I will openly admit I am a fan of Meze, but not the fanatic some are. While I enjoyed both the 99 Classic, and 99 Neo on tour, they seemed a bit lacking in the bass department for my tastes, and especially for a closed-back headphone. Please don’t take this as criticism, it isn’t. Two things factor in here: 1. I like more bass from my closed-back headphones, and 2. The aforementioned pair are tuned for overall sound quality, not for a specific type. And in that regard, they are spot on excellent. There is a reason they do have a fanatic following…that detail rich overall sound quality. Upon contacting Meze, they suggested two options. The 12 Classic’s or the 11 Neo’s. After a conversation with Doina, we both agreed the 11 Neo would be beneficial to both parties involved. With CRAZY-fast shipping, I had the pair IN-HAND within two shorts, and I do mean SHORT days. Wonderful. After my initial listen to insure all was good (and I will openly admit I listened to this particular pair longer than many of my recent offerings), I played the 11 Neo’s continuously on my Shanling M0 for 50+hours.

Again, as my queue cleared, I was able to listen. Keeping the M0/11Neo pair together, I listened to Los Lonely Boys Senorita, and simply sat back. My brain was going through a re-evaluation phase with what I heard. Rich deep reaching bass, “talented” treble up top, and a wide sound stage highlighted that initial longer session. Playing Us And Them from Pink Floyd currently through my QP2R, I am wrought with good detail-rich sound. This was a good choice by Doina and me. I am happy. Sufficiently wide sound stage brought back together by a bit of rumble down low, the mids add to the very decent signature presented in songs such as Robert Cray’s Never Mattered Much. He has such a melodic voice, with a huge presence, it may overpower some, but the 11 Neo was up to the task. Guitar taking a slight back seat to his voice but holding down the mid-section as it should. And when he lets loose with a lick, the emanating sound does not scream at you but rather envelope your senses. This is turning into quite an adventure.

Fit and finish is exemplary, as one would expect with the Meze standards, which came before. I am very impressed. There are microphonics involved with the cable, and this can get in the way of that wonderful sound. Presented in a treble-cleft laden box, even the IEM’s accentuate that look, once you open the package. So, from the beginning you know that the 11 Neo means business. Something I would expect from Meze. More later, chaps.

Unboxing:

Coming in a smaller cream-white box with the 11Neo on the front arranged as a treble cleft, one is left with the immediate impression that Meze not only enjoy their product(s) but appreciate how we look at their product upon initial inspection. Sometimes I really do not give a hoot in that sense, but this is definitely not one of those times. That treble cleft carries over to the inside, as the IEM wraps around the circular soft case. A pleasant beginning, indeed.

Simple specs adorn the back of the box, as well as an exploded diagram of the 11Neo itself. Kind of cool in a sciency-geeky way. Anticipating how the 11’s sounded, I immediately noticed that there was a set of Comply’s inside the package (I knew this because the box said so...). Remove the soft case, and you see the Meze logo burned onto the bottom showing that treble cleft. Upon closer inspection though, you realize that what you are looking at is actually the manual with a couple of Meze stickers below. Included in the manual is a guide to sound levels, complete with real-world examples and length of time before you cause damage. A nice addition, thoughtful it is. Three sets of silicons, a clip and those lovely Comply’s complete the package. Simple, straightforward, and enough. And, THANK GOODNESS they included a case! Chi-Fi companies, please, PLEASE take note of this…INCLUDE A CASE!!!







Spec from Meze site:

• Frequency response: 16Hz - 24KHz
• Impedance: 16Ohm
• Sensitivity: 101dB (+/- 3db)
• Total harmonic distortion: < 0.5%
• Noise attenuation: up to 26dB
• Titanium coated 8mm mylar driver
• 3.5mm gold-plated jack plug
• 7N OFC cable, length: 1.2m

Included in the box:

· Meze 11Neo
· 1 set Comply foam tips
· 3 sets silicon tips, including a double-flange
· 1 shirt clip
· 1 set of instructions
· 2 Meze stickers (nice!!)
· 1 round carrying case (yes, yes, YES!!)



Gear used/compared:

KZ AS10 ($60)
Tin Audio T2 Pro ($50)
MEE Audio M6 Pro Gen2 ($60)

Thebit Opus #2
Macbook Pro/iFi xDSD
Shanling M5
Shanling M3s



Songs used:

Too bloody many to list all, but you want songs, so there you go:

Coldplay-All I Can think About Is You
Coldplay-A Message
Coldplay-White Shadows
Dona Onete-Sonos de Adolescente
Los Lonely Boys- Heaven (en Espanol)
twenty one pilots-Trees
twenty one pilots-Car Radio
twenty one pilots-Heathens
Damian Marley-Everybody Wants To Be Somebody
Damian Marley-So A Child May Follow
Damian Marley-The Struggle Discontinues
Ziggy Marley-Lighthouse
Ziggy Marely-See Dem Fake Leaders
Mark Knopfler-Laughs And Jokes And Drinks And Smokes
Santana w/ Mana- Corazon Espinado


Fit-N-Finish/cable (9/10, 6/10):

With a pleasantly cylindrical shape, not unlike a small caliber bullet, the 11 is easy to grip and hold. A brushed aluminum finish on the pair in hand is understated and very subdued. The black does look killer and is a nice alternative. No detachable cable means you are “stuck” with the existing one. Not bad in any way, except microphonics; and this is one of the noisier cables of late in my arsenal. Thin, and with small cable extensions, the overall look is of a northern European svelteness. One wears this the way one might wear a Saab (look it up…) or Volvo. Practical, functional and does not draw attention to itself. A nice look as I shy away from garishness.








An extended jack highlights the other end, and a quite bendy cable means you need not worry about wear and tear. Not the strongest, not the weakest, it will last. The included microphone utilizes one button and up to 3 pushes for the desired result. Functional on both Android and iOS, you can use the function button for play/pause (1x), FF (2x)/REW(3x) and answer a phone call (1x). A thick nozzle and “notch” mean whatever tip you use will stay put. The tips fit on nicely with a modicum of effort as well. A nice alternative to those that require bench press skills to get the tip mounted…




I had no trouble with fit, hanging the cable down like an earbud and could wear it for long periods of time without pain. There is a good bit of microphonics, hence the lower cable score (6/10). Tip rolling with the typical Comply roll resulted in a full fit within my ear, but some outside noise could be heard. More so with the silicons, so I stayed with my trusty Comply’s. Sometimes I prefer more isolation, such as when I am at home and need more for personal listening. Sometimes though, a little leakage of outside sounds is good for the simple reason of safety. The 11’s would be good for commuting when you need to hear the outside noises, but also provide adequate iso for that loud train/subway. Not the best, not the worst. Knowing that Antonio Meze is an avid cyclist, this might not be the pair he takes on a mountain bike ride, but a road ride instead. Quite acceptable.





Overall, the 11Neo is of a quality you expect from something priced much higher. But to those who know Meze, and their almost fanatical precision to detail will recognize and appreciate that even on their “lesser” brethren, the quality is as good as the top products. No qualms here, and much appreciated.

Use:

A newer category, which for this specific IEM I deemed a worthy inclusion, the 11Neo is a Jack (or Jane if you prefer) of all trades when it comes to usage…almost. As stated above, one would not even consider taking these on your local Tuesday mountain bike ride, or the Wednesday criterium ride as well. For these are meant for commuting, enjoying at the coffee shop, or a home. This pair is extraordinarily easy to use. Roll the tip (if using foams), place in ear, press play. As such, it is easy to use in crowded situations, or in case of frequent removal. Small, lightweight and darn good looking; you may have to take it out more than you thought due to all the questions you will surely garnish as a result of that brushed aluminum (or black, which looks stunning). Ease of use is something that can and should be appreciated on your usage chart, and here the 11Neo would score near the top. Isolation with the Comply is quite good, filtering out the unneeded allowing the music to come through. But not so isolated as to sever your tie from the human race. A good mix.



For a deeper understanding:

I will admit that upon initial listen (to ensure all worked well before placing them in queue and “burning” them in…), my opinion was one of underwhelming attitude. So, I left them alone for well over 100 hours. Upon closer scrutiny though, that opinion vanished, mostly. In short, the 11Neo is a very good sub-$60 IEM, which has many more positives than negatives and has earned its place in my playing queue. A hard thing to do for many I receive. And, as a colleague pointed out, one of its “deficiencies” can be alleviated by a simple fix. More on that later. Suffice to say, it really isn’t a deficiency, more like a tailoring need for those who want it.

With an easy fit to the Comfort Comply’s, the Neo settled right into my ear, and could be used for long periods without fatigue. And as they are so light, do not weigh down upon my ear when wearing them in an earbud type manner. You can wear them like an overear IEM, but it just doesn’t feel right.



I also would not categorize the Neo as a bass-heavy unit, nor treble-heavy unit. More neutral would be an apt descriptor; and in thinking of what I might consider the Meze sound characteristics, quite fitting. To me, the 99Neo and 99Classic had an even tune, without emphasizing either bass or treble. Almost neutral of sound, I do wish either had more bass. But, for the intended market, they are quite good and should warrant serious consideration at the sub-$300 market. I hate to use “reference” when describing the sound, because I am not an adequate judge of that tonality; but that might be an apt descriptor for the 99’s as well as the 11’s. They sound darn good in multiple genre. Just don’t expect them to wow you with rumble or make you dance in the air along with that treble sparkle. And I for one am glad to have this tune, as it is quite enjoyable. Meze didn’t try to please everyone (despite the more neutral tone), no they continued to me what the Meze sound is: solid, detailed, clear, tight, and not boring in its “neutrality”.






Bass (6/10):

Running the 11Neo through an old friend, the Shanling M5, one is presented with a solid, if not exemplary sound. It is clear, concise with good detail. On the Kinks Living On A Thin Line, the bass is solid, but not particularly deep. There is an “almost” presence there, but I wish for more. The bass is slanted more towards the upper reaches of bass, not that deep rumble presented by some DD IEM’s. And, in this instance, that is OK. Again, I fall back to that near-crystalline sound wrought from the Meze brand, so that lack of deep bass punch is respectable in presentation. Just do not hope for more. Follow that with Dance Away, from Roxy Music and you get a deeper reach, but without punch or rumble. Bass is again accurate and of good support. Not bad, just not enough compared to some I have heard.



Mids (8/10):

Going back to the previous song from Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry’s voice definitely takes center stage. He has a quite melodious voice, and vocal range; presented well through the 11Neo. This could be the highlight of the Neo’s, but that assessment will have to wait. Cymbal support comes through loud, crisp and clear. There is a fast decay to the music wrought through the Neo, which aides in that detail representation. Again, a Meze tradition. Crisp, clear, concise, fast. Those adjectives would all suffice here for the Neo and their mids.

Money from Pink Floyd brings out the support instruments (or sounds), laying a foundation upon which the music can thrive. Not biting at another range or playing second fiddle; the mids are detailed in their response, letting you know they are there and quite good.



Treble (7.5/10):

Nothing from the Neo comes across as harsh or piercing. As one sensitive to that, I am glad. As the volume goes up on Money, I am able to enjoy the guitar solos as they are meant to be: sound, present, up front and clear. For a DD, the treble is rich of nature and full. There is a bit (to me, so take that as you may) of rolled off sound at the peak, which may aid in my enjoyment of not only the treble, but overall sound characteristics. If the treble was piercing, I would let you know. It is not, so I will not.


Sound-stage/isolation/separation/instrumentation (8/10, 6/10, 8/10, 7/10):

Money, with all of its extraneous sounds coming at the edge are represented well. I can easily say that the sound goes beyond my ears. Decently wide, with good height and depth; the sound stage is amongst the better of late. A pleasant change from the “personal” claustrophobic of some. Bob Marley’s Stir It Up presents excellent separation as a result of that wide sound stage, and one can easily discern the layers of music like a fine layered cake (stolen from another review, but applicable here. Plus, I like cake, so…). And each of those layers does not infringe upon another. A good sign, and a good sound.

I will add that instrumentation is a bit behind the sound stage and layering. I was hoping for a more distinct ability to hear each. But it is not bad, and that clarity of sound aids in that lacking, much the way a friend would pick up another after they have fallen down.



So, I would not really call that lack of instrumentation a fault, but a cause of the other areas receiving more attention. It is still quite respectable but falls behind other such as the BGVP DMG (twice the price), and MEE Audio M6 Pro Gen2 (same price range). On the contrary, the separation is good, but the placement gets lost a bit when one considers the overall sound. On a somewhat complicated song such as the Grateful Dead’s Box Of Rain, this “deficiency” allows the others aspects to take front and center, so that works to the advantage actually.

Comparisons:

Meze 11Neo ($59) vs MEE Audio M6 Pro Gen2 ($59): Not really a fair comparison as one is meant to be used as a bud essentially, and the other is a sport workout IEM.

