Meze Audio 99 Classics Review | 93 Data compared

The Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen wired over-ear, closed-back headphones offer a rich and profound low-end response, excellent passive sound isolation, and incredible comfort via a self-adjusting headband and spacious ear cushions. Released on October 29, 2025, and priced at $349, these visually stunning headphones feature distinct walnut earcups paired with electroplated zinc hardware. Designed with a focus on longevity, they feature fully replaceable parts and come bundled with a high-quality braided dual-core cable, a hard carry case, and a practical USB-C DAC/AMP dongle. They deliver clean, crisp high frequencies and pair exceptionally well with vinyl records and lower-impedance modern sources like smartphones and laptops. However, several drawbacks prevent the audio performance from completely matching the flawless physical craftsmanship. The headphones feature an ultra-low input impedance of 16 ohms, which can cause audio distortion and oversaturation at louder volumes, making them less suitable for dedicated high-end hi-fi rigs. Sonically, there is a noticeable scooped midrange that robs guitar-heavy tracks of their energy, alongside a soundstage that can feel narrow and constricted. Furthermore, the minimalist metal headband acts like a...

The Meze 99 Classics 2nd GenGo features a matured, more balanced sound, retaining a luxurious design with CNC-machined walnut ear cups and a comfortable vegan leather headband. It shifts from the original's V-shaped sound towards a more neutral, mid-focused signature, and introduces better usability with a wider 7mm cable socket, removable acoustic absorbers, and an included USB-C DAC dongle.

The Meze Audio 99 Classics are premium, wired over-ear headphones that feature a distinctive walnut-veneered design with gold or silver metal accents. They deliver a full-bodied, clear sound characterized by a naturally warm midrange and impressively deep, well-defined bass. Built with a surprisingly rigid skeletal frame and large padded headband, they provide comfortable, all-day listening. They also include practical accessories, such as a hardshell travel case, flight adapters, and both 1-metre and 3-metre detachable cables. However, testers noted that the wood lacquer on the earcups shows slight wear over time if repeatedly placed on hard surfaces. A major pro of these headphones is their smooth, direct audio performance, which highlights vocals beautifully without making the deep low frequencies feel overbearing. On the downside, the 99 Classics lack the sonic energy, rhythmic punch, and enthusiasm required for upbeat tracks, stopping short of being "natural-born entertainers". Additionally, class-leading competitors like the Austrian Audio Hi-X55 offer greater transparency, detail retrieval, and analytical precision. Despite these drawbacks, the 99 Classics earn a strong recommendation for their appealing tonality, luxurious aesthetics, and exceptional physical comfort.

The Meze 99 Classics, reviewed by ThePhonograph.net, offer a warm, intimate sound signature with realistic mid-range vocals and a balanced, non-fatiguing treble that provides an engaging listening experience. Notable design pros include excellent sound isolation with low leakage, making them suitable for private listening at moderate volumes. ThePhonograph.netHowever, the review notes a potential for congestion in the lower-mids that may require equalization to correct. While they are highly detailed, those preferring an analytical sound might find the out-of-the-box tuning too smooth, and strict volume management is needed to prevent leakage in very quiet environments.

The Meze 99 Classic headphones are highly praised for their exemplary build quality, visual appeal, and comfortable fit during extended listening sessions. Priced at $309 USD, they feature solid walnut ear cups and eschew cheap glue construction in favour of durable wood, metal, and screws, ensuring easy repairs. The headphones offer excellent passive noise isolation and come bundled with a rich accessory package, including a hard shell case, a 1.2-metre cable with an inline mic, a 3-metre Kevlar cable, and premium audio adapters. Sonically, the headphones deliver a highly refined, smooth treble response and a well-matched midrange that flatters classical music while retaining the energy to rock. Their excellent macro and micro dynamics keep musical tracks engaging, creating a cohesive and nearly holographic soundstage. However, a notable con is that the bass response—while balanced, defined, and clear enough to distinguish subtle vibratos—does not extend quite as deep as competing models like the Master & Dynamic MH40s.

