Compare Meze Audio 105 Silva Headphones vs Meze Audio Strada

The cups articulate enough to conform securely around the ears and maintain a good seal. Movement is slightly more resistant than on the 109 Pro but remains effective in use.

The freely rotating cups aid positioning, but one listener found them too loose and awkward to align quickly with one hand.

The wired 3.5 mm and USB-C paths cover common sources, but the stock package lacks balanced 4.4 mm or XLR connectivity. Reviewers repeatedly wished for a balanced cable option.

Dual 3.5mm earcup inputs, 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm cables, and an adapter make the wired setup flexible across portable and desktop gear.

Isolation is minimal, as expected from an open-back headphone, though the rear damping provides a small amount of attenuation. It remains best suited to quiet rooms rather than noisy public spaces.

Passive isolation is unusually strong for an audiophile headphone and works well in offices, homes, and travel. Performance depends on achieving a complete pad seal.

The self-adjusting suspension headband slides into place automatically and distributes pressure across the top of the head. Most found it effortless, though one reviewer warned that smaller heads may not get an ideal fit.

The sliding mechanism often feels smooth, quiet, and refined, but adjustment range is inconsistent across head sizes. Small heads can remain too loose, while some users want detents or more friction.

Easy drive requirements make the headphones portable-friendly from an electronics standpoint, but the large open-back design is not truly mobile. They neither isolate well nor suit commuting despite the protective case.

The light chassis travels better than its size suggests, but the nonfolding frame and large case take up considerable bag space.

The moderate clamp and articulating cups keep the headphone secure through normal head movement. Reviewers noted little slippage while still retaining comfort.

The fit is secure for many users and suitable for walking, but cup angle and head size can make seal and positioning fussy for others.

The secure fit, detachable cable, USB-C adapter, and excellent case help with transport. Its open-back leakage and poor isolation still make it a home, hotel, or quiet-office headphone rather than a commuter model.

Light weight, strong isolation, and a protective case suit travel well. Its broad nonfolding shape, bulky case, and long cable keep it from being truly compact.

Dual 3.5 mm connections make the cable removable and serviceable, but the recessed sockets favor slim barrels. Aftermarket choices are workable, though less universal than on the 105 AER.

Standard dual 3.5mm cup connections make cable replacement and third-party upgrades simple, secure, and widely compatible.

Most reviewers found the overall balance coherent and carefully controlled rather than strictly neutral. Its warm-bright coloration and upper-mid or treble emphasis can sound natural to some listeners and noticeably colored to others.

The tonal balance is the most disputed part of the Strada. Some hear natural neutrality or gentle warmth, while others describe a U- or W-shaped response with lean lower mids and emphasized upper treble.

The combination of warmth, layering, imaging, and open-back space creates an intimate yet enveloping presentation. Music and environmental game audio can feel especially involving and three-dimensional.

The Strada creates convincing depth, width, and placement for a closed-back design. Imaging is usually engaging and realistic, though a minority finds it diffuse, shallow, or less precise than top technical rivals.

The contoured hard or semi-hard case receives universal praise for sturdiness, fit, and useful accessory storage. It provides reassuring protection for travel or home storage.

The rigid case protects the headphones well and feels appropriately premium, although its generous size is less convenient for light travel.

The walnut-trimmed, mid-century-inspired design is the strongest consensus point. Reviewers repeatedly called it elegant, distinctive, modern-vintage, and among the best-looking headphones in its class.

Macassar ebony and metallic green give the Strada a distinctive, luxurious identity. The craftsmanship is widely admired, but the bold colorway is unmistakably polarizing.

Separation is one of the clearest strengths: vocals, instruments, and background textures remain easy to follow even in busy passages. Stereo movement and positioning stay coherent without sounding artificially pulled apart.

Layering and separation are clear strengths, giving instruments distinct space even in busy arrangements. A few listeners hear less depth or coherence when the treble dominates.

The soft velour or suede pads are breathable, plush, and comfortable over long sessions. A few larger-eared listeners noted limited internal room, but actual discomfort was uncommon.

The large, soft magnetic pads support comfort and sealing well. Their synthetic-leather surface can become warm for some listeners during extended use.

Treble brings air, definition, and crisp transient detail without constant harshness. Several reviewers still heard a bright or sizzly upper peak that can expose aggressive recordings and reduce naturalness.

Treble opinions are sharply divided. Many hear airy detail, smooth extension, and fatigue-free sparkle, while others report 4–7kHz peaks, glare, or long-session fatigue.

The broad suspended strap spreads pressure comfortably across the crown instead of creating a single hotspot. Its cushioning and geometry contribute heavily to the easy long-session fit.

The broad, ventilated headband spreads pressure evenly and helps prevent hot spots, making its relatively light padding work better than expected.

