[emorrison33]

I'm looking into building a custom balanced cable for a Meze 99, but the unusual 3.5mm connectors are a hurdle. Does anyone know where to source 3.5mm connectors that will fit in the Meze 99 cups? Thanks

I ordered these from Amazon, for a different pair of headphones (Sundara) but they fit the 99 Classics:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HGP87F6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[parawizard]

Ooh, interesting. Would you mind pointing me in the direction of an STL? I've searched all the big sites for Meze and nothing came up

There is this mod which is non destructive and you don't need new parts. You might want to add something to seal around the plug like the author suggests:

https://imgur.com/gallery/yUFzCXF

You could try to contact https://www.reddit.com/user/axels01/ for their 3d model to print or check out https://www.reddit.com/r/headphones...nyone_here_modded_their_meze_99_classic_port/

 

[rex4539]

 

[jmwant]

Such a clean looking setup you got there!

 

[Andykong]

Wow, this is extra ordinary, studio grade photo with an audiophile passion, something don't come very often in our community.

 

[Andykong]

Built to last, not to be replaced. The 99 Classics can be easily taken apart then put back together, which allows us to service and replace any part that might need it.

Photo by Samtavs

 

[mike138]

I just added the 99 Classics to the headphone family after deciding I needed something a bit lively and suited to rock and metal. I've owned and enjoyed Grados before, but I was hoping for something with a bit more oomph in the low end.

The 99s arrived yesterday along with the new Ghost album; I was going to burn them in, but after listening for a few minutes I just decided I'd burn them in while listening. I ended up spending way more time than I expected listening to these, and I was right back to them this morning.

Some initial impressions:

• Overall impression is that these are just ridiculously fun headphones. The sound signature is rich and meaty. Nothing is missing; it's all present and accounted for, and it fits together in a way that sounds right.
• My ears are not symmetrical, so headphone and IEM fit is not always a guarantee for me. That said, these are the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned. I haven't hit any fatigue yet, and I could even lay down with them on comfortably.
• If your top priority is the widest possible soundstage and tons of air and sparkle in the high end, these won't fit the bill. However, the soundstage is impressive for closed back. My go-to closed back until now has been the Sony MDRV6, which are more neutral and smaller-sounding.
• Build quality is as premium as advertised. I've had issues with other brands at a similar price point, but these feel like they are built to last.
• I usually don't care about how headphones look. I mean, it's not like I can even see them while listening. These are beauties, though.

I've always been strictly mid-fi. I don't own any TOTL headphones, but someday when I get to those, I'll definitely check out the premium Meze offerings.

 

[sparshrekt]

I just added the 99 Classics to the headphone family after deciding I needed something a bit lively and suited to rock and metal. I've owned and enjoyed Grados before, but I was hoping for something with a bit more oomph in the low end.

The 99s arrived yesterday along with the new Ghost album; I was going to burn them in, but after listening for a few minutes I just decided I'd burn them in while listening. I ended up spending way more time than I expected listening to these, and I was right back to them this morning.

Some initial impressions:

• Overall impression is that these are just ridiculously fun headphones. The sound signature is rich and meaty. Nothing is missing; it's all present and accounted for, and it fits together in a way that sounds right.
• My ears are not symmetrical, so headphone and IEM fit is not always a guarantee for me. That said, these are the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned. I haven't hit any fatigue yet, and I could even lay down with them on comfortably.
• If your top priority is the widest possible soundstage and tons of air and sparkle in the high end, these won't fit the bill. However, the soundstage is impressive for closed back. My go-to closed back until now has been the Sony MDRV6, which are more neutral and smaller-sounding.
• Build quality is as premium as advertised. I've had issues with other brands at a similar price point, but these feel like they are built to last.
• I usually don't care about how headphones look. I mean, it's not like I can even see them while listening. These are beauties, though.

I've always been strictly mid-fi. I don't own any TOTL headphones, but someday when I get to those, I'll definitely check out the premium Meze offerings.

I'm glad that you find these great for metal, but personally, I find that the bass is a bit too much and it makes everything too busy. I have tried EQing the bass down and doing A/B tests, and I have found that the whole environment is cleaner with lesser bass, and I can hear the guitar properly. But EQing the bass takes away the visceral feeling and the slam too, so it's a tradeoff. I really want to listen to metal without EQing, and I try to, but I have found myself gravitating towards the EQ option more.

As a person who merely dabbles in metal sometimes and is not a proper metalhead, am I doing something wrong? Are the songs supposed to sound busy?

Albums I have sampled:
Entombed: Left Hand Path
Dimmu Borgir: Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia
Slayer: Divine Intervention

 

[Mhog55]

I'm glad that you find these great for metal, but personally, I find that the bass is a bit too much and it makes everything too busy. I have tried EQing the bass down and doing A/B tests, and I have found that the whole environment is cleaner with lesser bass, and I can hear the guitar properly. But EQing the bass takes away the visceral feeling and the slam too, so it's a tradeoff. I really want to listen to metal without EQing, and I try to, but I have found myself gravitating towards the EQ option more.

As a person who merely dabbles in metal sometimes and is not a proper metalhead, am I doing something wrong? Are the songs supposed to sound busy?

Albums I have sampled:
Entombed: Left Hand Path
Dimmu Borgir: Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia
Slayer: Divine Intervention

Try lowering the mid bass (250khz) by 3 decibels to start. Also if you're not using the smaller pads, you should.

 

[sparshrekt]

Try lowering the mid bass (250khz) by 3 decibels to start. Also if you're not using the smaller pads, you should.

Thanks for the EQ suggestion, will do. I'm already using the smaller pads, and after going through this thread, I have also bought the Yaxi stPad2 just now. I hope they make the sound even better.

