Shoutout to Meze Audio for reaching out and sending the 99 Neo!
Greetings mate and Welcome aboard. Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience that will make you fall in love with music (NOT gear), all over again, so…
I really wanted to like the Neo.
No, not this Neo, this Neo:
In fact, around June of 2021, I visited my local Audio Advice for the first time in many months and found a Meze 99 Classic hanging on the shelf.
I had always meant to sit down and listen to it, but just never found the time.
Now I could finally decide if it was worth the hype. So I innocently plugged it into my phone, sat down, and fired up Spotify.
I couldn’t believe it.
In only about 30 min to an hour’s worth of listening, I found these fairly utilitarian – but still with a dash of elegance – headphones to be a wonderful breath of fresh air.
Instrument timbre had a rich, lifelike quality to it, the tone and decay of said instruments – as well as voices – was also fantastic, albeit a bit overly saturated if I’m being honest. Still, it was a minor nitpick. I was enjoying the heck out of them.
The bass sounded full and thumped wonderfully. Though forward (read, VERY forward), it somehow didn’t sound sloppy or out of line to me. The treble, likewise, wasn’t overly bright or obnoxious.
And then?
I made a post on Instagram, went home, and haven’t heard a Meze again since.
Until now, that is.
Let’s take a look at the Neo, how it actually sounds, and determine if it’s basically the same as the Classic.
Build
First off, I really enjoy the build of these.
As mentioned previously, they’re compact and light, but they don’t fold up or anything.
They’re nimble and built well.
In fact, there’s no glue anywhere and all parts are replaceable.
By only using nuts and bolts, the entire headphone is fully serviceable.
This is definitely a main selling point and I have to say I like what they’ve done.
When I reviewed the K5 Pro, I compared its build to a lean soccer player with a bit of muscle mass. The Neo follows a similar suit.
I’d actually feel completely comfortable dropping them but definitely don’t step on them even though they’d probably still be okay.
The headband adjustment is a hammock-style configuration that kind of reminds you of a K702, but the design itself is a bit different.
The 2 pieces that hold the adjustment are a matte black, squared-off cast zinc-alloy finish and feel a little more sure of themselves.
The headband pad is thin (and dare I say feels a tad cheap), but both the cups and pads feel great to the touch.
There are also dual terminations into each ear cup and both connections are easy to insert and feel fine.
The headphones come with a cable pouch, a hard carrying pouch, a 1/4″ adapter, some stickers, and some literature.
There aren’t any R and L indicators on the headphones, but this was on purpose as the build is symmetrical, so it doesn’t matter which jack plugs into which earcup.
Thank you to Bob in the comments below for pointing that out!
Lastly, the top of the headband reads the engraved “99 NEO.”
You’d almost think they were referencing some greenish-looking movie that came out in 1999. Heh. Heh. Ahem.
*resists the urge to link meme*
Here’s a picture instead:
Travis Bickle and Snake Plissken marvel at the Neo’s wonderful build.
PHEW!
The aesthetic of this headphone definitely screams “I’m a snob and proud of it.”
It’s classy but yet still fairly discreet – the type of headphone you may wear to a formal, or some cocktail party, and be completely comfortable in doing so.
*Walking around mingling with lots of people*
Her: “Why are you just randomly wearing a headphone on your head?”
Because audiophile, Becky.
*headphone wearer scoffs and walks away*
What I love most about the build is actually quite silly, but the fact that I can finger its cups without leaving prints is mega satisfying to me.
This matte black look, with a subtle hint of grain on the outside of the cups, is just perfect for my highly refined sensibilities and will likely appease yours as well.
Comfort
Perfect for long listening sessions, this one feels nice on your head and doesn’t intrude in any way.
So far, I haven’t had to adjust it or take it off a single time – it clamps nicely on the sides of your head but also doesn’t dig into the top of your melon either.
The cups don’t rotate or swivel, but similar to an HD600, they move just enough to where they don’t feel completely rigid – likely an added benefit when wearing them for long periods and achieving the right fit.
The depth of the cups is medium-deep and they’re oval-shaped, but they also look a bit wider in diameter than most. This also helps with comfort as it never seems like your ears are touching or hitting anything.
This may just have to be added to the most comfortable headphones of all time article, as it is quite easily one of the best in that regard.
Sound
- Amps/DACS used: FiiO K5 Pro, iFi Go Blu, iFi Zen CAN Signature HFM, more to come!
- Playlist: Here!
- Albums: Towards the bottom!
This is where things get a bit dicey.
Let’s address the elephant in the room first.
The Neo is bassy. Very bassy.
Too bassy.
I have no idea why I didn’t have an issue with it when demoing the Classic at Audio Advice, but it’s likely because I didn’t spend enough time listening to music.
This is also why it’s never a great idea to write a review after you’ve just popped a stiffy.
Add to that, for whatever reason, listening to headphones plugged straight into your phone can either be the best thing ever or sound completely awful.
