Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 Review
Beyerdynamic has long been a revered name in the world of audio, particularly among audiophiles and professionals who swear by its studio-grade headphones like the DT 770 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X. With a legacy spanning a century, the German manufacturer has built a reputation for delivering exceptional sound quality, robust build, and meticulous engineering. However, while Beyerdynamic has dominated the wired headphone market, its forays into the wireless realm have been met with mixed success—until now. Enter the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300, a flagship pair of wireless over-ear headphones launched in late 2024, designed to blend the brand’s studio heritage with modern consumer-friendly features like active noise cancellation (ANC), Dolby Atmos, and Bluetooth 5.4. Priced at $399.99 / £359, the Aventho 300 aims to compete with heavyweights like Sony’s WH-1000XM5, Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra, and Sennheiser’s Momentum 4 Wireless. But does it succeed? In this review, we’ll dive into every aspect of the Aventho 300—design, comfort, sound quality, features, and performance—to determine if it’s worth your investment.
Design and Build Quality: Premium Yet Understated
At first glance, the Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 exudes a premium yet restrained aesthetic. Available in Black and Nordic Grey, these headphones avoid the flashy, attention-grabbing designs of competitors like Apple’s AirPods Max or the luxurious vibe of Bowers & Wilkins’ PX7 S2e. Instead, Beyerdynamic opts for a minimalist, functional look that’s more akin to Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Headphones. The construction features a lightweight metallic frame paired with a soft, memory foam-padded headband and plastic earcups. The use of aluminum in the swivel joints adds durability and a touch of elegance, while the earcups fold inward smoothly for portability—a welcome feature for travelers.
Weighing in at 319 grams, the Aventho 300 is heavier than the Sony WH-1000XM5 (250g) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra (253g), but it’s still manageable for extended wear. The earcups are ergonomically shaped to contour to the human ear, a departure from Beyerdynamic’s traditional circular designs, and they’re covered in plush, faux-leather memory foam pads. The build feels sturdy and professional, with no creaks or flexing, reflecting Beyerdynamic’s commitment to quality craftsmanship. In the box, you get a hard case, a soft drawstring pouch, a USB-C charging cable with a USB-A adapter, and a 3.5mm auxiliary cable—generous inclusions that enhance the overall value proposition.
However, the design isn’t without its quirks. The headband’s adjustment range might feel limited for those with larger heads, and the faux leather, while comfortable, isn’t the most breathable material. After a few hours, heat buildup can become noticeable, especially in warmer environments. Still, the Aventho 300 strikes a balance between portability and durability, making it a solid companion for commutes, flights, or casual listening at home.
Comfort: A Mixed Bag
Comfort is subjective, but it’s a critical factor in premium headphones, especially at this price point. The Aventho 300’s ergonomic earcups and memory foam padding create a snug, secure fit that enhances passive noise isolation—a boon for the ANC performance we’ll discuss later. The clamping force is on the tighter side, which ensures the headphones stay in place during movement but can feel restrictive over time. Beyerdynamic’s “fontanelle relief system” in the headband aims to reduce pressure on the top of the head, but it’s not entirely effective. After two to three hours of continuous wear, I noticed mild discomfort at the crown, a common issue with heavier over-ears.
Compared to the featherlight Sony WH-1000XM5 or the supremely flexible Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the Aventho 300 lags slightly in long-term comfort. That said, it’s not a dealbreaker—most users will find it tolerable for daily use, and the fit loosens slightly with break-in time. For shorter sessions, like a commute or a focused listening hour, the comfort is more than adequate. The foldable design and included hard case also make it easy to stow away when not in use, adding to its practicality.
Controls and Features: Modern Convenience with Room for Improvement
The Aventho 300 combines physical buttons and touch controls for a versatile user experience. On the right earcup’s underside, you’ll find buttons for power, Bluetooth pairing, and ANC/transparency mode toggling. These feel a bit plasticky and cheap for a $400 headphone, but they’re functional and responsive. The real innovation lies in the touch-sensitive right earcup, which handles playback, volume, and track navigation via swipes and taps. Double-tap to play/pause, swipe up/down for volume, and left/right for track skipping—it’s intuitive once you get the hang of it, though there’s a slight delay in command recognition that can be mildly frustrating.
The headphones also feature wear sensors for auto-pause/play functionality, which works flawlessly. Remove them, and your music pauses; put them back on, and it resumes. This is a standout implementation compared to some competitors where the feature feels gimmicky or inconsistent. The Beyerdynamic app enhances the experience further, offering a five-band equalizer, genre-specific presets (Neutral, Bass, Smooth, Loudness, Speech), and controls for ANC and transparency modes. You can also enable Dolby Atmos with head tracking, a feature we’ll explore in the sound quality section.
Bluetooth 5.4 ensures stable connections with a range exceeding the advertised 15 meters, and multipoint pairing lets you connect to two devices simultaneously—a must-have for multitaskers. The Aventho 300 supports high-quality codecs like aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive, and LE Audio, promising pristine wireless audio from compatible sources. For wired listening, you can use the 3.5mm jack or USB-C port (though the latter is primarily for charging, with some sources noting limited audio functionality). Battery life is a highlight at 50 hours with ANC on, outpacing the Sony WH-1000XM5 (40 hours) and Sennheiser Momentum 4 (60 hours with ANC off). A 10-minute fast charge yields 5 hours of playback, making it ideal for on-the-go use.
