Meze - Rai Solo

After using RHA 750i for almost 4 years, the Rai Solo are my first IEMs. Being a newbie in the IEMs world, I would like to give a big shoutout for Raghav to help me pick the best IEMs for my taste of music.
Talking about quality, they are of the best gorgeous lookin IEMs I've ever seen... Meze stands for quality and it can be seen distinguishably in the Rai Solo.. From the braided cable to the monitors, the whole package is beauty with quality..

When it comes to sound, I've burned them with Pink Noise for quite a while with the interval of 5 hours (taking care of the diaphragm). And I gotta say, the sounds have become sharper and more accurate.. its like Dr. Albert Hoffman sitting in your ears..

The bass is not too thumpy but yet prominent, being a core psychedelic music listener. Bass was never my forte, but the Rai Solo does a good job in delivering the bass (accurately) as much as its needed...
The highs and mids are fun and accurate. Every minute details is heard and cannot be missed... listening to instruments gives a serious eargasm ;) im writing this reviews sans any amp or dac, just using directly on iphone and imac... Im sure a dac will be an incredible difference and bring out more fun from these monitors..

Overall the Rai Solo are really a fun IEMs if you into serious fun music like psychedelic, classic, rock, etc . They are super comfortable.. the leather case is gorgeous.. overall they are best IEMs in the given price range and the discount...

A big shoutout for Raghav and his incredible team in Headphone Zone!!!

Package:Simple yet good
+ leather zipper case is Star of the show, Earpiece is hero of all | - Ear tips don’t have wide range of sizes & selection; is not for everyone, No foam tips, No cleaning tool, Replaceable Wax guard is a glaring miss, Pull tab of Zipper felt cheap (refer campfire)
Presentation:Too Simple yet good
+ Hard cardboard box with leather like texture & a window (of opportunity) | - No string bag (to protect these shiny buds from scratch by on its own), Ear tips presented in a see thru Ziplock is very simple, its not like in Rai penta or not as in campfire presentation.
Build quality
Earpiece: Exceptional
+ Metal construction, Fit & Finish, compact, weight in ear | - Net type Wax guard looks not so premium (durability is unknown), wide bore makes tough in changing the aftermarket tips, weight in hand
Cable: Simply Fair
+ Cable is thin & light weight | - Memory wire hook is a big downer, Braiding remains me of KZ (from jack to Y split), discoloration is highly possible
Terminations: Simple yet good
+ 3.5mm is of a Good Construction | - No 2.5mm cable, MMCX connecting earpiece is not tight it is shaking a lot (other cables didn’t have this issue when swapped)
Fit: Simply Great
+ Excellent Fit, No irritation or pain | - Memory wire hinders with your spectacles, Poor isolation if the bud is not of rite size (only one stock bud variant fitted me (single flange L size) which had good isolation nothing to complain on that, rest all didn’t fitted me its either lose or poor isolation)
Drivability: Simply Good
+ Easy to drive but volume is device based (AMP would be a welcome addition either of pocket, portable & desktop), Very suitable for casual listening of quality songs | - Nothing to say
Sound (2hrs of listening + 50hrs of burn-in - Burn-in is highly recommended for this IEM & atleast it requires 30 - 40hrs)
Bass: Controlled
+ Bass has impact, control, (somewhat flat, after burn it got) smooth & has a wet texture, sub bass is good| - Image of kick drum could be better, Sub bass is very slightly on leaner side
Vocal/Mid: Forward
+ Forward staged, Clarity, | - Vocal sits back in the track compared to lows & highs (still it has clarity, not a midrange hero as like IO)
Highs & Treble: Mildly - Energetic
+ Bright, Clarity, after burn-in it felts slightly emphasized cos of bass & mid not prominent, No hiss noise, No sibilance | - There seems to be a roll off or ceiling when the vocal reaches the top
Soundstage: Unique tuning
+ Intimate sounding, forward stage, Good width & Minimal depth | - Less on space, No height, limited 3D experience
Image:
+ On par layering & Left / Right channeling (typical DD thing) | - Being a single driver nothing to complain
Affordability:
Price is slightly on costlier side considering the package & spec, else quite good for the design, sound & effort

Sound impression of 2.5mm:
Bass is the strongest point irrespective of cable type, but slightly dry in 2.5mm compared to the wetness of 3.5mm, this dryness helped to see the kick drum image better. Sub bass is good in both the cables, with slightly less prominent in 2.5mm.
Mid & vocal got thick, strings are sweet & better now. Vocal is very forward & crisp in 2.5mm compared to 3.5mm & it is Intimate in both the cables. Vocal has better extension with 2.5mm compared to the ceiling (or narrow) like thing of 3.5mm.
Highs & treble have not lost or gained much in this transition, but they are as good as it was. Detail is somewhat good & its more or less same in 3.5mm & 2.5mm, saying this cymbal, hat & string scratch are beautiful to hear. The decay of cymbal is very good, its not fast & lost. The slight Brightness nature of 3.5mm hasn’t changed in 2.5mm.
Observation
The slight V signature of 3.5mm is somewhat became warm with 2.5mm, the bass become somewhat dry. When 2.5mm is used the slight narrowness tuning is evident compared to the 3.5mm where it is not that easy to say. Inside head hasn’t changed much. space is better in 2.5mm than 3.5mm. Still not spacious. Layering is slightly improved with 2.5mm which was on par in 3.5mm, still can’t say the best. Width is good in both the cables, Mild depth found in 3.5mm has improved with 2.5mm. This is not a power hungry as per spec sheet but still it requires a good DAC/AMP due to the smidgen less SPL, the brightness of this IEM lies with increase in volume. This IEM covers most of the Genre, this is better used for casual listening, which is good at it, rather than for critical listening. Cable rolling is very necessary.

Overall: This is a nice pair of IEM which should be owned for every music by everyone.

Headphone zone is once again phenomenal on customer support, they have brought back the discount which is really a very good customer service (even though its dearer by 1000rs compared to previous discount).

One request is to not print the item & its value details on top of the packa...

Meze sound signature is missing in this product. It's comfortable and well built but you can get a lot more options with better sound at lower price

Hi -

I would like to Thank you Headphone Zone Team delivering this IEM as mentioned on website within 24 Hrs of dispatched date.
These IEM are natural sounding one. I'm happy that i've order them over iPhone airpods They are very much detail sounding and not coloring the original song. They are like Harbeth speakers in your pocket. They are really neutral in their response to MIDs, high and low frequencies.

Thanks,
Mahesh Shinde

Thanks to Raghav’s recommendation I tried out the Meze-Rai solo with a bit of apprehension cause I’ve always been more of a headphone person. But after hearing em,I’ve definitely become a convert to IEM’s. Thanks headphone zone for being my trusted audio retailer for almost 6 years now.

Meze - Rai Solo

Good sound. No much of Bass. Thanks to Meze & Headphone zone for bring out Black Friday / Cyber Monday Offer.