Meze 99 Classic

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by JewBear, Feb 27, 2016.

  1. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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  2. superuser1

    superuser1 New

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    Has anyone tried any after market balanced cables for the 99c that are not the original balanced cables from Meze?
     
  3. Emojiless

    Emojiless Acquaintance

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    This is a good headphone but it is too bassy for me. After playing around with Brainwavz Hybrid Oval and Velour it is a lot better but the bass is still too fat for my tastes. People keep saying the balanced silver cable tightens it up and brings up the rest of FR. However I don't have any balanced sources, I use these HP with Meridian Explorer 2.

    I'm considering an adapter like Fiio BL35, the chain would be PC->Explorer->BL35->Silver balanced cable -> 99c. Does a change like this make sense without upgrading to a balanced source? Should I expect an upgrade or will the BL35 conversion gimp the sound?
     
  4. HHS

    HHS Almost "Made"

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    I would think you'd be much better off using EQ to make the adjustments you want than to hope that a cable will, first of all make any noticeable difference at all, and second of all happen to make the exact change you want
     
  5. Emojiless

    Emojiless Acquaintance

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    Tried that before I bought the pads and tbh I found a pad change to sound more natural than EQ. Perhaps now I just need a touch of it which wouldn't make the headphone sound as artificial as it did last time I tried it.

    But there's reason to change the cable any way as the stock one is stiff and won't straighten out, and the silver cable looks very nice : )

    Let's presume the cable does increase resolution and change the FR a bit as I expect. Would the the single-ended to balanced conversion bottleneck it?
     
  6. Phantaminum

    Phantaminum Friend

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    You can buy yourself a better cable to but it will affect the sound little if nothing at all. The best way to adjust the tonality of the headphone is to EQ as mentioned. You'll find that it's much more agreeable and highly capable.
     
  7. HHS

    HHS Almost "Made"

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    If people are noticing a difference because the balanced output on the amps they're using is better than the single ended on those amps, then you're not gonna get any benefit. If we presume that the materials in the cable build are making a difference, I suppose the converter might dampen that effect being inserted in the chain (though really I'm skeptical the cable will make any difference on its own anyway)
     
  8. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    IME the best way to tune an over ear headphone is pad rolling...I found the pads for the AT MX40/50 brought the sound closest to the OG sound that Tyll had enjoyed. Though there is still a bit of bass bloat it was less objectional but of course YMMV.
     
  9. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Since you're already in the Brainwavz ecosystem give their microsuede pads a shot. The stock Meze 99 was too thunky and muffled for my tastes but the microsuede levelled things out really well. Definitely take preferences into account though; I'm quite fond of (good) bass.

    MAGENTA: stock pads, new
    YELLOW: Brainwavz Angled Sheepskin
    CYAN: Brainwavz Microsuede

    The really narrow 8kHz spikes on the Brainwavz sets are repeatable unless I'm misremembering, but they never bothered me in listening. Could be I'm just deaf to em though.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2021
  10. CEE TEE

    CEE TEE MOT: NITSCH

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    Just a reminder- when at Massdrop, we worked with Meze to try and re-create the first pad sound.

    Less warm bass? Without sacrificing what made the 99 special, the 99 Noir ships with 2 pairs of pads.

    I wonder how many people took the time to try the second set that were shipped...the extra set in the box.

    99 Classics and wish to adjust? I wonder if you can try to score some of the extra pads from 99 Noir owners? :rolleyes:
     

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