If Google is showing you this page directly, click here to go to the start of the article.
Sound – Intro
This is the section in which we check how the companies describe the sound of their own units. For The Audeze MM-100 we found the following:
Hear deeper into every mix, and don’t let a single detail go unnoticed thanks to the industry-leading driver technology packed into MM-100. Expect pinpoint precision and ultra-low distortion from MM-100’s newly designed planar magnetic drivers. Built with the same exacting dedication as our flagship LCD-5, and featuring our patented waveguides, magnet arrays, and diaphragms, MM-100 raises the bar on sound quality in its class.
Sometimes brands are right and sometimes they are completely wrong. What will it be this time? Let’s find out!
Sound – General
The MM-100 headphone was used mostly for desktop use with a series of desktop DACs and amplifiers, bit solid state as well as tube based. I mostly used a balanced cable from another brand as I found the sound quality to go up a notch compared to the stock cable with the single ended cable. The source used was my laptop streaming Tidal via ROON.
As you will see later in this article, the MM-100 is a rather transparent headphone that will show you what your DAC and AMP is bringing to the party. It’s also a more neutrally tuned headphone, even though the body in bass and mids can feel like extra weighty. In fact the bass and mids are fairly balanced. Only in the upper mids and treble section does the MM-100 go off the balanced and neutral path, to show a more contrasty peak and fall pattern, making things exciting as we’re used to.
The MM-100 has good body in bass and mids, though it is no bass-head or overly full sounding headphone. This isn’t needed at all for studio work. That said, to me the MM-100 is more than a studio headphone as it is musical and engaging at all times. The MM-100 does have a more in your face kind of sound presentation. The sound stage is good but fairly centered, and the same goes for the spaciousness from top to bottom. It’s not the widest sounding headphone. Depth and layering really depend on the amplifier used, but the MM-100 is capable of doing it. Overall, the detail retrieval is good as well as the decay and extension, but these are all points in which the MM-500 is a lot better (as we will see later).
At the same time we can’t forget that the MM-100 is selling for only $399 USD, and for that money you really do get excellent sound in return. What I really like is the stereo and left/right imaging, as well as the energetic, slightly forward vocal tuning. The fullness of bass and lower mids perfectly contrast with this typical vocal tuning, as well as with the peaky treble section.
The clarity, cleanness and control all depend on the gear you are using, as you will discover in the next section. As this headphone is pretty transparent, most of the characteristics depend on the amplifier used, so let’s look at that in detail.
Sound – Sources
One of the design features of the Audeze MM-100 is that it is incredibly easy to drive and that you can have studio quality wherever you go. That means the the MM-100 should sound good no matter what it is connected to. Let’s find out if the 98 dB/1mW Sensitivity and 18 ohms impedance really translate into this.
For this section I have chosen the Chord Mojo 2, Cayin RU7 and SP3000 as portable devices. For desktop the ERCO 2, Hifiman Serenade and SAEQ PDA-1b are the chosen drivers. For the last two amps, I used the Musician Audio Aquarius as DAC. Note that we always used a balanced cable and circuit when possible, so only the Mojo 2 is in single -ended mode.
With the Chord Electronics Mojo 2 you can really hear the typical Mojo characteristics in the MM-100. You get great PraT, lovely clarity and a very clean and precise sound. The detail retrieval is good but layering and depth aren’t the most proficient here even if the bass layering is nice here. Body wise this combo sits a little lighter and there is more focus on the vocal which are slightly more to the front, but they are tuned in a very nice and natural way so that they never feel outside of the music. Bass in this combo is punchy and tight, and it comes delivered with good impact. Try a Billie Eilish song from her “When we all fall asleep…” album, and you’ll immediately know what I am talking about. The mids connect nicely to the bass and treble section and they nicely balanced for what weight and body are concerned. The top end is nice but not very spectacular or extended, it’s rather safe to the ear and easy to listen to. I quite like this combo as it is musical and ear pleasing, but at the same time there is nothing spectacular about it either.
