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Beyerdynamic Headphones

Scott Armstrong

November 23, 2024

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Beyerdynamic Review

When it comes to professional audio, the Beyerdynamic brand name is a well-recognized one. From professional microphones to headphones and other professional audio solutions, industry professionals have come to rely on this brand to deliver products that help them perform at their best.

Beyerdynamic GmbH & Co. KG with its headquarters in Heilbronn, Germany, was founded in 1924. It has therefore been in operation for about a century, and within this time, it has built itself into a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

In this review, we will be focusing on 5 headphones from this company, designed for the everyday user. These include:

1. The Free Byrd
2. Blue Byrd ANC
3. Amiron Wireless
4. Xelento Remote
5. Amiron Home

Score by Specs

Quick Overview

• Bluetooth Version – 5.2
• Battery Life – 11hrs (30 with charging case)
• Quick Charge – Yes (10-minute charge = 70-minute playtime)
• Companion App – Yes
• Waterproof – IPX4
• Charging Port – USB type-C
• Controls – Touch control
• Noise Cancelling – Yes
• Weight – 7g per earbud, 60g charging case

Beyerdynamics had for long focused on pro-level headphones. It also developed some other products which have been classified as “Prosumer”, meaning that they can be used by both professionals and home users.

The Free Byrd is however, the company’s first attempt at wireless earbuds, a product which falls squarely in the consumer category. For a company accustomed to pro-level gear, its aim with the Free Byrd is to achieve pro-level quality for the everyday user.

The Free Byrd offers three functions – audio reproduction for music and movies, ANC (Active Noise Cancellation) and hands-free calls. How well do these earbuds perform these functions?

Let’s begin with its audio performance. With a frequency response range of 10Hz – 22kHz, it theoretically covers the entire spectrum of the human hearing range. In reality, out of the box, it sounds pretty nice. One of the things you’d notice is the slightly enhanced bass which will appeal to a majority of the general listening public.

To enjoy some diversity in the quality of sound you get, you will need the Beyerdynamic MIY companion app. With this app, you can select from a list of EQ presets, to find one that suits your need at the time.

Let’s look at its ANC capabilities. To do this, we’ll first consider its ability to isolate external noise. The pack comes with a total of 8 pairs of ear tips, ranging in size from XS, S, M, L, and XL. Choosing the best fitting tip achieves two things – improves the sound quality you get to enjoy and then it reduces external noise by up to 50%.

When you add to the above the ANC feature, the amount of external sound that you can cut off increases to about 90%. The obvious verdict for the Free Byrd on this is that it does a pretty good job of keeping the outside, outside. You can of course increase your awareness of your surroundings by activating the transparency feature.

For hands-free calls, the Free Byrd does quite well. It has an efficient microphone system that combines with the Qualcomm cVc technology to deliver clear communication even in a noisy environment. The Qualcomm cVc technology separates your voice from the background noise, amplifying your voice while reducing the background noise.

One important part of a wireless earbud is its battery life. Beyerdynamic performed above average on this account. The Free Byrd can last up to 11 hours on a single charge depending on the use. You can expect a little less than 9 hours of continuous play from the earbuds. When fully charged, the charging cases can supply two full charges, resulting in a combined capacity of about 30 hours.

To achieve this capacity, you’ll need almost 4 hours of charging time. When you need some quick juice, fast charging the earbuds for just 10 minutes will deliver up 70 minutes of use time. Let’s also add that the charging case can be charged wirelessly using the Qi charging mat.

As you can expect from a brand like Beyerdynamic, these earbuds and case are well made. The materials used have a quality feel. Overall, these earbuds will do well in varied use cases. It can be a good companion in the gym, thanks to its IPX 4 rating and the accompanying tips that ensure a good fit. You can also just use them for your conference calls or casual music/movie listening.

This certainly is a product worth considering.

Score by Specs

Quick Overview

• Bluetooth Version – 5.2
• Battery Life – 14hrs
• Quick Charge – Yes (10-minute charge = 2-hour playtime)
• Companion App – Yes
• Waterproof – IPX4
• Charging Port – USB -C
• Controls – Buttons
• Noise Cancelling – Yes
• Weight – 33g

Someone was asked “who is the Beyerdynamic Blue Byrd ANC for?” and the answer was “disorganized people who are tired of losing their earbuds.” Looking at the design of the Beyerdynamic Blue Byrd ANC, we can understand why this reviewer made such an observation.

