Disclaimer: Beyerdynamic sent us the Amiron Home for this review on loan, it is a sample of a pre-production run. The pictures are from Beyerdynamic and those tagged with our logo are ours.
Beyerdynamic
Beyerdynamic has more than 90 years’ experience developing audio electronics and stands for innovative audio products with the highest sound quality and pioneering technology. Two business divisions – Headphones and Audio Systems – provide tailored solutions for professional and private users. All products are developed in Germany and primarily manufactured by hand – from hi-fi headphones to stage microphones as well as conference and interpretation systems.
Beyerdynamic is a world famous German headphone company and over the years they have given the world a whole series of top quality headphones and amplifiers of which we have reviewed a whole bunch: DT770 AE, DT1770PRO, DT1990PRO, T90, Custom One Pro, T51P, T1, T1.2, A2, A20, iDX160iE, A200P, T70, DT1350, DT880.
2016 was/is a great year for Beyerdynamic and they have released a whole bunch of new headphones, the latest being the DT1XX0 series and now the new T90 successor, the Amiron Home.
The Amiron Home
The Amiron I received is a product from Beyerdynamic’s pilot run. That means they do function properly but the printing inside of the headband end piece is not the final one, it is the wrong printing type and all of them have the serial number 00001. Sound and finish-wise however these are the real deal, this is exactly how the Amiron Home will look and sound and yes, they’re still hand made in Germany.
Amiron Home: the open high-end headphones with a live feeling – for the perfect concert experience at home.
Everyone calls this new headphone the “Amiron” but the real name is “Amiron Home” and the above quote shows why Beyerdynamic named it so. Just like the Beyerdynamic T90, the Amiron Home has an open design which allows the sound to breathe. The successor to the legendary T 90 also uses proven Tesla technology resulting in playful ease and tonal precision. And it’s not just the sound characteristics that have been further optimized on the Amiron home: the development engineers have also been busy in other areas:
An additional fabric in front of the multilayer compound calotte reduces high-frequency resonances. The acoustic transducers are dampened on the rear to ensure an even more balanced frequency response in the mids. And a new acoustically effective ear pad filling material increases bass precision. The ear pads and headband are made from velvety soft Alcantara microfibre and microvelour with temperature-balancing and moisture-regulating effects. They make listening a pure pleasure and long listening periods are what this headphone was made for. The typical Beyerdynamic yokes are made from solid aluminium and the decorative rings made from die-cast aluminium complete the typical elegant appearance.
I’ve always found the Beyerdynamic headphones to be very comfortable with velour pads but the new fabric, especially on the gorgeous headband, make the Amiron Home even more comfortable. Its weight (340gr) is very normal but the weight distribution is perfect, it really disappears on your head.
With the Amiron, Beyerdynamic wants to deliver high-resolution sound for a concert experience at home. It this time comes with a 3m detachable cable on both sides (3.5mm plugs) with no soldering joints at the Y-adapter. Its new, highly flexible twin wire is fed through as a single unit – from the gold-plated jack plug with screw adapter for large 6.35 mm jacks through to the Tesla transducers. Typically the Amiron still has a 250Ohm impedance and its official price is €599 where the T90’s price is €499. The DT1770PRO and 1990PRO go for the exact same amount as the Amiron Home.
Design-wise I personally feel the T90 is the prettiest of both headphones as the cup material is extra special. The Amiron Home uses the same headband system but the cups have a more plastic look and feel to them. The Amiron pictures don’t do it justice though as it looks prettier in real. The headband material is much nicer on the Amiron on the other hand.
Technical data
Transducer type
Dynamic
Operating principle
Open
Frequency response
5 – 40,000 Hz
Nominal impedance
250 Ohms
Nominal SPL
102 dB (1 mW / 500 Hz)
T.H.D.
< 0.05 %
Sound coupling to the ear
Circumaural
Weight (without cable)
340 g
Cable
3 m / double-sided / detachable
Connection
Gold-plated mini stereo jack (3.5 mm) & 1/4″ adapter (6.35 mm)
Sound
The big point the Beyerdynamic marketing department wants to make with these headphones is that the Amiron Home is the perfect headphone to use at home. With the Amiron Home, Beyerdynamic wants you to experience the sound of a real concert hall.
“Amiron home is our invitation to pure musical enjoyment: just sit back in your favourite chair and let the sound carry you away”
Beyerdynamic didn’t just re-use their T90 drivers but they improved them: Modifications to the transducer have diminished unwanted vibrations to an absolute minimum and completely eliminated annoying treble resonances. Compared to the T90, that according to Beyer adds up to a warm, stress-free sound with fascinating spaciousness – as intoxicating as in a live concert.
Sound and a lot more on Page Two, right after the jump or the click HERE