During the CamJam Singapore 2022, I auditioned the Meze Audio ADVAR for a short while and had a brief impression of a balanced sound towards the treble bright. Of course I was not able to analyse any finer details apart from the general frequency range control. I was glad that AV One has sent a loan unit so that I can listen in greater details.
Meze Audio was founded in Romania in 2011. After the owner Antonio Meze launched the Meze 99 Classics on a crowdfunding platform, it received numerous awards and consumer accolades, and that helped Meze Audio to build a name for themselves on the audiophile market. The ADVAR was designed using inspiration from their Romanian roots and the dark stainless-steel shell is ergonomically contoured with intricate gold details that feels like a polished gem.
The included accessories demonstrate the thoughtfulness of Meze Audio to ensure the owner takes care of the earbuds. The leather-wrapped hard case has roomy compartments to store a cleaning tool, 5 pairs of ear tips, detachable 3.5mm cable, and an elaborately-designed MMCX removal tool with Meze Audio logo plate. This is the first earbud product that I have reviewed where the package comes with an MMCX removal tool, and it really makes the removal a breeze. I’m definitely going to buy a couple off the market.
The eartips are from Final Audio Type E, and initially they slide out of my ear canals more often than I experienced in other earbuds. After seasoning, they fit better, and for sure the thicker tips offer better isolation. Despite being relatively heavy, the ADVAR wears comfortably in my ears, the nozzle angle towards my ear canal is on point.
Fitted with 10.2mm dynamic drivers and 10 – 30,000 Hz frequency range, the ADVAR is easy to drive even on smartphones thanks to its high sensitivity and low impedance. But you need to run them through higher-grade audio devices to bring out the qualities. The detachable MMCX cables offer easy upgrade to better wires, specifically, balanced cables. For the bulk of my testing, I switched to my personal balanced cables and listened on the Sony ZX300.
The ADVAR delivers controlled tonality across the frequency range. Sound staging is wide and close, the imaging is cohesive which stands out especially when listening to binaural tracks, while instruments are distinctly spaced and separated. The bass sounds tight, impactful with excellent musicality, the midrange is expressively detailed without intruding on other frequencies, treble is energetic while leaving room for other instruments to perform. Vocals are not overpowering, balances with the accompaniment, though for some mixes, it might not receive the attention.
The ADVAR makes every instrument stand out regardless of audio spectrum, especially the bass where many IEMs will sound bloated. Mixes with strong treble might get overcooked but they do not sound too forceful. The ADVAR delivers impact without hurting the ear drums, even at moderately loud volume.
While it may not be fair to compare the ADVAR with the Sennheiser IE 300, it is the only IE-series earphones I have in possession. The IE300 offers a more pronounced treble sound, more transparent and sparkling, yet thinner and less full. The bass is more pumped but lacks the clarity, a term rarely used for the lower frequency since the region is only good for moving massive air for feels. Generally, the IE 300 may sound more exciting and superficially clear, but the ADVAR provides far better instrumental definition executed very well so that they don’t mash up. The upper frequency is sweetened with slightly more prominence relative to the other frequencies to ensure the earphones provide clarity but not excessively tweaked.
Conclusion
I really like the sound of the Meze Audio ADVAR for critical listening. They have good tonal balance with musical bass, clean midrange, and sufficiently bright treble, which retaining instrumental layering. The mix envelopes the staging without pushing too hard which makes the ADVAR very comfortable and analytical to enjoy. The ear tips provide good isolation to let me focus on the music, and the elaborate design matches the price tag. Get your unit in Singapore from AV One.