The Blue Byrd ANC 2^nd Gen is also a wireless earbud but is attached to a neck band. So, unlike the Free Byrd which are just buds without any attachments, these have wires that attach to the neck band, ensuring greater safety and lower risk of loss and damage. While many believe that this is a retro design, it does have some positives.

Away from its looks, let’s get right into its performance.

The Blue Byrd ANC is a great sounding earbud that reproduces audio across a frequency range of 10 – 28kHz. It supports the aptX, SBC, aptX Adaptive, and AAC codecs and can connect to multiple devices simultaneously.

As with all earbuds, the quality of sound you get to enjoy will largely depend on how well they fit. To ensure this, it comes with 5 silicone eartips, ranging in size from XS, S, M, L to XL. The first thing you should do is find the tip size that best fits your ear.

Next, download the MIY Beyerdynamic app, which is available for both Android and iOS. This app gives you access to extra features, including sound personalization. Using what Beyerdynamic describes as Hearing ID, the app runs a series of tests through which it customizes a sound profile, specifically for your ear type.

You, of course, have the option of switching from this profile to any of the preset EQs. You can even have a mix of both. This obviously interesting feature can only be accessed on the app.

The major upgrade from its predecessor, the Blue Byrd 2^nd Gen. is the addition of active noise cancelling. As a noise cancelling earbud, it performs relatively well. Using the best fitting ear tip already helps achieve some good level of noise reduction, so activating the ANC function simply improves the level of isolation.

There are 3 options that you can choose from, with regard to noise cancelling. These are: Off, ANC on and transparency mode. These features are practically the standard modes that are found in noise cancelling earbuds today so there’s no surprise here.

Given all these functions, we must look at how well the battery can hold up. Bayerdynamic promises about 14 hour of playtime without ANC and a little over 8 hours with ANC.  It will require about 1 hour 40 minutes to get the earbuds fully charged while a 10 minutes charge will deliver about 2 hours of use-time. One thing that must be added here is that you can use it even while charging it. This is one feature that current earbuds often lack.

Just as with the Blue Byrd (2^nd Gen), this has an IPX4 capacity which means that it won’t get damaged by sweat, moisture or light rain. This, in addition to the extra safety offered by the secure neck band and snug fitting ear tips, makes it ideal for workouts and very active folks.

As we noted earlier, these earbuds are perfect for folks who are in the habit of forgetting their earbuds and completely losing them. With these hanging on your neck, yes you may forget that they are there, but you won’t easily lose them. If you fall into this category, do well to check it out.

Score by Specs

Quick Overview

• Bluetooth Version – 4.2
• Battery Life – 30hrs
• Quick Charge – No
• Companion App – Yes
• Waterproof – No
• Charging Port – USB-C
• Controls – Touch control
• Noise Cancelling – No
• Weight – 380g

If you’re looking for a wireless headset that can offer you great sound and won’t mind paying for it, then you may want to consider the Amiron Wireless. Costing hundreds of dollars, this over the ear, closed back, wireless headset offers some of the best audio reproductions that you’ll find among wireless headsets. This should come as no surprise, considering the quality that Beyerdynamic has been known for over the years.

This headset supports a wide range of codecs including: aptX, aptX LL, aptX HD, AAC, and SBC.  This ensures that optimum sound quality is maintained despite the audio source. You can even use a wired connection, via the included 3.5mm stereo jack cable that plugs into the audio input in the right earcup. This allows for continued use of the headset even when the battery is completely dead.

Using the MIY app, additional features can be accessed to further improve and even customize the sound to your liking. In fact, these headphones offer folks with hearing impairment an opportunity to enjoy great audio. The hearing test, accessible on the app, can help configure the sound reproduction for optimal personalized enjoyment.

The Amiron Wireless offers an impressive 30+ hours of play time. The fact that you can continue to use it passively, should the battery completely run out of juice, is an added advantage, Otherwise, simply charge it for 2 hours and you’ll have a full charge.

The headphones are well-built and quite comfortable. They are a bit bulky and may not be as portable as some may like. There are however a lot of positives that can make up for whatever lapses you may notice.

