Since Antonio Meze first started hand-crafting wooden ear cups in his Baia Mare workshop back in 2009, Romanian audiophile darling Meze Audio has carved out a reputation for making headphones that don’t just sound exceptional but look like actual works of art. Now, with the launch of the 105 Silva, Meze is taking everything they’ve learned from their acclaimed 109 PRO and 105 AER models and distilling it into what might be their most balanced offering yet.
The Sweet Spot Between Warmth and Clarity
The Silva represents something of a Goldilocks sweet spot for Meze’s 100-series lineup. Where the $800 109 PRO leaned heavily into analytical territory with technical precision and the sub-$400 105 AER prioritized warmth and accessibility, the Silva sits confidently in the middle, balancing both attributes while also coming in at around $500.
At the heart of this balance is a completely redesigned 50mm dynamic driver featuring a carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite dome. It’s supported by a titanium-coated semicrystalline polymer torus with precisely angled grooves at 45.5 degrees, plus a copper-zinc stabilizer that’s designed to absorb vibrations before they can muddy the sound.
Mid-Century Masterpiece
Visually, the Silva obviously draws inspiration from the mid-century modern design, with its beautiful walnut wood ear cups, which are framed by an intricate open-back radial grill that blends vintage with contemporary. In front, the ear cups are designed for comfort with deep velour cushions, while a self-adjusting spring steel headband is pretty innovative.
More importantly, every component can be disassembled and replaced, which isn’t just good for sustainability but also speaks to the brand’s confidence in their build quality.
The Sound Philosophy
According to Meze’s acoustic engineer Alex Balazsi, the Silva was tuned specifically to excel with vocals and stringed instruments, which could make it particularly appealing for listeners who gravitate toward acoustic music, jazz, or anything where the human voice takes center stage. Meze also claims that the headphones deliver fast transient response and textured bass. The 42-ohm impedance and 112dB sensitivity should make it reasonably easy to drive from most sources, though serious listeners might want to pair it with a dedicated amp.
Spec Sheet
Model: Silva 105 open-ear headphones
Driver: 50mm dynamic with cellulose composite dome
Frequency Range: 5Hz – 30kHz
Weight: 12.5oz
Ear Cups: Walnut wood with PC-ABS reinforcement
Cable: 1.8m OFC with Kevlar wrapping
Includes: USB-C adapter with integrated DAC/amp
Price: $499
Pricing & Availability
Already available from Meze’s website and select retailers, the Meze 105 Silva is priced at $499.
Recap
Meze 105 Silva Headphones
Meze blends the precision of the $800 109 PRO model with the accessibility of the 105 AER to create a solid middle-tier headphone with stunning mid-century design language.
