Sound Advice: High-end headphones worth the investment

Kicking things off this week is a review of some of the best headphones I have ever heard, a product on the completely opposite end of the spectrum compared with the budget earphones I have covered recently.

The Meze 109 Pro open-back wired headphones are a premium product meant for audiophiles. Handmade in Romania, they are finely crafted and designed to be easily user-serviceable with readily available parts, making them a lifetime investment. I do not think this can be overstated because every day people are spending huge sums on wireless headphones that are likely to wind up in the junk pile once the rechargeable battery is at the end of its usable life. Meze has a customer-friendly and environmentally smart approach I would love to see more manufacturers emulate.

Though beautiful to behold and comfortable to wear, it is in the listening where the 109 Pro headphones shine. They use conventional dynamic drivers, but the clarity and precision are more akin to planar-magnetic headphones, while providing superior dynamics and bass punch. In fact, the headphones are acoustically tuned with a slight bass emphasis, given that most listeners prefer a touch more bass than 100% accurate. The execution is masterfully done, and the bass never feels overly accentuated, just very satisfying and full.

At $799. the headphones don’t rate as an impulse purchase, but they represent a very good value in the rarefied air in which they compete. I’ve heard $4,000 headphones that I did not like nearly as much. This is one example where you pay for luxury and performance and get what you pay for. They are widely available from many vendors, but given the $799 price I would start with headphones.com because of their 365-day return program.

Q. I am trying to receive television signals from about 50 miles away and want to use an outdoor antenna. What over-the-air antenna would you recommend? I am familiar with outdoor antennas and can mount it in a high place, and I can use it with a rotor if it is directional. Most of the channels are coming from the same direction, so I don’t know how much I will need the rotor.

A. Winegard and Channel Master are my go-to outdoor antennas, and I think the $249 Channel Master Masterpiece 100 would be an especially good match for you. You won’t need to turn the rotor much when receiving broadcasts from the nearby city.

Q. Do you have a recommendation for replacing the felt turntable mat on a Music Hall Classic turntable? When I close the dust cover, I hear an audible sound when a record is playing. Would a different mat reduce this?

A. I don’t think replacing the mat will make much, if any, difference. I think it has to do with the vibration insulation. If you do want to try a different mat, Herbie’s Way Excellent II from herbiesaudiolab.com is highly regarded for $64.99.

Send questions to Don Lindich at donlindich@gmail.com. Get recommendations and read past columns at soundadvicenews.com.