Brilliant review with your colourful description using examples, imagery and metaphor. I feel that I truly can understand what I am going to get after listening. Thank you.
Hello - By coincidence, I found this review after ordering my Meze Neo headphones. Naturally, I watched it with apprehension, waiting for you to say it was the worst piece of junk on the market. Fortunately, you felt otherwise. Whew! Mine came today and I wanted to let you know I thought your observations were spot on. These headphones sounded great to me immediately and did indeed make me want to continue listening to music. I am running them on an iPad Pro and Audioquest Dragonfly Red. A great combo. Looking forward to listening tomorrow on my Pro-Ject Dac and Rupert Neve headphone amp. Should be an interesting contrast. Love your work, insightful comments and willingness to review affordable gear. I really appreciate it. Roger in Wisconsin.
Thanks man! I find it's also fun (and at times slightly cringe-worthy) to see the old vids compared to the new. I wonder what my channel will look like a year from now?
@@PassionforSound It's easy to think that when we look back. I looked back on something I worked on 5 years ago and said "man I could do this so much better today". At least it's a sign we're improving ;)
I bought neos to have closed back alternatives but I was disappointed I didn't liked it initially. I came from a open back headphones like Sundara, Clears so I didn't liked it. But after some EQ I began to like. I found it more bassy out of the box and too relaxed. Your observations are spot on!!
Thank you for a very good review, just purchased these, I was on the fence between the noir's and the neo's but it sounds like I made the right decision. I hope I like them as much as you do, thanks again.
Hi Aight, I think the Noir are the Drop version of the Classics in a dark colourway so they'll sound like the Classics instead of the Neo. Double check that, but that's what I think is going on.
I love the look of the classics, I wonder if they fixed that treble issue now that it's been out a few years. But I don't know if I can justify $70 extra for the wooden cups (both are on black Friday sale)
Great review!! Would these be a good upgrade to AKG K361 and Sennheiser HD 599? I mainly listen to metal, rock and instrumental music. I can get these for around 150$ new in my country. I'm also eyeing Hifiman Sundara Closed Back and V-Moda Crossfade M-100 Master and they cost the same, at around 200$ in my country. Any other suggestions for good closed backs under 250$??
Do you need a fully closed back for sound isolation or is a semi-closed ok? Some others I'd also consider (not sure of exact pricing in your region) are: Beyerydynamic DT 700 Pro X HarmonicDyne Athena (semi-closed) Otherwise I do think the Meze 99 Neo and Classic are excellent depending on if you want more bass (Neo) or a more balanced tuning (Classic)
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the response. DT 700 Pro X are available at around 250 $ here. But I'm now reconsidering and I'm open to Open Backs as well. I've shortlisted a few : Sundara, Edition XS, Sony MDR MV1, Audeze MM-100 and Fiio FT5, DT 900 Pro X are sadly out of stock. I don't have a dedicated desktop DAC-AMP setup and only have a Shanling Q1 DAP and a xDuoo Link 2 Bal portable DAC which has good output power in both single and balanced mode. Would it be enough to drive the planars that I've shortlisted? Which one would be best suited for my listening preferences? Sorry for changing the actual question 😅
No problems. Both of those dongles should manage anything you've listed. The HiFiMans are a little difficult, but unless you're a loud listener, you'll do fine. It's worth checking out the HarmonicDyne Athena too. Easy to drive and a wonderfully balanced tonality.
I own meze 99 neos.. I know that these are easy to drive with mobiles due to lower impedance.. I got these for the same reason.. I'm happy with how it sounds but this audio gear world has lot to offer and coming across many things (snake-oil included) Will getting a portable dac as source has edge over mobiles ? In terms of sound quality and soundstage ?
I love these headphones and your review swayed me toward the 99 Neo. However, something that bothers me is a creaking I hear when I turn my head. As a matter of fact, if I bump the headphones at all I get noise. They seem very sensitive and I feel I need to sit still and almost hold my breath so they won't creak or make other microphonic noise. Is this normal in your experience?
hey, i’m in love with the way the wood on the 99 classics look but the way you and many others describe it the neo seems to have the sound signature i prefer a bit more (just extremely warm smooth and rich full thicc bass without bleeding into the mids or highs), any notes on the highs? i’m a bit sensitive to sibilance or sharp sounding headphones so i think knowing that could help me make that decision. Thanks!
If you're sensitive to treble, I'd definitely say that the Neos are the better choice. If the bass gets too much you can also tame them a little with some Yaxi MSR7 Comfort pads or maybe the stPads, but I have only tried (and stuck with) the MSR7 Comfort
I think I'm going to scoop up the Neo for about $200 US. I'm not sold on upper echelon closed back headphones. Even with Focal or Audeze, the value and utility proposition doesn't seem to be there. Commercial tuned cans make more sense to me (for closed backs) because they give you utility options: ANC, BT, all day comfort, and apps. I appreciate the review, gonna be a tough decision between this and a Sony, but I think I lean towards the Neo.
The Neo is great fun, looks fantastic and is comfy too. The only other closed backs I've really enjoyed so far are the AudioQuest NightOwl and Beyerdynamic T5 3rd Gen so I get what you mean.