The Meze 99 Classics ($309) are highly praised as excellent, versatile, and endlessly serviceable closed-back headphones designed by company founder Antonio Meze. A major highlight of these headphones is their stellar, luxury-inspired build quality, which prominently incorporates wood and metal parts connected entirely by screws rather than adhesives, ensuring the components can be easily disassembled and repaired over time. Weighing a lightweight 260 grams, they offer an exemplary accessory package that includes a high-quality, zippered clamshell carrying case, a small pouch, 1/4" and airplane adapters, and two Kevlar-reinforced OFC cables (a 4-foot portable cable with a one-button remote and a 10-foot plain home cable). However, the reviewer notes several drawbacks regarding ergonomics and component choices. The earcups measure 45mm x 55mm, making them wider but shallower than average, which results in a cozy but warm fit over long listening sessions. Furthermore, the combination of the elastic suspension headband and the arch's caliper pressure causes the ear capsules to pull upward, creating uneven, overly tight pressure on the top of the head. Other minor complaints include the use of synthetic polyurethane...

The Meze Audio 99 Classics, reviewed on Head-Fi, feature a natural, enthusiastic sound with exceptionally sweet mids, smooth treble, and surprising soundstage width, offering remarkable instrument texture at their price point. While highly responsive to EQ, the headphones possess a distinct, warm, and musical sound signature that excels across various genres. Conversely, the review identifies a prominent mid-bass hump (250 Hz - 500 Hz) caused by wood earcup resonance as the primary, yet fixable, drawback. Addressing this, the reviewer notes the necessity of manual EQ to achieve neutral tuning, although doing so introduces phase alterations.

In the Stereophile review, the Meze Audio 99 Classic headphonesGo are praised for their exceptional top-to-bottom coherence, lightweight design, and even tonal spread. The headphones deliver a neutral and balanced midrange, providing solid, non-fatiguing sound that remains composed at high volumes. Conversely, the review highlights that the headband produces a noticeable metallic ringing sound, and the closed-back design results in a narrow soundstage where images cling closely inside the head. Additionally, measurements reveal that lower frequencies, specifically double basses and cellos, can sound overly rich and emphasized.

In his review of the Meze 99 Classics, Paul Rigby evaluates these Romanian-built, over-ear, closed-back headphones, which retail for €309. He highlights their unique construction, which features CNC-created solid walnut earcups paired with a lightweight, flexible inner metal headband that adjusts automatically and provides excellent long-term comfort. Sonically, the headphones deliver exceptional performance given their price point, offering a highly focused soundstage, notable midrange clarity, and realistic tonal accuracy that brings acoustic instruments like brass and secondary percussion vividly to life. The defining and most divisive characteristic of the Meze 99 Classics is their massive and impactful bass response, which delivers immense power and slam without severely bleeding into or swampy the tight, warm midrange frequencies. However, this heavy low-end occupies a substantial amount of space in the soundstage, resulting in a reduced sense of air and shorter reverb tails—a drawback that might not suit fans of jazz or classical music who prioritize silence and spaciousness. Additionally, Rigby strongly criticizes the connectivity options; despite its audiophile marketing, the system only includes 3.5mm termination cables (one with an inline microphone and...

The Meze 99 Classics are top-of-the-line, closed-back headphones manufactured in Romania that deliver excellent sonic performance and top-notch build quality. They feature an original, timeless design highlighted by earcups made from single solid pieces of real walnut wood, ensuring every unit has unique grain patterns. Weighing only 260 grams, they utilize an automatically adjusting suspended headband structure that distributes weight evenly, making them incredibly comfortable for long listening sessions. The package includes high-quality packaging with a hard faux-leather carrying case, a short 1.2-metre mobile cable with a universal remote/microphone, a long 3-metre cable, an aeroplane adapter, and a 6.3 mm adapter. Sonically, the headphones offer a fun, fast, and impactful audio presentation characterized by a warm and lush sound signature with a generous boost in the mid-bass region. The midrange is rich and forward, creating natural-sounding vocals, while the treble provides good extension, air, and clarity without becoming harsh or piercing. However, the review notes a few drawbacks, including a mid-bass response that can occasionally become excessive and overlap the lower mids, clearly audible sibilance in vocals, and the use...

