Meze Headband Replacement: Fitting the 99 and 105 Series

Quick answer

Replacing a Meze headband is a 15-20 minute job you can do at home with a T6 Torx driver. Remove the six M2 screws, lift off the old leather band, slide the new one onto the steel spring band, and refit the screws finger-tight before a final snug pass. Work on a cloth so the tiny screws do not roll away.

A stretched or worn headband changes how your Meze headphones sit, and once the padding flattens, the clamp force and comfort you bought them for start to fade. The good news is that Meze builds the headband as a replaceable part, so you do not need to send the headphones in or replace the whole pair.

This guide walks through a meze headband replacement on the 99 and 105 series using the LIRIC HEADBAND KIT, which shares the same screw-and-spring-band design. The steps are the same whether you are refreshing a tired band or fitting a new one as a meze comfort upgrade. Read the whole process once before you pick up a driver.

What you need before you start

You need a T6 Torx driver, a clean cloth or tray for the screws, and a replacement headband kit. The LIRIC HEADBAND KIT includes the leather headband with Liric engraving, a steel spring band, and six M2 x 10mm T6 Torx screws, so you have every fastener you need in one box. If you are only replacing the leather pad and reusing the spring band, keep the original screws in the tray.

Set up on a table with good light. The screws are small and easy to lose, and the spring band has a natural curve that you want to keep oriented the same way it came off. Take a photo of the assembled headband before you start so you have a reference for the final fit.

• A magnetic parts tray is worth the small cost, because loose M2 screws are almost impossible to find on carpet.
• Do not use a Phillips driver on Torx screws. It will strip the head and turn a 15-minute job into a parts order.

How the headband is put together

The Meze headband is a two-part assembly: a padded leather band and a steel spring band underneath it. The leather band carries the padding, and the spring band provides the tension that holds the headphones on your head. The two are joined by the six M2 screws, three on each side.

On the LIRIC HEADBAND KIT, the padded cushions are placed symmetrically in a plus shape rather than as one solid strip. That layout allows air to move through the band, which lowers heat and humidity buildup during long sessions. When you refit the band, make sure the plus-shaped cushions sit on the top of your head, not off to one side.

• The spring band sets the clamp force. If your old band feels loose, replacing the spring band along with the leather restores the original fit.

Removing the old headband

Lay the headphones flat and unscrew the six M2 Torx screws, working from one side to the other. Support the leather band with your free hand as the last screw comes out so it does not drop onto the drivers. Once the screws are out, lift the leather band away from the spring band.

If the band has been on for years, the leather may stick slightly to the spring band. Ease it off with a gentle rocking motion rather than pulling straight up. Inspect the spring band for bends or flat spots while it is exposed; a deformed spring band is the usual reason a new leather band still feels uneven.

• Common mistake: unscrewing both sides at once and letting the spring band snap free. Keep one side attached until you are ready to lift the band.

Fitting the new headband

Place the new leather band over the spring band, aligning the screw holes on both sides. The plus-shaped padding should face up, toward your head. Start all six screws by hand before tightening any of them, which lets the band settle into its natural position instead of being pulled to one side.

Once every screw is started, tighten them in a cross pattern, a little at a time, until they are snug. Do not overtighten. The screws hold the leather to the spring band, and the leather compresses slightly as you work, so a firm snug fit is enough.

• Checkpoint: the leather should sit flat against the spring band with no gap at the screw points. A visible gap means a screw is cross-threaded.

Checking the fit and comfort

Put the headphones on and check that the band sits evenly across the top of your head. The plus-shaped cushions should rest flat, not dig in at one point. If the band feels tight or loose on one side, loosen the screws on that side, reseat the leather, and tighten again in the cross pattern.

This is also the moment to check your cable. If you are already handling the headphones, confirm the connectors are seated properly. The DUAL MONO 3.5 MM 109 PRO STANDARD CABLE is compatible with the 105 AER and other models in the range, and its flexible TPE jacket is a practical daily cable if yours has stiffened with age.

• Give the new band a day or two of use before deciding it needs adjustment. Leather settles to the shape of your head.

Headband swap step by step

1. 1. Gather tools and lay out a tray: You need a T6 Torx driver, a clean cloth, and a parts tray. The LIRIC HEADBAND KIT supplies the leather band, steel spring band, and six M2 x 10mm T6 Torx screws. Checkpoint: confirm you have all six screws accounted for before you remove the old band.
2. 2. Photograph the assembled headband: Take a photo from above and from the side so you can see how the leather sits on the spring band and which way the padding faces. Common mistake: skipping this and then guessing the orientation of the plus-shaped cushions.
3. 3. Unscrew one side at a time: Remove the three M2 screws on one side, then the three on the other. Support the leather band with your free hand as the last screw comes out. Checkpoint: the spring band should stay in place, not spring free, when the leather is lifted.
4. 4. Lift off the old leather band and inspect the spring band: Ease the leather off with a gentle rocking motion. Look for bends or flat spots in the steel spring band while it is exposed. If the spring band is deformed, fit the new one from the kit rather than reusing the old one.
5. 5. Seat the new leather band with the padding facing up: Align the screw holes on both sides and start all six screws by hand. The plus-shaped cushions should face toward your head. Common mistake: tightening the first screw fully before the others are started, which pulls the band off-center.
6. 6. Tighten in a cross pattern until snug: Work around the six screws a little at a time, alternating sides, until they are firm. Do not overtighten. Checkpoint: no visible gap between the leather and the spring band at any screw point.
7. 7. Wear-test and adjust if needed: Put the headphones on and check that the band sits evenly across the top of your head. If one side feels tight, loosen that side, reseat the leather, and retighten. Give the leather a day or two to settle before making further adjustments.

Parts and accessories mentioned

• LIRIC HEADBAND KIT: Standard Meze Audio Liric headband made from high-quality leather, with 'Liric' logo engraving. The kit includes 1 leather headband with Liric engraving, 1 steel spring band, and 6 M2 x 10mm T6 Torx screws. You get the leather band, the spring band, and every screw in one box, so you do not need to source fasteners separately or reuse worn ones.
• LIRIC HEADBAND KIT: The headband features padded cushions, symmetrically placed in a plus shape to allow proper air flow and lower heat and humidity buildup. The plus-shaped padding spreads contact across the top of your head and reduces sweat during long listening sessions, so orientation matters when you refit the band.
• DUAL MONO 3.5 MM 109 PRO STANDARD CABLE: Compatible with 99 CLASSICS 2ND GEN, 105 AER, 105 SILVA, 109 PRO, STRADA, LIRIC, and POET. Made of highly flexible TPE with mono 3.5 mm headphone termination and a 3.5 mm gold-plated jack with black aluminum casing. If your cable has stiffened or frayed, this is a direct replacement for the 105 series and most of the current Meze range, so you can refresh both at once.

A headband swap is one of the simplest repairs you can do on a Meze headphone, and it brings back the fit and comfort that made you choose the pair in the first place. Take your time with the six screws, keep the plus-shaped padding facing up, and the new band will feel broken in within a couple of days.