AUDEZE MM-500 Review: The Ultimate Headphones for Producers?

[@WalkinonSunshyne]

Nice to hear a producer perspective on these. Appreciate it.

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@jason.martin]

Are you east coast out of Toronto area? great review!

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@jason.martin thank you very much! My studio is indeed located Downtown, Toronto!

[@bingybeats189]

The boxes I need to check, can I hear EQ changes I'm making? Can I hear compression? and do they translate?

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@bingybeats189 I certainly can. They translate even better than my ATC’s did when I had them! I didn’t realize how much I was relying on these headphones at the time!

[@jamesewanchook2276]

Hi Rayne, great review. I'm composing, mixing and mastering in Logic X on a MB Pro. I find my MM500's super detailed and high powered right out of the headphone jack.. As I travel a lot so portability counts. Questions if I may: 1] Could you suggest a portable DAC which might better optimize my MM500's. 2] Which closed back headphones would pair well with my MM500's and prove ideal for studio recording...[do I need to go high end, like Audeze lcd xc or Dan Clark E3 or does it matter if they are under a grand?] 3] What's your take on speaker and room emulating VST's like 'Dsoniq Realphones'. Thanks, I know that's a lot... BTW, you have excellent presentational skills, keep sharing. Cheers from Vancouver!

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@jamesewanchook2276 thank you very much for the kind words! 1. I would definitely get an RME ADI DAC Fs. I would upsample the output to 96k and run it on the “Slow” DAC filter setting. The headphone amp in there is great and the DAC is second to none in my opinion. 2. I would honestly go for the m50x or the Sony MDR 7506. They are definitely going to be enough - especially if you’ve got the 500s on hand as well. They serve well for recording and have always made my recording process easier. I also have a pair of Beyerdynamic DT 770 closed backs as artists tend to love record on this headphones but I don’t prefer them myself. I honestly wouldn’t spend on an expensive pair of closed back headphones as the quality jump just isn’t sufficient to me when compared to what’s available in the open back world. 3. I don’t find the room stuff to be very necessary at all personally. I’ve had so much music consumption on headphones my whole life and I know that when it sounds right in the cans, it’ll make sense in any room. Sometimes, creators and mixers have the tendency to be a touch heavy handed with processing when on headphones and this might be the only space where the room-emulation could come in handy, if at all! I don’t believe in it personally but everyone’s work flow is so unique, it totally depends on the person! I hope this all helps! Best of luck James 🙏

[@mintwith4ts]

Do you happen to know how these compare to the Neumann NDH-30’s or the 20’s? I was considering upgrading.

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@mintwith4ts unfortunately I haven’t used the Neumann headphones, just their speakers and mics

[@mintwith4ts]

@@RAYNETHESAVIOUR I saw you recently replaced your ATCs with the PMC 6-2’s. How well would you say the MM-500 translates or works with those? Do you still find the MM-500’s useful, or that you can mix well with them?

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@mintwith4ts I use them just as much as I use my PMCs. Love them both!

[@astralboy]

Tried LCD-2,4,5, X, sold LCD-4,5....LCD-X low end sounds great, but tend to crank up and sound shit on main speakers. Also the mid-hi is dark and so tend to boost, which results in bright hiend on main speakers. LCD-2 better transient response, but low end wimpy.............Does MM-500 work for EDM mix/mastering? Even if it translates 80-90% I would consider it.

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@astralboy may I ask what DAC/Interface you are using and and if you are also using a dedicated headphone amp as well?

[@astralboy]

@@RAYNETHESAVIOUR I have several DACs, for production is use the old Auralic Vega. Amp is the rare gem - Auralic Tarus MK II ;)

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@astralboy in this case, the Audeze headphone line may not suit your taste! I’ve heard that the LCD-4 is a slightly more detailed iteration of the 500s from the gentleman over at sonicscoop but I personally find that the best DAC and headphone amp combo can be found on the RME ADI 2/4 and with this and some mild RME DSP EQ, I can get a great feeling from the MM-500. I have a small Sub boost I put on the headphones and with that it’s so tight and clear in the low end that way that I find myself taking off my headphones to check that my speakers are off! Really cool experience. Not sure if this helps but based on my experience, it definitely would work very well for any genre mixing. Thanks for tuning in! 🙏

[@romulomc]

@@RAYNETHESAVIOUR I'll try that. Have the MM-500 and a UFXIII here. What is the frequency you're boosting? About 50hz? Is it a shelf?

