Today, we compare the Sennheiser HD 620S closed-back headphones vs. the Meze 99 Classics Closed-Back headphones! This will be a fun comparison article, so grab your favorite beverage, and let’s get into it!

 

This article will primarily discuss my impressions of the two headphones regarding build quality, look and feel, comfort, and sound quality when paired with a few different Amplifiers and DACs, such as the Chord Hugo TT2 and Hugo 2, Ferrum Audio ERCO, the Sony WM1AM2 Walkman, Woo Audio’s WA22, and the McIntosh MHA200 headphone tube amplifier.

 

We have created individual videos for both headphones, which you can find on our YouTube channel with detailed info on the headphones. Starting with build quality, both headphones have good build quality at this price; however, each manufacturer has gone a different direction for the build of their headphones. The Sennheiser HD 620S is a more industrial, durable type of build using steel-reinforced ear cups and a steel-reinforced adjustable headband slider with artificial leather earpads.

 

The Meze 99 Classics are more of an artistic build with a focus on style. They use walnut wood ear cups, with each pair having its own unique grain. The metal of the 99 Classics frame is cast zinc alloy with an electroplated coating that is finished in either gold or silver.

 

The 99 Classics have a self-adjusting headband made of vegan leather with a manganese spring steel outer band and soft medium-density foam vegan leather ear pads. From a look-and-feel perspective, I enjoy both headphones. It will come down to your personal preferences and what you value most. Comfort-wise, the clamping force is similar between the two headphones, with the Meze 99 Classics having a touch more clamping force than the HD 620S. Both headphones are very lightweight, with the HD 620S being the heavier of the two, weighing around 326g, and the 99 Classics weighing 260g.

 

If you have larger ears, the Sennheiser HD620S may be better for you as they have larger-sized ear cups. Otherwise, I find both headphones to be superbly comfortable, but of course, this will depend on the size and shape of your head. Both headphones are fairly easy to drive. However, the Meze 99 Classics are more efficient and are likely better suited for running directly out of a laptop or phone. The HD 620S is also a pretty efficient set of headphones, allowing them to be driven directly from some phones and laptops with decent output. 

 

Of course, I would recommend a dedicated headphone amplifier and DAC for both headphones, as they can benefit from them, even if it is a dongle-type DAC/AMP. However, if you are starting out and want something to listen to with your laptop or phone, you should be good to go with most smartphones or laptops with reasonable power outputs.

 

In terms of price, both headphones are pretty closely priced, with the Meze 99 classics costing $309 and the HD 620S from Sennheiser costing $349.95 when the headphones are not on sale. Both headphones are dynamic driver headphones. The HD 620S Uses 42mm angled Transducers, 38mm diaphragms, and an ultralight 150-ohm aluminum voice coil. The Meze 99 classics use a 40mm transducer that is 32 ohms.

 

Let's talk about how these two headphones compare from a sound perspective.  I find the HD 620 S to be the more technical sounding of the two headphones, with slightly better detail presentation, a more expansive sound stage, and a more focused mid-range.  The Sennheiser's are also the more neutral sounding of the two headphones, even with a pretty good bass presentation compared to some of the other 600 series headphones, as we discussed in their dedicated video.

 

On the flip side of the coin, the Meze 99 classics are the richer, warmer, more emotional-sounding set of headphones. The midbass has more weight, presenting vocals and string instruments with more body and soul. However, this extra weight in the midbass can sometimes be a bit much for some tracks or just perfect with others, so it will also depend on a song's production when comparing the two headphones.

 

Let's dive in a bit deeper, starting with the bass of the two headphones. The Sennheiser HD-620S headphones have an impactful, punchy base that fits fairly well with the rest of their signature. The headphones can dig pretty deep into the subbass without overdoing it, never creating a boomy quality of sound. The bass from the Meze 99 classics is a bit thicker-sounding, not relatively as neutral as the Sennheiser’s, and not entirely as well defined. Still, it is also very fun to listen to modern-produced music such as Hard Rock, Metal, Electronic, and Pop with their bass signature.

