Let’s dive into something that’s been making a bit of noise in the audio space, and for good reason. Every so often, a piece of gear pops up that genuinely makes you double-check the price tag, and the Kiwi Ears Aventus is absolutely one of those.
Kiwi Ears, a name many of us associate with some surprisingly potent in-ear monitors, has decided to throw their hat into the over-ear headphone arena, and they’re not exactly tiptoeing in. The Aventus lands as a closed-back headphone offering a rather ambitious trifecta: solid wireless performance via Bluetooth 5.4, active noise cancellation, and even a wired option for those purist moments or when the battery finally gives up (which, spoiler, takes a while).
What’s really turning heads here is the feature set packed into a unit that you can typically snag on Amazon for $89, sometimes even less if you catch a deal. We’re talking dual drivers per earcup, a design clearly nodding towards the DJ and gamer crowd with its optional (thankfully) RGB lighting, and a promise of sound that punches well above its weight. It’s the kind of package that immediately piques interest because, let’s be honest, finding a genuinely good wireless headphone with decent ANC in this price bracket is often a quest fraught with compromise.
Design, Build Quality & Comfort
So, picking up the Kiwi Ears Aventus, your first thought on the design might be, “Okay, I’ve seen this before.” It’s got that classic DJ headphone silhouette, a bit like a more budget-conscious Audio-Technica M50X, or maybe even a slightly less aggressive gamer headset. Mine’s the all-black version, which gives it a pretty stealthy, “murdered-out” look that I actually quite like.
Then, of course, you’ve got the RGB lighting on the earcups. There’s a dedicated button to cycle through a few modes – breathing, static colors, or, my personal preference, completely off. It’s a feature that some will find a bit tacky, others might dig the gamer flair; the important thing is you can turn it off, so it’s not a dealbreaker either way. Branding is pretty minimal, just a subtle Kiwi Ears logo, which is always appreciated.
Now, let’s talk build. These are predominantly plastic, no surprises there at this price point. But honestly, they feel surprisingly sturdy. There’s a decent heft to them – around 350 grams – which contributes to a feeling of solidity rather than cheapness. The headband has a good amount of plush padding on the underside and the adjustment mechanism has these really satisfying, precise clicks. It feels like there’s metal reinforcement in that band, which is reassuring.
The earcups swivel flat, handy for slinging them around your neck, and they also fold inwards, making them reasonably portable when you toss them in the included case. All the buttons – for power, volume, ANC, and that RGB – are physical, giving nice tactile feedback. No fiddly touch controls here, which is a win in my book.
Slipping them on, comfort is pretty decent. The earpads are made from a soft, vegan leather material stuffed with what feels like memory foam, and they’re quite plush. They create a good seal, giving you a fair bit of passive noise isolation even before you flick on the ANC. The headband does a good job of distributing that 350-gram weight, so it doesn’t feel like a brick on your head, at least not initially. Clamping force is moderate – secure enough that they’re not going to fly off if you move your head around, but not so tight that they feel like a vise.
My only small gripe here is that the earcups, while deep enough, might be a tad on the smaller side for folks with larger ears. And like most protein leather pads, they can get a little warm after a couple of hours. For a regular listening session or a gaming stint, they’re comfortable enough, though you’ll probably notice the weight more on super extended marathon sessions.
Connectivity
Okay, getting these Aventus headphones hooked up is pretty straightforward, which is always a good start. For wireless, they’re running Bluetooth 5.4. That’s a fairly recent spec, and in practice, it means the connection has been rock solid for me. I haven’t experienced any annoying dropouts or stutters, even when wandering a fair distance from my phone or laptop. Pairing is the usual hold-the-power-button affair, and it links up quickly.
A really nice touch here, especially at this price, is multipoint Bluetooth. This means you can have the Aventus connected to two devices at the same time – say, your phone and your computer. So, if I’m listening to music on my laptop and a call comes in on my phone, the headphones switch over seamlessly.
