That's about where the similarities end and the 109 Pro really steps up the game with the design improvements. The connecting bracket from the headrest to the headband is new, with a larger and more reinforced single bracket to each metal band. It looks sleeker, and something about the connectors pointing up gives the perception that the headband is floating, despite being essentially engineered the same way previously.

The ear cups are noticeably larger, because well, they are now an open-back dynamic driver. Obviously, it still looks very much like a Meze Audio headphone, and the machining and aesthetic of the ear cup is certainly one of the most striking parts of the headphone. The outside cup is a dark walnut wood chamber and is cut precisely to line up with the other metal parts of the cup. Meze is synonymous with precision, and it always amazes (A-Meze's?) me how they make all these pieces and textures look seamless and organic - like they were made this way in nature. The outside grill is covered by the attachment piece to the headband - made to look like the fins of a fan - maintaining the striking aesthetic but equally functional as a solid structure and lending itself to the open sonic characteristics of the sound signature.

Dynamic drivers hit very differently than planar magnetic drivers, but I'm glad they went with dynamic drivers for the 109 Pro. Otherwise, I feel like they would just be competing with themselves if they utilize their famous isodynamic hybrid array driver. The 109 Pro uses a 50mm transducer with a 40-ohm impedance. The dynamic drivers offer something new at this level with an open-back design that they haven't done before. The 109 Pro gets some great bass response - I'm surprised how well it resonates in the cup despite being an open-back. It's an immediate bass response - tight, punchy, and not bloated whatsoever. The subfrequencies have plenty of room to lurk in the background, oftentimes feeling them more than noticing them in the mix. The midrange is balanced, with the vocal range represented well in almost everything I listened to. On the other end of it, the higher frequencies are crisp and clear. I'm certainly noticing some of the energy that I liked in the Elite here; plenty of sparkle in the treble that doesn't interfere whatsoever with the great bass response. There's a slight dip in the high mids and some small issues around 5-6K (estimate) for me, but that is easily remedied which I'll get to in a bit.

To get a feel of the dynamics of the headphone, Eric Whitacre's Deep Field orchestral piece is an experience. A 23-minute track through space and time, the infinitesimal and gargantuan in our universe, it will make you ponder the meaning of life and your purpose and place in the cosmos. Starting pianissimo, the orchestra paints a simple and sparse soundscape that gradually grows to some incredible bombastic moments of swells of repeated crescendos and decrescendos. The layers of the fermata strings and horns are like the depths of the ocean, overlapping and weaving in and through each other; it's a work like I've never heard before. Deep Field ends slowly and quietly like it began, as the journey takes you to the farthest and quietest regions of the known universe. The 109 Pro handles the cosmic traveling well, as they inherit Meze's amazingly wide soundstage, there's plenty of room for the swells and dynamics to move about unhindered. I'm always impressed with the soundstage on Meze's open-back headphones, and the 109 is no exception. The imaging is also more spacious front to back than I've noticed in other Meze headphones (and other open-back headphones in general). There is an impressive depth on all axes that creates an enormous sound: I don't hear just the space from left to right and top to bottom, but also front to back in the three-dimensional space.

So the closest thing for comparison in Meze's product line is the 99 Classics. I've already discussed how the 109 Pro's take some obvious design influences from the entry-level pair of headphones, which is a great decision considering the popularity and overall comfort of the 99 Classics. The 109 is a bit harder to drive than the smaller 99 Classic, which is to be expected given the larger driver, but there are also many sonic improvements that come with that. The 109 is much warmer, more resolute, and rounder - I think it's a more versatile headphone for more genres. The 99 Classics have great clarity, but the 109 steps it up with lots more warmth and body. The 99 Classic is one of my favorite entry-level headphones and a steal at the price of $368, but if you want something that offers a much better and fuller sound with more energy, then the 109 Pro is the pick for you.

The AEON 2 open-back from Dan Clark Audio is a great competitor too, featuring an open-back design at roughly the same price point. I actually like the AEON 2 better as a portable headphone due to the folding gimbal design, it's able to take up much less real estate and has a smaller case as well. It has a soft V-shape; smooth sound and boosted bass. Signature-wise they're similar enough to the 109 Pro, but I would classify the Meze with a tighter bass response and a little more sparkle on the top end. The AEON 2 has the 2nd-generation planar driver (they're up to 4th gen now). Like the 109 they are extremely comfortable and with the teardrop-shaped ear cups there is a more immediate sound inside the chamber - their soundstage is nowhere near the expansiveness of the 109 Pro.

I like that Meze includes multiple cables and lengths with their headphones. They're fine enough for what they are, but you can tell that they put all their engineering efforts into the headphone, as they should. I was actually noticing some siblance issues around 5-6K (just a rough estimate) with the headphones on a number of genres. You know, it’s that sometimes harsh-sounding S or T that makes you wince a bit? Well honestly, I put a Black Dragon cable on it and: problem solved. The Copper and Silver Strands in the cable help smooth over those issue frequencies nicely. Of course, that was just my experience, and as we always say, everyone hears differently. Feel free to Contact Us with any questions you have and we'll be more than happy to make a personalized recommendation for you.

Generally, stock audio cables are manufactured with subpar materials, metals with impurities, poor geometries, and an overabundance of layers to make them look and feel like a fire hose. Inconsistency and lack of quality control in stock cables can lead to poor sound quality and a veiled sound vs what the musician intended for you to hear and feel from the music. Dragon cables are handcrafted with the highest standards and made to order according to your specific needs. At Moon Audio, we create a custom cable for you using the highest quality UP-OCC silver or copper conductors that can be manufactured. UP-OCC metals are void of impurities and are optimized for signal transfer and sound quality. We have one of the largest collections of audio and headphone connection options available online and we create limitless audio cable options depending on your specific gear and needs.