Meze ASTRU Review: A New Star for High-End In-Ear Monitors

After debuting at Can Jam NYC earlier this month, the Meze Astru has gotten quite a bit of attention. This new flagship IEM from the Romanian company is made of a single dynamic driver, a configuration that we famously see in Sennheiser IEMs. The Meze Astru is a great contender to enter the sub-$1k price point, competing against the likes of Sennheiser, 64 Audio, and more for its reference sound. How do you know if the Astru will be right for you? Hopefully, with details from this review, you'll be able to make an informed choice on whether the Astru will meet all your expectations. 

Let's start with the physical qualities of these earphones. The Meze Astru is definitely a stunning piece of art, and it impresses more in its physical shape than anything else. It is reminiscent of the Alba and the Advar that came before it, but with its own unique design that makes it all the more memorable. The concave circle in front gives an interesting depth to the design, and the titanium housing gives an extra shine that cannot be beat. It is lightweight and extremely comfortable, and the smaller size makes it a good fit for smaller, more sensitive ears. With the many different sizes of eartips, you are set to enjoy listening at any comfort level you prefer. The nozzle on the Astru is a fairly standard size, so you can add your own third-party eartips.  

The Meze Astru comes with a cable that terminates directly to 4.4mm, which is a great win for any audiophile with a portable DAC/Amp. Even if you are looking for a more accessible 3.5mm standard jack, the Astru comes with an adapter for easy listening. Taking the IEMs on the go is made simple with the addition of a carrying pouch, so you can easily take the Astru anywhere you would like to listen to music. 

• Driver: 10 mm dynamic driver
• Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 35 kHz
• Impedance: 32 Ω
• Sensitivity: 111 dB SPL/mW (at 1 kHz)
• THD: <0.1% (at 1 kHz)
• Connector: 2-Pin
• Weight: 13.4 g (0.47 oz)

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Now for the listening impressions. The Astru has a just a single driver, which is different from other IEMs with multi-driver configurations from the competition. My expectations for the signature was for it to sound relatively flat and neutral, and I was fairly accurate in that prediction. The Astru has a wide soundstage that stays flat and balanced. Instruments get played in the stereo field with good precision, painting an accurate picture for musicians who need some reference monitors. The sound didn't stretch in height, but it did have noticeable depth. The presentation was intimate and very close, but you could hear the layers of sound get their own space in the sound signature. 

The sound reproduction overall is very natural in terms of timbre and texture. The reference quality of the Astru comes through with a clean reproduction from bass to treble. The midrange pulls forward slightly to create a bit of a V-shape, but it isn't as stark of a contrast to make it unnatural. I liked how the Astru leaned into the reference sound, committing to a sound that is intimately close but still highly detailed. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

Dynamic drivers are known for producing a thick bass response, and this is especially true in the Meze Astru. The bass isn't overpowering or overwhelming for the signature, but instead a good balance between punchy and supporting. It stays relaxed but has a full quality to take up space in the lower register. You can hear how bass drums have some extra body, and bass guitars still have a colorful twang that makes them melodic just as much as a foundation for other melodies. The Astru struck a good balance between a thick low end and one that is mellow, so it accompanies any genre easily and gracefully. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange is a highlight in the Astru, as it brings out the melodic elements that we all look for in our tracks. The detail and layering is exceptional, staying very close to the front but still separating out naturally to give you a good image of all the elements. In busier, instrument-heavy ensembles, you could hear all the details of the track with ease without fear you were missing any elements. Vocals came to the front like they were being performed right in front of you, with other melodic instruments coming through just behind to be part of the grand signature. Elements still had decent separation to allow you to appreciate all the individual elements. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

Rounding out the sound signature is the treble response. In the Astru, the treble is light and airy, bringing some relief to the thicker low end. The treble and bass of the Astru match energy, in the fact they both take a bit of a backseat to be on par with the midrange. The treble is nice for bringing in space to the signature, and that is especially helpful in IEMs. It is easy for IEMs to feel very closed off, and in an intimate soundstage like the Astru, I was worried I would feel too closed-in without the high end. Luckily, the Astru brings in a brightness and air that lightens the entire signature and makes long listening sessions less fatiguing. 

At $899, the Meze Astru sits at a very high price point for IEMs. Considering the Alba retails for a much more affordable $159, this puts a bit more pressure on the Astru to perform well. From Alba to Astru, you can see how the soundstage gets opened up much wider and the imaging accuracy is highly improved. The sound stays intimately close, but you can tell the Astru has a level up on clarity and detail in its sound reproduction. 

Apart from other IEMs from Meze itself, the Astru finds competition with brands like Sennheiser and 64 Audio. The Sennheiser IE 600 are nearly identical in driver configuration: a single dynamic driver. Because of this, there were a lot of similarities in their sound signature. The Sennheiser IE 600 was a bit more treble forward, coming in with a brighter response compared to the Meze Astru's more balanced response. The U4s by 64 Audio is similar in that sense, where the bass comes out a bit more. Still, where the U4s has a wider presentation, the Astru has a more intimate signature. 

The Meze Astru really impresses as a flagship IEM for the company. It is a great step up from entry-level IEMs, giving you a glimpse into higher detail and clarity without changing what you know entirely. The sound reproduction is natural and honest, making it a great choice for musicians who want something a little more stylish for their stage performance. Even casual listeners can appreciate the intimate soundstage and colorful signature. 

You can get the Meze Astru at Audio46.