I was only gonna spend 100 EUR on headphones and started watching review videos. I have now realised I have slowly been dragged into more and more expensive headphones 😅.
Great review and comparison! I chose the Neo over the Classic, primarily because of cost. Purchased from Amazon in the US and shipping to the Philippines. The difference in retail price of the Classic over the Neo also increases the import fees. I currently have the Hifiman Sundara, I plan to keep them. I wasn't looking for an upgrade, just some dynamic driver headphones as an alternative to the planar Sundara.
Pretty sure the difference in sound is actually from the earpads, back when the Neo first came out - they had slightly larger ear pads for it, and also changed them for the Classic but most people at this point already owned the Classic or if when they got it around when the Neo came out, it was left over "older" classics with the old smaller earpads. People who use the newer ear pads on both say they sound the same. I don't know if that's 100% true, but I will look for more comparisons.
I have the 99 classics in walnut gold for a year now Have to say, as my first "real" headphones they are a great entry. The build quality is lovely to look at, lightweight and the carrying case makes it convenient to just take them with me everywhere. I use a Fiio BTR5 as an external dac/amp. Either my phone or my pc gets used as audio source with flac files or streaming tidal master quality. Lovely balanced and enough detail, but not fatiguing over longer periods of time. No matter if its an OST from one of my favourite movies or a new album, they just make it sound nice, compared to more studio orientated headphones. Got the balanced cables today and for some reason they sound even better. More punch and clarity along the whole spectrum. Doesn't make any sense, but the balanced output from the Fiio makes them sound "fuller" than the unbalanced output. If somebody has 300bucks and wants nice quality unique lookin headphone, I usually recommend the 99 Classics
I know this is an old video however, if you or anyone has ever tried the Classics or Neos with an electric piano or keyboard….. Could either or, do not just the job but, soar….? Your opinion would be appreciated….🤘🙏
Sponsored videos have to be disclosed. We are a retailer that sells these products and this is simply the opinions of one of our employees who is a Meze fan.
Thank you very much! We try our best. We actually just had the Meze Liric arrive and we are literally about to do a first impressions video on them, ha ha.
@@living_entertainment Thank you for your reply. I actually made a mistake, the Sennheiser are actually Momentum 3, over the ear headphones. Do you have any thoughts on that?
I haven't heard the Sony Wh-1000xm3 for direct comparison. In my experience it's more about sound signature, I have heard a lot of headphones in this job and I am yet to hear something with the smoothness of the Meze 99's. That said if you are more of a detail person than a midrange person (that's not to say the Meze aren't also detailed) the Sony's might be more to your taste. Honestly, if you can, you really need to hear the 2 for yourself as they offer 2 very different experiences.
@@living_entertainment Thanks for the response! I don't have any store in my country where I can test these, that's kinda the issue haha. The Sony's are mostly Bluetooth, is there a big difference between cable and Bluetooth nowadays? And last question, is an amp / dac worth it with the Meze's or is a laptop gonna provide me with roughly the same?
@@thomaslamberts As a laptop user myself (both mac and PC) moving to something like a Dragonfly Black when I got into this space changed my life. If you already have a pair of headphones that are okay I would get an Audioquest Dragonfly or Earman before upgrading your headphones. Cable with an external DAC will sound better than Bluetooth but a decent set of Bluetooth headphones would no doubt sound better than cable directly from the laptop no matter what headphones you have.
@@living_entertainment The problem with these Sony's is that with cable they sound shitty, only when the build in stuff is powered on inside the headphones it sounds okee with cable. But that defeats the point of a amp I guess. So if I'm right I can get more out of the Meze's with amp/dac then I can get out of my Sony's with amp/dac
If simply using a balanced cable drastically and noticeably changes the sound something wrong is happening. All balancing does is ensure signal integrity. If a bunch of other AUDIBLE things are going on then "balancing" alone isn't what's happening. I would bet big bucks that a blindfolded expert of any level and experience could not tell a difference between the balanced and unbalanced cable. (Provided you aren't intentionally inducing interference.)
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I was only gonna spend 100 EUR on headphones and started watching review videos. I have now realised I have slowly been dragged into more and more expensive headphones 😅.
You started unrealistically low
Great review and comparison! I chose the Neo over the Classic, primarily because of cost. Purchased from Amazon in the US and shipping to the Philippines. The difference in retail price of the Classic over the Neo also increases the import fees. I currently have the Hifiman Sundara, I plan to keep them. I wasn't looking for an upgrade, just some dynamic driver headphones as an alternative to the planar Sundara.
Pretty sure the difference in sound is actually from the earpads, back when the Neo first came out - they had slightly larger ear pads for it, and also changed them for the Classic but most people at this point already owned the Classic or if when they got it around when the Neo came out, it was left over "older" classics with the old smaller earpads. People who use the newer ear pads on both say they sound the same. I don't know if that's 100% true, but I will look for more comparisons.
