Beyerdynamic, a German brand known for their studio-quality headphones, has released another product for gamers. After the success of the MMX 300 Pro, they’ve created an open-back counterpart to provide options for people looking to upgrade. The MMX 330 Pro, retailing at a price of $329.99, stands as a great option for people who love open-back and more immersive listening experiences. Let’s dive into the details.

What Comes In The Box

• Gaming Headset MMX 330 Pro
• 2.5m PC cable
• Gaming console adapter
• Microphone Pop Filter
• Instructions

Aesthetics and Functionality

For people who loved the MMX 300 Pro, you’ll be happy to know that beyerdynamic didn’t change much in terms of looks. They kept the classic black design, with plush black ear pads and orange accents. Gamers will appreciate the comfort in the design, which is built for hours of use. Wearing them for testing was a breeze, and even with glasses on, they were not fatiguing or hurting my head. Setting up the headphones was also very easy, as there was just a cable to plug into my device to start listening. I used a small portable DAC/Amp to elevate the sound – the KA11 from FiiO – but these could have been used with the included 3.5mm jack for ease of use. 

Tech Specs

• STELLAR.45 Dynamic Driver
• Frequency Response: 5Hz - 40k Hz
• Impedance: 48 Ω
• THD @ 500 Hz: < 0.05 %
• SPL @ 1 mW / 500Hz: 96 dB
• Open back, over ear
• Electret Condenser Cardioid Microphone
• Microphone Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
• Wired Transmission

Listening Review

Soundstage

The look may have stayed relatively the same, but the sound does have a distinctly different profile. Open back headphones are known for their wide soundstage and wrap-around-the-head sound, and that rings true for the MMX 330. You won’t get active noise canceling from these headphones, but what they lack in that department, they make up for in design. A lot of ambient noise is filtered out because of the over-ear design, which covers the ear completely. You get some pass-through noise when you don’t have any music playing, but once you start listening, you are completely immersed. Beyerdynamic advertises the stellar balance between the treble and bass, and it comes through very well in a number of dynamic genres and gaming tracks. These are great for at-home gaming setups, especially ones in quiet environments. You would easily be entranced with your game with the way the soundscape and imaging detail allows you to step right into the game. 

Low Frequencies

The MMX 330 is equipped with a driving low end, but not an overwhelming one. I have found that some open-back headphones can lose some of their low end quality due to the noise cancelation being eliminated from the equation, but these still carry a low end that is powerful and punchy. Listening to some movie soundtracks and video game tracks, I liked how present the low end was and how it was a great foundation for the rest of the frequencies. 

Mid-Range Frequencies

The mid-range is very clear and detailed. You can hear all the layers and timbres in the instruments as you listen. Video game sound effects and scores have incredible detail, and vocals are at the front of any track. This is great for people who need to hear dialogues in gameplay, or just like to enjoy a range of vocal performances. There's no muddiness between frequencies and the flow from one range to the other is smooth. The clear mid-range paired with exceptional stereo imaging puts the headphones in a high quality range. 

High Frequencies

The high end is incredibly detailed and brings excellent balance to the entire sound signature. It is crisp and bright, and the way it rings out naturally feeds into the immersive quality. The high frequencies are not too bright as to become fatiguing, and they are still present despite the pass through noise that comes with open back headphones. I was listening to classical guitar and some glitchy pop effects, and I was very pleased how all the sound came through naturally and clearly. For immersive gamers, the sound will feel natural and like it is coming from the room you are in. 

Summary

Beyerdynamic has a great track record for consistency. The MMX 300 Pro was a success in the gaming world, so it only stands to reason that the MMX 330 Pro would follow with the same results. Gamers and casual listeners alike will love the open-back design, perfectly suited for solo gaming and immersive play. 

The MMX 330 Pro is available for purchase and demo at Audio46.