Ten Years Later, Meze Audio Reimagines the 99 Classics with Purposeful Gen 2 Upgrades

Todd Anderson · 2025-10-29T09:03:46-0500

(October 29, 2025) A decade after its debut, Meze Audio’s 99 Classics has returned... renewed, refined, and ready for today. Originally launched in 2015, the Romanian-made headphone was recognized for its warm tonality, natural wood craftsmanship, and effortless comfort. Now, ten years later, Meze has reimagined its modern classic with the release of the 99 Classics 2nd Generation, marking both a celebration of heritage and a forward step in design evolution.

Founded in 2011 and based in Baia Mare, Romania, Meze Audio has built a reputation for blending timeless aesthetics with technical precision. The company’s approach treats headphones as instruments, objects of craft that carry musical emotion artfully intertwined with engineering. That philosophy remains intact here. The 99 Classics 2nd Gen preserves the recognizable silhouette and handcrafted walnut wood ear cups, but introduces ten key refinements that bring the sound and construction in line with modern expectations.

The most notable shift comes in tuning. The new model moves closer to sonic neutrality, ever so slightly restraining the bass to let the midrange and treble breathe with added clarity. That change, combined with improved driver-matching algorithms and increased ear cup volume, is billed to deliver a more open, precise presentation with better control across the frequency range. The headphone’s acoustic structure has also evolved to tighter sealing and an integrated bass port to a re-engineered baffle design that reduces diffraction and high-frequency artifacts. Together, these refinements are meant to shape a sound that is cleaner and more spacious while maintaining the warmth that made the original so engaging.

Comfort and practicality received similar attention. The redesigned ear pads now use a secure clip-in mechanism, holding consistent orientation for reliable acoustics and easier replacement. The self-adjusting headband returns, built from vegan leather and spring steel, ensuring the same effortless fit engendered in the first-generation model. Every component remains fully serviceable, reflecting Meze’s ongoing commitment to longevity and sustainability.

Modern portability rounds out the list of updates. The 99 Classics 2nd Gen introduces a USB-C DAC/AMP dongle for use with smartphones and laptops that lack headphone outputs, and enlarged seven millimeter input sockets ensure compatibility with a broader range of aftermarket cables. Even the packaging has been reconsidered, now made entirely from recyclable cardboard, eliminating foam and plastic inserts —a move we applaud given the impacts of plastic waste on our environment.

Like the original, each pair is unique. The CNC-machined walnut wood cups are air-dried, hand-finished, and polished over a forty-five-day process, making every grain pattern one of a kind. Combined with cast zinc hardware and a new dual-twisted Kevlar sheathed cable, the 99 Classics 2nd Generation retains the tactile luxury that defines Meze Audio’s craftsmanship while also giving audio fans access to a level of uniqueness missing in mass-manufactured equipment.

The Meze Audio 99 Classics 2nd Generation is available now through mezeaudio.com, mezeaudio.eu, and select retailers worldwide, priced at $349.