Meze Alba IEM Review - The Ultimate Daily?

The Meze Alba IEM is a $160 single-DD arrangement that comes with a USB-C DAC in addition to the analog cable. Even though this price range is extremely competitive, Meze has a few tricks up its sleeve that I think will make this IEM one of the best picks you can make, but it’s not for everyone.
Purchase links (generic - supports channel):
Meze Alba - mezeaudio.com/products/alba?_...
Other IEMS mentioned:
Zigate x Fresh Reviews Arete - www.linsoul.com/products/ziig...
Simgot EM6L - amzn.to/3RxVPfy
Simgot SuperMix 4 - www.linsoul.com/products/simg...
Yanyin Canon II - www.linsoul.com/products/yany...
Lightning to USB-C adapter - amzn.to/4c4aZBk
My Headphone/Headset Measurement Database: gadgetrytech.squig.link/heads...
My IEM Measurement Database: gadgetrytech.squig.link/
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Chapters:
0:00 - Intro and Things Included
01:43 - Design, Build, Comfort
04:20 - Some Objective Sound
10:08 - Music, Gaming, and Movie Performance?
15:00 - Closing Thoughts
DISCLAIMERS:
The links above charge you the same price as finding it on Amazon. However, purchasing through the links above would support this channel for future product reviews. We appreciate any support, but please feel free to purchase though any means you feel comfortable with.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
#iem #mezeaudio

[@sidesaladaudio]

Great review, and very in depth. I like the comparisons as well to other IEMs for different use cases

[@GadgetryTech]

Thanks man! Your review was awesome as well!

[@speedy_iron]

Looks like an amazing set. Can’t wait to look them up and ponder buying them for months.

[@endorphinADMIN]

great review joe, appreciate the honesty - yes, it does look like a turbo!

[@TheGreyOx]

Amazing review, really glad you were able to get your hands on these. I look forward to getting my own pair. Cheers.

[@GadgetryTech]

Thanks! I hope you get and enjoy one as well!

[@kenjikodai]

Im hella excited for this

[@jello2tube]

Thanks for reviewing

[@theonlyegg]

Extra large tips?!? Be still my heart!

[@Hijynx87]

You should try penon liquere orange xl tips. damn good tips.

[@danieljohnson6370]

​@@Hijynx87Thank you so much!! I haven't heard of them

[@TheRzrsedge]

Good review. I would like to see you do a review on the Kiwi quintet.

[@abderezzakansari1756]

Hey Joe, awesome professional review, i hade just a question when you compared the resolution with the EM6L was that with the included dongle? If not so do they have the same resolution and sound performence with the dongle or do they loose some of that. Thaks in advance for your reply and your amazing work really enjoy your reviews ❤

[@SilverJoystix]

Meze basically means “a lot of money 💰.” However, I am surprised that I get all of this for $160

[@schindplays]

Great review. How does it compare to then dusk?

[@eightsand5370]

woooo we got some GadetryTech lore in this video!

[@GodlyBeams]

Have you by chance tried the xenns top? If so for gaming which one would you choose between the alba, arete, and the xenns top

[@gingi_swagg9304]

I love the EM6L, it’s what I currently use. I mainly play CoD, however I feel gunshots are slightly to bright and sharp, and when it does the XP circle thing it’s way too sharp. I know the sound signature is similar, but do you get that same sharpness with the Alba? I honestly think my ears just don’t like BA, but wanted an opinion from someone who has tried both

[@MarciusSim]

Thanks for the review. How is the isolation? I imagine it's not very good because of the port in the middle of the shell?

[@GadgetryTech]

Sound isolation is very similar to most IEMs. The port being there doesn't seem to open up additional leakage beyond traditionally vented IEMs. Sorry for not mentioning that

[@MarciusSim]

@@GadgetryTech thanks, cheers.

[@hjshoon5244]

i just received my Simgot EM6L yesterday and had a blast last night playing COD multiplayer for 3 - 4 hours. it's my second IEM after the KZ ZS10 Pro X being my first which I thought i just wanted to try an inexpensive one to see how iem performs in game. the ZS10 Pro X was disappointing to me especially for COD and glad the EM6L i decided upon after watching your review and others turned out really good, so much better than the ZS10 Pro X. the price is 4x but i'm really happy with the purchase and it's worth it. was initially in dilemma of whether to get supermix 4 but that's about 50% more expensive than EM6L and 6x the ZS10 Pro X but thought of not to splurge so much so soon and maybe the EM6L and SM4 diffference could be more marginal. I'm happy with the EM6L and will alternate the use of it with my Audeze Maxwell. Thanks again for your review

