holden4th
500+ Head-Fier
I have got both the HD650 and the MM100s and am going to back up what @Someguy420 said with a couple of slight caveats. Let's address the 650/MM100 comparison. The Audezes are a big step up from the HD650s in so many aspects. While soundstage might be similar in width between both, it's the layering in their depth that can be heard with the 100s. I'd describe the soundstage as natural as opposed to artificially wide which you get in a number of headphones. This suits someone like me who goes to concerts because it sounds similar to what I would hear in a venue. Of course, no headphone is really going to be able to reproduce exactly what you would hear because there are no wide reflective surfaces for the sound. You need Speakers for that.
As regards the lower end, these have more heft and go lower than the HFM XS (I have the Anandas which are very similar) and you can feel the weight of the bass. That said, these are not for bassheads. The 650s tend to have a roll off in the upper bass (to cater for their lovely midrange) which the MM10s do not. That said, a slight EQ boost in the lower frequencies will make them go much lower but I prefer to leave them as they are with the exception of organ music.
These cans have that airiness common to nearly all planars but with a difference that I can only describe as holographic (maybe not a good choice of word). It truly is an amazing experience with certain tracks, especially acoustic and chamber but it exists with all music. The Senns do not have anything like this quality and need really good amplification to make them begin to shine. The treble on the 650s is toned down whereas this is not the case for the Audeze's. That said, they are not shouty or peaky and unless you are very sensitive to treble this won't affect you.
Where the two sets of cans do shine is in the midrange which, for the 100s, is to be expected for cans that are designed for studio monitoring. The midrange brings the vocals a bit more forward and on some tracks (Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies) can be very intimate. I really like the natural way it reproduces those two important aspects of the human voice - tone and timbre. Finally, the Sennheisers, despite whatever amplification you throw at them, always sound a bit veiled - like the music is coming through cloth. On the other hand, the MM100s are wonderfully transparent.
To answer your original query "these would be more of a sidegrade to the 650/6xx and something like the Focal Clear?" the answer is no. These are a significant step up from the Sennheisers! I've not heard the Focal Clear but at four time the price of the Audezes , if they are being used as a comparison then surely the MM100s have got to be good. For me these are now my go to headphones for virtually everything.
NB: There is a lot more I could say about the 100s but hopefully what I've written will begin to answer some of your questions. However, if possible, do what PH4425 suggested and go and audition them.
As regards the lower end, these have more heft and go lower than the HFM XS (I have the Anandas which are very similar) and you can feel the weight of the bass. That said, these are not for bassheads. The 650s tend to have a roll off in the upper bass (to cater for their lovely midrange) which the MM10s do not. That said, a slight EQ boost in the lower frequencies will make them go much lower but I prefer to leave them as they are with the exception of organ music.
These cans have that airiness common to nearly all planars but with a difference that I can only describe as holographic (maybe not a good choice of word). It truly is an amazing experience with certain tracks, especially acoustic and chamber but it exists with all music. The Senns do not have anything like this quality and need really good amplification to make them begin to shine. The treble on the 650s is toned down whereas this is not the case for the Audeze's. That said, they are not shouty or peaky and unless you are very sensitive to treble this won't affect you.
Where the two sets of cans do shine is in the midrange which, for the 100s, is to be expected for cans that are designed for studio monitoring. The midrange brings the vocals a bit more forward and on some tracks (Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies) can be very intimate. I really like the natural way it reproduces those two important aspects of the human voice - tone and timbre. Finally, the Sennheisers, despite whatever amplification you throw at them, always sound a bit veiled - like the music is coming through cloth. On the other hand, the MM100s are wonderfully transparent.
To answer your original query "these would be more of a sidegrade to the 650/6xx and something like the Focal Clear?" the answer is no. These are a significant step up from the Sennheisers! I've not heard the Focal Clear but at four time the price of the Audezes , if they are being used as a comparison then surely the MM100s have got to be good. For me these are now my go to headphones for virtually everything.
NB: There is a lot more I could say about the 100s but hopefully what I've written will begin to answer some of your questions. However, if possible, do what PH4425 suggested and go and audition them.