One minor gripe: the touchpad can be finicky, occasionally misregistering inputs, and the earpads are notoriously difficult to remove for replacement—a potential longevity concern. Overall, the feature set is robust, but the execution could use a touch more polish to match the premium price tag.
Sound Quality: Studio DNA Meets Consumer Appeal
Beyerdynamic’s calling card is its sound, and the Aventho 300 doesn’t disappoint. At its core are the STELLAR.45 drivers, the same units found in the brand’s acclaimed DT 700 Pro X and DT 900 Pro X studio headphones. These dynamic, angled drivers deliver a wide soundstage, excellent imaging, and a clean, detailed profile that reflects Beyerdynamic’s studio heritage. Out of the box, the sound is balanced yet engaging, with a slight emphasis on clarity over warmth—a tuning that audiophiles will appreciate.
The bass is punchy and controlled, never overpowering the mids or highs. Listening to Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky,” the low-end groove is tight and rhythmic, complementing the crisp guitar riffs and Nile Rodgers’ funky strums. The mids are forward and articulate, making vocals in tracks like Billie Eilish’s “Everything I Wanted” feel intimate and textured. Highs are bright and detailed without veering into harshness—cymbals in Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” shimmer with precision, though some might find them a tad clinical compared to the warmer Sony WH-1000XM5.
The soundstage is impressively wide for a closed-back wireless headphone, and the imaging places instruments accurately in the mix. Dolby Atmos with head tracking adds a thrilling dimension, especially for spatial audio tracks on platforms like Apple Music or movies on Netflix. Watching Dune with Atmos enabled, the sweeping soundscape enveloped me, with sound effects dynamically shifting as I turned my head—an immersive experience that rivals dedicated home theater setups. However, the effect is less pronounced with non-Atmos content, where it feels more like a gimmick than a game-changer.
The app’s EQ customization is a boon, letting you tweak the sound to your liking. The “Bass” preset boosts low-end heft for EDM fans, while “Neutral” keeps things analytical for critical listening. Compared to the Sony WH-1000XM5’s lush warmth or Bose’s smooth, consumer-friendly tuning, the Aventho 300 leans toward a more revealing, studio-oriented signature. It’s not as forgiving with poorly mastered tracks, but for high-quality sources, it’s a delight.
Noise Cancellation and Transparency: Good, Not Great
ANC is a make-or-break feature for premium wireless headphones, and here, the Aventho 300 falls short of the best in class. Beyerdynamic employs a hybrid ANC system with Sony chipsets, adjustable in five levels via the app. It effectively mutes low-frequency rumbles like train engines or air conditioning, but it struggles with mid-to-high frequencies—think clattering keyboards or sharp voices in a café. On a busy street, traffic noise seeped through more than it does with the Sony WH-1000XM5 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra, both of which set the gold standard for isolation.
Transparency mode, also adjustable, lets in ambient sound for situational awareness. It’s clear and natural enough for quick conversations, but it doesn’t match the seamless integration of Sony’s Ambient mode or Bose’s Aware mode. A neat touch is the ability to activate transparency temporarily by placing your palm on the right earcup, a la Sony XM4. Overall, the ANC is serviceable for most environments—offices, commutes, or moderate travel—but if you need near-total silence (e.g., on a noisy flight), the Aventho 300 won’t fully satisfy.
Microphone and Call Quality: Decent but Unremarkable
For calls and voice assistant use, the Aventho 300’s integrated mics perform adequately. In quiet settings, my voice came through clearly to callers, with good tone and minimal distortion. In noisier environments, like a bustling street, the mics struggled to isolate my voice, letting background sounds bleed in. It’s a step below the Sony WH-1000XM5’s exceptional call clarity but on par with the Sennheiser Momentum 4. Voice assistant activation (via a touchpad hold) works reliably with Siri or Google Assistant, though the mics don’t excel at picking up commands in loud spaces.
Final Thoughts
The Beyerdynamic Aventho 300 is a compelling addition to the premium wireless headphone market, blending studio-grade sound with modern features in a sleek, durable package. Its strengths—exceptional audio clarity, long battery life, and versatile connectivity—make it a standout for audiophiles and casual listeners who prioritize sound quality over all else. The STELLAR.45 drivers deliver a refined, immersive experience, and extras like Dolby Atmos and multipoint Bluetooth add significant value.
However, it’s not without flaws. The ANC, while functional, doesn’t compete with Sony or Bose, and comfort could be better for marathon sessions. The touch controls, though innovative, lack the precision of physical buttons, and the earpads’ replacement difficulty raises durability concerns. At $399.99 / £359, it’s priced competitively against the Sony WH-1000XM5 (£380 / $399) and Sennheiser Momentum 4 (£300 / $350), but it’s a tougher sell against Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra (£350 / $429) if noise cancellation is your priority.
So, who is the Aventho 300 for? If you’re a Beyerdynamic fan seeking wireless freedom without sacrificing the brand’s signature sound, this is a worthy upgrade. It’s also ideal for those who value audio fidelity and battery life over top-tier ANC—think home listeners, casual travelers, or office workers in moderately noisy spaces. But if you need best-in-class noise cancellation or all-day comfort, Sony and Bose remain the safer bets.
In the end, the Aventho 300 doesn’t dethrone the category leaders, but it carves out a niche as a premium, sound-focused alternative. It’s a testament to Beyerdynamic’s ability to adapt its studio legacy for the wireless age—a flawed but admirable effort that’s easy to recommend for the right user.In 2025, it’s a headphone that rewards critical listening and proves Beyerdynamic is serious about reclaiming its spot in the consumer audio spotlight.