I thought all on-ear headphones were terrible, but this pair just changed my mind

I’m not the biggest fan of on-ear headphones. There. I said it. I don’t necessarily think they’re as comfortable as over-ear cans, and I don’t believe they offer effective active noise cancellation (ANC) either. I can’t imagine ditching my Marshall Monitor IIIs for the Marshall Major Vs, for example.

I’m sure you catch my drift by now. Now, I want you to change the previous paragraph from present tense to past tense. I have been converted, and it’s all thanks to the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100s, a pair of on-ears that I have been testing for a couple of weeks. And boy, are they good!

The Aventho 100s are some of the best-sounding headphones I’ve had the pleasure of using. Their sound profile is well-balanced, fine-tuned, refined, and packs punchy, powerful bass. You can’t fault how they sound, really. They sport a retro design inspired by the 1970s which, I think, looks fantastic. So, am I totally sold on on-ear headphones now? Let’s find out.

Like angels singing in my ears

(Image credit: Digitpatrox)

No word of a lie, when I’m listening to my favorite artists through an outstanding pair of headphones, it sounds like there are angels singing in my ears. That’s what it feels like to listen to music through the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100s. In my first impressions article, I noted that the Aventho 100s sound excellent straight out of the box with their EQ not needing any adjustment — and the more I tested them, the more I believed in that notion.

I’ve talked about how Tame Impala’s ‘Dracula,’ Two People’s ‘Dream Steppin’,’ and Porcupine Tree’s ‘Harridan’ all sound through the Aventho 100s (very good). What about other songs, though? I listened to an array of genres to test the Aventho 100s, and these headphones sounded phenomenal, regardless.

Lana Del Rey’s soft vocals sounded beautiful and detailed. 070 Shake’s scratchy voice never sounded piercing or unpleasant. Pink Floyd’s double basslines sounded separate from one another and yet, they worked in harmony together to create a gorgeous sound. Charli XCX’s techno anthems came to life with so much vigor that I couldn’t help but dance along.

I didn’t think ANC could get better

I love my Marshall Monitor IIIs’ ANC. They block out many sounds and help me feel immersed in my music. I didn’t think it could get any better… and then I tried the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100s. In one word, their ANC is ridiculous, both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, I couldn’t hear the TV with its volume turned up, or the kettle boiling. My partner was watching Instagram Reels on her phone right next to me and I couldn’t hear them at all — or my co-workers speaking to each other in the office.

Outdoors, I appreciated being able to block out teenagers hollering on the bus and, come to think of it, the bus itself rattling noisily as we went. The ANC is, in fact, so effective that I’d avoid wearing them while walking down a road or busy street. That’s because I couldn’t hear cars zooming past or the occasional honking, and I was gobsmacked.

To wear or not to wear?

The biggest thing that has, personally, held me back from switching to on-ear headphones is the comfort level. On-ear cans are designed to, well, sit on your ears rather than around them, as over-ears do. I’ve never found this design comfortable. Maybe the shape of my ears is wrong, or I’m just stuck in my ways, but to me, on-ears often feel suffocating and like they’re heating up my ears.

What about the Beyerdynamic Aventho 100s then? Good things first. The Aventho 100s’ plush leatherette headband is fantastic. It relieves pressure on the top of your head and keeps the cans from slipping off, and the earpads are made of soft leatherette material too. The headphones are lightweight, weighing just 7.73oz, so you don’t feel weighed down by them.

But every coin has two sides. This might be subjective so take it with a pinch of salt, but the Aventho 100s, to me, feel uncomfortable simply because they sit on my ears. I had to keep readjusting the hinges to ensure my ears were able to breathe. It felt annoying as it kept breaking my immersion while listening to music. I still believe over-ear headphones are more comfortable, but feel free to disagree with me in the comments.

That’s enough from me. What do you think? Would you ditch over-ears for on-ears? Have your say below!

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