Review: Beyerdynamic Aventho 100

It wasn’t until 2022 that Beyerdynamic entered the wireless world with Free Byrd. Considering the company’s first headphone, the DT48, was released in 1937, Beyerdynamic hasn’t exactly been in a rush. The DT48 became the world’s first dynamic headphone and was regarded as something of a pioneer that revolutionized audio technology. Since 2022, the company has introduced an increasingly wide variety of headphones at a fairly rapid pace. The results, however, have been uneven, with some being major hits like the Amiron 300, while the Amiron 100 didn’t leave quite as dazzling an overall impression.

Since Beyerdynamic generally maintains a consistently high standard, we’ve become increasingly curious about its wireless range. In today’s test, we’ll take a closer look at the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100. This model is the entry-level option in the Aventho series and features a classic, stylish look. The headphones are on-ears (which should be distinguished from over-ears) and can be folded to fit easily into the included carrying pouch. The fact that the Aventho 100 includes a carrying pouch, which also features a sewn-in compartment for the included cables, is a welcome touch as this particular detail has become somewhat less common.

As usual, we began our test by letting them play for about 24 hours and updating their firmware. The Aventho 100 is not without certain limitations, but at the same time, it has its clear strengths. If nothing else, they do an excellent job of bridging past design with today’s technology.

First Impressions – Beyerdynamic Aventho 100

Simply holding the Aventho 100 is a pleasant experience. At 220 grams, they have a perfect weight to them, and the choice of materials feels premium. The synthetic leather combined with aluminum and classically visible wires is quite simply very stylish. As mentioned, a carrying pouch is included, in which a small sewn-in pocket allows you to store a 3.5 mm cable for wired listening and a charging cable—which is somewhat datedly USB-A to C, but can easily be replaced and even used for listening. In other words, Beyerdynamic has covered all the bases for connectivity, as Bluetooth is naturally also an option.

There is nothing to complain about regarding battery capacity either: 60 hours, which decreases to about 40 hours with noise cancellation active. But 40 hours is still plenty, and when the battery runs out, you get a full 5 hours of use after just 15 minutes of charging.

The available codecs are AAC, SBC, aptX™ Lossless, and aptX™ Adaptive. However, LDAC is omitted. Despite their relatively small size, sound is delivered via 45 mm dynamic drivers. So, in summary, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 has every opportunity on paper to shine audio-wise. So, how do they sound?

The Sound Experience

Out of the box, the headphones aren’t particularly impressive. The sound is muffled and a bit flat. The preset EQ options are (as is often the case with many headphones) not particularly good either. For example, if you want more bass, it rarely helps to just crank up the lowest registers, as the result often becomes more boomy than anything else. But thanks to the generously sized drivers, there is potential, so if you gradually work on your own settings, you get a powerful and pleasant sound. It remains a tad boxy compared to, for example, the Amiron 300, but it’s good enough to handle almost any genre. To some extent, fit and comfort can also affect the soundstage. We will return to why under the comfort section.

Even without noise cancellation, the Aventho 100 isolates well in most environments. With noise cancellation activated, it actually becomes quite quiet, and not much leaks through. It isn’t as pronounced as a pair of over-ears, which also isolate the area behind the ear that picks up a large portion of ambient low frequencies. But it’s good enough to almost completely eliminate the sound of a washing machine in the same room (while music is playing).

The final part of the audio experience is the built-in microphones, which allow the Aventho 100 to also function as a headset. The other party in calls hears us clearly, and we here at senses.se call each other constantly to ensure that the recipient can reflect on the right aspects regarding the microphones’ ability to filter out disturbing ambient noise.

Comfort

To begin this section, we must point out that comfort is generally subjective, but in some cases, certain physical limitations come into play. The Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 is remarkably comfortable. The cushions are soft, and even the headband padding provides a soft and pleasant feel. But the Aventho 100 is small—so small, in fact, that the comfort won’t be for everyone. A person with a larger head size can use them but must extend them to their maximum position, which causes significant pressure on the ears, and after a while, it starts to ache quite a bit. This also affects the soundstage to some degree, as the sound changes if you press them against your ears. That’s simply not how they are intended to be worn.

If you have a slightly smaller head, however, these are sensationally soft. The immediate question is: a smaller head than what? Even if we were to measure circumference, many factors come into play, such as hair thickness, so we return to the fact that comfort is and remains subjective. Therefore, the best advice is to try them on physically before buying, as this part became an issue for some of our test candidates.

Are they worth the money?

Before we reach our final verdict, let’s discuss whether we think the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 is worth the price. What makes these headphones a bit special is that they possess many strengths, but only if they fit your head. In other words, part of the target audience is unfortunately excluded, because if they are too tight, it is only a nuisance. But if they fit, there are many benefits to be found. The on-ear concept truly belongs to its own category.

Over the years, over-ear headphones have occasionally been released that are exceptionally good at something. For example, the Sony WH-1000XM4, Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 or Anker Soundcore Space Q45. All of these are in different price ranges and offer their own qualities, such as an outstanding soundstage, powerful battery performance, or extreme noise cancellation. But the common factor—that they fully enclose the ears—isn’t for everyone, and some may feel discomfort from exactly that. That is where another strength of the Aventho 100 comes in. On-ear is a different type of solution, and simple things like hair around the ear taking on a strange shape after using over-ears might be perceived as vain, but at the same time, it can be something that actually affects whether you want to put on headphones before an important meeting or whatever it may be.

You can expect to pay about 2,300 SEK for the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100, which is a bit high considering the out-of-the-box soundstage. But the Aventho 100 isn’t meant to be like, for example, the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro and deliver a superb soundstage while having clear limitations. No, here everything is combined and served at the same table: battery life, portability, noise cancellation, headset functionality, a good soundstage (after tweaking the EQ), and very high comfort. And besides, they are really stylish. The price tag feels a bit high, but at the same time, you get a lot with convincing build quality.

The Verdict – Beyerdynamic Aventho 100

If the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 fits your head (something you must check), they are a really nice and solid choice for those who want to avoid over-ears or don’t like in-ears. They are good at everything they offer and include all the features you need. It’s not the sharpest soundstage, but with EQ, you can change a lot. In other words, the Aventho 100 is a pair of versatile, competent, and comprehensive headphones. Though obviously not enclosing.

Beyerdynamic sent a review unit for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with you, the readers and consumers, in focus.