Out of all of Batman’s massive array of tools which turn a relatively ordinary person into a superhero, perhaps his most utilitarian is his grappling gun — allowing him the ability to soar around his city like Spiderman or Superman. [John Boss] isn’t typically fighting crime, but he did develop his own grappling gun of sorts which gives him another superpower: the ability to easily scale snowy hills to quickly get back to the top.

The grappling gun takes inspiration from a commonly used tool called a power ascender, which is often used in industry applications where climbing is required. This one is held in the hand and uses a brushless motor with a belt-driven 3:1 reduction for increased torque. The pulley system, bearings, and motor are all housed in a 3D printed enclosure and are powered by rechargeable Milwaukee power tool batteries. During prototyping the rope intake and output feed locations had to be moved to increase the pulley’s grabbing ability, and with a working prototype he swapped a lot of the plastic 3D printed parts out for metal to increase the sturdiness of the device.

The grappling gun was originally designed for a smaller child to get hoisted up a hill on a sled, but when stress testing the device [John] found out that it actually has more than enough capability to haul even an adult up a hill on skis. As an added bonus, the outfeed for the rope can be put into a bag and used to automatically coil the rope up when he’s done at the hill. Although this is a great solution for a portable rope tow, for something more permanent and more powerful take a look at this backyard rope tow that was built from spare parts.

Meze Audio has introduced the ASTRU ($899), a new top of the line single dynamic driver in-ear monitor (IEM) created for listeners who want true high end performance without venturing into the stratospheric pricing that now defines many flagship IEMs. Built around a focused design philosophy, ASTRU relies on a single dynamic driver to deliver a visceral, full bodied presentation that Meze says can rival the layering, imaging, and resolution typically associated with complex multi driver designs.

The new model will make its first public appearance at CanJam NYC 2026 this weekend. Meze says ASTRU will be available starting March 20 through mezeaudio.com, mezeaudio.eu, and selected retailers worldwide.

While Meze Audio is widely known for its award winning headphones such as the Empyrean II, 99 Classics 2nd Generation, 109 Pro, and the recently introduced STRADA, the Romanian brand has also shown it can build compelling in ear monitors as well. Its ADVAR IEM, which we reviewed favorably, stood out for its musical balance, solid build quality, and distinctive industrial design. With ASTRU, Meze appears ready to push further into the high end IEM space while sticking with a simpler single driver approach rather than joining the industry’s escalating multi driver arms race.

Advanced Multilayer Dynamic Driver Architecture

At the center of the ASTRU is a custom multilayer composite 10 mm dynamic driver designed to balance speed, control, and tonal weight. The diaphragm dome is constructed using more than 80 ultra thin layers of gold, applied through a 48 hour physical vacuum DC magnetron sputtering process. This technique allows extremely thin metallic layers to be deposited with high precision, helping maintain diaphragm rigidity while keeping mass low.

The gold layered dome is bonded to a titanium layer and mounted on a PEEK base, materials chosen for their strength, stability, and resistance to unwanted resonance. The result is a driver structure intended to deliver fast transient response, extended treble, and the fuller low frequency presence that dynamic drivers are known for, while maintaining clarity and control across the frequency range.

Titanium Construction, Accessories, and Specifications

ASTRU’s housing reflects Meze Audio’s focus on durability, precision manufacturing, and long term comfort. The shell geometry has been carefully shaped to provide a secure and stable fit during extended listening sessions. Each earpiece is CNC machined from a single block of pure titanium and finished through a multi stage electroplating process that results in a smooth satin surface. According to Meze, producing each matched pair of shells requires up to seven days of precision machining and finishing, highlighting the level of manufacturing detail behind the design.

ASTRU is delivered as a complete listening package designed for portable high end audio use. The IEM includes a premium balanced cable equipped with CNC anodized aluminum hardware and a gold plated 4.4 mm balanced termination. This type of connection is commonly used with modern digital audio players and portable amplifiers because it offers improved channel separation and lower noise compared to standard single ended outputs. A 4.4 mm to 3.5 mm adapter is also included for compatibility with more traditional headphone outputs on Dongle DACs that may not offer a balanced output.

