If you want an open-back headphone with a warm, spacious presentation for listening at home, choose MEZE AUDIO 105; if you need a closed-back design with more sound isolation and flexible tuning, choose MEZE AUDIO. For basketball, neither is designed as a sports or waterproof headset, so I wouldn’t choose either for sweaty play or outdoor court use.
The key difference is how each headphone handles its surroundings: the 105 AER’s open-back design suits quieter spaces, while the closed-back 99 Classics Second Gen is the more practical option when you want to keep more outside noise at bay.
• MEZE AUDIO 105 (105 AER): Open-back design and a warm, full-bodied sound with extra bass presence; its trade-off is that open backs are a poor fit when you need isolation.
• MEZE AUDIO (99 Classics Second Gen): Closed-back construction, two tonal options, and a USB-C DAC/AMP; its trade-off is that it cannot provide the same open-back listening experience.
• Choose the 105 AER if you mainly listen in a quiet room and value a spacious presentation.
• Choose the 99 Classics Second Gen if you want a closed-back headphone with adjustable warmth and included USB-C connectivity.
• Neither is described as waterproof or as a sports headset, so neither is my pick for earbuds for basketball or active court use.
The MEZE AUDIO 105 is the 105 AER, a wired, over-ear headphone with an open-back design and 50 mm dynamic drivers. Its stated frequency range is 20 Hz to 30 kHz, and its impedance is 42 ohms. The sound is described as warm and full-bodied, with a slight lift in the bass and sub-bass. That combination points toward music listening where you want a rounded low end without giving up a sense of space or separation between instruments.
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Its velour ear pads and self-adjusting headband are intended to support longer listening sessions. The package includes a detachable 1.8 m cable, a 3.5 mm-to-6.3 mm adapter, a cable pouch, and a hard carrying pouch. The design is also serviceable: components such as the ear cups, headband, cable, and driver can be replaced. That repair-friendly approach is a practical strength for someone who wants headphones they can maintain rather than treat as disposable.
I’d consider the 105 AER for a listener who mostly uses headphones in a calm home setting and prefers a warmer, open presentation. I’d skip it if you need substantial noise isolation, wireless convenience, or a model specifically made for exercise. The open-back construction is the deciding limitation for busy environments, and the product information does not describe it as water-resistant.
Here, MEZE AUDIO refers to the 99 Classics Second Gen: a wired, closed-back, over-ear headphone with wooden ear cups. Its dynamic drivers have a stated frequency range of 15 Hz to 25 kHz, and its impedance is 32 ohms. The updated tuning is described as more balanced than the original 99 Classics, with more controlled bass that leaves greater room for midrange and treble detail. Included acoustic absorbers let listeners shift the sound toward a warmer presentation.
The closed-back design and redesigned pads are intended to improve noise isolation and comfort during longer sessions. The self-adjusting headband uses a manganese spring steel frame, while snap-fit pads are designed to make replacement easier. The supplied accessories include a 1.2 m and a 3 m cable, a carrying case, and a USB-C DAC/AMP. Those details make this the more adaptable pick if your listening devices include one without a headphone jack, or if you want both a shorter and longer cable option.
I’d choose the 99 Classics Second Gen for someone who wants a closed-back wired headphone, appreciates the walnut-wood construction, or would use the option to move between a more balanced sound and a warmer one. I’d skip it if your priority is an open-back presentation or if you need a headset specifically built for sports. It is still a wired over-ear headphone, not a waterproof gaming headset for basketball.
• Best for an open-back listening experience → MEZE AUDIO 105. The 105 AER is the only one here with an open-back design.
• Best for a closed-back design → MEZE AUDIO. The 99 Classics Second Gen is the more suitable choice when you want its closed-back construction and stated noise-isolation focus.
• Best for switching between two sound signatures → MEZE AUDIO. Its included acoustic absorbers let you move toward a warmer presentation from its more balanced tuning.
• Best for a warm, bass-emphasized starting point → MEZE AUDIO 105. Its sound is described as full-bodied, with some extra emphasis in the bass and sub-bass.
• Best for USB-C connectivity → MEZE AUDIO. It includes a compact USB-C DAC/AMP, alongside a 3.5 mm connection.
• Best for a 6.3 mm adapter in the package → MEZE AUDIO 105. Its accessories include a 3.5 mm-to-6.3 mm adapter.
• Best for choosing between two cable lengths → MEZE AUDIO. It comes with 1.2 m and 3 m cables, while the 105 AER includes a 1.8 m cable.
• Best for basketball or sweaty workouts → Neither. Neither product is described as waterproof or designed specifically for sports. If you’re searching for the best headphones for basketball, look for a purpose-built sports option with suitable sweat and water protection instead.
I’d buy the MEZE AUDIO 99 Classics Second Gen for general wired listening because its closed-back design, two tonal options, and USB-C DAC/AMP make it the more adaptable of these two. That is my preference for everyday use, not a claim that it suits every listener: the 105 AER makes more sense if open-back sound and its warmer presentation are your priorities. For basketball, I’d choose neither.
The 99 Classics Second Gen is described for gaming use and has a closed-back design, which may appeal if you want more isolation. The 105 AER is open-back and may suit quiet-room listening, but neither product’s listed details establish gaming-specific features such as a microphone.
The product details do not describe the 105 AER as waterproof or as a sports model. I would not assume it can handle sweat or outdoor court conditions.
The 99 Classics Second Gen is the closed-back option, and its redesigned earpads are described as enhancing noise isolation. The 105 AER is open-back, so it is the less appropriate choice when blocking outside sound is important.
Both have a warm-leaning option, but they approach it differently. The 105 AER starts with a warm, full-bodied presentation and some added bass emphasis; the 99 Classics Second Gen has a more balanced default tuning and includes absorbers for shifting toward a warmer sound.
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