Bass is a bit more pronounced and reaches deeper with the MEE than with the Neo, but the quality of the Neo is better. More distinct drum beats, faster decay and just a bit crisper. Treble are similar, but for reach the MEE goes a bit higher to me. Overall quality goes to the Neo, as it really is a fine sub-$60 IEM. Just pleasant all across the board,


Meze 11Neo ($59) vs KZ AS10 ($69): The KZ is one of many successful Knowledge Zenith’s in the current market. As said in another review, some think there is a better KZ than the AS10, and I do now have that on hand, and in queue. For the AS10, the bass is again deeper of reach, but less tamed. That extra bass comes at the cost of control in my mind. Again, the Neo is just a tight well-oiled machine. Running both through the M3s/iFi xCAN combo, the 11Neo has very adequate bass, especially with the xBass II kicked on. The AS10 is good, and well worth a look at this price, but I find the detail of the Neo a bit better. But there is just something a bit intoxicating about the KZ, and I hear why they are so highly thought of…they are good. This comes down to whether you want over-ear, with a bit more bass, and a treble sparkle, which may become tense after long sessions (AS10), or a good refined middle (Neo). Both are good.


Final scores:

Fit-N-Finish/cable (9/10, 6/10)
Bass (6/10)
Mids (8/10)
Treble (7.5/10)
Sound-stage/isolation/separation/instrumentation (8/10, 6/10, 8/10, 7/10)
Total/Average: 65.5/90 (7.28)


Le Grand Finale:

So, where does that leave us? Well, with a quite good budget IEM, that acts like a really good earbud. There are many options for color/finish and I do like the black, but the brushed aluminum looks quite understated. And that is the benefit of the Neo; it slips under the radar as a pretty good move up scale. This would be a VERY good upgrade from your basic Smartphone bud. It isn’t even close, even with the microphonic cable. Throw on a good amp, such as the xCAN and a decent DAP such as the Shanling M0/M3s and you have a very good quality package. That said, the 11’s are content at playing through your Smartphone until you upgrade. They will happily wait. I want to thank Doina and Meze for the faith shown in the reviewer’s skill. The 11Neo sits happily in my rotation, and it earned that place, not given.

Form and function go hand in hand in each and every manufactured product. The art that goes into crafting aesthetically pleasing silhouettes has always been a welcome view so when I 1st saw the Meze 99 Classics, it is clear which direction this certain headphone is aiming for and only to find out that it was from a company with emphasis on providing products with elegance and finesse. What we have to realview now however isn’t the 99 Classics but Meze own approach for an entry level audiophile product in the form of the Meze 11 Neo IEM which is thanks to their trust, we are able to secure a pair in exchange for an honest review, priced at $59.00 and can be purchased directly on their site at Meze Audio. The Meze 11 Neo has 2 shade options to choose from, Iridium and Gun Metal and what we have now is the Gun Metal version. The Meze 11 Neo is spec’d out with a single Titanium coated 8mm mylar dynamic driver, 16Hz - 24KHz Frequency Response, 16Ohm Impedance and a 101dB Sensitivity. If there were any doubts about Meze artistic perspectives, one need not look far to have all doubts dispelled and just take a peek with the Meze Audio logo, such faint opulence.




I never check unboxings of products that I am about to review to preserve each unboxing experience one to look forward to and when the Meze 11 Neo arrived, bubblewrap and all. I was dismayed when I saw that the box was damaged due to courier handling. Although the box was all roughed up, the unboxing experience was still delightful, the 11 Neo’s came in a white smooth finished box with an attached hook on top and the specification sheet on the underside, separating the top and lower boxes reveals the 11 Neo’s placed on a molded foam with a round matte zipper case and once again, the opulent Meze Audio logo on it. Opening the case shows the shirt clip, 3 sized silicon tips (S, M, L) and 1 bi-flanged tips yet the main attraction was the included Comply T500’s which is what we would be using for the duration of the realview after trying for 2-3 days of going back between the bi-flanged or T500 to get a feel of which would showcase 11 Neo’s optimal performance.



The unboxing joy continued on when I found 2 Meze Audio stickers! What a way to get an initial user to be a fanboy, I am already. The 11 Neo driver housings, y-split and 3.5mm housing are all aluminum which cries out superiority over all those who choose plastic. The rounded approach all over the product was evident on the concaved shell housings and rounded edges on the y-split and 3.5mm housing. A 1.2m 7N OFC cable was used to run through the IEM and included was a mic control with only the play/pause-accept/drop function, it doesn’t tangle too much and is thick enough as well, not sticky and compliments the Gun Metal color quite well. Subtle microphonic is observed when used and not bothersome even during listening sessions. All in all, one should savor going through the 11 Neo’s package and build for the precise work they did this.


Being Meze’s entry level representative, one should get a hint to whatever house sound are they aspiring for in this one. The Meze 11 Neo’s sound right off the bat shows a fairly soothing low-end and midrange rendition. It is clear that they aimed this to sound neutral which they successfully did, it is however noteworthy that it also has more emphasis on the low-end than the brilliance aspect which resonates a warm signature, well controlled warmth at that.


Meze 11 Neo doesn’t sweat taking on the lows, it provides a well bodied bass if not full at best, Anathema’s Distant Satellites in 16/44 FLAC on the Opus 1 provides an almost thumpy midbass that doesn’t sound thin at all. All throughout the track, the sub bass also slams cleanly creating a reverb that diffuses fast yet softly creating the ambient warmth signature more prominent. Boomy bass is not an attribute one can find on the 11 Neo but the clean and smooth bass performance is its forte.


Incorporating the midrange on a well bodied low-end often requires an accentuated midrange to lift the vocal range on the levels that is distinctive. Michael Jackson’s Baby Be Mine in DSD2.5 on the Opus 1 lets the male vocal burst through the frequency intimately and blends well, crisp and clear. It is gentle, don’t be looking for those peaks here and there for the 11 Neo keeps the midrange on a delicate and accurate tone. MJ’s The Girl is Mine in DSD2.5 on the Opus 1 as well sounded engaging with no noticeable sharping of the treble and upper midrange, timbre is constant.


Taking queue from its color, 11 Neo’s Highs are almost gun metal like, cold and dark, not ideally the words you’d want to see on the higher frequencies yet the highs of this IEM compliments the low-end and midrange excellently. Daft Punk’s Beyond in 16/44 FLAC on the Opus 1 delivered great high frequency attacks and gives great clarity and definition on instruments. No piercing peaks and shrills as well, this is how an 11 Neo gun metal shoots everybody.


Daft Punk’s Within in 16/44 FLAC on the Opus 1 creates a rather intimate club ambience and great detail retrieval, specially on the 1:00 minute mark. Instrumental placing is distinguishable. Coherence with the low-end, midrange and highs makes the imaging definite. Do take note of the crash cymbals on your tracks when using the 11 Neo’s and you’d find it easily identified and a very fun ordeal to spot here and there.


We have established the Meze 11 Neo’s overall sonic performance and it is a balanced sounding piece with a very calming low-end that lets the midrange and highs cut through effortlessly. Throughout the realview, the Opus 1, Hidizs AP200, Sony ZX1, Sansa Clip+, Sony Cas-1 and OnePlus 3T was used with often times the Opus 1 and CAS-1 churning out the DSD’s and the rest 16/44 FLAC’s. The Meze 11 Neo synergizes the most with the neutral sound of the Opus 1 and did exceptionally well with the OnePlus 3T as well. The Comply T500 also works best with the 11 Neo’s so they might have done this on their own R&D since I have done a whole rotation of JVC Spiral dots, Final Audio Type E, Sony Hybrid tips and the Comply T500 was the perfect match, great seal and isolation.


Made with the aim to craft elegant works of art transitioning to audiophile products, Meze 11 Neo gives its user a glimpse of the world they work in. Showcased in a complete package with precise determination of not leaving the entry level users alienated, the inclusion of the Comply T500 and Meze Audio stickers welcomes those who venture into their product with open arms. The Meze 11 Neo provides a balanced sound with a touch of warmth and robust build quality to ease you into their other offerings. Comparisons with other products are welcome yet inessential for they approached their products on a level of careful scrutiny, from build, sound quality to price which preference will only precede such. Unlike the witch that offered Snow White with a fatal apple, Meze offers its users a delicate treat you would be coming back for more.

More reviews on my page, http://audiorealviews.site

I just got a pair of these, and wanted to post some brief impressions.

Build quality is very good, particularly for a sub-$100 product. Packaging is great, and matches the photos provided by other.

Sonics: Slightly bright, or maybe a better way of saying this is slightly lacking in bass. I have been using these on the train with an iPhone 7. I finally broke down and selected the Bass Boost EQ. With this on, and the volume increased some to compensate, they are perfectly adequate and sound quite good. Material I have been listening to is mostly shoegaze (Curve, Catherine Wheel), as well as some Radiohead, and Peter Gabriel.

Fit: I tried the included Comply tips, but felt they accentuated the brightness too much, so went back to the factory installed tips. These seem perfectly adequate for my use. I haven't tried the other supplied tips yet, but might this weekend. These seem to isolate well, both for incoming as well as sound bleed to people seated next to me. Since I am normally on a "Quiet Car", this was an issue with the Apple dual driver ear pods I had been using.

Conclusion: I am quite satisfied with these. I may have to listen to the Neo 12 Classics as well and see what I think of those.

 
 
Intro
 
    Meze Headphones is a company with a simple philosophy;  Motivation, Values, People. With a passion for art and music, achieved through patience and dedication, Meze design timeless masterpieces. Ignoring current trends that come and go with the seasons, influenced by none, they create headphones as if for themselves. Consisting of passionate specialists, with backgrounds in sound engineering, design, crafting, and music, the team has stood by their company’s values since the beginning.
 
    Since the release of their 99 Classics a little over a year before the writing of this review, Meze has been no stranger here at Head-Fi. Simply put, the 99 Classics have shot to super stardom in the over-ears category, currently holding the #8 spot with good reason. Meze gave us something we didn’t even know we wanted; A gorgeous headphone with a fun yet timeless audiophile sound at a very affordable price!
 
    The 11 Neo represents Meze’s entry level IEM. Completely redesigned from the ground up, these are not an updated or redesigned version of their earlier release, the 11 Deco. Forgoing wood in favour of a rugged metal housing yet featuring the same timeless design and Meze sound signature of their more expensive cousins, Meze’s aim was to provide a practical, more affordable, go everywhere headphone to compliment their Classics line. 
 
    
Disclaimer
 
    As part of the 12 Classics review tour, the 11 Neo was provided to me by Meze in exchange for my honest opinion and review. It matters not how I obtained my pair, this review will be both honest and objective, free of hype and/or bias.
 
About Me
    
    37 years old, I grew up in a family consisting of musicians, broadcaster/sound engineers, and amateur DJs, I always had a deep appreciation and understanding of both music and sound. I was further educated in this self interest after taking courses in both electronics and sound (Electro-Acousto aka The Path to Golden Ears). While I believe a listener’s preference in sound is subjective, the science behind it is not. I am not swayed by buzzwords, hype, trends, brand recognition, or big numbers on charts; I am the nemesis of the commissioned salesperson. Opinionated as I am, my words are not only objective but honest. I view all criticism as constructive, as long as it is sincere. 
 
 
 
Specifications
 

1. Transducer size: 8mm
2. Transducer Type: Titanium coated mylar
3. Frequency response: 16Hz - 24KHz
4. Impedance: 16Ohm
5. Sensitivity: 101dB (+/- 3dB)
6. THD: < 0.5%
7. Noise attenuation: Up to 26dB
8. Plug Type: 3.5mm gold plated
9. Cable: 7N OFC 1.2M

 
Accessories
 

1. Leatherette carry case
2. 4 pairs of silicone tips (S, M, L, Double flange)
3. Genuine Comply premium ear tips
4. Cable clip
5. For more information and nice eye candy, head over to the 11 Neo website.
6. To read up on general discussion and impressions, check out the official thread here.

 

 
Design & Ergonomics 
 
    Available in both Gunmetal and Iridium (mine are the latter), the 11 Neo is one sexy IEM! With their curvy aluminium casings accentuated by seamless lines, the 11 Neo are reminiscent of a well designed classic automobile. Every angle, every curve seem to be carefully thought out to add both (stunning) form and functionality!  The body as well as the rear cap are beveled inwards, allowing for easy grip and proper insertion/seal. It really is difficult to gauge the size of the 11 Neo from pictures alone, but these are not a large IEM!
 
 


 
    The gorgeous non-removable cable is thick, and very well reinforced! To give you a frame of reference, as thick as the Sennheiser Momentum! Despite the cable’s girth, it is very pliable that both hangs incredibly straight yet retains an invisible memory that allows for one to easily loop up for storage within the case; It’s almost as if some sort of dark magic is involved! Rarely do I see a cable that falls so straight yet has no issues wanting to be wound up!  Every entry point has a generous amount of reinforcement for strain relief. Whether is was dangling my iPod or ripping out the buds by the cable, never did I get a sense that a was putting too much stress for the connections to handle. Cable microphonic noise is not too bad, especially considering the thickness of the cable, although it is noticeable. This can easily be remedied with the included cable clip. When attached, virtually all microphonic noise is grounded and greatly reduced.
 
