Meze Audio 99 Classics Headphone Review

I find a lot of stylistic similarities already between the 99 Classics and the flagship Empyreans. The first noticeable thing is the headrest. The Empyrean utilized what they called "pressure distribution wings" and the headrest on the 99 Classics in much the same way is wide and thin. I really like the adjustment mechanism of these headphones. The rest itself is affixed by somewhat of an elastic apparatus, allowing the natural weight of the headphone to adjust around your head when placing them on. It's a very comfortable and pleasing sensation which allows for a very precise fit on an over-ear headphone.

I really like the Maple Silver color which I tested. The lighter wood aesthetic looks refined and premium against the silver accents and blonde leather. The metal headband could be a bit polarizing for some, as the structure is large and round, offering a good amount of room to accommodate various head sizes. The band is stylized enough for me that I found myself really liking the modern/industrial/art vibe that it gives off. Also, it fit me well enough that it didn't look large and gaudy as I initially thought it might. Once they are on, the headphones contour nicely around the head so that they fit more like a glove than an oversized helmet like some headphones feel and look. The memory foam on the ear pads creates a great seal around the ears with plenty of room.

Also keep in mind that if you're not a fan of the lighter wood color, the 99 Classics also come in a dark wood variant (99 Classics Walnut), with black leather and gold accents. They're very handsome-looking closed-back headphones.

The weight of the 99 Classics is lovely. Not too light but enough heft that the clamping was effective and kept the headphones in place. The swivel mechanism on the headphones isn't as flexible as their higher-end Empyreans, but they do well enough to flex for a solid and tight fit around your ears. I appreciated that the 3.5mm connectors in the ear cups are lined with aluminum to protect the wood finish of the ear cup. It would be a shame if all the connecting and disconnecting of the cable ended up scratching your pretty investment over time, and luckily enough Meze Audio has thought of the exact same thing.

Overall I'm very pleased with the general aesthetic, styling, and build quality of the 99 Classics. Comfort gets a 10/10 in my book as well. Plenty of long listening sessions on the horizon.

I wouldn't classify this headphone as a mid-forward sound signature, but the midsection is certainly where a lot of the action lies. The upper midrange has lots of energy when listening to rock and guitar-driven music. Mids and highs are extremely clear, and the treble is quite relaxed and smooth. I never experienced any issues with sibilance, even on tracks I'm sensitive to. The soundstage isn't as expansive as the Empyreans, but I also wouldn't expect a 40mm dynamic driver to out-perform some of the best planar magnetic drivers on the market. However, there is some great separation and imaging from the 99 Classics. The closed-back design of the headphone doesn't impede the soundstage too much, as the curved ear cup helps to create some space, albeit minimally.

I would say my only point of contention with the 99 Classics has to deal with the volume/fatigue ratio. The only time I felt myself experiencing some listening fatigue was after listening to the headphones at very loud levels for extended amounts of time (80%+). They were never harsh at these volumes, but the sheer energy exuded by the mid and high frequencies did tire my ears after a while. I would consider these volumes above-average to stress the headphone in my testing sessions, but I figured I would mention it nonetheless. At normal volumes (<60-70%) the energy was still present in rock genres and the like, but the fatigue was nowhere to be found. Classical and jazz were extremely relaxing at any volume, but the more aggressive music genres had to take a breather from time to time. Again, this is not the average user scenario but worth qualifying here.

Overall the Meze Audio 99 Classics sound great for their price point. Warmth and smoothness throughout my listening experiences really helped me to enjoy my music with a surprising amount of clarity. It's a high-end sound without the high-end price point. Keep in mind too that while these headphones are easy to drive, we always recommend pairing headphones with a headphone amp or DAC, or both if possible. The amplifier will give your headphones even more power to flex their muscles and the DAC will easily enhance the fidelity of your playback.

Technical Features

• Transducer size: 40mm
• Frequency response: 15Hz - 25KHz
• Sensitivity: 103dB at 1KHz, 1mW
• Impedance: 32 Ohm
• Rated input power: 30mW
• Maximum input power: 50mW

• Cable: Detachable Kevlar OFC cable
• Plug: 3.5mm gold plated
• Weight: 260 gr (9.2 ounces) without cables
• Ear-cups: walnut wood
• Weight: 0.6 lb (260g)