@Fisher Man That's funny you say that because yes, I did scoop and the Neo and additionally, I did opt for a pair of Brainwavz sheepskins to slap on them. With regards to the Neo I absolutely love it. I think it sets the standard for comfort and build quality, even with the stock pads (though they can be a bit creeky). The packaging is also 4 stars for $200 USD. I'm a big fan of the sound signature but I recognize it will not be everyone's cup of tea. It's warm and bassy but I don't find it to be dark or muddy in the least. I find the treble to be smooth and the timbre to be natural if a little plastic-y. For the price point it's an absolute price to performance monster. Obviously the resolution and detail has its limits, but that's to be expected for the cost. Now with regards to Brainwavz I ordered from them directly and they failed to send me half my order. I also contended that the "sheepskin" pads they sent me are indistinguishable from their synthetic leather pads (of which I own several). Suffice to say while the pads fit the Neos and are plenty comfortable, as I've yet to receive a remedy from their customer service I will not be purchasing any of their pads in the future nor do I recommend purchasing from them directly. Should I receive my second pair of pads I'm owed I'll update this comment. By contrast I cannot recommend the Neos enough if you like a balanced sound signature with a bass bump AND you want something you could wear for 8 hours straight with no fatigue.
@@PassionforSound Been dying to try some Yaxi pads for my oval cup cans but I'm concerned about fits. If you get them to work with the Neo I'd love to know. Right now I am LOVING the knock off Grado Pads on the Koss KPH-30i. Both Zeos and DMS have videos that detail the effect. I don't understand how these cheap foam pads improve the sound and the staging as much as they do. I think it needs proper evaluation because for about $35 USD (depending on sales) I'd rather have these than a Sundara.
@Fisher Man Np mate, and yes my prior purchases were direct from Amazon however I was seduced by the direct-from-Brainwavz discounts. I cannot fault the pads for comfort but if this material is sheepskin I don't want to ever meet the flocks they're sourced from. I also ordered their cooling gel microsuedes which were not included in my delivery but I'll be honest.. I'm afraid what the gel might actually be given the sheepskin.
These are great headphones for the money. Probably the best i've ever reviewed for this price range. I've got a pair of each style and find to use them often. They also happen to be the cheapest pair of headphones I own too. I'd recommend to my friends and family for sure.
i just ordered a used pair of 99 neo's for only 150 bucks! im stokedddd lol i have been eyeing them for some time because i dont have a nice pair of closed back headphones yet. they seem great from every review i have seen.
Hey man, awesome review! Thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a question, if you wouldn’t mind answering it. So I’ve recently been on a quest to find the perfect headphones for me. I tried (and returned) two pairs because they didn’t fit me at all. Then, the third pair that i bought fit like a glove, but they were too quiet! I guess I didn’t look far enough into them and apparently I need an actual amp, rather than just an inteface to get the most out of them. Anyways, an amp wouldn’t work for what I’d be using these for. Are these easy to drive? Could you plug them into an interface/smartphone and get more than enough volume out of them? Thanks! Gabe
Hi Gabe, glad you like the content. The 99s are very easy to drive from smartphones, etc. You'll get better sound from a proper audio output device, but you'll get plenty of volume and good sound quality from almost any source with these.
I've been watching reviews of the 99 Classics and the Hifiman Sundara and have been finding out that the 99 Classics are the ones for me. But now it might be the 99 Neo. I like bass, but also a good top end, and it seems these have that. Have you tried the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 Master? I'm using that now, and will be swapping them out with one of the 99s. Right now both are on sale here and it's about a $100 difference where the Neo is cheaper, which is a lot.
@@PassionforSound I've had these for a while now, and they're clearly better than my old ones, the V-Moda M100 Master. But they don't have the punch in the bass that the V-Modas have, but now that I'm so used to the sound quality of the new ones, I can't go back :P Do you know of any about as good as these, but more bassy? Around the same price or a bit above maybe.
Do you know which type of pads are on your sets of headphones? I know there has been variance in the pads and their sound signatures. I believe there has been an original small pad, a more recent small pad, and a large pad. Thanks.
Mine were fairly early units so they're likely the same as yours. I've also tried the Yaxi pads with them (see that review if you're interested) and they worked quite well
Thank you I purchased the Neo mainly because I was able to save a few dollars in the very expensive hobby. I absolutely love the 99 Neo. I agree with EVERYTHING you said. Am now a subscriber. EDIT 1 Week later: Returned the overpriced Neo Plastic and Vynal when I saw Drop has same version as Classic for $199. I'm not so sure about Meze ethics.
