The original ZEN CAN, our all-analogue headphone amplifier, had the ability to drive tough headphone loads with a balanced circuit design, vanishingly low levels of distortion and exceptional sonics. The specially tuned ZEN CAN Signature 6XX and ZEN CAN Signature HFM swiftly followed.

However, there was one more headphone we thought deserved the ActiveEQ treatment – the Meze 99 Classics.

We love this headphone and know it works well with our gear but we just wanted to push its performance as far as we could.

Our ActivEQ feature combines active and passive components to create a specific EQ curve to suit a particular pair of headphones. This is performed in the analogue domain without adding any additional noise or distortion.

The Meze 99 Classics are revered the world over for their exceptional tonality and dynamic expression – they are loved by artists and audio enthusiasts alike. The ZEN CAN Signature MZ99, with the perfectly matched ActivEQ mode, adjusts the treble for more ‘vivaciousness’, and the enhanced mid-low bass extracts the last drop of sonic goodness from the Meze 99 Classics.

The Meze 99 Classics & ZEN CAN Signature MZ99 performance is simply magnificent.

Selecting the MZ99 button on the ZEN CAN Signature MZ99 calibrates its signal to complement the headphone’s response characteristics right across the frequency range. This then tunes its performance to work with Meze 99 headphones.

The ZEN CAN Signature MZ99 does not only work with the Meze 99 Classics, but also with the Meze 99 Neo and the Meze 99 by Drop.

As with our previous ZEN CAN Signature models, this feature can be switched on or off. Without ActivEQ engaged, the ZEN CAN Signature MZ99’s performance will bring out the best in all other headphones and in-ear monitors.

• Input Voltage: 5V/2.5A
• Max Output: Balanced: >15.1V/385 mW (@ 600 Ohm), >11.0V/1890 mW (@ 64 Ohm), >6.2V/1200 mW (@ 32 Ohm), Single-Ended: >7.6V/98mW (@ 600 Ohm), >7.4V/870 mW (@ 64 Ohm), >7.2V/1600 mW (@ 32 Ohm)
• THD+N: <0.006% (@ 360 mW/2.4V 16 Ohm), <0.005% (@ 100 mW/1.27V 16 Ohm)
• SNR: Balanced: >121dBA (@ 15.2V), Single-Ended: >120dBA (@ 7.6V )
• Max Output: Balanced: 7.4V RMS, RCA: 3.8V RMS, 3.5mm: 1.92V RMS
• Gain: 0dB, 6dB, 12dB and 18dB
• Frequency Response: 10Hz - 200kHz (-3dB)
• Power consumption: No Signal ~5W, Max Signal ~12W
• Line Section:
• Outputs: Balanced: 6.7V max. (variable), Unbalanced: 3.5V max. (variable)
• Output Impedance: Balanced: <200Ω, Unbalanced: <100Ω
• SNR: Balanced: <110dB(A) @ 0dBFS, Unbalanced: <110dB(A) @ 0dBFS
• THD+N: Balanced: <0.007% @ 0dBFS, Unbalanced: <0.015% @ 0dBFS
• Headphone Section:
• Outputs: Balanced: 6.7V max. @ 600Ω, Unbalanced: 3.5V max. @ 600Ω
• Output Power: Balanced: >1000mW @ 32Ω; >74mW @ 600Ω, Unbalanced: >320mW @ 32Ω; >40mW @ 300Ω
• Output Impedance: Balanced: <1Ω, Unbalanced: <1Ω
• SNR: Balanced: <116dB(A) @ 0dBFS, Unbalanced: <115dB(A) @ 0dBFS
• THD+N: <0.005% (1V @ 16Ω)