Meze Audio STRADA Headphones Review: Premium Craftsmanship Meets Musical Balance
Read Time: Approx. 13 min.
The $799 Sweet Spot in Closed-Back Excellence
From the creator of the legendary Elite Headphones comes the STRADA, Meze Audio's latest closed-back headphone, delivering an intimately musical listening experience. STRADA, meaning "street" in Romanian, captures the essence of these headphones perfectly: your personal pathway to audio nirvana, wherever life takes you.
At $799, the STRADA Headphones blend heritage and innovation, pairing the LIRIC's precision-crafted chassis with an enhanced version of the 109 Pro's dynamic driver. The hand-painted, rich green chassis and macassar ebony wood ear cups give the STRADA a distinctive, retro-inspired aesthetic that stands out in the sea of black plastic alternatives. These aren't headphones that chase extremes or try to wow you with hyped frequencies. Instead, they focus on delivering a naturally dynamic, full-bodied sound that makes music come alive without fatiguing your ears during extended sessions. Combined with excellent passive noise isolation and all-day comfort, the STRADA promises an articulate, emotionally engaging experience for casual listening and critical sessions alike.
PROS
- Naturally engaging sound signature
- Signature Meze build quality
- Outstanding comfort for extended sessions
CONS
- Intimate soundstage; those seeking wide, expansive image may find it limiting
Design
While the STRADA bears the LIRIC's chassis, it's the rich green chassis and macassar ebony wood ear cups that give these headphones their distinct identity. Meze Audio consistently ranks among our top-selling high-end headphone brands, thanks to their unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and quality. Their attention to detail is evident in every step of the process, and they went the extra mile with the STRADA.
Each unit receives four layers of the rich green finish, carefully hand-painted on by in-house artisans. This in and of itself, is a highly meticulous, time-consuming task. Where a manufacturer might cut corners to save time, Meze Audio takes the long road because quality over quantity every time. When I opened the box, I couldn't help but think of the iconic Station Wagon and its wooden paneling. Though the macassar ebony wood on the STRADA is far more premium than the Station Wagon's variations.
Meze Audio has incorporated wood into its ear cup designs for many years, and the macassar ebony wood is another nod to the LIRIC Headphones. This heavy, dense hardwood–chosen for its excellent damping properties–sports a distinctive natural grain with a deep, rich brown color and intricate golden-brown stripes. Combined with the black headband, black ear pads, and bronze tension rods, the STRADA is striking and quite retro-looking.
Engineering a closed-back headphone means solving competing demands: structural integrity, acoustic seal, and all-day comfort. Meze addressed each demand methodically with technical precision. It starts with the rigid, lightweight magnesium frame optimized for extended listening sessions. From there, Meze incorporated a soft-padded black headband with smooth adjustment rods that deliver even pressure distribution, improved airflow, and a gentle clamping force. The ear pads feature Meze's seamless magnetic ear pad mounting system, extending the life of your headphones and relieving the headaches associated with pad swapping. The memory-foam ear pads are ultra luxurious, wrapped in a soft PU leather contact surface that provides a reliable acoustic seal, while the Alcantara-lined inner chambers manage heat and moisture buildup inside the ear cup.
Durable? Yes. Comfortable? Yes. Yes. Yes. By combining a lighter dynamic driver system with the LIRIC's proven ergonomic chassis, the STRADA delivers you long, effortless listening sessions. Not to mention its modular construction, which allows every component to be serviced or replaced.
The STRADA comes with two 1.8m dual twisted kevlar-wrapped OFC cables–a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable, and a 3.5mm to 4.4mm cable–a hard EVA carrying case, a 6.3mm gold-plated jack adapter, and a PU leather cable pouch. The hardshell carrying case is always a great perk, especially for those who plan to use these on the go.
Sound
Let's start with what matters most–what you're actually going to hear when you put these on, and how the STRADA fits into your real life.
The sound signature is what I'd call naturally dynamic with an effortless ability to make music come alive. They're not trying to impress you with exaggerated bass or artificial sparkle in the treble. They're focused on control, precision, and giving you a full-bodied, engaging listening experience that doesn't fade into the background, but also doesn't demand your attention and fatigue you.
It has a great level of energy and authority that makes songs like Sports Car from Tate McRae impossible not to dance to. The lows are tight and impactful. You get enough weight and extension without it becoming muddied.
During my listening session, there was a standout moment for me with The Kid Laroi's song Nights Like This Part 2. It's a synth-heavy track with moody, almost borderline LoFi beats and lots of emphasis on the low end. The STRADA articulated the weight of the track perfectly. The sound was visceral and deep, delivering that in your head experience.
It has the perfect amount of low-end response for that versatile listener who jumps around from hip-hop and pop to country, jazz, and soft rock. It delivers the perfect amount of energy.
The midrange is transparent and where the natural tonality of these headphones really shines. Vocals are authentic and emotive, but not rich or lush. This is where vocals, acoustic guitars, and other string instruments come to life without any added coloration. The highs are smooth and extended but never harsh or sibilant. Overall, the STRADA is a smooth, natural-sounding headphone with a soundstage that's intimate enough but not claustrophobic.
