Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i Review | 93 Data compared

The iTWire review praises the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i for its comfortable, lightweight design and effective active noise cancellation, which silences background noise for a high-quality audio experience. The headphones are also highlighted for their robust build quality and seamless dual-pairing functionality between devices. Conversely, the review notes significant drawbacks regarding the built-in microphone, with recipients reporting muffled voice quality during calls, even when active noise cancellation is disabled. Despite these call quality issues, the H8i is recommended for its comfort and sonic performance, delivering an undisturbed audio experience.

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i ($399) and H9i ($499) headphones retain the brand's signature luxury aesthetic of leather and aluminum while introducing key upgrades like USB-C charging ports, automated play/pause proximity sensors, and vastly improved battery life. Both models deliver B&O's trademark crisp, clear sound signature paired with carefully balanced bass that never overpowers the music. Additionally, both units are praised for their exceptionally comfortable, lightweight designs that avoid the common pinching feeling during long listening sessions. Despite these pros, the high price tags highlight notable design flaws and diminishing returns compared to cheaper market competitors. The on-ear H8i boasts an impressive 30-hour battery life but suffers from a non-removable battery and a frustrating lack of volume that saps energy from the music. Conversely, the over-ear H9i provides the necessary volume and a removable battery, but its touch-gesture controls are unreliable and frustrating to use. Ultimately, while the audio and materials are premium, their active noise-cancellation and overall performance fall just short of the more affordable Sony WH-1000XM2 and Bose QC35 II.

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i on-ear headphonesGo offer a premium, stylish aesthetic with exceptional, long-lasting battery life and a well-balanced, natural audio signature. Reviewer Andre Salvatierra praises the all-day comfort, provided the headband is properly adjusted, and highlights the effective active noise cancellation. Medium· However, the review points out that the high price tag is hindered by frustrating, quirky functional issues that require a significant learning curve. Despite these operational "rough edges," long-term use suggests the design and performance can justify the investment for some users.

The B&O Play Beoplay H8i premium on-ear headphones deliver a highly precise and balanced audio profile that excels across genres like classical, jazz, and acoustic music. Weighing just 215 grams, the lightweight aluminium and soft leather design offers premium comfort alongside exceptional battery endurance, reaching up to 30 hours with Bluetooth and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) active. Its physical isolation and electronic ANC perform reliably to mute everyday traffic and chatter, while a practical transparency mode safely pulls in outside environment sounds when needed. However, the headphones suffer from severe proximity sensor flaws, causing music playback to interrupt or pause erratically from slight movements or contact with a jacket collar. While the sensor can be deactivated manually, it cannot be adjusted within the mobile app, and the manufacturer omitted the Qualcomm aptX codec as a clear cost-cutting measure. Additional drawbacks include a restrictive 120cm jack cable that is too short for practical wired use and occasional operational hassle due to a sensitive control layout.

The Trusted Reviews assessment of the Beoplay H8i highlights these wireless on-ear headphones as a luxurious option featuring a premium build and a 30-hour battery life. Key pros include an "awesome" sound profile with deep bass and the inclusion of physical controls, which are more reliable than touch pads. However, cons include potential discomfort from minimal headband padding during long listening sessions and a occasionally jarring proximity sensor. Additionally, while effective, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) does not reach the class-leading standards of some competitors.

The iTWire review praises the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H8i for its luxurious design, effective active noise cancellation, and convenient features like the proximity sensor and transparency mode. Pros highlighted include superior build quality, clear microphone performance for calls, and an intuitive control scheme. Conversely, the review notes a significant, though isolated, technical issue where a faint, periodic buzzing sound occurs when using the 3.5mm cable and USB charging simultaneously. Despite this, the H8i is praised for its comfort, high-quality audio performance, and overall feature set.

The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H8i on-ear wireless headphones offer premium design, durable aluminum construction, and exceptional comfort thanks to memory foam earpads wrapped in soft leather. They excel in functionality with powerful active noise cancellation (ANC), a highly effective proximity sensor for auto-pause/play, clear microphone performance, and an impressive battery life reaching up to 30 hours with both Bluetooth and ANC enabled. Sonically, the headphones deliver a pleasant, non-fatiguing listen with round, weighty lows and smooth highs that effectively prevent harshness, making them particularly well-suited for pop, hip-hop, electronic music, and taming bright jazz tracks. However, the H8i exhibits notable limitations in audio separation and frequency balance. There is a lack of deep low-frequency extension, and a muddy transition between the lows and low-mids causes bass guitars and synths to blend into kick drums. Furthermore, a scooped midrange and specific dips in the frequencies cause vocals to feel thinner than normal and render instruments like acoustic guitars, pianos, and horns less natural-sounding. Finally, the Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity provides only a standard line-of-sight range of about 30 feet before the...

The $399 B&O Play Beoplay H8i on-ear wireless headphones offer a design-forward alternative with a powerful audio signature, delivering deep bass and crisp highs. PCMag highlights the effective active noise cancellation (ANC), a useful Transparency Mode, and a companion app with an adjustable EQ for sound customization. Conversely, the review notes the high price point, with ANC performance that does not quite match top competitors. Additional drawbacks include a subtle hiss when ANC is active, stiff physical control buttons, and a proximity sensor for auto-pause that can be finicky.