Meze Audio 99 Neo

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Overall

#139 in

Headphones (Over / On Ear)

according to Reddit Icon Reddit

Sentiment score92% positive
11
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1
Last updated: Oct 5, 2026

Reddit Reviews

Reddit IconAlexGFrank
11 months ago

You've got a large budget. If you're the kind of person who tries to keep the experiences fresh (like I am), maybe consider two different pairs. One for inside use (as people mentioned, Ananda Stealth or Ananda Nano seem to be insanely good for the price planars, but are likely to require EQ, may require a headband replacement, and don't really feel that premium), and one for outside (e.g. Audio-Technica M50x or something equally portable and maybe more engaging - I use Meze 99 Neo for that use case for example)?. There's really no single answer. I was hesitant to recommend something like my ATH-R50x for indoor use when I saw your comment on r/headphones initially, but they're the king of comfort for indoor use, if you're able to get them around 150 USD. Maybe Fiio FT3-32ohm can be an interesting option on the bassier side, it seems to have a somewhat special driver that approaches planars in detail. To make things easier, based on your previous experience, what kind of sound signature do you prefer (V, U, W, M, flat, bright/warm/neutral-leaning?). For reference, Both ATH-R50x and Airpods Pro are a neutral V, Airpods's V is a little more pronounced, R50x's is a little more mild.. And what do you consider to be fun (e.g. microdetail, emotional bassline, guitars being shredded, etc.)?

Reddit IconEnlargedChonk
11 months ago

I can also vouch that meze 99 classic or neo (neo is cheaper) fit great with glasses.

11 months ago

as another glasses user I've had some offer surprisingly good comfort. Normally on-ears are a bad idea, but my grado sr60x are super comfortable *after I stretched out the headband*, you have to really stretch it out so that it applies almost no pressure to the ears, it's basically floating there, suspended only by the headband. Another is koss KSC75, again, usually having more stuff hooking to the ear is a bad idea, but I can wear these things all day long (which I have done before...). Sennheiser HD600 I was also expecting to suck, especially when I first put them on and felt how much pressure they apply. I still need to bend them a little more to relieve pressure, but even before stretching they applied more pressure near the jaw below the ear than my glasses frame. worth noting I have metal frames with wide (more like tall) but thin (1mm or less) temples, so I can get away with more pressure than frames with thick temples.

Reddit IconKernelcobb1
9 months ago

The next best thing is their next model the fiio ft1. It is 160$ though. If you can wait and save up I do think it's worth it. The other save up option is a the meze 99 neo which is very bassy and would fit your needs well. I wouldn't trust linsoul currently in my opinion. They make some of the best earbuds on the market but they are still figuring out headphones. In a couple years I suspect they will be an excellent purchase. The ath headphones are very safe and fine. I have had a couple pairs over the years and they have been ok if a little boring. I do love the look of them with 3rd party ear pads and tend to wear them out. The 100$ budget has been a difficult price point in the community for a long time. If you want headphones now, I would get the fiio jt1. Otherwise I would save a little more. I wouldn't hesitate pulling the trigger if you want one now though

Reddit IconSoupViruses
9 months ago

Meze 99 Classic or 99 Neo with the Boom Mic package. The mic sounds good and the headphones are really good as well, plus they're repairable. You can also just buy headphones with removable cables and plug the Meze microphone in if you don't like how the Meze headphones sound.

Reddit Iconsquarebore
11 months ago

I agree, I have the 99 Neos and they are very comfortable and have the sound signature OP is looking for. I will say that the original ear cups wore out quickly where my eye glasses contacted them. I bought another set of the Meze pads ($20) this time around but I’ll try some different pads if it happens again. I believe Dekoni makes some nice ones. With Black Friday prices I think OP could get the 99s and Dekoni pads within their budget.

Reddit Icontapecrypt
5 months ago

I've purged a disgusting amount of headphones recently, and kept only my winners. Keep in mind that sound preference is always subjective. Audeze LCD-X: Reference, accurate open back planar mags. Used for mastering and critical listening. Soundstage galore. As another user mentioned, you'd want a good headphone amplifier to drive them to full potential. Meze 99 Neo: Bass is your friend here. Fun, dark sounding closed backs. My favorite sound signature. Sivga SV021 Robin: Really impressive headphones for its price range. Closed back. Light on the head, beautifully designed. Fiio FT1: Very similar signature as my Meze 99, to my ears at least, but a bit more serious. Closed back, larger drivers, newest addition. My other favorite sound signature, I've been using these the most recently. Pioneer SE-MS7BT-K bluetooth cans. They're pretty impressive and convenient, but my least favorite of the bunch- not sound wise, but comfort. They sound excellent, though. I cannot part with them for some reason and use them for my electronic drum kit. Soundpeats H1: Not much of an earbud guy, but these are my absolute favorite set of earbuds. I've tested so many, including the Technics AZ100 and beyond. For me, nothing touches the H1's when it comes to volume, bass, presentation and clarity, though the AZ100s do come close, just not as loud and present in the sub bass range. Memory foam tips are crucial. Perhaps a bit narrow on the soundstage, but everything else makes up for it. I don't know why they stopped making them- even the H3's can't touch them. My Engine4's come close, however, with a better soundstage. These remain a cult following for a reason, especially electronic/hip hop/bass heads. For Boards of Canada, I normally turn to my Meze or Fiio, same for rock and metal. But I am also a fan of EQ. Rarely do I listen to music without equalization. Also, it's good to learn about and understand frequency response graphs, too. It will give you an idea of what to expect from each set you're interested in. Sounds like you're new to the headphones game, so maybe something like the Fiio FT1, Sivga Robin or Philips Fidelio X2HR can be a good entry choice. Let us know what you land on.

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