For those acquainted with Beyerdynamic, the association is almost invariably with high-fidelity reference headphones, commonly employed in professional studio environments. Consequently, similar expectations were held when the Beyerdynamic Free BYRD was announced. The primary distinction, of course, lies in its compact, true wireless design, incorporating a broader range of functionalities than those typically offered by traditional wired headphones.

However, our evaluation revealed that Beyerdynamic’s foray into true wireless technology has, in some respects, encountered unforeseen challenges. While the intended features and concepts are present, the hallmark Beyerdynamic performance isn’t fully realized. This presents a challenge for the Free BYRD, particularly when considering its competitive price point.

The Overall Impression

The initial impression of the Beyerdynamic Free BYRD is one of quality, understated design, and simplicity. The charging case exhibits a solid, well-constructed feel, incorporating metal accents and subtle branding. The package includes a comprehensive selection of ear tips in both silicone and foam, along with a standard USB-C cable.

The headphones utilize touch controls, with the designated button area being the black surface on each earbud. A wider surface area might have been preferable. The design choice to avoid using the entire surface as a button, as seen on the Sony WF-1000XM4, is advantageous in preventing unintentional button presses during handling. However, the downside is a slightly reduced accuracy, requiring repeated attempts to register a command.

The button functions are pre-programmed, utilizing nine different press combinations. The absence of user-programmable functions is a significant limitation, especially given that the Beyerdynamic Free BYRD employs a three-click control scheme. This scheme could ideally provide intuitive access to the most common functions. Instead, users are restricted to the pre-defined options, which are, unfortunately, not always intuitive and can complicate operation.

For example, a double-click toggles between ANC and transparency mode, but not to normal mode. Accessing normal mode requires using the companion app. Adjusting the volume involves a click-and-hold gesture. In combination with the somewhat limited button surface area, this has frequently resulted in accidental playback mode changes instead of the intended volume adjustment. Consequently, using normal mode, which provides the optimal sound profile (discussed further below), often necessitates retrieving the phone to correct a failed click-and-hold attempt. This is cumbersome and unnecessarily inconvenient.

The charging case supports both wireless and wired charging. An LED indicator on the front displays the case’s charging status, using white and orange to denote different states. Upon opening the lid, individual LEDs on each earbud indicate their respective charging status, employing red, orange, and green. Blue is also used during pairing mode. This system is visually informative and functionally clear.

The MIY (Make It Yours) App

The aforementioned features are managed within the MIY (Make It Yours) app, which also provides additional information about the headphones. Regrettably, Beyerdynamic adheres to the common practice of pre-programming most settings, even within the app. This becomes particularly frustrating when considering the built-in EQ. The Beyerdynamic Free BYRD offers a selection of seven EQ profiles, along with a personalized sound profile generated from a brief hearing test.

The hearing test identifies the frequencies to which the user’s hearing exhibits reduced sensitivity, presenting the results in a clear graphical format. Initially, the personalized sound profile produces a noticeably enhanced sound experience. However, after extended use, the effect becomes somewhat excessive, leading to a perceived distortion of the music. The intensity of the personalized profile can be adjusted using a wet/dry control.

Beyond this, however, the EQ settings are not user-adjustable, which is a significant drawback for the Beyerdynamic Free BYRD. The ability to create custom EQ profiles with precise control is a standard feature found in competing products from Soundcore, Sony, and Yamaha – a group in which Beyerdynamic should undoubtedly be included.

Playback Modes

The ANC (active noise cancellation) performs adequately, but allows a disproportionate amount of high-frequency noise to pass through. Low and mid frequencies are effectively attenuated. A notable characteristic is the Beyerdynamic Free BYRD’s sensitivity to atmospheric pressure changes. While not affected by inclement weather, changes in air pressure, such as those experienced when doors close on a bus or subway, trigger an audible click in the headphones. While not a critical issue, it can be distracting.

Transparency mode functions, but the sound is somewhat muffled and lacks high-frequency clarity. Environmental sounds are audible, but discerning specific details in noisy environments is challenging.

Users employing mono mode (i.e., using only one earbud at a time) are restricted to normal mode, with no access to ANC or transparency. The headphones cannot be tricked by removing both earbuds from the charging case and leaving one uninserted. The system requires proximity contact from both earbuds to activate the playback options. This limitation is disappointing, particularly given the price point.

Sound Quality – Beyerdynamic Free BYRD

It is often acceptable for a manufacturer’s initial TWS offering to have some shortcomings; first-generation products often serve as a learning experience for subsequent models, particularly regarding technical and design aspects. However, when Beyerdynamic places its logo on a pair of headphones, expectations are inevitably elevated concerning sound quality and acoustics – areas in which Beyerdynamic excels, consistently delivering impressive performance in their over-ear headphones.

However, with the Beyerdynamic Free BYRD, some compromises appear to have been made. The overall sound quality is acceptable, perhaps slightly above average, but not commensurate with the price range. Normal mode, without any personal or preset sound profile, proved to be the preferred setting, offering the most balanced sound and minimizing signal distortion.

The high frequencies lack clarity and crispness, while the midrange frequencies tend to sound somewhat muddled and tinny. The lower frequencies are well-defined and impactful, but the overall sonic performance is not as cohesive as expected. In summary, the sound quality is not poor, but it lacks the signature Beyerdynamic impressiveness.

The Bottom Line

We were surprised during this evaluation, as previous tests of Beyerdynamic headphones, such as the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X, yielded exceptionally positive results across nearly all metrics. While acknowledging the differences between headphone types, the technological sophistication, such as offering variants with differing impedance levels, led us to anticipate a similar level of performance here. However, this expectation was not met.

One of our preferred models in this category is the Sony WF-1000XM4, which is currently available for approximately 2000 SEK. The Beyerdynamic Free BYRD, priced around 2700 SEK, is, in our assessment, overpriced by at least 1000 SEK. Given the identified issues and limited flexibility, we cannot recommend this product and advise readers to consider alternative options.

It is important to reiterate that this is Beyerdynamic’s first TWS offering, and improvements may be implemented through future software updates (as was the case with the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 2). The true wireless market is highly competitive, requiring meticulous attention to detail and numerous factors. We anticipate that subsequent iterations will more closely resemble the performance we have come to expect from Beyerdynamic. However, the current Beyerdynamic Free BYRD falls short of this expectation.

Beyerdynamic provided a test unit for this review. The provision of review units does not influence our editorial objectivity.