Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Generation

Meze Audio 99 Classics V2 – The Icon Reimagined Since their debut in 2015, the Meze Audio 99 Classics have become an icon — a symbol of warmth, musicality, and timeless craftsmanship. Loved by audiophiles and design enthusiasts alike, they redefined what a headphone could be: an object of both passion and precision. Now, ten years later, Meze Audio celebrates this legacy with the 99 Classics V2 — a refined evolution that honors the soul of the original while elevating every aspect of its sound, comfort, and longevity. Sound Refined – Ten Years, Ten Enhancements The 99 Classics V2 takes the familiar, inviting character of the original and evolves it toward a more balanced, neutral signature. Bass remains engaging yet more disciplined, allowing the midrange and treble to breathe with greater clarity and definition. A newly developed driver-matching process, based on mixed cosine and level-adjustment algorithms, ensures tighter channel matching in the mid and high frequencies — resulting in improved stereo image stability and more consistent performance from pair to pair. A slightly increased internal ear cup volume delivers deeper acoustic control, while improved acoustic sealing and a dedicated bass ventenhance precision, left-right consistency, and unit-to-unit reproducibility. The re-engineered baffle structure minimizes diffraction and reduces high-frequency artifacts for a cleaner, more open presentation. For those who prefer the original’s warmth, the V2 includes a set of Acoustic Absorber Discs, allowing you to fine-tune the tonality toward a smoother, more classic presentation. Design & Craftsmanship – Where Nature Meets Engineering The iconic silhouette remains unmistakable: solid walnut wood ear cups, each CNC-machined, sanded, stained, and polished by hand over a 45-day process. No two pairs are alike — each bears the unique grain, color, and character of the wood it was born from. The cast zinc hardware with its elegant gold finish, the self-adjusting headband in vegan leather, and the spring steel frame all return to deliver the same effortless comfort that defined the original. The newly designed ear pads, made from medium-density foam and soft vegan leather, now use a secure clip-in system with six precision clips per pad — ensuring perfect alignment, longer lifespan, and easier replacement. True to Meze Audio’s sustainable philosophy, the 99 Classics V2 is fully serviceable: every component — from cups and pads to drivers and cables — can be replaced. Built to last, designed to endure. Modern Usability A new Dual-Twisted OFC cable, Kevlar-sheathed for durability and tangle resistance, ensures clean signal transmission with natural tonal transparency. The enlarged 3.5 mm input sockets now accommodate a wider range of cables, including Meze’s hand-braided copper and silver upgrades. To reflect today’s listening habits, Meze includes a compact USB-C DAC/AMP, making the V2 ready for use with modern smartphones and laptops — no headphone jack required. Highlights Successor to the iconic 99 Classics – refined in every detail 40 mm dynamic drivers with improved matching precision Balanced, natural tuning with better imaging and clarity Acoustic Absorber Discs for a warmer, classic signature option Larger internal cup volume for deeper, more controlled bass Re-engineered baffle for reduced diffraction and open treble Clip-in ear pads with improved comfort and longevity Zinc alloy hardware with gold tone finish Self-adjusting headband with spring steel and vegan leather Dual-Twisted OFC cable, Kevlar-sheathed for durability Includes USB-C DAC/AMP and gold-plated 6.3 mm adapter Fully serviceable design – built to last for decades Technical Specifications Specification Details Driver Type Dynamic, 40 mm Frequency Range 15 Hz – 25 kHz Impedance 16 Ω Sensitivity 103 dB SPL/mW @ 1 kHz THD <0.1% @ 1 kHz Input Connector Dual 3.5 mm TS Ear Cups Solid walnut wood Weight 290 g Included Accessories Meze Audio 99 Classics V2 Dual-Twisted OFC Cable (Kevlar-sheathed) USB-C DAC/AMP 6.3 mm gold-plated adapter Acoustic Absorber Discs Carrying case Cleaning cloth Meze Audio 99 Classics vs. Meze Audio Classics V2 Differences 1st Gen  2nd Gen 1. Tuning Warm, V-shaped Balanced, neutral 2. Ear Cup Internal Volume Classic Increased 3. Acoustic Sealing Classic Improved sealing at all key junctions (Baffle-cup, PCB-jack shell, jack shell-cup, ear pad-baffle) 4. Bass Port Not present Present – integrated into the 3.5 mm jack shell 5. Baffle Architecture Classic Re-engineered – more open grille and streamlined structural beams 6. Ear Pads Using stretch-skirt attachment Using clip-in mechanism, reshaped to adjust the front cavity volume 7. Sound Technicalities Classic Improved separation, imaging, and soundstage 8. Input Socket Narrow Enlarged to 7 millimeters in diameter, ensuring compatibility with a wider range of cables 9. Stock cable(s) 1.2 m thread Kevlar with Mic and remote, OFC conductor & 3 m thread Kevlar, OFC conductor 1.8 m dual-twisted, Kevlar-wrapped soft flex PVC, OFC conductor, 3.5 mm jack 10. Adapters Airplane adapter, 6.3 mm gold-plated jack adapter USB-C DAC/AMP dongle, 6.3 mm gold-plated jack adapter