This is a review and detailed measurements of the Massdrop x Meze 99 Noir closed back headphone. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $200. I understand it is identical to Meze 99 Classic which the company sells for a lot more money.
The 99 Noir has a quirky look that is unique and for me, comfortable:
Dual mono 3.5 mm removable plugs are provided which fit very tightly. They are long and narrow so if you need to replace them, you have to get something that is the same.
The 99 Noir is pretty light headphone at 270 grams. Inside cup dimensions are 65x50x19 (height x weight x depth).
The measurements you are about to see are made using a standardized Gras 45C. I searched for any and all measurements I could find online. Alas while a number of them are close to mine, none are using the exact fixture down to coupler and pinna. As you will see, I have confirmed the approximate accuracy of the measurements using Equalization and listening tests. Ultimately headphone measurements are less exact than speakers above a few kilohertz so keep that in mind as you read these tests.
Getting a good fit was easy with both channels matching each other at my two targets on the first install.
Massdrop x Meze 99 Noir Measurements
There is nothing more important than frequency response of a headphone as each is seemingly different and that difference leaves a very distinct character:
Wow, that is some bass! While I don't mind it having a lot of sub-bass, what is after that is clearly way too much. There is also a hole between 2 and 4 kHz.
The owner also sent me a set of BRAINWAVZ Micro Suede Ear Pads. I had much more difficulty getting the two channels to match but after the fact I discovered that one pad wasn't mounted tight:
Assuming these are not run to run variations, the two issues identified with stock pads are much less severe now.
Back to original pads, here is the relative frequency response:
There is distortion in bass but considering that we will be taking that down in EQ, the 99 Noir may have very good response there:
I wish we didn't have the disturbance around 3 to 6 kHz though which also exceeds my target in absolute terms:
Group delay shows some naughtiness in bass:
Impedance is flat and low:
I was surprised that the spec is 32 ohm. I am too lazy to remeasure so I wonder if someone knows if there has been changes in the driver.
This is one sensitive headphone requiring IEM-like power to play:
Massdrop x Meze 99 Noir Headphone Listening Tests
I always start with my female audio tracks and the first track there, does not have much bass. What little it had got warmer so I didn't mind that. The highs on the other hand sounded a bit "tizzy" (yes, this is a technical term!). I then jumped a couple of tracks to one that had bass and boy, there definitely was way too much of it. So out came the parametric EQ tool:
Yes there are a lot of filters there. Transformation was dramatic though. Not only was the bass far more balanced now, overall spatial qualities improved hugely. Gone were the recessed vocals and you now had a open, and very pleasant soundstage. I left the deep bass uncompensated and that brought delight to my ears as I listened to my tracks with such content in there!
I don't think there is too much sub-bass in my book.
Once there, I sat there enjoying track after track in my library. As a matter of fact I am listening to them as I type this.
Conclusions
There is no question that out of the box the Meze 99 Noir is hugely flawed headphone, both objectively and subjectively. It is not annoying though as long as the bass does not distort for you. Add half a dozen filters by eye as I did and what you get is very enjoyable, hi-fi experience. It is like taking a F student and bringing him up to B+. Combine that with the light weight and overall comfort, and you have a something that can be a very good headphone.
I cannot recommend the Massdrop x Meze 99 Noir without EQ. With EQ, I am happy to do so. If yo have this headphone and are not using EQ to fix its flaws, you are missing out big time. Assuming my measurements are correct, and you don't want to use EQ, at least get the replacement pads and see if it fixes things a bit.
-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
The 99 Noir has a quirky look that is unique and for me, comfortable:
Dual mono 3.5 mm removable plugs are provided which fit very tightly. They are long and narrow so if you need to replace them, you have to get something that is the same.
The 99 Noir is pretty light headphone at 270 grams. Inside cup dimensions are 65x50x19 (height x weight x depth).
The measurements you are about to see are made using a standardized Gras 45C. I searched for any and all measurements I could find online. Alas while a number of them are close to mine, none are using the exact fixture down to coupler and pinna. As you will see, I have confirmed the approximate accuracy of the measurements using Equalization and listening tests. Ultimately headphone measurements are less exact than speakers above a few kilohertz so keep that in mind as you read these tests.
Getting a good fit was easy with both channels matching each other at my two targets on the first install.
Massdrop x Meze 99 Noir Measurements
There is nothing more important than frequency response of a headphone as each is seemingly different and that difference leaves a very distinct character:
Wow, that is some bass! While I don't mind it having a lot of sub-bass, what is after that is clearly way too much. There is also a hole between 2 and 4 kHz.
The owner also sent me a set of BRAINWAVZ Micro Suede Ear Pads. I had much more difficulty getting the two channels to match but after the fact I discovered that one pad wasn't mounted tight:
Assuming these are not run to run variations, the two issues identified with stock pads are much less severe now.
Back to original pads, here is the relative frequency response:
There is distortion in bass but considering that we will be taking that down in EQ, the 99 Noir may have very good response there:
I wish we didn't have the disturbance around 3 to 6 kHz though which also exceeds my target in absolute terms:
Group delay shows some naughtiness in bass:
Impedance is flat and low:
I was surprised that the spec is 32 ohm. I am too lazy to remeasure so I wonder if someone knows if there has been changes in the driver.
This is one sensitive headphone requiring IEM-like power to play:
Massdrop x Meze 99 Noir Headphone Listening Tests
I always start with my female audio tracks and the first track there, does not have much bass. What little it had got warmer so I didn't mind that. The highs on the other hand sounded a bit "tizzy" (yes, this is a technical term!). I then jumped a couple of tracks to one that had bass and boy, there definitely was way too much of it. So out came the parametric EQ tool:
Yes there are a lot of filters there. Transformation was dramatic though. Not only was the bass far more balanced now, overall spatial qualities improved hugely. Gone were the recessed vocals and you now had a open, and very pleasant soundstage. I left the deep bass uncompensated and that brought delight to my ears as I listened to my tracks with such content in there!
I don't think there is too much sub-bass in my book. Once there, I sat there enjoying track after track in my library. As a matter of fact I am listening to them as I type this.
Conclusions
There is no question that out of the box the Meze 99 Noir is hugely flawed headphone, both objectively and subjectively. It is not annoying though as long as the bass does not distort for you. Add half a dozen filters by eye as I did and what you get is very enjoyable, hi-fi experience. It is like taking a F student and bringing him up to B+. Combine that with the light weight and overall comfort, and you have a something that can be a very good headphone.
I cannot recommend the Massdrop x Meze 99 Noir without EQ. With EQ, I am happy to do so. If yo have this headphone and are not using EQ to fix its flaws, you are missing out big time. Assuming my measurements are correct, and you don't want to use EQ, at least get the replacement pads and see if it fixes things a bit.
-----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