In the case of the Classic, it was the former, and I don’t know why.
It could be because they are really efficient and not hard to drive, or it honestly could’ve just been my imagination and/or likely over-the-top initial reaction to an exciting headphone.
Heck, the Classic may actually be tuned better and sound better, but I’m not going to claim that even though it is roughly $100 more. Hmm.
In any event, excitement is generally what Meze is going for here with the Neo as well, only, it just doesn’t quite work.
What you’ll find is that even despite the mid-range not actually being recessed (as you’d typically think of it in terms of being scooped out altogether), the sub-bass/mid-bass shelf is just too much.
Most of the time it’s going to drown out the mids and/or sound overly bloated and excessive.
If the K371 rendered some tracks as laughably bad, the Neo is like, “Hold my beer, son.”
Who’d have thought that throwing endless heaps of bass at a wall may not actually work out the way you intended?
*Rolls eyes*
Still, on some tracks, it kind of works, (Erykah Badu’s “Didn’t Cha Know” sounds mostly great) but the irony is that while the Neo was theoretically made for harder genres, it actually doesn’t really sound all that great with them in practice.
It just sounds like mud with most songs. Even “Didn’t Cha Know’s bass line is a bit too stuffy.
Whomp.
Likewise, J Dilla’s “Believe In God”, one of my all-time favorite instrumentals ever, sounds like complete poop with the Neo.
The bass basically just drowns everything out. This is the case with 95-99% of tracks.
There’s this papery thin, artificial quality about them that I couldn’t quite shake as well.
I thought maybe it was the track, but the issue kept popping up over and over the more music I listened to.
At some point, it’s the headphones and not the song.
On the flip side, if you’re finding tracks themselves to sound bad on neutral headphones, it’s likely the result of a poorly mixed/mastered track and not the headphones.
Not every time, but the majority of the time.
In the case of the Neo, where’s that great Instrument Timbre that I mentioned at the start?
The rich, lifelike mid-range? The realistic and immediate-sounding vocals?
It’s just not there. Could I have been imagining things in listening to a Classic and having such a great experience?
I have no idea. I do remember being in a great mood, so my temperament could have been something like this:
But I’m disappointed in you, Neo.
You’re not the one.
Treble
The treble is the bright spot here (no pun intended), as it doesn’t sound overly bright, essy, or sibilant.
Still, the sound as a whole is fairly underwhelming.
I guess my expectations were pretty high and I came back down to earth.
Reality is often disappointing.
Still, Bibio’s “Oakmoss”, one of the most nostalgic tracks I’ve ever heard, sounds pretty good, but again, all of the bass frequencies are trying to be front and center and it just ends up distracting from an otherwise incredible composition.
This is clearly the headphones attempting to over-exert their influence and not a result of how the track was recorded.
Imagine a bodybuilder already on steroids, taking more steroids.
As in, he eats steroids for breakfast lunch, and dinner.
With the 371, the laughably boomy bass was the exception and not the rule, and most assuredly stemmed from the mixing habits of its creator (Hip-Hop producers tend to get bass happy from time to time).
There’s this artificial sentiment that Neo has and I think that’s the overarching theme here. It feels unnatural and forced in the majority of instances, and not something I look forward to putting on my head.
Is the Meze 99 Neo worth it?
For that, and everything else I’ve stated in the article, I can’t in good conscience recommend it and won’t.
For as polarizing as the Harman Curve seems to be, I genuinely believe the 371 did many things right and is tuned much better overall. In other words, yes, the sub-bass is boosted quite a bit (more than I’d like).
But, this will never, ever be as big of an issue as endless amounts of companies boosting the mid-bass into oblivion and then looking the other way when they’re partly responsible for damaging your hearing.
Neo’s entire package (accessories, build, comfort, etc.) at $199 is actually pretty fair (all things considered), although I’d probably shave $50 off that.
Other than clearly better comfort, there’s nothing about it that’s any better than an M50x in my opinion.
In fact, for as much as people needlessly trash the 50x, it handles the bass much better and it’s really not that close.
If you’re going to accentuate it, the 50x’s 5dB shelf, in my mind, is just about right since it immediately cuts the bloat regions.
But a 10dB shelf as the Neo boasts across 20-200/300Hz?
Yikes. It’s awful.
I look at the Neo as I look at Diminishing Returns. There’s a point when more bass does NOT equal better sound.
This is clearly one of those cases.
Closing Thoughts
So what do I recommend instead?
If you’re looking for that bass-oriented sound but done right, the DT990, M50x, HD25, and to some extent the K371 are all good options.
For an open-back, somewhat Harman-y type of sound without the bloat (i.e. a correctly tuned bass), Apos’ Caspian is an excellent choice as well.
Video Discussion
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At A Glance
Meze 99 Neo
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Apos! | Check Meze!
