Short answer: both are discontinued, so this only matters if you are buying used, though neither ranks well in its class. Used, the Meze 12 Classics is the better pick: it ranks #711 of 865 in-ear headphones by sound quality (rated 2.6/5), against #781 (rated 2.1/5) for the Meze 12 Classics V2. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 865 in-ear headphones, and the ThieAudio Monarch MKIII, ranked #1 at $999, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
The Meze 12 Classics is the better-sounding pick. Its tonal tilt of +0.36 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright. The catch: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
The case for the Meze 12 Classics V2: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. Watch for: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used.
Buy the Meze 12 Classics only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the ThieAudio Monarch MKIII instead.
Want more options? Browse the full Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Meze 12 Classics | Meze 12 Classics V2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #711 of 865 in In-Ear Headphones | #781 of 865 in In-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | In-ear | In-ear |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 8mm dynamic | 1 x 8mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 16 ohms | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/mW | - |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 24kHz | 16Hz - 24kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 57 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 50 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 3.65 dB standard deviation | 4.27 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-10.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 13, 2026 at 3:17 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Meze 12 Classics Discontinued eBay
Pros: Its tonal tilt of +0.36 sits close to the target, so the overall balance is neither dark nor bright. It uses 1 x 8mm dynamic with an easy 16 ohm load.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. A Harman score of 57 places it in the lower part of the in-ear rankings.
Full Meze 12 Classics review and specifications →
| Connection | Wired |
|---|---|
| Deviation From Target | 3.65 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 8mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 24kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 57 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/mW |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +7.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 119 Hz | -4.8 dB | 0.29 |
| Peak | 984 Hz | +4.5 dB | 0.87 |
| Peak | 5,311 Hz | -8.8 dB | 5.77 |
| Peak | 9,227 Hz | +6.4 dB | 1.80 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +1.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,873 Hz | -3.0 dB | 4.29 |
| Peak | 1,970 Hz | +1.2 dB | 2.83 |
| Peak | 3,722 Hz | +1.3 dB | 3.48 |
| Peak | 2,589 Hz | -0.9 dB | 5.95 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Meze 12 Classics V2 Discontinued eBay
Pros: Lower mids sit within about 0.5 dB of target, keeping voices and guitars natural. It uses 1 x 8mm dynamic with an easy 16 ohm load.
Cons: Discontinued, so it is mainly found used. Presence sits about 3.2 dB low with an 11.3 dB dip near 11.5 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite. A 5.5 dB peak near 6.1 kHz can make cymbals and sibilance sound sharp. Sub-bass is 10 dB short at 30 Hz, so deep bass lacks rumble. A Harman score of 50 places it in the lower part of the in-ear rankings.
Full Meze 12 Classics V2 review and specifications →
| Released | 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.27 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 8mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | In-ear |
| Frequency Response | 16Hz - 24kHz |
| Harman Preference Score | 50 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-10.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.06 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -7.1 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +7.8 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 185 Hz | -6.7 dB | 0.21 |
| Peak | 9,302 Hz | +6.2 dB | 2.06 |
| Peak | 5,450 Hz | -9.9 dB | 5.87 |
| Peak | 1,057 Hz | +6.8 dB | 0.46 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +2.0 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,155 Hz | +1.6 dB | 3.35 |
| Peak | 2,955 Hz | -1.9 dB | 5.07 |
| Peak | 1,341 Hz | -1.2 dB | 3.08 |
| Peak | 869 Hz | +0.8 dB | 3.20 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples