Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Meze Audio Strada review
Meze* - bit.ly/MezeStrada
US & CA* - bit.ly/AposMeze
Global* - amzn.to/4sy9nbE
Get 10% off at dekoniaudio.com with code: PASSIONFORSOUND10
Or use the link* - dekoni-audio.myshopify.com/discount/PASSIONFORSOUND10
*affiliate links help support the channel - thank you!
All my headphone measurements: pfs.squig.link/headphones
Need help? Message me on Minnect: bit.ly/HiFiHelp
Join my Patreon community: patreon.com/passionforsound
Become a Passion for Sound YouTube member: bit.ly/PFSMember
Get MERCH! bit.ly/PFSMerch
In this video, I’m taking a first look at the stunning new Meze Audio Strada closed-back headphones. Meze has a reputation for world-class industrial design, and the Strada is no exception with its gorgeous Macassar ebony wood cups and British racing green accents. But beyond the aesthetics, how do they actually perform for a serious audiophile?
I put the Meze Strada to the test against some heavy hitters in the high-end audio world. I compare them directly to the SJY Audio Horizon Carbon Closed and, more importantly, I share a shocking comparison against Meze’s own flagship, the Liric 2. Using my favorite test tracks and portable gear like the HiBy R6 Pro II and FiiO M23, I break down the soundstage, transparency, and that signature Meze treble. Whether you are looking for the best closed-back headphones under $1,000 or wondering if you should upgrade your mobile hi-fi setup, this review covers everything you need to know about the Strada’s performance and value.
BEST AUDIO BARGAINS BELOW!
World's Best Cable Pro interconnects
Review - bit.ly/44b8KtW
Global* - amzn.to/3UOFtAN
Tipsy M1 IEM
Review - bit.ly/48del5v
tipsyaudio.com
Apos Gremlin headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43FZjna
Global* - bit.ly/GremlinAmp
SMSL M20 DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/4oManqu
Global* - amzn.to/3YRxG79
Schiit Mimir DAC
Review - bit.ly/4r3cuaI
Global - bit.ly/484APo8
FiiO FT1 headphones
Review - bit.ly/4lfVCLd
Global* - amzn.to/4iC4VTG
FiiO M21 digital audio player
Review - bit.ly/3K3PzeU
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOM21DAP
Global*: amzn.to/3HS7wfe
xDuoo TA-66 tube amp
Review - bit.ly/448jRoo
US & CA* - bit.ly/xDuooTA-66
Global* - amzn.to/3VWWSYS
SMSL AS400 speaker amp & DAC
Review - bit.ly/480NiZQ
Global* - amzn.to/3JkFxWi
Topping DX5 II DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/47PmfR2
US & CA* - bit.ly/4mjCLy8
Global* - amzn.to/4ncA8zm
ADAM D3V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4rhHeoO
Global* - amzn.to/4hw2Doo
SMSL RAW-DAC1 DAC
Review - bit.ly/43EXDKC
US & CA* - bit.ly/RAWDAC1
Global* - amzn.to/4hgqgkJ
Aune S17 Pro EVO headamp
Review - bit.ly/4o2nrXF
Global* - amzn.to/4jU7AZx
SMSL PL200T CD transport
Review - bit.ly/4o9LDaE
US & CA* - bit.ly/SMSLPL200T
Global* - amzn.to/3IKlkIQ
Nitsch Pietus Maximus headamp
Review - bit.ly/49nY3Yy
Global - bit.ly/3JQqkwC
Shanling EC Zero T portable CD player
Global* - amzn.to/47U9RR1
Chord Mojo 2 DAC & headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43F0Rhg
Global* - amzn.to/3E5GNKj
FiiO K17 DAC, headamp, streamer & preamp
Review - bit.ly/42hKvIX
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOK17
Global* - amzn.to/3QWziIH
SJY Horizon Closed Carbon headphones
Review - bit.ly/3DTKMd5
Global* - bit.ly/SJYHCCA
ZMF Bokeh headphones
Review - bit.ly/4hXLhAN
Global - bit.ly/42vMLwo
EverSolo T8 streamer
Review - bit.ly/4pdmo7V
Global* - amzn.to/4gjdSkx
Topping D900 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4oJNoMP
US & CA* - bit.ly/TopD900 (Apos)
Global* - amzn.to/44D157g
ADAM A7V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4i2hO8L
Global* - amzn.to/43mIbma
LTA Velo headamp/preamp
Review - bit.ly/42Eeknp
Global - bit.ly/LTAVelo
Gustard X30 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4p93yij
Global* - bit.ly/GUSTARDX30
Amzn* - amzn.to/3LenKRj
00:00 Meze Strada review
01:16 Design & specs
04:47 Sound quality
13:32 Final thoughts
#audiophile #mezeaudio #mezestrada #headphones #hifi #luxuryaudio #headphonegear #passionforsound #audiophilereview #closedbackheadphones #personalaudio #hiresaudio #meze109pro #mezeliric
Meze Audio Strada review
Meze* - bit.ly/MezeStrada
US & CA* - bit.ly/AposMeze
Global* - amzn.to/4sy9nbE
Get 10% off at dekoniaudio.com with code: PASSIONFORSOUND10
Or use the link* - dekoni-audio.myshopify.com/discount/PASSIONFORSOUND10
*affiliate links help support the channel - thank you!
