Audio-Technica ATH-R50x vs Meze Audio 99 Classics (2nd Gen)

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ATH-R50x compared with 99 Classics (2nd Gen)

	Audio-TechnicaATH-R50x	Meze Audio99 Classics (2nd Gen)
Overview
Released
Released	January 2025	October 2025
Sound
Type
Type	Over-ear	Over-ear
Noise cancelling
Noise cancelling	No	No
Driver size
Driver size	45 mm	40 mm
Back
Back	Open	Closed
Impedance
Impedance	50 ohms	16 ohms
Bluetooth codecs
Bluetooth codecs	None (wired)	None (wired)
Drivers
Drivers	Dynamic, 45 mm; fully open-back with no added acoustic tuning; 5 – 40,000 Hz; 93.3 dB/mW; maximum input power 1,600 mW	40 mm dynamic; 15 Hz – 25 kHz; 103 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz; THD < 0.1% at 1 kHz
Battery
Listening time (maker's claim)
Listening time (maker's claim)	No battery (wired)	No battery (wired)
Design
Weight
Weight	207 g (better)	290 g
Headphone cable
Headphone cable	Yes	Yes
Fit and ear tips
Fit and ear tips	Circumaural, open-back; new headband design; replaceable ear pads and head pad	Over-ear, closed-back; self-adjusting vegan leather headband on a spring steel frame; detachable vegan leather and memory foam ear pads with a six-point clip-on mount; walnut wood cups and cast zinc hardware
Works with
Works with	Two detachable cables, 3.0 m and 1.2 m, each with a 2.5 mm twist-lock connector at the left earcup and a gold-plated 3.5 mm plug; 6.3 mm adapter	Dual 3.5 mm TS inputs (7 mm sockets); 1.8 m dual-twisted, Kevlar-sheathed OFC cable with 3.5 mm jack; 6.3 mm gold-plated adapter; 3.5 mm to USB-C adapter with integrated DAC/amp
Colours
Colours	Black	Walnut and gold
In the box
In the box	ATH-R50x headphones, 3.0 m and 1.2 m cables, 6.3 mm adapter, pouch	Headphones, 1.8 m twisted OFC cable with 3.5 mm jack, cable pouch, 3.5 mm to USB-C adapter, hard EVA carrying pouch, acoustic absorbers, 6.3 mm gold-plated adapter