Meze Audio might not be a family title, however the Romanian headphone specialist has been carving out moderately a name for itself with excessive efficiency headphones that ship audiophile-grade sonics with an ‘simple to hear’ personality.
The corporate’s Meze 99 Classics epitomise the logo’s manner, with trendy wood earcups and awesome drivers, at a value that received’t cost a fortune – however how do they fare when fed a nutrition of ribald rock‘n’roll? Really well, because it occurs.
Meze 99 Classics: Design
Just like AC/DC’s Brian Johnson in his newsboy cap, those the Meze 99 Classics glance unapologetically old skool. The walnut-veneered ear cups spring tensioned scarf, with coppery-gold accents, have a groovy unfashionable vibe.
The pressure of the chromium-manganese alloy scarf approach you’ll no longer have the ability to fold them down for ease of use, however given they weigh simply 260g, I’ll give them a go – they’re gentle and relaxed to put on for extended classes.
The headphones include a collection of two removable double ended cables, one 3m and the opposite 1.2m for transportable use. Relatively than a unmarried mini-jack, they ship stereo audio by the use of separate left and proper connectors which insert into every cup.
The headphones send with a troublesome elevate case, wherein you’ll to find the a pouch containing the cables, plus a corpulent 6.3mm adaptor to make use of with a headphone amp or Hello-Fi device, and an airline leisure adaptor.
Meze 99 Classics: Options
In contrast to such a lot of in their larger title competitors, there’s no longer a lot of a longer function set to discuss. Wi-fi connectivity is AWOL, which means that there’s no voice assistant motion or Bluetooth streaming. If you need a dialog with Alexa or Google you’ll wish to glance somewhere else.
Suave noise cancellation generation might absent from the Meze 99 Classics, even though their closed-back design does manage to pay for a degree of ambient noise isolation.
At the plus aspect, there are not any on-cup controls to grasp. Those headphones are as plug and play because it comes. For the reason that I generally tend to spend a ways an excessive amount of of my time negotiating with headphones which might be invariably smarter than me, I love to consider them as gloriously simple.
Meze 99 Classics: Sound
The Meze 99 Classics are splendidly speedy and dynamic in no small section because of the accuracy in their proprietary 40mm drivers. The identify observe to AC/DC’s The Razors Edge is propelled along side bold power, guitar riff scything all earlier than it, whilst Johnson’s supply offered with precisely the proper mix of grit and readability.
In a similar way, a high-res obtain of Lou Reed’s Satellite tv for pc Of Love from the Transformer album, is revelatory for the associated fee. The 99’s spatial presentation is outstanding, permitting you to concentrate past and round Reed’s honeyed vocal. David Bowie’s background contribution, at the ultimate refrain particularly, turns into crystal transparent amid the finger snaps and backbeat. Bass efficiency is measured, with out getting overly lumpy.
Muse’s Insanity keeps its resonant, low frequency digital hook, however isn’t torpid. The Meze’s midrange is balanced and fluid. Matt Bellamy’s unique, emotive whine is at one with, however by no means misplaced amid layers of synth, and there’s quite a lot of headroom for terrific toppy element.
What I specifically grew to love like concerning the Meze 99’s is their overt naturalism. With such a lot of Bluetooth headphones, specifically the ones with competitive noise cancelling, it’s all too not unusual to concentrate on the sheer degree of processing at paintings in the back of the scenes. That’s by no means the case right here.
There’s a welcome purity to the audio, whether or not you’re being attentive to laborious rock, prog, or blues. The Meze 99 Classics hop genres as simply as Electrical Callboy. Everytime We Contact, which segues from boy band pop to steel growls by the use of techno, is seamlessly entertaining.
Meze 99 Classics: The choices
The Grado SR325x is a cast rival for Meze 99 Classics. They’re additionally stressed, however undertake an audiophile-style open again design which provides a extra ethereal presentation. Then again, this regulations them out for on a regular basis commuting use. They’re supposed for home use.
If you happen to’re in search of wi-fi headphones which might be additionally adept with maximum genres, then the JBL Excursion One Mk2 are a perfect possibility. Just like the Meze 99 Classics, those headphones utilise giant 40mm drivers which might be dynamic and speedy. They would possibly not sound moderately as convincing with hi-res resources, however they do be offering respectable noise cancelling.
