Beyerdynamic Custom Game - Review 2022

Beyerdynamic really impressed the states with the MMX 300 gaming headset last yr. It's the all-time-sounding, best-feeling wired gaming headset we've tested, though at $350, it'southward also ane of the well-nigh expensive. If yous don't want to spend as much on a headset as you lot would on a game console, Beyerdynamic offers a scaled dorsum model in the Custom Game. At $209, information technology's however very expensive for a wired, stereo headset, just information technology also sounds excellent, feels comfortable, and yous tin switch out the art on the earcups. Information technology as well offers an adjustable bass port characteristic that can be useful if you lot desire to customize your level of thump.

Blueprint

The completely black Custom's headband is very similar to the MMX 300's, with solid Y-shaped metal arms on which the earcups connect and can pivot up and down. Most of the headband is wrapped in faux leather and comfortably padded, merely like the earcups' circular over-ear earpads. The headset provides a comfortable fit that provides enough of room for large ears and heads, and can be worn for long periods of time.

The lower back edge of each earcup features a mechanical lever that can adjust the headset's bass response by physically moving its bass ports. Nosotros'll talk more about this feature later.

The boom microphone is built into the detachable cable, rather than the headset itself. The cable plugs into a 3.5mm port on the bottom of the left earcup, and the mic sits on a flexible metallic arm that extends from the base of the connector. An in-line remote sits most a foot down the cable, and includes a volume wheel, a microphone mute switch, and a multi-function push button that can accept calls and control playback when the headset is connected to a mobile device.

Beyerdynamic Custom Game

Instead of smooth, round backs on each earcup, the Custom has flattened ovals that secure interchangeable tags. An included hex wrench lets you remove those ovals to switch out the built-in Custom Game tags with two other pairs of tags. Each tag is reversible, so you lot tin mix and match half dozen different pieces of art on the earcups. Since the tags are essentially made of paper, you lot tin easily make your own by using one as a template.

Connectivity and Microphone

Like the MMX 300, the Custom Game is a completely analog headset. Information technology can connect to whatever game system or mobile device with a iii.5mm audio jack, including the Xbox One and PlayStation 4'due south controllers and the Nintendo Switch in portable mode. The headset besides comes with an extension cable that terminates in 2 3-pole three.5mm connectors for PC users with separate headphone and microphone ports. A 0.25-inch headphone adapter is also included, but you don't go whatsoever carrying example or handbag.

The nail microphone is fantabulous, conspicuously picking up my voice in multiple positions. It'southward very sensitive, and then I had to dial downward the sensitivity on my PC so it didn't sound like I was trying to eat it. Once you detect a proficient balance, the mic is excellent for vox chat, streaming commentary, and even podcasts (though it tin't supplant a dedicated microphone for producing professional podcasts in a studio).

Music Operation

You lot can adjust the bass response of the Custom Game by moving the small levers at the lesser of each earcup. These expose or comprehend passive bass ports that enable deeper, more powerful low frequency response. The sound balance is yet very flat for a gaming headset, simply like the MMX 300, simply the levers let you choose between bass that has a firm punch and a sound that focuses by and large on the mids and highs.

Like the MMX 300, the Custom Game offers very good audio performance. This reflects in music, with the headset handling deep bass notes in tracks like The Knife's "Silent Shout" and Janelle Morae's "Django Jane" at maximum (and unsafe) volume levels without a hint of baloney. The low frequency reach offers a satisfying amount of force, though information technology doesn't aggressively rattle your head at top volume like bass-heavy defended headphones can.

The opening to Yes' "Roundabout" sounds full and reasonably counterbalanced. The string texture on the opening guitar notes tin exist clearly heard, and with the bass ports open up the electric bass gets a good amount of depression frequency presence. It doesn't reach quite equally far into sub-bass response as the MMX 300, and the vocals actually benefit from partially closing the bass ports to fifty-fifty out the mix, but it's a good sound that faithfully reproduces the highs and loftier-mids with finesse that some gaming headsets lack.

Beyerdynamic Custom Game

Gaming Performance

Games also sound excellent on the Custom Game. With the bass ports fully open, the headset puts out very satisfying low-end that makes Overwatch sound accordingly bombastic. Doomfist'southward punches get plenty of force, as do the other characters' explosive attacks. Song cues can be conspicuously heard over the game's sweeping score, highlighting the headset's residual. Endmost the bass ports cuts out virtually of the depression frequency response, which can throw off that balance but can exist useful if you're trying to catch details against the sounds of gainsay (and tin can be nice if yous have a headache and want to play without dealing with that much sub-bass).

Keeping the bass ports open up makes Doom sound very punchy and energetic, with rocket blasts and motorcar gun shots standing out against the sounds of combat during team deathmatches. The soundtrack doesn't take head-shaking ability fifty-fifty with the ports fully open, but it's well-counterbalanced and allows for a stereo mix with lateral directions that can be easily discerned.

Conclusions

The Beyerdynamic Custom Game is an fantabulous gaming headset that features a strong build, a comfortable fit, and authentic, balanced audio. It doesn't accept quite the bass power or loftier-end finesse of the MMX 300, but it also doesn't have that headset'south massive price tag. Information technology's still very expensive at $210, and without the superlative performance of the MMX 300, it doesn't quite justify its insufficiently small toll tag when held confronting the $150 Turtle Beach Aristocracy Pro headset. If information technology fits your upkeep, the Custom Game is a proficient pick, only y'all can save some money with the Turtle Beach. Or, if you don't desire to spend three digits on a gaming headset, the Editor's Choice Astro Gaming A10 offers the all-time audio we've heard in a more budget-friendly model.