Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Generation Review: Ten Years Later, Romania Still Knows How to Build a Better Headphone

It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly a decade since I first met Antonio Meze at the Venetian during CES—a quiet side room filled with gear from Questyle, Sennheiser, Focal, and MrSpeakers, all showing off their latest headphone wonders. Then two young Romanians walked in carrying a pair of closed-back headphones with wooden cups that looked more like handcrafted violins than audio gear. That was the first Meze Audio 99 Classics. Nobody saw it coming—least of all the big players.

Back then, the idea that affordable closed-back headphones could sound truly great was borderline laughable. Yet Meze’s first effort did exactly that—warm, punchy in the bass range, detailed, and built like an heirloom. I bought my own pair within the year, and ten years later, they’re still in regular use. That kind of longevity in the headphone world is practically a miracle.

Now, ten years is forever in this business. Most brands would’ve churned out half a dozen “upgrades” by now, each with shinier marketing and the same old sound. So when Meze waited this long, the changes had to count. And they do. The Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Generation refines everything that made the original special while fixing the quirks that held it back—a reminder that patience still has a place in audio design.

The bigger story, though, is what the Head-Fi revolution made possible: two determined guys from Baia Mare who walked into CES with a dream and ended up rewriting the rules. Traditional audiophiles might still scoff, but the future of high-end listening belongs to the brave, the obsessive, and the ones who don’t ask permission. Long live the rebels from Romania.

Meze 99 Classics 2nd Generation: Refinement of a Modern Icon

The Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Generation keeps that instantly recognizable silhouette and handcrafted vibe, but don’t fool yourself—it’s not just a pretty facelift. The original 99 Classics were unmistakably bass-heavy for their driver size, warm, and impossibly listenable, all wrapped in a design that looked unlike anything else on the market. Meanwhile, pricier rivals often looked downright cheap and uninspired in comparison.

From there, Meze didn’t just sit on its laurels. The LIRIC was a clear step forward, but the real game-changer was the Empyrean—a planar magnetic open-back that went head-to-head with Audeze, HiFiMAN, and Dan Clark Audio, and came back bloodied but victorious. Industrial design suddenly mattered. Lightweight, built to last, ethereal in presentation—the Empyrean set a new standard. The ELITE, Empyrean II, and Poet kept raising the bar at the top end.

But let’s get real: most of the market isn’t spending $3,000 on headphones. That’s where the 109 Pro, 105 AER, and 105 Silva came in, offering high-end chops at a more reasonable price. So where does that leave the $349.99 Classics 2nd Generation? Right in the sweet spot—a modern classic that owes its existence to ten years of evolution, design risk-taking, and the kind of tuning that makes closed-backs actually listenable.

Meze 99 Classics 2nd Generation: Improved Comfort, Fit, and Everyday Usability

The 99 Classics 2nd Generation was engineered to refine the original’s strengths while addressing its limitations. Meze’s goal was clear: maintain the signature bass warmth but control it for precision, create a more linear response across the mids and treble, and ensure every unit performs consistently.

To achieve this, the headphones use advanced driver matching algorithms, enlarged ear cups to lower resonances and improve internal volume, and optimized acoustic sealing combined with a dedicated bass port for repeatable, left-right consistent performance.

The baffle architecture has been re-engineered with an open grille and streamlined structural beams to reduce diffraction and high-frequency artifacts. CNC-machined walnut cups are hand-finished and polished, while cast zinc frame components with a gold finish provide structural integrity and durability.

Weighing 290 grams, the headphones balance rigidity and comfort. The spring steel–reinforced vegan leather headband self-adjusts for consistent fit, and the six-point detachable soft vegan leather and medium-density foam ear pads improve mechanical and acoustic stability. Meze emphasizes sustainability: all components are replaceable, and packaging is fully recyclable, eliminating plastic and foam.

Modern Portability

The 99 Classics 2nd Generation keeps up with current tech. A USB-C DAC and AMP dongle, along with a 6.3 mm gold-plated adapter, ensure compatibility with devices that no longer include a headphone jack. Meze hasn’t just refreshed the design—they’ve updated it for practical use in today’s audio landscape. Eastern European engineering and attention to detail make the 99 Classics 2nd Generation durable, capable, and straightforward to integrate into modern setups.

The stock cable has been upgraded to a 1.8-meter dual-twisted, Kevlar-sheathed OFC conductor terminating in a 3.5 mm jack. It’s more durable, reduces microphonics, and delivers consistent signal transfer. Small details, sure—but the difference is obvious when you’re using these headphones every day.

