Bang & OlufsenBeoplay HX – Comfortable Wireless ANC Over-Ear Headphones - Black Anthracite

Silence and Sound in Perfect HarmonyFor years, I settled for "good enough" headphones. They played music, they blocked out some noise, and they didn't cost a fortune. But as I spent more time commuting, traveling, and trying to find focus in noisy environments, I realized that "good enough" wasn't cutting it anymore. I craved an audio experience that was truly immersive, comfortable enough for hours on end, and capable of creating a bubble of calm in a chaotic world. I decided it was time to invest in something exceptional, and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX headphones entered the picture. They promised a blend of luxury, performance, and silence, and they have delivered a level of audio bliss I didn't know I was missing.Unboxing these headphones feels like unwrapping a piece of art. The minimalist Scandinavian design is stunning, and the materials are simply exquisite. The soft lambskin on the earcups and headband, the cool touch of the aluminum – every detail speaks to premium craftsmanship. Putting them on for the first time is like settling into a comfortable armchair for your ears. They are surprisingly lightweight, and the memory foam earcups mold perfectly, creating a seal that's both comfortable and effective even before the noise cancellation kicks in. I can wear these for hours on a long flight or during a full workday without any discomfort.Then there's the sound. Oh, the sound. The custom-tuned drivers produce audio that is rich, detailed, and beautifully balanced. Bass is present and powerful but never overwhelming, mids are clear and articulate, and highs are crisp without being harsh. Listening to familiar tracks through these headphones reveals nuances I'd never heard before. It's an immersive experience that pulls you into the music.The hybrid active noise cancellation is incredibly effective. It doesn't create an unnatural, pressure-filled silence, but rather a calm, quiet backdrop that allows the audio to shine. The roar of an airplane engine, the chatter of a busy office, the drone of traffic – it all fades away, leaving just you and your music (or podcast, or audiobook). The transparency mode is also well-implemented, allowing you to easily tune back into your surroundings with a tap.The battery life is phenomenal. Getting up to 30 hours with ANC and Bluetooth active means I can go for days of regular use or survive the longest travel days without needing to recharge. The touch controls on the earcups are intuitive and responsive once you get the hang of them.While they are undoubtedly a significant investment, the experience these headphones provide justifies the cost for me. They are a perfect marriage of form and function, delivering exceptional sound quality, unparalleled comfort, and effective noise cancellation in a package that is simply beautiful. They create a personal sanctuary of sound and silence, making every listening session a genuine pleasure.

Audiophile here - very, very particular audiophile. “Running On Faith” - Clapton, Journeyman - first song. Instant tears. Yes, the design, weight, fit - all the things - beautiful. But we are about sound and noise cancellation, Friends. Correct? The TV is playing Pandora Blues at full volume and I can’t hear a thing but our friend Eric making his particular brand of magic. Buy the headphones. Now. And be prepared to gently tap me on the shoulder if you want my attention and I’m wearing these. xo

I’m not an audiophile. My AirPods stopped working so I decided I wanted to try on-ear noise canceling headphones with a long battery life. My primary intention is to use them for work calls.I ordered the Bose QC45, very happy with them (I should also mention I was happy with the sound from my basic AirPods before). Except I couldn’t wear them for longer than an hour because my ears would start profusely sweating??? I googled this and turns out it’s a thing! Some people get hot ears from the synthetic material of the ear cups.The main reason I ordered these was because of the leather ear cups. It worked! No more sweaty ears. My ears are bigger than the round part, maybe that’s why, but I still find them very comfortable. Given the “lack of seal” I find the ANC to be fine for my needs.One thing I find annoying is that to put them back in their case, you have to slide the sides back in. They slide smoothly and aren’t notched. So basically, every time I take them out of the case I have to readjust them when I put them on, and since they’re not notched as you slide the sides out I find myself readjusting a few times.The other thing - I was getting frustrated connecting these to my windows work laptop for video calls, but then I remembered there’s an audio jack in the case so now I just use that with no issues. I don’t think they automatically connect to my iPhone like the Bose ones did, but that may be user error. It doesn’t seem like you can easily go between devices like I can with my AirPods from iPhone to MacBook. I didn’t find the app to be intuitive for this either. Hopefully I’ll eventually figure it out.Lastly, I did find that these needed to be broken in - I didn’t know that was a thing, the Bose ones didn’t. Right out of the box, music sounded like it did with my AirPods. I played with the settings, etc. For my needs I didn’t really care, I just wanted my ears to stop sweating. Then one day I was listening to music and the sound was much more impressive.I ordered the sand color, but in hindsight I wish I had gotten black. The case is light grey for these and I’m concerned about staining over time if I’m not super careful. Subjective, but I think black would probably also look more sophisticated on video calls. Overall I’m very happy with these!

Item is just okay in every way. Low end is not great, music is middling. Build quality is okay. You are paying for the B&O name rather than a true high end headphone. As much as it hurts me to say this, probably better off with a Sony or Bose if you are on a budget or the Mark Levinson 5909 or Focal Bathys if you are looking for a better product.