After having two Corsair headsets eventually break on me – admittedly after a lot of use and some drops, I’m partially to blame. I thought it was time to try something a little different. With some internet sleuthing of recommendations and headphones in my price range, I settled on the Beyerdynamic TYGR 300 R. Quite simply I have zero regrets. But it might not be for everyone. With that in mind, let’s talk about this brilliant headset.
Product: Beyerdynamic TYGR 300 R
Brand: Beyerdynamic
Price: £159.99 RRP
Colour: Black (with orange/bronze detail inside the cup, but barely visible)
Beyerdynamic TYGR 300 R Review
The TYGR 300 R may be marketed more as a gaming headset, but don’t let that fool you. This is an all-around headset that sounds great with music, films, and everything in-between.
Build
Made mostly from a metal frame, with a padded leather headband it’s surprisingly light. That being said, light doesn’t mean it feels flimsy or delicate. The build quality feels very robust. Where cable meets earcup it feels like a solid join, not like it will succumb to wear and tear easily. The earcups are covered in a soft velour material that’s well ‘plumbed in’ to the cup mold.
The only minor issue that I’ve noticed is that the cable that travels through the headband is pretty lightweight and if you’re a little rough with it, you might damage it.
Attached to the headset is a 1.6m long cable covered in rubber. It feels strong and like the constant bending and flexing of it will cause no harm. All around a very solid build.
Comfort
As someone who wears a headset most of the day, whether that be for playing video games, listening to music and podcasts, or watching videos and shows. I can routinely wear a headset for up to 12 hours a day. Therefore, comfort is probably my most important factor when considering what I want to buy. Add into the mix that I wear glasses and I need something that won’t press my glasses into my head and cause discomfort after long periods of wearing them.
The TYGR is incredibly comfortable. The earcups are well cushioned and very soft. Furthermore, they grip around my ears enough to not cause any slipping, but it’s not too tight to be uncomfortable. Additionally, the headband is soft against the top of your head. After wearing the TYGR 300 R all day I can’t think of any time where I’ve been relieved to take it off.
Admittedly I’ve only been wearing the headset during the colder winter months. With that in mind, I’ve had no issues with having hot ears. The cups feel well-ventilated thanks to their open-back nature of them. Things could change in the summer, however, I don’t see it being a problem.
Sound
I’m no audiophile so a lot of the technical stuff goes over my head. However, here are some of the technical stats for the TYGR 300 R.
Going from a closed to open back headphone certainly took a little getting used to. The ‘roominess’ of the sound felt a little strange at first. But now that I’m used to it. I love it. The levels between bass, mid, and treble feel really well balanced. There isn’t overwhelming boominess from basslines, explosions, or other low sounds. But they still feel punchy. Typically I prefer a less bassy sound so it suits me quite well. However, those looking for a bit more boom might feel this headset is a little lacklustre. There is a depth to the sound, especially when gaming that I’ve really come to love.
70% of my time I use these headphones for gaming. The rest is split between music, streaming shows/films, and watching YouTube. The TYGR 300R is a perfect fit for all of those and feels really dynamic and that it can handle all of my audio needs.
Why it might not be for you
At the top of this review, I mentioned that the headset might not be for you and I will explain why. Firstly, it’s quite pricey.
Secondly, and more importantly, is the lack of audio controls. Many modern headsets either have volume controls on the earcups or positioned on the cable. This one has nothing. For me, that’s not a problem as I have an audio interface that easily allows me to manage volume. However, if you’re plugging straight into your 3.5mm jack on your PC then it could be annoying to change volumes. It’s also not USB.
Thirdly, there is no built-in microphone. Meaning if you want to use this for multiplayer gaming you will need a separate microphone.
They might not be huge issues to many. That being said, I’d consider them deal-breakers for those lacking additional audio peripherals and interfaces.
Conclusion
I’ve already said I have zero regrets buying the Beyer TYGR 300R. It’s supremely comfortable. Sounds amazing and offers everything I could need from a headset. But there are some drawbacks to those looking for something with a little more versatility from a gaming headset.
-Will
