The Audeze MM-100 headphones are the newest member of Audeze’s studio-ready MM series. Packed with impressive hardware, the MM-100 aims to strike a balance between immersive, studio-quality audio and accessibility for a wide range of audio enthusiasts and professionals alike. Designed in collaboration with Manny Marroquin, a world-leading audio engineer, the MM-100 pulls no punches in providing some of the best reference audio for the price point.
While I’m no stranger to Audeze’s work, having reviewed the excellent Maxwell Wireless gaming Headset a few months ago, this is the first of their studio headsets I’ve had a chance to take for a spin. As with the Maxwell Wireless, the new MM-100 is quality-built. Featuring an over-ear, open-back design, the MM-100 is quite light, weighing around 385g. The frame and body of the headphones are comprised of a magnesium/aluminum alloy which feels quite sturdy and rugged. Everything from the headvvvvband, earcup mounts and outer grill plate covers are made up of the alloy making the MM-100’s impressively durable.
The result is headphones that I’m not afraid to toss in my bag while setting up and recording a podcast at a remote location. While Audeze includes a soft storage bag for the headphones and cables, which is appreciated, the MM-100 is a tough pair of headphones that have survived the rigours of travelling with me for the past month. That is a testament to the durability of the design and construction of the MM-100, as I am anything but gentle on electronics.
“Featuring an over-ear, open-back design, the MM-100 is quite light, weighing around 385g.”
Once again, Audeze ensured that the MM-100 is the gold standard for comfort. For starters, the headband includes a pad on the underside of the band and an adjustable suspension strap. The result is a headband that feels incredibly comfortable on the top of the head and, while it helps keep the headphones in place, never applies noticeable pressure to the head.
The ear cups, likewise, are also delightful to wear. Each ear cup includes a gel-filled leather ear pad that applies little pressure to the side of the head, even when wearing glasses. It completely encapsulates the ear but never gets too warm either. This can be attributed to the open-back design, which allows for air to dissipate away from the ear.
Another appreciated aspect of the MM-100 design is the inclusion of a headphone jack on both ear cups. The included braided 3.5-mm to 6.5-mm cable can be easily connected to either ear cup, allowing for optimal connection no matter the setup. No matter the side, stereo audio plays correctly. It’s a small but incredible quality-of-life detail.
On the note of cables, the MM-100 includes the aforementioned braided cable and an additional 6.5-mm to 3.5-mm adapter, allowing for connection to a vast array of devices. Thanks to the MM-100’s impressively low impedance of only 18 ohms, the headphones can be connected to practically any device with a compatible port. This reinforces the MM-100 design as a studio-quality headphone that is accessible to a broader range of users. Its sheer adaptability while also maintaining quality is a strength of the headphones.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the MM-100, though, is the audio drivers. Sporting 90-mm planar magnetic transducers, the MM-100 uses the same Fluxor magnet array as the Maxwell Wireless. As noted with the Maxwell Wireless, what makes the Fluxor magnet array unique is the material it is constructed from. This allows for larger drivers that are both lighter in weight and stronger magnetically. Stronger magnetic fields translate to more control over the diaphragm, giving the headphones a more true-to-source audio experience. In essence, the MM-100 does an incredible job producing an audio profile that simulates the mix the way the artist intended.
The MM-100, however, has been tuned differently than the Maxwell Wireless. This is thanks in large part to the aforementioned collaboration with Grammy-winning audio engineer Manny Marroquin. While you might not be familiar with the name, you would most certainly be familiar with his work, as he has worked with some of the biggest artists in pop, R&B, hip-hop and rock.
Perhaps one of my favourite albums that he mixed and produced is John Mayer’s 2006 album Continuum. Though I’ve always been a fan of Mayer’s early work, listening to it through the MM-100 added a new level of appreciation for details I hadn’t noticed previously. Having Manny Marroquin’s insight and experience has simply added to the overall quality of the audio the MM-100 can produce.
“The MM-100 uses the same Fluxor magnet array as the Maxwell Wireless, allowing for larger drivers that are both lighter in weight and stronger magnetically.”
This is what makes the MM-100 so good: they are excellent headphones for referencing without the rather large price tag generally associated with studio headphones. In frequency testing, there were no notable noise issues at any point. Low-end frequencies were clean and full, while the mid and high end were incredibly clean and clear without being too bright. Across the frequency spectrum, the MM-100 provides an exceptionally clean and balanced audio profile.
To further test the MM-100, I’ve been using them for the past month to mix a weekly podcast I host, which includes a rotating roster of guests. While I’ve been mixing this podcast for the past 234 episodes (about five years), since switching to the MM-100, I’ve found myself further cleaning up and readjusting FX channels I had previously fine-tuned over years of editing. The result has been a cleaner and truer representation of the various voices around the room, so to speak.
One of the things I’ve appreciated most while testing the MM-100 is how much more aware of the mix I am when listening. The MM-100 does an excellent job presenting the mix as it was intended without adding extras to the audio profile. Between editing podcasts, video content and even going back to listen to singles and albums I’ve heard 100 times, I’ve found myself hearing things I simply hadn’t heard before. While I’ve tested other studio headphones, the MM-100 offers a level of clarity and trueness to the audio I haven’t heard in headphones in this price range.
The fact that this calibre of studio headphones is available at a sub-$500 price point reinforces Manny Marroquin’s desire to “make studio-quality sound accessible to a broader audience” (quote from Audeze official press release, April 12, 2022). The MM-100 is a testament to that passion and desire. While there are some excellent studio headphones on the market, I haven’t experienced any in this price range that come close to what the MM-100 can produce. They truly are my favourite reference headphones to date.
The MM-100 headphones from Audeze are the most impressive studio headphones I’ve tested in the sub-$500 price range. I’d go so far as to say they easily beat out some of those I’ve tested above that price point. From incredible comfort to rugged design to an incredible audio profile, the MM-100 is a studio-quality headphone that is truly accessible to a broader audience.
- Pedigree: Designed in collaboration with 17x time Grammy award-winning engineer/producer Manny Marroquin
- Durable: Premium chassis featuring magnesium, aluminum, and steel