The Meze 99 Classics is reviewed as a highly unique, $309 closed-back headphone that stands out for both its luxurious design and warm sonic signature. On the positive side, it features beautiful, precision CNC-cut and hand-finished wooden ear cups, elegant cast hardware, and a surprisingly lightweight build at just 260 grams. The reviewer praises its rich, organic sound, highlighting deep sub-bass extension, smooth linear mid-ranges, and a relaxed, non-fatiguing treble that eliminates all roughness or sibilance. Additionally, it includes a premium Kevlar-reinforced OFC cable and a hard zippered travel case. Performance-wise, its 32-ohm impedance and 103 dB sensitivity make it exceptionally easy to drive with standard smartphones and portable players without needing specialized external amplification. Conversely, the primary drawback of the Meze 99 Classics centers on the ear pads, which the reviewer finds way too shallow, cramped, and prone to getting warm. The thin foam compresses until the user's ears press uncomfortably against the driver housings. In terms of sound profile, the over-reliance on a smooth and intimate "behind the curtain" presentation means it lacks the wide, three-dimensional soundstage, sharp...

The Meze 99 Classics (€309) are dynamic, closed-back, wooden headphones designed by a boutique Romanian company to deliver an exclusive, high-end experience at an affordable price point. Built without plastic structural components, they utilize a lightweight design featuring natural wood ear cups, steel accents, zinc alloy, and a self-adjusting leather headband that ensures a comfortable, tailored fit. In terms of performance, the headphones deliver a remarkably natural, well-balanced, and linear sound straight out of a smartphone, which scales beautifully when paired with high-quality DACs. Their sound profile is characterized by organic midrange clarity, deep but controlled bass, and detailed treble that avoids harshness, drawing close comparisons to top-tier competitors like the Sennheiser Momentum M2. While highly praised, the review identifies two specific physical drawbacks to the otherwise premium design. First, the ear cups are on the smaller side; they may feel more like a hybrid between over-ear and on-ear headphones for individuals with larger ears, rather than fully-fledged over-ear cups. Second, the headphones suffer from a noticeable "microphone effect," where friction from the nylon-strengthened cable rubbing against clothing creates audible...

The Meze Audio 99 Classics are open-back-styled, closed-back headphones praised for their premium craftsmanship, featuring CNC-carved walnut ear cups, zinc alloy hardware, and a durable manganese spring steel headband. The reviewer notes that the build quality is exceptionally solid for its £278.30 price tag, and the manufacturer ensures the design is fully serviceable for longevity. Comfort is a major highlight; the PU leather ear pads do not get sticky during long listening sessions, and the self-adjusting headband provides a "sweet spot" clamping force that remains comfortable for up to four hours of continuous wear. Additionally, the detachable Kevlar OFC cables are praised for being high-quality, lightweight, and visually matching the aesthetic of the headphones rather than feeling like an afterthought. In terms of audio performance, the primary pros include a spacious soundstage, clear instrument separation, and a fast, punchy bass that offers surprising weight and depth, making them particularly excellent for electronic dance music (EDM) and metal. The highs are also commended for being crisp, beautiful, and accurately speedy. The main sonic con identified is a noticeable recession or dip...

