Hi, below you can find my detailed video review of the Meze 99 Classics

Overall, I think it is a beautiful headphone to have in the collection especially for rock & metal music.



Below, you can find the written review:

Very emotional vocals. Interestingly, RESONATING string instruments such as guitars, very pronounced. Natural sounding cymbals. Good imaging. Hefty bass response. Very suitable for classic rock, metal bands, OPETH for example as sitting between the two. Watching supernatural, or some blues. You don’t want to listen so complex elements such as an orchestral song most probably. The layering is not done with ease. You can tell them an all around headphone after listening it for 5 minutes but mark my words here.

Basic, classic tunes. Vintage albums with guitars, vocals and drums sound soo emotional and right.

It is very forgiving. You don’t regret to listen poorer recordings on the 99 Classics. It reminds me my beloved Klispch Heresy 4 speakers if you can believe it. I mean, i really think so. Very emotional vocals, very pronounced guitars and cymbals, very musical and energetic. With that, smooth highs and big & bold bass. I mean, heresy 4 in a very small room. Becaouse the bass here can be a bit boomy on some tracks. It’s not tight or very fast with controll such as you’re listening a very high-end speaker with a good damping amplifier. No, its like you’re at a live concert. With big woofers attached. But they are faaar from controlled nor tight.

Technicalities are no suprise. You won’t get impressed. There is no super high resolution or very good micro detailing. No sir. Very average layering. Good imaging though. Sountage depth is good. Also quite open and wide for a closed back that has this amount of bass.If you know what you are doing while choosing this headphone though, this only benefits the fun factor. You can listen old albums with poorer recording quality with no after regrets on the 99 Classics.

Initially i did some eq. 3 arrangements basically. I lowered the bass shelf especially around the midbass. I lowered the 2k-4k area. Especially 2k is so pronounced on these headphones. Btw thats what makes the vocals so emotional, along with the timbre of the wooden cabinet i believe. And i raised the upper treble just a touch.

Then i realised, this tune, this exact tonal balance is what makes 99 classics a, i mean, classic.

Guitars are really interesting on these headphones, they resonate somehow in between the cabinet. So pronounced and produced with weight, a sensible body. You can definetly feel the strings. Not just hear. Stringed insturements on the 99 classics reacts kinda like bass frequencies. You feel em. They resonate through this cabinet. Very hard to find experience.

Musical, emotional and in that sense, a natural sound. Not even close to a neutral sound. Different things.

The astetichs, looks: i mean what can i say. Beautiful. Timeless design. Feels Premium between every inch. Real wood, metal headband. Only plastic part is the little expansion mechanism in the headband. In order to be flexible, soft and light i suppose.

The headband and the earpads are not geniune leather.

They are comfortable though. 99 Classics is suprisingly light. Its just 260 grams. I would just wish them to be a touch bigger and deeper on the cups but it’s not uncomfortable by any means. I can give them 4 stars by comfort with ease.

The unboxing experience is beyond 300$ price range. The case is beautiful.

In the hardcase, you get a pouce. There are two different cables in the pouch. 1 is 3 meters long, unbalanced, 3.5mm cable and the other one is 1.2 meters long, again unbalanced cable with a microphone attached. How nice. You can stand out with this unique looks on the cafe talking to your love. I mean i will.

You can drive them through a balanced cable. Meze also offers their own balanced cable for the 99 series. Available to purchase with 2.5mm and 4.4 outputs. A little not cheap though looking very Premium.

I can also suggest lavri cables for pure silver options for his headphone. This is a sound that can really benefit from a silver cable.

You can drive them thtough almost anything but i gotta say, more power, more bass controll and maintained, preserved energy on the mid to high frequencies. Yeah you can plug them in to your macbook but something like this makes it more live.

Overall, the Meze 99 Classics deliver a timeless aesthetic and a captivating sound signature suited for music enthusiasts looking for a dynamic and emotive listening experience. While not without flaws, their unique character and musicality make them a worthy choice, particularly for fans of rock and blues music in my opinion.

INTRO

Audeze is an American company revered in audiophile circles for their pioneering work with planar magnetic technology. Hailing from the sunny landscape of California, Audeze is not your run-of-the-mill headphone manufacturer. The company's commitment to planar magnetic technology has been unwavering. The LCD series, standing for "Low Current Driver," is their flagship line, known for pushing the boundaries of audio reproduction. The LCD-5 represents the zenith of this pursuit, aiming to deliver an unparalleled auditory experience.

Material Quality and Comfort​

The LCD-5 exudes luxury and durability from the moment you lay eyes on it. The carbon fiber headband is both light and robust, *promising to withstand the rigors of regular use. Coupled with a magnesium housing, the headphones manage to combine sturdiness with a significantly reduced weight compared to their LCD-series predecessors. However, it's worth noting that some users have found the ear pads to be somewhat smaller than expected, which may impact comfort during extended listening sessions. While the real leather ear pads are made of luxurious material that offer a plush feel, which feels soft to the touch, the clamping force can be a point of division among users—some find it secure, while others may feel it's a bit too tight for longer listening sessions. I find it just well, no problem indicators for my ergonomics.

