The new 109 PRO open-back headphones from Meze Audio sound as good as they look.

Meze Audio, the award-winning Romanian manufacturer of some seriously good headphones, has just announced its first pair of dynamic, open-back headphones designed for audiophiles looking for high-quality sound and personal listening.

The new Meze Audio 109 PRO are made using a selection of specially curated and responsibly sourced materials, including walnut wood, zinc, manganese steel and vegan leather. As a result, Meze claims the headphones are comfortable, lightweight and highly durable with a sound that’s “natural and emotionally engaging.”

Antonio Meze is the brand’s lead designer and founder. He says: “Our obsession with art, exceptional sound and timeless design is what drives us. We only create what we love and the 109 PRO headphones are no exception. We’ve poured our soul into every aspect of the design, including premium materials. And because we don’t follow trends, the 109 PRO are built to sound great, look good and feel comfortable for years to come.”

The new Meze Audio 109 PRO are the first open-back headphones from the Romanian headphone maker.

So, what makes the Meze Audio 109 PRO headphones so unique? At the heart of the design is a dual-composite diaphragm made from a Beryllium-coated, semicrystalline polymer torus, with a cellulose-carbon fiber composite dome and a copper-zinc alloy ring stabilizer.

The stiff cellulose composite is reinforced with carbon fiber making it possible for the W-shaped dome of the drivers to reproduce higher frequencies with exceptional detail, clarity and definition. Meze Audio claims the composite is superior to conventional alternatives used in many dynamic drivers. In addition, the low mass and stiffness reduce resonances, which could lead to harmonic distortion.

The ultra-thin torus measures 22 microns and surrounds the Beryllium-coated, semicrystalline polymer dome. Meze says the construction offers greater clarity and has a faster transient response. The high dampening qualities of Beryllium also help to suppress any unwanted resonances, enabling the listener to hear a more neutral, vivid and transparent sound.

The 109 PRO headphones from Meze Audio are crafted for comfort and feature a self-adjusting headband ... [+] made from sprung steel and designed to distribute the headphones’ weight evenly, reducing pressure points when worn.

Around the membrane's circumference is a ring-shaped stabilizer made from a copper-zinc alloy to improve the absorption of vibrations and reduce distortion. The diaphragm is encased in a precision-machined aluminum frame with more rigidity than the typical plastic frames used in many headphones. Meze claims it retains a perfectly flat surface that’s essential for the precision assembly of the diaphragm.

The spider-shaped structure and acoustically transparent grille inside the earcup expose the driver from the front and back, producing Meze Audio’s most open pattern ever. The driver is positioned at a precise angle and distance from the listener’s ear, creating an anatomical fit that makes for a more natural listening experience.

The earpads used on the 109 PRO are covered with soft and breathable velour, while the pads are made from memory foam. The earpads cover the listener’s ears completely, producing an optimal seal for a more immersive experience.

The new 109 PRO headphones from Meze Audio comes with it's own hard storage case as well as short ... [+] and long cables.

The headband of the 109 PRO is a self-adjusting design made from sprung steel and designed to distribute the headphones’ weight evenly, reducing pressure points when worn. Meze says that 109 PRO’s comfort levels are superb and enable the listener to enjoy a long listening session.

Sustainability is the current buzzword in the consumer audio sector and Meze Audio says it has designed the 109 PRO to provide a long service life. Even the headphones’ look is classic, so they won’t date or age quickly in an industry that sometimes tends to follow fleeting fashions. The black walnut wood used for the earcups has been procured from certified sources, especially from trees designated as being mature and at the end of their life cycle. The 109 PRO are also fully and endlessly serviceable, meaning their lifespan can be extended almost without limit.

Pricing & Availability: The Meze Audio 109 PRO open-back headphones are available now and cost $799.

More info: www.MezeAudio.com