JBL Quantum 910X Vs Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro Comparison Review

Since the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro was released a few months ago, it’s jumped on a lot of “best gaming headphone” lists. A top headphone manufacturer will likely succeed here, but how does it compare to a popular consumer brand like JBL? The Quantum 910X goes for nearly the same price as the MMX 300 Pro, and it has a lot more features that will enhance your gaming experience. Does it truly make for a better headphone?

What You Get

Look & Feel

While the 910X’s style fits the gaming aesthetic more than the MMX 300 Pro does, Beyerdynamic’s model has the superior build quality. The RGB lights of the 910X and the reflective material on its ear cups will make it fit with your other gaming paraphernalia, and it’s got a lot more physical controls than the MMX 300 Pro. However, the MMX 300 Pro has the stability and durability of Beyerdynamic’s studio-grade headphones. It has more of a clamp to it though, and the large pads of the 910X might feel more comfortable for you. Neither pair of headphones make their mic arms detachable though, which I see as a flaw in both of their designs.

Design

The Quantum 910X has a slightly bigger driver than the MMX 300 Pro with a 50mm dynamic unit. You don’t get Beyerdynamic’s Stellar.45 technology though, giving the MMX 300 Pro more studio-like characteristics compared to JBL’s standard dynamic driver.

Mic Quality

While the mic on the Quantum 910X has good enough clarity for a set of gaming headphones, the mic on the MMX 300 Pro is on a different level. It’s the cleanest voice quality I’ve heard from a gaming headset in a long time, making chatting through games and Discord easier for everyone on the other end.

Soundstage

If you absolutely need 3D audio for your games, the 910X is the option that you want to go for. However, I think the natural stereo soundstage of the MMX 300 Pro is much better than the filtered timbre the 910X takes on in spatial mode. While it’s not the most distracting presentation, the MMX 300 Pro is more accurate to the actual mix of the game. It does a better job communicating different layers of sound compared to the 910X, and I found it more helpful is most game environments. The 910X might be more theatrically immersive, but you have to deal with sonic fidelity getting lost in translation.

Low End

While JBL’s usual bass tuning lends itself to thick, punchy game sounds, the MMX 300 Pro features more depth. That’s not to say you can’t feel the bass on the 910X though. JBL’s model has a fun, rumbly tone that is excessive in all the right ways. Both headphones share some actual low end clarity that doesn’t devolve into a foggy mess. The MMX 300 Pro has a particularly aggressive growl that blooms from underneath you, while the 910X is more concerned with direct impact.

Mids

Both headphones have a huge diversion in the midrange. The 910X unsurprisingly feels hollow compared to the MMX 300 Pro. While neither set of headphones give the best clarity to dialogue, but the MMX 300 Pro has more of a physical form to its sound than the 910X. It’s identifiable neutral in its tone, and it organizes the space between music and sound effects more articulately than JBL’s model. The 910X still gives the mids a good amount of room, but the fidelity of the frequency content is lacking compared to the MMX 300 Pro, which has more more detail and edge.

Highs

Those who hear the name Beyerdynamic and worry about its potential sharpness might be enough of a reason to flock to the 910X. While the MMX 300 Pro isn’t very harsh at all, there are details that can be quite cutting compared to the smoother 910X. It sacrifices some detail that can be integral to certain sounds, but if you’re only concerned about what will be easier to digest then you might enjoy the 910X more.

Summary

The JBL Quantum 910X is chock full of gaming related features that you might be looking for, but the MMX 300 Pro features better natural sound. It’s mic quality is also top notch, and the build quality is also superior. However, you might be looking for a wireless headset, which the MMX 300 Pro isn’t, and it also doesn’t have 3D audio. While the 910X is a good headphone for gaming, the MMX 300 Pro is a better headphone regardless of the entertainment you listen to with them.

The JBL Quantum 910X and the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro are available at Audio46.