[deafLovesMusic]

The question is what did they save on that's worth the $1,300 difference, if the diaphragm is the same.

That's a good question and it gets even more important when looking at the comparison table provided by eAcoustics: Sensitivity and max. SPL are different:

	MM-500	MM-100
MSRP	$1,699	$399
Style	Over-ear, open-back	Over-ear, open-back
Transducer type	Planar Magnetic	Planar Magnetic
Magnetic structure	Fluxor™ magnet array	Fluxor™ magnet array
Phase management	Fazor™	Fazor™
Magnet type	Neodymium N50	Neodymium N50
Diaphragm type	Ultra-Thin Uniforce™	Ultra-Thin Uniforce™
Transducer size	90 mm	90 mm
Maximum SPL	>130dB	>120dB
Frequency response	5Hz – 50kHz	10Hz-50kHz
THD	<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz	<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz
Sensitivity	100 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)	98 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)
Impedance	18 ohms	18 ohms
Max power handling	5W RMS	5W RMS
Min recommended power	>100mW	>100mW
Recommended power level	>250mW	>250mW
Earpads	Premium Leather	Gel-filled Leather
Weight	495g	385g

 

[JAnonymous5150]

That's a good question and it gets even more important when looking at the comparison table provided by eAcoustics: Sensitivity and max. SPL are different:

	MM-500	MM-100
MSRP	$1,699	$399
Style	Over-ear, open-back	Over-ear, open-back
Transducer type	Planar Magnetic	Planar Magnetic
Magnetic structure	Fluxor™ magnet array	Fluxor™ magnet array
Phase management	Fazor™	Fazor™
Magnet type	Neodymium N50	Neodymium N50
Diaphragm type	Ultra-Thin Uniforce™	Ultra-Thin Uniforce™
Transducer size	90 mm	90 mm
Maximum SPL	>130dB	>120dB
Frequency response	5Hz – 50kHz	10Hz-50kHz
THD	<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz	<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz
Sensitivity	100 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)	98 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)
Impedance	18 ohms	18 ohms
Max power handling	5W RMS	5W RMS
Min recommended power	>100mW	>100mW
Recommended power level	>250mW	>250mW
Earpads	Premium Leather	Gel-filled Leather
Weight	495g	385g

Someone I was discussing the MM-100s with was speculating that the reduced price and reduced weight may have come from a move to a single sided magnet array. Everything I have read seems to indicate that it uses the same array/structure as other Audeze headphones, but it would explain a lot.

 

[Kane Williams]

That's a good question and it gets even more important when looking at the comparison table provided by eAcoustics: Sensitivity and max. SPL are different:

	MM-500	MM-100
MSRP	$1,699	$399
Style	Over-ear, open-back	Over-ear, open-back
Transducer type	Planar Magnetic	Planar Magnetic
Magnetic structure	Fluxor™ magnet array	Fluxor™ magnet array
Phase management	Fazor™	Fazor™
Magnet type	Neodymium N50	Neodymium N50
Diaphragm type	Ultra-Thin Uniforce™	Ultra-Thin Uniforce™
Transducer size	90 mm	90 mm
Maximum SPL	>130dB	>120dB
Frequency response	5Hz – 50kHz	10Hz-50kHz
THD	<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz	<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz
Sensitivity	100 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)	98 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)
Impedance	18 ohms	18 ohms
Max power handling	5W RMS	5W RMS
Min recommended power	>100mW	>100mW
Recommended power level	>250mW	>250mW
Earpads	Premium Leather	Gel-filled Leather
Weight	495g	385g

Scan UK show the MM100 Frequency response to be 20Hz to 25kHz. I wonder which is correct?

 

[Kane Williams]

Actually, just checked on Audeze's website and they say the MM100 has a FR of 20Hz - 25kHz.

 

[deafLovesMusic]

Thank you for the hints regarding the wrong frequency respnose on the table posted above.