In The Box
Over-ear headphones (Black/Silver)
59″ Cable with in-line mic/remote (straight 3.5mm plug)
3.5mm-to-1/4″ adapter
Soft zippered cable storage pouch
Hard zippered case
Instructions
2 Meze Audio decals
Specifications
- Transducer size: 40mm
- Frequency response: 15Hz – 25KHz
- Sensitivity: 103dB at 1KHz, 1mW
- Impedance: 26 Ω
- Rated input power: 30mW
- Maximum input power: 50mW
- Detachable Kevlar OFC cable
- Plug: 3.5mm gold plated
- Weight: 260 gr (9.2 ounces) without cables
- Ear-cups: ABS Plastic
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Meze 99 Neo Review and came away with some valuable insight.
Do YOU think the Neo or Classic is worth the investment? Be sure to let me know!!
If you have any other questions or feel I’ve missed the mark on something, leave a comment down below or Contact me!
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I very much look forward to speaking with you…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
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Photo Gallery
Media
Erykah Badu – Mama’s Gun (2000)
Common – A Beautiful Revolution Pt. I (2020)
Common – A Beautiful Revolution Pt. II (2021)
J Dilla – Jay Love Japan (2006 in Japan, 2007 in NA)
Bibio – Sleep On The Wing (2020)
Common – Like Water For Chocolate (2000)
Kid Cudi – Man On The Moon: The End Of Day (2009)
Touch Sensitive – Visions (2017)
Damu The Fudgemunk – Travel At Your Own Pace (2010)
Little River Band – Sleeper Catcher (1978)
Fleetwood Mac – Mystery To Me (1973)
J Dilla – Dillatronic (2015)
J Dilla – The King of Beats, Vol 2: Lost Scrolls (2016)
Common – Resurrection (1994)
Common – One Day It’ll All Make Sense (1997)
J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014)
6 comments
Regarding the L/R conundrum, the manual states the build is symmetrical, so it doesn’t matter which jack plugs into which earcup.
Ah. Thanks, Bob! Perhaps I should read the darn thing next time. 😛
I just got these cans, and for reference I’ve tried the M50x and Sennheiser 599’s. I didn’t care for the 599’s right away, so I’ll compare to the M50x instead, which I’ve had since 2015.
The Neos are definitely clearer in the upper-mids and highs than the M50x when pushed, the soundstage is bigger (insofar as closed back headphones go). There is more bass to be sure in the Neos, but I don’t find it overwhelming.
One big issue with most audiophiles is that their taste in music skews towards the lighter end of the spectrum and they don’t really listen to anything “heavy.” I mean, the tracks above cited as examples of “heavy” music are laughable, and the “heaviest” (the Erykah Badu song) sounded “great,” even to this reviewer. “Believe in God” doesn’t sound great, but I’m not convinced it’s the headphones – it doesn’t sound significantly better on the M50x.
If you want to try heavier music, still with decent separation, try “Get Low” by Lil’ John, Stromae’s “l’enfer,” or Tool’s “Pneuma” or “Ticks & Leeches.” The differences between the M50x and Neo are smaller on such tracks, and while the M50x has a more subdued bass response (both still pound though), the Neo is clearer in the upper ranges to my ears.
Lest you think that type of harder music is all I listen to, I found Adele’s “Easy on Me” to sound a touch better on the Neo than M50x, the whole of Bobryuko’s “Freedom” to be significantly clearer (and the bass less powerful than the M50x, where it came across a bit muddled), everything to be clearer/more precise on Dead Can Dance’s “Host of Seraphim,” and yet”Summer” from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (performed by the Budapest Strings) was definitely better on the M50x.
As always, types of musical and personal preferences are the biggest factor in finding the right headphones for anyone. I’m going to try the 599’s again with an amp to see if that helps any, but my initial impression (unamped) was not good. I know unamped is sacrilege to most audiophiles, but I often listen to music while traveling and can’t always have an amp with me.
I must just be a Harman whore, lol.
Thank you for your input, Steven! Nice website btw.
The funny part is that I don’t find them bassy enough!! I wish they had lower mids that helped me truly enjoy the bass. In my favorite tracks the feel TOO BRIGHT.
Especially when the singer does an “S” sound. UGH.
Currently looking for a portable amp or device that lets me EQ the mids and highs out, so that I can fully appreciate the BASSY glory that I know they’re capable of.
So, yeah. Everyone’s hearing is different, it’s best to always test headphones yourself. Sadly, it’s not possible for me as there are no specialized audio stores in my country ;_;
Hey Eli!
Thank you for the comment.
I mean, I would pretty much just bypass these altogether. I listened to them again recently just to see if maybe they would sound any better, and they actually sounded worse to me.
This is just not a well-tuned headphone by any stretch of the imagination. You’re better off going with something else entirely in my opinion.
What about the DT990? That’s a headphone that’s tuned incredibly well, has bass without going overboard, and places just the right amount of emphasis in all the right places regarding mids and treble. Is the 990 available where you are?