Bang & Olufsen - Beoplay H9 3rd Generation Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones - Matte Black

My first impression of these B&O H9 Headphones was how accurately these ear phones fit over my ears. They were super-comfortable and luxuriously plush. The soft lambskin shrouding the memory foam cushions fit my ears like no other headphones ever did. I have large ears and one is slightly larger than the other. These head phones accommodated my needs perfectly. It takes a little trial and error and adjustment to get it right. I was patient and adjusted them to my ear sizes accordingly. The passive noise cancellation is very dependent on the correct fit over the ears, as is the Active Noise Cancellation. When these B&O Headphones are fitted correctly on my ears they are absolutely amazing. Relaxing comfort for long listening hours and these headphones allow me superb listening pleasure playing all kinds of music genres. My first experience with B&O audio was with an All In One, HP computer system in 2017. When I was presented with an opportunity to do a comprehensive and honest review of the B&O Headphones in exchange for an H9 set I jumped at the chance. I consider myself an audiophile dating back to the early Sixties. I was fascinated with High Fidelity sound reproduction and built many stereo record players for my family and friends. It was easy to build a quality stereo player as long as I used the best amplification and speakers money could buy. And, at that time I started collecting record albums, and now have over 800, LP, albums. On average I spend a couple of hours a day listening to my LP collection now that I am retired. I love listening to all genres of music. These B&O H9 Headphones provide me with exquisite audio excellence. So, here is why I think you should buy this costly and superior set of headphones: ** BLUETOOTH SOUND QUALITY- The B&O Headphones are the best 4.2 interface, Bluetooth headphones I have ever listened too. I was immediately impressed with the sharp, clear, projected, audio clarity of the background, nuance sounds like distant street traffic, far away thunder, or the faint chatter of folks at the back of a cafe or restaurant. They feature the AptX LL, cVc, AAC, and SBC codecs. These codecs are capable of delivering near CD quality sound from your portable device to the B&O Headphones as long as your portable device has one of these codecs, especially AptX. The headphones and source device have to speak the same language. Check your Smart Phone for codec compatibility. Codecs have to be built-in to your device. There is no way to upgrade through software. My Smart Phone has the AptX, AAC, LDAC, and SBC codecs. My lap top computer has the AptX LL codec, which is optimized for video streaming and gaming. The sound is phenomenal and is great for video/sound synchronization. There is no lag in sounds from the screen video action while gaming. The AAC codec is primarily used by most Apple devices. It is an upgrade in sound quality from the standard SBC codec. It is now supported by Android devices starting with Oreo (8.0). So, both Apple and Android codecs are supported by these B&O Headphones. WooHoo! The cVc Qualcomm® codec is noise cancellation technology designed to reduce ambient sound to the listener while improving the voice of a phone caller over BT. The B&O H9 features frequency from 20Hz to 22,000Hz, the limits of our human hearing range. The sound is mainly focused towards the mid ranges, and there is a clarity to the highs and instrumentals that gives quality depth to all the ranges. The bass is a much more enhanced bass then most Bluetooth units I have listened too. Featuring mellow, low pitches, and an expansive wide range. I can easily hear the low Saxophone cords and the kick-drum beats. ** WIRED SOUND QUALITY - I have a high end amplifier/receiver connected to my CD/DVD player, Smart TV, and high end Record Player. Using the 3.5 mm jack on the headphones with my own extended cable (6 foot or 1.83m) I connect the B&O Headphones to my amp while relaxing in my easy-chair. My wired connection provides me with sheer musical pleasure and takes me to another world. I love playing selections from my extensive LP record collection. As an audiophile I can tell you that the reproduced analog sound from an LP is much more dynamic then any digital CD/DVD. Analog sound waves on LPs are not limited as digital CDs are. LP analog sound waves are accurate and broader in fullness and depth then CD/DVDs. My amp has 18 EQ settings, which I set for each individual music genre. I absolutely love these B&O Headphones wired into my amp/receiver. The B&O 40 mm diameter headphone speakers do an outstanding job of delivering crisp, reverberant, and studio-quality sounds over a full range of my EQ frequency settings. Love it! ** DEIGN & CONSTRUCTION – Luxurious comfort sums it all up. The matte black stainless steel headband features a durable, cow-hide leather covering on the outside and flexible padding inserts, on the inside. Each headphone is cupped with soft lambskin, which covers memory foam, and acts as a 'sound-gasket' covering my ears. This plush ear cup design and fit assists the Passive and Active Noise Cancellation. How cool is that? The headband expands/contracts to fit correctly on any size head and it only weighs approximately 10 ounces in BT use. The headphones are clearly marked “R” and “L”. They rotate inward and 90 degrees backwards for folding away. They also hinged so that the top of the ear cuffs pivots slightly in and outwardly for proper ear cuff adjustment necessary for ANC. Taken as a whole, this B&O H9 Headphone Set runs the gamut of ear cup adjustments required for great music listening enjoyment with quality ANC. ** CONTROLS – All of the Touch Controls are on the 'sensitive' aluminum surface of “R” ear cup. I was surprised at how easy the learning curve was. After the first day of using these fantastic headphones I had mastered the Volume increase/decrease by rotating my finger clockwise (UP) and counterclockwise (DOWN) respectively. Tapping the middle of the disk will play/pause the music. Take Phone Call by a tap to answer call., and, double