For many, Meze 99 Classics were their first taste of something other than mainstream brands or basic budget headphones. While the sound tilted more towards a bass heavy, “consumer” sound, 99 Classics had construction and design coupled with a level of sonic detail that exceeded expectations for those unfamiliar with HiFi audio. Meze returns with the 99 Classics V2, which trades the big, brash bass of the original for a more neutral, detailed presentation. Do they succeed in redefining the entry point into HiFi audio?

Build and Design

99 Classics V2 remains a closed-back, dynamic driver headphone, that looks very much the same as the original. If you’re not familiar with the 99 Classics, the key features are the unfinished wood cups, and the ornate but comfortable headband assembly that still manages to stand out 10 years after the original came out. Meze’s trusty suspension system with a flexible leather headband remains essentially untouched, and the included case, cable, and adapters are very similar to the originals.

One update is the 3.5mm connector jacks on the headphone itself. They’ve been expanded to accept a slightly broader range of cables, including Meze’s own higher end cables. They’re still somewhat restrictive, but it’s an improvement over the original which could essentially only take very specific Meze cables. Meze also changed the earpad attachment to a new clip-in system. This makes changing earpads much easier and also provides easy access for switching the new acoustic absorber in and out. The acoustic absorber provides a second tuning option, which adds some warmth to the new, more neutral sound.

Sound

If you’ve heard the original 99 Classics, V2 is going to be an absolute shock when you first hear it. Where the original had heavily emphasized bass and a v-shaped tuning, V2, pulls back the bass and fills in the mids for a more balanced, reference-like tuning. It’s not totally neutral though and offers a little extra warmth and midbass “oomph” along with some high end sparkle. Specifically on a technical level, 99 Classics V2 is a clear improvement, and a needed update.

According to Meze, the included acoustic absorber is intended to get you back closer to the sound of the original, but while it pulls back some of the treble, and feels more warm than the stock V2 tuning, it’s nowhere near the bombastic sound of the original. I found the stock sound to have exceptional balance, with well controlled treble and a small taste of warmth, while the acoustic absorbers tamed the treble a bit, presenting a warmer overall sound.

Whether or not you use the absorber, the bass is impressively textured and well controlled, with strong detail and great clarity in the presentation of instruments in the lower part of the frequency spectrum. There’s still a bit of extra midbass, but the subbass extension rolls off, leaving it more “punchy” and less “thick

The midrange has a touch of warmth and a nice vocal presence, with strong clarity and separation. Without the damper, you get stronger upper mids and highly immersive vocals, but it can be a bit shouty, while the damper tames the shoutiness for a more intimate vocal presentation.

At the very top, V2 provides a level of air and extension that far exceeds the original, and is quite impressive for a closed back at this price tier. While the stock treble and upper mids are excellent for classical and orchestral music, I preferred the to slightly tame the treble for most pop, rock, and other more modern genres.

99 Classics V2 is highly efficient, and can run off just about anything, but I preferred tube sources like the iBasso PB6 or Cayin RU9 over solid state. Connecting with a tube desktop amp like the xDuoo TA66 provided an even better experience, taming some of highs without the dampers and elevating the sound quite a bit.

Note: My main listening impressions are based on the 99 Classics V2, with the acoustic absorber, using the FiiO M21 and the Questyle Sigma DAC.

On “Flight Test” by The Flaming Lips, 99 Classics V2 offers exceptional imaging separation along with a nice sense of character and detail with each instrument. The vocals are crisp, clear, and just slightly forward, while there’s a nice punch to the kick and good sense of physicality to the bass in general. The synth and background elements are spread out nicely with unique elements in the left and right channels that offer a sense of boundary to the soundstage.

For some classic jazz, with “Monk’s Dream (Take 8)” 99 Classics V2 demonstrates excellent placement of the instruments and presents a realistic feeling space for the jazz ensemble. The toms and kick have a good bit of physical impact, while there’s a good sense of pluck in the upright bass. The trumpet solo generally comes off as smooth, but there’s strong dynamics and a pleasant bite to the high notes. The delivery of the piano is also excellent, with V2 offering good articulation and a nice sense of nuance.

The polished pop production of “Love Me Different” by Hayley Williams has a mix that’s a bit more compressed and congested, but 99 Classics V2 still offers good separation and space in the mix. The vocals are well highlighted, with nice dynamics and personality coming through, along with strong placement of the various overdubs in the background. V2 gets to demonstrate a little more of its capability to deliver strong bass on this track, but any warmth in the lower mids or impact in the bass is overshadowed by the vocals.

Comparison: FiiO FT1, HIFIMAN Audivina LE

The under $500 closed-back audiophile headphone range has expanded significantly since the original 99 Classics came out, and while old stalwarts like Sennheiser and Sony continue to make strong products, brands like FiiO and HIFIMAN have also produced some strong entries. Currently the FiiO FT1, at $165, is one of the most popular picks on the market, with its own set of wood earcups along with it. HIFIMAN’s latest closed-back in this tier, the Audivina LE, comes in at $399 as a planar magnetic alternative to the more typical dynamic designs.

In terms of the build and design, each has its own pros and cons, but in terms of the combination of the overall vision and comfort. Audivina and FT1 have slightly better packages though, offering a better cable selection out of the box. 

In terms of the sound, the 99 Classics V2 and FT1 adhere more closely to target tunings, while Audivina LE has a more unique sound. FT1 probably has the most universally likable and nonfatiguing sound, but it does lack some amount of excitement in comparison with the other two. Audivina LE has somewhat inconsistent bass, but really spectacular vocal imaging (though the vocals can border on too far forward at times), while 99 Classics V2 has both a little extra treble energy and a little extra warmth. If you’re looking for something safe, FT1 gives you a lot of bang for your buck, while 99 Classics V2 are mostly safe enough, with stronger technical capabilities along with a little extra energy and excitement. Audivina LE is somewhat of a wildcard, offering some impressive capabilities without having the same versatility as the others.

The Bottom Line

Meze 99 Classics V2 are a complete reinvention of the 99 Classics, taming the unique energy of the original for a cleaner, more neutral sound. While I have a soft spot for the original sound, V2 is more technically sound than the original, and the update moves Meze’s most famous headphones closer to the current standards for audiophile headphones. If you’ve loved the look and build quality of Meze’s headphones, but found the sound to be too warm or colored for your preferences, 99 Classics V2 takes everything we love about Meze and adds in stronger detail to deliver a reference sound that doesn’t compromise the warmth and emotion that’s in their audio DNA.