ARE STUDIO HEADPHONES ALSO SUITABLE FOR GAMING?
Creators prefer to use studio headphones when they’re producing music – particularly because of their neutral sound. But professional gamers too are also gravitating more and more towards our range of studio headphones. Below, we explain the differences between the models.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How do studio headphones differ from gaming headphones?
Studio headphones are designed to ensure that they reproduce the sound as neutrally as possible. This means, for example, that any undesirable sound characteristics emerging during the music production process can be picked up more easily. Gaming headphones pursue a different goal. Here, a neutral sound reproduction is less important than the desired gaming experience. For gamers, two dimensions are particularly crucial:
- Clear reproduction of fine details
- Precise spatial localization (footsteps, directional changes, enemy positions)
- Fast, transparent playback without unnecessary coloration
- Example models: MMX 300 PRO, MMX 330 PRO, MMX 230 wireless
- Strong immersion in single‑player worlds
- A rich, “cinematic” sound
- High wearing comfort for long sessions
- Good microphone quality when playing with friends
- Example model: MMX 150 wireless
To enhance this experience, gaming headphones are often deliberately tuned — for example with an emphasized bass range.
What does that mean?
A powerful, low‑frequency sound makes explosions, effects, and soundtracks feel more intense and physical. That boosts immersion and creates a more emotional gaming experience.
At the same time, a strongly boosted bass can cause subtle details such as footsteps, breathing, or directional cues to be masked — which can be disadvantageous in competitive play.
Featuring a closed-back design, the DT 770 PRO headphones reveal a level of musical detail that makes them ideal for monitoring. All three sets of headphones are primarily designed for studio applications. The DT 880 PRO headphones feature an extremely linear frequency response, whereas the DT 990 PRO headphones boast a fine balance of slightly boosted bass and slightly accentuated treble, while also conveying an impressively spacious sound.
The difference between headphones and a headset
An important difference is that, unlike a gaming headset, studio headphones don’t come with a built-in microphone. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing: many gamers, and in particular streamers, prefer headphones that can be integrated into their existing set-up independently of the microphone.
The MMX 300 PRO headset, on the other hand, offers everything you need for gaming. This is particularly interesting for gamers who want to connect their headset to a console or PC quickly and easily via plug‑and‑play. Especially in esports and competitive environments, the tuning of this closed gaming headset is very popular, as loud ambient noise from the crowd or nearby players cannot penetrate. In addition, the MMX 300 PRO delivers low latency and, thanks to its high‑quality microphone, provides impressive voice clarity.
With open‑back headphone and headset designs — such as the DT 990 PRO or MMX 330 PRO — it’s important to note that sound can escape from the earcups. As a result, your external microphone may pick up these sounds again, which can lead to unwanted noise. Therefore, your microphone should be well positioned and directed toward you when using open headphones for gaming. The DT 990 PRO, TYGR 300 R and MMX 330 PRO are open‑back models, while headsets such as the MMX 150 wireless, MMX 230 wireless, or MMX 300 PRO use a closed design.
The MMX 300 headset, on the other hand, features everything that you could possibly need for gaming, making it a particularly attractive option for gamers who are keen to connect their headset to their console or PC as quickly and easily as possible via plug & play. The Team TYGR bundle comprises headphones and a USB microphone, whereby the FOX microphone can also be used separately or together with other headphones, for example the DT 770 PRO. It is worth bearing in mind though that noise may possibly seep out of the earcups of open-back design headphones (such as the DT 990 PRO). Your external microphone may then pick this noise up again, resulting in disturbing background noise. So, if you plan on using open-back headphones for gaming, you need to make sure that your microphone is properly positioned. The DT 990 PRO and TYGR 300 R are open-back headphones, whereas headsets such as MMX 100 or the MMX 300 model have a closed-back design.
Connecting the headphones to the console or PC
Studio headphones usually have a 6.3mm jack adapter that can be unscrewed for simple connection to the 3.5 mm jack on a PS5 controller, for example. However, it is worth noting that high-impedance headphones are often too quiet if they are connected to a built-in sound card with a low output. Consequently, in such cases you should consider opting for a low-impedance set of headphones (below 80 ohms).
Tip: Suitable all-rounders for such situations are, for example, the DT 990 PRO Black Edition with 80 ohms and the DT 700/900 PRO X with 48 ohms.
Our article on impedance will tell you all you need to know about impedance and volume in connection with headphones.
Our article on impedance will tell you all you need to know about impedance and volume in connection with headphones.
Which headphones are right for you?
Neutral sound is not only desirable in music production, it’s becoming increasingly popular for gaming as well. Ultimately, of course, it’s the user’s preference that matters. This is why you cannot categorically say that a set of studio headphones is not suitable for gaming. Headphone design in particular is often a matter of personal taste. Some gamers like to be acoustically cut off from their surroundings, and consequently prefer a closed-back design. Others prefer not to be acoustically isolated, and like to be able to pick up as many noises from their surrounding environment as possible. For these users, an open-back design is a more popular choice.
If you’re unsure which product is right for you, our gaming lineup on the Gaming landingpage will help. In addition to our gaming headsets, you’ll also find headphones that were originally designed for studio use but still deliver excellent performance in your next gaming session.