We live in a day and age where wireless audio products have mostly improved compared to their predecessors, and while there’s still an ongoing debate regarding wired versus wireless audio, it’s probably safe to say that a good pair of headphones will get you great-sounding audio for the most part, especially from popular brands such as Sony and Apple, for example.
Of course there’s more to the industry aside from the “usual” names in tech – take for example Bang & Olufsen, which recently announced the debut of its latest pair of premium wireless headphones, the Beoplay H100. The H100 integrates a ton of modern wireless audio features, in addition to a premium price tag, even more expensive than Apple’s already-pricey AirPods Max, for example.
Let’s start with some of the hardware features on the H100. The H100s come packed with a pair of 40mm drivers, and they also come with a rather capable battery onboard – on average, the headphones can last for up to 34 hours with active noise cancelling (ANC) enabled, which is pretty impressive and should be able to last you several commutes and even a trans-atlantic flight. The headphones can also last for up to 90 days on standby mode. Of course individual usage patterns will come into play here, so your mileage may vary.
The H100 headphones also come with a nice lineup of audio features. In addition to ANC, there’s also support for hi-res audio, Dolby Atmos and even head tracking for spatial audio playback. Interestingly, Bang & Olufsen has also equipped the headphones with its “EarSense” technology – this allows the H100 to automatically adjust its sound profile based on how it fits on a user’s ears, a handy feature especially since no headphones are usually a “one size fits all” affair. There are also 10 built-in microphones inside, which handle ANC duties as well as noise management during phone calls.
With all that said, let’s move on to what else makes the Beoplay H100 super expensive – the company actually refers to the headphones as its most “advanced” and “luxurious” model so far, and it looks like they’re not kidding. In addition to the hardware and audio features mentioned earlier, the headphones likewise come with premium materials, which includes a glass panel on the sides of the headphones (and also allows for touch controls), an aluminium headband wrapped by knitted fabric, and lambskin leather for the ear cups, which is something you don’t see everyday with your average pair of wireless headphones.
So how much is the Beoplay H100? If you ever decide to pick up a pair, the headphones will cost you £1299, and no that’s not a typo. For context, this is more than twice the price of Apple’s AirPods Max headphones, which are priced at £499. It’s also the same price as most foldable smartphones on the market these days, or a souped-up laptop for that matter. They’re undoubtedly expensive, but in addition to the premium design and build you also get a versatile set of features. On the other hand, you can still get great-sounding audio from headphones which cost considerably less, such as entries from Bose or Sony for example.
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