Review: Beyerdynamic Amiron 300

We previously reviewed Beyerdynamic’s inaugural true wireless headphones, the Beyerdynamic Free BYRD, in December 2022. At that time, the Free BYRDs did not fully meet our expectations, particularly given Beyerdynamic’s reputation for high-quality over-ear headphones.

Three years later, our expectations remain high. We have since evaluated products like the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Mk II, demonstrating Beyerdynamic’s audio engineering expertise. In the true wireless in-ear category, the company’s current flagship is the Amiron 300, and we were keen to assess the advancements made since the Free BYRD.

Beyerdynamic Amiron 300: An Overview

The Amiron 300 features specifications typical of premium in-ear headphones, including Bluetooth 5.3, a rated battery life of seven hours with active noise cancellation (ANC) enabled, and an additional 28 hours via the charging case. Standard codec support, including LDAC, and multipoint connectivity are also present. The packaging includes five sizes of ear tips and a charging cable. Compared to the Free BYRD, which offered a more extensive selection of ear tips and superior battery performance, the Amiron 300 appears to prioritize sound quality and user control.

App Functionality: A Noteworthy Improvement

Significant improvements are evident in the Amiron 300’s app, especially regarding button customization. The app supports single, double, and triple clicks, along with a two-second long press and a short-long press. A well-designed interface facilitates easy configuration of each earpiece. The long press, which adjusts the volume, is the only fixed function, providing considerable user flexibility. Beyerdynamic has also incorporated a Sidetone feature, allowing users to monitor their own voice during calls.

The level of customization extends to voice prompts; users can select which notifications are active, deactivate specific alerts (e.g., low battery warnings), or disable all notifications entirely. German is available as an alternative to English for the default language. The noise reduction offers adaptive and manual settings, each with five adjustable levels, mirroring the ambient mode. A built-in EQ provides preset options and five user-adjustable frequency bands, representing a fairly standard feature set.

With these features addressed, we will now focus on the core aspects of performance: sound quality and overall user experience.

Soundstage Performance

Our soundstage evaluation commenced with Yosi Horikawa – Bump, chosen to assess the Amiron 300’s acoustic capabilities, detail retrieval, and spatial presentation. The Amiron 300 delivered an exceptional performance, creating an immersive and dynamic soundscape filled with intricate rhythms and effects. Audio fidelity was excellent, with nuanced details readily apparent. This represents a clear improvement over the Beyerdynamic Free BYRD. To evaluate bass response, we used James Blake – Limit To Your Love, a demanding track for low frequencies. The Amiron 300 reproduced the bouncing sub-bass with clarity and definition. However, in Christian Sandquist – Fence Love, the Amiron 300 fell slightly short of fully conveying the simulated stomach-rumbling bass tone present near the song’s conclusion. Additionally, we observed a tendency for the Amiron 300 to normalize the sound, particularly noticeable with Solar Fields – Phase 09_Sombrero, where the powerful bass was balanced against the other frequencies. These are minor nuances and do not significantly detract from the overall listening experience.

The soundstage is expansive and remarkably rich. The midrange frequencies seamlessly integrate the highs and lows, creating a cohesive and balanced sound signature. The level of detail adds a tangible quality to the music.

This balanced performance holds true across various musical genres. Ultimately, the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 proves to be a versatile all-rounder with very few shortcomings.

User Experience

The Amiron 300 earbuds are lightweight, weighing 4.4 grams each. While some lighter models exist, such as the Anker Soundcore Liberty 4 NC at 4 grams, this is relatively uncommon. The low weight contributes to a comfortable fit, although there is a slight sense of insecurity that the earbuds might dislodge; however, they remained secure throughout our testing. The ambient mode rivals the Sony WF-1000XM4, a benchmark for well-implemented ambient sound. Tactile button controls are easily accessible. A notable feature is the detailed battery status displayed in the app, showing the remaining battery life for each earpiece, along with an estimated operating time. We did observe some discrepancies in the accuracy of the estimated remaining time.

One limitation is the inability to adjust the ambient mode unless both earbuds are active, which seems like an oversight. Battery life, at a rated 38 hours total without noise reduction, feels somewhat underwhelming compared to recent competitors like the Anker Soundcore Sleep A20, which offers fourteen hours on a single charge and 60 hours with the case. While these are fundamentally different products, the charging case could have offered greater capacity.

Conclusion

Despite minor imperfections, the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 represents a strong return to form following the less impressive Free BYRD. The identified shortcomings are relatively minor and potentially addressable via firmware updates. The exceptional soundstage creates an immersive listening experience, rivaling that of high-end headphones like the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro Mk II. The ambient mode, noise reduction, and customizable controls are all well-executed. Priced around 2,900 Swedish kronor, the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 is a compelling option for users prioritizing sound quality, delivering excellent value for money. The focus is clearly on delivering superior audio performance, complemented by intuitive controls.

In conclusion, we commend Beyerdynamic for creating a truly outstanding pair of headphones and re-establishing their presence in this competitive category.

Beyerdynamic provided the review samples for this evaluation. The provision of review units does not influence our editorial independence; our reviews are conducted independently with the interests of our readers and consumers as our primary focus.