Meze Audio
Meze Alba
$159Cheaper
Best In Ear Monitors · head-to-head
Meze Alba vs Etymotic ER4XR
A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Meze Alba is cheaper at $159. Every spec and price links to its source.
Etymotic
Etymotic ER4XR
$349
Released 2016
Which is better: the Meze Alba or Etymotic ER4XR?
On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Meze Alba is the cheaper at $159.
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Full spec sheet
✓ marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.
| Spec | Meze Alba | Etymotic ER4XR |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $159 | $349 |
| Brand | Meze Audio | Etymotic |
| Released | — | 2016 |
| Driver type | dynamic | balanced-armature |
| Driver config | 1DD | 1BA |
| Impedance ohms | 32 | 45 |
| Sensitivity db mw | 109 | 98 |
| Frequency response (Hz) | 15-25000 | 20-16000 |
| Connector type | 2pin-0.78mm | mmcx |
| Cable detachable | Yes | Yes |
| Plug termination | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| Shell material | zinc-alloy | aluminum |
| Weight grams | — | — |
Sources — Meze Alba: mezeaudio.com (verified 2026-07-11). Etymotic ER4XR: etymotic.com (verified 2026-07-11).
What's the difference between the Meze Alba and Etymotic ER4XR?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (7 of 10). Matching specs are omitted.
- Driver type: Meze Alba dynamic vs Etymotic ER4XR balanced-armature
- Driver config: Meze Alba 1DD vs Etymotic ER4XR 1BA
- Impedance ohms: Meze Alba 32 vs Etymotic ER4XR 45
- Sensitivity db mw: Meze Alba 109 vs Etymotic ER4XR 98
- Frequency response (Hz): Meze Alba 15-25000 vs Etymotic ER4XR 20-16000
- Connector type: Meze Alba 2pin-0.78mm vs Etymotic ER4XR mmcx
- Shell material: Meze Alba zinc-alloy vs Etymotic ER4XR aluminum
What reviewers say
Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.
Meze Alba
Both whitelisted hands-on reviews — SoundGuys (Apr 2025) and TechRadar (Sep 2025) — recommend the $159 Meze Alba as an excellent entry-level audiophile IEM with detailed sound, weighty bass, a comfortable fit and a bundled USB-C DAC adapter; both flag edgy/painful upper treble at high volume and the lack of a mic or in-line controls. Only SoundGuys ran lab MDAQS measurements (Overall 4.8/5, HEAD acoustics). All quotes and measured values were verified as literal substrings of the source text; no sources were dropped. (2 sourced reviews, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Detailed, clear sound across the frequency range; Weighty, punchy bass for such a small IEM; Premium-feeling build and looks (zinc alloy/anodized aluminium) at a low $159 price.
Flagged: Upper treble gets edgy/painful at higher volumes; No microphone or in-line/volume controls; Cable issues (tangling / poor over-ear fit).
Etymotic ER4XR
Three whitelisted testers (What Hi-Fi, TechHive, TechRadar) reviewed the ER4XR; TechRadar's is a joint ER4SR/ER4XR piece that discusses the XR trim explicitly. All three praise reference-grade midrange clarity, and two single out a tasteful bass lift over the ER4SR, but none ran lab measurements. Fit divides them: two call the deep insertion invasive or strange, one finds the flanges very comfortable. (3 sourced reviews.)
Praised: Reference-grade, near-perfect tuning with excellent midrange detail and clarity; Tasteful bass lift over the ER4SR without bloat or losing accuracy; Class-leading passive noise isolation from the sealed, non-ported design.
Flagged: No in-line mic or remote; wired-only connection; Deep-insertion, triple-flange fit feels invasive or strange for some; Analytical, sibilant sound that punishes low-quality sources.