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

• 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.

Meze Audio Astru: the details you need to know

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 (XS–XL), 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.

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

➡️ 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

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