All my headphone measurements: pfs.squig.link/headphones
Need help? Message me on Minnect: bit.ly/HiFiHelp
Join my Patreon community: patreon.com/passionforsound
Become a Passion for Sound YouTube member: bit.ly/PFSMember
Get MERCH! bit.ly/PFSMerch
In this video, I’m taking a first look at the stunning new Meze Audio Strada closed-back headphones. Meze has a reputation for world-class industrial design, and the Strada is no exception with its gorgeous Macassar ebony wood cups and British racing green accents. But beyond the aesthetics, how do they actually perform for a serious audiophile?
I put the Meze Strada to the test against some heavy hitters in the high-end audio world. I compare them directly to the SJY Audio Horizon Carbon Closed and, more importantly, I share a shocking comparison against Meze’s own flagship, the Liric 2. Using my favorite test tracks and portable gear like the HiBy R6 Pro II and FiiO M23, I break down the soundstage, transparency, and that signature Meze treble. Whether you are looking for the best closed-back headphones under $1,000 or wondering if you should upgrade your mobile hi-fi setup, this review covers everything you need to know about the Strada’s performance and value.
BEST AUDIO BARGAINS BELOW!
World's Best Cable Pro interconnects
Review - bit.ly/44b8KtW
Global* - amzn.to/3UOFtAN
Tipsy M1 IEM
Review - bit.ly/48del5v
tipsyaudio.com
Apos Gremlin headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43FZjna
Global* - bit.ly/GremlinAmp
SMSL M20 DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/4oManqu
Global* - amzn.to/3YRxG79
Schiit Mimir DAC
Review - bit.ly/4r3cuaI
Global - bit.ly/484APo8
FiiO FT1 headphones
Review - bit.ly/4lfVCLd
Global* - amzn.to/4iC4VTG
FiiO M21 digital audio player
Review - bit.ly/3K3PzeU
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOM21DAP
Global*: amzn.to/3HS7wfe
xDuoo TA-66 tube amp
Review - bit.ly/448jRoo
US & CA* - bit.ly/xDuooTA-66
Global* - amzn.to/3VWWSYS
SMSL AS400 speaker amp & DAC
Review - bit.ly/480NiZQ
Global* - amzn.to/3JkFxWi
Topping DX5 II DAC & headamp
Review - bit.ly/47PmfR2
US & CA* - bit.ly/4mjCLy8
Global* - amzn.to/4ncA8zm
ADAM D3V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4rhHeoO
Global* - amzn.to/4hw2Doo
SMSL RAW-DAC1 DAC
Review - bit.ly/43EXDKC
US & CA* - bit.ly/RAWDAC1
Global* - amzn.to/4hgqgkJ
Aune S17 Pro EVO headamp
Review - bit.ly/4o2nrXF
Global* - amzn.to/4jU7AZx
SMSL PL200T CD transport
Review - bit.ly/4o9LDaE
US & CA* - bit.ly/SMSLPL200T
Global* - amzn.to/3IKlkIQ
Nitsch Pietus Maximus headamp
Review - bit.ly/49nY3Yy
Global - bit.ly/3JQqkwC
Shanling EC Zero T portable CD player
Global* - amzn.to/47U9RR1
Chord Mojo 2 DAC & headphone amp
Review - bit.ly/43F0Rhg
Global* - amzn.to/3E5GNKj
FiiO K17 DAC, headamp, streamer & preamp
Review - bit.ly/42hKvIX
US & CA* - bit.ly/FiiOK17
Global* - amzn.to/3QWziIH
SJY Horizon Closed Carbon headphones
Review - bit.ly/3DTKMd5
Global* - bit.ly/SJYHCCA
ZMF Bokeh headphones
Review - bit.ly/4hXLhAN
Global - bit.ly/42vMLwo
EverSolo T8 streamer
Review - bit.ly/4pdmo7V
Global* - amzn.to/4gjdSkx
Topping D900 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4oJNoMP
US & CA* - bit.ly/TopD900 (Apos)
Global* - amzn.to/44D157g
ADAM A7V active speakers
Review - bit.ly/4i2hO8L
Global* - amzn.to/43mIbma
LTA Velo headamp/preamp
Review - bit.ly/42Eeknp
Global - bit.ly/LTAVelo
Gustard X30 DAC
Review - bit.ly/4p93yij
Global* - bit.ly/GUSTARDX30
Amzn* - amzn.to/3LenKRj
