The original 99 Classics landed 15 years ago and earned a loyal following. The Meze 99 Classics V2 comes with a long list of upgrades, a $349 price tag, and the job of making a beloved headphone even better. Are they actually better? Technically, yes. But after living with them, I’m not sure that’s what I wanted.

Disclaimer: This sample was provided by Meze Audio for an honest review. All observations and opinions here are my own, based on my experience with the product.

Meze 99 Classics V2

Design

These are stunning. The design is minimalistic, but every element comes together into a beautiful set, and nobody does headphone looks quite like Meze. Inside are 40 mm dynamic drivers.

The biggest physical change is the ear pads. Meze also built these for longevity, so almost every part (pads, cups, headband, strap) can be replaced when it wears out. My V1s have seen better days. I’ve already swapped the pads twice, and both they and the headband have perished again. Anyone who has worn a set of aging 99s knows the little black crud that ends up on your head and desk. The pads on the Meze 99 Classics V2 attach with a clip system, which I love. They pop off and click back in easily.

Comfort is where I have a minor complaint. The V1 was known for it, and I never had an issue with mine. The V2’s clamping force is noticeably tighter, and after a couple of hours I need to readjust or take a short break because of the pressure on my ears. For that reason I find the V1 more comfortable. The headband is self-adjusting, so the fit just happens with no fiddling.

Meze also enlarged the acoustic cavity in the cups, which should improve internal resonance, and added a small bass port next to the cable socket. The internal baffle has changed too, but I’ll leave that for the technical write-up on Meze’s site.

The new cable is an improvement over the V1 cable. It’s more supple, more flexible, and has less microphonics. The section above the Y-splitter is now rubberized, where the old one was fabric all the way. One step backward: the V1 had a small ridge on the left side, so you could tell left from right by touch. The V2 just has L and R markings.

Sound

The Meze 99 Classics V2 is balanced and leans toward neutral, which is quite a different direction from the V1. The V1 was known for a warm, colorful, lush sound, and that’s now gone. Whether that’s good or bad depends on your preferences.

Bass

What happened to the bass? It’s now super tight, controlled, and fast, and the quantity is not far from neutral. It’s also kind of boring. The V1’s bass was a little sloppy, a little woolly around the edges, with a lingering decay, and people loved it for that. Meze seem to have gone for a high fidelity version of that signature, and the bass has lost much of its character as a result. Sub-bass extension is not bad, with a light rumble that’s there when a track calls for it.

Mids

Perhaps because of the reduced bass, or the port on the cups, the mids have also lost some of their magic. They’re clean and clear, with none of the thickness or congestion people complained about on the V1. But the vocal intimacy is gone, and male vocals lack a bit of power and fullness. There’s also some shoutiness in the upper mids. Turn the volume up and vocals can get edgy, and I can’t tell whether that’s a standalone issue or simply the lack of bass to counterbalance it. On the upside, clarity is better than on the V1.

Treble

The treble hasn’t changed much from the V1, but with the different tonal balance it sits a little more forward in the mix. It’s inoffensive and never gave me any trouble. Detail retrieval is pretty decent, not class-leading but better than the V1.

Soundstage and Technicalities

The more forward treble gives a slightly wider soundstage. It isn’t a big jump, but you can hear it. The technical performance is solid, which is what you expect from a neutral-tuned headphone these days. It’s not a technical powerhouse, but it’s a step up from the original.

Comparisons

Meze 99 Classics V1

I prefer the V1 by a wide margin. The Meze 99 Classics V2 is not a bad headphone, but it’s not the one I’d pick for daily use because it lacks a bit of soul and fun. Here’s the best way I can put it. The V2 is a composed gentleman in an armchair, sipping tea and patting himself on the back about his headphones’ technicalities. The V1 is the group next door, having a party, dancing, and getting a little rowdy.

Sennheiser HD650

This is apples to oranges, since the HD 650 is open-back, but I’m only talking tonality. The 650 is closer to the V1’s sound signature, and I find it much more pleasing. It’s more engaging, and I’m more likely to sing along and get immersed. The V2 feels better suited to critical or analytical listening, while the HD650 has a more organic, easygoing sound with a wider soundstage.

Meze 105 AER

The AER leans closer to the V1 in my opinion. It’s warmer, with more body and a more natural sound, and being open-back brings its own benefits. It has a more colourful bass and midrange, making it better for casual listening, while still being able to match the 99 Classics V2 in terms of technical performance.

Verdict

I don’t want to be too negative, because plenty of people will love the Meze 99 Classics V2, especially anyone chasing a high fidelity sound. I’m biased. I’ve lived with the original 99 Classics for so long and love them so much. I understand that Meze were trying to answer the main criticisms of the V1, but they’ve gone so far in the other direction that it feels like overkill. I wish they had made a new headphone instead of changing the soul of the 99 Classics.

If you want clean, tight, technically better sound, the V2 delivers. If you loved the V1 for its warmth and character, you may miss it. As for me, I need to order new pads and a headband for my V1s.