    The in-line control talk module works as it should with no issue. The placement for me is at the correct position that easily allows me to reach blind and find the unit, as well I found the button itself to have a great tactile feel and quick response. The mic also works equally well with calls over wifi as well as Siri voice commands being easily audible and recognizable. The strain relieve on the module as well as the Y-split are of exceptional quality, allowing for easy movement and bending yet remain sturdy and rugged enough that much like the connections at the plug and buds, I foresee no issues with splits or breaks!
 
 

 
    While one might automatically assume that given the 11 Neo’s metal housings and thick cable that the IEMs would be above average in weight, and you would be wrong! I was quite pleasantly surprised at how light weight and comfortable the 11 Neo were when placed in my ears! Regardless of whether or not I was using the cable clip, I did not get a sense of pulling or weightiness with the cable itself, and the buds sat perfectly in my ears without needing adjustment.
    
First Impressions
 
    Like most headphones I always like to start with a blank slate; No in depth reading of reviews, looking over FR curves, or reader’s impressions. I like to come across things in a more organic, natural manor, so needless to say I was going in blind. Judging by the packaging alone, things were already starting to look positive for the 11 Neo. As with Meze’s Classics line, the presentation of of the box and packaging of the product makes one feel as if they are receiving a premium product, a tactic that not only is appreciated but mirrors my own philosophy; First impressions matter! The 11 Neo along with the carry case containing the accessories were nicely nestled in foam, and to add a bit of personality make up the shape of the Meze logo! Nice, and well done!
 
 
    I didn’t marvel too long, and didn’t even bother to change the stock tip, I just wanted to hear! My initial reaction upon pressing play on my iPod? Wow, not bad, not bad at all! The 11 Neo got a respectable nod. Honestly, I was expecting something with a little more pizzaz, instead I was greeted with a very balance, almost neutral sound! Random track after track, no matter what the genre, the 11 Neo remained controlled and consistent, and before I realized 2 hours had passed!  “ Well, so far so good! “ I chuckled to myself. Already I started to notice the effects of burn-in, and as it was late decided to run pink noise until I got home from work the next day.
    
    The next day I decided to switch things up and spend some time using the 11 Neo with my iFi stack and play some lossless/High-Rez audio. First up was 24/96 “ Spanish Harlem “ by Rebecca Pidgeon (the usual) and oh boy was I not expecting what I heard; Sonic greatness! “ Had the 20 hours of burn-in open the 11 Neo up? “ I thought to myself so I tried a few tracks with piss poor dynamic range (in comparison) and they sounded like poop. So I tried a few tracks with “acceptable” DR and things sounded pretty good. Finally I went back to HD audio and once again blown away with what I was hearing! I soon realized that the 11 Neo are in the same category as the Sennheiser HD 598; Garbage in garbage out! While the 11 Neo handles modern music admirably, the ‘High-Rez Sound’ logo presented on the back of the box actually means something!
 
    I currently own IEMs ranging from $80-$200 CND as well have owned several BA and multi-BA IEMs in the recent past, and a common factor I find is that most will colour the sound too much with their “house sound”, meaning that modern music and High-rez audio all sound the same. In other words they don’t scale well. While this is great for the masses who really couldn’t care less about bits and compression as it makes all music sound good. For an audiophile, this is unacceptable. I want to hear the flaws in the recordings, and the 11 Neo allow me to do that! Needless to say, my first impressions have been nothing but positive.
    
Sound - The Basics
 

 
Bass - Slightly above neutral, the bass hits with authority and extends deep! There is a slight bow to the bass response, but in no way would it be considered to have a “mid-bass hump”. Sub-bass is nicely weighted with the perfect amount of rumble to be satisfying with modern music yet not offend audiophiles. Upper-bass has excellent slam and punch, and despite it’s elevation extending down into the lower-mids in no way does it bleed into nor overpower the rest of the spectrum. While being a touch loose, overall bass is tight with a fast elasticity quality to it. 
 
Mid Range - Meze smooth! Need I say more? Ok ok, if I must! Those familiar with the Classics line will feel at home with the 11 Neo; The whole midrange is liquid! While the lower mids are elevated, it is done so to add just the right amount of body to vocals. Upper-mids are ruler flat, giving a more natural presentation to instruments and effects while maintaining clarity for vocals. Texture comes across as being organic possessing great texture and resolve. As the midrange makes up the bulk of music, the 11 Neo never fails to impress with how natural and effortless they render this section of the frequency response.
 
Treble - Detailed yet laid back, despite the slight boost in the lower region. Normally, to my ears, any boost in the lower treble results in harshness and peakiness, especially in regards to sibilance. Not so with the 11 Neo! Even with artists known for sibilance, the 11 Neo kept things under control while still adding some excitement to instruments and effects. Overall the lower treble is crisp and clean, with just the right amount of sparkle. Upper treble is gently rolled off. There is a good sense of air and in no way would call the upper treble recessed, but this region definitely takes a back seat to the rest of the spectrum, let alone lower treble.
 
Soundstage -  The 11 Neo’s soundstage is pretty large especially considering their size though not entirely even. Width is definitely smaller than height and depth, though not by too much. I would consider the 11 Neo’s soundstage to be big, rather than spacious. Instrument separation is excellent for their class, though while never sounding congested there was a shortfall in overall “black space” between the sounds. In other words, there could be improvements in overall focus. 
 
Sound - Summary
 
    The 11 Neo offer a very balanced yet exciting sound. I really can not find any overwhelming fault with the overall sound and presentation. It matters not what genre I throw at them, the 11 Neo perform admirably across the board. I will say though that in my testing I did find because of their balanced sound, some genres performed better than others. Rap, dance, pop, and electronica were well rendered, especially in the vocals and effects regions, but some may find the 11 Neo to be somewhat lacking in bass for their taste, despite their ability to reach deep. For me it’s not an issue; Quality over quantity. Classical, jazz, and rock are definitely better suited for the 11 Neo. 
 
    Thus far one might think that Meze has released a giant killer. In a sense they have. Given their low price point they do offer a great smooth, detailed, and no-fatiguing sound experience. However, they are what they are; An entry level headphone. Don’t expect to throw away your IE80s by any means, the 11 Neo are not in the same echelon (though I will note that IMO their construction and design are on par). So what level of sound does the 11 Neo offer? In terms of overall resolve they are in the same category as my Grado SR60i and Polk Nu Voe, and at the same time blow away my Monster Lady Gaga Heat Beats, all three headphones costing nearly double that of the 11 Neo! Not too bad at all!
 
Amping
 
    Being 16 Ohms with a sensitivity of 101 dB, the 11 Neo are able to be driver by most sources and achieve a defining volume. While adding an amp in the mix is always a benefit, I found the 11 Neo to be just as enjoyable using my iPod as my iFi stack. These are meant to be on-the-go IEMs so plug them in to whatever you have, push play, and enjoy!
 
Burn-in
 
    40 hours is what is recommended by Meze, and I highly encourage anyone to give the 11 Neo at least that amount of time before any critical reviews. Bass becomes more controlled, less loose and bloomy, and treble detail definitely comes up a few notches. Overall, after burn-in the sound becomes less ridged and and more natural and balanced..
 
Value
 
    Stylish, rugged, and great sound, at $59 US one simply can not go wrong with the 11 Neo! In my humble opinion, their timeless design and solid construction warrant a much higher price tag, let alone their competent and scalable sound. I am not sure how Meze managed to release such quality products at the price point they do! While their competitors use cheap plastic and equally cheap cables, Meze gives them the hand and used high quality natural materials with one of the sturdiest cables I have seen on an IEM in this price range, and include genuine Comply ear-tips! Even the standard silicone tips are of higher quality than many IEMs I have purchased costing upwards of 2X the 11 Neo’s price!  Being an affordable $59, whether you are a headphone junkie or simply needing a new pair of IEM, the 11 Neo are a bargain!
 
Conclusion
 
    The 11 Neo’s rugged yet timeless design, balanced sound, and $59 price tag easily give them the upper hand over the competition. Once again Meze has a real winner on it’s hands! Meze never intended the 11 Neo to be a giant killer and compete with flagship models from such established companies such as Sennheiser or Shure, rather offer an affordable, gorgeous IEM that is both a good starting point for those wanting to experience High-Rez audio, or simply needing a great sounding IEM solid and sturdy enough that they can take on the go anywhere. It is clear that the great folks at Meze really care about quality products, and with their recent release of well multiple received headphones is determined to carve out it’s legacy within the headphone community. Kudos to you guys, and keep up the great work!
 
 
 
 
 

Meze is a Romanian company which became widely known on a portable audio market after releasing its wooden 99 Classics model. These headphones became a hit due to a semi-portable form factor, comfort, attractive fashionable design and very enjoyable sound excellent for its price point.

Still, they did not stop and, trying to reinforce success, released two budget dynamic in-ear monitors: Meze 11 and 12. The first one (which is around USD 60) was sent to me for an honest and unbiased review, and I want to thank Meze for this.

I should first note that my experience with IEM is a bit limited by now, so the nuances I mention should be taken with a grain of salt. It would be great for you to read other reviews as well should you consider getting a pair for yourself.


Now, let’s talk about Meze 11 in a bit more details.

Package and built quality

A cardboard box with the harp-like illustration give a pleasant first impression. Inside you’ll find the earphones themselves, as well as carrying case and a set of tips (a variety of silicons and a pair of Comply foams). While the selection is pretty standard for the price, there’s nothing wrong or really missing. Silicone tips are of a high quality, and the case is well-made and sturdy enough not to worry while carrying IEMs inside it in your pocket or at the bottom of a backpack. In my opinion, the case could be made just slightly larger so earphones would fit into it more easily, but that’s nothing more than a matter of taste.

What really impressed me is the build quality and design of Meze 11 which is a pleasure to look at and feel in your hands. Metal splitter, jack and iOS/Android mic and remote all have the same size and style, and the whole set really looks terrific. I’m not the first to assume they are built at a much higher quality than their price point (and surpass some more expensive models).

Cable, fit and isolation

Cable feel very durable, while at the same time it is flexible and doesn’t feel heavy. It’s also not prone to tangling at all. The only downside is a significant level of microphonics, however, wearing Meze 11 over the ear or using shirt clip eliminates the cable noise.

Having quite an average ear size, it was not a problem at all to fit them using medium stock tips (and, by the way, the drivers themselves are quite lightweight). Isolation is fine for a dynamic driver model. Outside noise is mostly blocked when the music is turned on, but for public transport or other noisy environments you may need to experiment with the tip rolling more carefully. I’m personally not a fan of “total” isolation while walking around the city, so in this case it is more that sufficient.

Sound

I tried Meze 11 with Nexus 5 smartphone, Hidizs AP100 MM2 (MuguelMod) DAP and iMac-based home system using HRT microStreamer + Meier Corda ROCK.

These IEMs are easy to drive and play well enough from all of them, however, their sound quality grows significantly as you move to a better source. Overall, their potential is quite high.

Tonality of Meze 11 is more or less neutral, not bassy or V-shaped. Their sound is linear, but not boring or dull.

Dynamic bass is solid and lively, but not emphasized. Its level is enough where it exists in the actual record, however, it’s not even remotely close to a basshead level (so those who prefer some “ear massage” might want to look elsewhere). Still, I can say that with a solid-state amplifier like Meier ROCK they do punch really well on funk or hip-hop recordings.

Midrange is just slightly warm (and even “tubey”), it feels pleasant and expressive but without oversweetening effect. Resolution is very decent for a dynamic model. Vocals to me do not seem forward or recessed, everything’s just in its own place.

Treble is a bit more tricky since it does not feel rolled back (as it often happens in some earphones to achieve a “comfortable” sound). Some listeners may not be used to such a signature. Personally, I did not feel any discomfort or fatigueness, maybe because both my DAP and amplifier are slightly dark-sounding. Still, I think treble-sensitive people should try hearing these earphones before making a purchase decision.

Comparison with other dynamic models

Shozy Zero

Zero is something like an antipode to Meze, with a much significant accent of lows and slightly rolled off highs. Overall, Shozy is darker. To my ears, both models are quite close technically (and priced similarly, by the way), so it’s more or less a matter of tuning preference. It also depends on the DAP synergy (for Zero, a brighter source might be preferable). Fit and isolation are similar, while Meze’s build quality seems more solid for long-term use, although Shozy’s woodies are also made very well (their main weak side, in my opinion, is a tangling cable).

Fostex TE-05

This is a more V-shaped model with mids (and not highs, like in Zero) slightly rolled back. Bass level is higher than Meze 11’s. Build quality is similarly good, but drivers of Fostex are larger in size (so wearing them under your winter hat is less convenient). TE-05 has detachable cables, but their MMCX jack is slightly different from the standard, so it does not make much sense if you plan to use third-party cable. And, the price is higher (around USD 90-100 in various online stores), and I’m not really sure if the difference is justified since the budget segment nowadays is so crowded.

