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These Beyerdynamic earbuds delivered glorious sound for any kind of music I played
ZDNET's key takeaways
- The Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 earbuds are available now on Amazon for $279.
- These earbuds deliver a studio-quality sound that is accurate, detailed, and rich.
- The Amiron 300 earbuds can be a bit challenging to get out of their case.
Every Beyerdynamic headphone I've ever tested lived up to the reputation the company has earned for producing high-quality products that deliver a gloriously rich, deep sound that isn't at all fatiguing to the ears and offers an accuracy that trendier brands cannot match.
Naturally, when the Beyerdynamic reached out to see if I wanted to review the Armiron 300 earbuds, I jumped at the chance. I review a lot of sound equipment, and most of the devices I receive tend to be on the low end of the spectrum. That doesn't mean those inexpensive earbuds and headphones can't deliver, but they certainly don't bring to bear the reputation a larger brand has.
Also: I listened to wireless earbuds with xMEMs drivers, and they've set a new bar for me
As soon as I unboxed the Amiron 300s, I knew they'd be something special. The earbuds themselves are tiny and fit like a dream. It wasn't until I cranked up "Analog Kid" by Rush that I knew how good these earbuds were.
To date, the Denon PerL Pros have served as my baseline of comparison for high-quality audio, and no earbud has surpassed their quality. The Amiron 300s, however, have arrived to possibly usurp the PerL Pros.
The specs
- Frequency response - 20 - 40 kHz
- 10mm drivers
- Multipoint Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity
- Six mics for improved phone call quality
- Battery runtime - 10 hours with ANC, 7 without, 2 hours from a 10-minute charge, and 28 hours total with charging case
- Supported codecs - SBC, AAC, and LDAC
- Weight - 4.4 grams per earbud (without tip)
- Customizable noise cancelation (via the Beyerdynamic app for Android and iOS)
- White and black colorways
- Price - $279 on Amazon.
My experience
It only took me one song to understand what the Amiron 300 earbuds were all about… accuracy. These earbuds are like studio monitors that fit into your ears. Let me explain.
Also: These headphones solved my biggest issue with listening to music while running
Studio monitors (also called "reference monitors") have one job, and that is to produce audio that is as accurate as possible. A studio monitor is used so audio engineers can hear whatever was recorded in such a way that it's not at all colored or altered. The goal is to hear everything exactly as it was recorded.
What that means is that the EQ curve is created such that the frequency response is flat, unlike regular speakers that almost always have an altered sound curve to match modern tastes and trends. That flat frequency is a beautiful thing for anyone who desires to hear their music with a high level of accuracy.
The Amiron 300s are dwarfed by the Denon PerL Pros.
That said, the Amiron 300s aren't truly studio monitors, but they're as close as I've experienced in earbuds. It doesn't matter what song or genre you throw at these -- prog rock, classical, choral, pop, funk, alternative, EDM, triphop, all; everything sounds good.
Also: I replaced my AirPods with Google's new Pixel Buds Pro 2 - and shamelessly enjoyed it
When I review earbuds, I tend to focus specifically on the sound. I don't tend to bother with phone calls, and I try to avoid using an app (because I want to hear the sound as the manufacturer intended). Without the help of an app, these earbuds made their pitch as clear as day: We are your new baseline.
But what is it about these earbuds that lift them above the Denon PerL Pros? Comfort.
The Denon's are fairly sizable earbuds with wings to keep them in place. That's all fine and good until you have them in your ears for a couple of hours, at which point you might find your ears get a bit sore. The Beyerdynamic Amiron 300s are so small and fit so well that you could leave them in for a considerably long time and never feel the slightest discomfort. So, when you combine brilliant sound with all-day comfort, it's hard to imagine a better pair of earbuds.
ZDNET's buying advice
I realize that $279 isn't exactly in the realm of budget earbuds, but when accurate sound is at the top of your list, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better pair without paying twice the price.
If you're looking for a studio-like sound pumped directly into your ears via a tiny pair of earbuds, the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 are just what you need. If, on the other hand, you want earbuds that offer a more trendy sound curve (with exaggerated bass and highs), you'll probably want to look elsewhere.
The Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 earbuds are some of the best I've tested, and I'm going to hate to send these babies back. If you're looking for a pair of earbuds that are sure to put a smile on your face and no pain in your ears, these are what you want.