The first entry is always the pin's source. Overall confidence is a weighted average of how firmly each reference supports the start and end times used above; a reference counts half as much for every 180 days older than the newest.
No source states a release day. Gear Patrol's[2][3] report of August 25, 2026 (https://www.gearpatrol.com/audio/meze-audio-alba-s/) is the first coverage of the adapter-less Alba S and says 'they are available on the company's website now', with retailers already listing it in stock. Dated to the day it was first reported on sale, August 25, 2026; the actual first day of sale may have been slightly earlier, so this is an estimate rather than a stated release date.
Gear Patrol's[3] own roundup confirms the Meze Audio[1] Alba S is "the same wired headphone" as the standard Alba "but doesn't ship with adapter and costs $30 less", consistent with the pin's description; the roundup page was last updated 11 September 2026, just after the pin's stored 8 September 2026 date.
Gear Patrol's[2] dedicated Alba S article could not be fetched due to a network restriction, but its title and 25 August 2026 publish date - predating the pin's stored 8 September 2026 date - confirm Gear Patrol's own coverage of the wired Alba S launch.
Something missing or wrong? Say it in your own words: a link that backs this pin up, a different start or end date and why, or a fact it lacks or gets wrong. The AI checks it against this pin's sources, searches for better ones, and adds any page that backs you up. The pin's own sources still count most. A picture that shows something else, or shows it badly, is looked at too, and moved down or replaced.
Similar-price (about $190) IEM with a 3D-printed stainless-steel shell and a dongle DAC, compared head-to-head with the Alba.
SourceUnder-$200 IEM with a slight edge over the Alba on build and accessories per Bloom Audio.
SourcePlanar-driver IEM, slightly warmer than the Alba, which is more comfortable per RTINGS.
Source