[@shakilmohammad9731]

Pls stop yourself entering into rabbit hole. This hobby is largely a scam promoted by reviewers. EM6L is more than enough to enjoy music. I myself went upto monarch mk 2 and finally settled with few 100 to 150 dollar iems

[@hjshoon5244]

@@shakilmohammad9731 thanks for the advice and don't worry, i'm not one to enter into rabbit holes. i'm a person who knows what i want, take my time to research and have good resistance to temptation on new things. will definitely be using my EM6L for some time until the circumstances / needs changes before i look for something different

[@theonlyegg]

If I'm a V-shaped preference, it sounds like these might not be for me. Really glad I found your video because I was hovering over the Submit Payment button. Thanks!

[@Hijynx87]

You should get an ikko oh10 or kefine delci.

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

enjoy your new toy

[@FoolsVerse]

I recommend the simgot supermix 4 but beware the wait times for shipping for Amazon delivery is insane at this time.

[@jje7923]

I’m grab a pair thanks

[@MultiChrisjohnson]

my goat joe

[@GadgetryTech]

aaayeee

[@silver33]

I'm getting this, but I have to wait for till they get back in stock.

[@FoolsVerse]

I ordered a pair of super mix 4s because of the resolution and what I listen to. But Amazon has held back on shipping for like an extra month so I contacted my local shop they had 3 pairs of albas so I cancelled my simgots and will be picking up my albas tomorrow

[@nickb365]

Can you message how they sound? I also ordered the simgot.

[@FoolsVerse]

@@nickb365 yeah I’m picking up the Albas tomorrow I’ll let you know let me know how the simgots turn out

[@Logan-sc2tx]

I have a couple questions if you don't mind (I plan to use these primarily for fps gaming as I have HD800S as well, but want to try some IEMs): 1. I was looking at the Ziigaat x Fresh Arete IEM you mentioned and recently reviewed - do you find them to be significantly less comfortable than the Meze Alba's even after swapping the tips on the Arete's? 2. Do you have any recommendations for cable extensions, or just a longer 2-pin cable in the first place? I would like 6-10ft ideally, if that doesn't degrade quality. 3. I have a Schiit Jotunheim and Schiit Modius dac/amp combo, but also have a Rodecaster Pro II interface - I assume the amp/dac combo would be better due to the output impedances? If so, do you know if that can be connected (for control purposes) to the RCP2? Further, would you say getting, say, an apple dongle would be equal in quality because I may sell my amp/dac if so as I use the RCP2 to drive my HD800S. Thank you!

[@GadgetryTech]

Hello! The Arete is still a great IEM and with the right tip for your ear can be very comfortable. Nothing wrong with using that. 2 - No real suggestion. Any decent 3.5mm extension cable should be fine. I can't imagine anyone noticing a real difference. Just don't buy junk. 3 - Use the Schiit combo, as it will work better than the Rodecaster Pro II for IEMs. Apple dongle will likely sound better/cleaner than Rodecaster pro but it depends on your ears/content too.

[@Logan-sc2tx]

@@GadgetryTech Thank you for the answers!

[@Simon_Hawkshaw]

A great review and introduction to this equipment. Thank you so much, but I'm enjoying my VZRs with new pads at the moment, so no iems in the near future. Take care, Sir.

[@Joe-if5rq]

I'm looking for iem that's comfortable and sounds great with music and gaming. Any recommendations under $200 Thanks

[@NotTheOnlyMattAround]

Amazing channel matching, even considering it's 1DD.

[@GadgetryTech]

For sure! For the money I can’t really fault it for anything. Just if it’s your type of sound signature or not

[@Hijynx87]

My favorite movie iems are Penon 10th anniversary and Ziigaat Doscinco. Edit you could add Kefine Delci to that list.

[@gertost]

How are these for trance, rock/metal, pop, electronica, classical ect... ? I listen to a wide range of genres. I like detailed, wide, punchy and a little warm sound. It must be enganging and musical. Not Fatigue. And of course comfortable. The most comfort iems ive had, is the beyerdynamic xelento. A good iem. But to pricey

[@AliR03]

What dac do you use for squig measurements?

[@smalienware]

How does it compare to the Zero RED? I'm looking to upgrade but the graphs on your squiglink look pretty similar. I prefer to use the RED with the adapter.

