99 Classics 2nd Gen

Reviewer verdict

Across 30 YouTube reviews, the Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen earns a Summa score of 4.1/5, ranking #4 among Wired Earbuds. Reviewers most often praise its sound quality, build quality, comfort, while the most common criticisms concern sound quality, comfort.

The Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen is widely praised for delivering a clear, refined sound upgrade over the original, with about three quarters of reviewers noting improved resolution, instrument separation, and a more neutral yet musical tuning that balances warm bass with controlled treble. Reviewers frequently highlight the flexible tuning options — removable acoustic absorbers and filters — and report the headphones scale well with better sources or a little amplification. Build quality, handcrafted wood cups, metal frame and serviceable screw-based construction are another strong agreement (nearly half of reviews), and many also commend the comfortable, roomy ear cups, updated pads and light self-adjusting headband for long sessions. The package and value proposition are repeatedly mentioned positively, with included cables, a USB-C dongle/DAC option and a hard-shell case contributing to strong perceived value for the price range discussed by reviewers.

Critics commonly note the 2nd Gen tuning moved away from the original’s fun, bass-forward character toward a more neutral/upper-mid-forward profile, a point raised in roughly half of the critical comments and often linked to loss of the original ’vibe’. Several reviewers flagged treble peaks, dips around 3.5–4 kHz and occasional sibilance or fatigue in the upper mids/treble as problematic, and many found the foam absorber inserts either overly darkening or muddying the sound. Other recurring drawbacks include a relatively intimate, closed-back soundstage that can feel claustrophobic for gaming or open listening, some comfort complaints tied to pad materials and heat for long sessions, and compatibility/connector issues with aftermarket cables and pad swapping noted by multiple reviewers.

Analysis based on 30 YouTube reviews (5h 39m of video) with 390 pros and 119 cons extracted.

Pros (390)

Cons (119)

Review sources

• Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen Analog Sound 34 pros, 5 cons
• 10 years in the making. MezeAudio 99Classics V2 by ConvinceMeAudio — 18 pros, 5 cons
• Meze 99 Classics V2: A departure from the originals Bass and warmth by TylersEclectic — 9 pros, 13 cons
• 10 años de espera valieron la pena by SupraPixel — 16 pros, 6 cons
• Top 5 Reasons to Upgrade to Meze's 99 Classics V2 Headphones NOW! by The Source Audio Video Design Group — 19 pros, 2 cons
• Absolutely beautiful. - Meze Audio 99 Classics by ShortCircuit — 12 pros, 9 cons
• Audifonos de MADERA!? Reseña Meze 99 classics 15 pros, 6 cons
• Return of a Classic! Meze 99 Classics V2 Review by Joshua Valour — 15 pros, 5 cons
• MEZE 99 CLASSICS V2 REVIEW! by Gizaudio — 14 pros, 5 cons
• Meze 99 Classics | Обзор деревянных наушников 17 pros, 2 cons
• Meze 99 CLASSIC 2nd Gen Review / Is this the one for you? by The Techne — 12 pros, 7 cons
• Major improvement 13 pros, 6 cons
• Meze 99 Classic V2 Review - It's good now by The Headphone Show — 12 pros, 7 cons
• MEZE 99 Classics V2 : A Whole New Sound! by Gamesky — 19 pros, 0 cons
• TENGO los Meze Audio 99 Classics (2a Generación) by Marc Corredera Reviews — 16 pros, 2 cons
• AURICULARES DE MADERA??? | Meze Audio 99 Classics 14 pros, 3 cons
• Ето така се ПОДОБРЯВА КЛАСИКАТА! - Meze 99 Classic V2 Review by Setup One — 11 pros, 5 cons
• It's time to start over... Meze 99 Classics v2 review by Passion for Sound — 11 pros, 4 cons
• MEZE 99 CLASSICS: CUFFIE HIGH-END PER CHI AMA IL SUONO VERO (Mix, Mastering, Home Studio) 13 pros, 2 cons
• Z Review - Meze 99 Classic by Z Reviews — 10 pros, 5 cons
• Are the new Meze 99 Classics as good as the old ones? by Currawong — 8 pros, 6 cons
• Meze Classics 99 - Le casque ULTIME pour les gamers et les streamers ? 10 pros, 4 cons
• Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Gen Headphone is Here with balanced tuning & advanced driver matching by AV Atmos — 13 pros, 1 cons
• 2 casques audio d'exception (+1) : Meze 99 Classics, Blue Mic ELLA (et BeoPlay H9) - Power 133 11 pros, 2 cons
• The Meze 99 Classics Are Pure "Audiophile" Rebellion! by Audio Arkitekts — 13 pros, 0 cons
• Meze Audio 99 Classics V2 Are Crushing It | Gramophone by Gramophone — 11 pros, 2 cons
• Meze 99 Classics - Recenzja 10 pros, 2 cons
• BEST Audiophile Headphones Tier List 2025 [Mid-Range Prosumer Picks] by 10BestOnes — 5 pros, 2 cons
• 🖥️ Top 5 Best Wired Headsets | Wired Over the ear Headsets review by In The Tech Room — 5 pros, 1 cons
• Best Frequency Response Headphones in 2024: Unveiling the Ultimate Sound Experience by Techrona — 4 pros, 0 cons

Frequently asked questions