99 Classics
The brand's breakout hit; a closed-back headphone featuring CNC-milled walnut earcups and a manganese spring steel headband. Every component is replaceable, and the wood grain makes every unit visually unique.
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Romania · EST 2011
Meze Audio
Last assessed 4 Jan 2026
Recommended
One of the few modern audio brands committed to "zero glue" construction, making their headphones fully user-serviceable, though US buyers receive a shorter warranty on entry-level models compared to EU customers.
Meze Audio is a high-end audiophile headphone manufacturer founded by industrial designer Antonio Meze. They are renowned for fusing aesthetic materials (walnut wood, machined aluminum) with warm, musical sound signatures. Unlike mass-market brands that seal batteries and drivers inside plastic shells, Meze designs products—specifically their over-ear headphones—to be disassembled for repair using standard screws.
Brand History
History
2011
Founded by Antonio Meze in Baia Mare, Romania.
2015
Launch of the 99 Classics via Indiegogo. The "zero glue" construction establishes their reputation.
2018
Partnership with Rinaro Isodynamics (Ukraine) to create the Empyrean flagship.
2022
Launch of the 109 Pro, the first open-back dynamic headphone assembled in the Romanian factory.
2023
Release of Empyrean II, refining the original flagship's resolution.
2024
Launch of Alba, the brand's first budget-friendly ($150) In-Ear Monitor.
Warranty & Returns
- High-End (Empyrean, Elite, 109 Pro): 2 Years Global coverage.
- Entry-Level (99 Series, 105 Series, Alba): 2 Years (EU) / 1 Year (US & Rest of World).
- Cables & Accessories: 6 Months Global coverage.
Returns: 30 Days (Global). Items must be in functional condition. Logistics: The customer is responsible for all return shipping costs to the nearest warehouse (Romania for EU, usually distributor-based for US). Original shipping fees are non-refundable.
Why They're Listed
Meze Audio is listed for their "Built to Last" design philosophy. The 99 Classics and 109 Pro are assembled entirely with nuts and bolts, devoid of adhesive. This means that if a driver fails or a headband snaps on a 10-year-old pair, the user can order the specific replacement part and fix it with a screwdriver, rather than discarding the unit.
Noteworthy Products
109 Pro
An open-back dynamic driver headphone. Unlike the 99 series, this is made in the Romanian HQ using responsibly sourced walnut and high-grade beryllium-coated drivers, bridging the gap between their Chinese and Romanian lines.
Empyrean II
A summit-fi open-back headphone using Rinaro's Isodynamic Hybrid Array driver (made in Ukraine/Poland). It is notable for its anthropometric shape and the fact that it is entirely hand-assembled in Romania.
Important Context
The "Entry Level" Warranty Gap: There is a significant regional disparity in warranty terms for the "Entry" and "Mid-Tier" lines (99 Classics, 99 Neo, 105 AER, Alba). While EU customers receive a statutory 2-year warranty, customers in the US and Rest of World receive only 1 year. The High-End line (Empyrean, Elite) carries a global 2-year term.
Country of Origin Split: Manufacturing is strictly divided by price point. The "Reference" line (Empyrean, Elite, 109 Pro) is hand-assembled in Romania. The "Entry" line (99 Series, 105 Series) and In-Ear Monitors (Alba, Advar) are manufactured in China.
Ear Pad Degradation: The stock ear pads on the 99 Classics are made of PU (synthetic) leather. Like all polyurethane products, these are chemically destined to peel and flake after 2-3 years of skin contact. They are easily replaceable, but are a guaranteed maintenance cost.
Manufacturing:
* Romania (Baia Mare): Final assembly and testing of Empyrean, Elite, Liric, and 109 Pro. * China (Dongguan/Shenzhen): Contract manufacturing for 99 Classics, 99 Neo, 105 AER, and IEMs (Alba, Advar). * Ukraine (Lviv) & Poland (Przemysl): The planar magnetic drivers for the flagship headphones are manufactured by Rinaro Isodynamics, a separate entity that ships the drivers to Romania for final assembly.
Further Information
Rinaro Isodynamics Partnership:
The secret sauce of Meze's high-end line is their exclusive partnership with Rinaro, an acoustic engineering team originally founded in the USSR (Ukraine). Despite the conflict in the region, Rinaro continues to manufacture drivers in Lviv (Ukraine) and has expanded operations to Przemysl (Poland) to ensure supply chain stability.
Spare Parts Store:
Meze maintains a dedicated "Parts" section on their website where users can buy specific headbands, yokes, screws, and cables for the 99 and 109 series. This is rare in the audio industry, where most brands (like Sennheiser or Sony) often restrict internal spare parts to authorized service centers.
The "105" Line:
Introduced recently (105 AER), this line serves as the open-back counterpart to the 99 Classics. It utilizes similar construction methods but features a different acoustic tuning. Note that like the 99s, the 105 series is manufactured in China, not Romania.