Meze 99 Classic

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

  1. JewBear

    JewBear Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    270
    Trophy Points:
    63
  2. Dadracer

    Dadracer New

    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Yes Mr Bear I have and I liked them very much. I compared them with my HD700s which I use for my desktop system and while they present a different sounding spectrum to the 700s is was difficult to decide which compromise I preferred overall. I finally came down on the side of the 700s due to their better imaging. If Meze made the 99 Classic that could be folded up I would buy them immediately.
     
  3. microCuts

    microCuts Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    74
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Heard this too, really not bad considering the price at 300usd. Can't really tell how technically good is this but it has the clarity and bass that is enough to amaze people who looking to upgrade from their crappy phone.
     
  4. karnoffel

    karnoffel New

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2016
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    The reviews on Head-Fi and even the comments on Tyll's review all were not impressed with these headphones' comfort. I didn't find the HP50's very comfy so I doubt these would fit well either. It's a wonder why headphone designers don't base their designs off of the MDR-1A rather than the FSP. The reviews about the sound make these an attractive option, if it wasn't for the comfort.
     
  5. Ravenato

    Ravenato Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    3
    I can give you a quick first impression. I've only had them on my head for an hour. I ordered on Sunday and got them on Wednesday. Looks like they shipped out of Savannah Georgia. I got a 10% discount using the code firstorder10 .
    These really are a very pleasant headphone to listen to. Bass just has enough oomph to be there without bloating. I like a bit of bass boost. I don't really have the fancy words to describe it, I just like it all. I've listened to bluegrass, rock, chorale, and folk. Instrument separation is good, and soundstage is not bad for a closed can. It just...works. But....
    I am a petite woman with woman sized ears. The pads are shallow and left side is already pushing on my ear and is uncomfortable. It feels like a hotspot. My ears barely fit in the pads. I'm hoping I can swap out the pads because this is a keeper for me if I can get that worked out.
     
  6. Cos

    Cos Acquaintance

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    45
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    New York, NY
    Thanks for the impressions! Would be interested to also see those compared side to side with Foxtex 6xx.
     
  7. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,581
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Thanks for your impressions. I want to buy these for my fiancé if I can get a deal, and she has much smaller ears than I do. I was hoping that the small pads Tyll mentioned would just be small for a man with a big head (I am very tall myself) but this gives me some pause.
     
  8. Ravenato

    Ravenato Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2015
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    3
    I wrote meze and this is their reply, so I'll hang on to mine and see how it goes. I like that they're offering a free replacement.

    "I'm sorry to hear about the comfort issues. It's something that we're already working on.
    We are experimenting now with larger ear pads. We want to find the biggest possible size of the inner pad so it won't change the sound characteristics of the headphones.

    So far what we've come up to is that the largest size is 2-3 mm taller and the inner dimensions 65mmx50mm.
    We will have the new ear pads in one to 2 months.

    If you prefer to wait we will send you a larger set for free."
     
  9. Azteca

    Azteca Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,581
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    That's really helpful, Ravenato! I'm glad to hear it. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you, Tyll and anyone else when the new pads are out.
     
  10. MikeMercer

    MikeMercer Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    60
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Home Page:
  11. Impulse

    Impulse Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2016
    Likes Received:
    79
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Puerto Rico
    Keeping an eye on these myself, I've got a pair of NAD HP50 I'm relatively happy with (for when I need the isolation, in the living room mostly) but Tyll's heap of praise for the Meze and their apparent build quality still tempts me, I could easily gift the HP50 to my sister to make room for the Meze. Being dual entry is the only knock I'm seeing for my purposes (harder to replace cable, less convenient on the couch).
     
  12. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,723
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Home Page:
    def on my "will purchase soon" list
     
  13. YtseJammer

    YtseJammer Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Likes Received:
    257
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Retired from SBAF
    I'm very close to pull the trigger on the silver walnut version.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. New Reformation

    New Reformation Facebook Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2015
    Likes Received:
    155
    Trophy Points:
    43
    I was surprised to see the HP50's getting the boot. I am definitely interested in how much these best the HP50's I have. The thing about the NAD's is that a simple pad stuffing under the rear edge gives A LOT better comfort and an improved overall sound.

    At 6'6" and a proportionately sized head I am worried the Meze 99 is gonna be way too small. |\/|

    As a side note, who are these headphones supposed to be for? With the over-sized headband and dual entry cable they look too bulky for portable use. Conversely, they look too small for desktop use and in that category they have serious competition (TH-X00 anyone?).
     
  15. YtseJammer

    YtseJammer Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Likes Received:
    257
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Retired from SBAF
    I'm really curious to hear how they will compare with the new Audeze SINE.

    Apparently the SINE are better than the EL8.
     
  16. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    152
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Cedar Park, TX
    The Sine vs. PM-3 comparo that I was planning to do at Can-Jam has become a threesome (get you minds out of the gutter, you dirtbags). Will report on impressions at the appropriate time and place.
     
  17. YtseJammer

    YtseJammer Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2015
    Likes Received:
    257
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Retired from SBAF
    Unboxing

     
  18. Impulse

    Impulse Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2016
    Likes Received:
    79
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Puerto Rico
    Looking forward to your impressions of the threeway, I've lost a little interest in the Meze but coincidentally I've grown more curious about the PM-3... They seem like a more appropriate jump from my HP50, isolating and comfy while still being able to pull double duty as transportables (folding, single entry, etc).
     
  19. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Likes Received:
    12,569
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    I just tried the Meze and thought they were nice and lively. Very fun is a good way to describe them.
     
  20. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    152
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Cedar Park, TX
    Tried them at Can Jam. Very fun, and a great value. Didn't have any comfort issues in 15 minutes, and I think I would find them comfortable over several hours. Efficient enough to be driven by an iPhone. Ultimately, for me they lose out to the PM-3 and Sine on size (they aren't really transportable), aesthetics (just doesn't grab me), and a couple of sonic issues: (1) a lack of pitch definition in the low bass (walking bass lines that move in whole or half steps sound like the same note for a measure at a time) and (2) some lack of clarity at high volume on big orchestral passages (really showed up in the last movement of the Baltimore Symphony recording of the Dvorak "New World" symphony). YMMV.
     

Share This Page