@@kristofersjekabsrozevskis6951 Sure. The Noir from Drop are very similar to the Classics. They go way down with bass and sub bass but not so much distinctive unclarity. I love the absolute isolation the Noir bring to the table. I heard bits and pieces of this in the Neo, but the Noir is much more appealing and engaging. These are priced well below, in my opinion, what they could have been. If your looking for sonic clarity with a boost in the bass these are for you. I understand some people refer to them as "fun". Well there is very analytical for the person wanting to be able to disect every note. Sometimes I feel that way. The Noir are definitely not that. They are way more enjoyable and I have to say play very loud with no distortion or clipping. I generally have a DAC and AMP for every occasion. That's just me. But I will tell you this... I ran them through my iFi Zen DAC and my SMSL P20 tube amp. I realize the P20 is not a full blown tube amp. I'm okay with that. When I combined those two with the Noir listening from my MacBook Pro Audirvana app, I was blown away. That, was the moment when I knew I struck gold. They sound deliberate and absolutely fantastic! Its been difficult to listen to anything else since that experience. But I do. I was just listening to my Philips Fidelio X2HR when your comment posted. Its a loss of words. For a closed back headphone to have so much warmth and articulate dialouge so well, it's amazing. Go ahead and grab the Noir before the run on Drop ends. They come with the same hard case and an extra set of pads. All of this for $200? Like I mentioned earlier, they easily punch far above that price point. Hope I helped you!
@@salamaltar7 The Noirs are darker with more detail. Some say the Noirs are the same sound signature as the Classics. I believe that. Its Drop, you know? Crazy deals come and go and this is another one. To summarize, you are basically getting the Classics in a better looking package at a lower price. And yes, I keep reaching for them! They articulate so well with great bass slam with a refined decay. Meze are a brilliant company, Drop once again "sweetens the deal".
I've been close to buying a few times, but I'm not sold on the looks at all. The way the sound is described, I believe there what I'm looking for. The look though, not sure I can get past it.
Hi Michael, I can understand that. They're definitely worth trying to get past the looks IMO. They are a great sounding can for the price. I don't think I've found anything else similar that I prefer.
I believe the Classics are made in Romania whilst the Neos are made in China. It’s pronounced meh-zeh not mitze. I’m looking at the neos and wonder if they’d be good to listen to Beatles, Pink Floyd, Nirvana? Is it true the bass is not right for rock or classical you think?
Nice review! I own a pair of Sennheiser Momentums TWS and love the sound on them. Could you shed some light on how the 99 Neo compare in terms of sound quality? Also, have you tried the Meze in-ear 12 Classics V2? How do they sound?
@@PassionforSound Nice! I look forward to your review. From what I’ve read, they are good. Stoked as these are my first pair of planar magnetic headphones!
So you are a basshead if you dislike grado and praise 99 :), sound of both (classic and neo) I believe can be corrected a bit by using better cable and ear pads. I got 99 Noire its a very fun headphone, not good with every genre of music but very comfy and portable
Bassy headphones are often best with bassy genres like hip-hop, EDM, etc. but it's ultimately personal taste. Where they are generally less good is classical and acoustic music because they can sound unnatural
They probably wouldn't be my first choice for those genres due to the extra bass. Maybe consider the 99 Classics or the HarmonicDyne Athena czcams.com/video/Plk-ykHYw3c/video.htmlsi=_QhcIoaVpLLj6ti0
Hi Mati, I haven't heard the 560S yet so I can't comment on those and they're also very different headphones being open (560) vs closed (99) and also tuned very differently too.
Sorry for the stupid question, but the he bass is more powerful on the Neo or on the Classic? I prefer to sacrify a little bit of detail to have a stronger smoothy bass, should I go for the Neo?
Not a stupid question at all, Stef. The bass is a bit stronger on the Neo and it's definitely the smoother and (to me) better sounding headphone. So yes, based on what you've said, I'd recommend the Neo.
@@PassionforSound Thank you very much! The wooden design of the Classic seems just a little more elegant to me (even if I always prefer to have black headphones) but the most important things for me are the sound the cost. Here in Italy (I'm Italian) the Classic cost 100 euro more (299 instead of 199 for the Neo), which is a big expense, so if I can save 100 euro and have an headphones which also sounds more smooth and bassy, I definitively go for the Neo. Greetings for your amazing review and thanks for the suggestions!
You're welcome! I'm guessing it's cheaper to produce the Neo because they're not having to make and finish the natural wood cups. I agree that the look of the wood is lovely, but I'd still choose the Neo too. Hope you enjoy them!
My pleasure. They're probably not the first cans I'd reach for as mixing tools, but not too bad in that role. Check out the AIAIAI TMA-2 Move as well 🙂
@@PassionforSound thanks for the recommendation! I think I’d still go with the neos because I want the bigger earcups, however if they are really not good for mixing (for amateurs like me at least) then I’ll definitely consider TMA-2 line.
I'm not sure. I don't actually find the dongle videos perform pretty well so I don't try to arrange them specifically. If it comes to me somehow, I'll cover it, but otherwise I am more focussed on full-sized gear and IEMs / headphones
I'd actually go Sivga Oriole if you can, but otherwise it's a tough call. Neo is a bit looser and more fun in the bass. Robin is a bit more balanced and tighter.
Hi Idham, probably not because they're quite coloured. Of course, if you get used to their coloration you could definitely use them, but I'd probably look to something like the Sennheiser HD560S or Audio Technica ATH-R70X as better options unless you need the closed back design.
I've heard the company name in numerous other YT reviews -- which is hardly definitive evidence one way or the other, of course -- but those other reviewers seem to think it's pronounced /MEZZ-ay/.
