Audeze MM-500 review and test — planar magnetic headphones for studio and home

Audeze MM-500 review and test — planar magnetic headphones for the studio and home

Maxim Liadov

American manufacturer Audeze needs little introduction. Its products are closely associated with reference-quality planar magnetic headphones. The company continues developing separate products for audiophiles, gamers, and professional users. Audeze has long said its headphones suit professionals and previously introduced the specialized LCD-MX4 for studio work, with powerful magnets and low impedance like the flagship LCD-4z. Its price was unusually high for the professional market, however, and size and weight remained considerable. The model attracted more audiophiles than musicians.

The new MM-500 from the professional MM Series is therefore more appealing. It is still expensive, but the price has almost halved, a significant achievement. Appearance and materials remain appropriate for higher LCD models. Construction is strong and entirely metal, using steel and aluminum alloy.

Alongside this text review, watch our detailed 4K video review. We recommend full-screen viewing.

Unlike the video, this text has no running-time limit, allowing a more detailed discussion of the product below.

The design is distinctive and attractive, with an elegant gray metallic finish. Warm lighting in the official American website's photos makes the shell look yellowish, matching the gold MM SERIES logo. In reality, that yellow finish is absent. We think the headphones look better in person.

At first, MM seems to mean music making. The manufacturer's materials instead identify engineer Manny Marroquin as a contributor to design and promotion. He is well known professionally, with 14 Grammy awards and work for Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, Anastacia, Linkin Park, 2Pac, Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, and many other major artists.

One could point out that Dr. Dre also won many Grammys and created Beats. Does that alone justify buying his headphones? Dr. Dre is primarily an artist, winning awards for lyrics, rap collaborations, videos, and similar work. He also owns a record label and successfully marketed a colorful fashion accessory to younger buyers. Manny Marroquin, by contrast, is specifically an audio engineer. All 100% of his awards recognize studio work and sound quality. The MM-500 serves a different purpose too: critical music listening rather than fashion.

The campaign's weak point is that Manny was not using these headphones when he won his earlier awards. He even posed with the MM-500 during work on a recent album to address doubts. On the other hand, a professional of his level can achieve results with almost any equipment and is free to choose the tools he prefers.

More interestingly, this is not an isolated example. Where budgets and equipment choices are unrestricted, top Audeze headphones are widely used in studios. A video about Metropolis Studios, which has worked on recordings by Queen, Michael Jackson, U2, Lady Gaga, Amy Winehouse, Adele, Rihanna, and many others, provides one example. Perhaps this reflects Audeze's advantages over other headphones in tonal accuracy and distortion.

We are more interested in Manny's contribution to the MM-500 itself. The result has a more even tonal balance, lower weight, and a more accessible price. Even allowing for a large marketing element, these changes benefit users and deserve support.

Audeze MM-500 specifications

Type: open-back, full-size
Diaphragm: Ultra-Thin Uniforce
Driver: planar magnetic, with Fazor
Magnets: Fluxor, N50 neodymium
Frequency range: 5 Hz–50 kHz
Driver size: 90 mm
Sensitivity: 100 dB/mW
Nominal impedance: 18 ohms
Maximum input power: 5 W RMS
Minimum amplifier requirement: >100 mW
Recommended amplifier power: >250 mW
Maximum SPL: >130 dB
THD: <0.1% at 100 dB
Weight: 495 g
Product page: audeze.su/mm-500

The specifications contain few surprises. The MM-500 broadly matches LCD flagships. All Audeze planar magnetic drivers share the same principle: an extremely thin diaphragm with conductive tracks sits between magnetic arrays. Higher models add Fazor phase elements intended to reduce aerodynamic turbulence noise. Fluxor uses small thin magnet bars cut at 45 degrees to concentrate the field where the flat coil conductors pass. The main difference is a 90 mm driver rather than 106 mm. This should not cause concern: the most expensive, advanced LCD-5 uses the same diaphragm diameter, and its sound has received no such complaints. This may become the standard for later Audeze models.

The reduced 18-ohm impedance and high 100 dB/mW sensitivity initially suggest easy amplifier matching. Compared with high-impedance Beyerdynamic DT-770/990 PRO headphones, the MM-500 plays about ten decibels louder. Volume is roughly comparable with typical 32-ohm dynamic headphones, giving ordinary users plenty of level. High sensitivity is also useful when working in a DAW with uncompressed, unlimited tracks much quieter than the final mix.

Volume alone is not enough. The MM-500's 18-ohm load benefits from an amplifier that supplies high current without rising distortion. Unfortunately, half of audio equipment cannot do this well. Phones and integrated PC audio can drive the headphones, but high-quality equipment is needed to reveal their full potential.

