Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen Review – More Than A Retread

About Meze –

Meze is an award-winning audio company from Romania that specializes in high-end headphones. They focus on superlative craftsmanship, authenticity, immersive yet emotive sound tuning and excellent ergonomics and design. In addition, a core value for Meze is longevity, delivering serviceable products and sale of replacement parts straight to the consumer. This philosophy has granted the company a dedicated worldwide fanbase that continues to grow with each release.

Introduction –

The 99 Classics is the model that put Meze on the map, beloved for its accessible price point, warm sound and formidable build quality and comfort. It’s difficult to believe this precedent was set 10 years ago now, and it goes without saying that the 2nd generation model has large shoes to fill. To this end, Meze has implemented 10 changes to completely update and transform their legacy design. While the overall silhouette is similar, the earcups and pads are deeper, the cable has been upgraded, and the sound tuning is more balanced. This has been achieved with a new driver baffle, the addition of a bass port and better driver matching. The 2nd generation model is all about retaining the core traits of the original, whilst making system-wide improvements based upon popular feedback. We often have a tendency as reviewers to focus purely on the high-end and novel. However, it’s models like the 99 Classics V2 that serve as the bread and butter of a company’s sales, and to that end, it is a model that has little room to disappoint.

 The 99 Classics V2 is available for $349 USD at the time of writing. You can read more about it and secure one for yourself at Meze Audio!

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Alexandra very much for reaching out to organise a review of the 99 Classics V2. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the headphones free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.

Contents –

• Page 1: Intro, Unboxing, Design
• Page 2: Sound and Source Pairings
• Page 3: Comparisons & Verdict

Specifications –

• Weight: 290g
• Drivers: 40mm Dynamic Driver
• Impedance: 16 ohms
• Sensitivity: 103 dB
• Frequency Range: 15 Hz – 25 kHz

Behind the Design –

Improved Driver

In addition to improvements made to the acoustic design, the driver itself has also been updated to further increase resolving power and tonal accuracy. Meze are designing and producing the 40mm dynamic drivers in-house in Romania. They have also tightened quality control on pair matching for each unit in terms of both impedance and sensitivity. The new driver features an improved magnet structure for improved control and transient response, and a lighter voice coil, contributing to greater responsiveness.

Acoustics

Hand finished walnut wood earcups may appear familiar but the V2 has undergone extensive internal changes despite minimal outward reflection. This begins with a new damping material behind the driver in addition to a new bass port located near the 3.5mm input plugs. This is pivotal on a closed-back design, aiding pressure balancing and reducing unwanted resonances. Meze has also implemented a new baffle that works in tandem and reduces reflections.

Earpads

Larger earpads have been introduced, aiding a more comfortable over-ear fit for those with wider or larger ears. In addition, they are removable, using a new clip mechanism as opposed to the slip-on pads used before. This makes pad swapping quicker and more convenient, but also serves to permit easy installation of foam filters that offer an alternative sound tuning option.

Unboxing –

Meze always make a good first impression with their unboxing experience, and the new 99 Classics V2 is no different. You get a large card box that opens to reveal a sculpted leather carrying case. The case has always been a highlight for me on Meze’s headphones, as they are individually sculpted for each model, a perfect mix of protection and portability. Within are the headphones themselves, a felt zipper pouch containing the cable, alongside aeroplane and 1/4″ adapters. Meze also includes two foam filters that insert between the earpads and the baffle to produce a warmer sound more reminiscent of the original model. A nice addition is a USB-C dongle DAC/AMP, complementing smartphone listening.

Design –

The fact that the original 99 Classics remains a class leader in looks, feel, and ergonomics 10 years later speaks to the ethos that allowed Meze to build such a loyal fanbase. Building upon this, the 2nd generation model required little change, with more iterative adjustments that enhance the experience without spoiling the careful balance achieved by the original. Immediately, the aesthetic design is very similar, and it is difficult to pick apart the differences without side by side comparison. As before, the construction is a premium mix of metal, wood and leather. Meze make a specific point that all components are fully serviceable by the user, ensuring a long service life too. Iconic walnut earcups make a return and are now a touch deeper, while the spring-steel/leather-strap suspension headband and gold zinc-alloy hardware remain mostly untouched. This is a good thing, as many others and I have had nothing but a good experience here.

Below are dual mono 3.5mm input plugs similar to the previous generation model. Here, the orifice has been enlarged to improve compatibility with aftermarket units, and the new bass port is visible beside. With that said, and after years of complaining, Meze is finally pairing the 99 Classics with a new OFC cable that does the premium build of the headphones themselves justice. The new cable is hugely improved, forgoing tacky, perishable rubber for a far sturdier Kevlar sheath with a larger gauge. It has a 2-wire twisted braid below the Y-split before diverging to single wires with an internal braid above. This cable has substantially improved handling, with a matte texture that no longer clings to itself and a more supple feel that coils far more easily during storage. The cable is overall devoid of springiness and memory, I also found that microphonic noise transmission is reduced by virtue of the braided construction. It has nice alloy hardware and terminates in a non-modular 3.5mm plug.

Fit & Comfort –

Weight & Headband

At 290g, the 99 Classics V2 is relatively light as far as over-ear headphones go. It is lighter, in fact, than the polymer cup 105 AER despite representing a 30g jump over the V1. As is typical with most of Meze’s headphones, I find that long-term wearing comfort is a notable strength, aided equally by a wide leather headband and a wonderfully weighted suspension system. Tension is just high enough to support the weight of the headphones but never excessive. Clamp force is also moderate, perhaps slightly on the lighter side, but can be easily adjusted by bending the spring steel headband assembly. Breathability is obviously not as good as the company’s open-back models, and about what you would expect from a sealed closed-back design. I experienced zero issues with the headband system. The fit isn’t stable enough for active use, but for general commute and stationary listening, stability is perfect, and comfort is superb, no matter how long you’re wearing them.

Earpads

Meze has made specific mention of the earpad redesign on the V2 model, and I find that a little has gone a long way here. I never owned the original 99 Classics but did use the 99 Neo for a few years, which featured slightly wider pads than the original. Despite this, I still found that my outer ears would just barely contact the baffle, eventually forming a hotspot. This has thankfully been resolved on the newer model, which has slightly more generous dimensions alongside a more sculpted baffle design. Altogether, this contributes to improved comfort over longer listening and no hotspot formation. The pads themselves have a similar construction to before, with medium-density memory foam coated in vegan leather. However, the attachment mechanism is substantially improved, now using 6 plastic clips as opposed to the older sleeved pads, making pad swapping far easier. As aforementioned, this works in tandem with foam tuning filters that can be installed between the driver and pad to attenuate the high frequencies, producing a warmer, bassier sound.

Next Page: Sound Breakdown