Beyerdynamic is not exactly known for flooding the headset market with its own units. Why also, with the MMX 300 you have a true, albeit expensive, legend in your portfolio. Quite surprisingly, the Heilbronn audio specialists announced two new gaming headsets, the MMX 100 and the MMX 150, which are already available and can be had for comparatively little money. Can Beyerdynamic still maintain the high level?
The first big surprise of the two newcomers to Beyerdynamic is their prices. The USB headset MMX 150 is available for $129, the analog jack headset MMX 100 for $99. Unusually, you usually put more than $200 on the table for the manufacturer's gaming headsets. Apart from perhaps the custom game, which is currently on sale and may be replaced by the two MMX models.
By and large, the MMX 100 and MMX 150 are identical, except for the connection options and an extra feature of the MMX 150. The cheaper MMX 100 is aimed primarily at players who want to use their headset on console controllers or mobile devices. It has a 1.20 m long cable with a combo jack and works with everything that has a 3.5 mm jack connection. Thanks to another 1.20 m long Y-splitter, you can also use the MMX 100 on a PC with a microphone and headphone connection without any problems.
The MMX 150, on the other hand, is primarily used via USB on the PC, but can also be operated on a PlayStation console. Wonderful: the cable length of 2.40 m is significantly more generous than you are used to. The cable is also detachable and can be replaced by a 1.2 m long jack cable so that controllers or mobile devices are not neglected.
Another difference between the MMX 150 and the MMX 100 is the use of two integrated microphones in the ear cups. Thanks to a switch on the headset, you can switch the MMX 150 to augmented mode. In the end, this means that you can perceive ambient noises via the integrated microphones and that the headset, which is closed in itself, has an open character. The best of both worlds, so to speak.
Otherwise, the two headsets resemble each other like an egg, apart from the fact that we got the MMX 150 in a light gray with black cushions, while the MMX 100 is completely black. The orange controls for microphone mute and volume control are a bit a matter of taste, but are not noticeable negatively. Beyerdynamic has completely dispensed with barriers such as RGB lighting or the like.
The processing is extremely high for the price range. The basis is an extremely robust aluminum bracket, on whose forks the ear cups are attached and can be tilted. The temple is flexible enough that it adapts well to the shape of the head. We just found the edges of the bracket a bit sharp, although not in a way that you could injure yourself on it (unless you are really, really stupid).
The head and ear pads are super soft and made of high quality synthetic leather. The wearing comfort of the headset, which weighs just over 300 grams, is excellent, even longer sessions, even with glasses, are no problem at all. The cables are sheathed with a textile material across the board. There is a small point of criticism here: Due to the very high resonance within the auricles, the looping of the cables over your clothing is sometimes a bit too audible. But this is almost inevitable and is drowned out when gaming anyway.
A detachable microphone is also on board, often a weak point even with good headsets. Not so with Beyerdynamic. The so-called META VOICE microphone is a cardioid condenser microphone with a 9.9 mm capsule and it does an excellent job. Speech is transmitted very cleanly and naturally, with almost no loss of vocal characteristics. During the voice chat, our chat partners certified that we were very easy to understand, and our own experiment with audio recordings was also very convincing. Who is surprised ... Beyerdynamic is at home in studio technology. The Heilbronn-based company even thought of the foam pop screen.
Let's get to the most important thing, namely the sound. Beyerdynamic uses a 40 mm driver system that works with a wide frequency range from 5 to 30,000 Hz (standard for gaming headsets are 20 to 20,000 Hz). The impedance is the usual 32 ohms for PC, console and mobile use. Both headsets have a moderate volume level.
What the 40 mm drivers then blow into your ears has to be called the reference class in this price segment. Even during the first test run with extensive operation with Spotify, we had the impression that we had a much more expensive headset on the eavesdroppers. Even the smallest details in the sounds of strings or high hats were never lost. Both MMX 100 and MMX 150 convince with films and videos with an extremely wide, clear and detailed sound, which becomes a revelation when playing with Dolby Atmos or Windows Sonic.
The balance between the two headsets is remarkable. The bass is crisp and powerful, without ever booming, stumbling or being too dominant. The highs are crystal clear and allow even the smallest details and the mids are just as fantastic. Regardless of whether it is role-playing games that are heavy on dialogue, massive exchanges of fire or growling motors - the two MMX headsets cut a great figure in everything. It never gets mushy and even during the fiercest firefight, the voice chat with the comrades can still be heard wonderfully.
CONCLUSION
A slap in the face for the competition
Headsets in the range of $100 or a little more are kind of a minefield. There are a lot of very decent headsets out there, but also a lot of overpriced headsets that are not worth the money and you can easily burn money. What Beyerdynamic delivers with the MMX 100 and the MMX 150, however, is nothing more and nothing less than a resounding slap in the face for almost all of the competition. Despite the very moderate price, the two newcomers play in a completely different league than most of their competitors.
The workmanship is flawless, the wearing comfort at the highest level and even small things such as cable lengths have been generously solved, apart from the fact that you can connect the two headsets to pretty much anything that emits sound. Even the microphone is one of the best in this price range. But above all, the famous sound is enthroned. Wonderfully balanced, crisp, but also rich in detail and wide ... MMX 100 and MMX 150 are equipped for all disciplines and convince not only when gaming, but also with videos / films and even with music.
MMX 100 and MMX 150 are absolutely among the best you can currently get in this price segment. If you are looking for a wired, flexible and powerful-sounding gaming headset, there is really no way around these two gems. We recommend the MMX 150 if you primarily play on the PC, the MMX 100, on the other hand, is perfect for consoleros and mobile players.
Pros
- high quality and robust workmanship
- high wearing comfort
- can be used as an open headset thanks to augmented mode (only MMX 150)
- generous cable lengths
- universally applicable
- great value for money
- very good microphone
- sound at reference class level
- powerful, balanced and detailed sound
Con
- Noises from the cable are sometimes a bit loud, but are drowned out when gaming.
Comments
Post a Comment