What we liked
- The soundstage and spatialization
- The great microphone
- The "studio" sound
- The excellent comfort
We would have liked
- Better frequency balance
Our expert’s opinion
With the MMX 330 Pro, Beyerdynamic offers a particularly efficient and high-performance gaming model. Whether you need to accurately detect the source of in-game sound events or enjoy immersive spatialization, these headphones are perfectly suited to the task. The studio approach will also of be of interest to content creators, who can monitor video editing, music production or a Twitch stream. The microphone is just as good as the rest, offering excellent voice pick-up. Of course, the headphones are also suitable for listening to music and, more generally, for all kinds of entertainment. Last but not least, the mini-jack connector makes them highly versatile, enabling them to be used with a wide range of sources.
A leading manufacturer of studio and professional headphones, Beyerdynamic also offers models suitable for both gaming and content creation. The Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro wired headphones promise to bring the German brand’s iconic sound to gamers and content creators alike. Priced at €299, is this studio quality suitable for gaming?
Included accessories
The Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro’s box contains the bare minimum: the headphones, a 3.5mm mini-jack to double 3.5mm mini-jack cable for microphone and earbuds, intended for the PC. This cable is equipped with a control for volume control and physical mute for the microphone signal. An adapter for console gamers is also available, enabling a TRRS connection (microphone and earbuds) to DualSense controllers, Xbox controllers and Nintendo Switch handheld consoles. Finally, a small illustrated booklet explains how to connect these different devices.
Presentation
Audio design
In terms of design, the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro headphones also keep things simple. This circumaural model completely surrounds the ears and offers decent passive isolation, but still allows you to hear your environment. With their open-back design, these headphones obviously don’t allow you to listen to death metal in the office without getting complaints from your colleagues. However, this design creates excellent spatialization, particularly effective and immersive in video games.
Equipped with the famous STELLAR.45 transducers found on the DT 900 PRO X studio headphones, the MMX 330 Pro offer a very wide frequency response from 5Hz to 40kHz. Performance that’s equally suited to music lovers, music producers and content creators. These gaming headphones reflect all manufacturer’s expertise and unique style.
These headphones also feature an excellent microphone. Its flexible boom makes it easy to position in front of the mouth. What’s more, it delivers excellent performance with a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. This allows it to fully capture your voice, ideal for in-game chats, but also for content creators such as Twitch streamers and YouTubers.
Some may criticize them for their conservative design, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The MMX 330 Pro headphones don’t try to reinvent the wheel, and offer what Beyerdynamic does best: high-performance and versatility.
Simplified connectivity
In terms of connectivity, the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro headphones feature a 3.5mm mini-jack cable for use with most audio devices. To connect the latter to a smartphone via USB-C, you can use a DAC adapter like the Jade Audio JA11 to extend its compatibility.
The Y-cable separates the microphone signal from that of the headphones for connection to a PC. The included adapter is useful for connecting the headphones to a TRSS port, such as those on Xbox and PlayStation controllers. The Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro are therefore designed for both console and PC gamers.
Comfort and design
Far from the designs often found on gaming headphones, the MMX 330 Pro have a minimalist design. Only the logo on the earcups is a slightly fluorescent orange. All in all, they stand out from their competitors with this sober, unobtrusive approach that’s in line with professional equipment.
Headphone comfort is one of the manufacturer’s strong points. An argument that has won over many streaming, podcast and radio professionals, notably with the famous Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro. The same is true of the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro. After 2 hours playing Cyberpunk 2077, there was no perceptible discomfort.
With their famous velvet ear pads, these headphones are very comfortable to wear. Even during long gaming sessions, your ears don’t get very warm. The pressure on the ears is also well-balanced, something that will be appreciated by those with glasses. Last but not least, the imitation leather headband is also pleasant to wear.
Beyerdynamic headphones are also highly repairable. The manufacturer offers a wide range of spare parts, from headbands and foam ear pads to cables and microphones. Designed to last, the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro gaming headphones promise real longevity. A durable purchase that more than justifies its €299 price tag.
