The Meze 99 Classics 2nd Generation arrives with the weight of legacy behind it. The original 99 Classics became one of Meze Audio’s defining headphones, praised for its warm, musical sound and handcrafted wooden design. With this second-generation release, Meze revisits its flagship portable headphone with subtle refinements in design, comfort, and performance. Let’s take a closer look at what’s included in the box, how the Gen 2 differs from the original, and how its sound signature and overall presentation have evolved.
What You Get
- Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen headphones
- Case: Hard EVA carrying pouch
- Included adapters:
- 3.5 mm to 6.3 mm gold-plated jack
- 3.5 mm to USB-C dongle DAC
- 1.8 m dual-twisted, Kevlar-wrapped OFC cable
- 1 pair of Acoustic Absorbers
Look & Feel
In terms of design, the 99 Classics Gen 2 maintains a simple approach. I was always a fan of the original walnut wood ear cups and gold/silver accents, but the new version exclusively uses gold. Slight differences can only be seen up close, but otherwise, the Gen 2 has almost the same structure as the original: the same metal frame, suspension headband, and decals.
There is one major difference, though, and that’s the earpads. At first, I didn’t think they were any difference, but the more I wore the Gen 2s, the more I noticed the thickness of the pads. It uses the same deep cups that provide circumaural comfort, but the feel of them is much softer and sits more cozily on my head. It also has a firmer grip that makes the headphones move around less. This gave me many hours of comfortable listening without any signs of ear fatigue, making these some of the most comfortable closed-back headphones for the price.
Design
The Meze 99 Classics Gen 2 uses a 40mm dynamic driver that is retuned to be even more capable than the original. It has less resistance at 16 Ohms, but the same sensitivity at 103 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz. The driver is made up of a neodymium magnet system that uses a PEEK dome, surround/torus, and acoustic filters. This is all by an ABS baffle plate.
In terms of output, there are two optional features that come with the 99 Classics Gen 2. One of them is a USB-C dongle with a 3.5mm jack, and the other is a pair of acoustic absorbers. It’s nice when a portable headphone like the Gen 2 gives you an adapter, and Meze has been good with that in the past with products like the Alba. The purpose of the acoustic absorbers is to make the Gen 2 closer to the sound of the original if you were a fan of it.
Soundstage
I’ve always been a fan of what Meze Audio can do with a headphone’s soundstage. This includes the original version of the 99 Classics, which had admirable width and spatial accuracy. This new version is in a league of its own, enhancing everything that the soundstage and imaging can do. It doesn’t feel like the 99 Classics V2 has any limitations in terms of being closed-back. You’re provided a much more dimensional space that features a ton of depth, deciphering layers that pinpoint themselves almost holographically. This results in a deeper, more cavernous stereo field that encircles you.
The separation has improved greatly, and allows for a lot of this dimensional space to be grounded for more articulate positioning. Greater identity is given to the left and right channels, which makes sonic elements easy to localize. With this deeper and more spread-out spatial imaging, the 99 Classics V2 becomes one of the best closed-back soundstages for its price.
Low End
I consider the original 99 Classics to be a bassy headphone, but the new version steps it up with more detail and clarity. There’s a lot less bloat and more precision in the low frequencies, staying away from muddiness and providing a cleaner impact. It’s a more natural timbre that has a lot more movement and grace to it. The sub-bass makes that happen, lifting up the rumble of the bass that adds more weight to the resposne. You have a similar level of resonance, but the tone has a clear shape that establishes smoother grooves and a refined punch.
Mids
The midrange is the most similar to the original tuning, but still improves on it slightly. I always thought the low-mids were a bit foggy on the original, but the new version cleans that up and gives everything a heightened resolution. It’s well-balanced and even across most midrange frequencies. Many recent Meze headphones have featured a similarly relaxed frequency resposne, and that is echoed in the 99 Classics Gen 2. Notes might not have the pop, but you can still hear a good amount of detail in them. One of the standout features from the original 99 Classics was its vocal resposne, and the Gen 2 does them justice. They sound very commanding, and with increased room and separation from the soundstage, the vocals are even more distinct and vivid.
Highs
In the treble, the 99 Classics Gen 2 are very smooth, with a soft airiness that makes the high frequencies very digestible. On one hand, the treble feels very standard, with a clear surface level of detail that doesn’t exactly shine. However, the highs are there, and they do their job well enough to form a clean, even tone with even gain. Its roll-off isn’t too steep, as it draws a fine line between light sizzle and peaky brightness. The optional absorbers strengthen this roll-off for those who are particularly sensitive to this kind of resposne. This is the best use for them, dampening the frequencies so that more of the edges of the tone are comfortably dulled without diluting the timbre.
Summary
The Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen proves that refinement can be just as impactful as innovation. Every aspect, from its deeper, more expansive soundstage to the improved low-end precision and lush vocal presentation, shows Meze’s commitment to perfecting its most iconic headphone. Comfort has also taken a noticeable leap forward, making long listening sessions effortless. Whether you’re rediscovering your favorite albums or exploring hi-fi sound for the first time, the 99 Classics Gen 2 offers an immersive, emotionally rich experience that few closed-back headphones in its class can match. For listeners seeking a timeless blend of craftsmanship and high-fidelity sound, this is Meze Audio at its best.
The Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen is available at Audio46.
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