I’ve spent a couple of weeks with the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100 in Brown, and I wish I loved them unreservedly but the Beyerdynamic curse continues. There’s just something about the Beyer’s wireless headphones that always seems to cut short stunning design and sound. The Aventho 100 is the same; the audio is excellent, the design is beautiful, ANC is decent for the form factor, and battery life is absurdly good. But the on‑ear fit is where it all falls apart for me—too much clamp and pressure on the ear cartilage, constant micro‑adjustments, and a steady throb after an hour. As much as I admire the craft, I can’t recommend them because I couldn’t get comfortable.
Let’s start with the good. Sonically, these are classic Beyer in a modern wireless shell. The 45mm dynamic drivers deliver a clean, lively tuning with a firm, well‑controlled low end, present mids, and treble that’s articulate without getting splashy. Vocals sit forward, acoustic instruments have texture, and imaging is precise enough that you forget you’re on Bluetooth. With aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless support on compatible phones, you get a perceptible step up in clarity versus SBC/AAC, especially in busy mixes. They sound “wired” more often than not—rare praise for on‑ear ANC cans.
Battery life is a headline feature. Beyerdynamic claims up to 60 hours without ANC and up to 40 hours with ANC, and in my mixed use (ANC on most of the time, calls, podcasts, Spotify) they comfortably cleared a week between charges. The fast‑charge spec is also useful: about 15 minutes on the cable for roughly 15 hours of listening in a pinch. For travel or commute, this removes the battery anxiety that follows most ANC headphones.
ANC itself is decent for an on‑ear. You won’t get Bose or Sony over‑ear suppression, but steady hums—bus engines, office HVAC, light train noise—are reduced to a manageable level. The transparency toggle is quick, and call quality is clean with the multi‑mic array; people on the other end never complained. It’s enough to keep focus without creating that stuffed‑ear feeling some aggressive systems cause.
The design is where Beyerdynamic flexes. The Brown finish looks premium and warm in person—think bronze‑tinted metal yokes, brushed aluminium accents, and tasteful textile trims that avoid the plasticky gloss you see elsewhere. The cups fold neatly into a compact footprint, hinges feel robust, and the replaceable ear pads are a thoughtful nod to longevity. Little touches stand out: the subtle logo deboss, the matching soft carry bag, and a restrained use of stitching that reads high‑end without shouting. They’re handsome headphones, full stop.
Controls and connectivity are straightforward. Google Fast Pair snaps them onto Android quickly, multipoint works reliably between my laptop and phone, and the Beyerdynamic app gives you control over ANC strength, EQ, and firmware updates. But here’s the rub: EQ changes barely made any audible impact for me. Whether I applied a mild low‑shelf, lifted mids for podcasts, or tried more dramatic curves, the overall character stayed essentially the same. The baseline tuning is strong, so it’s not a deal‑breaker on sound, but if you’re hoping to tune them significantly via the app, temper expectations.
All of that would be enough for an easy recommendation—if the fit worked for me. It didn’t. On‑ear designs depend on striking a narrow balance of clamp force and pad geometry; the Aventho 100 leans firm. The pads are nicely finished, but they press hard against the ear edges. After 45–60 minutes, I felt hotspot pressure on the helix and antihelix, and a dull ache that pushed me to take breaks. Loosening the headband, shifting the cup angle, even swapping pad positions: I kept fiddling. This isn’t unique to Beyer though and there’s a reason people steer clear of on-ear headphones. The moment you stop thinking about the music and start thinking about your ears discomfort, the magic goes.
I don’t have the largest ears, but even with smaller‑ear friends trying them, “great sound, bit clampy” was the common theme. Noise cancelling also loses some effectiveness if you reduce clamp, so there’s a trade here that never quite lands in a sweet spot. Over‑ear rivals avoid this by distributing pressure around the skull rather than the cartilage; the Aventho’s gorgeous on‑ear aesthetic just comes with a comfort tax I couldn’t pay daily.
Verdict
Australian pricing and availability are reasonable: Beyerdynamic Australia lists the Aventho 100 at AU$349 RRP, frequently on sale around AU$314, with Brown, Black and Cream options in stock and local shipping. For the looks, build and sound you’re getting, that pricing is fair. But value isn’t just sound—it’s wearability—and that’s where my recommendation stops short.
The Aventho 100 sounds excellent, looks fantastic in Brown, offers solid on‑ear ANC, and the battery life is best‑in‑class. If on‑ear comfort works for your ears, you’ll find a lot to love. For me, the clamp and ear‑edge pressure made long sessions uncomfortable and required constant adjustment, and the app EQ barely moved the needle. I can admire them, I can enjoy them for a short commute, but I can’t recommend them as a daily pair. Over‑ear models in the same price bracket will be less stylish, but far more comfortable for longer listening—and that matters as much as sound once the honeymoon ends.
Beyerdynamic Australia kindly loaned the Aventho 100 to PowerUp for the purpose of this review