That's a really interesting bit of information, I was unaware, thanks for letting us know!
Loved that you had Lingua Ignota up on Spotify. Rad album.
Last year's best in Daniel's opinion.
I feel like the Neos would suit me way better since I listen to a lot of EDM but wood tho
I have the 99 classics in walnut gold for a year now
Have to say, as my first "real" headphones they are a great entry. The build quality is lovely to look at, lightweight and the carrying case makes it convenient to just take them with me everywhere. I use a Fiio BTR5 as an external dac/amp. Either my phone or my pc gets used as audio source with flac files or streaming tidal master quality. Lovely balanced and enough detail, but not fatiguing over longer periods of time. No matter if its an OST from one of my favourite movies or a new album, they just make it sound nice, compared to more studio orientated headphones.
Got the balanced cables today and for some reason they sound even better. More punch and clarity along the whole spectrum. Doesn't make any sense, but the balanced output from the Fiio makes them sound "fuller" than the unbalanced output.
If somebody has 300bucks and wants nice quality unique lookin headphone, I usually recommend the 99 Classics
my heart sank when i thought you said 86 ohms for the neo's
but you said 26 and all my woes where replaced by a slightly embarrassed feeling
I know this is an old video however, if you or anyone has ever tried the Classics or Neos with an electric piano or keyboard….. Could either or, do not just the job but, soar….? Your opinion would be appreciated….🤘🙏
Great taste playing hollow knight. The soundtrack would sound absolutely great on these
You, sir, are a very adept reviewer indeed.
Hi-Fi is good for more than just music!
You have their cable handy right under the desk?😄 Not at all sponsored by them. I don't know, but that's my assumption.
Sponsored videos have to be disclosed. We are a retailer that sells these products and this is simply the opinions of one of our employees who is a Meze fan.
Great review and comparision! Think the 99 neos would play nicely with a dragonfly red?
They sound great together!
great damn review!
Thank you very much! We try our best. We actually just had the Meze Liric arrive and we are literally about to do a first impressions video on them, ha ha.
Hey, thank you for the video. Are the 99 Classic are better than Sennheiser momentum 2?
Very different headphones with a very different sound and priorities. Its a comparison of Apples and Oranges in most ways.
@@living_entertainment Thank you for your reply. I actually made a mistake, the Sennheiser are actually Momentum 3, over the ear headphones. Do you have any thoughts on that?
@@Biodanzero Haven't heard them so I can't say much of use unfortunately.
Neo is currently 199 euros and Classics 309 euros. I bought Neo.
Heyy I am thinking about buying a Meze 99 Classic. Is the Meze 99 Classic beter then my Sony Wh-1000xm3?
I haven't heard the Sony Wh-1000xm3 for direct comparison. In my experience it's more about sound signature, I have heard a lot of headphones in this job and I am yet to hear something with the smoothness of the Meze 99's. That said if you are more of a detail person than a midrange person (that's not to say the Meze aren't also detailed) the Sony's might be more to your taste.
Honestly, if you can, you really need to hear the 2 for yourself as they offer 2 very different experiences.
@@living_entertainment Thanks for the response!
I don't have any store in my country where I can test these, that's kinda the issue haha.
The Sony's are mostly Bluetooth, is there a big difference between cable and Bluetooth nowadays?
And last question, is an amp / dac worth it with the Meze's or is a laptop gonna provide me with roughly the same?
@@thomaslamberts As a laptop user myself (both mac and PC) moving to something like a Dragonfly Black when I got into this space changed my life. If you already have a pair of headphones that are okay I would get an Audioquest Dragonfly or Earman before upgrading your headphones. Cable with an external DAC will sound better than Bluetooth but a decent set of Bluetooth headphones would no doubt sound better than cable directly from the laptop no matter what headphones you have.
@@living_entertainment The problem with these Sony's is that with cable they sound shitty, only when the build in stuff is powered on inside the headphones it sounds okee with cable. But that defeats the point of a amp I guess. So if I'm right I can get more out of the Meze's with amp/dac then I can get out of my Sony's with amp/dac
@@thomaslamberts That would be correct.
Obrigado pelo review! Bom saber que o 99 Neo é mais musical que o Classic´s.
Those adds do double the cost, they should sound a lot better.
99 Noire are cheaper
If simply using a balanced cable drastically and noticeably changes the sound something wrong is happening. All balancing does is ensure signal integrity. If a bunch of other AUDIBLE things are going on then "balancing" alone isn't what's happening. I would bet big bucks that a blindfolded expert of any level and experience could not tell a difference between the balanced and unbalanced cable. (Provided you aren't intentionally inducing interference.)
3:54 that's a VERY unhealthy pose!
It really is, isn't it...