Clamp is generally secure and evenly distributed without painful pressure. It can feel a little firm at first, yet the soft pads and bendable spring-steel frame keep it manageable.

Clamp is usually secure and gently judged, holding the seal without creating a vise-like squeeze. A few heads may find it firmer or less adaptable than expected.

The 105 Silva is easy to drive from phones, laptops, and dongles, yet better DACs and amplifiers can improve articulation, bass depth, and stage. Source matching matters, but high power is not required.

The Strada is easy to drive, yet many listeners hear tighter bass, smoother treble, and greater refinement from better-matched amplification. Source synergy matters more than raw power alone.

The 105 Silva is widely described as rich, engaging, and highly musical, with strong clarity and cohesion. The main dissent is that its colored upper-range tuning can trail cheaper neutral competitors for listeners focused only on acoustic accuracy.

The sound is widely praised for spaciousness, detail, musicality, and closed-back openness. The central tradeoff is tonal: some hear smooth balance, while others find the upper range too energetic and the lower mids too lean.

High sensitivity lets the 105 Silva play loudly from laptops, phones, dongles, and modest amplifiers. It does not need a powerful desktop stack to reach satisfying levels.

High sensitivity provides ample loudness from portable sources, with enough headroom for demanding recordings without needing a large desktop amplifier.

Leakage is lower than some reviewers expected from an open-back design, likely helped by rear mesh damping. It is still not private enough for shared quiet spaces.

The closed cups keep music contained well at normal listening levels, making the Strada suitable around coworkers or family without broadcasting every track.

Vocals and instruments usually come through with excellent presence, texture, and separation. Depending on the recording and source, upper mids can sound forward or sharp, while some lower mids feel slightly recessed.

Vocals and instruments are often praised for clarity, articulation, and natural timbre. Dissenting listeners hear a recessed lower midrange, thin male vocals, or an occasionally shouty upper-mid emphasis.

Most reviewers see strong value in the combination of sound, comfort, accessories, repairability, and premium construction. A minority argue that cheaper headphones can outperform it acoustically if design and ownership quality are ignored.

Most consider $799 compelling for the flagship-like chassis, accessories, serviceability, and spacious sound. Buyers who dislike the tuning may see less value, especially when cheaper or more neutral alternatives exist.

Walnut accents, metal structure, clean assembly, and refined touchpoints make the headphone feel genuinely luxurious. Even critical reviewers agreed the physical experience matches a high-end product.

Flagship-derived materials, hand finishing, wood cups, and precise hardware make the Strada look and feel more expensive than its price. Its unusually light frame can briefly seem less substantial until handled closely.

Enthusiasm is high overall, with many reviewers calling the Silva a standout, a major step forward, or a headphone they would revisit often. The few mixed reactions come from treble coloration and sound-value concerns.

Most listeners find the Strada engaging, refined, and easy to live with, while a smaller group is frustrated by tonal thinness or treble peaks. Satisfaction depends heavily on fit and sound preference.

Most reviewers recommend the 105 Silva for listeners who value comfort, craftsmanship, natural timbre, and an engaging rather than clinical sound. Reservations focus on treble sensitivity, bass preferences, and stronger pure-sound competitors.

The Strada earns broad recommendation for its craftsmanship, comfort, isolation, and spacious presentation. It is not a universal pick: treble-sensitive listeners and people with smaller heads should audition before buying.

Construction is consistently described as outstanding, with precise assembly, premium materials, and unusually refined detailing. The chassis feels robust and cohesive rather than mass-market or disposable.

The magnesium frame, ebony cups, precise assembly, and premium finish draw near-universal praise. Only isolated adjustment, creaking, or cable-connector quirks interrupt an otherwise exceptional construction story.

Bass is usually praised for speed, texture, punch, and control without muddying the mids. Opinions split on quantity: some hear satisfying bloom and warmth, while others find the sub-bass restrained, dry, or lacking slam.

Bass impressions vary with seal, source, and taste. Many hear deep, controlled sub-bass with satisfying punch, while others want more upper-bass weight, speed, or consistency.

Accurate direction, distance rendering, and strong immersion make the Silva excellent for cinematic and general gaming. Competitive FPS players may prefer a more focused stock tuning or use EQ to reduce distracting ambience.

Wide staging, strong positional cues, isolation, and impactful low frequencies make the Strada highly effective for games and films. Competitive players may still prefer sharper imaging or a less treble-forward presentation.

The earpads detach cleanly despite their tightly integrated appearance, making routine replacement possible without compromising the refined design.

Magnetic pads detach and reinstall quickly without tools, simplifying cleaning, replacement, and long-term upkeep.

The stage is commonly spacious, layered, and well organized, with convincing depth and placement. It is not universally wide, however, and some listeners found it surprisingly intimate or narrow for an open-back.

An unusually airy, wide stage is one of the clearest strengths for a closed-back headphone. Its exact depth and scale remain recording-dependent, and a few listeners hear a more intimate presentation.

