Meze quickly broke into the market of portable HiFi, introducing a very competitive model of full-size 99 Classic headphones. "Ninety-nine" offered the user a stylish appearance, a good sound and affordable price, expected to be a hit. The company decided not to stop there and immediately presented two models of headphones-plugs, which received indices 11 Neo and 12 Classic. To me on the review came 11 model, and I asked myself: did the company succeed in repeating the success of the older model?
When Michelangelo was asked how he makes sculptures, he replied: "I take a stone and cut off all that is superfluous." It's the same with companies that manufacture headphones: you need to take a good radiator and arrange it in headphones. As in the answer of the great sculptor, the irony lies in the fact that it is easy to say, but it is very difficult to do, and it turns out not at all. Meze found a cool radiator, an 8-mm dynamic driver, a mylar diaphragm with titanium sputtering. They made a stylish and practical metal case. They put a good price on the headphones, on the official website you can buy Meze 11 Neo for 60 euros. But what did they end up with?
Specifications
- Emitter: 8 mm, Mylar diaphragm with titanium deposition
- Frequency range: 16 Hz to 24 kHz
- Impedance: 16Ω
- Sensitivity: 101 ± 3 dB
- Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.5%
- Noise reduction: up to 26 dB
- Plug: 3.5 mm TRRS with headset, gold-plated
- Cable: anoxic copper, 1.2 m
Packing and delivery kit
As in the case of the older model, the packaging is also given sufficient attention. A compact box made of solid cardboard pleases very high-quality polygraphy, in addition to the photo on the package, the TTX is indicated and the "highlights" concerning these headphones are noted. Inside there are themselves 11 Neo and the complete set of delivery: a cover on a snake, a pair of foams Comply, 3 pairs of single-flange silicone attachments, a pair of two-flange and a clothespin for attaching a wire to clothes.
There are no special excesses in the kit, but all that is necessary, put.
Design and comfortable wearing
The 11 model Meze comes in two colors: silver, called Iridium, and a dark gray Gun Black. Despite the difference in colors, both versions are made of high-quality aluminum. The body is compact enough and has an interesting form of hyperboloid. The quality of performance is impeccable, there are no flaws and shortcomings. Thought in the company and over longevity, all the outlets of the wire are reinforced with special pads that protect the cable from fractures.
The cable itself is thick enough, of medium softness, almost does not harden in the cold. Judging by the appearance - it will last a long time, if you do not specifically aim to spoil it. Its only drawback is that it is quite tangible microphone (rustling friction against clothing), to combat this, you can use either a complete clothespin, or simply to wear earphones in a breech manner. I use this method, and the problems with the noise of the cable are almost gone. Separate praise deserves attention to detail, in this model poured into the fact that the headset unit, splitter and plug are made in one design and have almost the same dimensions, these are the little things that add premium headphones. In addition, all these parts are made of metal, which inspires optimism about their durability.
Due to their compact dimensions, 11 Neo fit well in almost any ears, the main thing is to choose suitable attachments. At the same time, comfortable wearing is provided for any period, and sound insulation is slightly better than average.
Sound
The following equipment was used for listening.
- NuPrime DAC-10H and Resonessence Labs Concero HP as DAC and Amplifier
- Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2013 as a source
- Fidelia as a player
- Lotoo PAW Gold, Fiio X7 and Luxury & Precission L5Pro as portable players
- High Definition Records in Lossless-formats (Dr. Chesky The Ultimate Headphone Demonstration Disc and others)
Before listening to the headphones were warmed for 48 hours, strong changes in the sound it did not, but the formalities still have to be performed.
In 11 models, Meze decided to make a practically flat frequency response, providing a neutral and unadorned sound to the headphones. Such models are quite rare among dynamic IEM, as many users prefer the "traditional" V-shape frequency response. For the latter, incidentally, created the model 12 Classic.
The bass in Neo is fast enough and deep at the same time (not a record, of course, but quite good). For lovers of traditionally raised NPs, this model may not work, since the LFs are not allocated quantitatively here. In addition, the amount of bass here depends on the attachments used, for example, two-flange and spin fit are able to noticeably increase the number of LFs of this model. I chose the biggest single-shoe attachments for myself, because in the bass I love not the quantity, but the texture and legibility, and that's what I get with single nozzles. LF are well controlled and do not climb at medium frequencies.