Here you can find the updated table (initial source: eAcoustics):

MM-500	MM-100
MSRP	$1,699	$399
Style	Over-ear, open-back	Over-ear, open-back
Transducer type	Planar Magnetic	Planar Magnetic
Magnetic structure	Fluxor™ magnet array	Fluxor™ magnet array
Phase management	Fazor™	Fazor™
Magnet type	Neodymium N50	Neodymium N50
Diaphragm type	Ultra-Thin Uniforce™	Ultra-Thin Uniforce™
Transducer size	90 mm	90 mm
Maximum SPL	>130dB	>120dB
Frequency response	5Hz – 50kHz	20Hz-25kHz
THD	<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz	<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz
Sensitivity	100 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)	98 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)
Impedance	18 ohms	18 ohms
Max power handling	5W RMS	5W RMS
Min recommended power	>100mW	>100mW
Recommended power level	>250mW	>250mW
Earpads	Premium Leather	Gel-filled Leather
Weight	495g	385g*

*Audeze has not confirmed the weight yet

 

[ThanatosVI]

Looks like a new price/performance Monster.
I wonder how it compares to the LCD-2C (next cheapest in line)

 

[Beagle]

The question is what did they save on that's worth the $1,300 difference, if the diaphragm is the same.

You mean "hype hype" then "bash bash" then eventually turning into a cable thread?

Exactly! And a pad/mod thread also.

Maybe Audeze envisions selling 37 million of the MM100 rather than worrying about moving 3700 of the MM500.

Think Grado Signature HP1000 and the SR300. Drivers and cable the same but housing and frame completely different. As was the sound. And price.

 

[bwardrop]

Just got an announcement email that says they will be shipping in June. More interesting is they will be demoing today through Saturday at NAAM in Anaheim and this weekend at Axpona in Illinois. I hope someone manages to demo them and give some first impressions.

 

[Kevintj604]

Just got an announcement email that says they will be shipping in June. More interesting is they will be demoing today through Saturday at NAAM in Anaheim and this weekend at Axpona in Illinois. I hope someone manages to demo them and give some first impressions.

Pretty exciting and it could be a HUGE market disruptor if it's tuned like the Maxwell.

 

[JAnonymous5150]

Just got an announcement email that says they will be shipping in June. More interesting is they will be demoing today through Saturday at NAAM in Anaheim and this weekend at Axpona in Illinois. I hope someone manages to demo them and give some first impressions.

Saw this, too. Made me wish I was home in SoCal. I only live a little over an hour away from Anaheim so I could've gone and gotten a little preview. Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait until they show up in June.

 

[FullBright1]

Audeze's version of : "Kickstarter"..

Pay us now.
Wait for a while.

The MM-100 is available for pre-order now, with first shipments expected in June 2023. Find out why top audio professionals worldwide rely on Audeze headphones. Upgrade your workflow with MM-100 and never miss a single detail.​

​ AUDEZE MM-100​ ​ $399​

They never have anything for sale at the time of their Product's announcement, seems to be the Audeze Company Motto.
It's how they roll.

 

[bwardrop]

Saw this, too. Made me wish I was home in SoCal. I only live a little over an hour away from Anaheim so I could've gone and gotten a little preview. Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait until they show up in June.

I’m in SoCal too and thought about going. Tickets are $140 so I’ll pass. I imagine it would be a cool show though. I interviewed with NAMM a couple decades ago and part of the process was touring their on-site museum. It was impressive.

 

[davidespinosa]

Audeze website says:
"Pay a deposit of $39.99 to hold your place in the queue. The remaining balance will be charged at the time of shipping."

I love that they won't tell us the weight. Maybe someone should bring a scale to NAMM. Hilarious.

 

[pk4425]

Audeze's version of : "Kickstarter"..

Pay us now.
Wait for a while.

The MM-100 is available for pre-order now, with first shipments expected in June 2023. Find out why top audio professionals worldwide rely on Audeze headphones. Upgrade your workflow with MM-100 and never miss a single detail.​

​ AUDEZE MM-100​ ​ $399​

They never have anything for sale at the time of their Product's announcement, seems to be the Audeze Company Motto.
It's how they roll.

So what? No one is forcing anyone to pre-order.

If anything, pre-orders will give Audeze an idea of the demand for the product, and it can adjust supply accordingly. Or does everyone prefer when the HiFiMan Edition XS was damn near impossible to get for the first month after its release, and the Meze 109 Pro suffered a similar, but less acute, fate last year?

Pre-orders are nothing new in consumer electronics. Sony and Microsoft raked in MEGA MILLIONS in pre-orders for the PS5 and Series X/S gaming consoles, respectively.

 

[RuslanG]

Well, Sony (MV1) and Audeze (MM100) are in a serious battle for natural sound, with almost the same price, I like it