Audeze AUDEZE MM-100 Professional Wired Open-Back Review

The Audeze MM-100 is a specialist's tool with a 52nd percentile sound score, let down by a 2nd percentile connectivity score because it's wired-only. It's a competent wired planar magnetic studio monitor for $399, but its terrible microphone performance (1.4/100 for calls) and lack of features make it a non-starter for general use. Only consider this if your sole need is critical listening in a silent studio.

The Audeze MM-100 is a $399 open-back planar magnetic headphone built for one thing: studio monitoring. It lands in the 52nd percentile for sound quality in our database, which is a solid score for a wired, single-purpose tool. That means it's above average, but not chart-topping. Its other scores tell the real story: it's a specialist. Comfort sits at the 38th percentile, and connectivity is in the dismal 2nd percentile because it's wired-only. This isn't your do-everything headphone. It's a focused tool for a specific job, and its performance reflects that.

Let's talk about that 52nd percentile sound score. For a planar magnetic driver at this price, that's respectable. You're getting the detail retrieval and low distortion that Audeze is known for, packaged in a more accessible model. The 20Hz-25kHz frequency response is wide, and the 18-ohm impedance means it's easy to drive from most interfaces or headphone amps. But the numbers don't lie about its weaknesses. The mic score is at the 22nd percentile, and the 'calls' category is its absolute worst at 1.4 out of 100. Don't even think about using these for Zoom. Its 'gaming' score is also a low 9.8, so while the audio might be great, the lack of features makes it a poor gaming headset.

At $399, the MM-100 is asking you to pay a premium for a very specific skill set. You're buying into the Audeze planar magnetic sound at a lower entry point than their flagships. However, its value is entirely dependent on your needs. If you need a pure, wired studio monitor and nothing else, the price might be justified for the driver technology. If you need any versatility—be it wireless use, taking calls, or commuting—this price tag looks steep for a device that scores so poorly in those areas.

Stack it up against popular wireless all-rounders and the trade-offs are stark. The Sony WH-1000XM6 destroys it in ANC (98th percentile vs 31st) and connectivity, but can't match its open-back, planar soundstage for critical listening. The Apple AirPods Max offers a more balanced package with great sound (85th percentile), seamless connectivity, and a built-in mic, but it's closed-back and costs more. Even the more affordable Sennheiser ACCENTUM Plus offers wireless freedom, ANC, and a mic for less money. The MM-100 only wins if your sole priority is uncolored, detailed audio from a wired source in a quiet room.

Skip the MM-100 if you need any versatility. That means commuters, office workers, gamers, podcasters, and casual listeners. Its 2nd percentile connectivity score (wired-only) and 1.4/100 call score are deal-breakers for modern, multi-use workflows. If you listen in noisy environments, the open-back design and 31st percentile ANC score mean you'll hear everything and everyone will hear your music. This is a tool for a silent, dedicated studio space, not for life on the go.

We can only recommend the Audeze MM-100 to a very specific buyer: the aspiring or professional audio engineer who needs a dedicated, wired open-back monitor for mixing and mastering, and who already owns Audeze's more expensive models and wants a secondary pair. For everyone else—the music lover, the commuter, the gamer, the remote worker—the data is clear. Its severe limitations in connectivity, microphone use, and comfort make it a poor choice. You're paying for a brilliant hammer in a world where most people need a Swiss Army knife.