There are a bevy of nice wi-fi gaming headsets in the marketplace, a lot of which pack a number of key options that we’ve come to count on. High-end wired headphones, nonetheless – the sort from firms like Sennheiser or Audio Technica that audiophiles gravitate in the direction of – are likely to concentrate on the issues that matter most within the audio expertise: consolation and sound high quality. Beyerdynamic is within the dialog as effectively, and with its new MMX 300 Pro, you get a wired headset with that audiophile-level of sound high quality, paired with spectacular readability from its built-in microphone.
At a daily value of round $300 USD, it’s a tricky pitch contemplating that even one of the best wi-fi gaming headsets might be discovered for decrease. But on the high-end the place studio-grade audio high quality is achievable, the MMX 300 Pro exhibits why good audio is value investing in.
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro – Design and Comfort
The MMX 300 Pro is constructed on a metallic body with leather-like padding wrapped across the headband for consolation – the padding buckles onto the headset so you’ll be able to take away it, though there wouldn’t be any cause to take action until you need to customise or substitute it. Each earcup extends out to accommodate greater heads and voluminous hair as most headphones or headsets would. The body itself is versatile and may twist or contort with out feeling prefer it’s going to snap or get broken, so that you get the impression of sturdiness proper off the bat.
What makes the MMX 300 Pro snug to put on for lengthy classes is the densely padded earcups with their velvety velour upholstery. Velour is my favourite materials for earcups on headphones and headsets, and these strike an exquisite stability between consolation, breathability, and sound isolation. Although the headset has a barely tight clamp to it, I by no means felt like there was an excessive amount of stress even after two or three hours of carrying them. And over the course of every week of utilizing them every day, they began to interrupt in and really feel even simpler to put on.
This isn’t a flashy headset; Beyerdynamic places out the kind of headsets which might be no-nonsense, so that you’ll see solely a little bit of branding alongside the facet of what’s an in any other case pretty discreet-looking product. One factor to notice right here is that the microphone on the left earcup isn’t removable – it could actually rotate practically 360-degrees round to get it out of your face, and the gooseneck-style mic arm flexes into place so you’ll be able to lock it into any place you want, however if you would like the MMX 300 Pro to appear like only a pair of headphones, effectively, sorry.
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro – Features
The MMX 300 Pro is a slim package deal; you get the headset, a 3.5mm dongle to unify the audio and microphone jacks (helpful for consoles), and a pop filter for the mic – that’s it. Along the removable 8.2-foot cable is the microphone mute toggle and quantity management wheel (which acts independently of the system it is related to).
Since this can be a wired analog headset, there aren’t any onboard options like lively noise canceling, built-in microphone suggestions, or swappable EQ presets through software program. This headset is tuned a particular means, so if you wish to pair it with an amplifier or DAC, you’ll be able to undoubtedly get a extra customized audio profile, however these are components outdoors of the headset itself.
However, there’s a consolation in figuring out that what you hear is what you get – particularly when the MMX 300 Pro delivers among the greatest audio I’ve skilled from a closed-back gaming headset. That’s due to Beyerdynamic’s “Stellar.45” audio drivers, that are additionally discovered on the professional-grade DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X headphones.
Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro – Sound Quality and Microphone
The MMX 300 Pro has one of the best sound high quality I’ve skilled when in comparison with your typical gaming headset. By utilizing the identical tech present in its high-end headphones, Beyerdynamic stakes its declare on uncompromising audio, and that’s the hope contemplating the worth tag.
As with different audio gear, I performed ranked matches of Counter-Strike 2 and cleared a number of raid situations in Final Fantasy XIV, along with utilizing the MMX 300 Pro as my every day headphones for music – the outcomes had been improbable. Everything sounds full and daring as a result of its sturdy bass that doesn’t get distorted at loud volumes. Yet it stays balanced in order to not drown out different frequencies, so the readability of mids and vocals are nonetheless highlighted. And with highs that are usually ear-piercing at loud volumes on lower-end headsets, the MMX 300 Pro dealt with them splendidly, letting me benefit from the particulars within the sound design of the video games I performed.
In Counter-Strike 2, gunshots and explosions didn’t sound distorted and had a punchy edge to them. But what’s most essential in a recreation like that is positional audio. This being a closed-back headset, you are likely to lose among the spatial audio benefits of open-back headphones or a gaming headset with audio profiles particularly designed to tease out sure sorts of sounds or simulate distance. For gameplay specifically although, I nonetheless wouldn’t say I used to be at a drawback or benefit in comparison with different high-end headsets I’ve used. Even with out particular gaming options, the readability and element was sufficient for me to anticipate enemies round corners and determine their actions to tell my selections in a match. So to be clear, the MMX 300 Pro is not any slouch right here, which is predicted from a headset of this caliber.
For Final Fantasy XIV, the brand new Dawntrail raid collection launched a number of unbelievable new songs, so I used to be pleased to play with the sound at full blast. As I’ve mentioned previously, with all of the sound results of spells and assaults going off concurrently in a celebration of eight gamers, FFXIV might be very busy sonically. However, it was good to listen to all the pieces in full element with none explicit frequency sounding crunchy and nonetheless have the soundtrack enjoying in all its glory.
Some price range headsets are in a position to get away from their limitations with software-side options, however this will generally sound synthetic. Audio gear on this vary, however, doesn’t endure from that downside, which is why I are likely to gravitate in the direction of headphones from firms like Beyerdynamic. I exploit the Sennheiser HD 599 as my on a regular basis headphones, however the bolder bass of the MMX 300 Pro really has me a bit bummed to return to previous trustworthy (I nonetheless love my Sennheisers, although). So, as somebody who cares so much about sound within the gaming expertise, the MMX 300 Pro represents the form of audio expertise I imagine is value paying for.
To my shock, it’s the microphone that justifies the worth. I’m utilizing an Elgato Wave 3 as my exterior microphone in the mean time and can proceed to take action. But if I needed to depend on the MMX 300 Pro’s built-in mic, I wouldn’t be mad – actually, I’d be fairly pleased. I recorded my voice by Audacity and in contrast the 2 side-by-side, and the mic on the MMX 300 Pro rivals mid-range standalone mics. It has readability worthy of streaming, podcasting, or simply recording your voice for content material creation. Even simply hopping into Discord with pals, they had been shocked to listen to I used to be utilizing a headset mic. Compared to the Elgato Wave 3, the headset mic is a bit muffled and nonetheless has some popping when saying P’s (even with the pop filter), however the general high quality may be very spectacular. Simply put, the MMX 300 Pro has one of the best built-in headset microphone I’ve used up to now.
One caveat to think about, nonetheless, is that since this can be a closed-back headset, it’s robust to listen to your self speak in the event you don’t have a approach to monitor the microphone feed. With open-back headphones, this isn’t a lot of a problem, and good headsets just like the latest Turtle Beach Stealth 600 and Atlas Air I reviewed lately provide sidetone. (Take be aware of the apart on the high of this evaluation in case you are within the open-back model of Beyerdynamic’s headset.)
