Meze Audio is following up on the success of its signature Meze 99 headphones with a brand new pair of cans, with the same solid sonics but for $100 less.
Made in partnership with MassDrop, the $200 Meze 99 Noir headphones are the perfect pair of headphones for the burgeoning audiophile. With impactful bass and solid mids, these pair of cans offer great sound quality for even the most discerning listeners.
For fans of the $300 Meze 99 headphones, little has changed here. Sure, the gold accents are gone, and the wood is a darker walnut, but otherwise, the design mostly remains essentially unchanged—and that’s mostly good thing. They’re still super light, the earpads, while a little small, are plush, and the springy-headband is unbelievably comfortable.
But the market has changed since the originals were released. Namely, Bluetooth, which this particular pair lacks, has gotten a lot better and more ubiquitous. Sure, the $200 price tag certainly makes this pair of cans more approachable, but there are some seriously great Bluetooth headphones at the same price. Heck, on a good day, you can get those Bose QC35 noise canceling headphones for just $50-$100 more. But if you primarily use your headphones at your desk, where plugging in a wire isn’t a huge issue, the appeal here should be obvious.
If you’re on a moderate budget, and are interested in an attractive pair of headphones with some serious cred, by all means, pick up the Meze 99 Noirs, which just went live for the first time on Massdrop. They’re surely some of the most beautifully designed, best-sounding wired headphones at this price range.