00:00 Meze Strada review
01:16 Design & specs
04:47 Sound quality
13:32 Final thoughts
#audiophile #mezeaudio #mezestrada #headphones #hifi #luxuryaudio #headphonegear #passionforsound #audiophilereview #closedbackheadphones #personalaudio #hiresaudio #meze109pro #mezeliric





![Schiit Vestri Review: I Didnt Believe It Either—Until I Heard It
The Schiit Audio Vestri is a $99 portable DAC and headphone amplifier with a secret weapon — Schiits proprietary Mesh DAC filter technology. By bypassing the ESS chips internal processing and applying their own precision digital filter instead, Schiit has extracted a soundstage from this tiny dongle that beats gear costing twice as much. Powered by an ES9018 DAC, OPA1656 op-amp chips, and 400mW into 32 ohms, the Vestri delivers natural tonality, strong resolution, and a lifelike, three-dimensional presentation that most portable audio at this price simply cant match. In this review I compare it head-to-head against the FiiO KA15, FiiO QX13, iFi Hip DAC 3, and xDuoo XA-02 — and the results might surprise you.
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Products in the video
🔹 Schiit Audio Vestri DAC & Headphone Amp → https://www.schiit.com/products/vestri
🔹 FiiO KA15* → https://amzn.to/4aqSsPM (review - https://youtu.be/haqwzectEmI)
🔹 FiiO QX13* → https://amzn.to/4hyQZdF (review - https://youtu.be/Mpr7AEnTDk8)
🔹 iFi Hip DAC 3 → https://amzn.to/4nERZzm (review - https://youtu.be/iryzUoLeVx0)
🔹 xDuoo XA-02 — $199 → [ADD AFFILIATE LINK]
* affiliate links support the channel - thank you!
I earn nothing from Schiit Audio purchases — I just like the product.
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⏱ CHAPTERS
00:00 Schiit Vestri review
00:46 Design & features
03:47 Sound quality
08:34 Final thoughts
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About this review
The Vestri is genuinely one of those rare audio products where the engineering story matters as much as the listening experience. Schiits Mesh DAC technology doesnt just tweak the ESS chip — it bypasses the chips internal filtering entirely, using it only for basic digital-to-analog conversion, then applies Schiits own filters to achieve what they claim is outstanding frequency and timing accuracy. Whether or not you care about the engineering, youll likely hear the result: a soundstage that sounds live rather than reproduced.
Key takeaways:
✔ Soundstage and imaging are the Vestris headline strengths — wide, deep, and three-dimensional
✔ Natural, musical tonality that outpoints more analytical-sounding competitors at 2× the price
✔ Beats the FiiO KA15 convincingly on spaciousness; competes with and often edges the $199 iFi Hip DAC 3
✔ Holds its own against a $199 mains-powered desktop unit on staging — while remaining pocket-sized
✔ One minor gripe: volume steps can occasionally be a touch too large for fine-grained control
✔ Winner of the Passion for Sound Recommended award
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❤️ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
YouTube Members: http://youtube.com/@PassionforSound/join
Super Thanks: right here on this video — thank you!
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#SchiitAudio #DACReview #PortableAudio #HeadphoneAmp #BudgetAudio #HiFi #AudiophileGear #DAC #MeshDAC #PassionForSound Schiit Vestri Review: I Didnt Believe It Either—Until I Heard It](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/r-47e_vwyLg/mqdefault.jpg)




