Spurred on by a mission to make audiophile IEMs available to the listening masses, Meze Audio present a new entry-level addition to their RAI in-ear range sporting an electrodynamic driver, a wire free membrane design, low resonance stainless steel enclosures that are easy on the eyes, and a price tag that’s even easier.
Rai Solo has been at the origin of the entire Rai IEM family so it shares a lot of design philosophy DNA with the flagship Rai Penta. It was supposed to be released ahead of Rai Penta but we took our time to perfect it for production in order to create a high value IEM and an affordable cost.
- Anto Meze (Founder, Meze Audio)
Being introduced as the affordable sibling to Meze’s hugely popular RAI Penta in-ear headphones launched earlier in 2019, the RAI Solo achieves an impressive natural listening experience with superb micro detailing and realism across a wide (4Hz to 45 kHz) frequency range.
How is this achieved? Certain peripheral frills have been dialled back compared to other IEMs available on the market - Meze have opted to forego a built-in microphone, Bluetooth, TWS and, ANC for the RAI Solo - but the real magic lies under the hood...
Wire Free Membrane Driver Design
At its core the RAI Solo is powered by a refined dynamic driver sporting a rather special membrane type. While 
ordinary electrodynamic drivers have their voice coils and membranes connected by wires and glue, the RAI Solo employs an electrically conductive UPM driver which operates without the necessity for a physical wired connection.
This design feature massively reduces unbalanced disturbance normally induced by traditional connections and allows fully symmetric pistons motion through the entire movement of the driver.
Low Resonance Steel Shell
Surrounding the driver, the RAI Solo’s outer shell is composed of rigid stainless steel, a material specifically chosen for its low resonant properties to ensure minimal interference whilst the driver unit is in motion. The result is an all-round cleaner performance, including a well-defined stereo image.
Meze Audio’s engineering prowess has always shown a commitment to long product lifetimes - the RAI Solo’s meticulously designed assembly is a perfect testament to this. Each earphone’s steel surround is cast moulded and hand-brushed at Meze’s factory in Romania for an incredibly durable finish that is built to last a hundred listening sessions and beyond.
The RAI Solo’s standard MMCX sockets also that cables can be replaced, swapped out for compatible alternatives or even adapted for wireless use with a modular kit such as the Fostex TM2.
Ergonomic Fit
Meze know better than anyone that immersive listening sessions can stretch on for lengthy periods. RAI Solo has been designed with true comfort in mind, and as such every edge of the product’s shell has been tailored to naturally align with the curves of listeners' ears for a perfect and seamless fit.
Thanks to its low impedance, the RAI Solo works effortlessly with any device including portable DAPs and even smartphones. However, to yield the best listening result and unlock the true driver array power of the RAI Solo, Meze Audio recommend using a high resolution source wherever possible to maximise resolution and listening luxury.
RAI Solo will be on test at the UK Hi-Fi Show Live in Ascot this weekend! For further information contact SCV or check out our product page to find your nearest dealer.