Then you’ve got the wired options, and Kiwi Ears gives you a couple of ways to go. There’s the standard 3.5mm analog input, and they include a nice 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable. One end has a locking mechanism that secures it to the headphone jack, which is a smart DJ-esque feature to prevent accidental unplugs. The other end is a right-angle connector, which I always appreciate for keeping things tidy, especially with a laptop or portable player.
But the other wired connection is via USB-C, and this is where things get a bit more interesting. It’s not just for charging; the included USB-C to 3.5mm cable (which also has that locking mechanism for the headphone end) actually has a built-in DAC. So, you can plug these directly into a USB-C port on your phone, tablet, or computer and get a digital audio signal.
This is great if your device doesn’t have a headphone jack, or if its internal audio output isn’t the best. It’s a versatile setup, giving you plenty of ways to get your audio into the Aventus. And for charging, it’s a standard USB-A to USB-C cable, which is pretty much universal these days.
Sound Quality
Okay, so peeking under the hood, or rather, inside the earcups of the Aventus, Kiwi Ears has gone with a dual-driver setup. Each side packs a 40mm dynamic driver, which is pretty standard for handling the bulk of the sound, plus a smaller 10mm dynamic driver. Now, the exact role of that little 10mm guy isn’t super clear – it could be for dedicated high-frequency reproduction or perhaps to add a bit more oomph to certain ranges. Whatever its specific job, it’s an interesting choice for a headphone in this category.
Now, for the part that really matters: how do these things actually sound? Forget any notions of a flat, “reference” tuning, despite what some marketing might hint at. The Aventus is all about a fun listening experience. The sound signature is definitely pumped up and dynamic.
Starting with the low end, the bass is a real standout. It’s got serious punch and impact, but it doesn’t get sloppy or boomy. It’s controlled enough to deliver a good thwack on kick drums and a satisfying rumble in basslines without muddying up everything else. I found it particularly enjoyable for hip-hop and electronic music, and even for metal, those double bass kicks come through with a satisfying weight. There’s a surprising sense of space in the bass too; it doesn’t just feel like a blob of low frequencies.
Moving up to the mids, vocals, guitars, and synthesizers come through with a nice clarity. They don’t get pushed way back by that enthusiastic bass; instead, they have a fairly upfront presentation. There’s a pleasant warmth to the midrange that makes voices sound natural and engaging. I didn’t notice any significant hollowness or nasality here, which can sometimes plague more V-shaped tunings.
The treble has a good amount of shine and detail without being overly aggressive for my ears. Cymbals have a decent shimmer, and you can pick out some of the finer nuances in tracks. Kiwi Ears includes some foam tuning inserts that you can pop inside the earcups. Without them, some might find certain high notes a touch sharp, especially on S and T sounds, but it wasn’t a major issue for me. With the foams in, the treble gets a little smoother, the bass gets a slight lift, and the soundstage closes in just a touch. It’s a nice way to subtly tweak the sound to your preference.
One of the most surprising things for a closed-back headphone at this price, especially one with such a lively tuning, is the soundstage. It feels impressively open. You get a decent sense of width and even a bit of depth, which really helps with instrument separation and makes music feel less congested. Imaging is pretty good too; I could place where sounds were coming from quite effectively, which is a definite plus for gaming.
And importantly, the sound quality holds up remarkably well in wireless mode. I didn’t notice a significant drop-off in fidelity compared to listening wired, which isn’t always the case with budget Bluetooth headphones.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC)
Now, Kiwi Ears Aventus comes equipped with hybrid Active Noise Cancellation, which is a pretty decent feature to find at this price point. Hybrid ANC typically means it uses microphones both on the outside and inside of the earcups to listen for and cancel out noise, which generally results in better performance than simpler ANC systems.
Flicking the ANC switch on, you definitely notice a difference. It’s most effective at tackling those low, droning sounds. Think the hum of an air conditioner, the rumble of a bus or train engine, or the general whir of an office environment. In those scenarios, the Aventus does a respectable job of quieting things down, making for a more peaceful listening experience or just giving your ears a break. It’s not going to completely silence the world around you like some of the top-tier (and much more expensive) ANC headphones from Sony or Bose, but it certainly takes the edge off those constant, low-frequency annoyances.
