Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen Headphones

SAME ICONIC SILHOUETTE

Everything that made the original headphone an instant classic is still present – the magnetic and inviting sound, the seamless comfort, the use of premium materials, the timeless design aesthetic – it’s all here. However, upon closer inspection and audition, the differences become more apparent.

10 YEARS, 10 IMPROVEMENTS

TUNING DIRECTION
The 2nd Gen 99 Classics moves the signature closer to a balanced, neutral target. Bass remains engaging yet slightly more restrained, allowing midrange and treble details to emerge with greater clarity. The result is a more versatile headphone that retains the musical warmth of the original while offering improved overall balance and detail retrieval.

DRIVER MATCHING
A refined matching process, using a mixed cosine function combined with level-adjustment algorithms, reduces inter-driver variance in the mid and high frequencies. The result is improved stereo image stability and a more consistent listening experience across pairs.

EAR CUP VOLUME
The internal cup volume has been subtly increased. A larger volume shifts cavity resonances downward and reduces standing-wave interactions, enhancing control in the low-frequency region and aligning with the new tuning goals.

ACOUSTIC SEALING AND BASS PORT
While the original 99 Classics already provided impactful bass, the 2nd Gen introduces precision sealing at all key junctions. This improved sealing allows the use of a dedicated bass vent integrated into the jack shell, providing more precise tuning, improved left–right consistency, and higher unit-to-unit reproducibility.

BAFFLE ARCHITECTURE
The baffle has been re-engineered with acoustic transparency in mind. A more open grille and streamlined structural beams reduce diffraction and acoustic impedance in front of the driver, minimizing high-frequency artifacts.

EAR PAD REDESIGN
The ear pads have been reshaped to adjust the front cavity volume, refining the midrange balance toward the intended target. The attachment system has evolved from a stretch-skirt to a clip-in mechanism, ensuring fixed orientation, reducing variability, and simplifying replacement for the user.

SOUND TECHNICALITIES
The rebalanced tuning, enhanced acoustic consistency, and optimized internal geometry work together to improve stereo imaging and instrument separation, while also providing a more open and spacious soundstage.

INPUT SOCKET
The input socket shell has been enlarged to 7 millimeters in diameter. The larger shell maintains secure connection integrity while ensuring compatibility with both slim-profile and larger-bodied 3.5 mm plugs. This ensures compatibility with a wider range of cables, including our premium hand-braided copper and silver ones.

HIGH-QUALITY CABLE
The stock cable now uses a dual-twisted, Kevlar-sheathed OFC conductor. This maintains excellent electrical performance while improving tangle resistance, mechanical durability, and flexibility.

MODERN PORTABILITY
Reflecting today’s usage patterns, a compact USB-C DAC/AMP is now included to ensure optimal performance with modern devices that lack dedicated headphone outputs.

TWO TONALITIES

For those seeking a sound closer to the original 99 Classics, the 2nd Gen comes with a set of acoustic absorbers, allowing you to shift the balance towards a warmer signature. Simply detach the ear pads from the cups, place the absorbers in the allocated slots on the baffle plate, reattach the ear pads, and enjoy!

WOOD PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY

ONE OF A KIND
When it comes to wood patterns, there are never two alike. Age, color, texture, and grain come into play to create a pair of headphones as unique as you.

The rich colors of walnut require the use of air-drying, a long and expensive procedure.

The process of shaping just a single pair of ear cups takes up to 8 hours. The entire process of sanding, lacquering, and finishing takes 45 days.

One last step remains - a careful inspection of the wooden parts to ensure that no imperfections pass through.

FEATURES

WALNUT WOOD EAR CUPS
Treasured for its rich, dark color and beautiful grain, walnut wood is strong and durable, yet lightweight and malleable. The cups are CNC-machined, then hand-finished, stained, and polished.

CAST ZINC HARDWARE
The frame’s metal hardware is crafted from cast zinc alloy with a rich gold tone finish.

SELF-ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND
The vertically self-adjusting vegan leather headband, in combination with a spring steel band with a large active area, delivers a level of comfort that has been praised throughout the headphones industry.

DETACHABLE EAR PADS
Crafted from medium-density foam and soft vegan leather, the ear pads now feature a secure clip-in system with six clips per pad, making them easier to attach, remove, and replace. Designed for long-term comfort and serviceability.

SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN

We think about our headphones breaking from the earliest stages of product development. If we want to slow down replacement cycles and create something to be enjoyed for years, we have to find solutions for anything that could go wrong before it even happens.

That’s why we make the 2nd Gen 99 Classics fully serviceable. Ear cups, headband, cables, or driver, all pieces are replaceable.

Unspoken. Understood. Shared.

Music speaks in a language we all feel. A universal tongue of emotion, memory, and connection.

With every note, the 99 Classics becomes your translator, carrying meaning from heart to heart, across time zones, generations, and silences.

Driver Type: Dynamic
Input Connector: Dual 3.5 mm TS Jack
Driver Size: 40 mm
Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.1% at 1 kHz
Frequency Range: 15 Hz - 25 kHz
Ear Cups: Walnut Wood
Impedance: 16 Ω
Weight: 290 g (10.23 oz)
Sensitivity: 103 dB SPL/mW at 1 kHz