Meze 99 Classics 2nd Generation Technical Specifications

The 99 Classics 2nd Generation feature 40 mm dynamic drivers with a frequency response of 15 Hz to 25 kHz. With an impedance of 16 ohms and sensitivity of 103 dB SPL/mW, they are easy to drive from USB-C or Lightning dongle DACs, desktop amplifiers, and portable audio players. Total harmonic distortion is below 0.1% at 1 kHz. The headphones use dual 3.5 mm TS jacks for connectivity.

Meze 99 Classics 2nd Generation vs Original

Ten years later, Meze has learned a thing or two from its other designs. The 99 Classics 2nd Generation incorporates several targeted improvements over the original. The tuning has moved from a warm, V-shaped signature to a more balanced and neutral response.

Internal ear cup volume has been increased, and acoustic sealing at all key junctions—including the baffle, jack shell, and ear pad interfaces—has been improved for consistency and precision.

Connectivity has been upgraded: the input socket is now 7 mm for wider cable compatibility, the stock cable is the aforementioned 1.8-meter dual-twisted, Kevlar-wrapped OFC conductor.

The cable is a noticeable step up from the original. Connectors feel more solid, microphonics are all but gone, and the build is generally more confidence-inspiring. My only gripe is the five or six inches closest to the ear cups, where the thick braiding disappears—makes you wonder if that section will see extra wear over time. The connector itself is longer and definitely more robust, so at least plugging in feels like it was designed to survive real-world use.

99 Classics 2nd Gen: But Do They Really Feel Different?

At first glance, the 99 Classics 2nd Generation looks a lot like the original. The biggest visual differences are the cast zinc hardware with a deep gold finish, the slightly larger ear cups, and the enlarged connector/bass port. The original always felt a bit understated without the gold trim, a quiet elegance that doesn’t scream “look at me” in a coffee shop.

The reactions in my local Asbury Park café were mixed. A few people thought the 2nd Gen looked stunning, while others made it very clear they were concerned some local troublemakers might find them too hard to resist.

The headband and suspension also drew mixed reactions from the people I let try them. They found them enormously comfortable, but some wondered why they felt so large. Switching back and forth between my original pair and the 2nd Generation, I noticed the fit and weight feel about the same, though the Gen 2 has a noticeably stronger clamping force.

The new ear pads make a real difference. Passive isolation is clearly improved; coffee shop chatter and the hiss of espresso machines were far less intrusive, which is exactly what you want when people around you are loudly debating oat milk versus whole.

It’s always skim for those who are curious.

I’ve spent more than a few days this month in medical limbo for an abdominal tear and hernia, which gave me plenty of time in waiting rooms, triage, and recovery to really put the 99 Classics 2nd Generation through their paces. Compared to the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro X I just reviewed, the Gen 2s are far more comfortable (which they should be for $150 more) and much less cumbersome.

That said, there are parts of the German closed-back that I genuinely respect—fantastic isolation, taut low-end performance, and superb neutrality for the money—but for everyday wear, especially when stuck in a crowded room, the Meze just works better. Plus, when a room full of nurses wanted a listen, who was I to deny them while they were shaving me?

Listening

Not everyone will be on board with the changes—but I am. Funny how your priorities shift over time. I’ve got to give credit to eCoustics Headphone Editor W. Jennings for making me rethink just how little I care about neutrality. With EQ, a decent DAP, dongle DAC, or desktop amp, you can take a blank canvas and turn it into something with texture, clarity, detail, and a tonal balance that actually fits your ears—rather than chasing some mythical “perfect” reference.

Meze weren’t exaggerating when they said the new iteration is noticeably more linear, and yet it hasn’t lost what made the originals so appealing—texture, impact, and a sense of genuine soul in the music.

Paul Motian’s “I Have The Room Above Her” sounds spacious and alive, with his drumming and percussion showing off that signature subtle, unpredictable rhythm. Through the 99 Classics 2nd Generation, everything feels larger without losing intimacy.

It’s definitely more transparent than the original, with a touch less boom in the sub-bass, but the trade-off is worth it: the extra detail, clarity, and resolution shine when paired with my iFi GO Bar Kensei Dongle DAC and iFi Go Blu Air. These headphones let you hear the room, the nuance, and the way Motian’s sticks barely kiss the cymbals—like he’s teasing you, but in a good way.

Staying down in the sub-bass for a minute, Daft Punk’s “Giorgio by Moroder” and “Get Lucky” still deliver the speed and definition the original 99 Classics handled so well, though there’s a touch less sheer impact. If the 2nd Generation didn’t sound as spacious and transparent, that might be a problem—but not every track is about rattling your skull.

