Meze 12 Classics Discussion + Impressions Thread
Oct 27, 2016 at 4:16 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 77

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Oct 28, 2016 at 6:10 AM Post #3 of 77
Waiting waiting..
redface.gif

 
Oct 28, 2016 at 9:06 PM Post #7 of 77
Meze got me hooked with the 99 Classics so this is now on my radar. Looking forward to reviews. I am more into over ear headphones but interested in something better than Apple earbuds.


Good God, man. Even without hearing these, I can most certainly assure you that they'll handily trounce Apple earbuds!

Bringing my 99 Classics home from work to meet his little brothers and compare the overall sound signatures.
 
Oct 31, 2016 at 6:32 AM Post #11 of 77
Just thought I'd share some short impressions. I tried them out at my local store today, and immediately bought a pair after hearing them. (Although I got it for a friend who was looking for a pair of earphones in this price tier)

Build quality is fantastic, you can clearly see the beautiful walnut grain on the shells. Cable is sturdy and supple, and not stiff at all.

Sound - the clarity for a pair of earphones at this price range is astounding. Vocals shine through the clear and articulate midrange. I would say note thickness is very well balanced between clarity and lushness. It is thick enough to be engaging but not too thick as to obscure detail and make voices feel muffled. Bass is punchy and quick, yet retains enough impact for an enjoyable rhythmic experience. It is also tight, with a fairly linear sub to midbass frequency. There is just enough midbass to feel the body of the bass without slowing down the pace.
Treble is quite refined and tuned to supplement the mids and bass. It is never harsh nor fatiguing, but retains enough sparkle to enjoy rock songs. This iem handily beats anything I've heard in this price tier, and throughout the audition I just kept thinking how well tuned the 12 classics were.

Staging is not the widest or deepest at this price tier, but slightly larger than average width coupled with decent depth and height to make it sound immersive. Layering and detail are average for an iem at this price tier, but the resultant sound is pretty engaging, giving a pretty immersive experience. I would prefer more depth for immersion but that's just being not picky.
All in all, consider me impressed. I would heartily recommend the Meze 12 classics to anyone looking for a universal iem at this price tier.
 
Oct 31, 2016 at 6:46 AM Post #12 of 77
 
 Exact specs different housing.

 
So, these use the same drivers as the 11 Classics and deco?

 
As a matter of fact, everything is different from the 11 Classics and the 11 Deco. New manufacturer, higher quality build. Tech wise, you should expect a more detailed sound and a faster response from the 12 Classics. The copper clad aluminium voice coil and the titanium coated driver membrane make sure that the sound quality is of a different category altogether, you cannot really compare the 12 Classics to the 11 Classics. Let's just say that the products that came before the 99 Classics shouldn't be taken as a reference point, even if we're speaking solely about our current line of earphones.
 
Meze Audio Design. Comfort. Sound. True audio. Stay updated on Meze Audio at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
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Oct 31, 2016 at 9:49 AM Post #13 of 77
you cannot really compare the 12 Classics to the 11 Classics.

Ah, thanks...that's what I was thinking. The 11 decos had some fans, but let's say it wasn't quite up to the price range and expected quality of the 12.
So the 11 and 12 Neo are the same, just different body material? Because there are some nice reviews of the 11 making it look tempting.
 
Oct 31, 2016 at 10:28 AM Post #14 of 77
I use the 12 Classics on a daily basis since they came in the mail over a month ago. Since they have a mic, I use them for ever call/ meeting I have for work. The clarity for calls is amazing, but I know the audio is more important. These sound great out of the iPhone 7 (with adapter) and the Note 7 (rip). I agree with @mejoshua's impressions. The soundstage isn't great, but I don't think that is really expected at the size/price point. Mids/vocals seem to be the focus for these, and the treble really compliments the mids. I typically enjoy IEMs with a strong sense of clarity and separation between vocals/instruments with slightly forward mids. These seem to be that nice fit for me especially when I am working and between meetings. 
 
Oct 31, 2016 at 10:58 AM Post #15 of 77
Ah, thanks...that's what I was thinking. The 11 decos had some fans, but let's say it wasn't quite up to the price range and expected quality of the 12.
So the 11 and 12 Neo are the same, just different body material? Because there are some nice reviews of the 11 making it look tempting.

 
Yes, the 11 Decos had quite a few fans.
 
The difference between the 11 Neo and 12 Classics is not just the body material. The 12 Classics uses a copper clad aluminium voice coil that makes it faster to response. It is a matter of taste, after all. While at CanJam we met people who liked the 12 Classics more but the 11 Neo had its fair share of fans! 
 
You can read the community's impressions here and reviews here, all about the 11 Neo.
 
Meze Audio Design. Comfort. Sound. True audio. Stay updated on Meze Audio at their sponsor profile on Head-Fi.
 
https://www.facebook.com/mezeaudio https://twitter.com/mezeaudio https://www.instagram.com/mezeaudio/ https://www.mezeaudio.com/ marketing@mezeaudio.com

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