tap to end call. Use the touchpad to control ANC in wireless or cabled mode. ANC is “ON” when the headphones are turned on and the indicator light turns white. Swipe from top to bottom to turn off ANC. Swipe again from top to bottom to turn on ANC. Use the touchpad to control Transparency in wireless or cabled mode. Transparency is OFF when the headphones are turned on. Swipe from bottom to top to turn on Transparency Mode and the indicator light will turn orange. Swipe again from bottom to top to turn off Transparency Mode. There is a slide switch for “ON', “OFF”, and BT pairing. Of course, the 3.5mm RCA port, and a charging port, USB-A to USB-C cable (1.25 m). ** B&O APP – The Beoplay App, which is available for FREE to download from Apple App Store or Google Play Store is pretty comprehensive. The main feature of this app is the Tone Touch adjustment. It acts like an equalizer of sorts, but not according to EQ sound frequencies. Instead the Tone Touch allows you to adjust your music to your activity and, or, moods: Warm, Bright, Excited, or Relaxed. I love the Warm for most of my BT listening pleasure. You can adjust anywhere in between these various moods and expand the tonality (expand the width) as you wish. It really is quite cool and fascinating. It has a Tone Touch Guide, which will walk you through the options. This app also allows you to increase or decrease the volume; stream to other B&O speakers; and provides detailed product information and support. Recently downloaded a newer updated version of this App, version 3.0. Note - that you can use your Google Assistant or Siri for phone calls. ** BATTERY – When the indicator light turns red the battery power is below 10%. When the battery is fully charged, the indicator turns constant green. The headphones can be used while charging. Battery is a Non-Replaceable Lithium-Ion Battery. Up to 25 hours with Bluetooth and ANC (ON). Up to 32 hours with just Bluetooth. Up to 33 hours wired with ANC (ON). Charging time: is approximately 3 hours from when the indicator light turns red. B&O recommends charging the headphones every day for maximum battery life. ** WARRANTY & CARE – The B&O H9 Headphones feature a 2-year warranty on both parts and labor. Clean when needed using a, soft cloth moistened with warm water only. ** CONS – B&O does not have the Higher Resolution codecs like AptX HD or Sony's LDAC. The Fabric pouch with drawstring is adequate, but, a Hard Case for travel would have been more appropriate for this price range. ** SUMMARY – Without question these are the finest over-the-ear headphones I have ever used. The sound quality is excellent. I highly recommend them as a 'gift' to yourself, special someone, family member or friend. If you Love your Music, you will Love these B&O H9 Headphones.

Since I've started traveling more for work, I thought it was time to invest in a high-end set of headphones. I've always like the design style of B&O headphones, and almost picked up last year's H9i pair. I'm glad I waited because this year's H9, or H9 3rd Generation, is nearly perfect. In the box, you get the H9's of course, as well as a branded B&O carrying pouch, USB-A to USB-C charging cable, standard 3.5mm aux cable as well as a flight adapter for going wired in-flight. First off, the new H9's do away with the replaceable battery in last year's H9i's. While this was a bit of a bummer at the start, it quickly was rendered moot by the bigger battery B&O placed in the new H9's. They have a bigger battery versus last year's model, and consequently, better battery life. I was impressed to find that the bigger battery didn't seem to add that much difference in overall design or perception of weight in wearing the headphones. In fact, B&O is advertising these with up to 25 hours of active use, with ANC turned on. I've never reached a full day's worth of listening, but it's nice to know they'll have more than enough juice for those longer flights. These are also more comfortable than the H9i's. The headband is softer and I've noticed I can wear these for much longer without feeling like my head's being squeezed or the weight pressing down on my head. Since the cups are also covered with a super-soft leather, the only thing I have noticed is that my ears can get a bit warm during periods of extended use. The right cup sports the touch control mechanism. You can swipe up to toggle between ANC and Transparency mode. Transparency mode is a bit freaky, because it literally sounds like you're not wearing headphones. Another cool feature of toggling back and forth is that whatever I was listening to on my iPhone paused when I turned ANC off and then resumed when I switched back from Transparency mode. You can also move your finger in a circular motion to control volume, which takes a bit of getting used to, as well as swiping left to right to move between tracks. The left cup sports the Google Assistant button. After you connect your headphones to Google Assistant, you can pretty much do everything you can with Assistant, even if your phone is locked. Again, like music, Google Assistant does not work with Transparency mode turned on. Transparency mode is really all about hearing what's going on around you. The sound is beyond impressive. ANC (Active Noise Cancelling) is on by default and between movies, music, podcasts, videos, I was able to hear so much detail and definition that I was blown away. Unlike other brands, these seem to come out of the box pretty well balanced, but you can also change that using the BeoPlay app. The app calls them "Listening Modes" and you can attune the sound specifically for what you're doing. So if I love these things so much, why only 4 stars? It might sound petty, but at $500, I was frustrated that they didn't come with a tougher carrying case. I get that the pouch is soft and most likely made of premium material, but for getting on the flights and hustling around in my backpack, I would've liked a sturdier option. Especially when headphones that cost $100's less come with carrying cases. But rather than let that stop me, I just ended up figuring out a hard-shell storage option on my own because I really love these headphones.