Key specifications
- Open-back, over-ear headphones
- 45mm dynamic transducers
- Frequency response: 5Hz – 40kHz
- Sensitivity: 96 dB at 1 mW/500Hz
- Impedance: 48 ohms
- Source connectors: 3.5mm TRSS and 2 x 3.5mm (microphone and ear cups)
- Weight: 314g
Listening conditions
The Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro headphones were tested on a gamer PC for video gaming and listening to high-resolution music on Qobuz using an Audioquest DragonFly Red DAC. We also connected them to DualSense controllers for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Controller on PC. We played Cyberpunk 2077 and Hellblade 2 to test spatialization with and without Dolby Atmos for Headphones.
Listening impressions
Thanks to their open-back design, the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro headphones delivered a wide soundstage and precise, detailed sound. In this respect, they performed pefectly, enabling precise detection of in-game sound events. With binaural sound in Cyberpunk 2077, the atmosphere of Night City was perfectly captured. Enemy detection using sound cues was impeccable, and the sounds of the city completely immersed us in the game.
Also in Cyberpunk 2077, the activation of Dolby Atmos for Headphones brought more verticality to the sound. Although the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro is not certified by Dolby, this spatialization technology works perfectly. In particular, it allowed us to hear flying vehicles in the sky and detect enemies from above. This precision also makes these gaming headphones a great ally for competitive gaming.
The Hellblade 2 game was ideal for testing this spatialization, thanks to its meticulous work on binaural sound and its overall quality. What’s more, some particularly dark scenes allow you to put HDR to the test. Senua, the title’s heroine, hears voices in her head, and this is all perfectly reproduced thanks to the unique sound production. The verdict is clear: the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro headphones managed to perfectly place all these voices around the listener.
While the “studio” approach and the analytical side of the MMX 330 Pro may put some off, it still boasts very round bass and highs that really contribute to the overall clarity of the sound. Depending on your preferences, this can prove tiring over time, especially when listening to music. However, these headphones are above all designed for gaming, and for that, they’re perfect.
As for music, on Everything Burns by the band Dead Pony, the sound of the electric guitars was very precise. However, the accentuated treble curve strongly emphasized the drum crashes. With good equalization, the sound was more pleasant, albeit at the expense of some high-frequency detail. On more bass-heavy tracks such as Dead Eyes’ Avalanche, the headphones fared much better. The track’s excellent production revealed the full potential of the MMX 330 Pro.
In concrete terms, the studio sound promised by Beyerdynamic is there. It reveals all the qualities of a soundtrack or piece of music. On the other hand, it also uncovers the shortcomings of certain productions. Clearly designed for gaming, the spatialization and localization of sound events are unbeatable.
An excellent microphone
The Achilles heel of many gaming headphones, the microphone of the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro has the luxury of a frequency response that ranges from 20Hz to 20kHz. In-game communications are crystal-clear. Whether on PC or console, this microphone is clearly at the top of the range.
The cardioid design is highly directive and requires the microphone to be positioned in front of the mouth, which is simplified by the flexible boom. Although these headphones have an open-back structure and can leak sound, this wasn’t a big problem during our review. The microphone only picks up the sound of your voice, and PC users can also add filters for a more professional sound.
This pick-up quality may appeal to content creators who want to offer their viewers great sound. Streamers come to mind, of course, but it can also be used as the main microphone for a YouTuber. Whether you’re recording a voiceover or hosting a live show, it’s hard to beat a boom mic. With a compressor, limiter and good equalization on OBS, it offers excellent vocal capture. Of course, due to the analog design, the most discerning creators will need to use software for noise reduction.
What about versatility?
Tested for video editing, the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro allowed us to manage the levels of the various audio tracks. However, a dip in the high frequencies means that the sound cannot always be adjusted professionally. However, for most Internet content creators, it encourages a more rigorous approach to video sound processing. As a result, these headphones are ideal for YouTubers or streamers on Twitch.
For music production in FL Studio, these Beyerdynamic headphones revealed their ability to detect certain defects and inaccuracies in notes. Their excellent spatialization allowed instruments to be placed precisely in the stereo track. However, better frequency balance could have enabled greater control over musical creation. This is not their primary use, but for hobbyists, they do the job perfectly.
Who are the Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro designed for?
The Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro headphones are primarily designed for gaming. Whether on a PC or console, they have a lot of qualities, notably their perfect spatialization. The microphone’s performance also makes them an excellent tool for content creators wishing to improve the sound of their videos or podcasts. Their versatility makes them ideal for amateur music production and video editing.
