The Hifiman Edition XV is a full-sized planar magnetic headphone from Hifiman. It has the typical oval/egg-shaped cup design, a driver with dual magnets, and an effective diaphragm area of 80 x 50 mm. The Edition XV has very low impedance at 12 Ohms, and it has a sensitivity of 92 dB/mW. The XV costs 399 USD.
The Audeze MM-100 is also a planar magnetic open-back headphone. It uses a 90 mm single-sided magnetic driver with Audeze Fluxor magnets and Fazor waveguides. The impedance is 18 Ohms, and the sensitivity is 98 dB/mW. The MM-100 typically costs 399 USD.
They both have headbands with a strap and weigh just above 450 g. The MM-100 uses all pleather pads, while the XV has hybrid pads with textile on the face, the part touching your skin. The XV has a dual-sided cable connection, while the MM-100 has a single sided cable connection (both sides are possible).
HIFIMAN EDITION XV SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: full-size open-back
- Driver: planar magnetic
- Dual-sided magnet driver
- NEO Supernano Diaphragm gen. 2
- Effective Diaphragm Area: 80 x 50 mm
- Diaphragm thickness:
- Impedance: 12 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 92 dB/mW
- Frequency response: 8Hz-50kHz
- Cable: Detachable 1.5 mm
- Cable connectors: dual 3.5 mm
- Cable termination: 3.5 mm with 6.35 mm adapter.
- Headband: strap design
- Pads: hybrid
- Weight: 452g
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Hifiman XV
- AliExpress: Hifiman XV
AUDEZE MM-100 SPECIFICATIONS
- Type: full-size open-back
- Driver: planar magnetic
- Single-sided magnet driver
- Diaphragm: Ultra-Thin Uniforce™
- Driver size: 90 mm
- Impedance: 18 ohms
- Sensitivity: 98 dB/mW
- Cable: 2.5m – Single ended TRRS to 1/4″ TRS
- Pads: pleather
- Warranty: 1 year
- Weight: 475g
Current price and availability:
- Amazon: Audeze MM-100
LISTENING COMPARISON
Associated equipment:
- Amplifier: Topping A90
- DAC: Ferrum Erco mk2
Outlaws by Bill Frisell
Both sound great, and they are not very far apart here. However, the MM-100 sounds a bit darker and warmer; the soundstage is more restricted, but the imaging is more precise. The MM-100 feels more focused and studio-neutral, while the XV sounds more airy and slightly brighter in general.
In The Mountains by Espen Eriksen Trio
The MM-100 has a moderate but high-quality bass presence, gentle piano, and feels dynamic and neutral. The XV has a more powerful bass and sounds more airy, with a brighter tint. There is more presence in the treble.
The Saint by Berke Özcan
Both sound very good. The XV is more airy, while the saxophone feels more focused and grounded with the MM-100.
Re-Melt by Tord Gustavsen Trio
They are quite similar here too, but again the MM-100 sounds more focused but also more narrow. The MM-100 feels like near-field monitors in a well-dampened room, while the XV is more like speakers in a larger room with less dampening.
Teardrop by Massive Attack
The MM-100 is precise and super tight; the bass is not very powerful but feels linear. The XV has more bass quantity and, again, more treble presence, giving a sense of that airy soundstage.
I Will Always Love You by Dolly Parton
I’m listening to this the day after Dolly Parton died; she was a fantastic songwriter and performer. The XV sounds detailed and well balanced, giving Dolly’s vocals a very nice, well-balanced, and nuanced presence. The MM-100 brings the vocals more upfront; it sounds more intimate and intense. I prefer the XV’s slightly more toned-down and subtle delivery.
Jolene by Dolly Parton
It’s the same here. The vocals are relatively more intense with the MM-100, but less so than with the previous track. Still, the XV sounds better balanced and feels more pleasant.
Alt e bra by Building Instrument
This sounds very spacious and clean on the XV; the treble is great. The MM-100 is pretty similar; the difference here is smaller than usual.
Sujet Tabou by Renaudin and Cahours
This sounds snappy and well balanced on both headphones. However, the MM-100 has better pinpoint imaging, while the XV again sounds more airy.
