These are possibly the best small earbuds you can buy
Competition in the world of wireless earbuds is fierce, and the best ones for you will depend on the features that matter the most. Several buds are fantastic for smart features and integrations with your phone, or for a secure fit for exercise, or for powerful noise-cancelling.
But, if audio performance is your top priority, we recommend looking at trusted audio companies, and Beyerdynamic is one of the best-known names in studio headphones for good reason.
If you're not familiar with its work, Beyerdynamic is a German audio manufacturer respected for making top-quality headphones and microphones, which are trusted by music pros and loved by everyday listeners alike.
Beyerdynamic’s latest earbuds, the Amiron 300, are a great option if you want compact earphones – similar to the likes of the Sony WF-C510, Beats Solo Buds or the Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 that I reviewed last year – with high-end sound quality.
They’re far smaller than the Beyerdynamic Free Byrd from 2022 (which were the first ever Beyerdynamic wireless buds), yet they still come packed with improved app features, clever controls and terrific sound.
I've been using the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 earbuds as some of my primary earphones for listening to music, podcasts and more for several weeks. Here's my verdict.
Beyerdynamic Amiron 300: At a glance
Beyerdynamic Amiron 300
Beyerdynamic Amiron 300: Comfort and design
The big difference between the Amiron 300 and the Free Byrd buds that they succeed is the size of the earphones themselves. They’re much smaller.
The Free Byrds weigh in at 7g per bud, while the Amiron 300 are a mere 4.4g each (without the eartips) and definitely under 5g no matter which tip size you pick. That makes them some of the lightest flagship options around.
Lighter and smaller buds are typically more comfortable too, and that’s true for these ones. I’ve found it easy to wear them for hours at a time without noticing them.
They’ve got simple touch controls (that are customisable in the app) and a charging case that’s still pocketable while not being the slimmest one I’ve seen. It does pick up a few scuffs and marks with regular use, but it at least has wireless charging, something that’s not always a given.
Beyerdynamic Amiron 300: Features and battery life
Like many of today’s best earbuds, you’ll find that you unlock all the best features of the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 once you connect them to the companion app on your phone.
Here, you can find the extra settings for tweaking the touch controls, the equaliser (which fine tunes the way certain frequencies sound, if you want more bass or more treble, for instance), the low-lag mode (ideal for mobile gamers) and the language of the voice prompts you hear. It’s a great suite of extras, and I like how they have multipoint to stay connected to two devices at once. They also have wearing detection and you can set them to shut down after a period of inactivity too.
One of my favourite features is the customisability of the controls and the addition of a “single press and long press” option that I set to change between noise control modes. With this, you can retain on-bud volume control by holding the left bud to decrease and the right bud to increase. This means you can deal with playback, volume and noise cancellation levels, all from the buds themselves. Many rivals struggle to match this level of control.
When it comes to battery life, they're a strong contender. They equal the Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4 buds by offering seven hours of playback on a single charge, which is better than what you get from the Apple AirPods Pro 2, Bose QuietComfort Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro.
With the noise-cancellation function turned off, the battery life extends to 10 hours on one charge, and there’s a total possible playtime of 28 hours, once you factor in the extra juice in the charging case. Battery drained and need to listen in a hurry? A 10-minute charge should deliver enough battery for two hours of use.
Beyerdynamic Amiron 300: Noise-cancelling and sound quality
When it comes to noise cancellation, the Amiron 300 may not lead the pack, but they perform adequately. In moderately noisy environments, such as bustling cafes or busy streets, they do effectively reduce background noise to a reasonable level. But, they’re outmatched by both very loud rumbles (such as the sound of the London Underground) and unpredictable high frequency sounds (like people talking).
So, they’re solid. But, if you’re after total silence even in chaotic settings, I think you might wish for a tad more noise suppression. This comparatively less powerful noise cancellation is a shortcoming, but it’s one I think is largely outweighed by the overall audio experience.
Speaking of which, one area where I feel very confident recommending the Amiron 300 is for the sound quality. On test, whether I was listening to classical symphonies, ballads, ambient electronic or upbeat pop, the sound was consistently nuanced and impactful. They impress with rich bass and crisp highs from the 10mm drivers, but their best asset is the amount of clarity in the midrange.
There’s loads of detail when it comes to vocal performances, but also for a wide range of instruments. They’re unsurprisingly brilliant buds for podcasts and audiobooks too – and, with the companion app, you can also alter the sound signature to your liking.
The Good Housekeeping verdict on the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300
Overall, the Beyerdynamic Amiron 300 earbuds are an excellent choice for those after small buds in this highly competitive market. That's especially true for anyone with top-notch audio quality at the top of their list of priorities. While they may not be industry leaders in noise cancellation, their compact size, comfort, battery life, controls and sound performance make them worth the investment for music lovers.
That’s not to say there aren’t several other worthwhile options to consider, of course. If you’re an iPhone user, the best AirPods (and the AirPods Pro in particular) are your best bet, while Samsung users will get the most out of the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro and Google Pixel fans will be well-served by the Pixel Buds Pro 2.
There are device-agnostic affordable options catering to audiophiles too. Some of my favourites include the Cambridge Audio Melomania M100 for £119, the Nothing Ear (a) for £99 and the Final ZE3000 for £104.
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