Audeze MM-100

[pk4425]

There was no classic rock after the late 80’s but I get what you’re saying.

Any band that's eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame -- 25 years after its first release -- can be considered classic rock these days. At least that's the way I see it

 

[pk4425]

I’m super excited by these. I‘ve owned the Mobius, Penrose, LCD-2C and LCD-X. What I want is a LCD-X lite. Something not as heavy or expensive. I had the EL-8 open at one point and really liked those but it was really early in my audio journey. Something like those without the proprietary cables. Never tried the LCD1 but those didn’t seem to be received with that much enthusiasm. The Maxwells look great, but I prefer open backs. Hope we get some details soon.

Bingo. My sentiments exactly.

 

[Metalingus]

Wow, just found this... While I have been saving up for MM-500 for a while (almost pulled the trigger at Canjam SG), this one would definitely be a much better value buy instead.

Considering LCD-X at $900 b-stock. Should i save up for M-500? Were you able to compare them?

Had LCD-X in 2019, sold it due to personal reasons and regret that ever since. But i remember weight was issue. I wasn’t able to move my head before they start to fall and require to adjust. And treble were sharp, mids were bit unrealistic for me. But bass slam… never heard again in any headphone.

 

[pk4425]

Considering LCD-X at $900 b-stock. Should i save up for M-500? Were you able to compare them?

Had LCD-X in 2019, sold it due to personal reasons and regret that ever since. But i remember weight was issue. I wasn’t able to move my head before they start to fall and require to adjust. And treble were sharp, mids were bit unrealistic for me. But bass slam… never heard again in any headphone.

The current LCD-X 2021 is different than the LCD-X 2019. Fazor magnets, I believe, and better, more balanced tuning.

Most prefer the 2021 version, but some like the older 2019 sound.

 

[Alex May]

I concur. The LCD-X 2021 is a much better value. This is the best sounding Audeze headphone imho after the 2021 revision. Technically it's absolutely the same as the MM-500 but the tuning and soundstage are much better. I couldn't stand the MM-500's enormous peak at 3K and the following contrasting descent that never reaches Harman again, also the absence of subs compared to the LCD-X and the claustrophobic soundstage. Very overpriced in my opinion for what they offer. Therefore, for me personally the LCD-X 2021 is miles ahead in terms of value and sound.

I really look forward to see what the MM-100 is capable of. High hopes in terms of value for money.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

tuning and soundstage are much better

Gonna have to disagree there. I find the soundstage on the LCD-X (2021, haven't heard the 2019) to be slightly wider, but not as deep so I'd call that a wash. As far as tuning goes, I'll take the MM-500 every time. The LCD-X is very unnatural sounding to me. All the bass slam in the world can't make up for the other two-thirds of their range making vocals and instruments sound like they're being played through various cans, tubes, and bullhorns. A headphone with mids that can make Norah Jones sound bad has problems. All of that is obvious just my opinion and it doesn't surprise me at all that your's is different. That's just the nature of audio/headphones.

Edit: Almost forgot to say, that we do agree on looking forward to seeing what the MM-100s are all about.

 

[Alex May]

For $400-500 I would have no complaints. I just think that Audeze headphones are extremely overpriced for what they offer. I personally would choose the HE1000SE over any top tier Audeze any day hands down. I also prefer the Arya over the LCD-X for critical listening, if we compare apples to apples, and only use the LCD-X if I absolutely need subs and bass slam.

My only hope is that they won't deliberately deteriorate and make the upcoming MM-100 sound worse by using some special worsening contraptions on top of the well devised and widely used technology in order to justify the price.

 

[Metalingus]

For $400-500 I would have no complaints. I just think that Audeze headphones are extremely overpriced for what they offer. I personally would choose the HE1000SE over any top tier Audeze any day hands down. I also prefer the Arya over the LCD-X for critical listening, if we compare apples to apples, and only use the LCD-X if I absolutely need subs and bass slam.

My only hope is that they won't deliberately deteriorate and make the upcoming MM-100 sound worse by using some special worsening contraptions on top of the well devised and widely used technology in order to justify the price.

Here are my Arya's and i vastly prefer sound that i remember from LCD-X 2019. There are stealth and i can't notice a single difference running them with lightning dongle or Topping G5. Very easy to power but bright, harsh sound especially with the treble and compared them side by side with HD 800 S. 800 S excels in every way possible compared to these. I don't know why reviewers praise HIFIMAN because they built like $30 cans and profit margin is really high when you sell one, not with Audeze.

I'll probably get LCD-X again but this time not without trying MM-500. Found a place in Istanbul where i can try one and go there on saturday.

 

[Alex May]

i vastly prefer sound that i remember from LCD-X 2019

You like the sound with completely destroyed high mids? Oh well, to each his own.

There are stealth [...] bright, harsh sound especially with the treble

Mine is Arya V2, non-stealth. Very smooth and forgiving sound, a little distant, albeit very detailed and airy, maybe just a tad bright sometimes at 4-5K and 8K but that's what you would normally need for critical listening to find flaws in music material and do mastering jobs. Mind you, any high end Beyerdynamic is 100 times more harsh, piercing and straightforward sibilant. I know that the Arya Stealth has more energy above 10K than the V2 which Andrew Resolve mentioned as well. It can be offensive for some young and sensitive listeners. I can assure you, the Meze 109 Pro can also be unnaturally harsh on trumpets, chimes, hats and shakers. However, everybody loves Meze 109 Pro.

I listened these three side by side: The Arya Stealth, the MM-500, and the LCD-X 2021.

