The Audeze MM-100 are wired open-back headphones with planar magnetic drivers. They're one of two headphones designed in collaboration with Grammy award-winning engineer/producer Manny Marroquin, intended as a mid-range alternative to the more premium Audeze MM-500. They're designed with studio applications in mind, so they sport gel-filled earpads and an adjustable ski-band-style headband that aims to make long recording sessions as comfortable as possible. Their low sensitivity and impedance also mean you can use them with a phone or laptop without a dedicated amp or sound card to drive them.
Our Verdict
The Audeze MM-100 are disappointing for sports and fitness use as they're not intended for this purpose. Their bulky design is prone to falling off your head during more intense movements, and it's easy to get the audio cable snagged on things while you're in motion. They also lack any controls to change the track or adjust the volume on the fly.
- Bulky and heavy design.
The Audeze MM-100 are studio headphones that aren't intended for use on the go. As a result, they're a poor choice for travel use as their bulky design means they're not very portable. Their open-back design also provides almost no isolation against external noise, and they leak enough audio for others around you to hear on the bus or train. On the upside, though, they're comfortable and well-built enough to survive long journeys.
- Comfortable fit and excellent build quality.
- Bulky and heavy design.
- Poor noise isolation performance.
The Audeze MM-100 are studio headphones that aren't designed for use in an office setting. While they're comfortable enough to wear at your desk, they provide almost no isolation against external noise, so it's easy to get distracted by office chatter. They also leak a lot of audio, so within the average office setting, others can hear what you're listening to.
- Comfortable fit and excellent build quality.
- Bulky and heavy design.
- Poor noise isolation performance.
- Leak a lot of audio.
The Audeze MM-100 can only be used wired, so they're not suitable for wireless gaming.
The Audeze MM-100 are passable for wired gaming. They're comfortable enough for extended gaming sessions and provide a low latency performance via their wired connection. Their L/R drivers are well-matched, which makes it easier to identify audio objects, like footsteps, in the stereo field, and their accurate high-bass response helps bring them out further. They lack an integrated mic, so you'll need to purchase a standalone mic or opt for Audeze's boom mic-equipped cable.
- Comfortable fit and excellent build quality.
- Poor noise isolation performance.
The Audeze MM-100 are very good when it comes to audio reproduction accuracy. Their frequency response mostly follows their flat sound profile, with a few major peaks and dips. The sound profile is relatively well-aligned with our target in the bass and mid-range, though the treble response is notably recessed and more closely follows the SoundGuys.com Studio Curve. Their L/R drivers are well-balanced when it comes to amplitude, though there are minor deviations in the treble's frequency response and phase. Their group delay is below the audibility threshold across the entire range for a tight bass response. They have a very low harmonic distortion performance, too, even at higher listening levels, so there will be no audible coloration of your audio.
The Audeze MM-100 are terrible at isolating you from your surroundings. Their open-back design allows almost all external noise to filter in to your audio, whether its bass-range sounds, like engine rumble, or the high-pitched whine of a noisy fridge. They also leak a lot of audio, so you won't want to bring them to quiet environments, like the library, where you risk bothering those around you.
The Audeze MM-100 lack a built-in microphone.
The Audeze MM-100 have good frequency response consistency. The headphones' over-ear seal ensures a very similar sound delivery across wearers and sessions. If you wear glasses, the lowest sub-bass frequencies can exhibit a bit less thump, but the performance is still very similar regardless of your head size or hair length.
Performance Usages
Changelog
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Updated Mar 09, 2026:
We mentioned the Audeze Maxwell 2 in the Recording Quality section of this review.
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Updated Aug 21, 2025:
We've updated the review to mention the Audeze MM-500 in Treble Profile: Target Compliance.
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Updated Aug 15, 2025:
We referenced the Audeze LCD-X in the Bass Profile: Target Compliance box.
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Updated Jul 29, 2025:
We've updated the Sound Profile box with a link to a downloadable folder of EQ settings that will help you match these headphones' frequency response to different target curves available in our Graph Tool.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Audeze MM-100 are available in one color: gunmetal gray with a black headband and black grilles.
Please let us know in the comments if you encounter another variant of these headphones.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Audeze MM-100 are wired, open-back headphones designed for studio use and reference listening. Like the Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C, they feature planar magnetic drivers and a rock-solid build quality. They also share a similar sound profile: one that lacks low bass but features balanced mids and a recessed treble range. They're heavy on the head, even compared to other planar magnetic headphones like the HiFiMan Sundara 2020. That said, they're not as heavy as the closed-back Audeze Maxwell, and the manufacturer has introduced gel-filled earpads with the MM-100 that aim to offset the weight better with a comfortable seal.
If you're looking for more headphones, check out our recommendations for the best studio headphones, the best headphones for music, and the best open-back headphones.
The Audeze MM-100 is the less expensive relative of the Audeze MM-500. The MM-500 has flagship status in Audeze's MM product line, and comes with a hard carrying case and a slightly more premium-looking design that features chrome yoke rods and a spring steel headband. In terms of sound, both headphones have a flat sound signature, though there are minor differences in their treble reproduction. The MM-100 uses a different connector, featuring a 1/8" TRS connection on the headphones compared to the MM-500's mini-XLR. The decision between these two headphones will likely come down to your budget, followed by your treble preference.
The Audeze MM-100 and the HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are both open-back headphones with planar magnetic drivers. However, the two have quite different sound profiles, with the HiFiMan following our target curve a bit better. They're also slightly more comfortable. That said, the Audeze are considerably better built and more likely to be a durable, long-term option in the studio.
If you like the idea of a pair of Audeze cans but can't quite justify the expense of the Audeze LCD-X, the Audeze MM-100 are a worthy alternative. These headphones offer remarkably similar performance across the board: both have a flat, accurate mid-range and a warm, smooth tonality. The more expensive LCD-X put out noticeably more thump in the low-end, making them a little more genre-agnostic than the MM-100. And the cheaper pair only come with a small carrying pouch to transport them, unlike the superb hard case accompanying the LCD-X. The LCD-X are the better headphones, but whether they're worth multiple times the price of the MM-100 is a question for you and your wallet.
The Audeze MM-100 and the Sennheiser HD 490 PRO are both open-back, over-headphones designed for studio use. They have some differences in design that might cause you to prefer one over the other. The Sennheiser have better bass extension and a less recessed treble range that's useful for identifying clicks and pops during audio editing tasks. The Audeze use planar magnetic drivers, and the Sennheiser use dynamic neodymium magnets and, as a result, the Audeze have a greater degree of pinna activation that can translate to a wider sound. They're also much heavier and less comfortable on the head. The Sennheiser come with two sets of pads, so you can swap them out to alter the sound profile slightly. However, the Audeze have a higher build quality that will translate to better durability in the studio.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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