- Meze Audio has just launched Astru, solo dynamic driver IEMs with unique technology
- …and remember that the MacBook Neo’s 3.5mm headphone jack is ‘n’ center front
- But at $899 / £819 (around AU$1,550) they’re more expensive than the new MacBook
If, like me, you saw TechRadar’s coverage of the Apple MacBook Neo launch the other day and actually pointed at your screen and muttered “Oh… oh!” (like the Leonardo DiCaprio Rick Dalton pointing meme) as you watched its 3.5mm headphone jack slide gracefully from the back of the left edge all the way down to the front where it should always be, you are my people.
And if you don’t already have a set, you might be looking for some decent IEMs to get into that port—because this wired revival isn’t going anywhere.
While I’d normally refer you to some of the best wired earphones (or indeed a set of the best wired headphones) to make the most of Apple’s sensible relocation of the once all but banished port, Meze’s latest is worth a look – just check out our glowing reviews of the Meze Audio Alba, Meze Audio 909 or Silva Audio starter Gen 905 Classics 2nd.
Meze Audio Astru: the details you need to know
At the heart of the Astru (which is Romanian for ‘Star’) is a 10mm multi-layer composite dynamic driver diaphragm whose dome has “over 80 ultra-thin layers of gold, applied during a 48-hour physical vacuum DC magnetron sputtering process”, then bonded to a titanium layer.
Each head shell, says Meze Audio, is CNC machined from a single block of pure titanium, then put through a multi-stage electroplating process to achieve the smooth satin finish.
The cable features CNC anodized aluminum hardware plus a gold-plated 4.4mm balanced termination – but don’t worry! A 4.4mm to 3.5mm adapter, five sizes of eartips (XS–XL) and two carrying solutions (a protective bag and a soft PU leather envelope) make Astru equally suitable for your laptop or 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 the claims.
The Astru IEMs are revealed today (March 6) and will be available for purchase from March 20 with an RRP of $899 / £819 / €899 (around AU$1,550). So they are 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, actually…
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