The Danish firm Bang & Olufsen maintains its commitment to wireless headphones, either the so-called TWS or completely wireless as the Beoplay E8 or headband, as the Beoplay H95. Here we are talking about the latter since B&O’s new Beoplay HX is a circumaural headset that maintains the design lines of its predecessors.
One of its highlights is the active digital noise cancellation, which promises superior audio quality. However, as we usually see with the brand’s products, what is most important is the use of quality materials, and yet they are not for everyone’s pocket.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX Specification
| Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX | |
|---|---|
| Coupling | Closed circumaural |
| Diaphram | Titanium, 40mm |
| Magnet | Neodymium |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Noise Cancellation | Active and adaptable Transparency mode |
| Frequency Band | 20-22,000 Hz |
| Drive Type | Electrodynamic unit with neodymium magnets, 40 mm diameter |
| Sensitivity Unit | 95 dB at 1 kHz / 1 mW in passive mode |
| Impedance | 24 ohms +/- 15% |
| Sound Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive |
| Battery and Autonomy | Lithium 1,110 mAh Up to 35 hours with Bluetooth and ANC Up to 40 hours with Bluetooth Charging time: about 3 hours |
| Dimensions and Weight | 195 x 200 x 52 mm 285 g |
| Microphones | 4 x MEMS for voice (two microphones shared with ANC) 4 x MEMS specific for ANC (two microphones in each earphone) |
| Inputs and Outputs | 4 1.25 m audio cable with 3.5 mm mini jack for wired connectivity 1.25 m USB-A cable and USB-C cable for charging |
| Price | €499 |
The aesthetics remind us of the Beoplay H95, but the shape of the inner sponge of the helmet is more rounded. They are made of leather and aluminum, the latter recycled and anodized with a pearlized process for the side sliders.
For the helmet they used a ” diamond effect” finish on the aluminum, integrated into a recycled plastic structure to create a contrast of glossy and matte finishes. According to the brand, they wanted to create a lightweight, comfortable and ergonomic product they are slightly lighter than the Beoplay H95, renewing the headband to create a central compensation area that is helpful in prolonged use.
Active noise cancellation and touch control
Talking about the more technical part and related to the sound emission, the Beoplay HX integrates two 40 mm, speakers, with neodymium magnets and bass ports, in addition to the four microphones that allow the performance of advanced beamforming technology. The manufacturer also introduces a new adaptive active noise cancellation technology, something that is always very positive to have a good experience as we have seen in rival products such as the Apple AirPods Pro Max or the Sony WH-1000XM4 that we have been able to test in-depth here.
In terms of autonomy, the Beoplay HX promise up to 35 hours of playback, which is not bad at all (up to 40 hours without cancellation activated). They connect via Bluetooth 5.1, Microsoft Swift Pair, Google Fast Pair, and Made for iPhone (MFi), have physical buttons for power and cancellation, and have a touch interface for playback control.
Price and Availability of Beoplay XH
The new Beoplay HX is available from the Bang & Olufsen website and stores for €499. There are three models: anthracite black, sand and wood.
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