The Meze STRADA headphone is not what it appears; it has the form factor of Meze’s epic Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array Driver planar magnetic headphones, but is in fact a dynamic headphone, something I didn’t actually realize until I wrote this line. The Meze POET is my favorite headphone they have produced so far, so when I saw the announcement for the STRADA, I jumped at the opportunity to review them, that is not to say that I am disappointed, at this point, they are still burning in and I have yet to listen to them, I am just surprised. That said, they are absolutely gorgeous with their finely finished Macassar ebony ear cups, and Meze’s history of making spectacular dynamic headphones promises great things.

The Meze STRADA closed-back dynamic driver headphone

The first thing you will note about the Meze STRADA is that they look remarkably like the Meze LIRIC, though for my personal aesthetics, they look better with their high gloss metallic forest green accents against the Macassar ebony and copper-toned support structure pieces, magnifique!

At its core, the STRADA houses the same 50mm dynamic driver developed for the Meze 109 PRO. It employs a W-shaped dome diaphragm made of a carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite for an optimized combination of lightness and rigidity, maximizing accuracy while minimizing distortion. This is enhanced by a torus surrounding the dome composed of beryllium-coated semicrystalline polymer applied through Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) with grooves on the torus, which are precisely positioned at a 45.5° angle. Stabilizing this is a copper-zinc alloy stabilizer positioned around the membrane for increased damping.

In a nod to bespoke quality, the chassis is hand-painted by in-house artisans using four layers of paint to achieve rich texture and depth. The ear pads are magnetic, featuring synthetic vegan PU Leather contact surfaces for reliable acoustic seal and luxurious feel with Alcantara-lined inner chambers to manage heat and moisture buildup, reducing fatigue during extended wear.

A quick summation of the STRADA’s bullet point are as follows:

• Balanced and refined sound signature in a closed-back design
• 50 mm dynamic driver with bio-cellulose composite dome and beryllium-coated torus
• Premium materials: magnesium, zinc, Macassar ebony wood, and leather
• Hand-painted in-house in a deep, refined shade of green with metallic particles
• World-class ergonomic design for all-day comfort
• Magnetic ear pad mounting system
• Includes two dual-twisted, Kevlar-wrapped OFC cables – 3.5 mm & 4.4 mm terminations
• Portable, easy to drive
• Endless serviceability – every component can be replaced

As to presentation, the STRADA came with a hard-shell zipper-case, and two detachable cables, one configured for 4.4mm TRRRS balanced, and one 3.5mm TRS balanced secured with Velcro ties in a leatherette bag, along with a 3.5mmTRS to ¼” TRS adaptor.

Living with the Meze STRADA closed-back dynamic driver headphone

After burn-in, I connected the Meze STRADA to my reference system consisting of the dCS Bartók APEX DAC with Headphone Amplifier, Black Dragon USB Cable, Black Dragon Power Cables, and Core Power Technologies A/V Equi=Core 1000, and brought up Qobuz selecting “Momoko” (24-bit/44.1kHz – Qobuz) by Momoko Gill, I had to immediately turn the gain down to -30dB (from -10dB). Billed as Soul, the recording had a light jazz feel. The bass had a fat, resonant timbre, as did the kick drum; the cymbals were tight with fantastic resolve and sizzle. The vocal was neutral with occasional bouts of filtering, that were definitely intentional.

The next thing to catch my eye was Velocity Girl’s “¡Simpatico!” (24-bit/96kHz – Qobuz), the sound was comfort rock in a large soundstage. Again, the bass came across a bit plush, while the guitars were crisp, and the upper mids were strong and clear yet mellow.

Switching to Miles Davis and “The New Sounds” (24-bit/192kHz – Qobuz) to get a better sense of the timbre and tonal balance. The piano was dynamic in a small rehearsal hall, and the horn was pleasant and not overly brassy, again in a largish empty enclosed space. The tonal balance appeared neutral, with the upright bass not being overly aggressive.

