Bang & Olufsen Beoplay 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.

These headphones produce fantastic sound, bass, and clarity. The ANC works well, though the low droning sound of a plane engine still slips through a little. The leather and the aluminum feel luxurious, premium, and durable. In my opinion, they are a timeless style. Extremely comfortable to wear for almost any length of plane ride. The battery is good as well, lasting easily over 24 hours of travel. There is a BaO app that allows you to adjust setting and such, but once connected to your phone you can use whatever music app.

Long charge hold for airplane trips or car rides. Very comfortable and the sound quality was out of this world. Easy to pair and a bit pricy but worth it for the fit and acoustics

Pros:- Very high quality materials- Beautiful design- ComfortableCons:- Volume control unusable for me. After several hours of practice I still couldn't control it reliably or oftentimes at all.- Sound quality very disappointing. Not awful, just not nearly as good as I'd hoped.Deal-breakers for me on any headphone or earbud are shouty, sibilant treble and fiddly controls. The HXs suffer from fiddly controls. I could swipe forward and back pretty reliably, but volume control was well nigh impossible for me.The sound quality was warm and smooth, but it really lacked any life at all in the top end. I know I'm fussy; first I don't want shouty treble and then I say I want life and liveliness in the top end. Well, I want what I want. For reference, my AirPods Max have life in the top end, which only ever overpowers me on poorly-mixed tracks. Ditto for sibilant consonants.I gave the HXs a go because I wanted a better wired option than my AirPods Max or my Jabra 85h for listening connected to a DAC. The Jabras have a very good sound, but Apple Music Hi-Res lossless and TIDAL MQA expose a thin-sounding weak spot in the male vocal range that gets annoying after a while. I'm looking for something better. I know the Jabras and the HXs are primarily bluetooth headphones, but I wanted something that could be wired for Hi-Res listening without jumping into the deep end of the pool of audiophile wired headphones.I'm returning these for the (essentially) broken volume control design.