I measured the Aventho Wireless headphones using a G.R.A.S. Model 43AG ear/cheek simulator/RA0402 ear simulator, a Clio 10 FW audio analyzer, a laptop computer running TrueRTA software with an M-Audio MobilePre USB audio interface, and a Musical Fidelity V-CAN amp. On the Model 43AG, I used the original KB0065 simulated pinna for most measurements, as well as the new KB5000 pinna for certain measurements, as noted. For measurements using a Bluetooth connection, I used my Sony HWS-BTA2W Bluetooth transmitter to send signals from the Clio 10 FW to the headphones. These are “flat” measurements; no diffuse-field or free-field compensation curve was employed.
The Aventho Wirelesses’ frequency response (shown here in wired mode; I was unable to get consistent measurements from the left and right channels in Bluetooth mode) is a little unusual. A typical headphone response might have a mild, broad boost in the bass between about 50 and 200Hz, with a strong, distinct response peak at around 2.5 or 3kHz, and a weaker peak or two between 5 and 10kHz. The Aventhos instead have a relatively narrow peak at 150Hz, building gradually to a softer peak at about 2.6kHz. I’ve measured few headphones with such a frequency response, so it’s hard for me to predict what these will sound like based on these measurements.
This chart shows the right-channel frequency responses of the Aventho Wirelesses, measured with wired and wireless Bluetooth connections. The Bluetooth connection seems to have a few dB more average output in the bass, as well as weaker output above about 7kHz. This suggests that the Aventhos will sound softer in Bluetooth mode, but the gating required to compensate for Bluetooth’s latency does introduce some uncertainty into this measurement.
This chart shows the Aventhos’ right-channel frequency response measured with the old KB0065 pinna I’ve used for years, and with G.R.A.S.’s new KB5000 pinna, which I’ll be switching to because it more accurately reflects the structure and pliability of the human ear. I include this mostly for future reference rather than as something you should draw conclusions from; I intend to show both measurements in every review until I completely switch to the new pinna later this year.
This chart shows the Aventhos’ measured right-channel frequency response compared with those of another set of on-ear headphones of similar size (the AKG N60 NC Wirelesses, with their noise canceling activated) and a well-known reference for affordable passive headphones (the over-ear NAD Viso HP50s). Clearly, the Aventhos’ response is flatter overall, with a much less prominent peak in the 3kHz range. However, the Beyerdynamics’ bass rolloff may counteract their reduced treble response to create a subjectively flat response.
The Aventho Wirelesses’ spectral-decay (waterfall) chart looks very clean, with no significant resonances above about 600Hz, and lower-than-average resonance in the bass frequencies.
The total harmonic distortion (THD) of the Aventho Wirelesses, measured in wired mode because Bluetooth’s latency prevents my audio analyzer from doing distortion measurements, is a little on the high side, although it’s unlikely to be audible at normal listening levels. At 90dBA, the THD rises to about 1% at 100Hz and 4% at 20kHz. At the extremely loud level of 100dBA, it’s about 3% at 100Hz and 10.5% at 20Hz. That probably would be audible, but 100dBA is so loud that your ears will be strained, anyway.
In this chart, the external noise level is 85dB SPL; the numbers below that indicate the attenuation of outside sounds. The isolation of the Aventho Wirelesses is pretty good for an on-ear model with no active noise canceling, and is comparable to that of the over-ear NAD Viso HP50s. You can see from the isolation traces for the AKG N60 NC Wirelesses and Bose QC35IIs that active noise canceling will improve isolation at frequencies below about 1kHz.
The Aventhos’ impedance magnitude is the same with their power on or off, and ranges between 33 and 39 ohms. The phase response is similarly flat.
The sensitivity of the Aventho Wirelesses in wired mode, measured between 300Hz and 3kHz with a 1mW signal calculated for 32 ohms impedance (my default for internally powered headphones of no specified impedance), is 106.1dB. The Beyerdynamic Aventhos should give you plenty of volume when plugged into an airplane seat’s headphone jack, even when the battery is low.
. . . Brent Butterworth
brentb@soundstagenetwork.com
