Snowclouds81
BannedAKA GNR4EVER
any idea if these sound as good as the MX4?
Introducing the Audeze MM-500!
- Thread starter Audeze
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lowrider007
100+ Head-Fier
Will there be any UK availability on release and if so what would be the GBP price?
ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
Thx for the impressions.
At the NAMM show, I wasn't really sure what to expect from the MM-500. I appreciate Audeze having a quiet sound booth though; I definitely didn't expect to see one on the main show floor (usually companies have audio booths set up in the walking corridors of the convention center)! I listen to music at fairly quiet volume levels at home, so that's how I demoed the MM-500.
In the sound booth, there was a Weiss DAC502 unit with an iPad using Qobuz offline as the source. The MM-500 was connected to the front 6.3 mm single-ended output, the LCD-5 to the rear 4-pin XLR balanced output.
Picking up the MM-500, it uses a similar headband adjustment system as the LCD-5 (I find it harder to adjust compared to the previous LCD-series system). The headband arch and earcups are made of metal, but the whole headphone feels VERY light for an Audeze headphone. Adding to the light experience, putting the headphones on your head feels very light compared to what I'm used to with the LCD-X, and the clamping force isn't nearly as skull-crushing. With thick-arm glasses on, the pressure didn't bother me unlike the LCD-X at times, and I found it to seal around my glasses better than the X too.
I didn't compare the MM-500 to the X at first, but upon playing a few tracks I could immediately tell from memory that the MM-500 is a step-up in terms of clarity. The midrange had more presence and sounded clearer than what I'm used to, and the bass wasn't quite as in-your-face. Everything just sounded so clear and detailed overall.
A/B-ing it with the X (2021 version) on the same setup, my initial impressions were pretty spot-on. Note the X is more sensitive than the MM-500, so I had to do some slight volume adjustments when A/B-ing.
The bass presence and warmth into the midrange on the X isn't there on the MM-500, which seems to bring the whole midrange out more without sacrificing the bass extension. In this aspect, it made the X sound dark in comparison. I didn't really compare the MM-500 to the LCD-5 on the same setup, but the bass and midrange presence were more similar than different.
The upper-midrange and treble of the MM-500 sounded smoother than the X, which sounded gritty in comparison. Presence-wise, the treble on the X sounds slightly emphasized, whereas the MM-500 is more balanced.
Imaging seemed slightly better on the MM-500 to the X; instruments were better-defined.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised, in a good way, with how the MM-500 turned out both in terms of design and in how it sounds. I look forward to seeing how it gets received here on the audiophile side of things, as opposed to the pro-audio realm.
I really don't like the new direction Audeze is headed to.
Seems like all new releases Lose the old Audeze character.
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Speaking candidly, we are still very highly invested in our legacy products. It wasn't that long ago that we released the LCD-R (limited sure, but still noteworthy). The LCD-R was like a classic LCD reference taken to the next level. Audeze is branching out and expanding, not making their most venerable lines obsolete.
This is not a replacement. This is a new professional focused line. We will still have our enthusiast headphones, and products completely unrelated to the Manny line.
You can be certain that just because we release a new product doesn't mean everything is going in that specific direction.
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ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
I mean I get it, what's the point in releasing the same sound in a different package.
As long as the "classics" stay in production, everything is fine. I would hate to see the "new direction" to be the only one in the future.
LCD-2C and 4 are the signatures I love from Audeze, and as long as something like that remains in the lineup I'm happy.
Speaking of the LCD-R, that's the Kind of stuff I want to see more of. Too Bad it was strongly limited. A rerelease or LCD-R2 would generate some major hype for me
chargedcapacitor
500+ Head-Fier
The old Audeze character is a wonky, non-neutral frequency response with lots of unit to unit variations. While Audeze may be loosing die-hard fanboys of their older products, they are transforming into a more mature and industry respectable company. I see no reason to fault them for that.
lowrider007
100+ Head-Fier
That's very reassuring to hear, would be amazing to have a lighter updated LCD-2 in the future
, would fly off the shelves, still one of my favourite Audeze headphones, it just personifies that classic Audeze sound, that being said I'm enjoying the new direction in the likes of the LCD-5's, no reason why you can't grow in different directions.
ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
Well the unit variations aside that "wonky non neutral" frequency response, was what made Audeze become big. That's what made Audeze special.
It's perfectly fine that they expand into the neutral Segments as well, as long as it's not their only focus in the future.
Becoming a mature company in the business should certainly mean that they upped their quality control to battle the unit to unit variation. However it should never mean to Lose their "house sound" at least not in all product lines.
I also do think that Audeze is on a great track regarding their line up.
Series for professional use.
Reference Flagship series for us audiophiles.
Classic series for the old house sound.
A line up with potentially something for everyone, BUT all recent releases have been on the neutral side LCD-5, MM-500 and even CRBN if you want to count it.
As long as all these series find support in the future Audeze will certainly remain a big Player.
As per our normal practice, we'll be making the MM-500 available to all markets worldwide at the same time (except for Amazon). However, it is possible that some distributors will get units before others just because they ordered sooner.
We do not have a UK retail price as our local distributor sets that price. But we will have an updated EU suggested retail price list in a few weeks.
rthomas
500+ Head-Fier
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I find it a bit funny that the LCD4 was supposed to be perfectly accurate and now the LCD5 is also supposed to be perfectly accurate but has a completely different tuning. Both cannot be “what the artist intended” at the same time 
Or maybe the mm500 is in between lcd4 and lcd5 in tuning and true to source? If Manny with 11 Grammys cannot tune a headphone well then nobody can!
I’ve owned 4 Audezes and I’m a big supporter of the company but they need to streamline the range and have a clear philosophy about sound signatures.
Or maybe the mm500 is in between lcd4 and lcd5 in tuning and true to source? If Manny with 11 Grammys cannot tune a headphone well then nobody can!
I’ve owned 4 Audezes and I’m a big supporter of the company but they need to streamline the range and have a clear philosophy about sound signatures.
AudiophileJargon
100+ Head-Fier
Just make a headphone with amazing resolution, clarity, and timbre. I will buy it!
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AudiophileJargon
100+ Head-Fier
Lol I have different priorities
inseconds99
500+ Head-Fier
Lol. I’d bet if 2 headphones sounded the same and one was heavy, hot and clampy, you’d take the light and comfortable one.Lol I have different priorities
chargedcapacitor
500+ Head-Fier
Man, what a concept! Whoever can be the first manufacturer to do that will be rich!
/S
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