Both are great. The Meze is a bit more dynamic so it's more exciting, but may get fatiguing sooner so it depends on whether you're looking for active enjoyment (Mezes) or a more relaxed, laidback enjoyment (Phoenix)
You'll always trade some sense of detail in the treble when increasing bass, but you often get more midrange details instead so it all depends on what you're looking for.
There seem to be stark differences in listening experiences with both of these headphones and therefore wildly fluctuating opinions. I've been hearing more than once that the 'Neos' have a more mushy bass response than the 'Classics' and due to the wooden cups of the 'Classics' they have a finer and fuller resonance. These reviews are fairly useless to me when it comes to sound quality. I would never buy head phones based on such subjective verbal recommendations.
I've noticed that too (and not just on these headphones). I think so much comes down to our individual hearing loss and sensitivities. It's definitely worth auditioning before buying when possible, but I've also found it helpful to find reviewers you tend to agree with because it means they hear things similarly to you. As you get to know a reviewer, you'll know if they tend brighter, darker or the same as your tastes.
The treble from the Classics is a bit spikier than the Neo and I felt that the Neo's midrange comes through more because of the smoother treble and richer bass.
The bass is not great on the Neo. The bass is boomy and not dynamic. Don’t know how you can say bass is good. If bass is not intonated and on and off dynamic, then it tells a story as to how good it is. This is one of the acid tests of how good audio is. I agree the treble is good and is not edgy in the Neo 99.
For me, good doesn't necessarily mean technically perfect. It's about how well the overall signature works. I haven't noticed the dynamics being on and off. Not sure if it's to do with different sources or maybe just different ears.
Passion for Sound It doesn’t have to be perfect but I cannot fathom how you can’t hear joined up bass as there are better ones. Intonated bass means it stops and starts quickly. If it doesn’t it’s like a car stereo boy racer with a subwoofer. All the bass joins up. Do you do audiophile gear. You said no bloom and bloat but there is loads. Say try a focal Clear or even similarly priced Grado sr225
Passion for Sound sources won’t effect. I tried Chord Qutest, innuos Zenith, Audioquest df cobalt, other source laptop with audirvana and a Yamaha wxc50 cheapey.
Brilliant review with your colourful description using examples, imagery and metaphor. I feel that I truly can understand what I am going to get after listening. Thank you.
Glad you found the review helpful! 🙂
Hello - By coincidence, I found this review after ordering my Meze Neo headphones. Naturally, I watched it with apprehension, waiting for you to say it was the worst piece of junk on the market. Fortunately, you felt otherwise. Whew! Mine came today and I wanted to let you know I thought your observations were spot on. These headphones sounded great to me immediately and did indeed make me want to continue listening to music. I am running them on an iPad Pro and Audioquest Dragonfly Red. A great combo. Looking forward to listening tomorrow on my Pro-Ject Dac and Rupert Neve headphone amp. Should be an interesting contrast. Love your work, insightful comments and willingness to review affordable gear. I really appreciate it. Roger in Wisconsin.
So glad you're enjoying your Neos, Roger, and also glad you like the reviews. Thanks for letting me know and happy listening!
@rvenden Hey man ! I. Would be interested to get your view on the Neo after a few months. Still enjoying them?
Listening to this with my Meze Neos, which I got as a gift two years ago. Using them everyday and still love them.
Glad you're enjoying them - they're great headphones
Going back in time and catching up in reviews I missed. Also I have to up-vote everything from my favorite reviewer :)
Thanks man! I find it's also fun (and at times slightly cringe-worthy) to see the old vids compared to the new. I wonder what my channel will look like a year from now?
@@PassionforSound It's easy to think that when we look back. I looked back on something I worked on 5 years ago and said "man I could do this so much better today". At least it's a sign we're improving ;)
That's it and that's all we can do 🙂
I bought neos to have closed back alternatives but I was disappointed I didn't liked it initially.
I came from a open back headphones like Sundara, Clears so I didn't liked it. But after some EQ I began to like. I found it more bassy out of the box and too relaxed.
Your observations are spot on!!
Thanks for sharing your experiences. They'd definitely be a big change from the Clears and Sundara! I'm glad you're enjoying them now.
Thank you for a very good review, just purchased these, I was on the fence between the noir's and the neo's but it sounds like I made the right decision. I hope I like them as much as you do, thanks again.
Hi Angel, good choice! I know the Classics and Neos split opinion, but it's a no-brainer for me. I hope you love them!
I don't understand. Is there a difference between the Neo and Nior pairs?
Hi Aight, I think the Noir are the Drop version of the Classics in a dark colourway so they'll sound like the Classics instead of the Neo. Double check that, but that's what I think is going on.
I love the look of the classics, I wonder if they fixed that treble issue now that it's been out a few years. But I don't know if I can justify $70 extra for the wooden cups (both are on black Friday sale)
I'd love to revisit the Classics today, but I haven't had a chance so I can't assist on that question - sorry!
