The comfort is top notch. Auto adjusting suspension headphones are almost always extremely comfortable if its executed well.

The sound signature/tuning is extremely forgiving. I've run a variety of music through them and everything sounds good. They're not resolution or soundstage beasts and every review I've read/watched indicates that isn't their strength. Tone and texture are there and separation of instruments is really good, even if they don't cast a holographic soundstage. I truly had the "hearing things I've not heard before" in tracks I listen to regularly on my Airpods Pro. Maybe that's not a high bar to clear but I would recommend the Silvas to anyone looking for a comfortable, good looking, forgiving headphone that you can play off a phone with a dongle (they are 42 ohm and 112db/mW), which Meze includes with the cable.

I do have a FiiO dongle dac/amp on the way to provide a little more power and also it has a display that will confirm what bitrate I'm getting. For now I'm just streaming off of Apple Music, but they offer lossless, up to 24/192 if you have a compatible DAC but bitrate auto switching between albums can be touchy so many people seem to use a DAC with bitrate display so they can confirm/troubleshoot.

They’re pretty!!