Overall, all three models are of a similar class, and the choice depends mostly on your sound tastes and the music source (be it DAP or smartphone) that you plan to use.

Conclusion

I am definitely happy with Meze 11 and its excellent value for money. It will hardly suprise owners of expensive BA or hybrids earphones with its resolution, but as a daily driver which is durable, easily driven and universal you can hardly go wrong with it. Meze is also a good choice just to try either the IEM form factor (due to its lightness and good seal) or the neutral tuning without overemphasized bass.

About
 
Meze is an audio company from Romania which established in 2009 by Antonio Meze. The company mission is exactly what audiophile seek for: “…raise the bars in terms of audio quality and design for headphones in general. We want you to feel the music you like, we want to give you the chance to enjoy that special song, just as the original artist intended it to sound…”
You can understand what that statement mean when you look at their product line – wooden over-ear headphones with 3 color versions and in-ear headphones with two made from aluminum and one made out of wood. Today we will review the in-ear headphones called 11 NEO.
 
Specs
 

1.     Frequency response: 16Hz - 24KHz
2.     Impedance: 16Ohm
3.     Sensitivity: 101dB (+/- 3db)
4.     Total harmonic distortion: < 0.5%
5.     Noise attenuation: up to 26dB
6.     Titanium coated 8mm mylar driver
7.     3.5mm gold-plated jack plug
8.     7N OFC cable, length: 1.2m

 
Box
 
The box looks simple but feels strong enough to withstand drops and keep the headphones safe when shipping. Inside there is a foam which hold the headphones and case in place. Inside the case there are 5 different size ear-tips which include the famous COMPLY foam tips that are known for their great noise isolation.
 
Build
 
Outside the 11 NEO doesn’t look so different than other earphones. They aren’t as exciting as their bigger brother the 99 Classics, but don’t let it fool you, they are very well made. The headphone body is one piece aluminum with nice curve and feel.
 
The cable feels strong and tangle proof but unfortunately is prone to microphonics. In order to avoid this, just use the included shirt clip and you are set to go. Another small issue is that the left and right symbols are on the cable and are very hard to read, so just remember that the right side is where the inline remote.
 
Remote
 
The inline remote includes a microphone and one button that controls all functions - answer calls, play, pause, forward and back. I would like it more if the button was bigger. Calls sounded clean and clear, no complains here.
 
Comfort
 
Thanks to the wide selection of ear-tips it’s easy to find the right one for you. I liked the COMPLY because they are comfortable for long use and isolate outside noise pretty darn good.
 
Because the headphones have a curved body I found that it was much easier to put them on and off. It was different as night and day in compression to the Echobox Audio Finder X1.
 
Music
 
The 11 NEO has very natural sound signature, not the wideset I ever heard but still descent. They sound very balanced and linear – real nice surprise for a 59$ headphones. The bass has very good tight texture which goes very nicely with a variety of genres. The mids feel moderately-forward with excellent clarity. The treble is detailed and accurate but not harsh.
 
When I listened to classic and rock I noticed that the 11 NEO has a nice airy presentation. The instruments sounded great with good separation. Electro music was less impressive because it lacked that low bass and high pronounced treble.
 
I feel like the COMPLY’s emphasize the bass a bit. It was nice in heavy bass songs but less in songs with a singer and more instruments.
 
Conclusion
 
If you had told me that these headphones cost 59$, I wouldn’t believe you. I sincerely can’t remember any in-ear headphones in the 50$– 100$ range that can provide such balanced and natural sound like the 11 NEO. Don’t forget the aluminum body, 5 ear-tips, case and the COMPLY’s that cost alone between 15 to 30 dollars.
 
There is no doubt that people who look for extreme bass and treble won’t care for the 11 NEO. These headphones are for people who look for more refined, balanced sound. These people would consider the 11 NEO as a real bargain for sure, an entry-level audiophile earphone even.
 
If you are in the market for an inexpensive in-ear headphones that provide a clear balanced sound experience the 11 NEO must be in your short list.

Greetings Head-fi!
 
Today we are going to be checking out Meze's entry level product, the 11 Neo. Morpheus would be so proud.
 
While they've been around for a while now Meze really found their stride with the 99 Classics, a headphone that has since their release in 2015 thundered on to become quite the beloved product. This year we see the release of their new in-ear models, the 11 Neo and their upgraded, wood-infused counterpart, the 12 Classics.
 
As an all-aluminum offering and the only wood-free product in Meze's lineup, you might be quick to disregard the 11 Neo as a simple budget offering. I'm here to tell you that underestimating this little guy is not a wise move. It offers up most of the performance and features of their more expensive sibling at a more budget friendly price.
 
Disclaimer:
 
I would like to thank @MezeTeam for sending the 11 Neo along with the 12 Classics as part of their Head-fi 12 Classics review tour. I am not receiving any financial compensation for this review and all comments and views within are my honest opinions. They are not representative of Meze or any other entity.
 
The 11 Neo can be purchased from Meze at the cost of 59.99 USD and is available in two colors;
 
Gunmetal - https://mezeheadphones.com/collections/all/products/meze-11-neo-gun-metal-earphones
 
Iridium - https://mezeheadphones.com/collections/all/products/meze-11-neo-iridium-earphones
 
A Little About Me:
 
 

---

 

---

 
Packaging and Accessories:
 
If you've checked out any review of the 12 Classics, the 11 Neo's unboxing experience will be familiar. If not, know that it is quite pleasant and appropriate considering the cost of entry. The cardboard selected for the exterior packaging is much thicker and more durable than the flimsy stuff used by most of the competition. There are some direct nods to Meze's trident logo which are pretty cool, such as the way the earphones are oriented in the image on the front of the package and again inside in the way the earphones themselves are stored. I personally prefer the black theme the 11 Neo has going on as it contrasts nicely with the Iridium colour choice and looks a little classier than the 12 Classics' white theme.
 
Meze didn't clutter the box with marketing speak, instead using the space to show off the earphones, features, and accessories. The frequency graph and blown up image of the 11 Neo's constituent parts are nice touches.
 
The included accessories are everything you need to ensure a good listening experience. You are provided the same silicone tips provided with a trillion other earphones in s/m/l, and a set of dual flange as well. Meze also includes a set of genuine Comply T500 Isolation tips. I didn't think they would suit the 11 Neo since they're not a bright earphone, but they paired surprisingly well and helped combat microphonics (cable noise). The shirt clip helped with that too.
 
Overall the 11 Neo's unboxing experience is pleasant. The presentation is very clean and straightforward, and the included accessories pair well with the Neo and their sound signature. Great job Meze.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Build, Design, Comfort, and Isolation:
 
Based on my experience with the 99 Classics, I had high hopes for the 11 Neo. Meze didn't disappoint. While the 12 Classics have the edge in the looks department, the 11 Neo nail fit and finish and are one of the most well put together pair of earphones I've come across.
 
The all-aluminum housings are finished in a beautiful matte silver, or Iridium as the color choice denotes. While you can see the seams where the three component parts of the housing connect, there are no unsightly gaps or rough edges. The Meze logo printed on the rear of the housing is also very crisp with well-defined details.
 
Meze selected a quality cable for the 11 Neo, one that is shared with the 12 Classics. It's thick and has a hefty, dense sheath that is reasonably flexible. Memory of bends or kinks isn't a worry. It would be near perfect if it wasn't for the overly invasive microphonics (cable noise) that nearly ruin the experience. Luckily, wearing the cable over-ear negates the issue more or less completely. I want to point out and give great thanks to Meze for getting strain relief right. At all major intersections the relief is present and effective; jack, y-split, in-line controller, and leading into the earpieces. See, everyone who is not Meze; effective strain relief isn't difficult to implement.
 
The 11 Neo are very comfortable and I can only see someone having issues if they need extremely slim nozzles like those found on the Shure SE215, Fidue A31s, or Klipsche S3. The front nozzle section is smooth and curves naturally into the rest of the housing, completely free of sharp edges or awkward angles. The curves continue along the body of the housing making gripping them easy and natural as they conform to the shape of your fingers. Finally, we get to what is oddly my favorite part of the 11 Neo, just as it was on the 12 Classics; the rear dimple containing the Meze logo. For whatever reason I find it immensely satisfying to set the tip of my finger on there. It's also useful for inserting them into your ear. Meze did their homework and nailed ergonomics.
 
Isolation is solid, and better than I was expecting given there are two vents in each earpiece; one right behind the nozzle and another in front of the strain relief. At the overly low volumes I listen they were unable to fully snuff out the whirling dervish that is my work computer and it's horribly noisy fans; not so much of an issue at more average listening volumes. It was also enough for walking around in the real world, letting in just enough external stimuli to remain fairly safe.
 
Overall the 11 Neo are an attractive, comfortable earphone made from quality materials. Fit and finish is flawless too. While not a deal killer, the cable noise is unacceptably intrusive.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Sound:
 
Tips: I'm a big fan of tips rolling and feel it is integral to getting the most out of your earphone in terms of both comfort and sound. The stock tips Meze provides are about as generic as they get, but they work. I have no complaints about them whatsoever. They're comfortable, they don't feel cheap and flimsy, and they pair well with the 11 Neo's sound signature. That said, I use KZ's new star tips. They give me a more consistent seal in my left ear, and the wider bore brings the treble forward a touch.
 
Amping: I honestly didn't spend much time with them attached to my NX1 or Rig USB amp. The 11 Neo paired beautifully with my HTC One M8 and XDuoo X3 so the need just wasn't there.
 
The 11 Neo is a lovely sounding earphone with a signature that should cater to a pretty wide audience. They aren't quite as balanced or technically competent as their walnut stablemates, the 12 Classics, but they're no less appealing.
 
Their 8mm, titanium-coated dynamic drivers are characterized by a warm and silky smooth signature. These are easily one of the most chill earphones I've had the pleasure of listening to. Their sound is well-weighted, tilting ever so slightly towards a thicker more meaty presentation. I chalk this up to a somewhat confined soundstage and some extra mid-bass. Despite this, their mid-range is stunning. If a fan of progressive rock, the 11 Neo will make for a great companion. Treble is tight, well-controlled, and well-extended, but dialed back a bit in favor of the sweet mid-range and tight, punchy low end.
 
Despite the somewhat compressed soundstage, imaging remains excellent. Sounds swirl and twist around you with confidence avoiding any 'dead-zones'. If a fan of highly detailed earphones, the 11 Neo might not cut it for you. Like the 12 Classics, I felt it was merely adequate doing only what was needed to maintain an inoffensive yet highly musical presentation.
 
The 11 Neo snuggles up to your ear canal and whispers sweet, soothing tunes to you. They breed familiar and immediately pleasing experiences that make them a very easy recommendation.
 
Select Comparisons:
 
KZ ATR (under 10 USD): The ATR is easily one of my favorite budget earphones and offers buyers an experience far beyond what their ridiculously low price tag would lead you to expect. For under 10 USD you get a well-balanced signature with solid detail.
 
The 11 Neo feels like a direct upgrade in most aspects. They're both quite warm with a mild mid-bass focus, relaxed yet well-extended treble, and a delicious mid-range. The 11 Neo falls short on overall airyness and soundstage size, but their layering, instrument placement, and stereo imaging are clearly a step ahead.
 
The 11 Neo is, as you would expect, the better built of the two. Aluminum vs. plastic housings and excellent vs. good strain relief. Their cables are similar, though KZ's offering is slimmer, more flexible, and a touch grippy which can be annoying at times.
 
The ATR features an over-ear design quite reminiscent of the ATH-IM50, which isn't for everyone. Even with their extremely thick nozzles they're one of the most comfortable earphones I've used, though I feel most would prefer the more traditional barrel-shaped design of the 11 Neo.
 
If looking to upgrade from the ATR while maintaining the same general signature, the 11 Neo would be an excellent option. The 12 Classics would be an even better choice however, as their signatures are even more in line with each other.
 
Meze 12 Classics (79.99 USD): How do the 11 Neo hold up against their more mature sibling? Quite well, to the point I feel the 11 Neo offers better value and is the model to get if you don't absolutely need the sexy walnut wood housings and are willing to sacrifice what would to most listeners would be a negligible level of technical competence.
 
The 12 Classics and 11 Neo share sound signatures, design, and for the most part, materials. The 12 Classics have slightly more emphasized treble and mids. The 11 Neo are a wee bit warmer, smoother, and slower, sacrificing some detail for listening ease. That said, unless listening to them back to back, your average listener probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
 
Build quality and ergonomics are identical minus the 11 Neo swapping out the walnut for more aluminum. To me, that by default means the Neo will be the more durable and longer lasting of the two.
 
Accutone Gemini HD w/ blue filters (129.00 USD): The Accutone Gemini HD offers up a shockingly similar experience to the 11 Neo, just with greater technical competence. A larger soundstage all-around and a lot more detail, but with the same uber-smooth, inoffensive presentation and accurate imaging.
 
