esmneuhofMore or less. It's got some pieces replaced with cheaper bits. It's got a slightly different headband. It's made in China from Black Walnut. The drivers are exactly the same as the drivers in the 99 Classics. These also come with reproduction Gen1 ear pads loose and a set of Gen3 style earpads installed.
From the reviews of people who own the Classics and Noirs and frequency graph comparisons of the two, they sound very similar. Some have even said the Noirs are an upgrade in sound.
esmneuhofI listened to the original Meze 99's in a store and call me impressed. I like the bass but wasn't able to decide whether it will become too much after longer listening sessions. I like the bass of my Sennheiser HD58X's and it's a great headphone to listen to for longer stretches.