A Deep Dive into the Audeze MM-500: Premium Planar Magnetic Headphones Worth Every Penny

Audeze is a U.S. company predominantly recognized for producing everything from high-end audiophile headphones to some of the top gaming headsets we have reviewed. Their MM-500 represents the former category, being a sizable, bold set of planar magnetic headphones that come with an eye-popping price tag as well—you’re looking at £1699/$1699, which is quite a sum, to say the least.

I’ve previously tried several rather pricey headphones, yet none have left the same striking first impression as the MM-500s. Unlike the likes of the Focal Bathys, which come with a sleek, hard case, Audeze opts for a robust briefcase for transporting these headphones. Constructed from a combination of metal and plastic, the case is notably durable, and inside, there’s ample molded foam to safeguard the MM-500s. You genuinely feel like an agent from the U.S. Secret Service when you open this briefcase.

Upon opening the briefcase, you are welcomed by the MM-500s. They are entirely made of metal, combining machined aluminum and spring steel, offering a premium feel while still being relatively lightweight at 495g. That still feels a bit hefty compared to a pair of Grados, for instance, although it is lighter than you might first expect. The MM-500s resemble classic Audeze headphones, featuring a thinner headband, ear cups with oval cutouts on the exterior, and large, plush angled earpads that are wonderfully soft and supportive, coupled with a firmer clamping force to ensure they stay in place on your head.

The weight of the MM-500s can take some acclimatization, particularly due to the stiffer headband, but placing it over a stack of books can help to slightly loosen it if the clamping force is too intense right out of the box, according to Audeze. It does tend towards the tighter side, yet I didn’t experience any significant discomfort while using them in the evenings to listen to music or play video games.

The ear cups of the MM-500s are likely the opposite of the Grado Hemps I’ve recently tested. While the Hemps were a more shallow, slimmer option with fabric padding, the MM-500 features deep, luxurious cups made from some of the softest leather I’ve encountered in a pair of headphones, even compared to my everyday Focal Bathys. The ear cups are also angled to accommodate the fact that people’s ears are not perfectly parallel to the sides of their heads—they angle outward slightly. This design directs sound straight into your ears, unlike other headphones that lack the adjustability to swivel the ear cups for this same benefit.

Your ears do sit fairly close to the drivers inside the MM-500, but they don’t appear to be typical drivers in the traditional sense. In fact, these are planar magnetic headphones, in contrast to more conventional dynamic drivers. I’m not an expert in this field by any means, but, essentially, planar magnetic headphones operate by suspending the diaphragm’s material within magnetic fields that create vibrations, rather than utilizing a coil that is moved by a magnet, as is common with dynamic drivers. This requires planar magnetic headphones to occupy a larger physical space, thus the MM-500s are comparatively bulky compared to more ‘standard’ headphones.

Regarding their tuning, this is where the MM-500 distinguishes itself from previous Audeze offerings, aligning more closely with a reference set of headphones, similar to Sennheiser’s HD660S2. At least, they appear to be tailored more towards music production and studio work than casual listening. This is arguably underscored by the name that discreetly adorns the MM-500’s ear cups. Look closely, and you’ll spot Manny Marroquin’s name inscribed on the side. He may not be someone you’ve heard of, but the albums and tracks he has produced or mixed are likely very familiar to you. For instance, he has worked on Taylor Swift’s Red, Natasha Bedingfield’s Unwritten, and Bruno Mars’ Unorthodox Jukebox; he collaborated with Audeze on the design of the MM-500. That’s quite an endorsement.

With this understanding in mind, it changes how you view the MM-500. They may not be as flashy or exciting as other headphones available, but they have been created with a specific purpose in mind—to deliver the most accurate representation of music possible. Essentially, if audio sounds great here, it will likely translate beautifully anywhere else. Another aspect of these being designed for audio mixing is that they come with a large quarter-inch jack at the end, along with a 3.5mm adapter for connecting to more standard devices, allowing you to use the MM-500s with your laptop or a DAC.

I must also mention that you can genuinely use these with a MacBook or similar devices—they are impressively easy to drive, with a low impedance of just 18 ohms. While this isn’t a foolproof measure of how easy headphones are to use, it does mean you don’t need specialized audio equipment to get them to work, and they can get quite loud. I faced no issues using them with my MacBook Pro or standard gaming PC, utilizing their built-in headphone jacks, although boosting them with a DAC or DAP is likely to provide even higher quality listening.

The sound quality from the MM-500s, whether it’s Latin pop, hard rock, or jazz fusion, possesses a beautifully smooth and warm character that is remarkable. Upon connecting them to my HiBy R3 II, FiiO M11S, or Chord Mojo 2 DAC, I was treated to exquisite audio with a deep yet measured bass response, excellent midrange, and smooth treble. Listening to “Riverman” from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds showcased this beautifully, with reassuring bass, remarkable vocal clarity, and bright treble that stage the song’s cymbal work superbly.

This rich bass was equally apparent in the fantastic “Let’s Groove” from Earth, Wind & Fire, with the song’s compelling funky bassline, while Rush’s “YYZ” delivered considerable oomph with impressive extension. Regarding the midrange, James Taylor’s “Lighthouse” was wonderful, with the MM-500 adeptly handling his vocals, along with the s