The wood cups look really nice. Pop recordings actually do not sound poor on this headphone and can see why many people are liking the sound. Meze rates the frequency response at 15Hz-25kHz and, at least in the lowest frequencies, you truly hear the depth. As the treble is subdued compared to the bass the treble still sounds smooth. This is described HERE in more detail. However, I measured the 99 Classics' impedance and electrical phase with the headphones mounted on my head (fig.1. Meze rates the frequency response at 15Hz-25kHz and, at least in … The driver is mechanically fully damped and thus does not need electrical damping. The bass is definitely less boomy (but still BIG), the mids are slightly more forward and it feels like the treble might be just a little softer/smoother, though I'd have to swap pads back and forth to be sure about that. For those that prefer a ‘neutral’ and natural sound it is not the perfect headphone. There is no ‘sharpness’ to the sound which many people may find pleasing. Right channel only, driven from 0.2Ω and 120Ω amplifier. The measurements of the Meze 99 classics indicate it is anything but a ‘reference’ sound quality headphone. The Meze 99 Classics has a sensitivity of 103 dB at 1 kHz for 1 mW, 32 Ohms impedance and a frequency response ranging from 15 Hz to 25 kHz. Efficiency: 103dB / 1mW For € 250.- you can buy the Meze 99 neo but the nice wood is black plastic instead. What an incredible feeling it must have been for Meze Audio in 2015, after years of development, the 99 Classics were finally on the market. Below the same plot except shown in percentages. No audiophile has ever said 'NO' to these cans. As can be seen the difference is negligible and the tonal balance of this headphone doesn’t change when the source has a higher output resistance. Let’s start with the obvious. Having an impedance of 32 Ohms and a high sensitivity of 103 dB per 1mW of power, 99 Classics can be considered easy-peasy to drive. I could hear a slight mid-treble emphasis with the pink-noise track from Editor's Choice (16/44.1 ALAC file, Stereophile STPH016-2) and with Robert Silverman's album of 23 Beethoven piano sonatas (nondecoded MQA-encoded 24/88.2 FLAC files, Silver Lining/Audio High). The Meze 99 Classics are an overwhelmingly pleasant surprise. These headphones are mostly intended for music listening and much less for analyzing it, this was clear from the first listen. The walnut wood earcups, soft earpads, and the spring steel headband make the 99 Classics an heirloom, rather than just a pair of headphones. Speaking of frequency response, Sennheiser HD 600 works in a range of 12 Hz - 40 kHz which is incredibly wide compared to the range of MEZE 99 Classics — 15 Hz - … Not everyone wants to hear all warts of the recordings. On paper, these headphones can be powered by anything, from the least powerful smartphone, to an excellent handheld player or DAC. Aside from a small correction of the microphone itself also some correction in the lowest frequencies is applied to the plots to compensate for the perceived loss of bass when using headphones. Though most people seem to love the sound of the near-identical Meze 99 Classics, a few people find it to be really off-putting. The bigger the deviation the stronger the effect. The electrical phase angle was close to 0° up to 6kHz, suggesting that the drive-unit behaves as a pure resistor up to that frequency; the slightly positive angle that increases above 6kHz is due to the driver's residual inductance. This plot too shows small issues. Frequency Response 15 - 25,000Hz. Before any serious listening the 99 Classics were given more than the Meze recommended 60 hours of burn in time. The 99 Classics look great, and not just as a whole. Impressions of the headphone are based on a week of use. Let's check out how the two brothers turn out when compared. Instead, they adjust automati… Weight: 260 g. I gave the Meze 99 Classics a listen using my PonoPlayer as source. S.P.L. They sound fantastic on all four. The distinction between the levels of sensitivity is less noticeable as the first appliance has 97 dB and the second one has 103 dB. Below the CSD of the Meze 99 classics (Left and Right channel are superimposed), The 8kHz peak is a resonance, just like the peak around 16kHz. The price puts it in the € 300.- range which isn’t cheap but also not very expensive when looking at the headphone market today. It can be driven directly from portable sources such as phones, tablets and DAPs. 120dB Distortion in the mids is low (below 0.1%). On a higher output resistance amplifier the output level will be considerably lower. Frequency range: 15 Hz - 25 KHz, Impedance: 32 Ohm, Sensitivity 103 Db 1kHz/1mW POWER EFFICIENT WITH ANY DEVICE due to low impedance (32 Ohm). An extra amp is not needed. Below the frequency response of the Meze 99 classics (Left, Right). Clamping force: Medium. