How do they sound? I've heard that they have great bass, but I've also heard that it can be overwhelming for some.
They sound OK, balanced from low to high frequencies. I don’t find the bass to be overwhelming, but it’’s not shy either, at least comparing to my Campfire Polaris II. For the price, I find the Meze 99 Classics very good.
The Meze 99 Classics have powerful bass. However, it was nowhere near as overwhelming as some made it out to be. It was perfect IMO
I just got a pair, and I think the trick is that they seem to have a V-shaped frequency response, but, and this is a big but, without the usual midrange suck out. The midrange is right there. So to call it V-shaped is inaccurate. But the bass and treble response are as if they are coming from a V-shaped frequency response. I was looking for an album to showcase these, tried some Led Zepp, Dire Straits, a Phish instrumental (that I use for my "appropriate bass levels" test), and I think for me it's the Grateful Dead's In The Dark CD, expanded bonus tracks edition. Bass, midrange and treble all brilliantly accounted for. The Meze is very different from my Massdrop Senn. HD 6xx and Sennheiser HD 569 closed backs, which I may not need anymore, although they have better sound isolation than the Meze, which are closed but not even close to claustrophobic. I shouldn't even use that word. And it's possible the Senns both have a midrange edge. Well, actually it's likely. And that's not a knock on Meze, it's just the Senns seem to be super good at midrange. But the 569s don't have the best bass or treble known to ears. And as far as the open HD 6xx, bass in an open back is what it is. Admittedly I like bass tuned just a tad "up," and some folks do love neutrality. The Meze 99 Classics (the headband says "Classics," plural) is a great headphone, maybe even brilliant.
Those Meze headphones are way off neutral: Oratory Grapher An ideal compensated response would be a flat line at 30 dB!
I own two sets of headphones, one pair of open back electrostats and a pair of sealed. The reasoning is having a pair available when I cannot disturb anyone else in the room. So I have a pair of Focal Stellia and a pair of Stax Lambda Pro along with the SRM-1 MK 2 amplifier. I am not a huge headphone collector, and have found that these two pair meet my listening needs.
Yeah, they’re supposed to be a “fun” headphone, not a neutral one. Personally, I think it’s good to have a neutral or close to neutral pair and then a pair that takes chances. When I get tired of one, I can go to the other.
I like them. I had the AKG 712 Pro prior to the Mezze Classic’s and they very clinical, exchanged them for the Classics
Very similar to my cans. My go to are the Sejm 6xx and Hifiman 4xx. I also really enjoy my Meze 99 Noir when traveling or for portable use.
Focal Clear fed by an Icon Audio HP8. I am very, very impressed by this combo, and my main speaker rig seldom bests it.
Good to know that the mids aren't sucked out. I just bought the Classics on Monday and they should be arriving tomorrow. I'm looking forward to hearing them.
Senheiser GSP 500 for daily use (mostly because I wanted something with a microphone for remote meetings, and it's very comfortable) Alternatives - Senheiser GSP 600 if I'm in an environment where I want closed back - Audio Technica M50x if I want more neutral response curve (but I don't find it comfortable at all otherwise I would use it more) - When walking Shure SE-420 (or maybe 425 I don't remember) (earphones) I feel like I still may upgrade in the future, open to suggestions.
I am using the Sennheiser HD660S since the beginning of this year. I feel they are a step up from the HD650 I was using previously.
Depends on your definition, but the bass is heavily boosted and the treble is shelved up too: Oratory Grapher (a match to the target response would be a flat line at 30 dB)
I doubt you won't like them. I'd say all the positive reviews are correct. Good drivers. Plus, they are very comfortable, in my opinion.
I figure if I can't handle the bass on these, I can always return or sell them. Not sure if getting different pads would be worth it yet, I need to see if I can live with the stock ones first. Regardless, they're probably going to be more of a secondary pair if I keep them. My current go-to cans are Sennheiser HD599s.
I have two pairs of Senns, one open back, and I don't consider the Meze secondary, just a different approach. Personally, I get bored with any headphone after a while, and then switch to another pair, or IEMs. None of them are perfect in my opinion, so may as well have variety.
I find the Mezes (I have the noirs) muffled. I'm a HiFiMan Sundara and TRI Starlight 4 IEM man. I also like the Ikko OH10 (currently on sale at Drop). The 6xx are also good. But I think I prefer planars.