Great review!! Would these be a good upgrade to AKG K361 and Sennheiser HD 599? I mainly listen to metal, rock and instrumental music. I can get these for around 150$ new in my country. I'm also eyeing Hifiman Sundara Closed Back and V-Moda Crossfade M-100 Master and they cost the same, at around 200$ in my country. Any other suggestions for good closed backs under 250$??
Do you need a fully closed back for sound isolation or is a semi-closed ok?
Some others I'd also consider (not sure of exact pricing in your region) are:
Beyerydynamic DT 700 Pro X
HarmonicDyne Athena (semi-closed)
Otherwise I do think the Meze 99 Neo and Classic are excellent depending on if you want more bass (Neo) or a more balanced tuning (Classic)
@@PassionforSound Thanks for the response. DT 700 Pro X are available at around 250 $ here. But I'm now reconsidering and I'm open to Open Backs as well. I've shortlisted a few : Sundara, Edition XS, Sony MDR MV1, Audeze MM-100 and Fiio FT5, DT 900 Pro X are sadly out of stock. I don't have a dedicated desktop DAC-AMP setup and only have a Shanling Q1 DAP and a xDuoo Link 2 Bal portable DAC which has good output power in both single and balanced mode. Would it be enough to drive the planars that I've shortlisted? Which one would be best suited for my listening preferences? Sorry for changing the actual question 😅
No problems. Both of those dongles should manage anything you've listed. The HiFiMans are a little difficult, but unless you're a loud listener, you'll do fine.
It's worth checking out the HarmonicDyne Athena too. Easy to drive and a wonderfully balanced tonality.
I enjoy the review very nuch, clear, concise. Did you have a chance to try the balance cable..?
I own meze 99 neos.. I know that these are easy to drive with mobiles due to lower impedance.. I got these for the same reason.. I'm happy with how it sounds but this audio gear world has lot to offer and coming across many things (snake-oil included)
Will getting a portable dac as source has edge over mobiles ? In terms of sound quality and soundstage ?
Hi V K, yes a decent external DAC and amp will always outperform the phone's output for sound quality and often soundstage as well.
I love these headphones and your review swayed me toward the 99 Neo. However, something that bothers me is a creaking I hear when I turn my head. As a matter of fact, if I bump the headphones at all I get noise. They seem very sensitive and I feel I need to sit still and almost hold my breath so they won't creak or make other microphonic noise. Is this normal in your experience?
It is normal, Scott. Even the new Meze 109 Pros do it a bit. I don't notice it with music on though
@@PassionforSound thank you so much for your reply. You're right, I hardly ever notice it when the music is playing and that's what matters.
hey, i’m in love with the way the wood on the 99 classics look but the way you and many others describe it the neo seems to have the sound signature i prefer a bit more (just extremely warm smooth and rich full thicc bass without bleeding into the mids or highs), any notes on the highs? i’m a bit sensitive to sibilance or sharp sounding headphones so i think knowing that could help me make that decision. Thanks!
If you're sensitive to treble, I'd definitely say that the Neos are the better choice. If the bass gets too much you can also tame them a little with some Yaxi MSR7 Comfort pads or maybe the stPads, but I have only tried (and stuck with) the MSR7 Comfort
@@PassionforSound DMS used HM5 pads to reduce the bass. I might buy the neo too
The Yaxi pads for Sony MSR7s (I think) also work well. I think I touched on it in my Yaxi Pads review
I think I'm going to scoop up the Neo for about $200 US. I'm not sold on upper echelon closed back headphones. Even with Focal or Audeze, the value and utility proposition doesn't seem to be there. Commercial tuned cans make more sense to me (for closed backs) because they give you utility options: ANC, BT, all day comfort, and apps. I appreciate the review, gonna be a tough decision between this and a Sony, but I think I lean towards the Neo.
The Neo is great fun, looks fantastic and is comfy too. The only other closed backs I've really enjoyed so far are the AudioQuest NightOwl and Beyerdynamic T5 3rd Gen so I get what you mean.
@Fisher Man That's funny you say that because yes, I did scoop and the Neo and additionally, I did opt for a pair of Brainwavz sheepskins to slap on them. With regards to the Neo I absolutely love it. I think it sets the standard for comfort and build quality, even with the stock pads (though they can be a bit creeky). The packaging is also 4 stars for $200 USD. I'm a big fan of the sound signature but I recognize it will not be everyone's cup of tea. It's warm and bassy but I don't find it to be dark or muddy in the least. I find the treble to be smooth and the timbre to be natural if a little plastic-y. For the price point it's an absolute price to performance monster. Obviously the resolution and detail has its limits, but that's to be expected for the cost. Now with regards to Brainwavz I ordered from them directly and they failed to send me half my order. I also contended that the "sheepskin" pads they sent me are indistinguishable from their synthetic leather pads (of which I own several). Suffice to say while the pads fit the Neos and are plenty comfortable, as I've yet to receive a remedy from their customer service I will not be purchasing any of their pads in the future nor do I recommend purchasing from them directly. Should I receive my second pair of pads I'm owed I'll update this comment. By contrast I cannot recommend the Neos enough if you like a balanced sound signature with a bass bump AND you want something you could wear for 8 hours straight with no fatigue.