I am by no means some type of audiophile, but I know the difference between listening to music and “experiencing” music. With the B&O Beoplay H9 wireless noise canceling headphones you experience the music you listen to. The depth of sound and details you hear are so sharp and so crisp it’s like nothing else I have tried before. In a word, they are remarkable. Out is the box, the H9’s are beautiful. The aluminum/metal and leather together create a piece of art. Not only are they beautiful, they are build extremely sturdy and I don’t fear breaking them. I have the black on black model and I love them. The leather over the ears is so soft and the padding is just right. They allow for all day wear without discomfort of any kind. Most headphone do not allow you to adjust the tension band across the top of your head. The H9’s can be bent to release or increase tension. They look unlike any other headphones on the market, and their style is equaled by their comfort. The noise cancellation sounds very similar to the other major premium brands on the market. The headphones can be used with or without the cancellation feature on which is nice. In addition to the noise cancellation feature, the H9’s have something called “transparency mode.” When activated, it immediately pauses your music (or whatever you are listening to) and you can hear the world around you in detail. It’s not perfectly clear like having the headphones off, but you hear everything well. It tends to pick up things like a/c units and fans louder than hearing them alone without headphones, but none the less the feature is impressive. Not all premium companies offer this feature on their high end products. To unlock the full array of features on the H9’s, you need to download the B&O app. After you download the app you will have to create an account, verify your email address and this will register your H9’s. Once done, you can adjust the headphones to compliment whatever you are listening to. You can use one of five default settings or you can create your own setting to focus the sounds you like the most. For me, the one labeled “optimal” is perfect for the music I listen to ranging from rock/metal to opera/classical. The controls on the H9’s are extremely intuitive and natural, but since it’s not a feature most people are used to it takes time to learn. But once you learn it, you will wonder why it’s not common place on other headphones. The flat surface on the outside of the right headphone cup is touch sensitive. Here is a list of the touch controls: - Circle clockwise - Volume up - Circle counter-clockwise - Volume down - Short press - play/pause or answer call - Long press - Hang up - Swipe up - Transparency mode on/off - Swipe forward (right) - Next song - Swipe backwards (left) - Last song - Swipe down - Noise cancellation on/off The H9’s also support Google Assistant or Siri use. When you set up your headphones initially, you pick which one you want. Since I have an iPhone, I chose the “default” digital assistant option. After I did that, all I have to do is say “hey Siri” and she answers like normal and I tell her what I want. There is a button on the back of the left cup to activate the digital assistant option. But it only works for Google Assistant. No matter since Siri works by voice control. Connection and set up is easy as is pairing with your Bluetooth capable device. The price point on this set of headphones is around $499 so they are not for everyone. Many brands have great headphones around the $250-300 range. But if you want something truly premium with the H9’s you are getting what you pay for and then some. The sound quality, the look and feel, and the features/controls built into these headphones put the H9’s in a class all their own. I recommend these to anyone that wants to take their listening “experience” to the next level. Undoubtedly if I didn’t already have these I’d invest in another pair. They now replaced any other over the ear headphones I have in the house. Completely worth your investment.