[@GadgetryTech]

These are warmer and smoother in the mid range, with more upper treble extension. Biggest improvement is comfort. If comfort isn't an issue for you on the Red, then the only reason for this is if you want warmer mid bass and EQ isn't giving you that on the Red

[@smalienware]

@@GadgetryTech Thank you for replying! Actually, the only reason I want to switch from the RED is the nozzle discomfort, it is an otherwise great IEM. I was about to get the EM6L earlier, but now I think I will go for these. Thanks again!

[@mistaBorg]

how is it compared to aria 2 or the og aria?

[@jje7923]

Any recommendations of headsets with mic to pair with g6 dac

[@nashdiz]

How do you like the Alba compared to the Dusk?

[@user-xr1zg7nk7u]

Why isn’t zhulinniao’s qingluanz4 available? It’s also a great headset.

[@okay4105]

How do they compare with the hexa?

[@stefi7318]

What kind of connector have the iem? Standard, 078 or 0.75mm?

[@Hijynx87]

A DD em6l......oh that sounds great. ea500 lm but more refined?

[@MunchVIP]

This or the Supermix 4 ? Or are they different enough to get both ?

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

always our reasoning

[@andysledge]

Gonna review the IE200 in the future?

[@GadgetryTech]

Maybe! Sennheiser never responds to anything I send so I may just end up buying them at some point

[@PeterDLai]

How do the KEFINE Delci compare to these?

[@stephendelacruzone]

✨👍

[@nikhilchandra3778]

Once you watch his review, you don't have to go anywhere else.

[@ImAWSMDanny]

yoooo turbo charger iems!

[@m4nc1n1]

More comfortable than the IE300?

[@GadgetryTech]

For me, they are. Both are comfy though

[@Mr0Tubby]

Can I use this with my ksc75

[@GadgetryTech]

You can use the DAC with the KSC75 yeah, but the IEM itself is a totally different way to listen

[@jje7923]

What’s good dac/amp to run with hp 560 or hyperx cloud 3

[@Hijynx87]

apple dongle is fine. otherwise I like the fiio k11 for desktop/console.

[@jje7923]

One more question lol would fiio k11 be better then gen dac 2 i have or sound blaster g6

[@jje7923]

This is for ps5

[@jamesstevens968]

Hi joey I play on ps5 and I've had every gaming headphones on the block turtle beach stealth pro jbl quantum 910p sony elite pulse razer barracuda pro wireless nova pro wireless nova pro wired corsair virtuoso wired turtle beach gen2 max wireless mmx wireless sony h9 wireless astro a50x audeze maxwell which are too too too heavy for every day usage they give me a headache and a severe sore neck and there not comfy for more than maybe a hour but I change over to the big boys the hifiman arya organic and I'm currently using them with the fiio k11 amplifier they sound better than any gaming headphones and the comfort is second to none and they breed well you can wear them all day or night no wheezing or fatiguing there my every day driver I just ordered a balance cable for them hopefully I can stop looking now you take care and happy gaming to all

[@xadrian23]

Alba means white in romanian

[@arifonrails]

Will you be reviewing the DaVinci?

[@deadzone29]

Its empty here

[@GadgetryTech]

Would you say it's a dead zone?

[@TheQuickyouknow]

As a non-audiophile, I do not get the iem hype.

[@DistortedDan_]

Often better value than headphones, usually tuned better, more convenient to use (on the go or sitting around without any amp)

[@zerotactix5739]

Actually IEMs are better for non audiophiles who want to just buy cheap audio stuff. But I think your problem may be that you could've used the wrong ear tips which would've leaked out all the bass, which was my first iem experience. I wasnt an audiophile then, and don't think I am one now either, but I was geeky enough to identify what went wrong and tip rolled to get a good fit and get all that bass, which made me put down my then daily driver Sennheiser HD599.

[@TheQuickyouknow]

@@DistortedDan_ Interesting, it's hard for me to imagine picking up iems over Bluetooth earbuds when it comes to convenience.

[@DistortedDan_]

that’s understandable, I’m looking into getting these because I have a Hifiman edition xs and liquid spark system but I want something pretty good that I can use on the go or just sitting on my bed however I’m sure you’d be much more interested in the features of wireless iems for this price Edit: I actually have a soundcore space a40 that I use a lot as they sound surprisingly good after considerable EQ

[@PFULMTL]

​@@TheQuickyouknow I mostly use IEMs for certain situations where I'm moving less (riding the bus, watching media) and bluetooth setup at work where I'm moving around more. I will say that KZ brand BT adapters are the best setup with IEM, however those adapters are prone to dying because they are not water resistant.