Today, we will discuss Meze Audio’s new version of the 99 Classics over-ear closed-back headphones! We will discuss their build quality, design, and sound quality, paired with several headphone amplifiers and DACs, including the Ferrum Audio ORR, WANDLA, HYPSOS 2 stack, the Ferrum ERCO, the Chord Hugo 2, and the Woo Audio WA22 and McIntosh MHA200 headphone tube amplifiers.

I will also make some brief sound comparisons to another closed-back headphone in the same price range towards the end of the video, so stay tuned for that!

The original 99 Classics were released in 2015! They have been a very popular and loved headphone by thousands of people worldwide. The OG 99 Classics are loved for their warm sound signature and beautiful wood cup aesthetics.

The new generation of 99 Classics delivers the same beautiful look and feel, with meaningful changes to both the physical design and sound quality. After 10 years of feedback on the OG 99 Classics, Meze was ready to take the new version two to the next level.

The 99 Classics V2 are still hand-assembled using walnut wood ear cups, zinc alloy hardware, and Meze’s self-adjusting headband system.

Meze has made 10 key advancements in the overall design and performance of the new 99 Classics. The first is the sound quality; tuning the latest version to a more neutral sound signature that allows for better separation, imaging, and soundstage presentation.

However, for lovers of the OG 99 Classics sound, Meze has also included a pair of Acoustic Absorber foam disks, placed between the driver and the ear pads to help create a warmer signature.

I love this because the acoustic absorbers are very easy to use, thanks to the redesigned detachable earpads that use a clip-in system, making precise pad and filter changes literally a snap. A brilliant upgrade if you ask me.

The new 99 Classics also have improved acoustic sealing for better isolation when listening in the office or in a room that isn’t always silent.

The earcups now also offer greater internal space for comfort and acoustic depth. Many users of the original 99 Classics will be happy to hear that the dual 3.5mm input sockets on the new 99 Classics have been widened, allowing for a broader range of aftermarket cables to be used.

 Speaking of cables, the new dual twisted OFC cable included with the latest generation headphones is much nicer in build quality, and Meze has included a USB-C DAC/AMP for mobile on-the-go use, as well as a gold-plated 3.5mm jack with a ¼” adapter for listening from some of your favorite amps.

The new headphones use a dynamic 40mm driver with 16 ohm impedance, a sensitivity of 103 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz, a frequency response of 15 Hz-25 kHz, and a THD of less than 0.1% at 1 kHz, according to Meze Audio.

The new 99 Classics are $349, a modest $40 increase over the original 99 Classics. The latest upgrades to the headphones and included accessories make the slight price increase well worth it.

In addition, the new 99 Classics also include a cable pouch and a Hard EVA Carrying Case.

The headphones weigh only 290 grams, making them great for long listening sessions. The clamping force is very reasonable, and the headphones are overall comfortable. 

My one wish for the build of the headphones was that my medium-sized ears wouldn’t touch the foam inserts or drivers of the new 99 classics, as they did with the OG 99 classics. Those of you with larger ears keep this in mind.

The new headphones feel well-built, look beautiful, and you can see the difference in the shape of the cups from the original 99 Classics in the video footage.

So now that we have discussed the build quality, design changes, price, and included accessories, let’s discuss the headphones' sound quality and how they compare to the OG 99 Classics, with and without the acoustic filters.

Starting with the bass notes, listening to Organ Sonata Number One from Felix Hell, the organ sounds more neutral in character, with less body and rumble than the original 99 classics when using the headphones without the optional filters.

Swapping to the optional included filters on the new 99 Classics and comparing them to the OG 99 Classics, the filters do bring a bit more low end to the new headphones; however, they do so more cleanly, whereas the OG 99 Classics have more emphasis in the bass region, which sounds looser in presentation.

So while using the filters doesn’t give you a replica of the original 99 Classics sound, it does get close while sounding a bit more technical. Listening to “Treasures from Thievery Corporation” and comparing the two headphones, the original 99 Classics’ bass sounds boomy on this track.

The bass bleeds into the mid-range, whereas the new 99 Classics with the optional warming filters still do a better job of adding a bit more oomph to the bass regions without causing the bleed into the mid-range and vocals. 

Listening to “Lebanese Blonde” by Thievery Corporation and comparing the two headphones, the OG 99 Classics have more bass, but not necessarily better-sounding bass. 

The new 99 Classics have a tighter-sounding bass, which is much better separated from the mid-range. This really opens the soundstage and cleans up the low end, allowing you to experience a much more balanced sound, even when using the optional filters.

