A slam-dunk at High End Vienna: Audeze unveils pro mixing headphones with
huge 90mm drivers (and yes, proprietary SLAM tech too)

Date:
Thu, 04 Jun 2026 10:04:22 +0000

Description:
The Audeze MM-520 bring some tweaks over their predecessor, plus a little
SLAM for good measure.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Audeze has unveiled MM-520 headphones at High End Munich These are professional studio cans with 90mm drivers They cost a relatively reasonable $1,699 (about 1,250, AU$2500) We're in the midst of the massive audio convention High End Vienna, so every day brings a glut of top-end speakers or professional headphones with the price tag of a small car . So Audeze's new cans look almost affordable in
comparison (spoiler alert: they're still really quite expensive).

The brand has unveiled the Audeze MM-520, professional studios as part of its Manny Marroquin-branded series (he's a hugely successful mixing engineer you knew that) which succeed the MM-500s. They're open-back wired cans designed for professionals. I did say these look affordable, but that's only in comparison; these new headphones cost $1,699 (about 1,250, AU$2500) so
they're not finding a space in our best cheap headphones list any time soon but they might well join the ranks of our best wired headphones , if we can get our hands on a set for a thorough review. By the sounds of it, they're on sale right now, from the brand's website or hi-fi retailers. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

So, what's the unique sell here? Well, it's SLAM. SLAM 'em down One of the biggest selling points of the MM-520s is their use of Audeze's proprietary SLAM technology. Nothing to do with basketball dunking, or tequila-soda
shots; this stands for Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modular. Yes, that's a run
of four adjectives, with no subject. Pedants, I'm sorry, and I'll keep to calling it SLAM. You may like 'Sounds more like a supercar': Meze unveils Arta, elite audiophile headphones with sonic blades, replaceable parts and the price-tag of a small car Audio-Technica ATH-ADX7000 review: truly exceptional open-backs for affluent audiophiles Sony reveals new high-end 1000X The Collexion headphones, and explains their upgrades

SLAM is technology which is focused on the low-end: it improves how bass sounds, and creates a wider-spaced sound stage at this frequency range. It's all about "optimizing air pressure" using the open design, to improve bass without affecting the neutral sound so much.

Other improvements to the MM-520 come to the design: the memory foam earpads have seen a change, and Audeze says they're more comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Like their predecessors, they use 90mm planar magnetic drivers, with a super-thin diaphragm and phase management to avoid distortion. They offer a frequency response of 5Hz-50kHz, with an impedance of 18 ohms, and 102dB sensitivity.

Audeze lists the MM series in its Professional category, so they're clearly designed for engineers or designers (if the price didn't give that away). The best noise cancelling headphones for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best noise cancelling headphones 1. Best overall: Sony WH-1000XM6 2. Best mid-range: Bose QuietComfort Headphones 3. Best under $100/100: 1More Sonoflow Pro HQ51 4. Best under $60/50: Soundcore Q30 Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/audio/a-slam-dunk-at-high-end-vienna-audeze-unveils- pro-mixing-headphones-with-huge-90mm-drivers-and-yes-proprietary-slam-tech-too


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