Comfort on the 11 Neo is definitely better. They're lighter and lack the somewhat sharp frontal housing edges the Gemini HD suffers from. Build quality is excellent on both with the 11 Neo coming out ahead due to the less-than-premium feeling inline mic Accutone uses. The Gemini's cable is also on the thin side and strain relief is almost entirely absent, but it is very flexible and well-controlled. Even when worn cable down, cable noise isn't really a "thing" which is a huge plus compared to the 11 Neo.
 
If you really enjoy the 11 Neo's signature and presentation but feel the need to upgrade to something that's more technically competent, the Gemini HD would be a good place to start.
 

---

 
 

---

 
Final Thoughts:
 
The 11 Neo are a beautiful looking and sounding earphone with a sound signature that does nothing but please. Ergonomics and comfort are top notch, and the cable is stellar pending you can deal with the microphonics. The in-line mic is a practical addition for use with a phone, and the material quality top-to-bottom is outstanding.
 
While I can't deny that the 12 Classics are the more appealing of Meze's new earphones, the 11 Neo offers up nearly the same experience for 20 USD less. Why do you have to make choosing between the two so difficult, Meze?
 
Thanks for reading!
 
- B9Scrambler
 
***************************
 
Test Songs:
 
Aesop Rock - Saturn Missles
BT - The Antikythera Mechanism
Daft Punk - Touch
Gramatik - Bluestep (Album Version)
Incubus - 2nd/3rd/4th Movements of the Odyssey
Infected Mushroom - Converting Vegetarians
Infected Mushroom - Deeply Disturbed
Jessie J - Bang Bang
Kiesza - Hideaway
King Crimson - Starless and Bible Black
Run The Jewels - Oh My Darling (Don't Cry)
Skindred - Death to all Spies
Supertramp - Rudy

Introduction –

Meze return with another earphone that promises an impressive price/performance ratio along with a stunning design. Whilst not as cutting edge as the Meze 12 Classics, the 11 Neo is still a new in-ear earphone that holds an important place in the under-$100 price range. With impeccable build quality that matches that of it’s higher priced sibling, the 11 Neo seeks to take a place in the smooth/natural under $100 earphones. But does the 11 Neo succeed or does it’s modest price shine through it’s sonic performance? Let’s find out.

 

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Meze very much for sending me the 11 Neo for review. These are not a personal purchase and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. I will be as objective as possible during my evaluation of the 11 Neo.

Since the packaging, accessories and design are so similar, the majority of these sections will be taken from my Meze 12 Classics review.

 

Accessories –

The unboxing experience identical to that of the 12 Classics, that is to say, simple and well presenting. This time, Meze have used a darker colour scheme with a premium looking black colour scheme.

As before, the front face showcases the earphones and model number whilst the rear displays the specifications, an image outlining the internals of the earphones and a small frequency response graph. They also have the Hi-res audio approval stamp and a little logo denoting the inclusion of authentic Comply ear tips.









Sliding off the top reveals the earphones in a foam inlet and the carry case just beneath. The cable is coiled just beneath the foam insert, Meze use a small reusable Velcro strap to fix the cable as opposed to a cable tie which is nice. The case contains the ear tips and shirt clip.

It’s a very practical carrying case of your typical zipper style hard case but it’s one of the most compact solutions I’ve seen. They snugly fit the earphones coiled around 4 fingers with an elastic pocket that comfortably holds the shirt clip and an additional pair of ear tips.

The stock silicone tips themselves are decent but I had a hard time finding a comfortable fit among the various sizes (S,M,L and Double Flange). They’re well moulded but the hard reinforcement coming off the stem at the front is quite hard on the ear and the very rounded shape of the tips don’t sit particularly well. Luckily Meze provide a set of Comply T series foam ear tips with every in-ear which gave me a great fit.

Since I do prefer a slightly brighter sound, I prefer to use silicone tips at home so for the sake of this review I will be using Sony Hybrids, I would suggest that most buyers who prefer silicone tips pick up a set, they work for most earphones and provide greater comfort and seal than most stock tips. I also have the Spinfit CP100’s a try but the flexible stems made the earphones unstable in the ear, I wouldn’t recommend using them with any of the Meze earphones.

 

Design –








The design is essentially identical to the 12 Classics from the housings to the cable. They employ the same fluted housings which carry similar pros and cons as before. However, instead of that eye-catching walnut wood/gunmetal hybrid, the 11 Neo instead carries a more subdued look, consisting entirely of Gunmetal aluminium.

They look and feel just as premium, though it’s strange that they still have seams in the same places even though the entire body is the same material. Regardless, the fit and finish is superb as before, the 11 Neo are undoubtedly a fantastic looking earphone that supersedes its $100 price tag. One thing I forgot to mention in my 12 Classics review was the amount of wind noise these earphones produce. Due to the shape of the rear, the housings are very susceptible to wind noise, which in addition to the prevalent microphonics, makes them much more suited towards in-door earphone. For comments on comfort and cabling, I will quote my 12 Classics review below since they are identical:

The indented rear makes insertion simple whilst the subtly curved housings make removal from the ears similarly effortless. Despite being fully sealed, there’s also no driver flex which will aid longevity. The Meze logo adorns the outer face, it feels laser etched not painted.

The use of a metal sound tube is also great for strength and rigidity, the metal mesh protector is similarly well finished, there are no glue marks or other indication of poor workmanship.

Visuals and feel aside, the housings are moderately sized for an in ear, they’re neither small nor large but easily dwarf the Shozy Zero and Klipsch X10. Due to the tapered design and relatively shallow insertion, the aluminium back did also produce a hot spot at the back of my outer ear after listening for about 2 hours. It’s noticeable but not excruciating, they still lack the long term comfort of smaller earphones such as those aforementioned. Fit stability is good for a cable down earphone, whilst I doubt they would stay put during a run, they sat perfectly fine during my morning walks and any kind of commute during the day.

Isolation is strangely not great, they actually isolate less than the semi-vented Shozy Zero despite being sealed, I can only attribute this to the shallow fitment of the earphones since the housings are so solid. During my time with the 11 Neo, I have found a more comfortable wearing method; basically, I use a larger tip than usual for a shallower fit, it sticks out more from the ear to the point that the rears of the earphones are beyond my ear. This does alleviate the hotspot I was getting but does, of course, negatively affect wind noise, isolation and fit stability, they were clearly not designed to be worn like this.

Moving down to the cable, I really like the smooth, ever so slightly rubbery texture of the cable. It’s not removable like the SE215 but few are around this price and the 12 Classics cable is a lot better than those usually installed on such earphones anyway. It’s pretty thick for an earphone cable yet remains very pliable if not super supple with a slightly springy quality. Combined with the smooth texture, the cable does resist tangles very well. Meze also build in a nice single button remote with integrated mic.

The mic sounds fine, at least as good as that on my HTC 10, coming through nice and clear. The single button remote functions on both Android and IOS, allowing users to play/pause and skip tracks. The button is easily discerned and has a nice click.

The jack and y-split are outstanding with a matching gunmetal aluminium finish and flexible strain reliefs on all terminations that are good but not the best I’ve seen. The earphones have a gold plated straight 3.5mm plug that’s tapered like the housings to aid traction on removal. I would have preferred a right angle plug seeing as this is an earphone designed for smartphone use but at least the plug is of great quality.

Microphonics are somewhat concerning however and cable does transmit above average amounts of noise, but still less than the Klipsch X10’s and ie800’s. Meze do include a shirt clip but I would still like a chin slider at the y-split.

 

Sound –

I don’t feel that the Meze 11 Neo is necessarily a downgrade from the 12 Classics as numbering hierarchy would suggest. Rather, to my ears, the 11 Neo is instead a nice alternative with similar sound quality but a more balanced sound signature. Now, this isn’t at all uncommon, plenty of people prefer the Shure SE415 to the SE535 for example and at the end of the day, sound remains a very subjective topic. In that regard, Meze’s earphones line-up really offer the best of both worlds; if you want a super punchy, dynamic and spacious sound, the Meze 12 Classics is a great buy. But if you want a very balanced, smooth and just slightly warm sound signature, then that is what the Meze 11 Neo will deliver. As with the 12 Classics, I took a brief listen out of the box and burnt them in, the 11 Neo’s have over 100 hours on them as of this review. Again, I’m not certain that this has affected the earphones physically or whether it has simply given my brain time to adjust to the sound, but the 11 Neo now sounds more open and balanced in general. In all fairness, I was listening to the Sony MDR-1A and Denon MM-400 before receiving these earphones, both headphones that are quite thick, warm and spacious sounding, making the 11 Neo and 12 Classics sound more unnatural and thin in comparison.

The balanced sound signature of the 11 Neo’s really flatters every genre, it’s definitely one of the best-tuned earphones I’ve tested in this price range. Bass is ever so slightly accentuated, sub-bass is full and mid-bass has a little more slam than neutral, upper bass is pretty neutral for the most part. Heading into further up the frequency spectrum, the midrange has perfect presence, in line with the bass, the 11 Neo is perhaps slightly mid forward even. The midrange is pretty even overall, like the 12 Classics, the upper midrange is slightly more present granting a little extra clarity to the presentation. Treble is also quite similar to the 12 Classics, lower treble is the most prominent then it gently slopes down from there. On a whole, treble is on the more relaxed side of neutral but not recessed. It is, however, more relaxed than the 12 Classics, an already relaxed sounding earphone.

The soundstage is not as spacious as the Meze 12 Classics due to the more forward midrange, but the 11 Neo still offers one of the more spacious presentations around this price. Width is very good and depth is above average too, it’s more of an oval presentation. Despite this, imaging is very accurate, more so than the 12 Classics even. Separation is also good, they sound perhaps less separated than the more spacious 12 Classics but complex passages don’t sound congested or overbearing. Whilst space and imaging are impressive overall, separation in particular does lag behind more expensive earphones, but is well performing at this price.

In terms of driveability, the 11 Neo are identical to the 12 Classics which made comparisons a breeze. With an impedance of 32ohms and a Sensitivity rating of 101 dB, the 12 Classics are very easy to drive but not the loudest earphone around. They’re pretty much identical to the Sennheiser ie800’s in terms of sensitivity which makes them similarly if not slightly less sensitive than the average earphone. They’re also similarly resistant to hiss, I didn’t notice any noise at all on my Oppo HA-2 even when listening on high-gain nor was there any background hiss when listening through my HTC 10, very good. The sound does seem to be slightly source dependent as they sounded slightly thinner through my HTC 10, but otherwise almost they were almost identical. Most portable sources will have no issues driving the Meze 12 Classics to sufficient volumes. They saw little benefit running through my Oppo HA-2 as opposed to my HTC 10 and amping is not required but will produce very small improvements to the sound, namely the midrange becomes more natural.

 

Bass –

The bass response is punchy and articulate but natural. Sub-bass extension is very good but still not the best I’ve heard around this price, the 12 Classics have quite a bit more extension for instance. Sub-bass still has fullness and impact, it about neutral in quantity, rolling off at the lowest notes; I would say it’s similar if not a hair deeper than the Shozy Zero. The mid-bass response is the most accentuated of the entire bass response, but in the grand scheme of things, it remains quite balanced. This allows the bass to sound super punchy and tight without any tubbiness or bloat. Upper bass is similarly slightly boosted, providing a little warmth to the lower midrange, the entire bass response is textured with plenty of definition. I have no real complaints with the bass response, it’s a nice defined and well-rounded low end. The 11 Neo isn’t as vivid as the 12 Classics, but bass is more organic and natural in return. That being said, I would still point fans of more contemporary music towards the 12 Classics.

 

Mids –

With a subtle focus, the midrange on the Meze 11 Neo’s really excels. Lower mids are spot on, just very slightly warmer and full-bodied than neutral, but very, very well-tuned on a whole. Male vocals have nice presence without being overly forward. There’s no muddiness of congestion and bass spill is minimal to non-existent depending on the track. Intelligibility is also great making video and movie usage ideal. Upper mids are similarly linear but slightly more forward as with the 12 Classics. This grants the 11 Neo with plenty of clarity but there is enough body to the upper midrange to avoid that overbearing sense of brightness; a lot of other cheaper earphones that pursue this sound tend to sound almost harsh. This is also helped by the 11 Neo’s spacious soundstage which grants instruments with plenty of separation. Detailing is also a standout in this price range, the midrange resolves a similar amount to the 12 Classics and Shozy Zero but also a lot more than the Klispch X10. All in all, the midrange is very impressive and one of the standout performers in this price range.

 

Highs –  

The high end of the 11 Neo’s is quite tame, sitting behind the midrange and bass response. There’s slight emphasis on the lower and middle treble (relative to the rest of the treble) but less than the 12 Classics. Overall quantity is below neutral, there’s still plenty of treble to retain detail and engagement but higher treble notes can sound quite distant and at times truncated; the clashing of cymbals aren’t quite as atmospheric as I would like and tend to suffer from that wood stick phenomenon. So treble is definitely more laid back, I would say it complements the rest of the sound rather than driving it like some rawer, more detail orientated earphones such as the RE-400. For those looking for a revealing, hyper detailed earphone, I would point you towards one of the leaner balanced armature earphones around $100-150. The 11 Neo trades such crispness for a softer sense of detail, smoothness and a more natural tone. At the end of the day, the 11 Neo is still a $100 earphone, it is not perfect, but a lot of listeners will enjoy its sound. The treble response is more resolving than other earphones around this price, the Shozy Zero for example has a slightly more recessed treble response, but also has a darker midrange that draws more attention to the high end whilst the Klipsch x10 simply rolls off, resolving less detail in the lower notes and failing to even reproduce higher notes.