Overall, Audeze LCD-5 is a well-engineered object, where form marries function in a minimalist ceremony. It feels rugged, purposeful, yet restrained. It’s not your flashy diamond ring, it’s your meticulously crafted timepiece.

Sound: The Opera House Inside Your Head​

Let’s dive in to the sound now.

The LCD-5's ability to retrieve quietest details in complex arrangements is quite impressive.

Resolution: The Microscope in Audio​

The Audeze LCD-5 has a knack for laying bare the very essence of recordings. When it comes to resolution, we're in the domain of hyper-realism. You can hear the small idiosyncrasies in a singer's voice and even the hushed tones of a triangle deep in the orchestral ensemble.

While the LCD-5’s resolution is similar to viewing an image at 8K—utterly stunning and almost surreal—it can be both a blessing and a curse. On well-mastered tracks, the amount of detail it reveals is jaw-dropping; you may hear nuances that you never knew existed. Yet, on poorly recorded or compressed music, the LCD-5 might reveal more than you wish to hear, turning minor imperfections into glaring faults. As it should though.

Think of the LCD-5's resolution as the Hubble Telescope for your ears. You're not just hearing sound, you're observing sonic galaxies with your ears now. There's a sense of 'atomic' detail here—the feeling that you're listening to the fundamental building blocks of sound itself. Individual waveforms are almost palpable; you can 'see' the texture of a bass note, the filament-like structure of a high-hat cymbal.

Detail Retrieval: The Fine Print Under the Magnifying Glass​

Detail retrieval is where the LCD-5 goes to great lengths. It will swift through complex passages like an archeologist brushing away the sand to uncover the delicate bones of some ancient creature. The plucking of a harp, the rustle of a drummer adjusting his seat, the faint murmur of backing vocals—each minutiae are exposed and given room to breathe.

In a nutshell, the LCD-5 serves as an almost archival tool for your music—documenting every crevice, every nuance with scientific precision. It's less of a relaxed evening at the opera and more of an intense session under the audiophile's microscope. The detail retrieval here is less a feature and more an expedition. Each listening session feels like a treasure hunt.

Transparency: Can You See Through the Sound?​

The term "transparent" becomes tactile with the LCD-5. You'll be able to slice through layers of complex compositions. You discern each layer. But be warned, this level of transparency can sometimes feel like staring through a flawless but cold pane of glass. You see everything, but you might miss the warmth of imperfections. Like the Sony MDR-Z1R have been doing for example. Or my beloved speakers, klipsch heresy IV.

Transient Response:​

Yet, this razor-sharp timing keep reminds you that you are listening to a top-notch planer magnetic driver. That is not your usual dynamic driver that you use to hear in your everyday life. At first, you may feel it unrealistic in the ocean of hyper-realism. It would pass though, once you get use to see through the music.

Soundstage: The Set Design​

Spaciousness is LCD-5's strong suit. It casts a wide net, pulling you into an expansive auditorium.

The soundstage is roomy.

I quite like it. While instruments often finds a way to excel outwards your head, vocals always feels intimate. A focused experience like the Sennheier’s HD600. Nice!

Think of it as having front-row seats but spread widely apart—you'll witness the action with greater air while still able to focus on micro level.

Overall, it’s a headphone that won't shy away from showing you both the perfections and imperfections of your music library. **You could think of it as a precision surgical instrument: capable of intricate operations, but requiring a steady hand to wield effectively.

However, this pinpoint transient response and great amount of micro detail retreival poses a question: Are we sacrificing musical gestalt for temporal exactitude? While the attack and decay of each note are impeccably rendered, some may find that this draws attention away from the musical journey and fixates it on individual sonic events.

All told, the Audeze LCD-5 serves up a heavy plate of technical brilliance that might feel like a seven-course meal for the ears, but with a flavor profile(i mean the timbre and tonal balance) that may not be everyone's cup of tea. It's like dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant—extraordinary, yet perhaps too refined for some palates.

Amping and Source Material​

To get the most out of the LCD-5, a quality amplifier is a must. These headphones are unforgiving with poor source material but pair them with a high-quality DAC and amplifier, and they truly come alive, revealing complexities and nuances that are sublime.

I would recommend at least, the Chord Mojo 2. They match nicely.

On the Chord Mojo 2, i raised the lower shelf by several dbs. While decreasing the intensity just a touch on the upper midrange, more air on the upper treble suits to the profile. These are all subjective approaches of course.

Outro

In the end, the Audeze LCD-5 serves as both a revelation and an interrogation of your musical world. It offers an unprecedented level of detail and resolution but also asks you to confront the unsettling clarity it brings. The LCD-5 is not merely an instrument for listening; it's a microscope and a telescope, a journey and a destination, an exploration and, perhaps most compellingly, a question.

The Video Review