The sense of space was massive, though you could definitely hear the echoes of the walls for the live album Nils Landgren’s “Love of My Life” (24-bit/48kHz – Qobuz), featuring full orchestra, jazz band, and vocals. The dynamics were well represented. The orchestra felt more distant than the band, which held the middle ground, while the vocalist felt up close and personal.

At this point, I decided it was time to test with an amplifier more in keeping with the price of the STRADA, so I switched to my favorite amplifier, the Schiit Audio VALI 2++ Tube Hybrid Headphone Amp/Preamp, using the HIFIMAN GOLDENWAVE SERENADE DAC/Headphone Amplifier as DAC. “Love Is Not Enough” (24-bit/96kHz – Qobuz) by Converge provided a little death metal energy, which was appropriately represented by the STRADA, dynamic and brutal, with pulsating, pumping percussion and growling guitars.

“Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Piano Quintets” (24-bit/96kHz – Qobuz) as performed by Alessandro Marangoni and  Quartetto Adorno provided rich piano as rendered by the STRADA, and a realistic and natural timbre to the various instruments, elucidating the individual instrument as they wove multiple melodies in chaotic competition to create a magnificent tapestry of sound. For a bit of fun, I traded out the stock cable for the Dekoni Audio Ensemble Cables Silver Braided Cable, which proved to be an excellent match, tightening up the bass and enhancing the resolution.

Returning to the 4.4mm stock cable (I used the single-ended cable for the VALI 2++), I plugged into the GOLDENWAVE SERENADE amplifier for a solid-state choice in the STRADA wheelhouse. Bringing up my HiFiAudio.Guru playlist on Qobuz (https://open.qobuz.com/playlist/10673532), I selected “Psycho Killer” as performed by a capella group The Bobs. It was like being in the room, the singers a few feet away.

This was followed up by Weather Report’s “Teen Town,” which had an in-studio feel, with lightning-fast tight bass, ethereal guitar, crisp, detailed percussion, and lifelike horn.

As a final test, I put on my friends Teleskopes, who I have heard live untold times playing my favorite “Private Michael” and the STRADA captured the magic that made them such an unforgettable band. Dynamic and fast.

Conclusions on the Meze STRADA closed-back dynamic driver headphone

For my money, the Meze STRADA is without question the prettiest headphone Meze produces, the complementary balance of the green, copper, black, and heavy-grained Macassar ebony, along with the smooth organic lines make for an extremely attractive package. And, the sound, despite my tastes leaning towards planar designs, does not disappoint.  Years of dominating the under $1,000 dynamic headphone market have paid off in a headphone that is dynamic, resolute, and musical. If you are looking for that live performance in a small club experience in your studio recordings, the STRADA is definitely the headphone for you.

It is also a headphone that appears to scale up with aftermarket cables, but performs perfectly acceptably with the stock cable. As it happens, Meze does offer quite a selection of high-performance cables themselves along with a large selection of replacement ear pads, which can often affect the sound of a headphone, and the magnetic lock makes them extremely easy to swap out for different occasions.

As one likes to see in their headphone, especially if you have wide musical tastes, the STRADA is pretty much genre agnostic, and is not overly colored in their sound profile. In keeping with that sentiment, the STRADA tends to give you what’s there without embellishment, whether we’re talking soundstage or bass response. While I think the POET remains my favorite among Meze’s offerings, I have no problem recommending the STRADA to those in the under $1,000 market, in particular for those looking to add a little style to their equipment wardrobe without sacrificing sound quality, two thumbs up.

Price: $799

Manufacturer’s Website: https://mezeaudio.com/products/strada

Specifications:

Driver Type: Dynamic

Input Connector: Dual 3.5 mm TS Jack

Driver Size: 50 mm

Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.1% at 1 kHz

Frequency Range: 5 Hz – 30 kHz

Ear Cup Covers: Macassar Ebony Wood

Impedance: 40 Ω

Frame: Magnesium

Sensitivity: 111 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz

Weight: 330 g (11.64 oz)