Meze RAI Penta IEM Review - Easy Rider

Video Time Stamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:53 - Build Quality
02:55 - Tech Inside
04:33 - Preliminary Sound Impressions
06:57 - Transient Response
09:34 - Soundstage & Depth
11:10 - Details & Transparency
12:28 - Frequency Response
12:58 - Bass
13:43 - Midrange
14:08 - Treble
15:06 - Measurements
15:56 - Comparison VS FiiO FH7
16:11 - Conclusion

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#MEZE #RAI #Penta #Review

[Flavius]

In the past I have experienced Meze 99 Classics and Empyrean. The good things? Design, comfort and flossy effect. Those are purely gorgeous, even if not quite my style (I prefer the simple raw industrial design). And the fact that sound tells you it's a Meze product confirms the brainstorming behind them. Someone had a strategy, a "house sound" in mind and managed to execute it. That being said their house sound is not right up my alley. This is the reason why some people will swear to god Empyrean is the best thing they've heard on planet Earth, and others will move on. Good soundtage, elegant smooth bass (too smooth), dark midrange and...to my ears... NO HIGHS. I never heard the Rai Penta, but if it's as close to Empyrean as you say...this description (as I perceive sound) should be similar. Not enough transients and highs, too smooth and dark, but good soundtage. So if you like blues, some acoustic music (not explosive Nuevo flamenco), female jazz voices and some classic piano Meze might be RAI (heaven) for you. If you are into drum&bass, metal-core and the fast evil bunch...just stay away. Great review, Sandu, excellent exploration of Meze, a real joy to watch.

[cd-rom.]

Nice! I’ve been curious about IEMs lately. I’ve been hearing good things about Unique Melody’s MEST product.

[emilianpredescu]

Yeap, same experience with Meze. Warm, friendly sound, beautiful design, the opposite of bright and fast. Good complementary product if you want different flavours. Good job for you and Meze!

[kurt]

To be honest you are the first one who could give viewers a reason to buy this 1100 Euro IEM. Every other reviewers I am following are saying that even with all their qualities, these IEMs are really boring.

[lonestar]

Great Review, just one question I heard from other reviewer that Topping A90 4.4mm balanced out is not great for IEM because of volume control level and maybe distortion on low impedence IEM, can you please share your experience as you mentioned Rai Penta pairing was great with A90. Thanks

[HiFiGOAudio]

Amazing video as always!!!

Have you tried the CA Andromeda's, they are in similar price range which one do you suggest between these two??

[sreckocadonic]

Hi to all,

there are some very important things regarding earphones. I will start with comparison studio monitors (Yamaha 1000N) vs. "HiFi" speakers (Harbeth). This is story of intended use as well as story of sound preference. Some people want to hear evry possible detail, some want to hear music rendering and flow. Antonio decided on music, Sennheiser designer of HD800 on analytical tool. That doesn't mean Meze headphones are coloured or outside what is technically right.

Because headphones and especially earphones are nearfield (or direct in the ear) listening tools, source, cables, noise, interference and similar are more exposed. Impendance matching as well. I do have Empyrian, Penta and 99 Neo and all of them are music story fot itself with different cables, sources and noise reoval tools. All of them are happy with transistors (generalization) and tubes. Brocksieper transformeless phono amp is their native home.

Simple story - If we go to entry level. 99 Neo with Aune x1sPro. With stock cable no go (boomy bass), with silver cable too pronounced bass, with Audioques Cinamon USB cable relief, with added ifi iSilencer+ god bless you music. Source A&K 1000M.

There is somenthing else regarding Meze and the team. They live and create in a beautifull part of Romania that was heavily polluted with chemistry. With their products they want to tell us something. We sent them our Kinetic Reactors on tap for drinking water preparation.

[GodHo_Ur]

Hi there: I own the Empyrean and have been wanting to get an IEM to complement them. Is the RAI Penta a good choice or would I just be getting the same sound signature as the empyrean?