Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro Review

It has only been a month since Beyerdynamic launched its new closed-back gaming headphones: the MMX 300 Pro. Beyerdynamic has now released the open-back counterpart to those headphones, the MMX 330 Pro. This gives gamers an open-back option for those looking for the perfect combination of sonic fidelity and immersion. Let’s see if the MMX 330 Pro provides that balance.

What You Get

• Quick Start Guide
• 1/8″ TRRRS to 1/8″ TRRS cable (for console)
• 1/8″ TRRRS to computer audio mic Y-splitter 1/8″ TRS (PC cable)
• 1/4″ to 1/8″ adapter
• Hard case
• Warranty paper

Look & Feel

Anyone familiar with Beyerdynamic will take to the MMX 330 Pro’s build. It sports a sturdy frame, large ear cups, and thick pads that secure your ears with a firm grip. Although there’s a light pinching feel, these headphones are very comfortable. The feel of Beyerdynamic’s velour pads around my ears is always going to be enjoyable for me, especially when logging significant gaming hours. On the MMX 300 Pro, I was a bit disappointed by the boom arm not being detachable, and the MMX 330 Pro doesn’t change this. You can move it up and out of the way when you’re not using it, but it still keeps you from using the MMX 330 Pro like normal headphones.

Design 

Like its closed-back counterpart, the MMX 330 Pro utilizes its STELLAR.45 technology with a 45mm dynamic driver. In my review of the MMX 300 Pro, I pointed out how the output level was low when connected to the PS5. The same goes for the MMX 330 Pro as well, so the best performance I got from the headphones was heard on PC.

Mic Quality

I was very impressed with the quality of the MMX 300 Pro, and the MMX 330 uses the same mic. With its condenser cardioid polar pattern, you’re able to get a clear voice signal that is a lot more articulate than most gaming headset mics I’ve tested.

Soundstage

The MMX 330 Pro does a great job reminding you why open-back is the way to go for gaming. It’s hard to beat the natural immersive of an open stereo field that doesn’t sacrifice fidelity. I tested the MMX 330 Pro with my PS5 and PC, experimenting with some 3D software, but I preferred how the headphones sounded without them. This is a gaming headphone with tons of dimension with just traditional stereo accuracy precision. For games, the MMX 330 Pro naturally heightens ambient backgrounds to stick out in front of you, with dialogue and sound effects sitting just below it. It stacks them evenly, and with areas of open space in between.

You can read tons of movement through the MMX 330 Pro, which will help you discern diegetic sound placement more clearly than many other gaming headphones. This helped me a lot while playing “The Witcher 3,” as a quest needed me to investigate mysterious sounds. Of course, a good pair of headphones made this quest a lot easier, but the MMX 330 Pro went above and beyond portraying the proper distance and angle of the sounds I was trying to find.

Low End

While you’ll find many gaming headphones with low-end rumble and thickness, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a pair that has the depth of the MMX 330 Pro. It might not feel like the most cinematic presentation for games, but it has a level of detail and separation that a lot of gaming headphones don’t offer. You might be disappointed by this more neutral presentation, but the MMX 330 Pro can reach down and establish a visceral sub-bass resonance. From there, the low frequencies blossom into a rich tone that only excites when necessary.

Mids

It’s been a long time since I’ve heard a gaming headphone showcase a midrange response this lush. The detail and clarity appear so effortless over the MMX 330 Pro, highlighting all dialogue with crispness, and music with exceptional balance. Nothing hides in the background over the MMX 330 Pro, thanks to the fact that the mids are very layered and evenly tuned. Sound effects and music work in tandem with each other, with scores that can sweep over you while soundscapes take a clear shape that enhances realism.

Highs

You always get a layer of high-end detail with most Beyerdynamic headphones, but the MMX 330 Pro keeps them reserved. They are tuned to feel smooth while still possessing a considerable tick to it. It’s not as pronounced of a response compared to the warmth of the low-mids. The treble is very controlled but still feels as refined as the rest of the frequency response. Small areas of brightness result in tight glistening textures, housing the most flavor the highs can offer.

Summary

Using the MMX 330 Pro gave me a very immersive gaming experience. It’s on the level of some of the best like the Audeze Maxwell. Even some of the most advanced gaming headphones with Bluetooth and spatial audio don’t have the pure resolution that the MMX 330 has, and it makes all the difference when you start playing your games.

The Beyerdynamic MMX 330 Pro is available at Audio46.