Meze Audio was founded in 2011 in Baia Mare, Romania, by Antonio Meze. As a product designer who traveled frequently, Antonio was searching for headphones that combined sound quality with character and emotion. That journey eventually became the foundation for a company with a distinctive vision of audio design.
From the very beginning, Meze Audio focused on using natural materials such as wood and metal instead over the plastics commonly used at the time. The company gained worldwide recognition in 2015 with the release of the Meze 99 Classics, a headphone praised for its design, comfort and musicality.
Today, their headphones and in-ear monitors are known for their design, craftsmanship and sound signature. Which leans toward a smooth, musical and easy-to-listen-to presentation.
With the introduction of the 105 Silva, Meze Audio further expands its open-back lineup. Inspired by the Romanian word for forest, the name “Silva” embodies the brand’s connection to nature and its commitment to timeless, organic design.
Packaging
The Meze 105 Silva arrives in a compact square box featuring Meze Audio’s artwork on the front. The presentation is modest yet well executed, while maintaining the premium feel for which the brand is known.
Inside, you’ll find a well-crafted carry case that houses the headphone securely. Opening the case reveals the 105 Silva itself together with a soft fabric pouch, containing a 3.5mm cable, a welcome included USB-C DAC and 6.3mm adapter.
Build quality
Meze Audio’s commitment to craftmanship and strong focus on building products to last, is very apparant in the 105 Silva. The headphone combines elegant walnut wood with high-quality premium materials. A design that durable and refined.
The 105 Silva uses a newly developed 50 mm dynamic driver; the result of extensive research, multiple designs iterations and material experiments throughout its development. Based on Meze Audio’s philosophy, the 105 Silva is intended not only for audiophiles, but also for listeners who value musical enjoyement without getting lost in technital complexity.
The driver itself uses a carbon fibre reinforced cellulose composite dome, combined with a titanium-coated semicrystalline polymer ring. This construction improves clarity, speed and overall control while helping to reduce unwanted resonances and distortion. A copper-zinc stabiliser is also integrated into the driver structure to further improve stability and refinement.
The construction feels solid and robust. Nothing creaks or feels loose and the frame gives a strong sense of durability. As most Meze Audio products, the headphone is designed with serviceability in mind, this meaning individual parts can be replaced if necessary.
One of the advantages of dynamic headphones is their relatively low weight, something the Meze 105 Silva clearly benefits from. The newly developed ear cups also help reduce the overall weight even further.
Comfort
Comfort is a strong point for the Meze 105 Silva. The fit feels natural, with just the right amount of clamping force. It stays secure in place without becoming uncomfortable. The suspension design is familiair from other Meze models. The self-adjusting headband works effortlessly and distributes the weight evenly.
The velour ear pads are soft and feel smooth against the skin. They work well with glasses without creating pressure points, something that cannot be said for every headphone. The ear cups are fairly spacious, although those with larger ears may find the fit too compact.
Sound Quality
The overall sound quality of the 105 Silva feels like a well-balanced mix between musicality and technical performance. The Silva is not tuned to sound overly analytical or sterile. Instead, it focuses on delivering a natural, engaging and easy to enjoy presentation that just simply sounds good. It works particularly well with vocals, acoustic instruments, jazz, live recordings and more intimate music genres.
The bass response is controlled, fast and clean rather than heavily boosted or dominant. It does not aim for a exaggerated slam, but supports the presentation instead.
The midrange is Silva’s strongest quality. Vocals and instruments are presented with strong clarity, natural tonality and a slightly intimate character. It offers good separation and layering, allowing instruments to sound clean and well organised. The upper frequencies have a nice sense of openness, sparkle and extension without becoming harsh.
The 105 Silva delivers a solid level of technical performance with accurate imaging, fast transient responses and an open spacious presentation. While the soundstage is not among the largest in its class, instruments and vocals are positioned naturally without sounding congested or artificial.
Treble
The treble on the 105 Silva is lively and detailed, with enough sparkle and openness to keep the sound engaging without overemphasising the upper frequencies. This makes the headphone comfortable to listen to, even with brighter recordings. The treble stays well integrated into the overall tuning without constantly drawing attention to itself.
Meze Audio is often associated with warmer and smoother sounding headphones, the Silva introduces a slightly fresher and more resolving top end, while still maintaining the Meze Audio character.