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat’ sharp peaks and ‘wiggles’. Driver size: 40mm The difference could even be down to driver variations. The shape of your head, bone structure, pad size, pad ‘softness,  (compliance), hair or no hair and or wearing glasses may (drastically) change the frequency response of some headphones, so… your personal experience may differ substantially from these plots. Sensitivity ... Had these Meze Audio 99 Classics around three weeks now, had them through a Hi Rez player, a Samsung tablet, a Brennan B1 and a Denon PMA-60. back to measurements Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. This is the latest version which has thicker pads. For an affordable headphones, MEZE 99 Classics and HIFIMAN Ananda are two comparable choices. The distortion is quite low for a medium sized dynamic driver. However, I measured the 99 Classics' impedance and electrical phase with the headphones mounted on my head (fig.1. ), Koss PRO-4, PRO-4A and Pro/4 AAA Plus headphones, Shure Bluetooth 5.0 Earphone Communication Cable, Shure KSE1200SYS electrostatic in-ear headphone system, Skullcandy Crusher Wireless Over-Ear Sealed Headphones with Haptic Bass Drivers, HiFiMAN Sundara Around-Ear Open Planar Magnetic Headphones, PSB M4U 8 Over-Ear Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones, Audeze LCD2 Classic Open Over-Ear Planar Magnetic Headphones, Advanced Alpha Over-Ear Open Planar Magnetic Headphones, Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro Affordable Over-Ear Sealed Headphones, Sennheiser HD 660 S Over-Ear Open Headphones, Revinylization #13: Tone Poet, Analogue Productions, ERC reissues, Analog Corner #290: The Haniwa LP Playback System, Gramophone Dreams #44: Audio-Technica, Goldring, LP Gear phono cartridges, Cambridge Audio CXA81 integrated amplifier, PS Audio Stellar M1200 monoblock power amplifier, Acoustic Geometry Room treatments (before & after), My current and likely the last home audio setup, Fascinating wiev by Verity Audio Sarastro, Recommended Components: Fall 2020 Edition. Usually this indicates somewhat reduced treble quality. The announced frequency response is 15 Hz – 25 kHz. Meze rates the frequency response at 15Hz-25kHz and, at least in the lowest frequencies, you truly hear the depth. No annoying sharp sounds. I do not use smoothing because some info about sound quality is lost when plots are smoothed. Elevated bass (the part below 200Hz) and warm mids (downwards slope from 200Hz to 4kHz). A little extra bass and good isolation is important in these circumstances. Frequency response: 15 – 25,000 Hz: Impedance: 32 Ω: Sensitivity: 103 dB . Based on our rating, 99 Classics has a total rating of 7 out of 10 vs 8 out of 10 for Ananda. height: 60mm, width 40mm oval shaped. Elevated bass (the part below 200Hz) and warm mids (downwards slope from 200Hz to 4kHz). A horizontal line shows audible neutral response in the plots on this website. (the one pictured/tested here has silver colored metal parts) A lot of attention has obviously also been given to the finer details — for example, the cables are made from kevlar, not plastic, and as such are much stronger than your typical headphone cable. The electrical phase angle was close to 0° up to 6kHz, suggesting that the drive-unit behaves as a pure resistor up to that frequency; the slightly positive angle that increases above 6kHz is due to the driver's residual inductance. There are cheaper alternatives that sound equally well or even better but do not have this build quality and feel. Deviations in different severities at different frequency bands have an effect on the sound character. The 99 Classics have a relatively low impedance; they'll need to be driven by an output stage capable of delivering enough current into this load. This ringing was at a lower frequency than the wrinkles in the impedance traces, and was more audible than the similar headband ringing of the AudioQuest NightHawks. Headphone connector: 3.5mm TS in each cup This isn’t a bad thing though as many people prefer a headphone with a ‘warm’ and bassy character over ‘neutral’ sound. Accessories: 6.3mm adapter, airline adapter, carrying case The Meze 99 Classics are an overwhelmingly pleasant surprise. The latest in the Classics series, the Meze 99 Classics promises to deliver perfect natural sound even to the pickiest of audio lovers. The Meze 99 Classics sound overly bassy and ‘fat’. Meze is an interesting newcomer to the headphone and IEM market, a company set up in London in 2009 that wants to change the opinion that you have to spend a fortune to get a good sound. A ton of awards started to roll in for this premium headphone, and everyone knew that the incredible build quality, exceptional comfort, and warm punchy sound, made it an instant classic.. Advantages MEZE 99 Classics over HIFIMAN Ananda The distortion products are shown in dB. Distortion in that frequency band is more audible. Frequency response: 15Hz - 25KHz; Sensitivity: 103dB at 1KHz, 1mW; Impedance: 26 Ohm; Rated input power: 30mW; Maximum input power: 50mW; Detachable Kevlar OFC cable; Plug: 3.5mm gold plated; Weight: 260 gr (9.2 ounces) without cables; Ear-cups: ABS Plastic To me it sounds fatty, bassy, hollow and lacks ‘bite’ which are all negative words but many others may find it pleasantly bassy, warm, laid back with pleasant soft highs. And this is what it sounds like as well. The user manual can be found here: Meze 99 Classics User Manual The 99 neo has slightly more lows and is even slightly warmer sounding. The Meze 99 Classics are an overwhelmingly pleasant surprise. Treble is smooth and a little subdued compared to the bass/lower mids but still present enough to not get the feeling of it sounding rolled-off in the treble. Cable entry: dual (Left channel) The mids also have a ‘thick’ signature, as in lacking clarity/presence, and is way too ‘laid back’ for me. The differences are quite small so in practice it will be hard to tell these apart. It is lacking somewhat in clarity/presence which is caused by the dip around 4kHz. Everything is screwed and can easily be (dis)assembled. Don’t expect the finest nuances to come through. The impedance magnitude was a fairly constant 21 ohms through most of the audioband, but with a slight bump in the midbass centered on 60Hz. Smooth would be a good description. Even the packaging and carrying case look amazing. Meze rates the frequency response at 15Hz-25kHz and, at least in … 0.5% in the bass area is quite good. Transducer size: 40mm; Frequency response: 15Hz – 25KHz; Sensitivity: 103dB at 1KHz, 1mW It is quite colored in sound (as in opposed to realistic/neutral). The Meze 99 Classics are shipped in an elegant carton package which contains the headphones in a hard carry case. For those looking for a warm and bassy (not basshead) type of sound with subdued and pleasant/soft treble this may be a viable option. In that sense, the Meze and AudioQuest headphones aren't as neutral as the Sennheiser HD 650s—but there is a general preference among headphone users for more bass than is strictly appropriate.