The Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro headset delivers rich, smooth, and detailed audio. On The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” it introduces the bass triplets with a clean punch without overemphasis. When the sub-bass quarter notes arrive shortly after, the headset effortlessly produces the low notes with all the heft they require. Meanwhile, the synth line moves through the upper register with crispness. The vocal harmonies receive the proper treatment, with the MMX 300 Pro ensuring that both voices are clear and phase smoothly from side to side. The track has a shimmery brilliance that lingers subtly in the background, courtesy of the cymbal hits. The headset doesn’t quite deliver the airy, spacious soundstage you might expect from an open-backed headset. But the closed design and thick cushions help seal out significant external noise, allowing for focused listening.
(Credit: Mark Knapp)
To prove the extent of its range, the MMX 300 Pro makes easy work of Kendrick Lamar’s “Loyalty.” Whether it’s the punchy kick drum or the heavy sub-bass line that looms large in the track, the headset presents them with force, even managing to produce the lowest sub-bass note while keeping the vocals and hi-hat tapping clear.
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The clean audio presentation plays well for a track like Bill Callahan’s “Drover.” Callahan’s voice is loud and full while the electric guitar and fiddle sing brightly on the sides, making the most of the modest soundstage. Subtleties like the slight hiss in the back of the track and the sound of the drummer adjusting the snare wires also come through clearly, while the heavy thumping of the bass drum and sharp snap of rimshots pounce right out of the drivers. The drums here can often sound overwrought and thunderous on headsets or headphones that put too much emphasis on the bass, and while they’re booming here, they don’t overwhelm the rest of the ensemble.
(Credit: Mark Knapp)
With its extended frequency response, the MMX 300 Pro plays well with orchestral music, such as John Adams’ The Gospel According to the Other Mary. There are plenty of high-frequency atmospherics and overtones, as well as deep notes from the tympani and bass; the headset presents them all well. The passive isolation really helps keep you focused on the subtleties when tracks go nearly silent, as is the case with Act I, Scene III’s “Lazarus Rises From the Dead,” after which the headset brings everything back to life with full force.
Though the Beyerdynamic MMX 300 Pro headset isn’t specifically made for studio use, it has the potential to be. It’s just as comfortable as Beyerdynamic’s studio headphones, and the closed-back design isolates noise, which allows you to focus on the music you’re creating while preventing sound from bleeding from the headset into your microphone. You’ll need a 3.5mm-to-one-quarter-inch adapter to connect the headset to most professional audio interfaces; however, Beyerdynamic doesn’t pack one.