MF of this model gravitate towards a neutral, unadorned pitch, playing out strictly what is put into the record. In comparison with the headphones emphasizing the midrange, 11 Neo sounds more reserved, but at the same time more technically. Of course, up to microdetal reinforcement emitters are far away, but for the "dynamo" the resolution is very good. The imaginary scene is above average in width, and somewhere in the middle, the plans are divided very well. The instruments are transmitted realistically, although on some tracks their imaginary dimensions are exaggerated.
The upper frequency range is also good for its price. In comparison with more expensive models, there is a small lack of intelligibility, but this is only 3-4 times more expensive when compared with headphones. Engineers Meze managed to avoid the two extremes - they did not emphasize the RF for creating the effect of "detail" and did not begin to fill this part of the range for "comfortable" sound. HF here just as much as there is in the record, there may be occasionally a little more, but very rarely. Naturally, the RF-fobs these headphones will not work, but in general these headphones are very well balanced in this range.
Compatibility
This model plays very well with both mobile phones and cheap players, but because of its neutral feed, it often sounds quite fresh, because the sound of such sources is not saturated with a sufficient level of nuance. With good sources of the middle segment, the situation changes dramatically, the sound becomes alive and realistic, this is one of the most natural headphones in its price range. By the way, in vain Meze did not release the version without the headset. Sensitivity seems to be around 100 dB, headphones are more tolerant to background noise.
Genrefully, this model is quite versatile if you like not embroidered pitch, but, of course, more from such neutrality win classics, chamber music, vocals, jazz with a small number of instruments. Simply put, those styles where technicality is needed. To the quality of recording headphones are critical medium, on a 10-point scale, I would rate them somewhere at 7.
Traditionally, several tracks in the role of example
John Coltrane - Pursuance (Live). Do you know that one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time was canonized by the African Orthodox Church of Harvites? The one who believes that Jesus was black. I'm not quite sure about the reasonableness of the last thesis, but the fact that they know how to choose saints is a fact. A live version of the famous track strikes a degree of mad improvisation, without losing any interesting melody. Headphones from Meze, in turn, allow you to enjoy all the nuances of virtuosity of musicians.
Arne Domnérus & Gustaf Sjökvist - Träumerei. Perhaps, this album occupies the first place in the conditional hit parade of "recording with the biggest imaginary scene". Also this album clearly tears into the leaders in the rating "who would have thought that two such different instruments are so perfectly combined". Of course, organ and saxophone are very strange pair, but when two brilliant musicians take it for them, the result is extremely harmonious. An important role was played by the place of recording - the Swedish church Spanga, which provided the most indescribable atmosphere and color of the sound, allowing you to easily feel yourself present at that concert. Especially with neutral type 11 Neo headphones.
Bijelo dugme - Đurđevdan Je a Ja Nisam S Onom Koju Volim. Perhaps, the main hit from the last album of the most talented Yugoslav group. Of course, there is very little left of fate, the dashing unbridled times of "Hop-cup" and "Bitanga i princeza" have left the past. Time of ease and fun goes forever, and the country is already bursting at the seams from the arising tension, ready to break through the bloodiest war. Goran Bregovich, as a true creator, tries to do something about this, reminding people of what unites them - music. The last album of the "White Button" is full of the very atmosphere of the Balkans, immediately associated with the mountains, the sea and hospitable kind people. Meze perfectly wins all the folk instruments that have decorated this track. And the anguish for a time goes away, forgotten, because before the war there is still time, so you can walk, you can rejoice, because everything comes, everything goes away, and the Balkan mountains and the Adriatic Sea are eternal.
conclusions
In general, Meze managed to repeat everything necessary for success, 11 Neo offers a cool design, a normal price and an interesting sound. Of course, a neutral feed is not suitable for everyone, it should be "grown up", but in this case the model line is complemented by 12 Classic, oriented just for lovers of "traditional" sound. In general, it can be noted that high-quality sound has recently become cheaper, and this is a very good trend for music lovers.
The article is based on materials .
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