You should note that these do not have active noise cancelling. The best you can get is some level of isolation courtesy of the padded earcups. If what you are looking for is great sound, this offers that in abundance.

Score by Specs

Quick Overview

• Bluetooth Version – Wired
• Battery Life – Not Applicable
• Quick Charge – Not Applicable
• Companion App – Not Applicable
• Waterproof – IPX4
• Charging Port – Not Applicable
• Controls – Buttons
• Noise Cancelling – No
• Weight – 8g

In-Ear monitors, or IEMs as they are commonly referred to, have become quite popular among musicians. On stage, and with all the loud noise, pro-musicians rely on these buds for noise isolation and monitoring clarity. These are all the features that Beyerdynamic has packed into this consumer IEM. These are designed for home use and not for professional settings.

As with all IEMs, these are compactly built to fit snugly into your ears. The included eartips offer a number of fitting options. You can choose from 7 pairs of silicone tips, sized XS all the way to 3XL and 3 comply foam tips sized S to L. Once you find the tip size that’s perfect for your ear cannal, you will enjoy better isolation, deeper low ends and a generally better audio quality.

The secret behind the great sound offered by these earbuds is Beyerdynamic’s Tesla driver. This is one technology that Beyerdynamic is truly proud of and which it has featured in many of its new headphones. This driver delivers a fast, precise full range audio reproduction.

When you purchase these IEMs, you will get the earbuds, which are completely detached from the wires. You also get two sets of wires; one is the more common 3.5mm jack cable with the 3-button remote and microphone attached and the second is the more balanced 4.4 mm Pentaconn connection to more modern HiFi devices.

The Xelento Remote 2^nd Gen. is ideal for casual listening – music, movies and gaming. It will also serve well for conference calls and even light runs. Its IPX4 rating means that it won’t be affected by light sweating and moisture. You can therefore use them on those brisk walks and runs. Just remember to sling the cable behind you to avoid tangling.

One thing you can always expect from Beyerdynamics is good quality. From the materials used to the design and overall output, the quality shines through. So, if having wired earbuds is not an issue for you, you may find the Xelento Remote to be perfect for your needs.

Score by Specs

Quick Overview

• Bluetooth Version – Wired
• Battery Life – Not Applicable
• Quick Charge – Not Applicable
• Companion App – Not Applicable
• Waterproof – 0
• Charging Port – Not Applicable
• Controls – None
• Noise Cancelling – No
• Weight – 340g

Beyerdynamics is known for making some of the best headphones for professional use. With this product, this great brand created something amazing for the home user, naming it the Amiron Home. According to the company, the goal is for the listener to have the feeling of a concert hall while enjoying music from the comfort of their home.

The Amiron Home prominently features Beyerdynamic’s Tesla driver technology. According to the company, this already amazing technology was further refined, resulting in a further reduction in unwanted vibrations and resonances. The result is a sound reproduction which a reviewer described as “worth saving for”.

Given that most headphones that we’ve reviewed in recent times have been wireless, offering great isolation and active noise cancelling, this may look out of place as it falls completely out of this class. First, it is purely wired and it has no active noise cancellation feature. In fact, its open back design means that it will offer really poor isolation. With all of this, it begins to make more sense why the company added “Home” to its name.

The sound clarity from these headphones is amazing to say the least. These are not the kind of headphones you carry everywhere. You reserve these for critical listening and when you really want to feel the vibe. They offer crystal clear highs, smooth mids and deep but precise low ends. With these, you can get lost in the music.

The Amiron Home is one headphone that is best used at home or any other quiet space. This is important because its open back design freely lets external noise in, interfering with the music or whatever you’re listening to.

This headphone appears quite huge when you look at it but it’s actually lightweight. It’s also really comfortable and this is thanks to the earpads with their microvelour-lined surfaces and the well-padded headband. This makes long hours of listening fun.

The Beyerdynamic Amiron Home is no doubt a great headphone. It’s however not primarily designed for mobile devices. This is obvious when you consider that it has an impedance of 250 Ω and absolutely no inline controls. That said, if you’re looking to enjoy the best of audio from the comfort of your home, then the Amiron Home is most likely your best bet.

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Scott Armstrong

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