—John Atkinson. Inside each earcup, the 99 Classics use a 40mm Neodymium/Mylar transducer. Foldable: No Then come in the 99 Neo. Meze headphones are very durable, and even when something breaks, it can be fixed or replaced, which is an option that is so rare in the modern consumerist world. The beautifully crafted wood cups and is available in various types of wood and with silver or gold colored metal parts. Performance and Conclusions On tracks with powerful sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the 99 Classics deliver a perfect balance of bass depth and high frequency definition. 99 Classics entered Top 10 Best closed-back headphones of all time on head-fi forum and received the Wall of Fame on Innerfidelity. Distortion levels and spectrum plot performance may thus be better in reality than shown on the plots. Very little and reasonable short lived ringing. home. But listening to DSD64 files of our July 2003 Recording of the Month—violinist Rachel Podger and Arte Dei Suonatori performing Vivaldi's 12 violin concertos Op.4, aka La Stravaganza (Channel Classics CCS 19598)—I heard no untoward brightness in the treble. This way the plots are overlay-ed and it is easy to see how the tonal balance changes. For a normal listening session, you might not … Inner pad dimensions: depth: 18mm. That’s right, 99 Classics are not linear, there isn’t a straight line over the frequency response, bass has some blossom, midrange some sweetness, treble is more or less untouched by the muddiness. In view of the quality of manufacturing, as well as the quality of the sound, Meze 99 Classic deserves our highest praise. (0.2 Ω and 120 Ω of the right channel are superimposed). The first thing I noticed was that the headband produced a metallic ringing sound when I moved my head quickly or the cable rubbed against my clothes. Below the frequency response of the Meze 99 classics (Left, Right) And this is what it sounds like as well. Max. Meze 99 Classics Technical Specifications. Inside each earcup, the 99 Classics use a 40mm Neodymium/Mylar transducer. I hate getting carried away with hype but I will admit I do enjoy the 99 Classics more than my conservative values should really allow me. Impedance: 32 Ω Demo units courtesy of: Frequency Response measurements and graphs for In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) and earphones. The Meze 99 Classics has been the benchmark of rich and bright audio in the under Rs. Meze 99 Classics Review The Meze 99 Classics was sent to me as part of the review tour. This suggests that this is the tuning frequency of the diaphragm. Meze have outlived the first stage of the headphone world where I would consider the “new boys” to be, they have shown they are here to stay and their latest headphone, the 99 Classics that we have here are certainly a reinforcement of that! Some lingering/coloration at around 1kHz (probably the sealed enclosure) and some small resonances around 4kHz, 8kHz and 16kHz. The manual contains only the necessary information: description of headset, control and frequency response graph. The treble is subdued compared to the bass but not of poor quality. They are a headphone I've been curious about trying and seeing how they sound, the Meze 99 Classics sounded better than I ever expected. Driver type: dynamic Only around 5kHz the distortion becomes higher and reaches audible levels (almost 1%). Do note that some of the distortion ‘spikes’ may well have been caused by ambient sounds in the demo room from ears unlimited when it was measured there. The tonal balance (boosted lows) is actually preferable when commuting. When driven from a 120 Ω output resistance amplifier nothing changes. The fact that the rising edge does not reach the 0dB line is evidence of the ‘dark’ sound signature. The Meze 99 classics is a closed dynamic headphone. By lack of oscilloscope shots (not enough time to measure that) below a step response plot of the Meze 99 classics. Below the 99 classics and 99 neo overlayed. This player is capable of wonders, but what really surprised me is that Meze was able to achieve a fantastic audio quality even with worse sources: the 99 Classics don’t need dedicated amplification or crazy expensive DACs to offer an amazing sound quality. Max power rating: 50mW Also the cable is quite microphonic. Measurements for all the headphones mentioned in this review, including Meze 99 Classics are available on Inner/Fidelity website :-) ......... Fig.1 Meze Audio 99 Classic, electrical impedance (solid) and phase (dashed) (5 ohms/vertical div. The frequency response was where things got a little bit tricky. On the box, there is a rather smooth frequency response graph. However, the double basses and cellos on this album sounded much richer than I'd expected, as did the bass guitar in "Heart Like a Drum," from Beck's Morning Phase (24/96 ALAC file, Capitol/HDtracks). 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