With the Cayin Audio RU7, you immediately notice the extra weight in bass and overall body. You still get a clean sound, but the clarity level here is a little lower. In exchange you however do get a high technical level with a smoother, warmer presentation. Bass here is fuller, heavier and more present but it also is more precise, deeper and better layered. The mids section here is is a little lighter but the vocals are more part of the whole, with a softer more romantic, natural presentation. The treble section here is soft on the ears and very easy to listen to, it will never offend. Overall, the layering, depth and spaciousness here really are excellent. You also get a more refined detail retrieval with better note extension. The MM-100 really let’s you hear what your source is about, and in this case it is a technically strong, full, warmer and smoother type of sound. Very musical and ear pleasing.
The Astell&Kern SP3000 is not really known for having the biggest weight but it is technically super strong. As the MM-100 is easy to drive however, the SP3000 does manage to deliver both a technically strong as well as a musical, full sound. The amount of body from to body is excellent, nicely balanced and the bass presence is tight, impactful and detail. The layering is good and bass reaches down to sub levels. Bass here is a lot better controlled than with the RU7. The same also goes for the mids where the control here is much better, with excellent separation and layering, You also get the most immersive, 3-dimensional sound with this combo. You here get vocals are like in the RU7 combined with the clarity of the Mojo 2. The top end with this source is the most lively and extended.
With all of these portable devices the MM-100 really let’s you hear what your source is bringing to the party. For me the best combo surprisingly is with the AK DAP as it has the best technical level, a high musical delivery, and good body. The RU7 combo is the one to go for when you prefer a thicker and warmer sound. Time for the desktop sources!
To be honest, you really don’t need very powerful desktop sources with this headphone, but as the MM-100 will show your source’s quality, it’s fully recommended to use top-level gear if available. When switching to the better desktop gear, ýou immediately hear that in the MM-100.
I have really been enjoying the Ferrum ERCO 2 over the last few weeks and I actually like it more than like the original version. The ERCO 2 and MM-100 combo sounds full, smoother and there is good body from top to bottom. Bass is bigger in presence and it has good layering and depth. It’s also deliver with a good punch but it is not as controlled as on the SP3000, it’s more like on the RU7. The vocals here are soft and natural and blend in perfectly. The mid timbre is excellent and the note extension, separation and spaciousness here is very good. The top end does extend well here but it still is very easy to listen to and it will never sound harsh. It’s the type of combo that is ear pleasing and you can easily listen to it for many hours nonstop. If this combo had more control and clarity, like with the SP#K, it would be highly recommended but it’s still very nice how it is. I could listen to the combo all day long and be very happy.
The Hifiman Prelude and MM-100 combo is very good. You get a good amount of weight from bottom to top, with a natural, full and warmer presentation. Vocals here are the best I have heard with the MM-100. The level of detail here is excellent and the R2R DAC works its magic here. The Prelude ads musicalness and softness to the equation and it does an excellent job in layering, depth, timbre and note extension. If I have to nitpick, I would say the clarity and bass tightness could be further controlled but all-in -all this is a great combo, mixing a high technical level with a very musical and engaging experience. Absolutely recommended if you like a warmer, fuller, musical sound, IF you are more into a fast, clinical solid state sound, this combo is not for you.
The SAEQ PDA-1b is a more neutrally tuned, precise amplifier that is tuned to produce a more live-like experience. It has quickly become one of my favorite desktop amplifiers. With the MM-100, the SAEQ (with -10dB ATT) sounds incredible and this to my ears is the best possible combo I have tried so far. You get a high technical level with super rich timbre and a very strong mid performance. The overall sound is balanced, weighty and well layered. I really like the depth here, especially in the mid and bass regions. This combo also is spacious with excellent separation. The SAEQ is perfectly in control of the MM-100 and you get tight, punchy bass that reaches down very low. The mids and clean and clear and have just the right amount of spaciousness to make the mid timbre and note extension shine. The vocal are soft, musical and blend in perfectly. Vocals are a pleasure to the ear in this combo. The top end extends well, but as said before it it softer and safe to the ear, that’s just how the MM-100 is tuned. That said, there is enough energy to keep things engaging. I’m in love with this combo and it really shows what the MM-100 is capable of on a technical front as well as a musical one. Fully recommended.
The article continues on the second page, with more on Sound. Click here or use the jumps below.
Page 2: Sound Intro, General, Sources
Page 3: Comparisons, Conclusion, Summary
Alex
Would an iFi Zen Dac V2 and a Schiit Midgard be a good pairing for the MM-100?