Meze 99 Classics Walnut Gold Headphones (Gold & Black)

Product Information

The Meze 99 Classics posses a midrange that is musical, rich, transparent, and as a result supremely engaging and the DragonFly Cobalt is an apt partner in that rendering. This way, we are helping the environment and we’re giving the old trees a chance to shine one more time in the shape of Meze headphones. One of my favorite tracks Árbakkinn from Olafur Arnalds’ Island Songs (Island Songs, Mercury (Universal France)) begins as Icelandic poet, Einar Georg Einarsson, recites one of his poems in his native language.

This way, we are helping the environment and we're giving the old trees a chance to shine one more time in the shape of Meze headphones. The box is a slip on package and after opening a big carry case is placed and inside that the headphone is present. Cast zinc alloy hardware with electroplated coating, stamped manganese spring steel headband, memory foam and soft PU leather are premium materials to be found here as well.

However, the bass ensures that the finest blade is not unpacked in the separation, as it sometimes acts a bit growly. PrAT is above average, but its more about impact and attack, wich without being ultra fast is very agile and spot on, but the pace can be too slow and create unwanted reverberation especially with heavy bass impact. Meze has made quite the entrance into the audio field with a great reception to both their in-ear and over-ear headphone line-ups. On the other hand, it is just as well positioned in terms of depth as it is in terms of width, even if there are limitations in both cases. With hardware of cast zinc alloy with electroplated coating, Meze 99 Neo is a classic for every day.

So, let’s conclude that the Neo are as much enjoyable for basshead than audiophile, if we choose right music to pair it with. But strip away the initial “wow factor” of these headphones and the 99 Neo retains its charm through its well-rounded sound while the P7 and H6 come off as somewhat unnatural. Audiophile On is dedicated to bringing reviews of high-end portable audio products with an easy-to-understand format. SOUND quality of both is excellent, but the NEO have a way bigger soundstage that feel airy and around your head compared to the more fowards and wide sounding presentation of PRO82. Even the always hissy background noise of Jessica Pratt recording became smoothed out magicaly, without loosing anything else and even having extra body in vocal presence.

Now, the Ibasso DX90 is my favorite DAP, and it have dual ES9018 dac, delivering powerfull and ultra clear and precisely layered sound. Actually, a bit of a pity, since this fact is the only serious point on my list of shortcomings of the NEO, respectively runs like a red thread through the signature, together with the somewhat limited stage dimensioning. Comfort still isn’t perfect, the drivers protrude a little, just contacting my outer ear though I didn’t find this to be an issue unless I wore the headphones for days on end. And don’t forget the movies or you’ll be missing out entirely on another of its wonderful strengths! When I first heard the 99 Classics, the first thing that stood out to me among the closed back portable headphones I had heard, was the exceptionally wide soundstage.

Cons: Ahhhh… (I am in no way associated with Meze Audio or taking pay or commissions or remuneration of any kind.The bass is presented well in this headphone with good sub bass extension and the background details can be heard since the track is not a busy one.