- Meze Audio Just Launched Astru, Solo Dynamic Driver IEMs Featuring Unique Technology
- …and remember, the MacBook Neo’s 3.5mm headphone jack is front and center
- But at $899/£819 (around AU$1,550), they’re more expensive than the new MacBook
If, like me, you watched TechRadar’s coverage of the Apple MacBook Neo launch the other day and pointed at your screen and mumbled “Uh… oh!” (like Leonardo DiCaprio’s Rick Dalton pointing meme) while you watched his 3.5mm headphone jack slide gracefully from the back of the left edge to the front, where it should always be, you are my people.
And if you don’t already have one, you might be looking for some decent IEMs to slot into this port, because this wired renaissance isn’t going anywhere.
While I usually point you towards some of the best wired headphones (or actually a set of the best wired headphones) to get the most out of Apple’s judicious relocation of the once almost banned port, Meze’s newest ones are well worth a look – just see our glowing reviews of the Meze Audio Alba, Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen or the Meze Audio 105 Silva to get started.
Meze Audio Astru: the details you need to know
At the heart of Astru (meaning “Star” in Romanian) is a 10mm multi-layer composite dynamic diaphragm, the dome of which features “more than 80 ultra-thin layers of gold, applied in a 48-hour physical vacuum DC magnetron sputtering process” and then bonded to a layer of titanium.
Each shell, explains Meze Audio, is CNC machined from a single block of pure titanium, then put through a multi-step electroplating process to achieve that smooth, satin finish.
The cable features CNC anodized aluminum hardware and a gold-plated 4.4mm balanced termination — but don’t worry! A 4.4mm to 3.5mm adapter, five tip sizes (XS to XL) and two carrying solutions (a protective pouch and a soft PU leather wrap) make Astru equally suitable for your laptop or a more serious hi-fi listening system.
Meze Audio promises to redefine what a single dynamic driver IEM can achieve here – and given the company’s track record, I’d be inclined to believe those claims.
The Astru IEMs are being revealed today (March 6) and will be available to purchase from March 20, with a suggested retail price of $899 / £819 / €899 (around AU$1,550). So they’re not cheap – in fact, the new MacBook Neo is quite a bit cheaper. But that doesn’t mean I’m not interested. Far from it, in fact…
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