Two and a half years ago, when the Meze 99 Classics ($309MSRP) was introduced, I was given an opportunity to review them. I passed. In retrospect, after spending a good amount of time with them recently, I will readily admit that was a mistake.

On tracks with powerful sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the 99 Classics deliver a perfect balance of bass depth and high frequency definition. The lows on this track sound truly powerful-there's definitely some boosting in the bass department, but it never overwhelms the mix.

Excellent audio performance with articulate highs and ideal bass response; Comfortable fit; Lots of accessories, including detachable cables with inline remote controls

Expensive; Bulky design not necessarily ideal for mobile use

In 2013, I reviewed the Meze 73 Classics headphones . I liked the sound and the use of wood for the ear cups. It helped project a warm and friendly audio quality that was easy to listen to for hours. All this holds true for the new 99 Classics headphone.

Very comfortable; Well made; Natural materials; Warm and friendly sound; Great design; Nice protective case

Too expensive for commuting; Will not fold

Firstly I would like to thank Meze for sending me this sample, they have been used for well over 50hrs before writing this review.

The Meze 99 Classics blew through their Indiegogo campaign a couple of months ago and now we get to take a look at them. So was it worth the wait

Design; Sound; Very comfortable

Awkward control module placement; Price

Meze set out to recapture the magic of the 99 Classics at a cheaper price, within a more contemporary shell and that's just what they've achieved with the 99 Neo.

One last thing, while I can feel the ear cups against my ears, I can't deny that my ears feel closer to the music without having to turn the headphones up to excessive volumes – and that feels kinda nice.

So there you have it. It was almost a forgone conclusion after experiencing the 99 Neo that I would enjoy the 99 Classics but I didn't expect to enjoy them that much more. Yes, they sound very similar indeed. Yes, they look similar but there's just something about the 99 Classics that I love.

Fun and smooth, good value and nice looking; Provide two versions of pads

None at this price

I collect headphones, usually buying 3-4 pairs a year. These headphones interested me first of all because of the way they look - there are very few wooden headphones out there. The next thing that piqued my interest was the fact that all the reviews I could find were positive. So I ordered a pair.

Call me shallow, but I fell deeply in love with the Meze Classics 99 headphones even before I heard them. Those precision carved, hand-finished, solid wood earcups, stainless steel headband, self-adjusting headband strap, and sumptuous earpads all lend a luxury feel to the design, though the price...

Handsome design; Extraordinary build quality; Rich sound

Doesn't fold for compact storage