Meze Audio 99 Classics and Meze Boom Mic as a Hi-Fi gaming headset with a real fun factor including burl wood and stainless steel

1 - Einführung, Lieferumfang und technische Daten 2 - Unboxing, Tragekomfort und Funktionalität 3 - Mkrofon im Detail mit Messung und Audio-Sample 4 - Kopfhörer-Messung mit Frequenzverlauf und Decay 5 - Subjektiver Sound-Check und Fazit

Subjective sound check

After all the technical details, let’s finally get to the most important thing: How does the device actually sound? Let’s continue where it hurts a little more: the individual listening test. The headphones were diligently recorded for almost 60 hours, because that’s what I always do. My Tidal playlist is used, this time alternating in a loop with stuttering techno, Güttler’s Bach trumpet and chamber music. If that doesn’t help, nothing will.

Bass range

Test the lowest bass in the subcontraoctave (16.4 Hz to 32.7 Hz) with a recording of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor (19 and 25 Hz) and Tchaikovsky’s Festival Overture 1812 (10 Hz and 12.5 Hz). The same applies to the lower ranges of the contraoctave (32.7 to 65.4 Hz). The large bass drum (kick drum), which is a popular accompaniment in U-music and is usually tuned to around 55 to 60 Hz, will then round off this assessment.

The Meze 99 Classics offer impressive low bass reproduction up to frequencies of around 65 Hz. In this lower frequency range, the headphones deliver a rich and precise bass that is both deep and controlled. The low bass is present and gives the music a solid foundation without masking or dominating other frequency ranges. This clarity and definition in the low bass ensures that low-frequency instruments and sound effects are reproduced authentically and in great detail. The tight bass response contributes to a balanced sound image that is suitable both for lovers of bass-intensive music genres and for listeners who value natural and unadulterated sound reproduction. By combining depth and precision in the low bass range, the Meze 99 Classics create an immersive listening experience that brings out the full range of the music. And yes, there’s no shortage of fun either.

The upper bass range up to 150 Hz, which also includes the high octave (65.4 to 130.8 Hz), accommodates the fundamental frequency of the male voice and plays a key role in the lifelike reproduction of male vocals.

The upper bass plays a central role in the sound characteristics of these headphones. In this area, the frequencies are slightly boosted, giving the sound a pleasant fullness and warmth. This bass emphasis ensures that the sound of instruments such as bass guitars, cellos and kick drums is powerful and present without the bass becoming overly dominant or “boomy”. Despite its presence, the upper bass reproduction of the Meze 99 Classics is controlled and balanced, which means that the bass is clearly noticeable but does not spill over into the mid-range or mask other frequencies.

This control gives the music a pleasant, “rounder” sound signature, which is particularly effective with acoustic and electronic music styles. The 99 Classics succeed in reproducing this range in such a way that it sounds full-bodied and clear at the same time, which is a real challenge with many headphones. The upper bass is dense and powerful without compromising the clarity of the overall sound. This tuning ensures that they are suitable for listeners who appreciate a powerful bass foundation as well as those who prefer a clean and precise sound reproduction.

Midrange

The lower mid-range (also known as the fundamental range) lies at approx. 150 to 400 Hz. Together with the upper bass already mentioned, this range plays a very important role in the subjectively perceived warmth or fullness of the sound. The fundamental frequency of female voices can be found in this range.

The lower mids contribute significantly to the warm and full-bodied sound signature of the headphones. In this range, the frequencies are slightly emphasized, which means that voices and instruments such as guitars and pianos in particular are reproduced with a pleasant fullness and presence. This emphasis gives the music reproduction a natural warmth, which is particularly noticeable with acoustic genres and vocals. Voices sound rich and full-bodied without sounding musty or overly dark. This ensures a balanced sound reproduction in which the details in the low mids are not lost(

At the same time, this area remains well controlled so that the lower mids do not “overflow” into the upper bass or impair the clarity of the higher frequencies. This contributes to an overall coherent and harmonious sound image, which makes up the typical “Meze sound” – warm, yet precise and rich in detail

The upper mids between 400 Hz and around two KHz contain a mark at one KHz that is still considered the reference for many measurements. Unfortunately, this is also often noticeable with cheaper devices, as manufacturers often try to overemphasize this frequency.