Without the optional warming filters, the soundstage becomes a bit airier and more spacious. There is a bit more treble and upper-midrange emphasis without the optional filters, and the bass, while still quite good, is a bit less pronounced.

I see how different listeners will prefer the slightly more laid-back, smoother sound of the optional filters or the stock sound without them, as they are both great.

The midrange is focused, and vocals are clear and clean. Listening to Melody Gardot’s Live in Europe Album, with or without the optional filters, was spectacular. 

Listening to “Our Love is Easy from Melody Gardot and comparing the new and old headphones, I really appreciate the extra emphasis in the Midrange of the new 99 Classics, bringing Melody’s vocals closer to us as the listener with better definition and detail. 

The detail and definition of the instruments are also improved with the new headphones, resulting in a better overall tonal balance, soundstage imaging, and separation.

I enjoyed the original 99 Classics when we reviewed them. Still, comparing the new headphones with the originals, it is very apparent that the new 99 Classics are more technical, accurate, and more exciting to listen to. They are a worthy upgrade to the originals.

With or without the optional filters, the new 99 Classics are a terrific-sounding set of headphones at this price, and the fact that Meze gives us the option to get closer to the original 99 Classics sound without EQ is fantastic if you want to change things up or prefer a slightly more laid-back sound.

Listening to Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon Album is terrific, and I think Meze has created a well-tuned multi-genre set of headphones that listeners of all types of music will be able to appreciate.

Listening to the track “Time” from “The Dark Side of the Moon” to hear how brightly the bells, clocks, and chimes are displayed, and I don’t find them to sound irritating or inappropriately bright, but very well delivered.

Listening to Snarky Puppy’s “We Like It Here” album, and I am again impressed with the timbre, tone, and delivery of the instruments. The brass doesn’t sound shrill or irritating, and the horns don’t sound piercing while still providing enough edge for them to sound exciting and well defined.

Listening to Tool’s Lateralus album, I am immediately struck by how well the headphones present a lot of subtle detail in the music. Listening to The Grudge, Maynard’s vocals on the second verse at 1:44 sound mesmerizing and superbly balanced with the rest of the production.

At 2:39, his vocals come through with power and emotion, alongside the powerful drums, bass, and guitar. Starting the track over again with the optional filters installed, and I am equally impressed by this presentation of “The Grudge”.

It’s honestly hard to decide which signature I like better. I think they are both terrific, and it will likely depend on the listener's mood, the amount of caffeine consumed that day, the paired amplifier, and, of course, the production on the album they are listening to.

The soundstage presentation, better separation of vocals from instruments, and a more realistic tone and timbre of the vocals would push me towards the stock tuning without the filters, but as I said a moment ago, that could change based on my mood and albums I am listening to.

Music that is not as well recorded or produced, a little brighter in nature, will benefit from the optional filters!

Briefly comparing the Sennheiser HD620s, a closely priced closed-back headphone, to the new Meze 99 Classics without the optional filters, both headphones have a similar level of detail presentation and soundstage size, with a small to medium width and depth depending on the song.

The HD620s sound a bit fuller in the mid-range than the new 99 classics, with the 99 classics separating vocals and instruments a bit better on their sound stage.

The 99 Classics without the optional filters sound like they have more emphasis in the treble and upper mid-range, giving strings and vocals a bit more definition and edge than the HD 620s headphones.

Whereas the HD620s have more emphasis on the bass, lower mids, and midrange. I genuinely enjoy both headphones, and this comparison wasn’t about which is better, since they're different and better always comes down to preference.

The brief comparison was to use a reference set of headphones I have in the same price range to give current users of those headphones, or the original 99 classics, a point of reference.

I think Meze Audio has done a magnificent job on increasing the performance of the new 99 Classics, taking a very popular headphone, making it more technical, detailed, accurate, and vastly improving the sound stage separation and presentation while still giving an option with the filters to smooth and warm up the sound a bit. Well done, Meze!

The new 99 Classics are in stock and ready to ship on our website now, or by visiting us directly at our 10,000 sq ft Showroom and headphone bar in SoCal, so you can listen to the headphones yourself alongside many others.

Also, TSAV has added some great options on our website. Our rewards program lets you earn points for discount coupons on future purchases. We have also expanded our financing options. So, check those out and sign up for the rewards program today!

We have some exciting videos coming this year, featuring new product announcements, so please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel! From $100 earphones to multi-million-dollar home audio, cinema, and automation, TSAV is a HiFi paradise for building the system of your dreams.

This is the part of the article where we would love for you to share your thoughts on the new 99 Classics in the comments. Let us know how you feel about the new design and sound. Until next time, friends, remember, let the music be your guide!