Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i Review: Pure Luxury
Bang & Olufsen BeoplayH8i Review: Luxury On-Ear Headphones with ANC. During the 30-hours I tried them, I was impressed by the luxurious experience.
We like this
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Spectacular audio quality
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Premium materials
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Durable
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Extremely comfortable
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Battery life is amazing
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It is a frustrating setup
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Annoying sound and noise-canceling indicators
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Sometimes, auto pause/play could not be trusted
Despite some minor issues, the Bang & Olufsen BeoplayH8i is a great luxury headset that will last for many years. These headphones sound amazing and are made of durable materials.
- Design
- Installation
- Comfort
- Sound Quality
- Battery life
- Mobile Range and Capability
- Software
- These are the features
- Prices
- Concurrence
- Final Verdict
- Specifications
The Bang & Olufsen H8i was purchased by us so that our expert reviewer could fully test it and evaluate its quality. Continue reading to see our complete product review.
Bang & Olufsen's Beoplay H8i headphones are designed without compromise. They are not only premium headphones for the ears, they also come with a luxurious price tag. They are expensive, so the question is: Can they live up to their luxury price tag?
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Design: Premium materials
The Bang & Olufsen H8i's construction was what I first noticed. These headphones have a solid construction. The headband, earcups and metal frame are made from genuine leather. The size adjustment and rotation of the earscups are smooth. And the earcups fit perfectly to your head. The Beoplay H8i's very little plastic construction is high-quality and feels solid. It was great to be able see through the leather's stitching.
These headphones are a step above any other wireless headphones that we have tested. However, the BeoplayH8i's premium design isn't for everybody. You can choose from natural, pink, and black (I tried the pink version).
The Beoplay H8i has a downside. It doesn't fold down and takes up space, so it isn't as mobile as some on-ear headphones. The padded, cloth-lined bag that came with these headphones was too bulky. These headphones are light at 215g and include an audio and USB-C cables for charging.
Related Reading: Marshall Mid ANC Review: Slick Looks, Awesome Sound
Installation: Not necessary.
Headphones are usually easy to set up, but the Beoplay H8i appears to be an exception. The H8i refused to connect to my Samsung Galaxy Note 9 phone. They refused to cooperate even after I downloaded the companion app, and made an account. Although my phone was able to see the Beoplay, pairing failed almost immediately. After half an hour of frustration it finally paired with my phone.
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Comfort: Soft leather.
These headphones are great for everyday use. These headphones are made of thick, soft leather and hug your ears as little clouds. The headband is almost invisible on top. This doesn't equate to them being loose—they're very secure and adjust to fit a wide range of head sizes.
These earpads are made of thick, soft leather and fit snugly to your ears.
Sound Quality: High-end audio
Beoplay's H8i is as smooth as they sound. It has excellent mids and highs. Although the bass isn't bad, it doesn't sound particularly powerful. It was evident when I listened to the 2Cellos version of Thunderstruck , which is the baseline song that I use to compare and test the headphones' capabilities. The H8i's excellent mids and highs compensate for the minor bass weakness.
This in mind I decided to listen to A Heey Taleby The Fratellis, which has fewer bass tones. The mid-to high frequency range is where the Beoplay H8i performs best. Next, I listened to Lazaretto, which has deep, pulsing bass instruments. This also did well. I can tell that this minor flaw in bass is not worth fixing.
Beoplay H8i is as smooth as they sound, especially in the highs and mids.
Another Jack White song, Temporary Ground was next, and I kept going. It has a country-rock edge with a rock-roots. It was a pleasure to have the Beoplay H8i perform the instruments and high vocals as well as the bass very well.
The melancholy sound of the piano cutting through the angst of the electric guitars in Billy Talent's Swallowed Up by the Ocean,was also a delight. There was a large variety of vocals that were easily differentiated and replicated.
The call quality was generally excellent with the people who were on the other side reporting that their voice was clear and there was no background noise. On a couple of calls, however, my voice became very muffled and cut off. This was not something I could reproduce reliably, however I believe it might be due to a problem with the ambient noise-canceling program.
Even in very noisy environments, noise-canceling works well. Active noise cancellation was capable of cutting out distracting sounds almost completely. It's simple to turn it on or switch to hear-through in the app, or by using a toggle switch directly on the headphones. My only complaint with audio are the loud, almost unbearable beeps the headphones make when they turn on and off or change the noise cancellation settings. They need to be drastically reduced, as I fear that I will suffer from ear damage due to their constant bleating.
Long-lasting Batteries
The claimed battery life of H8i was accurate to my knowledge. I could listen to the music for several days and not need to charge the device. The modern USB-C charging port is also something I appreciate.
Range and Capability of Wireless: Medium and Disappointing
Although the Beoplay H8i claims to have a range of 100 feet, I only managed to reach about three-quarters of this distance before audio cut out. It's a fairly standard Bluetooth range. This is a good range that can be used around your home, but it's not as powerful as the advertised capabilities.
Software: A useful app
Bang & Olufsen's app is simple to use. The volume, media control and other controls can be easily identified and are very easy to find. Access to custom sound options is also available.
Listening Modes
You can fine tune the listening experience with the BeoplayH8i either using a set of presets, or by hand through an intuitive interface. Here you can choose which tone balance suits your preference. High treble is what I prefer, although your preferences may vary and you have many customization options.
Also, the H8i detects when you remove or put on your glasses and can pause/play music according to that. Although this works well, I noticed that it isn't 100% reliable.
Prices: How much does it cost to get luxury?
The Beoplay H8i is expensive. These headphones are more expensive than other noise-canceling headphones, with an MSRP price of $400. The headphones are worth the high cost, especially considering their exceptional quality and excellent noise-canceling.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i vs. Marshall Mid ANC
The Marshall Mid ANC is significantly cheaper than the Beoplay 8i. The Marshall Mid ANC has most of the same features as the Beoplay H8i. It also offers similar noise cancellation and sound quality. The Mid ANC looks better, plus it has a more attractive carrying case. The Beoplay H8i has a better build quality. While the Mid ANC is made of faux leather, it uses genuine leather. For larger heads, like mine, the H8i provides more comfort than the Mid ANC.
Despite some minor hiccups, the Bang & Olufsen HI8i is a great listening device for audiophiles who are on-the-go. However, this only applies to those with deep pockets. These headphones stand out because of their premium quality build.