The package is unusually complete, typically including a fitted case, cable pouch, adapters, and a USB-C DAC dongle. Reviewers saw the thoughtful organization and presentation as part of the premium experience.

Two useful cables, adapters, a protective case, and a cable pouch form a complete, high-quality package with little obviously missing.

Comfort is a standout strength, with plush pads, effective weight distribution, and a self-adjusting suspension strap. Most reviewers could wear it for hours, though very large ears or unusually small heads may encounter fit issues.

Low weight, soft memory-foam pads, and well-distributed pressure make long sessions a major strength. The key exception is fit: smaller heads may struggle even at the minimum adjustment.

The drivers generally stay controlled, punchy, and dynamic at louder levels. Extremely loud, dense material can become crowded, but normal high-volume listening remains clean.

Dynamic headroom and low distortion preserve clarity at elevated levels, although treble-sensitive material can become more aggressive as volume rises.

Nearly every component can be disassembled, serviced, or replaced with ordinary tools. This modular approach is repeatedly praised as rare and commendable at the price.

Screwed, modular construction, magnetic pads, and replaceable parts make repairability a standout advantage. The Strada is designed to be maintained instead of discarded.

The production cable is often praised for sturdy construction, reinforcement, and low tangling. Complaints center on occasional microphonics, springiness, and the lack of a balanced termination.

The two braided cables are generally considered well made and useful, especially with both 3.5mm and 4.4mm terminations. A few listeners report shape memory, microphonics, or a finish that feels modest for the price.

Although the 105 Silva is not exceptionally light on paper, the suspension design spreads its weight effectively. Reviewers repeatedly said it feels lighter on the head than the number suggests.

The roughly 300–330g build feels notably light for its size and materials, reducing neck and head fatigue during extended listening.

Soft pads wrap around glasses arms without creating pressure, and the clamp remains comfortable. Reviewers wearing glasses reported no meaningful fit penalty.

Soft pads maintain comfort and a useful seal with thin-framed glasses, avoiding the pinching some closed-backs create.

The standard 3.5 mm analog connection is secure and broadly compatible with conventional wired sources. Opinions about the narrow recessed cup sockets are covered separately under cable convenience.

The standard 3.5mm connection is straightforward and plug-and-play with compatible computers and portable devices.

One reviewer ranked the 105 Silva among the highlights of a major high-end audio show, despite competition from far more expensive flagships.

Its musical performance and adaptability earned a High Nines award from one publication.

Replaceable parts, sturdy materials, and screw-based assembly give the 105 Silva strong long-term ownership prospects. Reviewers expect it to remain serviceable for many years rather than become a throwaway product.

The materials and modular construction inspire confidence that the Strada is built for long ownership rather than short replacement cycles.

The easy-to-drive wired design works with computers, phones, dongles, and desktop audio gear. The included adapters reduce the need for platform-specific equipment.

Standard analog connections let the Strada work easily across computers, home audio gear, consoles, and handheld gaming devices.

The pads and suspension headband can be removed and replaced rather than forcing a full headphone replacement. Owners can refresh the main wear components as they age.

The broader modular design allows major wear components to be replaced rather than forcing disposal of the entire headphone.

The Strada has a broad, conspicuous silhouette rather than a discreet profile. Its oversized cups and generous padding are especially noticeable on smaller heads.

The bundled USB-C DAC/amp is a convenient way to use phones and laptops immediately. It is viewed as a useful starter or backup solution rather than a replacement for a high-quality dedicated source.

Measured and perceived channel balance is consistently excellent, with only minor unit-level deviations reported.

Fine detail is generally strong, especially in vocals, percussion, and layered arrangements. A few reviewers found it less resolving than planar or higher-tier alternatives, and one felt some apparent detail came from treble emphasis.

The tiny included USB-C dongle is a welcome way to connect modern phones and laptops. Reviewers see it as a convenient starter or backup rather than an audiophile-grade source.

Movement noise is generally low, though isolated units produced mild creaking or rattling when the cups rotated.

EQ can tame upper-treble energy, add lower-mid body, or improve bass balance. For the most treble-sensitive listener, correction may require narrower and more deliberate filters rather than one broad adjustment.

The joints and moving hardware feel precise, solid, and engineered for long-term use rather than looseness or flex.

The passive wired design is refreshingly simple: connect the appropriate cable and start listening without apps, pairing, or configuration.

The included USB-C adapter makes phone and laptop listening straightforward despite the wired design. Reviewers appreciated having modern digital connectivity in the box.

Ventilated headband padding and Alcantara-lined pads limit heat better than many closed-backs. Synthetic contact surfaces can still grow warm in long or hot sessions.

With a wired Xbox setup, the Strada delivers immersive directional cues and impactful game audio that one listener described as a game changer.