 

[rex4539]

I have come to understand that every person likes a different flavor of sound so EQ is essential.

Once you hear it with proper EQ, you cannot unhear it.

I used to like the stock sound of the 99 Classics (everything stock from factory) and I have done so for a year. If you match it with the right equipment, you can definitely enjoy it without any hacks. But after I started tinkering with EQ for fun, I just cannot go back. Switching EQ on and off during songs, the change is mind blowing.

I personally don't find them bassy (as the majority seems to conclude) but instead I tinkered with various other frequencies that made them more enjoyable to my ears.

The thing is, I have tried all the EQ settings I could find online but none were good for me. In fact, the most common ones I found sounded horrendous to me. In the end, I found one that was kind of good and then brought it to my liking. I am now extremely pleased to the point that I plan no further changes or upgrades to my system as a whole.

Here are my EQ settings. I use FabFilter Pro-Q 3, which I highly recommend. It's one of the very few EQ plugins that supports extremely high sample rates (most other EQ plugins max out at 192KHz).

Band 1
Freq: 337Hz
Gain: +1dB
Q: 3.890
Curve: Bell

Band 2
Freq: 1350Hz
Gain: -3.10dB
Q: 0.210
Curve: Bell

Band 3
Freq: 1965Hz
Gain: +0.80dB
Q: 4.610
Curve: Bell

Band 4
Freq: 3736Hz
Gain: +3dB
Q: 4.210
Curve: Bell

Band 5
Freq: 6417Hz
Gain: +2.60dB
Q: 3.810
Curve: Bell

Band 6
Freq: 7494Hz
Gain: -1.80dB
Q: 3.840
Curve: Bell

Band 7
Freq: 7716.9Hz
Gain: +2.76dB
Q: 1
Curve: Bell

Band 8
Freq: 9418Hz
Gain: +2.50dB
Q: 0.530
Curve: Bell

Band 9
Freq: 20426Hz
Gain: No gain
Q: 1.725
Curve: High Cut

I initially had 10 bands but I ended up liking more the use of these 9 bands. Feel free to try them out and see if you like them. Perhaps you can use them as a starting point and then tinker to your liking. Keep in mind, these are meant to be used with the stock pads.

Happy listening!

 

[sparshrekt]

I have come to understand that every person likes a different flavor of sound so EQ is essential.

Once you hear it with proper EQ, you cannot unhear it.

I used to like the stock sound of the 99 Classics (everything stock from factory) and I have done so for a year. If you match it with the right equipment, you can definitely enjoy it without any hacks. But after I started tinkering with EQ for fun, I just cannot go back. Switching EQ on and off during songs, the change is mind blowing.

I personally don't find them bassy (as the majority seems to conclude) but instead I tinkered with various other frequencies that made them more enjoyable to my ears.

The thing is, I have tried all the EQ settings I could find online but none were good for me. In fact, the most common ones I found sounded horrendous to me. In the end, I found one that was kind of good and then brought it to my liking. I am now extremely pleased to the point that I plan no further changes or upgrades to my system as a whole.

Here are my EQ settings. I use FabFilter Pro-Q 3, which I highly recommend. It's one of the very few EQ plugins that supports extremely high sample rates (most other EQ plugins max out at 192KHz).

Band 1
Freq: 337Hz
Gain: +1dB
Q: 3.890
Curve: Bell

Band 2
Freq: 1350Hz
Gain: -3.10dB
Q: 0.210
Curve: Bell

Band 3
Freq: 1965Hz
Gain: +0.80dB
Q: 4.610
Curve: Bell

Band 4
Freq: 3736Hz
Gain: +3dB
Q: 4.210
Curve: Bell

Band 5
Freq: 6417Hz
Gain: +2.60dB
Q: 3.810
Curve: Bell

Band 6
Freq: 7494Hz
Gain: -1.80dB
Q: 3.840
Curve: Bell

Band 7
Freq: 7716.9Hz
Gain: +2.76dB
Q: 1
Curve: Bell

Band 8
Freq: 9418Hz
Gain: +2.50dB
Q: 0.530
Curve: Bell

Band 9
Freq: 20426Hz
Gain: No gain
Q: 1.725
Curve: High Cut



I initially had 10 bands but I ended up liking more the use of these 9 bands. Feel free to try them out and see if you like them. Perhaps you can use them as a starting point and then tinker to your liking. Keep in mind, these are meant to be used with the stock pads.

Happy listening!

Sorry for replying so late, I'll try this. Thanks a lot!

 

[KBerube80]

I apologize if this has been answered before but it's tough digging through this entire thread:

Aside from comfort, is there any sonic difference between the Brainwavz microsuede earpads vs. velour?

Aside from EQ'ing, I'm looking to see if I can tone down that midbass hump/bloom. Thanks in advance.

 

[Mhog55]

I apologize if this has been answered before but it's tough digging through this entire thread:

Aside from comfort, is there any sonic difference between the Brainwavz microsuede earpads vs. velour?

Aside from EQ'ing, I'm looking to see if I can tone down that midbass hump/bloom. Thanks in advance.

I'd go after the smaller Meze pads myself, or spring for the Dekonis.

 

[dstarr3]

I apologize if this has been answered before but it's tough digging through this entire thread:

Aside from comfort, is there any sonic difference between the Brainwavz microsuede earpads vs. velour?

Aside from EQ'ing, I'm looking to see if I can tone down that midbass hump/bloom. Thanks in advance.

Not comfort or audio, but the Brainwavz Microsuede are so heavy with dye that they leave purple stains everywhere I put them down. They even stained my wall after I hung them there for a few days.