Price: 309€
Where to buy: https://mezeaudio.com/products/meze-99-classics-walnut-silver-wood-headphones
Specifications:
Transducer size: 40mm
Frequency response: 15Hz - 25KHz
Sensitivity: 103dB at 1KHz, 1mW
Impedance: 32 Ohm
Rated input power: 30mW
Maximum input power: 50mW
Detachable Kevlar OFC cable
Plug: 3.5mm gold plated
Weight: 260 gr (9.2 ounces) without cables
Ear-cups: walnut wood
Many thanks to Meze Audio for providing this review sample.
Unboxing and first impressions
New on a Meze review? You have to know that the cure they put on the actual headphones reflects on their boxes and accessories. We previously reviewed the 12 Classics, the in-ear sister of this headphone; the “Classics” brand is actually referred to the materials used to build the cups, which are wood (walnut in my case, but there’s a maple white version which is more difficult to find) and metal. Our pair is the silver version, which refers to the metal band – the other version has a gold one. The box is amazing. These earphones have been on the market for 4 years now, and they achieved a lot of prizes which are proudly exposed on the front of the box itself. There are all the information and specifications you may need printed on it.
Inside, there’s a hard carrying case with a gold Meze logo on the front, which contains the headphones and a pouch with the accessories: a short cable with in-line controls (actually, just play/pause), a long cable without them, an airplane adapter and a quarter jack for amplifiers and audio interfaces. Oh, and the stickers. A great unboxing experience. The headphones can be driven balanced, so both the drivers have a mono 3.5 mm connector. The wooden cups are stunning, and if you think that your pair cannot be identical to another, there’s a unique aura around this product. The headband adjusts automatically with a convenient elastic, which is the best solution I’ve tried comfort-wise. The cups are really over ear – the 1MORE MK801 were advertised as over ear but were actually on-ears just like the smaller Sennheiser Momentum, for example. Impressive enough, the whole build of the 99 Classics is mechanic, so there’s not glue anywhere, and the eventual repair process is way easier. So, I’ve previously said they can be driven balanced, but the provided cables are actually both single-ended. You can purchase official balanced cables, and there’s a new line of silver ones which are even more premium. But I actually love these stock cables: they feel solid, they don’t suffer of microphonics, and they have a fabric braid which I adore. Lately we’ll be reviewing the 4.4 upgrade cable with the new M11 Pro by FiiO.
Sound
My sources: FiiO M7 (standalone; to XDUOO XP-2 via Bluetooth; to XP-2 via line-out; to TOPPING NX4 via line-out), Dodocool DA106 (mainly to XDUOO XP-2 via line-out); Mi MIX 2 to XP-2 (via Bluetooth and USB) and NX4 (USB), to Zorloo ZuperDAC-S, to Audirect Whistle; MacBook Pro 2012 to Focusrite 2i2.
My music: Jon Hopkins, “Singularity”; Billie Eilish, “When do we fall asleep, where do we go?”; Coldplay, “Ghost stories”; Bon Iver (Discography); Jack Garratt, “Phase”; Jamie Cullum, “Taller”; Sia, “Colour the small one”; The Bloody Beetroots & Jet, “The great electronic swindle”; Jacob Collier, “In my room” and “Djesse (Vol.1)”; John Coltrane, “Giant steps”; Lauv, “I met you when I was 18”, Oh Wonder (Discography), Radiohead (Discography), a lot of Mozart, ecc..
My files: MP3, M4A, FLAC, ALAC, few DSDs (Pink Floyd).
My usual sources will soon be joined by another item, the aforementioned FiiO M11 Pro. This player is capable of wonders, but what really surprised me is that Meze was able to achieve a fantastic audio quality even with worse sources: the 99 Classics don’t need dedicated amplification or crazy expensive DACs to offer an amazing sound quality. In fact, even directly from my FiiO M7 or my Focusrite 2i2, the capabilities of these headphones are impressive. The first thing I’ve noticed, coming from a long-time IEM use, is the stage which is naturally wider than what I’m used to. At first, that gave me the sensation of not wearing headphones, just like open back ones do. After some use, I can say that the feel is not that exaggerated, but still really really wide and deep. With an impressive imaging, which always surprises me.
I’d describe the sound as neutral and natural. Many say that these are warm headphones: I could agree, but I feel it’s just because the decay of the bass is slower than average, not because the quantity of dB in the low end is superior. Speaking of bass, I love the extension on the sub and the natural feel of the reproduction. The cups isolate very well, so you have a sense of immersion which leads to an emotional listening experience, thanks to such a great imaging and a lovely headroom. Mids are phenomenal: they are such embracing, full-bodied and crisp at the same time. I love vocals, both male and female, they are airy and dense, while never shouty. Instruments are always well separated and perfectly distributed around the space. Treble is relaxed but never subtle or undertone: percussions are always precise and lively, not exasperatedly detailed but always realistic.
It is a true sound. And it’s really nice when this signature is paired with a “true source” like a vinyl. Well, much of this magic is psychological: the same effect can be achieved, personally, by listening to a vinyl rip. I’m usually a fan of solid-state music, because it’s portable, because it has quality, especially when well-recorded. And that’s the point: sometimes imperfections are the key of emotions. So, as well as these cups are made of a never-identical wood, the music which I enjoy with these headphones is great when it reveals its defects. And that’s why I can also use the 99 Classics to produce my music: they isolate well, they are reliable in terms of frequency reproduction and they are comfortable; but most of all, they are revealing, and for a headphone which was clearly born for listening sessions, it’s a great achievement – to be also used for producing, ed.
I love some albums which weren’t recorded in perfect conditions, like “O” by Damien Rice. When you listen to it with a multi balanced armature IEM, meant to be super precise and detailed, you lose a bit of magic; it’s like using the wrong tool to do a job. The 99 Classics can preserve that unpretentious will of carrying an emotion through the music, and not just flaunting some crazy skills of mixing and mastering VSTs*. Do you get me? The 99 is a modern classic because it was meant to be considered like that. It’s a bastion against the ruling wireless world, the unwanted innovation, the nonsensical progress. I love that feeling of coming back to the roots. With the 99 Classics you unlock your forgotten self which started the audiophile journey to enjoy your music. No more hoarding of audio stuff, no more “using your music to listen to your gear”. Now you are back, we are back to the original will. Like we always say, it’s all about the music. And Meze knows how to make the music sound.
Conclusions
With Meze every headphone is a journey. Mine started with the 12 Classics, which gave me a first taste of what they were capable of. That warmth I loved there, I found again on these amazing over ear headphones which everybody praises. Now I understand why: when you craft a product like this, you don’t need to upgrade it. It’s an everlasting masterpiece. After 4 years, the 99 series don’t feel old, at all.
*I’m a passionate user of VSTs.