Beyerdynamic MMX 230 Headset Review: A New Gaming Champion!

Beyerdynamic has long made headphones for every use case, from casual listening to studio recording. Their gaming line of headphones expands in both wired and wireless fronts, and their latest model introduces active noise cancellation to make sure you are fully immersed in your music. The Beyerdynamic MMX 230 is a wireless headphone with USB-C wired listening capabilities, set to improve your gaming experience. With 60 hours of battery life, an attached microphone, and ANC, you are already getting a great gaming setup for only $300. Our review will cover all the details you get with this headphone, and see if the MMX 230 is the right upgrade for you. 

First, we start with the physical aspects of the MMX 230. The MMX 230 is a pretty sleek headphone, coming in two different color variations based on personal preference. You have a sleek black and clean white, both accented by Beyerdynamic's signature orange color. The earpads are made from a soft velour material that sits comfortably on any head. Even with glasses on, the earpads were very comfortable; the clamping force was just enough to be stable without hurting for long listening sessions. The MMX 230 is lightweight and has easy-to-reach buttons on each side of the earcups, allowing you to find the controls you need without much issue. 

The MMX 230 also comes with a microphone with the boom arm attached to the right earcup. The attached microphone strikes a good balance of being conveniently in reach, but also out of the way. The flip-up mechanism allows you to put it exactly where you want it to be. The arm itself is adjustable, so you can position it where your voice will be picked up best. The MMX 230 doesn't come with a pop filter, but you could always purchase a third-party one if you are worried about overly sibilant sound on your voice. 

The MMX 230 is easy to use and operates like any other Bluetooth headphone. The buttons on both sides of the earcups are easy to find while wearing. Pairing was simple and easy by just holding down the power button, and with the Beyerdynamic app, you can access a litany of additional features like EQ, spatial sound, and noise cancellation preferences. This allows for exact preference adjustment, so you are listening exactly how you like. The MMX 230 also comes with a USB-C dongle, making lossless listening with your gaming console easy and accessible. You can also wire in directly with the included USB-C cable. 

The noise cancellation on the MMX 230 is fairly strong. You already have a very immersive sound signature, but it is also accentuated by the MMX 230's ability to cancel out the environment around you. The signature's overall loudness, paired with the ANC technology, makes it easy to focus only on the music around you. The MMX 230 doesn't have noise cancellation as strong as some other Bluetooth options, such as the Beyerdynamic AVENTHO 300 or the Sony WH-1000XM6. Because the MMX 230 is meant to be used indoors at the computer, the ANC doesn't have to worry about canceling out loud subway noise. 

• Wearing Style – Over-ear
• Operating principle – Closed
• Transmission Type – Wireless via Bluetooth® and wired
• Earpad material – Velours, memory foam
• Remote – Without Remote
• Battery Runtime – Up to 60 hours
• Headphone frequency response – 20 – 20,000 Hz
• Sound coupling to the ear – Circumaural (around the ear)

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Now for the listening review. The soundstage on the MMX 230 is very wide, which is great to hear out of a gaming headphone. You want a large image and an expansive stage for the elements to live on. I tested out regular music listening as well as some gaming soundtracks to see how instruments and detailed sound design fit onto the stage. Everything was very expertly placed, so you got a clear image of what was happening in front of you. There was a lot of depth, and the MMX 230 did a great job in immersing you in the listening. Not only is the sound expansive horizontally, but frequencies expand backwards to create a nice sense of depth and upwards to create height. This makes the tracks sound like they are coming from all around you as opposed to just in front. For gamers looking for something that will transport them into a new playing field, the MMX 230 seems to do just that. 

