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“Finally, a headphone I can mix records on” - Manny Marroquin, 18-time Grammy Winner

Conceived and refined in one of the world’s most acclaimed studios, the MM-500 is a purpose-built tool designed to deliver mixes that consistently translate and capture the emotion the artist intended. Lighter than our famous LCD-X, the MM-500’s sleek and sturdy chassis offers all-day comfort. Step up to the headphone used to mix Kendrick Lamar's #1 album "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" at Larrabee Studios: the Audeze MM-500.

*Please see product gallery below for color-neutral photos

“Finally, a headphone I can mix records on” - Manny Marroquin, 11-time Grammy Winner

Conceived and refined in one of the world’s most acclaimed studios, the MM-500 is a purpose-built tool designed to deliver mixes that consistently translate and capture the emotion the artist intended. Lighter than our famous LCD-X, the MM-500’s sleek and sturdy chassis offers all-day comfort. Step up to the headphone used to mix Kendrick Lamar's #1 album "Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" at Larrabee Studios: the Audeze MM-500.

*Please see product gallery below for color-neutral photos

MM-500 three quarters front view
MM-500 headband closeup
MM-500 front view
MM-500 profile view
MM-500 three quarters front view
MM-500 headband closeup
MM-500 front view
MM-500 profile view

MM-500 Professional Headphones

100-MM-1030-01

This is a legacy product and no longer available for sale

$1,699.00
  • Specifically designed to deliver mixes that consistently translate well
  • Like near-field monitors, they remove your room from the equation and give you studio-quality sound anywhere
  • Durable, lightweight chassis featuring machined aluminum and spring steel
  • Compatible with virtually all audio interfaces or consoles
  • Designed in collaboration with award-winning producer/mixer Manny Marroquin
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.

A Serious Tool for Every Situation

“I rely on my MM-500 as much as the main monitors in my studio” - Manny Marroquin

The MM-500 is designed to suit the requirements of long daily listening sessions under almost any condition. World-class studio monitor? Check. Quick reference on-the-go? No problem. Deep late-night listening? Done. With its ease of drive, comfortable fit and trustworthy sound, you can count on the MM-500 to deliver in every situation.

Manny Marroquin listening to the MM-500

The Lifestyle of Headphone Listening

“When you want studio quality sound anywhere you are” - Manny Marroquin

You need to hear everything at its most natural and pure – exactly when you need it – anywhere, anytime. Manny knows the importance of headphone listening in today’s world: studio to stage, cafe to beachfront, canal to jetway, the MM-500 is the reference to the soundtrack of your life.

MM-500 grille closeup

Elegance, Comfort and Durability

“Putting on the MM-500 makes me feel confident to deliver the best mix” - Manny Marroquin

Featuring extra-plush premium leather earpads, an adjustable spring steel headband, and a machined aluminum structure, the MM-500 feels substantial yet lightweight. Just like our flagship headphones, the MM-500 is hand-crafted in our Southern California workshop to provide years of reliable comfort in a package that calls out to be held, admired and listened to.

Manny Marroquin in his studio with MM-500

Elevate Your Professional Audio Game

“The MM-500 is as vital in my studio as any other piece of equipment” - Manny Marroquin

Offering studio-quality sound, always within reach, the MM-500 is truly the next level of performance in pro audio. Whether you’re stepping up from our own LCD-X or from another brand, the MM-500 will be as much a part of your life as your favorite pair of sneakers.

A mannequin head with an earphone and a play button overlay.
MM-500 driver cutaway tech

Award-winning Audeze Technology

“A clear and accurate referencing tool that sounds defined and balanced” - Gearspace.com

The MM-500’s planar magnetic drivers provide realism that audio professionals like Manny “can’t live without.” With lightning-fast transients, accurate frequency response and trusted mix translation powered by Audeze’s patented innovations, the MM-500 produces unparalleled audio quality that other headphones can only dream of.

