The American headphone manufacturer Audeze, owned by the Japanese Sony , has launched the MM-520. Audeze says that the MM-520 builds on the foundation of the MM-500 and adds SLAM technology, which is designed to improve bass accuracy, low-frequency impact, and spatial detail without sacrificing the mid-range neutrality that made the MM-500 so useful as a mixing tool. Audeze is bringing the MM-520 to the High End Audio Fair in Vienna.
The MM-520 was developed by Audeze in collaboration with Manny Marroquin, the mixing engineer with eighteen Grammys to his name, and is positioned as a professional headphone for use in recording studios for creators who need mixes that sound good outside the control room as well. By its own account, Audeze is not simply hunting for headphone collectors with yet another showpiece of a magnetostatic headphone.
The company is trying to position its studio models as full-fledged everyday tools for technicians, producers, and creators who have relied on German and Japanese studio headphones for decades. The MM-520 will have to earn that spot, but given the reputation of the MM series, Audeze is no longer just politely knocking on the door. The brand has a name, a reputation, and ultimately, a very pricey pair of earcups.
“The MM-520 represents the latest addition to our mission to provide creators and professionals with the ultimate monitoring tool,” says Sankar Thiagasamudram, CEO of Audeze. “By adding proprietary SLAM technology to Manny’s signature series, we have created a headphone that delivers even more truth in the low end, while retaining the characteristic clarity Audeze is known for,” says the CEO of Audeze.
90 mm planar drivers and a studio-oriented design
The Audeze MM-520 builds upon the MM-series platform with the addition of Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator, or SLAM technology. According to Audeze, SLAM is designed to improve bass response and spatial representation by regulating airflow and pressure within the ear cup. The goal is stronger low-frequency definition and better spatial clarity, without compromising the more neutral mid-frequency balance that characterized the MM-500.
The MM-520 utilizes 90mm planar magnetostatic drivers with ultra-thin Uniforce diaphragms and Fazor phase management, technologies that Audeze applies to all its planar magnetic headphones to reduce distortion and improve phase behavior. For studio users, the focus is on accuracy, low distortion, and consistency during mixing, mastering, and content creation. Audeze also claims that the headphones' high sensitivity and low impedance allow them to be driven by mixing consoles, audio interfaces, and laptops, making them more practical for both studio and mobile use.
Comfort has also been considered with improved memory foam ear cushions designed for longer sessions. The ear cushions are magnetically attached, making them easy to replace over time. This is important for studio headphones. Ear cushions wear out, sessions last a long time, and no one wants to deal with maintenance between takes.
