Beyerdynamic is a company that has routinely proven that you don’t need a thousand dollars to make a headphone sound great. Their headphones in the $1-300 range can hold their own (with the right DAC/AMP) well above their weight class. Beredynamic’s gaming headphones have upheld respect amongst gamers as well, remaining competitive in a crowded space. Does the newly released MMX 230 hold up to this standard?

What Comes in the Box?

• MMX 230 Wireless headset
• USB-C charging cable (≈1.8 m)
• USB wireless dongle
• USB-C → USB-A adapter
• Soft carrying bag
• Quick start guide
• Compliance / warranty booklet

Build, Design, & Comfort 

The MMX 230 looks and feels great right out of the box. The orange and black color-scheme was an excellent choice that gives this headphone a unique, appealing aesthetic. It’s incredibly light weight and comfortable, with exceptionally soft pads and a snug clamp. Excelling in this category makes the MMX 230 ideal for long gaming sessions, and it will assuredly not become uncomfortable even after several hours of continuous wear. 

I will say, the overall build quality of this headphone isn’t quite as sturdy as something like the Audeze Maxwell. The MMX 230 would likely break from being accidentally stepped on as it is almost entirely made of plastic. However, the trade off for the lightness and comfort is more than worth it in my opinion. 

Technical Specifications

Gaming Utility

While the MMX 230 can be used as a normal noise-canceling bluetooth headphone, its primary purpose is for gaming, and it’s a purpose the headphone fulfills very well. 

With its 60+ hour battery life, this headphone could be worn throughout the playthrough of most games without having to be charged at all. The MMX 230 is also great for multiplayer gameplay, thanks to its non-existent latency with its bluetooth USB connection. Gamechat is made easy with its attached, high-quality, environmental noise-canceling microphone that is easily toggled on and off. Since it is also closed-back and noise-canceling, it’s great for those who don’t live alone and want to prevent noise for others, or for themself. However, I will say, the noise cancelling itself is very slight and doesn’t add much to the already good noise isolation from simply wearing them. 

The sound quality is very good, which I’ll get into later. However, the spatialization and stereo imaging, while serviceable, didn’t blow me away. I could see this being an issue for those who want some nice surround for a horror game or who want an audio advantage in multiplayer. A good pair of wired open backs may be a better option for those who aren’t worried about external bleed and are willing to spend a bit more money on their sound setup. 

Sound Review 

Staging & Imaging 

As I mentioned earlier, the MMX 230 is competent in this category, but not exceptional. The overall soundstage is a tad too narrow for my taste, which is not what I want when gaming. I wouldn’t call it “claustrophobic,” it’s just a bit cramped when compared to open backs, or even some closed backs like the Maxwell 2. The stereo imaging gives a sense of location and space, but it doesn’t have that “wow” factor I look for. 

For music, it’s a bit better. Tracks have room to breathe, and the width is solid. Tracks don’t get too cluttered, with nice amounts of separation between elements of the soundscape. The headphones give an intimate listening experience that puts you right into the music, especially with noise cancellation. 

Frequency Overview

While the MMX 230 does offer customization features EQ to personalize the listening experience for both music and games via their first party app, I’m going to focus on the natural, default sound of the headphone for this portion of the review.

Bass Frequencies

The bass on the MMX 230 is one of its strongest points. It packs a punch with some serious weight behind it. You can really feel the rumble, and with rich clarity. The lows are highly detailed across the board, and I’d say it’s the most prominent part of the frequency spectrum in songs and situations that prioritize it. 

 Mid Frequencies

Mids are also quite strong here. Vocals and guitars are pronounced on rock tracks, and dialogue and action are crystal clear in games. There can be a hint of clutter here and there in gameplay due to the aforementioned specialization limitations. For music, which generally doesn’t require so much width to sound good, it wasn’t nearly as much of an issue.

High/Treble Frequencies

The treble tops off the frequency spectrum nicely. There’s a good sense of airiness to the highs that lends itself well to both gameplay and music. I didn’t find any distortion even on tracks with extremely scratchy guitars. Instead, I found the hidden details enhanced in this range. It’s definitely more of a bassy headphone than a bright one, but the highs are still strong.

Comparison to Competition

I would say that the most direct competitor to the MMX 230 is the Audeze Maxwell 2: an audiophile gaming headset at the same price point. In terms of build quality, the Maxwell 2 is definitely sturdier and made of more premium material. However, this has the trade off of being far heavier and less comfortable. For long gaming sessions, the MMX 230 is a clear winner for comfort. 

For sound quality, I think the Maxwell 2 wins for its 3D specialization that is some of the best on the market. The Maxwell is also more versatile as the microphone is removable, making it a good choice for an all-in-one headphone. 

It’s a real toss-up here, and I’d recommend doing further research and demoing, if possible, before making a decision on which is best for you.

Additionally, if you’re a PC Gamer there are better options if you’re looking to put in the capital for a wired headphone, external mic, and an amplifier. However, if you want true value, this is a great headphone to go with for your money. 

Final Thoughts

The Beyerdynamic is a solid choice for a gaming headset at this price point. Beyerdynamic has once again offered a good product for a solid price. While the spacing within the sound stage may be a bit narrow for a gaming headset, this headset offers a plethora of features and great sound quality that makes it well worth its $300 price tag. 

You can purchase the Beyerdynamic MMX 230 at Audio 46.

About Author

Kye

Kye is a sound designer and long-time audiophile. He resides in New York City and enjoys alternative music.

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