If you’re looking for a genuinely thoughtful gift for a music lover this Christmas, headphones are hard to beat — and Meze Audio should be firmly on your radar. Beautifully made, sensibly priced, and consistently enjoyable to listen to, Meze headphones strike a rare balance between design, comfort and sound quality. Whether it’s a first step into quality headphones or an upgrade to something more refined, there’s a Meze model that fits the brief.

Meze Audio are a relatively young headphone manufacturer, founded in 2011, though the project began a couple of years earlier, around 2009. Founder and lead designer Antonio Meze was experimenting with headphone design and materials — notably wood — in pursuit of better sound and more considered aesthetics than many mainstream offerings of the time.

99 Neo Closed-Back Headphones

The entry point into the Meze over-ear headphone range.

In 2015, the brand’s first major breakthrough came with the launch of the Meze 99 Classics, following a successful Indiegogo campaign. Developed entirely in-house, these headphones won multiple awards and helped firmly establish Meze as a serious headphone manufacturer.

Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength, rapidly establishing itself as a major player, offering a broad range of headphones and earphones — from approachable dynamic models to flagship planar magnetic designs.

The Meze 99 Neo deliver a warm, engaging and punchy sound, with a strong bass presence. They are lightweight, well engineered and extremely comfortable, making them ideal for prolonged listening sessions.

They’re also easy to drive: with low impedance and high sensitivity, they work well straight from phones, laptops and dongle DACs, without the need for dedicated amplification.

99 Classics V2 Headphones

The next model up.

The 99 Classics build on the strengths of the Neo, but with a noticeable step up in refinement.

Key benefits of the 99 Classics over the Neo include:

A more natural and balanced tonal signature, with tighter bass that doesn’t overpower the midrange, resulting in clearer vocals and instruments
Improved detail and overall resolution

While the Neo has a looser, slightly rougher low-end emphasis for a punchy feel, the Classics offer bass that is better controlled and more integrated, helping to reduce muddiness through the lower mids.

The Classics also feature real walnut wood earcups and higher-end finishes, which many owners appreciate for both aesthetics and tactile quality.

Overall, the tuning of the Classics leans towards a smoother treble and a more coherent, well-resolved midrange.

109 Pro Open-Back Headphones

The open-back step into true high-fidelity listening.

The Meze 109 Pro are premium open-back over-ear headphones designed for high-fidelity listening, combining a rich, engaging sound with refined build quality.

They offer a balanced yet expressive tuning, with detailed mids, extended treble and controlled bass, delivering clarity and emotional weight across all genres.

Thanks to the open-back design, the soundstage is wide and spacious, with precise imaging that allows instruments and vocals to breathe naturally.

With a low impedance of around 40 ohms, the 109 Pro are generally easy to drive and pair well with phones, DAC/amps and portable sources.

Build quality is excellent, with elegant construction using walnut wood earcups, zinc-manganese steel components and velour ear pads — all premium, durable materials.

A self-adjusting headband and plush padding ensure excellent comfort, even during longer listening sessions.

Conclusion

Meze headphones are an excellent choice for music lovers who want an immersive, engaging listening experience, paired with premium materials and thoughtful design. Whether closed-back or open-back, portable or home-focused, they offer superb sound quality without losing sight of comfort and practicality.

Thanks for reading, and we look forward to welcoming you soon.

Jon and Andy - Audio T Swindon

If you have any questions about any of the equipment featured in this article, or any other Hi-Fi or home cinema enquiries, be sure to contact us.

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