# Sony IER-Z1R vs Meze Alba: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Sony IER-Z1R (Sony) and Meze Alba (Meze Audio) among in ear monitors. Meze Alba is the cheaper of the two at $159.

## Side by side

| Spec | Sony IER-Z1R | Meze Alba |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $1999.99 | $159 |
| Brand | Sony | Meze Audio |
| Released | 2018 | — |
| Driver type | hybrid | dynamic |
| Driver config | — | 1DD |
| Impedance ohms | 40 | 32 |
| Sensitivity db mw | 103 | 109 |
| Frequency response (Hz) | 3-100000 | 15-25000 |
| Connector type | mmcx | 2pin-0.78mm |
| Cable detachable | Yes | Yes |
| Plug termination | 3.5mm | 3.5mm |
| Shell material | zirconium-alloy | zinc-alloy |
| Weight grams | 26 | — |

## Key differences

- Driver type: Sony IER-Z1R hybrid vs Meze Alba dynamic
- Impedance ohms: Sony IER-Z1R 40 vs Meze Alba 32
- Sensitivity db mw: Sony IER-Z1R 103 vs Meze Alba 109
- Frequency response (Hz): Sony IER-Z1R 3-100000 vs Meze Alba 15-25000
- Connector type: Sony IER-Z1R mmcx vs Meze Alba 2pin-0.78mm
- Shell material: Sony IER-Z1R zirconium-alloy vs Meze Alba zinc-alloy

## What reviewers say

**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.)

## Sources

- Sony IER-Z1R: https://www.sony.co.in/electronics/hd-headphones/ier-z1r/specifications (sony.co.in, verified 2026-07-11)
- Meze Alba: https://mezeaudio.com/products/alba (mezeaudio.com, verified 2026-07-11)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/in-ear-monitors/sony-ier-z1r-vs-meze-alba/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Sony IER-Z1R ($1999.99) vs Meze Alba ($159) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/in-ear-monitors/sony-ier-z1r-vs-meze-alba/
License: CC BY 4.0.