I'm not an absolutist. I think a product should be reviewed from the view point of claims made for the product and the value that in represents to the user.
Judging the Mezze 99 Classics on those factors It's a purely outstanding product offering. If your the kind of person that likes to read the first two lines of a review then hop over to the Meze site and give them your hard earned cash. You wont be sorry.
Want some more torture? Please read on.
I always get a big charge out of the unboxing Videos on YouTube. They seem to be a voyeuristic guilty pleasure, kind of shoppers porno. I wouldn't usually include packaging in a review for a product but I think Meze's packaging for the Classic 99 is well done. I'm often a "B" stock buyer I think the company has had a second chance at making the product right so as you can see the white "B" box can work for me.
Box Front Simple classic
I think the line at the bottom of the back of the Box tells the story " Perfect natural sound Perfect natural Fit"
The nicely done zippered semi-hard head phone storage case that contains the Meze 99 classic's and accessories. The accessories come in a convenient separate zippered case
The accessories pouch contains both wires standard and one with a microphone and remote control. Airplane adapter and 1/4 inch head phone adapter.
The package with the Meze Classic 99 is first rate. So is the construction of the headphones. Made with metal and wood they have a natural and substantial feel to them.
All you have to do is grab the ear cups spread the spring steel tension bars and place them on your ears and your ready to listen. Comfortable, simple, with just the right tension. I have large ears so they touch my ear lobes but I don't find it objectionable. Would it be better if my lobes fit inside. Yes but this isn't a deal breaker for me. I have several hours of listening to them under my belt and I find them comfortable.
After all this I'm sure you're asking " Swnger for heavens sake what the heck do these things sound like?"
I don't have a desk full of Amps Headphones DACs but have decided to do the listening with a simple rig that you can put together for under $1000 including the Meze Classic 99.
The test rig consists of the Meze Classic 99 $309 , The Fiio X5 2nd Gen $349 and The Fiio K5 desk top amp and docking station $110 total $768
I've been an audiophile since 1983 and one thing I've learned is that lots of audio gear gives you very little sonic improvement for extreme dollars. I'm a vinyl guy with over 1000 Eps that I have ported over to Hi Rez in the last 10 years. I also have an extensive collection on CD and Hi Rez downloads. That being said I'm all about the music and not a total gear head.
To prepare the Meze Classic 99 for this review a burned in the headphones with over 40 hours of pink noise that I got from the Dr.Chesky ultimate headphone Demo down load. Those 40 hours were torture. I wanted to play with my new toy. Finally the moment of truth arrived and I put the Meze Classics over my ears and I started:
First selection was Chilly Gonzales " Chambers" Piano and strings on tap. Natural' engaging with clean attack and decay on both the strings and piano. Satisfying acoustic realism. Showed Chilly's special touch on the piano delicate with an underling sense of power.
Ella and Louis were up next. Ella's voice like cream Louis voice like gravel on "Can't we be Friends" So strong mid range. Louis trumpet sole clean clear. lovely upper mid range.
"Under a blanket of blue" good drive in the bass line solid. Mid bass good.
How about James Browns " Mans world" Good separation in the complex back ground so good definition "Make it Funky" Super reproduction on the funky bass line. Hammond organ shuffling nicely.
Daf Punk "Lose yourself to dance" Solid dance bass line, Channel good separation for EDM . Guitar drive very clean.
John Barry "Diamonds are forever" If your looking to see how things handle horns James Bond is the place to look. The Meze Classic 99 handle the dynamics of this album very well. The strings and lush full and resolved.. The waltz "Circus Circus " shows the violin and bells with good treble.
Lets go for deep sub bass. Boys Noize Octave Mind electronica deep bass hard for any thing to reproduce. very well done can feel it in the tip of my toes.
In Conclusion
$309 No brainer. I think the Meze Classic 99 punches well above its weight class in every way. Like I said in line two it's a buy it.
Judging the Mezze 99 Classics on those factors It's a purely outstanding product offering. If your the kind of person that likes to read the first two lines of a review then hop over to the Meze site and give them your hard earned cash. You wont be sorry.
Want some more torture? Please read on.
I always get a big charge out of the unboxing Videos on YouTube. They seem to be a voyeuristic guilty pleasure, kind of shoppers porno. I wouldn't usually include packaging in a review for a product but I think Meze's packaging for the Classic 99 is well done. I'm often a "B" stock buyer I think the company has had a second chance at making the product right so as you can see the white "B" box can work for me.
Box Front Simple classic
I think the line at the bottom of the back of the Box tells the story " Perfect natural sound Perfect natural Fit"
The nicely done zippered semi-hard head phone storage case that contains the Meze 99 classic's and accessories. The accessories come in a convenient separate zippered case
The accessories pouch contains both wires standard and one with a microphone and remote control. Airplane adapter and 1/4 inch head phone adapter.
The package with the Meze Classic 99 is first rate. So is the construction of the headphones. Made with metal and wood they have a natural and substantial feel to them.
All you have to do is grab the ear cups spread the spring steel tension bars and place them on your ears and your ready to listen. Comfortable, simple, with just the right tension. I have large ears so they touch my ear lobes but I don't find it objectionable. Would it be better if my lobes fit inside. Yes but this isn't a deal breaker for me. I have several hours of listening to them under my belt and I find them comfortable.
After all this I'm sure you're asking " Swnger for heavens sake what the heck do these things sound like?"
I don't have a desk full of Amps Headphones DACs but have decided to do the listening with a simple rig that you can put together for under $1000 including the Meze Classic 99.
The test rig consists of the Meze Classic 99 $309 , The Fiio X5 2nd Gen $349 and The Fiio K5 desk top amp and docking station $110 total $768
I've been an audiophile since 1983 and one thing I've learned is that lots of audio gear gives you very little sonic improvement for extreme dollars. I'm a vinyl guy with over 1000 Eps that I have ported over to Hi Rez in the last 10 years. I also have an extensive collection on CD and Hi Rez downloads. That being said I'm all about the music and not a total gear head.
To prepare the Meze Classic 99 for this review a burned in the headphones with over 40 hours of pink noise that I got from the Dr.Chesky ultimate headphone Demo down load. Those 40 hours were torture. I wanted to play with my new toy. Finally the moment of truth arrived and I put the Meze Classics over my ears and I started:
First selection was Chilly Gonzales " Chambers" Piano and strings on tap. Natural' engaging with clean attack and decay on both the strings and piano. Satisfying acoustic realism. Showed Chilly's special touch on the piano delicate with an underling sense of power.
Ella and Louis were up next. Ella's voice like cream Louis voice like gravel on "Can't we be Friends" So strong mid range. Louis trumpet sole clean clear. lovely upper mid range.
"Under a blanket of blue" good drive in the bass line solid. Mid bass good.
How about James Browns " Mans world" Good separation in the complex back ground so good definition "Make it Funky" Super reproduction on the funky bass line. Hammond organ shuffling nicely.
Daf Punk "Lose yourself to dance" Solid dance bass line, Channel good separation for EDM . Guitar drive very clean.
John Barry "Diamonds are forever" If your looking to see how things handle horns James Bond is the place to look. The Meze Classic 99 handle the dynamics of this album very well. The strings and lush full and resolved.. The waltz "Circus Circus " shows the violin and bells with good treble.
Lets go for deep sub bass. Boys Noize Octave Mind electronica deep bass hard for any thing to reproduce. very well done can feel it in the tip of my toes.
In Conclusion
$309 No brainer. I think the Meze Classic 99 punches well above its weight class in every way. Like I said in line two it's a buy it.