Midrange
The midrange is without question the main attraction of the 105 Silva. Vocals and instruments are presented slightly forward, resulting in an intimate and engaging listening experience. There is a strong sense of clarity that immediately stands out, with instruments and vocals sounding natural and realistic. The 105 Silva delivers plenty of detail while still maintaining a touch of warmth in its presentation.
Part of this clean presentation comes from the slightly restrained bass. This gives the 105 Silva an airy and spacious presentation with good separation between instruments, while smaller details come through naturally.
The midrange sounds organised and well separated without becoming overly clinical. This tuning gives the 105 Silva an engaging character that draws the listener deeper into the music.
Bass
The bass performance of the 105 Silva prioritizes more on refinement and control than sheer quantity or impact. The low end supports the overall tuning without dominating the presentation. Bass notes sound smooth and controlled, with a balanced distribution between sub-bass and mid-bass. This is not a headphone that tries to impress with oversized bass or exaggerated warmth. Instead, the low end remains clean, tight and well behaved throughout.
The mid-bass has enough presence to give instruments body, but it never becomes bloated or dominant. Bass notes are delivered with speed and control. Sub-bass extension is respectable, although compared to the Meze Audio 109 Pro, the Silva delivers a slightly lighter and leaner presentation in the lowest frequencies. This tuning does keep the presentation more focused on the midrange.
Those looking for a heavily boosted low end and strong physical slam may prefer a different tuning. The 105 Silva focuses more on speed, balance and a cleaner low-frequency presentation, which it delivers very convincingly.
Soundstage & Imaging
The soundstage is reasonably wide for its class and gives music plenty of room to breathe. It does not reach the large holographic presentation of some higher-end headphones, but the 105 Silva still delivers a pleasing sense of space that matches its tuning very well.
Imaging is accurate and instruments are positioned clearly within the soundstage. The focus lies more on coherence and precision than on exaggerated depth or layering. This gives the overall sound a clean and well-organised character.
Listening impressions
Please allow me to walk you through a few music tracks to highlight 105 Silva’s strenghts and capabilities.
Antonio Forcione – Gypsy Dreams
Gypsy Dreams shows how naturally the 105 Silva reproduces acoustic instruments. The guitar strings carry a natural body and warmth without sounding too thick or softened. Microdetails are not unnaturally pushed forward, yet it still captures the texture of the guitar strings and the natural resonance of the instrument in a convincing way. What really stands out most is the sense of realism in the midrange.
Agnes Obel – Fuel to Fire
The Silva works exceptionally well with the soft and atmospheric character of this track. Agnes Obel’s vocals sound smooth, slightly intimate and free from sharp edges. The piano notes have body and presence without becoming too dominant. Silva’s controlled treble prevents the upper register from sounding brittle or overly analytical. Instead of creating an artificially huge stage, it presents instruments and vocals in a intimate and focused way.
Andrea Bocelli – Mi Mancherai
Andrea Bocelli’s powerful vocals are reproduced with impressive smoothness and control. His voice has enough space and presence to sound emotional and convincing, without being pushed unnaturally forward. The orchestral elements are well layered and natural within the soundstage, even during the more dynamic passages. The Silva may not create the largest or most holographic presentation, but it succeeds in delivering the track with warmth, coherence and a convincing sense of realism.
Chet Baker – Douceurs Ternaires
With this track, Chet Baker’s trumpet carries a smooth and slightly rounded tone that avoids excessive sharpness while still providing clarity and texture. The softer tuned treble helps preserve the relaxed atmosphere of this track, without losing important details. The 105 Silva handles old jazz exceptionally well.
Emilie-Claire Barlow – La Belle Dame Sans Regret
Emilie-Claire Barlow’s voice is placed slightly forward in the mix. Her voice sounds smooth, intimate and with character. The smoother upper treble tuning works particularly well, keeping sibilance under control. Instruments sound rounded and natural, while the lighter bass presentation avoids adding unnecessary warmth to this track.
Overall
The Meze Audio 105 repeatedly reveals its strengths. The elevated upper midrange gives vocals and acoustic instruments a lively sense of presence, while the smoother tuned treble prevents the presentation from becoming sharp or fatiguing. Rather than focusing on extreme detail retrieval or an oversized soundstage. The Silva leans toward a natural timbre, vocal intimacy and a presentation that feels effortless.