 

Verdict –

The 11 Neo’s are, to me, an even more impressive offering than the 12 Classics. With a modest asking price of $80 AUD (even lower than the ~$100 12 Classics), the 11 Neo’s sit right in the sweet spot for those looking to upgrade from their stock or cheaper earphones but don’t want to go all out on a $300-400 monitor. The 11 Neo is ultimately a very balanced, versatile earphone whose hints of added warmth and relaxed high end will surely please both audiophiles and general listeners; boot up some jazz and the 11 Neo’s respond well with real weight behind each pluck of the bass, intimate vocals and a soothing high end that softens off sibilance and the brassiness of trumpets. Play some rock and the 11 Neo’s deliver plenty of kick along with raw, full-bodied vocals and crisp, if not atmospheric highs that hit but don’t shimmer. Finally, switching to some pop streaming from the top charts on Spotify, and the Neo’s similarly flatter these lower bitrate files; bass hits hard enough without dominating the sound whilst details pop with just enough clarity. They do still lack the vibrancy of the 12 Classics, but the 11 Neo’s natural sound is often just as rewarding and sometimes more so.

Accessories – 8.5/10, Nice unboxing with a reusable Velcro strap to keep the cable neat. The included carrying case is compact and protective with a pocket for additional accessories. The stock silicone ear tips are uncomfortable for me but others seem to be having more luck, the included Comply tips work wonders for ergonomics.

Design – 8.5/10, Visually stunning and functionally brilliant, the earphones are easy to handle and have a stable fit in the ear. Comfort is as subjective as always but I would guess that a lot of listeners would have some form of contact with the sharply angled rear of the earphones forming a hotspot in the outer ear over long listening sessions. The build is fantastic, the cable is great and the inclusion of a remote with mic is extra practical for smartphone listeners. The cable is quite microphonic but the included shirt clip mostly alleviates this issue.

Bass – 7.25/10, Sub-bass is well extended, bass is articulate, clean and defined. No bloat or muddiness, slight mid and upper bass emphasis.

Mids – 7.75/10, Very linear tuning, full-bodied but clear. Upper mids have nice clarity and detailing is spot on. Balanced but very slighlty forward.

Treble – 7/10, Very polite, smooth but might be too recessed for some listeners. Rolls off at the top, upper treble sounds slightly truncated. Perfect body, isn’t raspy nor thick.

Soundstage, Imaging and Separation – 7.75/10, Simimlar to the 12 Classics overall, slightly less spacious and separated in exchange for more precise imaging. A great performer in this price range.

Verdict – 8.5/10, The Meze 11 Neo are a more balanced alternative to the similarly accomplished Shozy Zero and 12 Classics but are also a slightly more engaging alternative to the Hifiman RE-400. Whilst all these earphones have their own strengths and weaknesses, the 11 Neo is probably the more versatile of the bunch with class-leading build quality and a slightly warm sound that thrives in the ambient noise of daily commute.


Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed my review please have a look at my blog for guides and more articles like this:

https://everydaylisteningblog.wordpress.com/2016/11/22/meze-11-neo-review-like-a-hot-beverage-on-a-cold-day/

Again I would like to say a big Thank You to the Meze Team Romania for including me on the review list of their new products. After I reviewed the Meze wall nut wood 12 Classics IEM I was surprised how much they offer for the price and now is the turn of the aluminium brother, Meze 11 Neo that pretty much offer same design, same titanium coated 8 mm mylar driver. We will get to the specifications in a minute.
I would like to mention that at the time of writing this review the Meze 11 Neo sell on amazon.uk for the price of £49. When the 12 Classics is only £20 more, then I definitely recommend the more expensive ones that offer a more refined sound.
 
Specifications :
Frequency response: 16Hz - 24KHz
Impedance: 16Ohm
Sensitivity: 101dB (+/- 3db)
Total harmonic distortion: < 0.5%
Noise attenuation: up to 26dB
Titanium coated 8mm mylar driver
3.5mm gold-plated jack plug
7N OFC cable : 1.2m
 
Good to see that the same cable with microphone and play/pause button been kept even at this lower price.
 

 
Similar package like 12 Classics , different colour for the 11 Neo but then again they do not look like £49 IEMs at all. Here is where the Meze team did the magic, again.
 
 
 

 
Box and accessories: There is not much here to talk about as the 11 Neo and 12 Classics use the same box, and accessories. Good to see the Comply tips  T-500 still included and the small  round carry pouch.

 

 
 
 Build quality : Yes I know that I will repeat myself but I would like to see the removable cable included on the future Meze IEM's. I cannot really ask for that at this price point but one may have some spare cables at home that wants to use. The build quality is fantastic on the 11 Neo aluminium being used here and the iridium colour is something modern and trendy. I like it personally, we don't stare at the IEMs but we have to like the colour build and fit right?
 

 

 
Sound quality and impressions:
This it was not difficult at all especially when I wanted to compare the 11 Neo to the 12 Classics side by side. I prefer the sound of the wood used on the12 Classics to the less detailed 11 Neo. They do sound good out of the Tera Player and S6 Edge+ especially with good recordings and just like the 12 Classics are very much tips depending.
Sound, fit, comfort , noise isolation is all down to the right tips used. So do not judge them straight out of the package .They need at least 48 hours of burn in to shine.
Meze didn't mention at all about having the same copper- clad aluminium voice coil, so I guess in the 11 Neo just a normal titanium coated 8 mm mylar driver was used. I don't know exactly what effect that has on the sound quality but I prefer 12 Classics.
The bass is nice and tight ,soundstage seems to be slightly smaller ,but this is a detailed IEM with crisp clear treble. It does work well with pretty much any music genre, rap,jazz, pop but with classical music I find them slightly more suited because  of the clear treble and highs.

 

 
Conclusion and final words: You cannot go wrong with either 11 Neo or 12 Classics IEMs from Meze. Both are really well built ,great packaging and the feel when you seem them for the first time it will not help you to guess the low price they retail for. While I like them both I would recommend to get the 12 Classics if your budget is not very limited , as this IEM in my opinion offers 10% better sound vs 11 Neo.
This is one of few companies that really deliver big value at low price. Thank you Meze and I look forward to your future products.

       Let me start by sincerely thanking Meze for organizing this tour. I have (gratefully) been selected to participate in this Headphone Tour, during which I am able to listen to and keep the 11 Neo. The only requirement is to post the review which you see here. Having the opportunity to sample equipment in the comfort of my own home, with my own source and music, is an absolute joy for which I am truly grateful. The Meze 11 Neo’s MSRP is $59 (USD) and can be found here: https://mezeheadphones.com/collections/all/products/meze-11-neo-iridium-earphones
 
 
Build Quality Comfort and Accessories
 
 
       Let’s put the first thing first. My pet peeve: Manufacturers, can we PLEASE make it easy to distinguish right from left? The Meze are symmetrical earphones, and there is no angle to the nozzle. While listening to the Meze 12 Classics (Meze’s step up offering, for $20 more) for review, I figured out that the mic is to the right by listening for the breath in the right channel of Zep’s “Going to California” long before I noticed the markings on the strain relief just below the driver housing. They aren’t colored, just raised and rather small (which is necessary given the gauge of wire used, but still). I think all manufacturers need to approach this in a more user friendly way.
 
       Beyond that, I’d say Meze did very well. The real metal housings look awesome, (my sample was the Iridium color, which I find reminiscent of Apple’s Rose Gold) and I found them to be very ergonomic…easy to grip and the end of the barrel is concave making it easy to insert in the ear. Comfort was never an issue. Nothing rubs against my ears, and once a good seal was made, I never experienced any discomfort during long listening sessions. The cable appears to be of high quality and feels very robust; however the cable is VERY microphonic in my experience. Wearing them cable up didn’t work well, either. The cable may be durable, but it is too stiff, so it wouldn’t stay wrapped around my ear. Wearing the cable in that manner also put the microphone next to the angle of my jaw, which isn’t ideal for conversations and made it awkward to use the control. I found that using the included shirt clip mostly mitigated the problem, so it wasn’t a big deal for me in the long run. The clip was a royal PITA to put on, but once attached was in no danger of falling off. Meze included a good amount of accessories for this price; 5 different pairs of tips (silicone S, M, L, bi-flange, and genuine Comply), a semi rigid clamshell case (zippered & a good size to fit in your pocket) and a Velcro cable tie, as well as the aforementioned shirt clip. 
 
       Before I offer my listening impressions, I’ll start with a little about myself. I’m pushing 50 and have less than perfect hearing. I’ve been a music lover for as long as I can remember, and I learned to listen a little more critically during the few years I sold audio equipment (and the more I listen, the more I learn). My fascination/infatuation with headphones began about 4 years ago, and has only gotten stronger. The majority of my listening was done listening to FLAC, WAV & various MP3s with my Shanling M3, Fiio x3 (1st gen.), Samsung Galaxy S7, or through my HP all in one PC and Audioquest Dragonfly1.2. My tastes are fairly eclectic, but my listening centered on classic rock, folk, jazz, classical and various genres of EDM. I did burn them in for 36 hours prior to critical listening; however I did not hear any notable difference throughout my evaluation.
 
 
Sound
 
 
       While not as efficient as BA drivers, I found that I could achieve good volume with any source I tried. With my Samsung Galaxy S7, the volume isn’t graded by numbers. The volume tended to edge toward the red “unsafe” listening mark when listening to some tracks, yet the Meze never sounded strained. I found the Neo to be more forgiving of lower quality recordings, likely due to the more relaxed sound signature, and scaling up to better sources did help with detail retrieval, but it wasn’t a night and day difference. I achieved a good seal and great performance with the stock silicone tips, so I did all my listening with them. Whether because of the shallow insertion, or the vented enclosure, isolation was average, muting outside noise but not totally blocking it out. I found they performed well while traveling, but personally they wouldn’t be my 1st choice, since I tended to bump the volume a bit too much to compensate in louder environments.
 
       I found the tonal balance to be very smooth. Breaking the sound into the usual categories, I’ll work from the bottom up. Sub bass is solid, but not overly accentuated. Listening to Lorde singing ‘Royals’, I can discern the lowest notes clearly, but the mid bass has a little less punch and doesn’t grab my attention as much. I didn’t find any aspect of the bass to be sloppy at all. Listening to ‘Defense’ by Sarah Jaffe, if found it easy to distinguish between the electric bass and the lower octave synth notes. In ‘I Said’ (Michael Woods Remix) by deadmau5 the bass was powerful and energetic without becoming a sloppy blurry mess. My personal preference usually leans toward a weighty sub bass & more linear mid bass, and I think the 11 Neo’s presentation delivered in spades.
 
       Moving on to the mids, there is detail and articulation, but it is more subdued without sounding veiled. When listening to hotter recordings, sibilance was minimal, smoothed out by the more relaxed presentation. Even though there may be a perceived lack of crispness, tonally male & female vocals both sounded natural. Starting with ‘The Sound of Silence’, as reinterpreted by Disturbed, David Draiman’s voice still sounded thick rich and gravelly, which is how it is supposed to sound. The punctuations on the letter “S” in this song can accent sibilance on many earphones, but that effect was lessened here. In order to totally discredit my musical taste, I’ll confess to enjoying several of American Idol’s Alumni. In particular, the voice of Crystal Bowersox mesmerized me from the 1^st time I heard it and still does to this day. Her first release, Farmer’s Daughter, is a fine example of a recording where the vocals can be a bit too energetic on many headphones. Hearing ‘Speak Now’ on the 12 Neo, her voice wasn’t harsh, and had just the right amount of detail. Another highlight was listening to Miley Cyrus (am I discredited yet?) sing ‘Two More Lonely People’ which is a song that is reminiscent of 70’s disco. On this track the Meze accented the rich tone of her voice and the bass never intruded on the mids.
 
       Treble had a touch less shimmer for me than I’m used to but was no less enjoyable. Strings and cymbals sounded slightly further back in the mix avoiding any hint of shrillness. The cowbell played throughout the Stone’s ‘Honky Tonk Woman’ may not have sounded quite as bright as on other headphones, but it rang true and clear, and the strings on Snarky Puppy’s ‘Sintra’ were thicker than I’m used to, but very clear. Another example, ‘Funky Lover’ by Neon Grandma (a funk band released in ’98) has plenty of complex cymbal work throughout and sounded brilliant on the 11 Neo. The Neo is mellower, and may be a touch less resolving than the step up Meze 12 Classic, but there is still plenty to enjoy here.
 
