As an headphone manufacturer, Meze Audio always created high-end products that are very special in multiple ways, starting with the choice of materials - the Meze 99 Walnut headphones clearly standing out has the brand's most iconic product so far - all the way to the extreme dedication in the search for sound quality, represented by the upscale Empyrean planar magnetic headphones.
With the Rai Penta, the company's top quality IEM ($1099), Meze attempted to create another reference product for the brand, combining 5 drivers in a modeled ergonomic housing, resulting in a comfortable and engaging listening experience, ideal for prolonged sessions. As the company states, "We build high-end headphones, so we obsess about sound quality. Every aspect counts. The engineering, choice of materials, the precision of craftsmanship, the reliability are all equally important. We also make parts easily replaceable. All of these to ensure that a feeling of trust will accompany your every interaction with a Meze."
The announcement of the latest Rai Solo IEM, at an affordable price of $249 USD, becomes of vital importance for the brand, since it will allow access to many potential new users looking for a special product with superior features. The Rai Solo could be that entry-level option, combining the same ergonomic design of the Penta in stainless steel metal injection shells, with a quality sound response. A "fun-neutral, well refined and controlled sound signature," in Meze's own words, generated by a single electrodynamic driver with a "unified pistonic motion technology" developed by Meze, and combined with a vibration reduction system.
In the UPM driver, the membrane itself is electrically conductive and therefore no wires are attached to the diaphragm. The result is a symmetric pistonic motion through its entire movement, without disturbance from the unbalance created by wires.
“Rai Solo has been at the origin of the entire Rai IEM family, so it shares a lot of design philosophy DNA with the flagship, Rai Penta. It was supposed to be released ahead of Rai Penta, but we took our time to perfect it for production. The result is a high value, yet still affordable, IEM,” says Antonio Meze, founder and lead designer at Meze Audio.
The strongest correlation between Rai Solo and Rai Penta is the similar shape of the IEM: round, soft edges, designed to embrace the natural curves from one’s ear and to fit perfectly. The specially conceived shell architecture, in conjunction with the steel chassis, dampens vibration from the driver unit, while the stainless-steel metal injection body offers a highly durable and extremely comfortable housing for long listening sessions and long product life.
The Rai Solo IEM's come with standard MMCX sockets and detachable MMCX 1.3m braided cables made of silver plated copper custom wires. The protective EVA case with the Meze Audio metal logo also includes 3 pairs of soft silicone eartips, 3 double flanged eartips, and 2 deep insertion double flanged eartips.
www.mezeaudio.com