I need to try some other pads on mine. I think some of the Yaxis I have are meant to fit...
@@PassionforSound Been dying to try some Yaxi pads for my oval cup cans but I'm concerned about fits. If you get them to work with the Neo I'd love to know. Right now I am LOVING the knock off Grado Pads on the Koss KPH-30i. Both Zeos and DMS have videos that detail the effect. I don't understand how these cheap foam pads improve the sound and the staging as much as they do. I think it needs proper evaluation because for about $35 USD (depending on sales) I'd rather have these than a Sundara.
@Fisher Man Np mate, and yes my prior purchases were direct from Amazon however I was seduced by the direct-from-Brainwavz discounts. I cannot fault the pads for comfort but if this material is sheepskin I don't want to ever meet the flocks they're sourced from. I also ordered their cooling gel microsuedes which were not included in my delivery but I'll be honest.. I'm afraid what the gel might actually be given the sheepskin.
These are great headphones for the money. Probably the best i've ever reviewed for this price range. I've got a pair of each style and find to use them often. They also happen to be the cheapest pair of headphones I own too. I'd recommend to my friends and family for sure.
i just ordered a used pair of 99 neo's for only 150 bucks! im stokedddd lol i have been eyeing them for some time because i dont have a nice pair of closed back headphones yet. they seem great from every review i have seen.
@@StraightEdgeAlexxx31 how do they work?
I ordered both. The Classics sounded better to my ears. Returned the Neo’s. To each his/her own.
Absolutely! Glad you could try both
Hey man, awesome review! Thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a question, if you wouldn’t mind answering it.
So I’ve recently been on a quest to find the perfect headphones for me. I tried (and returned) two pairs because they didn’t fit me at all. Then, the third pair that i bought fit like a glove, but they were too quiet! I guess I didn’t look far enough into them and apparently I need an actual amp, rather than just an inteface to get the most out of them.
Anyways, an amp wouldn’t work for what I’d be using these for. Are these easy to drive? Could you plug them into an interface/smartphone and get more than enough volume out of them?
Thanks!
Gabe
Hi Gabe, glad you like the content. The 99s are very easy to drive from smartphones, etc. You'll get better sound from a proper audio output device, but you'll get plenty of volume and good sound quality from almost any source with these.
@@PassionforSound thanks man! I think I’ll buy these!
@@PassionforSound also, definitely subscribing to your channel.
Awesome! I hope you love them. If it's convenient for you, check out the links in a recent video for Apos audio or Amazon 🙂🙂
I've been watching reviews of the 99 Classics and the Hifiman Sundara and have been finding out that the 99 Classics are the ones for me. But now it might be the 99 Neo. I like bass, but also a good top end, and it seems these have that. Have you tried the V-Moda Crossfade M-100 Master? I'm using that now, and will be swapping them out with one of the 99s. Right now both are on sale here and it's about a $100 difference where the Neo is cheaper, which is a lot.
I haven't tried the V-Moda - sorry. The Neos are great though.
@@PassionforSound I've had these for a while now, and they're clearly better than my old ones, the V-Moda M100 Master. But they don't have the punch in the bass that the V-Modas have, but now that I'm so used to the sound quality of the new ones, I can't go back :P Do you know of any about as good as these, but more bassy? Around the same price or a bit above maybe.
I don't know of any bassier closed backs - sorry. There might be some out there, I'm just not aware of them.
@@PassionforSound I see. But closed back isn't really important for me. Are there any open ones? Sorry for all the questions again 😬
The Apos Caspian is a lot of fun IMO and the Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X or DT 770 Pro X are others that you might enjoy. I've got reviews on all 3.
Do you know which type of pads are on your sets of headphones? I know there has been variance in the pads and their sound signatures.
I believe there has been an original small pad, a more recent small pad, and a large pad. Thanks.
Mine were fairly early units so they're likely the same as yours. I've also tried the Yaxi pads with them (see that review if you're interested) and they worked quite well
Thank you I purchased the Neo mainly because I was able to save a few dollars in the very expensive hobby. I absolutely love the 99 Neo. I agree with EVERYTHING you said. Am now a subscriber.
EDIT 1 Week later: Returned the overpriced Neo Plastic and Vynal when I saw Drop has same version as Classic for $199. I'm not so sure about Meze ethics.
Awesome. Thanks for subscribing and I'm glad you're loving the Neos. They're lots of fun.
Could you go into more detail about the Edit? I'm considering buying these but I'm not sure I quite understand what you mean in the edit.