Additional accessories include five sizes of ear tips ranging from XS to XL to help users achieve a secure seal and proper acoustic performance. Meze also includes two carrying solutions: a protective pouch for everyday transport and a soft PU leather envelope designed for additional protection during travel or storage.

In terms of specifications, ASTRU offers a frequency range of 5 Hz to 35 kHz with a nominal impedance of 32 ohms and a sensitivity rating of 111dB SPL per milliwatt at 1 kHz. Total harmonic distortion is specified at less than 0.1 percent at 1 kHz. The IEM uses a standard 2-pin connector for cable attachment and weighs 13.4 grams (0.47 oz). These specifications indicate that ASTRU should be easy to drive with most modern digital audio players, portable DACs, and headphone amplifiers while still benefiting from higher quality source components.

The Bottom Line

The Meze Audio ASTRU arrives at an interesting moment for the high end IEM market. With Empire Ears recently shutting down operations, one of the category’s most recognizable boutique brands has exited the stage, leaving more room for companies like Campfire Audio, Noble Audio, 64 Audio, and Astell&Kern to battle it out in the upper tier of the segment. Most of those competitors lean heavily into complex driver arrays, packing multiple balanced armatures, electrostatics, or hybrid configurations into increasingly elaborate designs.

Meze is taking a different path. Rather than joining the escalating multi driver arms race, ASTRU sticks with a single dynamic driver architecture and focuses on materials, diaphragm engineering, and acoustic tuning. The titanium housing, multilayer gold coated diaphragm, and balanced cable package suggest a product built with the same attention to industrial design and materials that has defined Meze’s headphone lineup.

What ASTRU offers is a simpler approach to high end IEM performance aimed at listeners who prefer the coherence, bass weight, and natural timbre that dynamic drivers are known for. What it does not offer is the kind of driver count marketing that dominates much of the $800 to $1500 IEM category. At $899, that places it in direct competition with multi driver models from several established brands. Whether buyers prioritize driver complexity or the sonic character of a well executed dynamic design will ultimately determine where ASTRU lands in this crowded field.

Price & Availability

ASTRU will be available for purchase starting March 20, 2026, on mezeaudio.com,
mezeaudio.eu and in selected retailers worldwide, with a suggested retail price of $899.

Related Reading:

IT Search’s Karla O’Rourke discusses her career in recruitment and how candidates can make themselves more attractive to organisations looking to hire.

Ask anyone who has applied for a new job lately and they will likely tell you that the application process is almost a full-time role in itself as you spend weeks, sometimes even months, amending cover letters, submitting documents and interviewing, only to not be considered the ‘right fit’. Then the routine starts up again, until you finally land a job. 

“One of the most common mistakes is applying for roles that are not aligned with a candidate’s experience,” explained Karla O’Rourke, an associate director and technology recruiter at Irish recruitment agency IT Search, which is a member of the Vertical Markets Group.

She said: “While it is natural to explore opportunities, submitting applications for a large number of roles that are not a close match rarely leads to positive outcomes. Another issue is failing to tailor a CV to the role being applied for. If a job description highlights specific technologies or responsibilities, candidates should ensure that their relevant experience is clearly reflected in their CV.”

Unsurprisingly, she finds that more and more, recruiters are coming across CVs that have been created using AI technologies, which is leading to a rise in generic applications.

Artificial intelligence can be useful in assisting with format and structure. However, she noted that hiring managers are quick to recognise when a CV has not been written solely by the individual, often because AI-generated descriptions will lack detail and provide little clarity around the applicant’s specific contributions or achievements. The strongest CVs, she said, will offer a clear outline and understanding of responsibilities and projects, and how this translates to measurable results.  

So, how does an IT or technology recruiter utilise their skills to ensure that the person behind the CV is matched to a role that suits their goals and ambitions?

Don’t rush to judgement

In her own role, as someone who evaluates applications to assess whether they match the expectations of the organisation and if there is a likelihood that the person could be fulfilled working there, O’Rourke said effective recruitment depends heavily on solid judgement, communication skills and possessing a deep understanding of both the organisation and the candidate.

“A key part of the process is looking beyond the job description to understand what the organisation truly needs. While technical capability is obviously critical in technology roles, long-term success often depends on additional factors such as adaptability, communication style and how someone fits within a team,” she said. 

