Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen Closed-Back Headphones

The Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen takes one of Meze's most recognizable headphones and gives it a meaningful update while keeping everything that made the original special.

The real walnut earcups are still here. So is the lightweight construction, self-adjusting headband and unmistakable Meze design.

What's changed is the sound.

For the second generation, Meze reworked the acoustic design to deliver a more balanced and neutral presentation, with tighter bass, clearer mids and highs, better imaging and improved instrument separation.

It's still unmistakably a 99 Classics—just more refined.

A More Balanced 99 Classics

The original 99 Classics became popular in part because of its warm, rich and immediately enjoyable presentation.

Meze hasn't abandoned that character.

Instead, the 2nd Gen moves closer to a balanced, neutral target. Bass remains engaging but is slightly more restrained, allowing vocals, instruments and upper-frequency detail to come through with greater clarity.

The result is a more versatile headphone while still retaining the musical warmth that defined the original.

Improved Driver Matching

Meze developed a more sophisticated driver-matching process for the 2nd Gen.

Using level-adjustment algorithms and a mixed cosine function, Meze reduces variation between the left and right drivers, particularly through the mid and high frequencies.

Better matching translates into more stable stereo imaging and greater consistency from one pair of headphones to another.

Larger Internal Ear Cup Volume

The internal volume of the earcups has been increased.

That additional space moves internal cavity resonances lower and reduces standing-wave interactions, giving Meze greater control over the low frequencies.

It's one of the reasons the new 99 Classics can retain satisfying bass while sounding cleaner and more balanced than the original.

Dedicated Bass Port

Meze also improved the acoustic sealing throughout the headphone and added a dedicated bass vent integrated into the jack shell.

The vent provides more precise control over low-frequency behavior while improving left-to-right consistency.

Rather than simply reducing the bass of the original 99 Classics, Meze has engineered the enclosure to control it better.

Redesigned Baffle

The internal baffle has also been re-engineered.

A more open grille and streamlined structural beams reduce acoustic impedance and diffraction in front of the driver.

That helps minimize unwanted high-frequency artifacts while contributing to the improved clarity and openness of the second-generation design.

Redesigned Ear Pads

The ear pads aren't simply a comfort update.

Meze reshaped them to increase and better control the front cavity volume between the driver and the ear.

That change helps refine the midrange balance and works with the other acoustic updates to achieve the new tuning.

The pads now use a clip-on attachment system, making their position consistent and replacement considerably easier.

Two Tonalities Included

Prefer the warmer character of the original 99 Classics?

Meze includes a set of acoustic absorbers that allow you to shift the tonal balance back toward that warmer presentation.

That gives owners two ways to enjoy the headphone:

A cleaner, more balanced second-generation tuning or a warmer presentation closer to the original 99 Classics.

40mm Dynamic Driver

The 99 Classics 2nd Gen uses a 40mm dynamic driver with a frequency range of:

15Hz–25kHz

Total harmonic distortion is rated at:

Less than 0.1% at 1kHz

The combination of the updated driver matching, larger enclosure volume, new bass vent, revised baffle and redesigned ear pads is what really separates the second generation from the original.

Extremely Easy to Drive

With a nominal impedance of only:

16 ohms

and sensitivity of:

103dB SPL/mW at 1kHz

the 99 Classics 2nd Gen doesn't require a large desktop headphone amplifier.

It can work extremely well with phones, tablets, laptops and portable audio players when paired with the appropriate output or DAC.

That makes the 99 Classics particularly versatile for someone who wants a serious headphone without being tied to a dedicated listening station.

USB-C DAC/AMP Included

Meze recognizes that many modern phones and laptops no longer include a traditional headphone output.

So the 2nd Gen now includes a compact USB-C DAC/amp.

Plug it into a compatible USB-C device and you have a simple wired digital connection without needing to purchase another adapter or portable DAC immediately.

Upgraded OFC Cable

The included cable has also been upgraded.

Meze now uses a dual-twisted OFC conductor with Kevlar sheathing, designed to improve flexibility, durability and resistance to tangling.

The headphone itself uses dual 3.5mm TS inputs, and the input sockets have been enlarged to accommodate a wider variety of aftermarket and upgraded cables.

Real Walnut Wood Ear Cups

The 99 Classics wouldn't be the 99 Classics without its real wood earcups.

Each pair uses genuine walnut, CNC machined and then hand-finished, stained and polished.

Because it's natural wood, no two pairs are exactly alike.

Grain, color and texture vary from one set to another, giving every pair its own appearance.

Creating a single pair of earcups can take up to eight hours, while the complete sanding, lacquering and finishing process extends over approximately 45 days.

Lightweight Comfort

Despite the real wood and metal construction, the 99 Classics 2nd Gen weighs only:

290 grams / 10.23 ounces

The vertically self-adjusting vegan leather headband works with a spring-steel outer band to automatically distribute pressure across the head.

There's no complicated adjustment mechanism to dial in.

Put them on and the headband adjusts itself.

Built to Be Repaired

This is one of our favorite things about Meze.

The 99 Classics 2nd Gen is designed to be fully serviceable.

Major components including the:

• Ear cups
• Headband
• Cables
• Drivers

can be individually replaced.

Rather than designing a headphone that gets thrown away when one component eventually wears out, Meze designed the 99 Classics around long-term ownership.

Key Specifications

• Type: Closed-Back Dynamic Headphones
• Operating Principle: Closed-Back
• Driver Type: Dynamic
• Driver Size: 40mm
• Frequency Range: 15Hz–25kHz
• Impedance: 16 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 103dB SPL/mW at 1kHz
• Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.1% at 1kHz
• Ear Cups: Genuine Walnut Wood
• Input Connectors: Dual 3.5mm TS
• Weight: 290g / 10.23 oz.
• Cable: Dual-Twisted OFC with Kevlar Sheathing
• USB-C DAC/AMP: Included
• Acoustic Tuning Absorbers: Included
• Ear Pad Attachment: Clip-On
• Headband: Self-Adjusting Vegan Leather
• Hardware: Cast Zinc Alloy
• Serviceable Construction: Yes

99 Classics 2nd Gen vs. the Original

Meze didn't need to reinvent the 99 Classics.

It needed to refine it.

The 2nd Gen retains the warmth, comfort, real walnut construction and visual character of the original, but moves the sound toward a more balanced presentation.

Bass is better controlled. Midrange and treble information is easier to hear. Imaging and instrument separation have improved. The ear pads and internal acoustics have been redesigned, and the included USB-C DAC/amp makes the headphone much easier to use with today's devices.

For listeners who still prefer the warmer original tuning, the included acoustic absorbers provide a way to move the presentation back in that direction.

It's still a 99 Classics.

It's just a better one.

Experience Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen at The Grid HiFi

The Grid HiFi is your Meze Audio and high-performance personal audio expert in Houston, Texas.

The 99 Classics 2nd Gen is one of the easiest ways to get into serious Meze headphones.

It doesn't demand expensive amplification, it's comfortable enough to wear for hours, its closed-back design makes it practical outside of a dedicated listening room, and it's built to be serviced rather than replaced.

The Grid can also help you compare the 99 Classics 2nd Gen with the STRADA, 109 PRO and other Meze headphones to find the model that fits the way you actually listen.

And if you want to take the 99 Classics further, we can help match it with the right portable or desktop DAC and headphone amplifier.

Come listen.

Contact The Grid HiFi to experience the Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen.