Audeze MM MM-100

The Audeze MM-100 delivers jaw-dropping planar magnetic sound that hits the 97th percentile in our testing, but it's heavy, fiddly to adjust, and completely wired. If you need a studio tool for critical listening and can get it near the $399 price from Adorama, it's a hell of a deal. Just don't expect all-day comfort.

Sound quality sits in the 97th percentile of our headphone database, which is just a fancy way of saying it's in the absolute top tier. Planar magnetic drivers mean fast, tight bass and almost zero distortion even when you crank them. Mids are revealing without being harsh, and the open-back design gives everything a wide, airy stage. But that sonic excellence comes with a major trade-off: comfort ranks in the 6th percentile, one of the worst we've seen. At 475 grams with a clamping fit and a weird button-based size adjustment, they get fatiguing fast. Build quality is decent at the 77th percentile, but call quality is a complete afterthought. This is a single-purpose headphone, and it nails that purpose, but don't expect it to do anything else.

The MM-100 sits in a completely different world than the Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra, or Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4. Those are wireless, ANC-packed travel companions. The Audeze is wired, open-back, and demands silence. If you need to take calls, block out engine noise, or just move around the house, any of those consumer cans will run circles around the MM-100. But if you're comparing raw detail retrieval, speed, and uncolored sound for mixing or critical listening, the MM-100 crushes them. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 might be more luxurious to wear, but it can't touch the MM-100's planar transparency. Just know that you're trading all modern conveniences for audio purity.

The MM-100's price is all over the map, anywhere from $399 at Adorama up to $836 elsewhere. If you can grab it near the low end, it's a borderline steal. You're getting Audeze's planar tech for less than half what an MM-500 costs, and that sonic flavor is unmistakable. But if you're paying over $600, the value evaporates. At that point you're better off stretching for the real deal or hunting down something like a Hifiman Sundara. The sweet spot is definitely that $399 mark. For studio-quality planar detail at that price, it's hard to beat.

Audeze's MM-100 is their attempt to bring that legendary planar magnetic sound down to a price real people can stomach. And honestly, it works. These open-back, wired headphones are laser-focused on one thing: giving you studio detail without the four-figure price tag. But they're not for everyone. If you expect wireless, noise cancellation, or something you can take on the bus, turn back now. This is a desk-only, silence-required kind of tool.

The sound is genuinely stunning for the money. We're talking the kind of clarity that makes you re-listen to songs you've known for decades just to hear what you missed. But there's a pretty big catch. They weigh 475 grams, and the headband adjustment system is awkward at best. You might love the audio and still find yourself taking them off after an hour because your neck's had enough.

If you need headphones for commuting, calls, or any kind of mobile use, look elsewhere. The lack of wireless and ANC, combined with the worst comfort percentile we've seen, will make you miserable on a plane or train. Grab a Sony or Bose for that, and leave the MM-100 on your desk.

This is for the budget-minded producer or audiophile who wants bona fide Audeze planar sound and doesn't mind a wired, open-back setup. It's a single-minded tool, and at the right price it's unbeatable. Just be ready for the weight and the weird headband, and accept that you'll never take it out of your studio or listening room.