Meze audio 99 classics

Wired headphones aren’t as common as they once were, due to the popularity and increasing quality of wireless headphones; but, for anyone whose priority it is to get the best performance this amount of money can buy, a wired pair such as these Mezes is still the only answer.

True to their name, the 99 Classics’ walnut-veneered earcups and gold or silver metal accents give off a strong aura of classic traditionalism. In a market increasingly awash with minimalist, industrial-looking designs, they have a discerningly premium aesthetic, backed by a sturdy build and satisfying comfort.

The flimsy-looking skeletal frame is surprisingly rigid, while their large padded headband does well to prevent pressure from building on the head. With and without glasses on, we spend hours listening to the Mezes during testing, and their design is light and comfortable enough to do so without feeling burdened. Included is a hardshell case, flight and 6.3mm adapters, plus both a 1m cable with in-line remote for portable use and a 3m cable for plugging into a home system.

Clarity from top to bottom

With a sonic character that is easy to love at first listen, the 99 Classics are pleasingly even-handed and bask in full-bodied lusciousness and clarity from top to bottom. There is a natural warmth to the midrange that laps up Chris Stapleton’s country crooning as we play Whiskey And You, with the Mezes keen to throw his vocal under the spotlight. This isn’t the most spacious presentation we have encountered in a pair of closed-back headphones, but we like their determination to make things as clear and focused as possible. Their character invites you to listen, and it is satisfying to do so.

That solidity extends to the bass frequencies too, with lows impressively deep and well defined, whether they are anchoring the droning bassline underpinning Billie Eilish’s Therefore I Am or the sombre heaviness of James Blake’s Atmosphere cover. Those who like their bass fat but not overbearing will be pleased with