Audeze earbuds with a play button and website link.
Specifications

Style

Over-ear, open-back

Transducer type

Planar Magnetic

Magnetic structure

Fluxor™ magnet array

Phase management

Fazor™

Magnet type

Neodymium N50

Diaphragm type

Ultra-Thin Uniforce™

Transducer size

90 mm

Maximum SPL

>130dB

Frequency response

5Hz - 50kHz

THD

<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz

Sensitivity

100 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)

Impedance

18 ohms

Max power handling

5W RMS

Min recommended power

>100mW

Recommended power level

>250mW

Weight

495g

Includes: MM-500 Headphone | Braided Cable | Standard Travel Case | Certificate of Authenticity and Warranty Cards

Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.
Golden Hardware Award seal with a shiny, silver appearance.

A Serious Tool for Every Situation

“I rely on my MM-500 as much as the main monitors in my studio” - Manny Marroquin

The MM-500 is designed to suit the requirements of long daily listening sessions under almost any condition. World-class studio monitor? Check. Quick reference on-the-go? No problem. Deep late-night listening? Done. With its ease of drive, comfortable fit and trustworthy sound, you can count on the MM-500 to deliver in every situation.

The Lifestyle of Headphone Listening

“When you want studio quality sound anywhere you are” - Manny Marroquin

You need to hear everything at its most natural and pure – exactly when you need it – anywhere, anytime. Manny knows the importance of headphone listening in today’s world: studio to stage, cafe to beachfront, canal to jetway, the MM-500 is the reference to the soundtrack of your life.

Manny Marroquin listening to the MM-500
MM-500 grille closeup

Elegance, Comfort and Durability

“Putting on the MM-500 makes me feel confident to deliver the best mix” - Manny Marroquin

Featuring extra-plush premium leather earpads, an adjustable spring steel headband, and a machined aluminum structure, the MM-500 feels substantial yet lightweight. Just like our flagship headphones, the MM-500 is hand-crafted in our Southern California workshop to provide years of reliable comfort in a package that calls out to be held, admired and listened to.

Elevate Your Professional Audio Game

“The MM-500 is as vital in my studio as any other piece of equipment” - Manny Marroquin

Offering studio-quality sound, always within reach, the MM-500 is truly the next level of performance in pro audio. Whether you’re stepping up from our own LCD-X or from another brand, the MM-500 will be as much a part of your life as your favorite pair of sneakers.

A mannequin head with an earphone and a play button overlay.
Manny Marroquin in his studio with MM-500
MM-500 driver cutaway tech

Award-winning Audeze Technology

“A clear and accurate referencing tool that sounds defined and balanced” - Gearspace.com

The MM-500’s planar magnetic drivers provide realism that audio professionals like Manny “can’t live without.” With lightning-fast transients, accurate frequency response and trusted mix translation powered by Audeze’s patented innovations, the MM-500 produces unparalleled audio quality that other headphones can only dream of.

Audeze earbuds with a play button and website link.
Specifications

Style

Over-ear, open-back

Transducer type

Planar Magnetic

Magnetic structure

Fluxor™ magnet array

Phase management

Fazor™

Magnet type

Neodymium N50

Diaphragm type

Ultra-Thin Uniforce™

Transducer size

90 mm

Maximum SPL

>130dB

Frequency response

5Hz - 50kHz

THD

<0.1% @ 100 dB SPL, 1kHz

Sensitivity

100 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)

Impedance

18 ohms

Max power handling

5W RMS

Min recommended power

>100mW

Recommended power level

>250mW

Weight

495g

Includes: MM-500 Headphone | Braided Cable | Standard Travel Case | 1/4" to 3.5mm adapter | Certificate of Authenticity and Warranty Cards

Overall rating: 4.83871 / 5 from 31 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Summary topics

Review topics: ["quality","sound","detail","work","comfort","headphones","mids","mixes","soundstage","listening","clarity","range","decisions"].

Review highlights

Reviews

It’s like a veil has been lifted!

"Amazing depth. I was able to hear instruments and recordings in more dimension clarity then I’ve ever heard before on a pair of headphones. Listening back to all of my favorite recordings and songs on these headphones was breathtaking. I had the honor of sharing that experience with my dad and we both got to bond together through these headphones over music. I’m excited to be getting used to these headphones, getting to know these headphones as a new part of my editing, production and mixing."

