[iFi audio]

I’ve just bought the classic 99 to pair with my iPad Pro which seems to have a decent dac within. Out of the headphone socket it sounds pretty good - slightly dark in the high frequencies but a great headphone for mp3 quality. My other cans are Stax 009S so bear that in mind. Excellent build quality for the price too. There’s a Canjam London in a few weeks so I’ll look at the upgrade cable as well.

The 99 has been holding its ground for a good while and is in use for many people who also have many far more expensive cans nearby. The 99 is a gem of a headphone for the money, eh?

 

[Rozzko]

The 99 has been holding its ground for a good while and is in use for many people who also have many far more expensive cans nearby. The 99 is a gem of a headphone for the money, eh?

Eh
I bought a periodic audio BE (iem) and in many ways it sound better than meze 99 classics (I have this too). Be have got more details, vocal is clear, and no bleed (boomy) bass.
Signature of these two is close, but in a few ways BE is bettet

 

[koover]

Eh!
I love the 99 classics and it truly does hold its own. It’s all in the ears of the beholder. To
me?.....A great headphone. And for the money? Ahhhh.....eh?

 

[Rozzko]

Does anyone else compare MEZE 99 classics vs IEMS? maybe witch Periodic audio BE ? Or with Andromeda? Maybe Acoustune?

All in all - does we can compare Full headphones vs IEMS? in past i think that iems always will be worse, but now i understand that its not

 

[HungryPanda]

I find iems are never like headphones only earbuds can come close

 

[walakalulu]

My impressions after about 10 hours are that the Classics seem quite bass heavy - too much really. Would a change of cable eg Forza hybrid help tame this?

 

[PopZeus]

My impressions after about 10 hours are that the Classics seem quite bass heavy - too much really. Would a change of cable eg Forza hybrid help tame this?

The “new original” smaller pads would make a much bigger change to the balance of bass vs mids and treble than a different cable, I think.

 

[koover]

I understand bass bleed and such, but everyone does understand these are and always have been bass heavy headphones since the day they came out? These are not neutral with a “bit” of extra bass. Never have been.
Granted they weren’t “as” bass heavy as some have stated (I have origanal pads and the new smaller original pads ) since they introduced the 1st and 2nd iteration of pads.
I’ve heard the other pads and yeah, there’s more bass, but it’s still the same old 99 classic sound since the day they came out.

 

[walakalulu]

I understand bass bleed and such, but everyone does understand these are and always have been bass heavy headphones since the day they came out? These are not neutral with a “bit” of extra bass. Never have been.
Granted they weren’t “as” bass heavy as some have stated (I have origanal pads and the new smaller original pads ) since they introduced the 1st and 2nd iteration of pads.
I’ve heard the other pads and yeah, there’s more bass, but it’s still the same old 99 classic sound since the day they came out.

My critical listening cans are Stax 009S so using the classics for iPad duty has shown up the bass emphasis considerably. Wow - too much for me. Serves me right for buying blind. Guess I’ll need to look at Focal Elegias for a more balanced closed back sound.......

 

[iFi audio]

using the classics for iPad duty has shown up the bass emphasis considerably. Wow - too much for me

They are quite bassy with regular/mainstream products (not all, but many) not focused on audio. But once you tweak the 99 via audio items, the fun part begins.

 

[Rozzko]

I find iems are never like headphones only earbuds can come close

Why you think so?

 

[HungryPanda]

Iems put the sound in your head. Speakers surround you, earbuds can give the same effect only slighter

 

[PopZeus]

I understand bass bleed and such, but everyone does understand these are and always have been bass heavy headphones since the day they came out? These are not neutral with a “bit” of extra bass. Never have been.
Granted they weren’t “as” bass heavy as some have stated (I have origanal pads and the new smaller original pads ) since they introduced the 1st and 2nd iteration of pads.
I’ve heard the other pads and yeah, there’s more bass, but it’s still the same old 99 classic sound since the day they came out.

Exactly. To me, they're the definition of a fun audiophile headphone with the smaller pads. It goes without saying that it's not a particularly picky as far as sources are concerned, nor is it an analytical, super fast sound. But the clean expressive mids, solid technicalities (for a closed back) and almost tube-like smoothness bring enough competency to the party. The bass is only too much at the 125 kHz band where it bleeds into the mids. Above or below that, it's largely on target for an enjoyably bassy, warm tuning. That said, I do think the tuning improvements that the smaller pads offer are not insignificant. To some listeners, a 5 dB decrease in the mids and lower treble with the larger stock pads could mean the difference between just enough fun and almost unlistenable for longer periods.

 

[Mhog55]

Exactly. To me, they're the definition of a fun audiophile headphone with the smaller pads. It goes without saying that it's not a particularly picky as far as sources are concerned, nor is it an analytical, super fast sound. But the clean expressive mids, solid technicalities (for a closed back) and almost tube-like smoothness bring enough competency to the party. The bass is only too much at the 125 kHz band where it bleeds into the mids. Above or below that, it's largely on target for an enjoyably bassy, warm tuning. That said, I do think the tuning improvements that the smaller pads offer are not insignificant. To some listeners, a 5 dB decrease in the mids and lower treble with the larger stock pads could mean the difference between just enough fun and almost unlistenable for longer periods.

100%

 

[iFi audio]

Exactly. To me, they're the definition of a fun audiophile headphone with the smaller pads. It goes without saying that it's not a particularly picky as far as sources are concerned, nor is it an analytical, super fast sound. But the clean expressive mids, solid technicalities (for a closed back) and almost tube-like smoothness bring enough competency to the party. The bass is only too much at the 125 kHz band where it bleeds into the mids. Above or below that, it's largely on target for an enjoyably bassy, warm tuning. That said, I do think the tuning improvements that the smaller pads offer are not insignificant. To some listeners, a 5 dB decrease in the mids and lower treble with the larger stock pads could mean the difference between just enough fun and almost unlistenable for longer periods.

You nailed it, nothing to dislike for the money and with decent setup.