Disclaimer:

I have not been paid or sponsored by Meze Audio for this review.
The views in this publication are unbiased and my own.

Alexandra and Meze kindly sent these in for review and the currently sell for £278.30.

Review gear:

Samsung Galaxy Note Ten+ running Spotify premium & foobar2000.
Audioquest Dragonfly Black V1.5.
Astell & Kern AK70. ( Single ended )
Macbook Air running Spotify premium & Audirvana Pro.
Teac HA-P50 DAC/Amp.

Packaging:

These came in the same packaging as the 99 Neo’s did, All be it with different imagery for the Classics. The packaging is basic but well done and protective. The box has a magnetic lid that stays shut in place for easy storage.

What’s in the box & Accessories:

Inside the box you will find the Classics encased in a decent hard-case. Inside said hard-case you will find a zip up pouch that houses the cables.
You will also find any documentation and a Meze Audio sticker to add to your collection. I stick mine to my fridge!

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Specs:

• Transducer size: 40mm
• Frequency response: 15Hz – 25KHz
• Sensitivity: 103dB at 1KHz, 1mW
• Impedance: 32 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: walnut wood
• Ear-pads: PU Leather

Build:

As I have come to expect from Meze Audio the 99 Classic’s are build with the most exquisite craftsmanship and premium materials.
CNC carved walnut ear cups, cast zinc alloy hardware with electroplated coating, stamped manganese spring steel headband.
Ear-pads and headband cover made from a very soft and luxurious feeling PU Leather.
The cables are high quality and as well as being made to last and sound great, they look great too!
One of my pet peeves when it comes to headphones is a brand making a stunning headphone then making a cable that feels and looks like an afterthought. A lot can be learned here from Meze.
And Meze Audio state that the 99 Classics are serviceable and built to last. A comforting thought and an example of their fantastic customer care.
The Classics exude premium quality and a solid build that I have sometimes not experienced with more expensive items. Meze have their eye on the ball when it comes to design and quality control and I applaud them for it.

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Setup:

Not much to see here.
Meze headphones come with detachable cables which are clearly labeled left and right.
Just plug them in and start listening.

Comfort:

As a result of the love and care that goes into the design of Meze’s products I have so far found that they are some of the more comfortable headphones and in-ears that I have worn.
The ear pads don’t get all sticky after hours of use, even on a hot day like today.
Clamping force is just in that sweet spot of not being too strong or too weak. Once they’re on and you’ve settled into a good two hour long listening session, you’ll hardly notice they’re there. I wore these up to 4 hours with no discomfort or chaffing of any kind. Not that I expected any to begin with.
The cables although strong and well made are very light so don’t pull on the headphones in any way which just adds to the already great comfort levels.
I will add for the record that the Neos are exactly the same in this regard so if you’re looking at them then be reassured the build quality and comfort levels will be the same as the Classics. Please note I do like to tweak my gear so I have a different pair of ear pads on the Neo’s and not the stock items.
Also you can see Meze Audio balanced cable upgrades. These will be in an upcoming review!

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Soundstage and imaging:

In my opinion the soundstage is spacious. Instrument separation is excellent with positioning being clear and concise.

Bass:

The Classics surprised me with the weight and depth of bass they produce.
They present you with a fast but deep bass that works well with various genres, however I found EDM and Metal stood out here receiving the largest benefits.

Mids:

I noticed a dip in the mids. Not so much a V shape in my mind but a slight recession of midrange. However the midrange still manages to sound airy and good with vocals.
I feel with a little tweak in EQ settings and listeners will have no issue getting it dialled in.

Highs:

Beautiful highs with a crisp and speedy accuracy.

Recommendation and summary:

I have a few other headphones that sit around this price point and I will say that the Classics are on par with all of them in sound characteristics and performance. They do have one edge over the others in the bass department with more depth and punch.
As for build and cosmetics the Classics are in a league of their own against the other cans I have in that budget range.
They are quite simply a beauty upon the eyes, with an elegance that so far I have only experienced with Meze Audio products.
These are a stunning pair of headphones in sound, comfort, looks and build and they are a testament to Meze Audio’s excellence in design.
If you want to feel like a customer that is being thought of every step of the way from the drawing pad through to customer care you can’t go wrong here.
They suit almost every genre of music I played through them and perform especially well when listening to Dance music or Metal.
I am giving the Meze Audio 99 Classics The Audiophile Cafe’s 5 star rating and couldn’t recommend them highly enough.

You can follow the link here to take a look for yourself.
https://mezeaudio.eu/collections/all/products/meze-99-classics-walnut-gold-wood-headphones

Thank you Alexandra and Meze yet again for sending me out this review item. As always, It’s been a pleasure.

And thank you to my readers for taking a look at my latest review!

Thanks and as always folks, Stay safe.

Paul.