“Equally, understanding a candidate’s motivations and career ambitions is essential. A CV can provide a snapshot of someone’s experience, but conversations often reveal much more about how a person approaches their work and the type of environment where they will perform best.”

She is of the opinion that strong networks also play a crucial role, as recruiters who actively engage with their market build a deep understanding of the talent landscape, which allows them to introduce candidates who are not only technically capable but also well aligned with the organisation’s culture and objectives.

When it comes to technical prowess – having noted that AI should be used sparingly (if at all) in the creation of a CV – for tech and IT experts looking to move ahead, O’Rourke encourages the use of opportunities to include genuine skills in AI on their documentation. 

“Unsurprisingly, AI is one of the biggest topics across the technology sector at the moment. Organisations are actively exploring how they can integrate AI into their systems, development processes and wider business operations. At the same time, many companies are also navigating the learning curve that comes with implementing these technologies effectively.

“While the demand for AI expertise is extremely high, the pool of professionals with deep, practical experience in this area remains relatively small. Many organisations want to incorporate AI into their platforms and workflows, but there are fewer individuals who have the experience required to genuinely lead those initiatives.”

At the end of the day, IT and tech recruiters have the same end goal as someone looking to begin or continue their career in the IT and tech space. Both want to show the organisation that the application put forth is representative of the person best suited to the position. To achieve this, O’Rourke explained that applicants should find what makes them unique.

“When many candidates have similar technical skills on paper, differentiation becomes increasingly important. Rather than listing every technology you have encountered, it is often more effective to focus on the areas where you have genuine depth of experience and can clearly demonstrate value.”

And perhaps above all else, be prepared. She finds that the candidates who can confidently stand over projects, showcase the challenges they have resolved and highlight the impact of their work are significantly more likely to stand out in a positive way during the interview process. 

The career labyrinth

Knowing the direction you want to go in professionally can make the route to get there simpler, but that is by no means the only way to reach your target, nor is it as common as we might tell ourselves. Typically, the route towards a desired career diverts occasionally, and it is important to be aware and accepting of that. 

“My route into recruitment was actually quite unexpected,” noted O’Rourke, who explained that initially, she was employed at Dunnes Stores as a brand manager, with the assumption that she would eventually take up a position in the human resources division.

“Interestingly, the opportunity came from someone who had ‘mystery shopped’ me several times while I was working there. Their full-time role was in recruitment and after a number of visits, they reached out to ask whether I would consider exploring a career in agency recruitment.

“At that stage I had very little awareness of the industry, but I was open to the conversation. Looking back, it proved to be one of the best decisions I have made professionally.”

Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

On the hunt for a fresh pair of headphones that stand out in the style department? Until the end of the weekend, Best Buy has the Beats Studio Pro marked down to just $200, a $150 discount from the usual price.

While this headset isn’t nearly as fancy as some of our other favorite over-ear headsets, it makes up for it with classic Beats styling and a sound profile that the brand has become known for among its fans. They’re bass-forward and punchy, a fact you’ll just have to live with whether you like it or not, because they lack a dedicated equalizer. Thankfully they aren’t as bold and brash as the Beats of old, but it’s still something to keep in mind if your normal beat isn’t hip-hop or rock.

They’re technically produced by Apple, but the Beats Studio Pro have a feature set that’s decidedly cross-platform, with one-touch pairing for both Apple and Android mobile devices, and an impressively large wireless range in case you like to leave your phone on the porch while working in the yard. If you don’t mind being physically connected to your device, you can even use the USB-C mode to enjoy some high-resolution audio. There’s also head tracking for spatial audio, a trick we’ve seen on some other headsets that sometimes ends up being more of a gimmick, although it is neat to use while watching movies in apps that support it like Disney+ and Netflix.

They get up to 24 hours of battery life with the ANC on, or closer to 40 without, which is fine, but not quite as good as some of its more expensive counterparts. Speaking of active noise-canceling, our reviewer Ryan Waniata said “it holds its own against competitors from Sony and Bose, and outdoes rivals like Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless.” It works just as well for calling as it does for catching some tunes, and has a microphone that folks on the other hand of the call described as clear and detailed.

If you’re interested in scooping this deal on the Beats Studio Pro, make sure to head over to Best Buy to save $150, or check out our guide to the best wireless headphones we’ve head the pleasure of testing.