@@kristofersjekabsrozevskis6951 Sure. The Noir from Drop are very similar to the Classics. They go way down with bass and sub bass but not so much distinctive unclarity. I love the absolute isolation the Noir bring to the table. I heard bits and pieces of this in the Neo, but the Noir is much more appealing and engaging. These are priced well below, in my opinion, what they could have been. If your looking for sonic clarity with a boost in the bass these are for you. I understand some people refer to them as "fun". Well there is very analytical for the person wanting to be able to disect every note. Sometimes I feel that way. The Noir are definitely not that. They are way more enjoyable and I have to say play very loud with no distortion or clipping. I generally have a DAC and AMP for every occasion. That's just me. But I will tell you this... I ran them through my iFi Zen DAC and my SMSL P20 tube amp. I realize the P20 is not a full blown tube amp. I'm okay with that. When I combined those two with the Noir listening from my MacBook Pro Audirvana app, I was blown away. That, was the moment when I knew I struck gold. They sound deliberate and absolutely fantastic! Its been difficult to listen to anything else since that experience. But I do. I was just listening to my Philips Fidelio X2HR when your comment posted. Its a loss of words. For a closed back headphone to have so much warmth and articulate dialouge so well, it's amazing. Go ahead and grab the Noir before the run on Drop ends. They come with the same hard case and an extra set of pads. All of this for $200? Like I mentioned earlier, they easily punch far above that price point. Hope I helped you!
@@dcime1 Did you notice any difference in sound between the Neos and the Noirs ?
@@salamaltar7 The Noirs are darker with more detail. Some say the Noirs are the same sound signature as the Classics. I believe that. Its Drop, you know? Crazy deals come and go and this is another one. To summarize, you are basically getting the Classics in a better looking package at a lower price. And yes, I keep reaching for them! They articulate so well with great bass slam with a refined decay. Meze are a brilliant company, Drop once again "sweetens the deal".
I've been close to buying a few times, but I'm not sold on the looks at all. The way the sound is described, I believe there what I'm looking for. The look though, not sure I can get past it.
Hi Michael, I can understand that. They're definitely worth trying to get past the looks IMO. They are a great sounding can for the price. I don't think I've found anything else similar that I prefer.
I believe the Classics are made in Romania whilst the Neos are made in China. It’s pronounced meh-zeh not mitze. I’m looking at the neos and wonder if they’d be good to listen to Beatles, Pink Floyd, Nirvana? Is it true the bass is not right for rock or classical you think?
I listen to the groups you listed on my Meze Neos. They sound fantastic.
Sorry I missed responding to your comment, Just Me. The Neos would be great for those artists / genres as rvenden has said 🙂
Nice review! I own a pair of Sennheiser Momentums TWS and love the sound on them. Could you shed some light on how the 99 Neo compare in terms of sound quality? Also, have you tried the Meze in-ear 12 Classics V2? How do they sound?
Hi Jayansh, unfortunately I havent heard the Momentum TWS or the Meze 12 IEM so I can't comment on either - sorry!
@@PassionforSound It’s ok. Today I ended up buying a Hifiman HE400 se cans instead. 😁
I've got those here at the moment for review. Nice choice I think (I haven't listened to them much yet)
@@PassionforSound Nice! I look forward to your review. From what I’ve read, they are good. Stoked as these are my first pair of planar magnetic headphones!
I hope you love them. I personally find planars superior to most dynamics so hopefully you'll feel the same
So you are a basshead if you dislike grado and praise 99 :), sound of both (classic and neo) I believe can be corrected a bit by using better cable and ear pads. I got 99 Noire its a very fun headphone, not good with every genre of music but very comfy and portable
Glad you're enjoying the Noire. And nothing wrong with being a bit of a basshead
@@PassionforSound yes I like to feel strong deep bass from time to time
for which genres are they better or worse?
Bassy headphones are often best with bassy genres like hip-hop, EDM, etc. but it's ultimately personal taste. Where they are generally less good is classical and acoustic music because they can sound unnatural
For attentive listening to classical music (orchestral, quartets or piano) are the Meze 99 Neo recommendable ?
They probably wouldn't be my first choice for those genres due to the extra bass. Maybe consider the 99 Classics or the HarmonicDyne Athena czcams.com/video/Plk-ykHYw3c/video.htmlsi=_QhcIoaVpLLj6ti0
But isn't the bass even more present in the 99 Classic?@@PassionforSound
No, the Classic is more neutral. The Neo is the bass monster 🙂
Thanks for you review.
Can you recomend 99 neo over hd560s ?
Hi Mati, I haven't heard the 560S yet so I can't comment on those and they're also very different headphones being open (560) vs closed (99) and also tuned very differently too.
@@PassionforSound thanks.
I may endup buying both
I imagine that l they'd compliment each other nicely
Sorry for the stupid question, but the he bass is more powerful on the Neo or on the Classic? I prefer to sacrify a little bit of detail to have a stronger smoothy bass, should I go for the Neo?
Not a stupid question at all, Stef. The bass is a bit stronger on the Neo and it's definitely the smoother and (to me) better sounding headphone. So yes, based on what you've said, I'd recommend the Neo.
@@PassionforSound Thank you very much! The wooden design of the Classic seems just a little more elegant to me (even if I always prefer to have black headphones) but the most important things for me are the sound the cost. Here in Italy (I'm Italian) the Classic cost 100 euro more (299 instead of 199 for the Neo), which is a big expense, so if I can save 100 euro and have an headphones which also sounds more smooth and bassy, I definitively go for the Neo.
Greetings for your amazing review and thanks for the suggestions!
You're welcome! I'm guessing it's cheaper to produce the Neo because they're not having to make and finish the natural wood cups. I agree that the look of the wood is lovely, but I'd still choose the Neo too. Hope you enjoy them!