 

Both headphones sound punchy, but the Meze 99 Classics, with that extra mid-bass, pack a bit more punch and slam. Meanwhile, the HD 620 S headphones have a tighter punch in the mid-range and mid-bass that better allows vocals to stand out on the mix. The mid-range is enjoyable on both headphones, but they approach it in different ways. The HD-620S closed-back headphones have more energy, definition, and clarity in the mid-range, while the 99 Classics have more weight, body, emotion, and warmth in the mid-range.

 

This extra body is especially lovely with vocals when listening to the Meze 99 classics. While not neutral-sounding, it is very complementary to most vocalists. Conversely, the vocals are incredibly well-defined with the HD 620 S, and it's more focused in the upper midrange. However, depending on a song's production, they may not always be the most complimentary to the vocalists. I think for less well-recorded music, you will find the Mese 99 classics to be the more forgiving of the two headphones, especially if you're listening to Metal, Hard Rock, or Alternative music that may not have been produced or recorded as optimally as possible.

 

However, when listening to well-recorded, well-produced classic styles of music such as jazz and classical, the timber tone and tuning of the Sennheiser HD 620 S create a more vivid and better-separated picture. Regarding the treble, the HD-620S has a more present treble than the warmer-sounding Meze 99 classics. Neither of the headphones has a fatiguing treble per se. Still, if you are extremely sensitive to the treble region and are looking for a bit more laid-back sound, you will want to reach for the Meze 99 Classics. If you are looking for the more airy-sounding of the two headphones with a more present treble, you will want to reach for the HD 620 S from Sennheiser.

 

Comparing the sound stages of the two headphones, the HD 620 S is the winner, in my opinion, with a more spacious, better separated, and airy sound stage. However, the Meze 99 classics do present vocals more intimately, which is highly rewarding on some tracks. The Meze closed-back headphones generally have a more intimate soundstage, with a less speaker-like quality to their sound, but they are still very enjoyable and emotional.

 

Regarding the headphone timber, the HD 620S has a more analytical, technical, and neutral reference quality of sound for both instrument and vocal timbre. The Meze 99 Classics present instruments and vocals in a less neutral way, with string instruments such as the cello and electric guitar having more body and weight to their presentation, albeit with less definition and clarity.

 

So, which set of headphones should you choose? I think they are superbly complementary headphones if you enjoy listening to multiple headphones and want headphones that specialize in different types of music a little more than the other.

 

For instance, if I wanted to analyze and get a reference quality of sound for reviewing or simply examining a music track a bit more, I would reach for the HD 620 S, especially with the well-recorded genres of music, as I discussed earlier. However, if I were picking up a set of headphones and wanted to listen to some Hard Rock, Metal, or EDM that isn't completely neutral and emphasizes a bit more energy in the mid-bass region with a bit more relaxed treble and upper mids, I would choose the Meze 99 Classics for that more emotional listening experience.

 

Of course, we always recommend listening to both sets of headphones with the amplifier and DAC you plan on using with them to get a better idea of which set of headphones will best suit your overall sound preferences. If you are in the Southern California region, we have a 10,000-square-foot showroom and would love for you to stop by and listen to over 50 different types of headphones, including these two fantastic headphones.

 

One last thing I should add is that I feel the Sennheiser HD 620 S pairs better with slightly less analytical gear, such as the ERCO headphone amplifier and DAC from Ferrum Audio, rather than the more analytical-sounding Chord Hugo 2 or Hugo TT2. The Meze 99 classics are the exact opposite, and I felt they paired better with more analytical gear from Chord Electronics. It's all about finding the best synergy for your music-listening preferences.

If you are interested in trading up your old headphones, amplifiers, or other gently used audio gear for a new set of headphones or an amplifier, check out our trade-up program, and don’t forget we will price-match other authorized dealers! 

We have some cool videos coming this year with new product announcements, so please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel today!  From $150 earphones to multi-million-dollar home audio, cinema, and automation systems, TSAV is a HiFi paradise for building the system of your dreams.

So, let’s start the conversations in the article comments on what headphones you like better and why. Until next time, friends, remember, let the music be your guide!