The Meze Audio 99 Classics ($309) are closed-back headphones acclaimed for their rich, musical, and highly engaging analog-like sound signature. Unlike analytical headphones that dissect music, the 99 Classics focus on delivery with an expressive midrange, tight and startlingly agile bass response, and clear, well-extended highs. They offer a generous soundstage with impressive transparency and instrument separation for their price point. They are highly efficient with a 32-ohm impedance, meaning they scale beautifully when plugged into high-end digital audio players (DAPs) but remain incredibly easy to drive directly from everyday smartphones and computers. Structurally, they stand out for their artistic aesthetic, featuring real wood earcups, leather elements, and gold-plated hardware built with an eco-friendly design that can be fully disassembled for future repairs. The evaluation highlights several distinct advantages and minor trade-offs for prospective listeners: Pros: Exceptionally musical and transparent sound, tight and impactful bass extension without booming, superb premium aesthetics, and a wide soundstage. Cons: The review notes virtually no performance complaints ("Ahhhh... ") for the $309 price, though side-by-side testing reveals they cannot match the lightning-fast transient response,...

The Meze 99 Classics are closed-back, over-ear headphones that deliver an impressively analytical, detailed, and highly engaging sound signature, standing out for their beautiful walnut wood design and premium build quality. The reviewer praises their exceptional transients, characterized by an explosive attack and fast decay, alongside a remarkably large, open, and airy soundstage that rivals many open-back models. The headphones feature an excellent, clean, and textured midrange—noted as their strongest attribute—along with front-facing, well-extended voices and a highly detailed, sparkly treble that remains revealing of poor recordings. While the overall sound signature is neutral and highly energetic, the review highlights minor flaws in the lower frequencies. The bass is fast, punchy, and decently extended, but it suffers from a slight mid-bass hump and noticeable distortion in the sub-bass section on certain songs. Additionally, their highly analytical nature means they will not mask or sweeten the faults of a bad recording. Despite these drawbacks, the headphones offer outstanding imaging, instrument separation, and premium packaging, making them a personal favorite closed-back option for the reviewer.

The Meze 99 Classics are closed-back, over-ear headphones that deliver superb, balanced audio quality for their $309 price point. The sound profile is characterized by an engaging, exciting low-end bass that provides weight without dominating the track, a highly precise mid-range, and an elegant, well-calibrated stereo spread. With an unusually high sensitivity of 103dB and a low impedance of 32Ω, these dynamic driver headphones are easy to power directly from a smartphone, though they truly sing when paired with a quality amplifier and DAC. Visually, the headphones offer an exquisite, premium design featuring real walnut wood earcups, a solid metal headband with a spider-like support structure, and incredibly comfortable, buttery leather earpads. Weighing only nine ounces, they present very minimal clamping pressure, allowing users to wear them for hours without experiencing fatigue. However, the review highlights a few notable drawbacks to consider before purchasing. On the design side, the headphones feature a rather large and bulky profile that severely limits their overall portability. Additionally, the included 3'11” short cable features an oddly placed in-line microphone located just a few inches...

The Meze 99 Classics V2Go delivers a more mature, controlled, and faithful sound compared to the original, featuring a highly praised, nuanced midrange and tighter, punchier bass. It maintains a natural, non-fatiguing treble and retains the signature aesthetic, focusing on accuracy and a refined, balanced performance. HeadfoniaConversely, the V2 offers a less dramatic and "wow"-inducing signature than its predecessor, potentially disappointing listeners who prioritize a heavily boosted, aggressive bass. The review characterizes this revision as a more conservative, technically sound experience over raw excitement.

The Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Generation is a sub-$500 closed-back headphone offering a fun, musical sound with a durable design, featuring a self-adjusting headband, larger ear pads, and excellent, efficient performance for portable sources. Key pros include a robust build, solid passive isolation, and a large, engaging soundstage. Conversely, the 2nd Generation shifts to a more balanced, neutral sound with tighter bass, which may disappoint fans of the original’s heavier, boomy signature. Other cons include limited surgical detail retrieval, slightly relaxed dynamics, and a dense midrange, favoring a smooth listening experience over clinical, high-resolution performance.