       While not outstanding, the soundstage was fairly wide with a good amount of depth, and a little bit less height. Listening to Jeff Beck Live+, I felt as if I was about 3th row center in a fairly large venue. I never felt the soundstage to be overly constricted or flat, even on older recordings like the Fats Domino’s ‘Blueberry hill’. The soundstage may not be dramatically large and impressive but it never drew attention to itself at all unless I was listening for it.
 
 
Quick Comparison
 
 
       Since I was fortunate enough to be chosen for the Meze 12 Classic tour as well, I thought it would be useful to do a comparison to the 11 Neo’s more expensive sibling (retailing for $20 more). The build quality, isolation, comfort and accessories are all but identical between the two pairs (Same mic, remote, cable, and 3.5mm connectors). Whether you like the dark walnut barrel of the 12 Classic or the smooth metal appearance of the 11 Neo, the overall quality is undeniable.
 
       While sonically comparing both, there is enough of a similarity to begin to define a house sound, yet enough differences to distinguish each of them. I found the Classic to be a bit crisper overall, with a slight mid-bass emphasis, well-defined mids and slightly more energetic treble. This is not like comparing a Sennheiser HD 650 to a Beyerdynamic T70, because they have more in common than not. ‘I Said’ (deadmau5) had a little less oomph in the sub bass, and a touch more in the mid bass on the 12 Classic. Voices on the Classic were crisp without being strident; the sibilance noted in Disturbed’s ‘The Sound of Silence’ was evident and a little more pronounced. Listening to Tina’s cello in ‘First Embrace’ by Peter Kater and Tina Guo, I found the Neo to have a shade more richness in the cello; the Classics revealed a touch more bite. As much as I thought I would gravitate toward the Neo, I can honestly say I enjoy the Classic equally. If you have über-revealing sources, the Neo might be the perfect fit. If your sources are the dark and rich, the Classic could be the ticket. It really boils down to a matter of preference, and I am thrilled that I have them both.
 
 
Conclusion
 
 
       My thanks again go to the Meze team. I am very pleased to have been introduced to the Meze brand and to the 11 Neo. The 11 Neo are a smooth, musical, engaging earphone that perform well with any type of music you throw at them. Solid Build, beautiful appearance and quality accessories are the icing on the cake. If I hadn’t been familiar with Meze, and you handed me a pair and let me listen for a while, I’d have no problem believing these were easily twice the price. At $59, I’d call these a steal. Well done, Meze. Well done indeed.

    This year I feel that I’ve been truly blessed with an abundance of opportunities and humbling experiences. From marrying the woman of my dreams, to finally achieving my dreams of earning a position with the Concord Fire Department. God has truly blessed my family. I say all that to say this. I was honored earlier this year by being allowed to take part in a review of their 99 Classic model headphones and truly fell in love with them, and now I find myself being allowed to not only review one of their famed iems, the 11 Neo, but also their 12 Classic’s as well (to be reviewed at a later date). When a company allows me to take part in sampling not just one product they offer but multiple I truly feel humbled and truly honored. I’ve been reviewing products for a little over a year and have sampled a many of items; some making it to review, while others wanted just an opinion for their prototype. And each time I feel humbled by the level of trust given to me. My personal goal as a reviewer is to first and foremost convey, to the best of my ability, my true and honest opinion of a product (which has unfortunately led to a couple of lost acquaintances but my word is all I have in life) so that my readers (or viewers) can hopefully get an idea into the product they will be purchasing. Secondly, I wish to create a partnership and friendship amongst the companies I review products with and build trust so that not only can I continue to review other products, but I wish gain their trust and confidence that I will take care of the products sent to me. And lastly, I wish to someday hopefully in what small influence I can have, be able to say I contributed to the furthering of this absolutely amazing hobby we have hear in the audio world.
And thus far, from what I’ve gathered, Meze and their crew has listened to their audience about potential shortcomings in their products and has made appropriate corrections within months (i.e. larger ear pads), which says a great deal.Alright, now with all the pleasantries and my blabbering aside, please allow me to discuss my findings I’ve had with this very price approachable, Meze Headphones 11 Neo’s.
 
                                               
 
 
 
 


The Opening Experience
 
      
 
 
 

    Or what I like to call the “handshake.” From my view point, this is the closest a company can get to introducing themselves to their customers. I refer to it as a “handshake” because that’s the most applicable way of greeting someone and gauging their character (blame it on my southern roots or whatever have you). It also says a lot about how a person views the interaction. Will my outstretched hand be met with a firm handshake that bestows pride and competence? Or will I receive just a hand that’s been extended only as a courtesy that has no merit at all to it because the individual is too distracted by a phone (or other distractant) or because of no interest at all?
Thankfully, the Meze 11 Neo’s are most closely related to the reflection of pride and competence. To be honest and upfront, at a MSRP of only $60 I wasn’t expecting the moon or even much more than basic plastic cut outs. But Meze delivers their product in a manner I rarely find outside of $100-150 products.
The box itself is a nice cardboard that isn’t too bogged down with boasting jargon. The front bestows a picture of the 11 Neo’s in a manner representing the Trident (at least I believe that’s what it is) trademark. The back shows the making of the iem (which never did anything for me personally), a frequency graph (which is always a welcomed addon), the normal specification, and their name and company motto. Very simplistic, just how I like it.
Upon opening the package (again, I wasn’t expecting much more than plastic) I was presented the 11 neo in a precision cut foam container that held the iems in Meze’s trident design. This simple thing rather impressed me. That small and likely quick thing to do spoke wonders, to me, about the pride they show in their company which reflects in the products presentation.
Now, under the iems you’re given a respectable semi-hard round case to carry and protect the 11 Neo’s in. Then finally, inside said case is a very nice assortment of tips as well as a pack of Comply memory foam.
To sum, if I haven’t shown my point, I was rather impressed with the “handshake” that felt both full of pride and company competence.

Construction
 
                                                                     
 

    Cool, I was given a very nice “handshake” great. But was I given a product that I will only be able to use for a short time? Or, do I have a well made gem that feels I would have it for years to come? With proper care, I’m going to sway my vote towards the later.
The driver housing is encompassed in aluminum, which in and of itself is extremely durable, and of course each is sporting the trident logo.
The cable is made respectable. Nothing about it shouts out one way or another to me in terms of durability, it does look good though. Moving down, on the right side you’ve your single button universal mic that’s also encased in aluminum. Lastly, towards the bottom of the cable you’ve an aluminum splitter (not the share headphones kind), again with the Meze logo, and aluminum aux jack.
So overall the cable does some very nice aesthetics and with respect to the $60 price not a bad construct either. One drawback I will say is that there does possess some microphonics. It’s not terrible by any stretch of the word, but it present nonetheless.

Comfort

    Hmm, ok, so I’ve been given a great introduction to the product and it’s even built well. But can I wear it for long periods??!?!?! Of course this section is going to be quite subjective but as a general idea I’ll say absolutely. Now, I didn’t use the tips that were supplied with the unit for I used my personal Comply memory foam tips (which the 11 Neo does come with 1 pair). The 11 Neo’s aren’t heavy in the slightest and even after a short period of time they kinda just drift away and I forget they are even in my ear. This is rather unfortunate because the warm and soft tonality of them (which will be discussed further in the next section) makes them perfect to sleep with. What makes it unfortunate is that they protrude out too far and put too much pressure on the ear which is not comfortable in the very least.
Short section but iems are kinda hard to discuss. As to the 11 Neo, they’re wonderful with everything except for sleeping in. Oh, about forgot, but the isolation factor (with the Comply tips) is alright; nothing really exceptional.

Sound

    Alright, we’re finally putting Meze’s 11 Neo in our ears, how do they sound? For those who’re familiar with Meze’s house sound, will find themselves right at home. The 11 Neo’s present a very nice and warm sound that’s great for relaxing and just enjoying the music. The soundstage is rather close but not suffocating and the imaging is there but don’t expect to be drifted away in the a visual performance. These are very musical earphones that are the perfect summer day on a beach kinda slow. But allow me to delve more into the individual aspects of the sound so that I may explain my findings of the sound better shall I?

Treble

    The treble on the 11 Neo’s are smooth, soft and clean. They don’t have nor show too high of extension and in fact they peak quite early but this, though initially sounding unappealing, blends very well into the overall sound signature the 11 Neo possesses. There’s no harshness at all when listening to these, even after an entire cd of fast paced violin of high keyed pianos, my ears never got fatigues. Now, when listening to symbols (I’m unsure at what frequency that is) I do hear some distortion that seems like the drivers are overworking themselves in that particular range and they just get tired.

Mids

    I swear, I think those of you who follow my reviews (rather on here or YouTube) are sick of hearing why I like mids so much but my goodness do I. What other range can you hear the artist's soul and feelings they’re trying to portray in their music? And wow does Meze and their team know how to make some beautiful mids (for what I like).
Now, being respectful to the very VERY low price point these are being asked for ($60), the mids are very lifelike and appealing to listen to. You can (and I have) very easily listen to either music or talk shows or even youtube videos for hours and be amused by the level of realism (with respect to price) that the 11 Neo bestows.
Stepping into the price no question for a moment, though these are really smooth to listen to there is a few things that could be improved on. For example when the artists is snapping their fingers or entertainer is talking there is a “flesh to bone” aspect that isn’t that present in the 11 Neo that I wish was. It’s something that really ties in real life and audio product.

Bass

    The heartbeat of the product. The bass is what controls the pace of the product (for the most part). As relating to the 11 Neo’s, the bass is slow, smooth, and exaggerated with longer decay. Like in the treble section, this is something that looks horrible on paper because the standard everyone looks for and THINKS they must have is a flat response with lightning quick responses. Now there’s nothing wrong with those looking for products like that but I’d recommend you look elsewhere. Because the way the Meze has tuned the signature of the 11 Neo is beautiful and I honestly wouldn’t (or rather couldn’t without raising the price) change anything about it.
Right quick before I end this section I do want to disclose an advisory against those who like listening to metal or bass heavy music. Though the 11 Neo is a great all rounder it really doesn’t have that great of a bass hit. It has a pretty steep drop off from the upper-mid bass range down.

Conclusion

    To conclude the Meze Headphones 11 Neo, they live up to, no they’ve greatly exceeded my expectations of what I expect from a very inexpensive and consumer friendly priced product. These are a great all rounder for those who enjoy a far more musical product vs a sonically accurate one. The presentation is very smooth and relaxing and is built soundly enough so that as long as one takes care of it, should last for many years to come.

                                                          

Also, make sure to check out my unboxing and review videos. They’re pretty awesome AND you getta put a face to the Army-Firedawg name. If this review helped you out at all please hit that thumbs up button for it really helps me out a lot. Till next time my friends, stay safe.

Company Meze with their model 99 Classics literally took personal audio market by storm. Offering great price, stylish and functional design and superb sound, their headphones didn't have any option but to succeed. Meze, of course, decided to continue development and recently released two models of IEM — 11 Neo and 12 Classic. Did they managed to repeat the success of elder model? I've tried to find this out with 11 Neo.

First of all, I'd like to thank Meze for providing me their earphones in exchange for my honest review.

As usual, I won't spend much time, describing packaging, accessories set and build quality. There are few good reviews from respected Head-Fiers, covering this. So, just my own subjective impressions.

Box is really good, small, but sturdy, with excellent cardboard quality and polygraphy. Accessories set is absolutely nice for this price range. Earphones build really good: metal body with interesting unusual shape, thick reliable cable, strain reliefs everywhere. 11 Neo reach perfect both in esthetics and stamina. Due to small size, they fit nicely in almost every ears, and offers good comfort and nice sound isolation (not the greatest, but anyway good).


I should also mention Meze's attention to details. For example — jack, cable splitter and talk control block have similar design and size, so it gives 11 Neo much more expensive look. This level of accuracy usually can be expected from mid tier models with price starting at \~$200, but this earphones costs just 59.00€.

So, without any futher delays I continue to the sound.



For this IEMs evaluation I've used following gear.

• NuPrime DAC-10H and Resonessence Labs Concero HP as DAC/amps
• Apple MacBook Pro Retina 2013 as a source
• Audirvana+ as a player
• Lotoo PAW Gold, Fiio X7 and Luxury&Precission L5Pro as portable DAPs

I gave this IEMs 48 hours of burn-in, but there were no big change in sound.

In this model Meze decided to make almost flat frequency response, but without being too neutral, and lifeless sounding. Such models are pretty rare among dynamic IEM, since many users prefer the "traditional" V-shaped frequency response. By the way, for the latter, Meze created model 12 Classic.


Bass in the Neo is quick enough and has noticeable depth (not a record one, of course, but pretty good). This model won't satisfy those, who like strong low frequencies accent. Furthermore, the amount of bass here depends on used tips, for example, SpinFits and double-flanged tips can raise the amount of LF. Personally I prefer more neutral and polite bass, so I've chosen large single-flanged tips, giving perfect amount for me. With this option, bass is really detailed, but without being too dry. It has nice texture and layering. Lows are controlling really good and don't bleed on mid frequencies.