The sound signature of the MMX 230 lies mainly flat, focusing on natural sound quality above all else. The MMX 230 prioritizes naturalness and honest timbres of instruments, keeping them all balanced in the wide sound signature. You still get very stark dynamics, making gameplay more realistic and entertaining as you listen. Even if you are just listening to music casually, the dynamics of the sound signature paired with the natural reproduction of all the elements make the MMX 230 a great headphone to soundtrack your everyday life. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

Beyerdynamic, based on my listening experiences, has consistently delivered a powerful bass response. The MMX 230 fits that trend. The bass is powerful and definitely punchy, offering a great foundation that allows for more frequencies to build up and thrive. It doesn't dominate the entire signature, but it does come through with sufficient power and drive to be impactful. For a gamer who wants to feel the rumble of the landscape or the impact of explosions, the MMX 230 will be a great choice to really immerse you in the gameplay. The bass stays detailed while still having a large body. You get the warmth of sub-bass rumble while also still having a good amount of detail. When listening to music casually, you could hear how the bass kept its tonal balance with the rest of the signature, making sure the low end got plenty of attention but transitioning seamlessly to the mid-bass and upwards. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

The midrange comes forward in the MMX 230 to create a slight V-shape in the signature. This subtle push puts vocals/dialogue at the front and the focal point for your listening. You'll be able to focus on important plot points and character voices with the way the vocals come front and center. Even when they are panned from side to side for the immersive and realistic setting, you'll be able to hear them clearly with the way they are pushed to the front above other elements. The midrange is where a lot of Foley sounds and environmental sounds live, so you'll be able to appreciate all the smaller, minute details of your gameplay in this range. The crunch of leaves, city ambience, and other sonic indicators are layered and precisely placed across the soundstage to create a realistic environment. In soundtracks, you can hear how the midrange instruments are layered and build backwards in the depth of the soundstage, as well as in height, to make a wall of sound. This makes the MMX 230 just as good for casual listening as it is for gaming. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

The treble is bright but non-abrasive. The MMX 230 has a good balance between deep low end and airy treble to create the stark dynamics. You have an airy quality in the treble that opens up the top of the soundstage, making it feel ultra lightweight and spacious. The soundstage expands in height in the treble specifically, so you get a much lighter and less fatiguing listening experience. The detail in the treble carries throughout the signature, bringing out a lightness and airiness that keeps the MMX 230 from being too compressed. In gameplay, this makes your environment more realistic because of the way frequencies can ring and disperse naturally. You'll feel like you're in the gaming environment with the way frequencies stretch outwards and roll off naturally. The MMX 230's cut-off isn't jarring, and even in regular music, you can hear how the treble invites your tracks to take up space. 

There are a lot of gaming headphones on the market that compete with the MMX 230. Even without looking at other companies, you can find some worthy alternatives from Beyerdynamic itself. If you're looking for something more budget-friendly but still wireless, you can go to the MMX 150 as another option. This headphone doesn't come with noise cancellation, but it does have the choice between wired and wireless listening. If you are looking for strictly wired, Beyerdynamic also has the MMX 300 and MMX 330 as a closed back and semi-open options. All three of these alternative choices have attached microphones for easy gameplay integration for online chats. However, the MMX 230's added benefit of wireless listening puts it a step above. 

If you wanted to look for something other than Beyerdynamic, you can look at the Audeze Maxwell 2. The Maxwell 2 offers a lot of the same features, including active noise cancellation and an extra-long battery life compared to standard Bluetooth headphones. The MMX 230 has velour earpads that are very soft and lightweight on your head. On the Maxwell 2, you have a heavier build with leather earpads. Sonically, both perform extremely well with natural sound and expansive soundstages. The Beyerdynamic sounds a bit more dynamic and fun, while the Audeze leans more into the naturalness and honesty in the sound signature.  Depending on whether you like a more natural and honest tuning or something a bit more fun, you'll be able to make a choice between the MMX 230 and the Maxwell 2. 

At the end of the day, the Beyerdynamic MMX 230 is a great choice for a gaming headphone. The soundstage is immersive and balanced, making gameplay more realistic and engaging. The attached microphone is accessible and perfect for online gaming with friends, keeping your desk clear and less cluttered. Using these for casual music listening is a nice alternative as well, with the microphone being a great accessory for any work calls you may need to take. The lightweight feel and comfortable earpads are perfect for any listening setup, and with a companion app, the MMX 230 can be tuned for any ear.

You can get the Beyerdynamic MMX 230 at Audio46.