The upper mids are an essential part of the clear and detailed sound reproduction of these headphones. In this area, particular attention is paid to natural and balanced reproduction, which ensures that instruments and voices sound precise and present without coming across as aggressive or unpleasant. The upper mids are slightly reduced, which prevents the sound in this range from becoming too harsh or tiring. This makes for a smooth and pleasant listening experience, even during longer listening sessions. This restraint in the upper mid-range prevents sharp or harsh tones, which often occur with many headphones in this frequency range. At the same time, the reproduction of voices, guitars and other mid-range instruments remains detailed and precise, so that the sound always remains authentic.

High frequency range

The human ear is most sensitive between two and around 3.5 KHz, especially as this lower treble range is responsible for good overtone reproduction of the human voice. This frequency range is decisive for the recognition of a voice or an instrument; in this context we also speak of the respective timbre.

In the treble range, the Meze 99 Classics show subtle restraint in order to avoid sharp or sibilant tones. As a result, the highs are pleasantly soft and prevent excessive brightness, which could be tiring after long periods of listening. Nevertheless, the treble remains sufficiently detailed to reproduce even the finest nuances in the music. This slight restraint makes the 99 Classics particularly suitable for listeners who are sensitive to overly sharp or brilliant highs.

The mid-range treble (3.5 to six KHz) determines the success or failure of speech reproduction as a whole, as the S and sibilants fall into this range. The upper treble frequencies then extend up to approx. ten KHz in order to transition to the super high frequency range.

The super high frequency range of the Meze 99 Classics is not overly emphasized, but offers an appropriate airiness and level of detail. This area contributes to the spatiality and depth of the sound image without being unnaturally emphasized. The treble sounds smooth and pleasant, which allows for a long listening session without the sound becoming “sharp” or unpleasant.

Summary and conclusion

Cheap is different, of course, but significantly worse too. And who knows, maybe one or two readers will only buy the Meze Boom Mic, which sounds really good. Yes, it has the disadvantage of all omnidirectional microphones, but you can live with this bomb as long as your dog isn’t sitting on your desktop barking or your pet parrot hasn’t taken over your left shoulder and is parroting everything. The Boom Mic is sufficiently sensitive and has a really clean finish. This may also be significantly cheaper, but hardly cheaper if you really want quality. However, you have to be aware that the Boom Mic only works with headphones that have separate cables for the stereo channels. And where it is plugged in is automatically on the left. Practical.

I almost wrote that the headphones are also available for a hefty surcharge, but if you really want to do everything, i.e. enjoy music, work, zoom and gamble, the combination of microphone and Meze 99 Classics is a really good choice. And if you’re also speculating on a proper spare parts store and modding, these headphones are always right in the middle of things. You don’t even have to include “manufacture” in the price, here it really comes from one piece. And I didn’t miss the opportunity to polish the headphones with beeswax. It smells even better than the plastic used by all the competitors. Regardless of whether you can “hear” the natural material or not. Haptically, it’s simply in a different league, visually (and now also olfactorily), of course.

Yes, the 350 euros, if you buy well, are a really fat announcement, but it’s one of those things that you’ll be happy to put on your head again and again over the years and be glad to have done it after all. And it’s also something you like to show off and not just admire yourself. Anyone who is surprised at my euphoria, because I am generally rather skeptical, should know that I have now been able to correct my mistake from the first review, where I sent the 99 Neo back.

They are real fun headphones that I really enjoy, especially in some genres where a clean punch is needed in the deepest valley of gamer tears. Level stable, not too thick and yet really omnipresent in all registers and far from sterile know-it-all. The Meze 99 Classics don’t even try to be analytical, but instead happily serve all the usual hi-fi clichés with such penetrating perfection that they should be worth the money if you don’t have to scrimp extremely. To a certain extent, this is also a joie de vivre milled into wood and it simply has style. Thanks for that!