These recordings now move with a tighter sense of focus, letting the bass breathe without taking over the mix. The trade-off is subtle, but it’s exactly the kind of refinement you notice once you stop head-banging and start actually listening.

Switching to Nick Cave and Glen Campbell confirmed what I’d suspected: the reduction in sub-bass and upper-bass energy comes with a corresponding drop in lower midrange weight. The trade-off isn’t a disaster—far from it. The range sounds cleaner, more detailed, but with slightly less impact and warmth. Cave’s “Into My Arms” and “Avalanche” feel a bit less brooding, yet the soundstage is wider and deeper, and his vocals are more firmly anchored in the mix.

Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” loses some of its heft but gains definition and edge on the guitar, making the track feel sharper and more resolved overall. It’s a subtle rebalancing, and one you can appreciate once you stop expecting the old bass hug.

Seinabo Sey’s “Younger” is a monster of a recording. Piano weight that could crush your chest. I got to hear it on the Audio Group Denmark system over the weekend at T.H.E. Show New York—an experience that’s hard to put into words, mostly because the setup I preferred was north of $90K. Of course it delivered the track with enormous impact and tonal heft. Expecting my iPhone paired with either iFi dongle DAC to match that would be silly—and frankly embarrassing for the Danes.

Through the 99 Classics 2nd Generation, it’s a much more personal experience with less raw impact but still emotionally moving. These headphones are more neutral than the originals, but not bright. Sey’s vocals come through clear, a touch less textured than the first-gen, yet noticeably more spacious and precise.

John Prine and Iris DeMent’s “In Spite of Ourselves” is a deceptively simple track—two voices trading jabs, Prine’s guitar weaving between them, the whole thing feeling half like a joke and half like a confession. The 99 Classics 2nd Generation nailed almost everything about it, aside from a bit of warmth missing compared to the original. But what you get in return—clarity, speed, detail, and that expanded sense of space—is worth the trade.

The iFi GO Bar Kensei brings out even more texture and resolution, though these headphones hardly need the extra juice. Still, it pulled me deeper into the song until the world fell away. It’s been a rough 14 months—bad choices, broken things, lessons learned the hard way. Prine would understand.

The Bottom Line

The 99 Classics 2nd Generation aren’t a radical reinvention—they don’t need to be. What Meze has done is refine a proven design with smarter engineering, improved driver matching, stronger clamping force, better ear pads, and practical upgrades for modern connectivity. They’re more linear without losing all of the texture, impact, and musicality that made the originals compelling. Passive isolation is better, imaging and soundstage are improved, and they’re easy to drive from DAPs, dongle DACs, and desktop amps alike.

On the downside, some warmth and lower bass range and midrange weight are lost compared to the first generation, and those last few inches of cable by the cups could see faster wear. The styling is subtle, but the gold hardware and slightly larger cups will turn heads—some will love it, some won’t.

If you want a personal, spacious, and technically competent closed-back headphone under $350 that survives long listening sessions without fuss, the 99 Classics 2nd Generation deliver. If you crave full-on bass impact and the old warmth, the original still has its charms—but for modern use and long-term reliability, these are the ones you’ll actually reach for every day.

Pros:

• More linear tuning while retaining texture, impact, and musicality
• Improved ear pads and passive isolation for quieter, more focused listening
• Stronger clamping force without feeling overly heavy
• Enlarged ear cups and refined baffle architecture for better low-frequency control and soundstage
• Upgraded connectors and cables, plus USB-C dongle and 6.3 mm adapter for modern devices
• Easy to drive from DAPs, dongle DACs, and desktop amplifiers
• Durable build with CNC-machined walnut cups and solid zinc hardware

Cons:

• Slight loss of warmth and lower midrange weight compared to the original
• Sub-bass impact is a touch less pronounced
• Cable near the ear cups loses thick braiding, which could wear faster
• Gold hardware and larger cups may not appeal to everyone
• Not a full-on basshead experience

Where to buy:

Tip: The original Meze Audio 99 Classics are available for $309 at Amazon.

Related Reading:

• Grado Labs Unveils Signature S750 Headphones: Brooklyn-Born With All-New Drivers
• Review: Meze Audio 105 SILVA Headphones — Beauty, Brains, And The Pressure Of Perfection In A Crowded Head-Fi World
• Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO X Review: German Studio Precision Goes Mainstream—Finally
• Meze Audio’s 105 AER Headphones Feature Trickle Down Technology For Only $400