• The Arya Stealth was giving me a lot of detail and soundstage, not much slam, the sound was a bit more forward than in my relaxed and wide Arya V2 but still very enjoyable and more or less natural throughout the whole spectrum.
• The MM-500 - that's what sounded really harsh in the high mids which in conjunction with drastically lowered consecutive frequencies masked all the resolution for me and simply resonated at 3K with narrow soundstage and no sub-bass rumble.
• As soon as I put on the LCD-X 2021 I got a smile on my face again because the soundstage and tonality returned back to normal, whatever "normal" can an Audeze headphone ever be. And I heard that addictive sub-bass rumble again, the one I missed in the MM-500.

800 S excels in every way possible compared to these.

The HD800S is what I consider the most thin sounding headphone on Earth with literally non-existent bass. The only thing they excel in is the soundstage. Not much though compared to the Arya that has at least enough body and bass to critically assess and enjoy. Again as I said, to each his own. This is just my perspective as a sound engineer who sometimes just listens to music for sheer enjoyment but still needs a tool for work.

By now the HE1000SE is the closest one for me to be an ideal headphone either for mixing, mastering, and enjoyment. But the price is kinda prohibitive to use it as a workhorse in the studio. I'd be happy with a lot more simple and less expensive planar headphone, if it's good enough for the studio.

 

[pk4425]

As soon as I put on the LCD-X 2021 I got a smile on my face again because the soundstage and tonality returned back to normal, whatever "normal" can an Audeze headphone ever be. And I heard that addictive sub-bass rumble again, the one I missed in the MM-500.

If you like the sub-bass rumble of the LCD-X 2021, you would RELISH the bass and sub-bass of the LCD-2C. That can makes the LCD-X 2021 sound neutral.

Sure, the mids are wonky (normal for Audeze) and the treble a bit blunted or veiled with the LCD-2C, but the imaging is very good. Nothing that a little EQ can't fix, as like all Audezes, the LCD-2C take just about any EQ you throw at them. The LCD-2C is a smidge lighter than the barbell-like LCD-X 2021, too.

I sold my LCD-2C to help fund the purchase of my LCD-X 2021. No regrets, as the LCD-X 2021 with that can's preset on Roon or a good convolution filter I found online is my best headphone. But there are days when I miss my LCD-2C, especially with hard rock.

 

[Beagle]

You like the sound with completely destroyed high mids? Oh well, to each his own.

Mine is Arya V2, non-stealth. Very smooth and forgiving sound, a little distant, albeit very detailed and airy, maybe just a tad bright sometimes at 4-5K and 8K but that's what you would normally need for critical listening to find flaws in music material and do mastering jobs. Mind you, any high end Beyerdynamic is 100 times more harsh, piercing and straightforward sibilant. I know that the Arya Stealth has more energy above 10K than the V2 which Andrew Resolve mentioned as well. It can be offensive for some young and sensitive listeners. I can assure you, the Meze 109 Pro can also be unnaturally harsh on trumpets, chimes, hats and shakers. However, everybody loves Meze 109 Pro.

I listened these three side by side: The Arya Stealth, the MM-500, and the LCD-X 2021.

• The Arya Stealth was giving me a lot of detail and soundstage, not much slam, the sound was a bit more forward than in my relaxed and wide Arya V2 but still very enjoyable and more or less natural throughout the whole spectrum.
• The MM-500 - that's what sounded really harsh in the high mids which in conjunction with drastically lowered consecutive frequencies masked all the resolution for me and simply resonated at 3K with narrow soundstage and no sub-bass rumble.
• As soon as I put on the LCD-X 2021 I got a smile on my face again because the soundstage and tonality returned back to normal, whatever "normal" can an Audeze headphone ever be. And I heard that addictive sub-bass rumble again, the one I missed in the MM-500.

The HD800S is what I consider the most thin sounding headphone on Earth with literally non-existent bass. The only thing they excel in is the soundstage. Not much though compared to the Arya that has at least enough body and bass to critically assess and enjoy. Again as I said, to each his own. This is just my perspective as a sound engineer who sometimes just listens to music for sheer enjoyment but still needs a tool for work.

By now the HE1000SE is the closest one for me to be an ideal headphone either for mixing, mastering, and enjoyment. But the price is kinda prohibitive to use it as a workhorse in the studio. I'd be happy with a lot more simple and less expensive planar headphone, if it's good enough for the studio.

Plenty of bass on the HD800S. But if you are used to higher than neutral excess, it would sound thin. It’s also a matter of taste and preference of course.

 

[Metalingus]

If you like the sub-bass rumble of the LCD-X 2021, you would RELISH the bass and sub-bass of the LCD-2C. That can makes the LCD-X 2021 sound neutral.

Sure, the mids are wonky (normal for Audeze) and the treble a bit blunted or veiled with the LCD-2C, but the imaging is very good. Nothing that a little EQ can't fix, as like all Audezes, the LCD-2C take just about any EQ you throw at them. The LCD-2C is a smidge lighter than the barbell-like LCD-X 2021, too.

I sold my LCD-2C to help fund the purchase of my LCD-X 2021. No regrets, as the LCD-X 2021 with that can's preset on Roon or a good convolution filter I found online is my best headphone. But there are days when I miss my LCD-2C, especially with hard rock.

Appreciate your input. Back to MM-100, i'd totally but that for $399. Day one order for me.

 

[HipHopScribe]

Love that Audeze is learning lessons from the LCD-1/Penrose/Mobius and beefing up build quality on their sub-$500 headphones. Keeping my fingers crossed for a wireless version of the MM-100 to replace my Deva Pros. I love the Maxwells and would love an open-back Audeze, but I'm pretty much done with wires.

 

[kadinh]

Definitely interested in these!

 

[Hitorijanae]

https://www.audeze.com/products/mm-100

Preorders are up