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Meze Audio 99 Classics (2nd Gen) · Photo source
99 Classics (2nd Gen)
The 99 Classics (2nd Gen) are Meze's closed-back wired headphones with walnut wood cups and 40 mm dynamic drivers, a retuned update of the 2015 original for home and portable listening.
- Type
- Over-ear
- Noise cancelling
- No
- Battery
- –
- With case
- –
- Best codec
- Wired
- Weight
- 290 g
What reviewers say
Reviewers agree the second generation sounds more balanced and open than the original while keeping its warmth, and praise the build, finish and comfort. Trusted Reviews found them less dynamic than they might be and too large for smaller heads; Tom's Guide wanted more weight in rock and electronic music, and Headfonics notes modest fine detail and proprietary pads.
From tomsguide.com, trustedreviews.com and headfonics.com
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specSound
- Type
- Over-ear
- Noise cancelling
- No
- Driver size
- 40 mm
- Back
- Closed
- Impedance
- 16 ohms
- Bluetooth codecs
- None (wired)
- Drivers
- 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)
- No battery (wired)
Design
- Weight
- 290 g
- Headphone cable
- Yes
- Fit and ear tips
- 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
- 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
- Walnut and gold
- In the box
- 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
Pros and cons
Pros
- 16-ohm, 103 dB/mW drivers are easy to drive from phones and laptops
- Comes with a 3.5 mm to USB-C adapter with a built-in DAC/amp
- Every part, including clip-on ear pads, can be replaced
Cons
- Heavier than the original at 290 g
- Cable connects to both cups (dual 3.5 mm)
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Noise cancelling | Battery | With case | Best codec | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over-ear | No | – | – | Wired | 207 g | Jan 2025 | |
| Over-ear | No | – | – | Wired | 237 g | Feb 2025 | |
| Over-ear | No | – | – | Wired | 237 g | Apr 2025 |
Sources
- mezeaudio.com/products/99-classics-v2-gold
- mezeaudio.com/pages/99-classics-v2
- mezeaudio.com/blogs/news/99-classics-2nd-gen-unique-by-nature
- headfonics.com/meze-audio-99-classics-2nd-generation-review
- gearpatrol.com/audio/meze-audio-99-classics-2nd-gen-headphones
Photo: cdn.shopify.com
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), earcup fastener detail (official product gallery): Meze Audio
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headband adjustment hardware (official product gallery): Meze Audio
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), wood earcup and acoustic port detail (official media kit): Meze Audio
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), acoustic port macro (official media kit): Meze Audio
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), wood earcups, front and rear surfaces (official media kit): Meze Audio
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), rear view (official media kit): Meze Audio
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), side view (official media kit): Meze Audio
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), retail packaging (official media kit): Meze Audio
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones viewed from the front: Meze Audio official product page; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), paired wood earcup details: Meze Audio official product page; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), physical baffle and tuning components laid out: Meze Audio official product page; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), paired physical drivers: Meze Audio official product page; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), oblique wood earcup and acoustic port detail: Meze Audio official product page; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), wood earcup surface close-up: Meze Audio official product page; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones resting on a tabletop: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headband attachment viewed from the side: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headband attachment and earcup detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headband embossing detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), ear cushion and headband attachment detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headband viewed from above: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), ear cushion and headband junction detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), side and headband view on a tabletop: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones resting upright on a tabletop: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), wood earcup three-quarter detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), wood earcup and attachment detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), wood earcup with cable attached: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), wood earcup and connected cable detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), earcup and cable viewed from the front: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), cable socket and wood earcup detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), earcup profile and cushion detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), three-quarter view on a tabletop: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones connected to a portable device: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), cable socket close-up: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones resting on their carrying case: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones beside their case on a tabletop: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), earcup and removable pad demonstration: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), exposed physical earcup baffle detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones and portable player, tabletop scene: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones and portable player from the front: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones and portable player from the side: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphone cable connection to a portable device, detail: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), disassembled physical headphone components laid out: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones worn while reclining on a sofa: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones worn while seated on a sofa: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones worn near a window: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones worn near a window, side view: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones worn in profile: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones worn while resting arms on a table: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones worn while reclining: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones worn on a sofa, portrait view: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), headphones worn while seated, wider view: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
- Meze 99 Classics (2nd Gen), wood earcup housings, side view: Meze Audio official media kit; complete supplied composition retained.
