Meze Alba Vs Moondrop Kato Comparison Review

The Meze Alba makes the range of IEMs under $200 a lot more competitive. Before the Alba, the Moondrop Kato was one of the top models, and it has stayed that way ever since its launch. Now, the Alba has added shaken things up, but which one is the best of the two?

What You Get

Look & Feel

The Alba and Kato have spectacular designs that are based on their price points. They’re very different designs that both surpass what’s typical in that range. With that Kato, you have a few different color variations, like its glossy chrome, blue, and matte. The Alba only has its white color, but it’s still an eye-popping look that has the same sleekness that you’d expect from Meze. In terms of fit, both the Alba and Kato are very comfortable. You have a smaller housing with the Alba, and it sits in your ear a bit easier, but the Kato is also very ergonomic.

Design

These are both single-driver IEMs that are similarly sized, with the Kato featuring the most advanced configuration. The Kato utilizes a DLC diaphragm that has high rigidity and dampening. Both IEMs are very easy to drive, but the Alba is the only option that includes its own DAC/Amp dongle. This is a UBC-C dongle that is quite good and comes packaged with the Alba.

Soundstage

When it comes to Moondrop and Meze, you know you’re getting a good soundstage. Both IEMs offer superb depth for their respective prices. They offer a similar amount of width and scale to their sound signatures, with a full scope of sound to immerse yourself in. While they’re both winners here, they still have slightly different spatial characteristics. For instance, the Kato has an airier presentation to its imaging, while the Alba is more focused on precision and accuracy. They both accomplish non-linearity in their imaging, but the Alba appears like a truer stereo field than the Kato. If you’re looking for something more holographic, the Kato will feature more expanded layers, but the Alba feels more realistic.

Low End

Both IEMs have a tight bass response with good control. The Alba is a bit more concise in its low-end detail retrieval, resulting in a quicker response that feels like there’s more velocity behind the frequencies. The Kato is much smoother in comparison, terminating with a more apparent texture that fills out the tone. Like the soundstage though, the Alba and Kato have more similarities than not. They both feel similarly accurate in their response, both showcasing exceptional low-end clarity for the price.

Mids

While both the Alba and Kato feature great midrange details that surpass what most IEMs can do, they’re the most different from each other in terms of timbre. I was more surprised by just how rich the Kato is in the mids compared to the Alba, but that’s barely a knock against the latter. The Alba is very casual with its midrange tuning, and it allows for some dips in energy sometimes. However, this is never distracting, and the Alba is still able to provide roominess and specificity to the sound elements. The Kato is a bit livelier in comparison, mixing in more texture and musicality to its midrange response.

Highs

The Alba has the most feeling in its highs, providing a striking glisten in its upper region. With the Kato, you get some great crispness in the treble, but the way they appear in the mix is much softer than the Alba. You might get some better height on the Kato, but it’s a much airier presentation where the frequencies dissipate much quicker.

Summary

The Kato and Alba are both at the top of their class and have tons of value for what they are. They have the best designs for their price and feature different tunings that share tons of benefits. I don’t think one is truly better than the other, but your decision will depend on personal tastes. For instance, I prefer the precise soundstage and detailed bass and highs of the Alba, but the Kato is more crisp in its midrange and treble. Honestly, because these are relatively inexpensive IEMs, why not have both?

The Meze Alba and Moondrop Kato are available at Audio46.