[@dragosthule]

Love the perspective from an engineer! Run these off of my ifi pro idsd sig. Love them. Never mixed a thing in my life. Thanks for the review!

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@dragosthule my pleasure! Thanks for tuning in and the support 🙏

[@nicobluestream]

Thanks to give a producer / musician perspective 🙏😎👍 I have its little brother the MM-100 (I'm a profesionnal musician) and these are absolutly phenomenal but you have to EQ it (with Oratory settings) and I guess it's the same for the MM-500 becauce there are very close in term of frequency response. I use them with an SSL 2+ and I don't need another amp. I use these for tracking, working and mixing and it's GREAT but only with EQ. The stock tuning is very specific and I'm not a fan. It's even can be dangerous because there are a big pic at 3k and these frequencies are corrosive for the ears (ear gain) especially at loud volume so...

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

Try buying a DAC amp from SPL and check out the difference between the SSL amps and the SPL ones. Dedicated headphone amp/Dacs will change your mind on the EQ issues you may be experiencing. I have an SSL 2+ sitting in my interface drawer. Great interface for recording! Thank you for taking the time to comment and check out this video 🙏

[@nicobluestream]

@@RAYNETHESAVIOUR Yeah, I agree. SSL is my favorite 😎👍 A dac adds color, warmth or density but doesn' t really change the tuning. Manny Marroquin himself seems doesn't use it. I think that if you try to measure a headphone with and without a dac, you can't really see the difference

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@nicobluestream yes exactly! I agree with you! 🙏

[@hummarstraful]

I've got to agree with you. I bought the Audeze LCD-X and it didn't solve my mix problems. I still struggled to get my low end just right. Also I don't like having to mess with extra headphone plugins when mixing. You have to remember to turn them off before rendering and they also add gain to your mix bus, although after your mastering plugins. I'm returning my LCD-Xs and will instead use the money towards tube traps in my room. Thanks for your honest review!

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@hummarstraful my pleasure 🙏 I’m glad you were able to get your low end sorted with tube trapping - I really like tube traps and will probably be ordering some myself! Cheers!

[@zebastian21]

I would love to hear your comparison to the cheaper MM-100. I was about to buy the LCD X but after many hours of research but I went for Neumann NDH30, they're amazing!, I'd still like to get some Audeze as well, the cheaper MM-100 especially since it was designed by Marroquin as well.

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@zebastian21 I’d love to do a review of the mm100s as well, I’ll see where I can get my hands on a demo pair!

[@nicolasfernandez4747]

ive had both. MM-100 are similar to MM-500 just smaller sounding. I much prefer the MM-500 they are alot more fun to use

[@mintwith4ts]

I wanted to pick up a pair of 500’s but I was wondering what your thoughts were on the RNHP vs. the RME for playback. I have an RNHP but I can’t bring it on the go with me currently and I need a much more portable solution, so I was thinking of the RME ADI-2 DAC. What are your thoughts between the two?

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@mintwith4ts I personally used the RME ADI 2/4 which actually has a bit more power in its headphone amps - specifically for optimizing mastering headphones but I have rented the RNHP before and the amp is great but very much so depends on the quality of your DAC. If you have a great DAC, it’s quite good but I think the RME DAC Fs probably is a better overall investment - though I haven’t heard its headphone amps in particular. The DAC on the RME is really phenomenal. Hope this helps!

[@mintwith4ts]

@@RAYNETHESAVIOUR This is very helpful. Thank you so much!

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@mintwith4ts my pleasure, thanks for tuning in 🙏

[@PawelChlabiczowy-by8db]

Love this video!!!

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

Thank you very much 🙏

[@veritas7010]

mm-500's worst aspect is the build. You cant work in these long hours unless you wanna sacrifice even more health than just having to sit at the desk all day (hint: the weight)

[@RAYNETHESAVIOUR]

@@veritas7010 I’ve had a great time wearing them for many hours on end, good posture is important with any listening devices but past that - no problems at all with weight here! Thanks for checking out this video 🙏

[@jamesewanchook2276]

I can wear them all day.