Where it’s a bit less effective, and this is common for ANC in this bracket, is with higher-frequency, more irregular sounds. Things like people talking nearby, a TV playing in the next room, or sharp, sudden noises will still cut through, albeit somewhat muffled. So, don’t expect a cone of silence, but for reducing general ambient hum, it’s pretty good.
One thing I really appreciate is that you can use the ANC even when you’re listening in wired mode, which isn’t always a given. So, if you’re plugged into an airplane’s entertainment system, for example, you can still benefit from the noise reduction.
A big plus for me is that engaging the ANC doesn’t drastically alter the sound signature of the music. Sometimes ANC can make headphones sound thin or weirdly processed. With the Aventus, the audio quality remains pretty consistent, maybe with a very slight change, but nothing that ruins the listening experience.
Battery Life & Charging
When it comes to keeping the Aventus juiced up, the battery performance is honestly one of its most impressive feats. Kiwi Ears throws out some pretty big numbers, and from what I’ve experienced, they’re not just wishful thinking.
If you’re running these headphones in their most “vanilla” state – that means Bluetooth on, but with both the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and the RGB lighting turned off – you’re looking at a claimed battery life of up to a massive 82 hours. That is, frankly, huge. You could probably go a couple of weeks of regular commuting or listening without even thinking about plugging them in.
Now, start adding in the features, and naturally, that number comes down. If you turn on the ANC but keep the flashy lights off, you’re still getting a very respectable 45 hours. That’s still more than enough for several days of heavy use.
It’s when you go full disco mode – ANC on and the RGB lights pulsing away – that the battery life takes its biggest hit, dropping down to around 18 hours. That’s still a couple of full workdays or a very long gaming session, so it’s not terrible by any means, but it clearly shows those LEDs are thirsty. So, if longevity is your absolute top priority, keeping the light show off is the way to go.
Charging is handled via a standard USB-C port, which is great to see – no proprietary connectors here. And they’ve also included a fast charging feature. A quick 10-minute charge is supposed to give you around 4 hours of playback time. That’s super handy for those moments when you realize you’re almost out of power just before heading out the door. I’ve found this to be pretty accurate, making it easy to get a useful boost in a short amount of time.
Conclusion & Verdict
So, after spending a good amount of time with the Kiwi Ears Aventus, it’s pretty clear these headphones are aiming to seriously disrupt the budget-friendly wireless market. What you’re getting for that sub-$100 price tag – often hovering around $90 on Amazon – is genuinely impressive. The sound is just plain fun; it’s energetic, punchy in the bass, clear in the mids, and has enough sparkle up top to keep things engaging without becoming harsh, especially with those handy foam inserts. That massive battery life, particularly with the RGB and ANC off, is a huge win, meaning you’re rarely caught out.
The feature set is where they really shine for the cost. Having reliable Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, the option to go wired via a standard 3.5mm or even USB-C with its own DAC, plus active noise cancellation that actually does a decent job on low-frequency hums, is a package you just don’t see every day in this price bracket.
Sure, the aesthetic leans heavily into that DJ/gamer vibe, and the RGB lighting won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but you can turn it off, and the underlying build, while plastic, feels robust enough. The ANC isn’t going to rival premium offerings, but it’s a welcome addition that provides tangible benefit. It really feels like Kiwi Ears focused on delivering core performance and a stacked feature list where it counts.
These headphones are a textbook case of not judging a book by its cover, or perhaps, not judging a headphone by its sometimes “generic” DJ-style shell. For anyone looking for a versatile, enjoyable wireless headphone that won’t drain their wallet, the Aventus makes a compelling case. It’s an easy recommendation for gamers, aspiring DJs, or just anyone who wants a feature-rich, good-sounding pair of cans without spending a fortune. Kiwi Ears has delivered a hell of a value proposition here; they punch so far above their weight it’s almost comical.
