Beloved by podcast fans: Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless Headphones

March 25, 2018 6:06 pm

Last updated on February 18th, 2019

I should start out by prefacing the Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless headphones are not for everyone. Hovering around $450, the price point will immediately turn people off, I get that. That said, I’ll follow it up with by saying these are my favorite headphones for podcasts thus far. I add the “podcast” qualifier because there are loads of headphone review sites out there providing analysis and reviews strictly for audiophiles, but for podcasts there are other factors that you’ll look for from headphones.

The key things I look for headphones are:

Quality
Convenience
Build
Price

Sound Quality

Like most podcast listeners out there, I listen to a wide variety of podcasts that range drastically in sound quality. Before someone asks, yes I also listen to music. Highly produced podcasts from NPR, Gimlet, PRX, and others that take the time to sound mix and engineer are where you’ll definitely be able to tell if you’re listening from a cheap pair of earbuds or a pair of premium headphones.

I’ve listened to a range of podcasts and music from the Beyerdynamic Aventho headphones and enjoyed the experience. As an aside, I’m currently binging the second season of Dissect which deep dives into Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The podcast breaks down the beat (similar to Song Exploder) then analyzes the lyrics for thematic meaning while contextualizing what Kanye is going through at the time. It’s a podcast that’ll make you appreciate the music you’re listening to while also continue being amazed at what podcasts can accomplish. Needless to say, Dissect creator and host, Cole Cuchna, puts tremendous focus on his sound quality. Listening to Dissect on the Aventho Wirelesses was a fantastic experience.

For my money, I want headphones that excel in the midrange. Most podcasts operate in this zone without too much bass. In my experience, the Beyerdynamic Aventho wireless headphones were especially geared for this.

Convenience

Convenience is probably what I focus on the most when it comes to analyzing headphones for podcasts. Despite Edison Research talking about the rise of smart speaker listening, podcasts are largely consumed on the go. For a majority, podcasts are listened to while working out, on the bus or train, walking, exercising, or doing household chores. In each of these use cases, what you’re looking for from headphones may differ.

Wireless Control

After unboxing the Aventho Wireless headphones, you’re prompted to download the accompanying MIY app. This was a wholly unique experience for me. The app and headphones perform a sound customization test by playing a set of tones in each ear for you to respond with. The headphones then adjust to customize the sound based on your preferences. It reminded me of Sonos TrueSound tuning — using software to customize the hardware based on unique individuals.

The MIY app also teaches you the motions to control your audio using the trackpad built into the right ear cap. They’re mostly intuitive swipe controls anyone with a smartphone is accustomed to. Swiping up or down adjusts the volume, left or right to rewind/fast forward or skip tracks, double tap to pause/resume. This touch control is a major necessity for me. I started listening to podcasts during my walking commute in San Francisco where it’s extremely taboo to be heads down on your phone on a crowded sidewalk. But the convenience is ubiquitous. On all those use cases I listed above, you don’t want to have to take your phone out of your pocket to make a minor adjustment.

The MIY also keeps track of your listening habits — and not in a creepy way. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I’ve become hyper-aware and cautious of the sound in my life increasingly concerned about hearing loss. In the Tracking section of the app, you can see how your listening habits compare with the recommended usage. Variables such as how long you’re listening and the volume you’re listening at are logged and impact your recommended listening habits.

Beyerdynamic Aventho Build

I’ll admit, I’m not as concerned about the build as other reviewers. Unless the headphones feel cheap and therefore won’t last, or are uncomfortable, I’m likely to have a strong opinion.

The wireless headphones seem to be made of quality materials including metal and leather. The ear cups are made of soft synthetic leather that I wore on a four-hour flight without complaints. They come in both black and brown matte finish with metal undertones.

Specs

Dimensions: 6.1 x 2.8 x 7 inches
Weight: 9.6 ounces
Battery Life: advertised at over 20 hours (seems to be in line with my experience)
Transmission: Wireless over Bluetooth; aux optional
Frequency: 10 – 40,000 Hz
Nominal Impedance: 32 ohms
Nominal Sound Pressure: 105 dB SPL (1 mW / 500 Hz)

What I Don’t Like

Noise Canceling — Spending this much on headphones, you’d expect (or at the very least, appreciate) active noise canceling like other premium headphones from Bose and Sony provide at comparable price points.

Touch Controls — For as much as I commended them earlier, there were a few instances where my touch controls didn’t register on the first attempt. I think this has been solved by toggling some of the sensitivity settings within the app.

Construction –This isn’t necessarily a knock on the build, but I did notice the joint in the top band had a knack for pulling at a rogue hair or two. Minor inconvenience, but I thought having three bullet points here would make this look better.

Beyerdynamic’s Focus on Podcasters

It appears Beyerdynamic is making a conscious effort at gearing their headphones for podcast enthusiasts. From my vantage, this isn’t just lip-service or buzzwords added to their marketing either. Two other headphones in the market seem to be crafted with a podcaster in mind, the DT 1990 and DT 240 Pro.

Beyerdynamic DT 240 Pro

At $99 this is a much more affordable headphone pair podcasters will flock to. It came be used both in your studio and on the go. Though not wireless, it boasts equivalent or better sound specs to competing products at similar price points.

In relation to podcasters, their website claims, “Rely on better sound when recording and editing your next podcast thanks to the DT 240 PRO. The lightweight construction ensures high wearing comfort, even for longer sessions, and the high noise isolation prevents spillover effects.”

Beyerdynamic DT 1990

Let’s not get fooled, these headphones are for serious podcasters and musicians. Typically around $600, these studio headphones are the creme de la creme for premium headphones. Their website boasts:

250 ohms, 45-mm dynamic Tesla neodymium driver
Single-sided, detachable cable with mini-XLR connector
Soft, replaceable ear pads and headband for long, drawn-out studio sessions
Included accessories: two pairs of velour ear pads with different sound characteristics (analytical and balanced), two pairs of cables (3 m straight and coiled cable), premium hard case