These Audeze headphones are open, so they do not replace closed AKG K240 Studio or Sony MDR-7506 headphones for artist cue playback during recording. The MM-500 is intended for critical processing and mixing. Its open design supports a more even, balanced sound without bass emphasis or boom.

Audeze introduced the lighter, low-impedance Ultra-Thin Uniforce diaphragm with the LCD-4z, and uses that development here. It mainly improves midrange and treble. Older planars often offered either strongly recessed treble or an uneven response with sharp peaks. Modern diaphragms improve this significantly. The MM-500 can sound muted compared with many dynamic headphones, yet reasonably bright compared with classic planars.

Construction emphasizes comfort and practicality as far as planar magnetic technology allows. There are no exotic wooden cups, carbon fiber, or crocodile leather. Steel and light aluminum alloy reduce weight to 495 g.

That is still considerable, so comfort receives careful attention. Fit adjustment is extensive, and the cups rotate widely in two planes. Even on a large head, they fit correctly without pressure or discomfort. The specially shaped asymmetric leather pads are very good. They are not removable because Audeze deliberately attaches them with a tight seal. The official website explains this with supporting graphs. Since it improves response consistency, trusting the manufacturer seems reasonable.

Under the outer grille is metal mesh rather than fabric, protecting the diaphragm against outside damage.

The cups use Audeze's standard three-contact mini-XLR connectors. The included braided cable ends in a full-size TRS jack, as in the LCD range. This plug is common in both professional and consumer equipment. Other cables are optional, including the much more expensive official Audeze Premium cable that impressed us during LCD-4 testing.

Frequency-response measurements

Measurements used the hardware and software measurement system RightMark™ Audio Analyzer PRO. A Danish-made Brüel & Kjær 4153 Artificial Ear/Ear Simulator (IEC 60318-1), costing about 5000 euros, was used.

These measurements are for reference, not for predicting sound. The Brüel & Kjær fixture effectively simulates ear acoustic impedance up to 16 kHz.

The graph shows full frequency coverage, important for professional work and ordinary listening. The midrange is exceptionally even.

Many MM-500 measurements are available online. Regardless of fixture, they show an even response following the Harman headphone target, intended to reflect perception of speakers in a room. The target's bass boost can be disregarded: it was added relatively recently to account statistically for younger listeners who consider stronger bass normal. More interestingly, the MM-500 almost duplicates the LCD-5 response, supporting the similarity of their diaphragms.

Audeze says frequency response is important but does not determine headphone sound. One model can have a better-looking graph yet sound much worse, because response describes level at each frequency, not music reproduction quality.

Sound

To explore its potential, we connected the MM-500 to the best DACs and amplifiers available to us, including Ferrum ERCO, an external DAC with a powerful headphone amplifier. It handled this straightforward load easily and produced engaging, energetic sound.

The MM-500 immediately sounds exceptionally comfortable and balanced. Bass is almost ideal: coherent and powerful without any hint of boom. Compared with some LCD models, listeners may miss extremely deep, physical sub-bass. But the MM-500 aims to present the recording neutrally rather than impress with a special interpretation. It is not emotionless. The presentation resembles expensive high-end speakers in a well-treated room. It is somewhat like electrostatics: everything is clear without tiring peaks or excessive distortion.

The MM-500 is bright compared with typical planars but calmer than dynamic headphones. For professional work, we would mainly use it to judge bass and midrange, then check treble on full-range studio monitors. Mix translation cannot rely on any one perfect system. Engineers must also check consumer speakers, typical dynamic headphones with sharp treble peaks, and even smartphone speakers. This is now a standard requirement from rights holders and distributors. Owning an MM-500 does not replace professional experience and knowledge.

We think the division between professional and consumer equipment is flexible. Professionals usually want good sound first, then decide how to use it. Bob Clearmountain's Yamaha NS10 began as consumer speakers and became NS10 Studio after treble response was corrected. Audeze followed a similar path. After using LCD models in studios, professionals asked for a flatter response, simpler cup materials without exotic bubinga wood, and lower weight, while retaining the strengths. The result is the excellent-sounding MM-500, useful to anyone who likes its sound.

Conclusions

Our tests showed that the Audeze MM-500 is an evolution of the LCD range. It offers recent flagship technology in a more practical form at a better price. Excellent comfort and appearance accompany the familiar Audeze sound, now a step closer to the ideal. We are confident that both audiophiles and studio musicians will enjoy it.

Note. This is an adapted machine translation into English. It follows the “In simple terms” approach. Read the original article at https://prosound.ixbt.com/monitors/audeze-mm-500.shtml.