Today we are checking out Meze 99 Classics. This is an award winning dynamic closed-back headphones with wooden ear cups and a warm and engaging sound signature.
Disclaimer: This unit was provided to me by Meze Audio in exchange for my honest review. No one paid me to say anything in particular about this product. And all thoughts and opinions in today’s episode are my own.
The Meze 99 Classics arrived in absolutely beautiful box. On the front of the box we have illustration of the headphones. On the back of the box we have a hologram and list of the awards that this pair has won. And on the right side of the box we have a list of technical specifications
In the box:
- Meze 99 Classics headphones
- Carrying case
- Cable & accessories pouch
- Two de-attachable Kevlar OFC cables
- An airplane adapter
- 3.5mm to 6.3 mm adapter
- Manual
- Two Meze stickers
- and a warranty card
Overall the package is very generous and I really enjoyed the unboxing experience. The headphones use 40mm drivers, the impedance is 32 Ohms and the sensitivity is 103db/mW. The headphones weight 260 grams without cable.
Design & build
Meze 99 Classics is one of the most beautiful and well engineered pair of headphones I ever reviewed on my channel. It’s important to note that no glue was used for the build, and everything is mounted using nuts and bolts.
Build quality is excellent and the headphones have been designed in a way so they can be fully disassembled. Which means they are fully repairable and you can get all the parts from MEZE if needed.
The outer part of the headband is made of two spring steel parts that extend all the way down and are attached to the center of each ear cup. The self-adjusting headband mechanism is mounted on the headband using two cross structure joints that have a gold accent (or silver if you purchase the Wallnut Silver version). The self-adjusting headband is made of an elastic material and is completely covered with pleather that has 99 Classics name embossed on it and the headband adjusting mechanism works flawlessly.
The cups of Meze 99 Classics are attached to the metal band, they swivel a bit and that allows them to be adjusted for the best angle and better fit. The ear cups are made from hand finished walnut wood. They not only look great, but they also add quite a natural resonance to this pair of headphones. Each ear cup has a 3.5 mm connector socket, bordered with golden accent rings
The ear pads are oval shape and have quite a large cut. Ear pads are made from pleather, they are soft and very comfortable
Cable
Meze 99 Classics comes with two cables. The first cable is 1.2 meters long and it has a built in microphone. It has 3.5 mm TRRS connector from one side and two 3.5 mm TS connectors from another side. The second cable is 3 meters long. It has 3.5mm TRS connector from one side and two 3.5mm TS connectors from another side.
Both cable have a splitter installed, which is also made with gold accents and has a Meze logo on it. Both cables are also braided all the way from the 3.5 mm connector up to the splitter and then they terminate into rubberized cables. I assume this was done to increase the durability of the cables and reduce the possible microphonics that the braided cables usually have
When you connect the cables, the plugs sit in the sockets very well, there are no gaps. The 99 Classics are symmetrically designed so there is no left or right ear cup. The left and right channel is determined by how you are connecting the cable
By the way, the left connector on both cables has a tiny ridge allowing you to distinguish left and right channel without even looking for a left/right indicator. The silver plated upgrade cable is also available from Meze in case you need it. Overall connectivity wise this is another strong A+ from me.
Fit & comfort
Meze 99 Classics are lightweight, they weigh only 260 grams and the comfort of this pair is outstanding. I put it on my head and I forget about it after some time. Clamping force is above average, and from one side it allows you to get a good seal, at the same time it’s not overly strong to cause any discomfort during long listening sessions.
I don’t know what’s exactly the Meze secret here, but I assume it’s a well-engineered build and soft ear-pads coupled with precisely calculated clamping force. I have large ears, but in my case the cut in the ear pads and the depth of ear cups allows me to have a full over-ear fit which is great
The ear pads use memory foam and are well-padded offering a good experience. The only downside I noticed is that the ear pads tend to get hot pretty soon. Passive sound isolation is above average for a pair of closed-back headphones, and they block a good amount of noise, making them suitable for most scenarios.
Meze 99 Classics sound overview
Please note that all the sound impressions I’m sharing on this channel are completely subjective, so please take it with a grain of salt.
Meze 99 Classics is a pair of very well-turned headphones with a warm tonality.
There is a lot of low frequencies in this pair, but they sound very natural and controlled. The wooden ear cups also increase a natural warmth which is a plus in my opinion. The bass notes have a good weight, they are rounded, and despite the bass quantity, overall it sounds quite relaxed. Mid bass is more prominent here than the sub-bass, but it never lacked punch or energy. There is a little bass bleed into mids, which adds additional weight and body to the midrange, which depending on your taste can be an advantage or disadvantage. I listen to many genres of music and I was never feeling the bass lacking or overwhelming on this pair so I think the bass on this pair will definitely please a lot of people.
Midrange is where this pair truly shines. The mids have a lot of detail and have a very natural timbre and tonality with a pinch of additional warmth. Vocals, both female and male sound alive and vibrant, though this pair is not mid-forward one.
The timbre is very natural and easy to listen to. Upper mids are crisp and sound very clear without being harsh. Instruments sound very detailed and have a good note weight. Overall, the mids on Meze 99 Classics are very pleasant, they have a very natural timbre, balanced presentation, they are slightly warm, and have a good note weight.
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The treble on Meze 99 Classics is well extended, it has a lot of energy, and at the same time is quite smooth and relaxed. It’s clear, crisp, and has a quite air in the presentation, balancing out the heavy low end of this pair
The treble here also reveals a lot of details and is quite sparkling, but also it was never harsh or sibilant. I was using this pair with many genres for extended periods of time, and treble continues the charming, smooth, and relaxing character of mid-range. Rarely with some tracks, I was noticing that the treble was a bit veiled, but if you are a treble-sensitive person, this will be an added advantage for you
Despite being a pair of closed-back headphones, Meze 99 Classics have a quite wide sound stage that provides a great instrument placement. Instrument separation is also very good. The imaging is precise and instrument placement is totally correct
And this by the way, not only makes this pair suitable for music, but it works well for gaming too. Overall, 99 Classics are a solid performer in the aspect of imaging and sound stage
Conclusions
Meze 99 Classics are a very enjoyable pair of headphones. I myself had a hard time stopping listening to this pair as I wanted to listen to it more and more.
Pros:
- Amazing design and build
- The headphones are very well tuned and have natural timbre
- A lot of bass, making this pair a fun to listenLively and vibrant vocals
- Clear and detailed treble which is perfectly balancing the heavy low end of this pair
- Excellent sound stage for a pair of closed back headphones
- Generous package and accessories
- and the headphones are easy to drive, so you will be able to use with almost any source
Cons:
- The headphones can sound too warm to those who prefer neutral and neutral bright sound signatures
- and the ear pads are running hot, especially if like myself you live in a hot climate,
Overall the Meze 99 Classics is a very attractive pair of headphones in it’s price range. The build is outstanding with a lot of attention to even small details. The headphones are well tuned delivering a unique experience sound-wise.
In addition to that Meze 99 Classics are really fun headphones to listen to being at the same time clean and detailed. This pair has a solid spot among my top recommendations for closed-back headphones under $350 and I strongly recommend you to check it out, especially if you love natural, warm and lively sound.
