Others by stefan @ 2010-10-14
The Beyerdynamic MMX 2 is a high quality stereo headset, which is also very light and comes with a USB adapter that also allows us to mute/unmute the microphone or adjust the volume level. As a bonus, the headset comes also with a 3.5 to 6.35 millimetres jack adapter, so we can connect it to other Hi-Fi equipment like amplifiers or receivers.
The Beyerdynamic MMX 2 is a high quality stereo headset, which is also very light and comes with a USB adapter that also allows us to mute/unmute the microphone or adjust the volume level. As a bonus, the headset comes also with a 3.5 to 6.35 millimetres jack adapter, so we can connect it to other Hi-Fi equipment like amplifiers or receivers.
At first I would like to thank CaseKing and Beyerdynamic for making the MMX 2 headset review possible.
Since the Eugen Beyer electrical engineering factory was founded in 1924, beyerdynamic has been synonymous with German-made applied high technology in the professional audio electronics sector.
Until this very day, Eugen Beyer’s heirs feel bound by the company’s tradition and by its visionary, pioneering founder’s values. Technological advance, constant innovation and maximum quality standards ensure the company leads the field in sound technology worldwide. Eighty-five years after its foundation, beyerdynamic still develops headphones and microphones in Germany, which are carefully handcrafted in the southern city of Heilbronn. Each of our products contains true passion and know-how for an excellent sound experience.
Currently the beyerdynamic product range comprises, in addition to microphones and audio headsets, headsets for TV commentators and pilots as well as conference systems and interpreting facilities. The latest inventions of our engineers therefore include products for 5.1 surround sound integrated in high-tech headphones, the worldwide unique wireless conferencing system Revoluto, high-end headsets with digital noise cancelling, individually manufactured headphones for iPod fans and Premium Headphones with novel Tesla Technology.
The MMX 2 headset from Beyerdynamic comes packed in a rather classy looking cardboard box; on the front we can see the company logo, a photo of the actual product along with the USB adapter, its name and the supported operating systems; the last OS supported is listed as being Windows Vista, but as I have tested, it works on Windows 7 OS too, since the USB adapter is running on generic drivers:
On both of the package sides, we can find a small product description, along with some of the product features:
The back of the box holds the full list of specifications in 6 different languages:
The first thing we see when we open up the package is the headset wrapped completely in a plastic bag, for keeping dust out:
Besides the headset, in the box we can also find the USB adapter, which is completely sealed inside a plastic bag, a product information document and a warranty paper:
The USB adapter has the cable on one side which must be plugged in a spare USB port from our computer, and on top there is a little button which permits us to mute the microphone:
On one of the sides, the volume rocker is present:
The opposite side holds the headphone and microphone jacks, color coded differently, but also with a little drawing under them, to make sure we won’t connect them incorrectly:
The headphone and microphone 3.5 mm jack plugs are also color coded; the headphone one comes pre-fitted with a 6.35 mm jack plug:
Here is how the jacks do look with the adapter removed:
The headset does not have a very modern design, but it is very light and is designed to be very comfortable when it is worn for a long time:
On the outside of one of the cups, we can see the name of the product and the indication that this is the right one:
The left cup has the same indications, but here we can also find the microphone wire attached to it, along with the signal cable:
The microphone does have an adjustable brace, which allows to put it in any desired position:
The headband adjusts itself automatically when wearing the headset:
The cups stay on the ears like the Arctic Sound P531 cups did, but they press on them with less force; this is an advantage because this way they are more comfortable, even for people wearing glasses:
To test out the headphones, I plugged them in the provided USB adapter; the drivers installed were generic, and no software application was provided by the manufacturer inside the package or on the website. The test computer was an ASUS X55SV laptop. Right from the start, compared to the other headsets I have tested in the past, the sound seemed to me a little more clear and I have ran multiple applications and multimedia content to confirm like games, movie DVDRips, TV shows or DVDs.
Regarding the drivers, there are none offered and runs on generic ones; this is basically a good thing because it is more than sure that generic drivers will be also present in future operation systems. One thing that I would have liked this headset to have is an application that could have emulated 5.1 sound environments like we can see at the World of Warcraft Wired or Wireless headsets.
It is clear that we cannot get the same spatialization as the 5.1 headsets available on the market, but this product is much lighter and provides very good sound quality. I have tested the microphone in both CounterStrike: Source and Skype; in Skype, we also have the option to do a test call, so I did that too to double check; people were able to hear me clearly, without any hissing or distorsions.
Overall, this product impresses us with its quality and simplicity. It can be found on CaseKing for about 69,90 Euros, not the cheapest stereo headset ever, but I could say that you are definitely getting what you are paying for.
I would like to thank again to CaseKing and Beyerdynamic for allow us to test their latest products!