When we think of “luxury” and “audio”, a few names will instantly pop into mind and Bang & Olufsen is one of them. You can see the Danish company’s name tagged to hi-fi speaker systems in luxury cars from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and more, but they are still better known for their beautifully designed speakers and headphones. The B&O Beoplay H100 headphones are one such product that we’re looking at today.
DESIGN
Announced in September 2024, the Beoplay H100 headphones were the culmination of almost 100 years of audio and luxury expertise. Everything screams premium, from the leather-covered earcups and headband to the metal headband adjuster yokes that slide smoothly with none of the plasticky clicking you get on cheaper headphones.
But more importantly, you’ll notice that the fabric-wrapped headband cushion and lambskin leather earpads are removable. Held on by strong magnets, these parts that are most prone to wear and tear can easily be replaced so that the Beoplay H100 will be able to be used for a longer period. This is an absolute necessity for something that costs S$2,249 since you wouldn’t want to have to throw them away once the leather starts peeling in Singapore’s hot and humid weather.
B&O also offers an extended five-year warranty if the headphones are registered through the company’s Beocare extended warranty programme, which is a big advantage over other competitors.
The headphones have a mix of touch and physical controls, with taps and swipes available on the scratch-resistant, hardened glass surface covering the outside of the earcup. For active noise cancellation (ANC) and volume control, a quick scroll of the dial on either the left or right side respectively will raise or lower the intensity and loudness. It’s a very refined solution that doesn’t leave you swiping like a maniac to try to adjust the volume to your preferred loudness.
To contain it all, there is a soft cowhide leather pouch that keeps the headphones snug and well-protected. A soft case might not be the most protective, but it is keeping in line with the premium aesthetics and design of the Beoplay H100. There is also a small compartment inside where the USB-C to 3.5mm or USB-C to USB-C cables provided in the box can be kept.
USING THE BEOPLAY H100
The Beoplay H100 headphones connect via Bluetooth, and you’ll want to download the B&O app for firmware updates, control customisation and activating features like spatial audio or the equaliser (under Sound Mode). The headphones will automatically turn on when they’re placed on your head, but if they fail to turn on, a quick press on the button on either earcup will wake them up.
For wearers who value convenience, the headphones can connect via Bluetooth, but if you’re looking for the best sound quality possible, the Beoplay H100 also offers hi-res wired listening up to 24-bit/96kHz via the USB-C port. However, the headphones aren’t able to be used passively in wired mode, which means the power must be on when you’re plugged in.
There are plans for hi-res LDAC codec support via firmware updates in the future, but for now, we’re limited to just SBC and AAC codecs. Multipoint is supported on these headphones, so you’ll be able to connect to two source devices at the same time.
The headphones can last up to 32 hours with ANC turned on, which is excellent battery life. If you’re a movie junkie and you enjoy watching movies with spatial audio and head tracking turned on, the headphones still offer a very respectable 30 hours of battery life with those features activated.
One downside I have to mention about these headphones is that because they’re on the heavier side at 375 grams, they do get a bit fatiguing to wear. There’s a little pinching at the crown of the head, and the clamping force is rather strong when the headphones are new. You’ll definitely need to power through a period of stretching out the headphones to get them to a comfortable state.
SOUND
Featuring 10 microphones, the Beoplay H100 does an excellent job cancelling out environmental noise. Aside from the usual low-pitched rumbles that are easily cancelled out, the headphones even managed to efficiently eliminate higher-pitched noises like keyboard clacks, people talking and commute announcements. If you’re planning to take these with you travelling or even just out and about to drown out distracting chatter, the Beoplay H100 are a fantastic option.
But the sound quality is where it shines. The sound is balanced and clear, as one would expect, with punchy bass that offers a good amount of weight and rumble while still being well-controlled and clean without bleeding into the lower mids. The 40mm titanium electro-dynamic drivers inside really pull their weight here, and you get a crisp midrange that offers plenty of space for instruments and vocals to shine.
The treble has decent energy and sparkle, but I found myself creating a new Sound Mode with the slider pulled up to the High Treble region to satisfy my own auditory preferences. Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams was a little underwhelming for me on the original Optimal Sound Mode, with the initial cymbal crash a little muted. With this adjustment, cymbals, female vocals and other wind and string instruments really came to life.
There’s a smoothness to the sound that ties everything together, however, and the soundstage is sufficiently wide to allow for accurate instrument imaging. Vocals also have space to breathe, instead of sounding too compressed in the center.
WHO’S THIS FOR?
There isn’t much to nitpick at with these headphones. The Beoplay H100 offers excellent ANC performance, great sound quality and a nice user experience. If you’re drawn to the Beoplay H100’s design and unique control scheme, and you have the cash to burn, it’s not a bad option by any means.
However, the S$2,249 price tag is a little expensive, especially when you’re comparing it to other high-end audiophile headphone offerings like the Mark Levinson No. 5909 (S$1,620), Dali IO-12 (S$1,680) or even more consumer-friendly products like the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 (S$999).
Make sure you demo these in-store before making your decision, especially since the clamping force can make these a little painful to wear for people with larger heads.
THE B&O BEOPLAY H100 RETAILS AT S$2,249 IN SINGAPORE AND IS AVAILABLE IN THREE COLOURWAYS (SUNSET APRICOT, INFINITE BLACK, HOURGLASS SAND) AT BANG & OLUFSEN’S ONLINE STORE AND THE BANG & OLUFSEN STORE AT SCOTTS SQUARE.