I'm seriously considering these for mixing, thank you so much!
My pleasure. They're probably not the first cans I'd reach for as mixing tools, but not too bad in that role. Check out the AIAIAI TMA-2 Move as well 🙂
@@PassionforSound thanks for the recommendation! I think I’d still go with the neos because I want the bigger earcups, however if they are really not good for mixing (for amateurs like me at least) then I’ll definitely consider TMA-2 line.
No problems. You could always look at the SoundID software to fix the Neos for when you're mixing (and then enjoy them au naturel for music 😉)
3:51 sound review begins here
Neo vs Classic?
I prefer the Neo slightly, but both are excellent and very different - Neo is WAY more bassy
What would you recommend between He400Se and Neo?
Very different sounds. HE400SE is a little more true-to-source, but Neo is much more fun. There's no wrong choice with those two
@@PassionforSound Thanks a lot. By the way great video.
Thanks. Glad you liked it 🙂
When are you gonna review the Shanlin UA2? It seems to be better than the Cobalt at a fraction of the price.
I'm not sure. I don't actually find the dongle videos perform pretty well so I don't try to arrange them specifically. If it comes to me somehow, I'll cover it, but otherwise I am more focussed on full-sized gear and IEMs / headphones
How would you compare them with the DT 770 Pro?
I'm not familiar enough with the DT770 - sorry!
@@PassionforSound oh, no problem
Meze neo vs Sviga Robin ¿
I'd actually go Sivga Oriole if you can, but otherwise it's a tough call. Neo is a bit looser and more fun in the bass. Robin is a bit more balanced and tighter.
would you recommend these for mixing and mastering music?
Hi Idham, probably not because they're quite coloured. Of course, if you get used to their coloration you could definitely use them, but I'd probably look to something like the Sennheiser HD560S or Audio Technica ATH-R70X as better options unless you need the closed back design.
I've heard the company name in numerous other YT reviews -- which is hardly definitive evidence one way or the other, of course -- but those other reviewers seem to think it's pronounced /MEZZ-ay/.
I've been told that it's pronounced mez-uh
@@PassionforSound Actually that makes a lot of sense -- almost an unvocalized breath at the end, MEZZ'uh.
Yes, I believe that's correct
Hi!! Vs Sivga Phoenix which one do you prefer for enjoy music?
Both are great. The Meze is a bit more dynamic so it's more exciting, but may get fatiguing sooner so it depends on whether you're looking for active enjoyment (Mezes) or a more relaxed, laidback enjoyment (Phoenix)
@@PassionforSound thanks! I think i Will purchase meze but now i have to decide between meze 99 neo, noir and classics!!!
My vote goes to the Neo, but they are very bassy headphones so maybe not for everyone 🙂
@@PassionforSound that extra bass of neo don't affect in the sound making less clarity?
You'll always trade some sense of detail in the treble when increasing bass, but you often get more midrange details instead so it all depends on what you're looking for.
Neos are more like 200 nowadays
Yeah, this is an OLD review now 🙂
There seem to be stark differences in listening experiences with both of these headphones and therefore wildly fluctuating opinions. I've been hearing more than once that the 'Neos' have a more mushy bass response than the 'Classics' and due to the wooden cups of the 'Classics' they have a finer and fuller resonance. These reviews are fairly useless to me when it comes to sound quality. I would never buy head phones based on such subjective verbal recommendations.
I've noticed that too (and not just on these headphones). I think so much comes down to our individual hearing loss and sensitivities. It's definitely worth auditioning before buying when possible, but I've also found it helpful to find reviewers you tend to agree with because it means they hear things similarly to you. As you get to know a reviewer, you'll know if they tend brighter, darker or the same as your tastes.
Is it worth a 100 usd difference between classics and neo?
That's a tough call. They sound quite different, but it all comes down to personal taste
@@PassionforSound Different in what way? In various review the main difference is the bass - besides that?
The treble from the Classics is a bit spikier than the Neo and I felt that the Neo's midrange comes through more because of the smoother treble and richer bass.
Did you even bother to watch the damn video man???
The bass is not great on the Neo. The bass is boomy and not dynamic. Don’t know how you can say bass is good. If bass is not intonated and on and off dynamic, then it tells a story as to how good it is. This is one of the acid tests of how good audio is. I agree the treble is good and is not edgy in the Neo 99.
For me, good doesn't necessarily mean technically perfect. It's about how well the overall signature works. I haven't noticed the dynamics being on and off. Not sure if it's to do with different sources or maybe just different ears.
Passion for Sound It doesn’t have to be perfect but I cannot fathom how you can’t hear joined up bass as there are better ones. Intonated bass means it stops and starts quickly. If it doesn’t it’s like a car stereo boy racer with a subwoofer. All the bass joins up. Do you do audiophile gear. You said no bloom and bloat but there is loads. Say try a focal Clear or even similarly priced Grado sr225
Passion for Sound sources won’t effect. I tried Chord Qutest, innuos Zenith, Audioquest df cobalt, other source laptop with audirvana and a Yamaha wxc50 cheapey.