It’s time to revisit an outdated traditional, the 99 Classics that’s! Meze Audio’s mid-budget closed-back headphones have been a favourite within the audiophile group for some time and good motive. For this evaluation, we’re going to recall what makes these headphones among the finest of their bracket, particularly when yow will discover them on sale.
What You Get
- Case: Arduous EVA carrying pouch
- Cable: 1.2m thread Kevlar OFC with Mic and distant
- Cable: 3m thread Kevlar OFC
- Adapter: 6.3mm gold-plated jack
- Airplane jack adapter
- Cable pouch
Look & Really feel
The 99 Classics are picket closed-back headphones which can be maticulously crafted. Every pair of walnut wooden earcups undergo a rigorous course of, and you may inform how a lot care goes into the construct by simply taking a look at and dealing with them. The gold, or silver accents are additionally a pleasant contact relying on which model you get. Its aluminum body and suspension headband make for a sophisticated look in addition to being very comfy. These are very mild headphones, that are straightforward with stress, however I at all times felt the seal could possibly be a bit extra cosy if I needed to nitpick.
Design
There’s a 40mm dynamic driver throughout the 99 Classics. It’s a easy design with an impedance of 32 Ohms, making it very straightforward to drive with any headphone output.
Soundstage
Irrespective of if it’s a closed-back headphone or an open-back headphone, Meze Audio will reproduce an important soundstage. The 99 Classics have a few of the finest soundstage and imaging qualities you’ll discover on closed-back headphones on this worth vary. Every thing within the combine seems with easy-to-identify positions separated elegantly all through the stereo discipline. There’s lots of dimension to every efficiency, with every layer peeling again extra depth and spaciousness. Its headspace travels proper as much as the sting of getting an open headspace, and it’s sufficient for the sounds to wrap round and type a bubble that engulfs the listener.
Low Finish
I might take into account the 99 Classics as having a fairly darkish timbre, nevertheless it’s not till you get to the low mids that that character begins to resonate. Because it stands, the bass nonetheless has some definitive traits, like its depth and smoothness. Bass notes come by with distinct readability and a powerful type, however there isn’t a lot of an impression on them. You get a full response, however the amplitude of those frequencies is extra in steadiness with the remainder of the sound signature. They work in nice synergy with the remainder of the frequency response, however if you happen to’re in search of extra drive and slam, the 99 Classics may disappoint you.
Mids
Probably the most expressive components of the 99 Classics lie throughout the midrange frequencies. I beforehand said that the low mids present probably the most prominence, they usually’re ready to do this with out clouding the remainder of the sound signature in confusion. The darker tone provides heat to the timbre, establishing good texture and form to the sound components. There’s a transparent type to the devices, and the vocal copy is a spectacular spotlight of the 99 Classics to the purpose of being its predominant promoting level. They arrive by with loads of room to look full and vivid within the combine.
Highs
There’s a superb quantity of readability and element within the treble frequencies, however the response by no means calls an excessive amount of consideration to themselves. There’s some roll-off within the higher treble, nevertheless it isn’t harmful to the general tone. You by no means have to fret about any piercing textures or overemphasized brightness. That is only a laid-back treble that has nothing to cover, however by no means overextends.
Abstract
For lack of a greater phrase, the Meze 99 Classics are…nicely, classics. Its sound signature is tremendous straightforward to be enthralled by, particularly in its worth vary. The soundstage is spacious and comprehensible, with heat mids and crisp vocal definition. I feel these are a no brainer for anybody that’s nonetheless okay with sporting wired headphones on the go.
The Meze 99 Classics can be found right here.