Mids of this earphones tend to be neutral, non embellishent and play just what is present on recordings. Compared with more mid-centric IEMs, 11 Neo sounds more modestly, but at the same time more skillfully. Of course, there is no such crazy level of microdetails like in BA IEMs, but for dynamic driver resolution is really good. Imaginary stage is above average in width and about average in depth, but layering is really good. Instruments sounds realistically and separated well.


Treble is also quite good for its price. In comparison with the more expensive models, I can spot some lack of decays refinement, but it's noticeable only on some tracks, and in comparison with models that is 3-4 times more expensive. Meze's engineers were able to avoid the two extremes - they did not emphasize the highs to create the effect of "detalisation" and did recess this part of the range for a "comfortable" sound. For treble-sensitive persons 11's can be a bit "too much", but to my taste, these earphones are very well balanced on highs.

This model plays pretty good with mobile phones and inexpensive players, but because of its neutral representation, they can sound dull, if source didn't manage to saturate music with a sufficient level of nuances. With good DAPs of middle segment, situation changes dramatically, the sound is live and realistic, it is one of the most natural of headphones in its price range. This model also has reasonable sensitivity around 100 dB, so they are pretty tolerant to the background hiss of DAPs. One small drawback IMHO, is lacking of option without headset.


Style-wise, this model is universal enough, if you like not embellished representation, but of course, neutral representation suits best for classic, chamber music, vocal, jazz with a small number of instruments. Simply put, those styles where technicality is necessary.

To conclude, Meze were able to repeat everything necessary for success. 11 Neo offers cool design, normal price and interesting sound. Of course, neutral representation does not fit all, but Meze have "complimentary" model 12 Classics, focused just on the fans of the "traditional" signature. I must admit that good sound became more and more affordable, and it's a good news for the regular music lovers.

As usual, I've made a first impressions video.

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]

​

[/color]

 

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]

-Introduction-​

[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]I review a lot of budget earphones in the $30–$60 range. It’s not uncommon for me to review an earphone in this price range that’s lauded as a giant-killer, only to be severely disappointed in it’s lackluster performance. The 11 Neo challenges the notion that budget earphones need to be compromised in order to deliver both a dynamic listening experience and a solid construction. While it’s not perfect, Meze made sure that the 11 Neo is worth your serious consideration.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The Meze 11 Neo can be bought directly from Meze for $59 in either the Iridium or Gun Metal color here.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Disclaimer: This review is based upon a sample unit provided to me by a manufacturer or distributor in exchange for my honest opinion and un-edited words. I do not profit in any way from the writing of the review. I would like to thank Lorand at Meze for sending me this review unit[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Preference and Bias: Before reading a review, it is worth mentioning that there is no way for a reviewer to objectively pass judgment on the enjoy-ability of a product: such a thing is inherently subjective. Therefore, I find it necessary for you to read and understand what I take a natural liking to and how that might affect my rating of a product.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]My ideal sound signature would be an extended sub-bass with a leveled, but textured, bass. The mids should be slightly less pronounced than the treble, but still ahead of the bass. I prefer a more bright upper range.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Source: The 11 Neo was powered like so:[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]PC optical out-> HifiMe SPDIF 9018 DAC 3.5mm out-> earphones[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]or[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]HTC One M8 3.5mm out -> earphones[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]or[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Nexus 6P 3.5mm out -> earphones[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]All music was served as MP3 @320Kbps or as FLAC.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]

-Sound Signature-​

[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Initial Impressions:[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The 11 Neo sounds like a gentle V-shaped earphone. Mids aren’t too recessed, but aren’t in your face either. Treble is fairly prominent, but not overbearing. Bass is lifted, but not bloated. It’s a very good, synergistic tuning, that I find easy to listen to. It handles everything that I throw at it well. Crywolf’s Stardust Redux remix? Impactful. Red’s Hymn For the Missing? Sonorous. ACDC’s Shoot to Thrill? Electric. Resolution could be better, but for $60 I expect nothing more from the 11 Neo.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Treble: Songs used: White Flag, Midnight City, Outlands[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Treble is slightly forward, but not in your face. The 11 Neo does a good job keeping micro-details present, but macro details from overpowering and pushing away other parts of the song. Extension is decent, but nothing spectacular. The 11 Neo does a decent job in maintaining an orderly experience in Outlands by separating the violins and layering them well. Treble-wise, you don’t even really miss the super upper-treble as what you currently have is more than enough to feel like the song is full bodied.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Mids: Songs used: Flagpole Sitta, Jacked Up, I Am The Highway, Good Life[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Mids are slightly recessed, but still bodied and detailed. I really like how Meze managed to tune the 11 Neo so that, despite the recession of emphasis, the tonality of the guitars, drums, and pianos doesn’t get smudged away or removed. Jacked Up’s pianos weren’t as tight edged as I would have liked, but still sounded nice. The 11 Neo really opened up what I consider to be a rather dense song in terms of the mids, really separating out each instrument nicely. There are two pianos in Jacked Up, something I didn’t really notice until now.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Bass: Songs used: Lights, Gold Dust, 99 Problems (Hugo Cover), Leave Me[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The 11 Neo is definitely not a bass-head’s IEM. Instead of opting for as much impact and rumble as possible, Meze chose to give bass only a slight elevation in emphasis, preserving the 11 Neo’s ability to play a multitude of genres well, while still being able to provide depth to the songs that need it. Light’s kick drum was well-shapen, and had a good wetness to it. This is also true in Gold Dust. While it’s certainly not as good at shaking your skull as hybrid IEMs like the Rose 3D-7, it is no slouch either. The wet bass-drop of Gold Dust resolved very well, just not as deeply as some listeners might want. Bass (to my ears) peaks at 80Hz range, and begins to decrease in emphasis around 50Hz.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Leave Me’s drop also resolved well, having a good amount of depth and wetness to it. However, the impact and rumble just wasn’t there. You could tell that the 11 Neo’s bass was firing on all cylinders, but it just wasn’t tuned for this sort of music.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Clarity: Songs used: Throne, Map of The Problimatique, I’m Not Alright[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The 11 Neo handled Throne very well. While the mids did have a hard time keeping up, I found that there was little to no distortion. The story continues onto I’m Not Alright. The 11 Neo does an admirable job resolving the many instruments in the chorus, but ultimately fails to get the treble-bound details pushed through the din. That’s okay though, as I don’t expect a budget IEM like this to be able to do what a $400 IEM like the Pisces BA can.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Sound Stage[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Sound staging is definitely intimate. Even in big open songs like those on Daft Punk’s Tron soundtrack, the 11 Neo pulls the instruments closer to you. This makes the 11 Neo a good on-the-go IEM, but might not cut it for those symphonic critical listening sessions.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Packaging / Unboxing[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]I’ve just moved, and had to leave my camera behind. Unfortunately, I could not take any good pictures of the boxes before I left. However, before I did leave, I did jot down some notes:[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]

1. Good size, with informative graphs
2. Not too much marketing jargon
3. Pictures of the item present and non-rendered
4. Solid internal protection of the product

[/color] [color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]If you want to see some images, please look around on Head-Fi. I’m sure others have taken some good photos.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]

-Build-​

[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Construction Quality[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)][/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)][/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Construction quality is pretty good, as per Meze’s mantra. The driver housings, Y-splitter, and 3.5mm jack base are all made from brushed aluminum, giving the 11 Neo both a premium and a durable feeling. The aluminum build is very light, so much so that it doesn’t even feel like metal at all.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The cable is also pretty nice, and has an almost carbon-fiber like appearance. It has a nice heft to it, and has a smooth finish. It is comfortable to wear under the shirt, and doesn’t catch on random things. It also has a pretty low amount of memory, leaving all but the most bent parts of the cable free from untidy and unkempt curvature.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Meze did a good job with the stress-relief of the 11 Neo, ensuring that there was enough plastic all around the build to relive any mechanical tension that may be exerted upon the cable.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)][/color]
 
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]However, my favorite feature of the build by far is the gentle depression on the back of the driver housings. It makes the 11 Neo look pretty classy, but also forms a very handy place for you to easily press the 11 Neo into your ears.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The in-line controls are also pretty sturdy. The button is nice and clicky, but is a little difficult to get a double-press off of due to its spring-back time. If this was adjusted, I would give the 11 Neo full marks on build quality.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Controls[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The 11 Neo has a mono-button set of inline controls which includes a microphone. The button, as I mentioned earlier, is nice, but is hard to double-press due to the amount of time it takes to spring back.[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]Comfort[/color]
[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The Neo is comfortable, but doesn’t entirely disappear into your ear. I had no trouble finding a fit with the included silicone tips, and definitely didn’t have a hard time with the included Comply.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]

-Accessories-​

[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.6)][/color]


[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The 11 Neo is stocked fairly well for a $60 earphone. The case is also pretty sturdy and is thin enough to put in your pocket without having to worry about whether or not your shiny new earphones are going to get hurt in transit.[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]

-Summary-​

[/color]

[color=rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.8)]The Meze 11 Neo is a very good budget IEM. With a natural and versatile sound signature, you really can’t go wrong with it for $60. While it could use some work on the inline control’s button, the aluminum build of these inexpensive IEMs is flawless. Good job Meze, you’ve made us a budget-based winner.[/color]

 
When Anthony Meze revealed the 99 Classic full-sized headphones, he surprised everyone with their unique design and good sound. Not content to stop there, he turned his attention to IEMs, the result of which is the 11 series and the latest metal "Neo" version. Like the 99s, he sought both a classy design and good sound, and from my initial impressions has managed to pull of both. Out of the box they are elegant, from the aluminium earpieces, splitter and plug, to the translucent cable through which you can see the braided shield of the high-quality cable.
 

A small, round pouch is included in the box, along with Comply isolating foam tips and a cable clip. The Neo 11s only came with a smart-phone cable, though most portable electronics are wired to handle this now and I had no trouble using them with a Chord Mojo or any DAPs I had to hand. The standard tips are medium-bore and appear to be the same as those that come with the DITA IEMs.  As the tip bore width affects the sound signature, I found that this was quite important when choosing tips to use with them.
 

 

 

I've usually been disappointed by inexpensive IEMs, but after listening to the $50 Shozy Zeros, my expectations were high. Thankfully I wasn't disappointed -- on the contrary, I was very surprised by the quality of what I was hearing from their single dynamic driver. Out of the box with the stock tips they are fairly even-sounding, with a bit of upper-mid and treble brightness on some tracks. A pleasant mid-range brings instruments forward and the bass has lovely impact and impressive precision, which dynamic driver IEMs are known for. While they aren't as good at giving a sense of soundstage, the overall sound from the titanium-coated drivers is quite cohesive, and has a good degree of precision and instrument separation in exchange.
 
Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, surprisingly for a pair of IEMs that are relatively bright, didn't come through as spaciously as would be ideal. A bit too much emphasis on the upper-mids pushed the instruments a bit too far forward to be ideal, though the speed of the driver allowed me to experience individual instruments quite clearly. Despite that, the delicious bass made cellos sound fantastic. 
 
Where the 11s worked quite well was with rock, such as A Perfect Circle. The distinct and precise bass is dialled in just perfectly for bass guitars and drums and the more forward and brighter-tuned mid-range pushes the vocals and guitars in your face, if somewhat at the expense of any sense of soundstage.
 
 

It was at this point that I thought some tip-rolling was in order. My first preference is for SpinFit tips, purely for the comfort. SpinFit's turned the 11 Neo's into bass cannons, but not at all in a bad way. The too-forward upper mids were tamed but despite the bass going up a LOT it didn't lose its cohesiveness and the fine details weren't inhibited. If anything, that the instrument details managed to come through so clearly despite the somewhat overbearing bass was a very good sign.

 
 Bi-flange tips can be problematic on some IEMs, mucking up the sound quality, but in the case of the 11 Neos they brought similar results that the SpinFits did, so with their better isolation I am thinking I may have found a good pair of IEMs to take with me on public transport.

 

Sadly the Complys, with their excellent isolation had the opposite effect, considerably dulling the sound, the IEMs losing their magic entirely.
 

Another favourite lately has been the JVC Spiral Dot tips which use, as the name suggests, a spiral of indents to reduce turbulence from internal reflections. These brought a sparkle back to the treble and a bit of needed soundstage to the sound, pushing the mids back a bit while keeping the wonderful bass intact. The Spiral Dot tips unfortunately made some brighter pop music unbearable, leaving the SpinFit tips the best all-rounders for the 11 Neo, unless I stick only to acoustic music.
 

That left me with a pair of deliciously punchy IEMs which were highly entertaining to listen with across a variety of genres. The bass never got in the way of the mids and treble at the moderate levels I listen with.
 
 

Overall when listening with the 11 Neos I didn't feel like I was listening with sub-$100 IEMs at all, but a pair that was quite a bit more expensive. At one point I was using a $1000+ rig with a Mojo and Soundaware DAP to listen and the combination didn't sound out of place at all. Fantastic stuff from Meze once again.

 

Thanks to Meze for giving me a pair to review.