The STRADA compares favorably to headphones like the Dan Clark E3 and Meze Liric II. Obviously, all are at different price points and unique in their own regard, but the STRADA holds its own in this lineup. Compared to the E3, the STRADA delivers more definition and impact in the bass department, yet possesses the same organic and balanced midrange that made the E3 so popular. Both prioritize that balanced, musical, fatigue-free presentation where detail and accuracy never come second.
At $799, it sits between the 99 Classics at $349 and the LIRIC II at $2,000. This is where real value lives for serious listeners. You're getting the LIRIC's proven chassis, a driver built for closed-back tuning, modular design, and several accessories.
The STRADA is the headphone for relaxing and unwinding after a long day of work. Those times when you want to disappear into an album without being interrupted by outside noise. It's also your travel companion with an included hardshell carrying case for protection and closed-back isolation. And it's your daily driver if you work from home and need something comfortable enough to wear during long listening sessions or video calls.
The STRADA and LIRIC II's shared DNA spans beyond just aesthetics. Think of the STRADA as the LIRIC II's younger sibling. They've got mutual DNA, but unique identities. The LIRIC II's planar magnetic driver delivers that hallmark technical precision and speed, while the STRADA shines with its ability to deliver an authentic reproduction. Both headphones have a textured bass response that's alive and present in high-energy tracks. The STRADA is positioned perfectly in Meze's lineup. It's the sweet spot in high-end headphones, bridging the gap between entry-level and top-of-the-line performance, and rewarding you with audio nirvana.
Tennis
By Lily Allen
(West End Girl)
NEUVAYoL
By Bad Bunny
(DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS)
Heat Waves
By Glass Animals
(Dreamland)
Nights Like This Pt. 2
By The Kid Laroi
(The First Time)
Features
- Dynamic, closed-back, circ
- Detachable magnetic ear pads
- Lightweight magnesium frame, hand-painted with a refined shade of green and metallic particles
- Stainless steel headband with padded cushions and optimal airflow control
- Macassar ebony wood ear cups
At the STRADA's core is the 50mm dynamic driver first introduced in the 109 Pro Headphones, refined and tuned to perform within a closed-back chamber. Meze Audio has maintained the driver's natural character while refining its behavior to meet the acoustic demands of a sealed environment. The w-shaped composite dome, made of carbon fiber-reinforced cellulose composite, reproduces high frequencies with remarkable clarity, definition, and detail. This durable yet lightweight composite helps reduce resonances in dynamic drivers, minimizing harmonic distortion.
The torus surrounding the dome is composed of beryllium-coated semicrystalline polymer. By applying the beryllium coating through Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Meze Audio has managed to increase the stiffness and durability of the driver while maintaining a light enough weight to achieve a fast transient response. Additionally, the grooves on the torus are precisely positioned at a 45.5 degree angle to enhance the driver's overall performance. The high-damping qualities of beryllium help suppress unwanted resonances, giving the STRADA its vivid and transparent sonic character. And to round it all out, the copper-zinc alloy stabilizer, positioned around the membrane, improves the absorption of vibrations to reduce distortion even further.
Dragon Cables
[Bronze Dragon Headphone Cable]
There are a lot of reasons why you need to make sure your audio cables are not afterthoughts.
Our HiFi Audio Dragon Cables bring out more of what you love in your music and audio gear. If you love your headphones but wish they had a bit more top-end sparkle - a Silver Dragon Headphone Cable would be a great option. If your USB cables keep dying - as many stock cables do - then check out our quality USB Audio Cables. We say time and time again that materials matter, and our audio cables and custom geometries actually help to bring out those desired properties in your gear and music. We make tons of custom options for our customers so that you can get the right HiFi Audio cable for your exact needs. If you have any questions feel free to Contact Us and we'll be more than happy to help.
Verdict
At $799, the Meze Audio STRADA Headphones aren't about chasing extremes. It's about finding that rare balance of intimacy, engineering precision, and timeless craftsmanship that you'll actually want to wear for hours–and that's increasingly difficult to find in today's headphone market.
The naturally dynamic sound signature strikes an excellent balance: there's enough weight and authority to make genres like hip-hop and electronic music visceral and engaging, yet enough transparency and refinement in the midrange to serve acoustic and vocal-driven tricks with authenticity. The STRADA doesn't try to be everything to everyone, but for the versatile listener who jumps between genres and values long-term comfort and musical engagement, it hits the sweet spot.
Build quality is exceptional. The hand-painted finish, macassar ebony wood ear cups, and modular construction all point to a product designed to last years, not just until the next model cycle. For those who've been waiting for Meze Audio to deliver signature aesthetic and engineering at a more accessible price point, this is exactly that headphone.
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What's in the Box
- Hard EVA pouch with velvet lining
- PU Leather cable pouch
- Included adapters: 3.5 to 6.3 mm gold-plated jack
- Two cables included:
- 3.5mm to 3.5mm 1.8 m dual twisted, kevlar-wrapped OFC cable
- 3.5mm to 4.4mm 1.8 m dual twisted, kevlar-wrapped OFC cable
Specifications
Driver Type: Dynamic
Driver Size: 50mm
Frequency Range: 5 Hz – 30 kHz
Impedance: 40 Ω
Sensitivity: 111 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz
Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.1% at 1 kHz
Ear Cup Covers: Macassar Ebony Wood
Frame: Magnesium
Headphone Connectors: 3.5 mm TS jack
Weight: 330 g or 11.64 oz