— John M. (5/5)

Excellence like no other

"Good construction, good sound, but for the price they have, they have to at least come with the calibration software by the brand itself. It is very necessary due to the small enhancement in some that could be something out of range to mix"

— Jhasson B. (5/5)

Great headphones!

"Great headphones!"

— Elijah M. (5/5)

This is it!

"I don’t know why I waited to get these. They make any other headphone sound like a kids toy! They sound like what I wanted headphones to sound like. Beautiful low and low mids. Hi end is perfect. People complain about the high end and upper mid range bump… it’s perfect!"

— Adam B. (5/5)

Couldn’t being happier

"The MM-500 blows my mind, really accurate for my work as a mastering engineer. Audeze has an impressive attention to detail, not only on the product itself but also the packaging which is very neat and top tier. It’s m really happy with the purchase. Thanks Audeze team!"

— Federico H. (5/5)

A Game-Changer for Critical Listening

"As a composer and mixer, I’m constantly searching for tools that offer precision, clarity, and insight into the sonic landscape—and the Audeze MM-500 headphones have exceeded every expectation. What immediately stood out to me was the spatialization. The MM-500s offer an incredibly precise stereo image—I can pinpoint where each instrument sits in the mix with far greater clarity than before. This has significantly improved my ability to shape depth and width in my productions. Another remarkable strength is how the MM-500s reveal reverb tails and ambience. I find myself far more attuned to how much reverb is present on a particular element, helping me make more intentional decisions when crafting space and depth. It's like having a magnifying glass on the decay time—subtle differences that were once elusive are now obvious. Perhaps the most transformative change has been in the low-mid clarity, particularly around the 250–300Hz range. This area can easily become congested and muddy, but with the MM-500s, the buildup in this range is much more apparent. I’m now able to address low-mid issues with confidence, resulting in cleaner, tighter mixes. In short, the Audeze MM-500s have become an indispensable part of my workflow. They provide a level of transparency and detail that genuinely elevates my mixing and production decisions. Jose Cancela 5-time Emmy Award winning Film/TV Composer"

— Jose C. (5/5)

Next Level

"These are certainly next level phones. They are giving me confidence in mixing a project in a less than ideal room. Thank you! I wish I would have purchased them years ago."

— Chris B. (5/5)

A Game-Changer in Sound Quality

"From the moment I put on these headphones, I was blown away by the clarity, dynamics, and sheer depth of the sound. Every note, every subtle detail in the music comes through with stunning precision, making them one of the most impressive headphones I’ve ever used."

— Wilghem B. (5/5)

Audeze MM 500 evaluation

"I have a 25 year old pair of Sennheiser HD 600 headphones that I was trying to improve on. Upon visiting The Gramophone in Edmonton where they have the best selection of headphones in the city and with a budget of $2500 CAD, I was shown 4 headphones to compare. Audeze LCD-X, Focal Clear MG, Meze Empyrean 2 and Audeze MM 500. I brought along my Burson Audio headphone amp/DAC and my Sennheiser headphones and a cd with my test tracks. The store supplied a cd player and a quiet room to audition all the headphones. I chose the Audeze MM 500 as the best sounding to my ears but had some reservations about them. The clamp force on my head, the linearity of sound ( slightly forward midrange ) and a lack of soundstage in comparison to my Sennheiser’s. After breaking in the headphones (300 hours), the clamp force isn’t an issue anymore. I would give the headphones a five star rating if they were more linear and soundstaged better."

— Tasi D. (4/5)

No Bass Whatsoever.

"I just got a pair of these. I can't hear any bass in them. They suck. How can you mix if you can't hear bass? I swap them out with some $70 mixing headphones and I can hear the bass that I over-boosted with these "pro" headphones that don't produce any bass. If you don't care about how the bass sits in the mix, these are probably great mixing headphones. But I care, so I'm getting rid of them."

— James M. (1/5)

Q&A