Audeze MM-500 | Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones

Audeze Knocked it Out of the Park%21

Now that I%27ve had some time to listen to the MM-500%2C I wanted to share some insights. Most of which were concerns of mine before purchasing.%0D%0A%0D%0ABUILD%3A%0D%0AThis was not a concern for me but it can’t be overstated just how well-built the MM-500 is. They’re built like a tank and feel indestructible unless intentionally misused. I purchased an open box so mine came with a few minor nicks in the paint. Nothing crazy but you can scratch them if you’re a little careless with them. That said%2C I think these could look really cool with some battle scars accrued over the years. The leather on the ear pads and headband are high quality as well. In the hand%2C the MM-500 feels like a sound investment. No pun intended.%0D%0A%0D%0ACOMFORT%3A%0D%0AComing from the Arya Stealth%2C I was bit concerned about comfort. I think I have a medium%2Flarge head. I read a lot of complaints about clamp force and the suspension strap. Yes%2C MM-500 is “clampy” but it doesn’t bother me during extended listening sessions. Perhaps it’s because of the ear pads which are the softest I’ve ever experienced. Regarding the suspension strap%2C there are more comfortable implementations%2C like that on the Arya SE. That said%2C the headband comfort is good in my opinion.%0D%0A%0D%0ASOUND%3A%0D%0AI%27ll start by saying my expectations were definitely met here. The MM-500 is detailed%2C balanced%2C and punchy with good body.%0D%0A%0D%0AResolution - Detail retrieval is excellent and very competitive at %241-2k price point. I’m very pleased with it.%0D%0A%0D%0AStaging - If you’re coming from an Arya or HD800 variant%2C things might feel a little closed in at first. That’s how I felt when I did an initial A%2FB comparison with the Arya SE. Thankfully%2C I gave myself a moment to adjust to it. After adjusting%2C the stage is neither wide nor narrow to me. It’s middle of the road. This could be an issue for some but it’s fine for me. The stage is also tall%2C which I like%2C but may cause some to perceive the stage as being slightly narrower than it actually is.%0D%0A%0D%0AImaging - In short%2C imaging is very good. At least on par with the Arya SE%2C if not better. Positioning%2C layering%2C space between instruments blah blah blah… all very good.%0D%0A%0D%0ATreble - It’s definitely relaxed but not lacking in my opinion. The treble is still very detailed and completely inoffensive. I’ve always enjoyed the treble on the Arya SE and never found it to be too bright or fatiguing. That said%2C I also really enjoy the treble on the MM-500. Not sure how that’s possible but all is good here as far as I’m concerned.%0D%0A%0D%0AMids - The mids are definitely north of neutral but I didn’t experience any shout or honk whatsoever. I was actually expecting them to be more forward. I guess this is a reminder not to put too much faith in measurements. I really enjoy this presentation.%0D%0A%0D%0ABass - I’m not a bass head but I was concerned that the bass would be a little too lean for my tastes. Bass is pretty neutral in my opinion. It’s very tight with good texture. Nothing more%2C nothing less. Although%2C I would prefer a pinch more sub bass%2C I never feel the need to use EQ. The MM-500 bass gives me exactly what I need%2C not what I want haha. I’m good with that.%0D%0A%0D%0ACONCLUSION%3A%0D%0AI was a looking for a headphone with a detailed%2C full bodied%2C and mostly uncolored sound. Something that would complement the Arya SE. I feel like I previously had that with the Clear Mg but I think the MM-500 suits my tastes a bit better. Audeze deserves a lot of credit for creating a reference sound that’s not boring. It’s actually quite engaging. Very pleased with the purchase.

My favorite headphones

I listened to Hifiman Arya SE, Arya Organic, Meze Elite, and Empyrean in Bloom Audio that day. They were all great headphones, just not the sound that I was looking for. Then Steve recommended MM-500 to me which initially I didn't want to consider because of the weight. But MM-500 made me forget about the weight because they sound so amazingly good. My first and biggest impression when I listened to MM-500 was everything sounded so correct but also musical. They are easy to be driven by a portable device and they are pretty comfortable to wear. Bloom Audio is the best, always.