Beyer's Amiron 300 in-ears get most of it right, with special consideration given to audio quality and the overall build. Touch control is excellent but head registration is sometimes overenthusiastic, while we were expecting better active noise cancelling at this price point. Still, we can see where Beyerdynamic's priorities lay and it's all about the sound.
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Features
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Audio
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Battery
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Comfort
When it comes to prestige and price, the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 is one of the most premium pairs of bluetooth earbuds (not headphones) we’ve ever had grace our desks, so you can imagine the hype and anticipation when we unboxed them. Our thoughts after spending about two weeks with these? Well, we have a lot, and it’s a mixed bag.
The Amiron 300 aces the sound test. It’s a cleaner mix that may sound a bit flat to the average person, but audiophiles will love that it renders the sound accurately, not relying on the fun factor of big bass to mask a lack of detail. But flaccid ANC and a lack of a ‘power on’ function make these a poor companion for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors.
Dynamic duo
One thing Beyerdynamic does not lag on is aesthetics. Our version of the Amiron 300 was cream white, with a smooth matte finish and a shiny logo embossed on the front. The plastic will do the basics, but it doesn’t feel durable enough to survive stressful falls. The case’s bronze-ish hinge adds character and also allows it to close softly, rather than abruptly snap shut.
The buds themselves are little different — the same cream white finish, with a chrome (but still plastic) rim. Along with the logo, it all adds up to a good-looking earbud. They also feature an ergonomic finger-shaped dip on the logo that makes for a satisfying finger press.
One of the first things you’ll notice when you open the case is the LEDs that flash white to indicate charging, and red-and-white for pairing mode. We can’t say we’ve seen a pair of high-end earphones with embedded LEDs in some time, and while they don’t add much beyond aesthetics, it is nice to have proof of life without having to insert them to confirm.
The fit is satisfactory, they’re not too small, and they don’t feel like they could fall out. You can lie down with these Beyers on without much discomfort. Touch responsivity is also fantastic; these will rarely misinterpret your presses, and don’t require pressing too hard either. That ergonomic dip brings it all together for a pleasant experience in this department.
Diamonds in the rough
One of the first hiccups you’ll encounter with these is overzealous wear detection. The Amiron 300s seem to be more sensitive to wear detection than most. When it works as intended, it’s great, but these are prone to pausing after you bend down for something or twist your head in any dramatic motion. Thankfully, a simple twist back is enough, but it can get annoying.
Another annoying feature is how reliant the earphones are on the case. These, like most earphones, switch off after about 15 minutes, which wouldn’t be a problem if they could power on with a simple touchpad push. This means you can’t pause your music or video for more than 15 minutes, as the earphones power off and the only way to turn them back on is to reinsert them into the case. If this happens while you’re away from your case, you’re cooked.
Might as well sneak in a small annoyance while we’re at it. We could do without the “beep” every time a button is pressed.
Sometimes these also connect with no sound. Yes, this happens with all Bluetooth buds, but it’s more common here. They will also occasionally connect and gradually force the volume all the way up. Again, the only way to fix this is to reinsert the Amiron 300s into the case, rather than turn them off and back on wherever you are. If you work with your hands a lot, stay far away.
Lastly, the Amiron 300’s ANC is far below what one might expect from earphones of this quality. It’s not disastrous – when you play music, they easily drown out outside sounds, but if you play no music with ANC on, you’ll perceive a lot of what’s going on outside. If you work or spend a ton of time in loud environments, you may want to skip these as well.
Little gray cells
When it comes to sound, the Amiron 300 doesn’t disappoint. The best way to describe the mix is balanced; nothing really stands out except a slight boost in mids, which makes vocals really pop. If that’s your favourite thing about music, then you’ll love how these sound. The bass is on the quieter side, though not muted. Contrast that with, say, the Soundcore line, which has a strong in-your-face bass bias.
Sometimes, a flatter mix is indicative of a more studio-grade setup. Lower quality earphones compensate for a lack of detail by driving up the intensity of the bass or treble, increasing the “fun factor” of the earphones over studio utility. This may make the Amiron 300 a good choice for a music lover who dabbles in electronic production. For you codec-obsessed audiophiles, these come with LDAC availability, though we’d be lying if we said we spotted any audible difference.
When it comes to the battery, the Amiron 300s are decent. You can get around ten hours of battery, but that whittles down to around four with ANC on. A fully charged case will support around three full charges, and a very convenient two hours of power from just ten minutes of charging.
BeyerDynamic Amiron 300 review
When you’re shelling out close to R5,000 for a pair of buds, you want the experience to match the price tag, and for the most part, it does. The few oversights in refinement may be enough to leave you with a sense of unsatiatedness. Make no mistake, there’s a lot to love, and they ultimately get much more right than wrong, but after spending this much on a pair of earphones, a sinking suspicion that you may have overpaid is the last thing you want to feel.
Those who will get the most value out of the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 in-ears will be audiophiles with a passing interest in production, or anyone who generally doesn’t spend most of their day on the move. The Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 earphones are available online for R4,500.
