Wired earbuds are back! Mezes new IEMs would look great with your MacBook Neo
but they're more expensive than a whole laptop

Date:
Fri, 06 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Description:
Titanium shells, plus an innovative diaphragm design featuring '80 layers of gold'

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Meze Audio just launched Astru, solo dynamic driver IEMs with unique tech and remember, the MacBook Neo's 3.5mm headphone jack is upfront 'n' center But at $899 / 819 (around AU$1,550) they're pricier than the new MacBook If, like
me, you watched TechRadar's coverage of the Apple MacBook Neo launch the
other day and actually pointed to your screen and muttered "Oh oh!" (like the Leonardo DiCaprio Rick Dalton pointing meme) as you watched its 3.5mm headphone jack glide gracefully from the back of the left edge all the way down to the front, where it should always be, you are my people.

And if you don't have a set already, you might be looking for some decent
IEMs to pop into that port because this wired revival isn't going anywhere. While I'd usually direct you to some of the best wired earbuds (or in fact a set of the best wired headphones ) to make the most of Apple 's sensible relocation of the once all-but-banished port, Meze's newest are well worth a look just see our glowing reviews of the Meze Audio Alba , the Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen or Meze Audio 105 Silva for starters. You may like Head-fi specialist Meze Audio has a beautiful new pair of wired headphones These quintuple-driver wired earbuds just landed for only $80 and I want to know how Im ditching true wireless earbuds for Chinese IEMs in 2026 here's why
Meze Audio Astru: the details you need to know (Image credit: Meze Audio) At the core of Astru (which is Romanian for 'Star') is a 10mm multilayer composite dynamic driver diaphragm, the dome of which features "over 80 ultra-thin layers of gold, applied during a 48-hour physical vacuum DC magnetron sputtering process", then bonded to a titanium layer.

Each headshell, says Meze Audio, is CNC-machined from a single block of pure titanium, then put through a multi-stage electroplating process to achieve that smooth satin finish.

The cable features CNC-anodized aluminum hardware plus a gold-plated 4.4 mm balanced termination but don't worry! A 4.4 mm to 3.5 mm adapter, five sizes of ear tips (XSXL), and two carry solutions (a protective pouch and a soft PU leather envelope) make Astru equally suitable for your laptop or more serious hi-fi listening system.

Meze Audio promises to redefine what a single dynamic driver IEM can achieve here and given the company's track record, I'd be inclined to believe the claims. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Astru IEMs are unveiled today (March 6) and will be available for purchase starting March 20, with a suggested retail price of $899 / 819 / 899 (around AU$1,550). So, they're not cheap in fact, the new MacBook Neo is quite a bit cheaper. But that doesn't mean I'm not interested. Far from it, actually The best headphone DACs for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world
testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best headphone DACs 1. Best budget USB-C portable DAC: iFi GO Link Max 2. Best budget desktop DAC: iFi Uno 3. Best premium portable DAC: iFi xDSD Gryphon 4. Best wireless DAC: Fiio BTR17 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/headphones/wired-earbuds-are-back-mezes-new-ie ms-would-look-great-with-your-macbook-neo-but-they-are-more-expensive-than-a-w hole-laptop


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