Eye of The Day by Marta del Grandi
As with the Dolly Parton tracks, the female vocals are very intimate and sound a bit intense with the MM-100. I find the intensity to be a bit much, especially in direct comparison with the leaner-sounding mids of the XV.
In other words: the MM-100 sounds very midrange-focused; the XV gives more room to all frequencies and feels more balanced.
Moo)n by Lindström
The MM-100 sounds a bit tighter with more upfront mids, but the difference is relatively small.
Jambi by Tool
Neither of these headphones has the bass shelf to give this song the thunderous presence it can have. However, between the two, the XV has a bit more bass, the MM-100 has a bit more midrange energy.
Limit to Your Love by James Blake
The XV has better bass quality here and also a bit more bass weight. The MM-100 again has warmer, thicker mids, the vocals are more forward sounding.
Summer 3 Vivaldi Recomposed by Max Richter
This sounds pretty different. The XV sounds more open, brighter, and airy. In direct comparison, the MM-100 sounds closed-in and a bit nasal, and is less preferred.
However, after a while you get used to the difference, and the more focused and intense MM-100 has its charm. But the XV comes across as the better choice for this track.
Young Vivaldi by Modo Antiquo
This is a string quartet and basically most of the action is in the midrange. The MM-100 is again more energetic and intense sounding, slightly nasal in character. The XV is leaner, and when compared directly, I prefer it clearly.
However, as always, your brain adjusts, and the MM-100 isn’t bad — I just don’t find it to be the most natural sounding of the two.
WRAPPING IT UP
Sound Signature
Both headphones are quite neutral. Both have a modest bass presence, but the XV has slightly more bass than the MM-100. The MM-100 has fuller, more upfront mids, and both have nicely present highs, although the XV often feels brighter.
Treble
The treble is nicely balanced on both; it feels neutral and detailed, neither too bright nor too dark.
Midrange
They both have a very good sounding midrange, but it is differently tuned. The XV has a leaner, darker midrange, while the MM-100 is thicker, warmer, and more upfront.
If you want the midrange to stand out the most in the mix, the MM-100 is the obvious choice; however, the mids on the MM-100 can also sound a bit nasal and honky on some tracks when compared directly to a less upfront alternative like the XV.
Bass
The bass quality is mostly comparable, but when really challenged the XV seems to be better. It’s also a tad richer and meatier in comparison, especially in the sub-bass territory. The XV sounds like it measures quite flat in the low end, while the MM-100 rolls off gradually. This is backed up by the frequency response measurements I could find online.
Soundstage and Imaging
The soundstage is larger, wider, and taller with the XV, while the imaging is more pinpointed and precise-sounding with the MM-100.
Detail, Dynamics, and Timbre
In general the detail level is very comparable, but more often than not I tend to find the MM-100 a tad more refined sounding in the mids and highs. The XV is better in the bass.
Dynamics are comparable. Both are adequately dynamic, but neither is a standout in terms of slam power.
When it comes to timbre, I find them both very nice and natural sounding in the treble. They’re not identical; the XV has a bit more airy and sometimes more diffuse treble presence, which can be nice but can also sound a bit fuzzy.
The bass is nice and neutral with both, but I prefer the XV for its extra presence and better quality. It sounds more natural.
The biggest difference in terms of timbre is, however, in the midrange. The XV is consistently leaner, the MM-100 is consistently warmer, thicker, and more intense, or upfront if you will. Which them feels more natural and organic depends a bit on the track.
CONCLUSION
Both headphones are similar in terms of overall sound quality, and even though they are both quite neutral and don’t sound radically different most of the time, they’re a bit different in several areas:
The XV is airier, brighter, and more spacious, with a leaner midrange, better sub-bass extension, and a larger soundstage.
The MM-100 is warmer and more upfront, with fuller mids, more focused imaging, and a more intimate presentation.
As mentioned earlier, the MM-100 reminds me a bit of compact studio monitors in a small room, while the XV sounds more like speakers in a larger, less damped room.
I find them both to be comfortable, but they have different pros and cons, like cup size and cup shape, pad material, and single- versus dual-entry cables.
All in all, they’re both very good headphones, and they perform well for the price point.
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