These B&O H9 3rd gen active noise cancelling headphones are without a doubt the best pair of cans I've ever used. The first thing that stands out is the attention to detail in the packaging. It rivals the sort of packaging that Apple uses. The included accessories in the box are a USB Type A to USB-C cable for charging, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable in case you would rather go with a wired connection, and airplane adaptor, and a rather nice cloth carrying bag to keep you headphones in while traveling. Taking the headphones out of the box I was struck by the impressive build quality. These are some well built cans made from premium materials. They are a tad bit heavier than my old Beats Solo 3 Wireless headphones that these are replacing but I'll take that with the superior build quality and advertised battery life. The B&O H9 cans feel like they are made to last several years and I like that. I paired these with my iPhone 11 Pro via Bluetooth and installed the companion B&O app and started listening. WOW! The sound quality is outstanding! What impressed me was that I cranked it up to full volume on a heavy bass song and there was no distortion at all. The first time I tried these on I listened to various pieces of music. From EDM to smooth jazz to classical to classic rock. Sounds are well balanced and I'm even hearing notes I couldn't make out on my previous cans. Next I had an external speaker playing various types of white noise to test out the active noise cancellation. There was negligible degradation in sound quality with ANC turned on unlike other ANC headsets I've used in the past. I look forward to taking these on my next flight. On the head for long periods they are quite comfortable with none of the side pressure I've dealt with before. The padding on around my ears was very nice and not all "sweaty" that I've had occur when wearing other headphones for long periods. The padding on the top is equally comfortable. My only complaints are very minor and probably specific to me. I'm not a fan of the touch controls on the side and I wished these could fold to a more compact form factor for those time I'll be carrying them in my backpack. Yes, these are more expensive than most headphones. But consider the build and sound quality. Those two factors have won me over. I cannot recommend the B&O H9's enough.

Bang & Olufsen - Beoplay H9 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones (3rd Gen) Quality headphones. Comfortable with great sound. Opening the box, you get soft carrying pouch, 3.5 mm aux cable, USB charging cable, and a two-prong flight adapter. I would have preferred a hard case for travel as I usually end up stuffing my headphone in my briefcase and prefer the extra protection. The headphones are quality built and have a sophisticated look. Metal frame, aluminum controls and leather headband. Quality all the way around. I love the huge white ‘L’ and ‘R’ on the inside of each ear cup to indicate the left or right ear. Sounds silly, but I own some that have such a small indication on them that you need a magnifying glass to see which ear is which. Very comfortable with the lambskin ear cups. The headband is soft where it meets the top of your head and is also comfortable. Left ear has a dedicated Google Assistant button and the Right ear has a slider button for power / Bluetooth pairing, USB and Audio jack. Pairing – I had a little problem pairing at first. I recommend downloading the App first as this might help. Bluetooth – Connection is good when within 20 feet, if I walk to the next room it starts breaking up so keep your phone / device near. Sound – Sound quality is fantastic. Nicely balanced sound. Nice bass and crisp mid and high tones. Sound you expect from a high-end headset. I find sound in music I have listened to for years that I never noticed before. Volume over Bluetooth is good, but you can get an even more volume and slightly better sound when using the audio jack. ANC does a very good job. I don’t hear anything around me most of the time. I usually run with ANC on all the time to get a little deeper sound. I have yet to use on a plane, but I have used around my tractor and they did a nice job with reducing the engine noise so they should do a great job on flight. Battery – The battery life is amazing (up to 25 hours). I have used all week on and off at my work desk all on one charge. App - The B&O app gives you the ability to choose your desired listening modes; Optimal, Clear, Commute, Workout and Podcast to choose from. You can even tweak the sound to your own profile. You do this by sliding a dot into one of four sound moods: Warm, Excited, Relaxed and Bright. I prefer the old fashion EQ myself. I messed with this function a bit but always ended up coming back to the Optimal setting for the best sound. I also had trouble getting the app to start up when already streaming music, but once I paused the music, I could then get the app to start up. Touch Controls – All your touch controls are found on the right your cup. Play / Pause – one tap in center Next – swipe right Previous – swipe left ANC On/Off – swipe down Transparency mode On/Off – swipe up Volume – Circle you finger clockwise for up and counterclockwise for down. *Recommendation to B&O – It would be nice to have audible feedback when Max volume is reached. All of the touch controls were a little tricky at first and could be a little more responsive. However, the more I use, the easier it has become. Transparency mode is great. A simple swipe up and the world around you is amplified. Phone calls - Very good sound quality on both ends. Overall, a little pricey with a few minor imperfections, but all in all I am very pleased with these Bang & Olufsen - Beoplay H9’s.

The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay exudes premium quality and an experience very much worthy of the brand. It all begins with the packaging and I have no doubt it will generate some excitement even in the staunchest unbelievers of the brand. Upon unboxing, headphones can be seen in a mold with straps on either side to help facilitate removal from box (very clever!) Accessories supplied include a carry bag, 2 pin airplane adapter, mini jack audio cable and a USB A to USB C cable which helps charge the headphones via USB port or an adapter. It is touted to last 25 hours, gets a full charge in 2.5 hours and can be used while being charged. These headphones are truly a work of art. Inscribed in each ear cup are letters to ensure you have them on oriented properly. You get leather ear cups with aluminum exterior and a leather headband. The exterior of the ear cups is aluminum with the right ear cup having the added functionality of gesture control via a touch pad: • Swipe top down – ANC (active noise cancellation activation) • Swipe bottom to up – Transparency mode (headphones deliver surrounding sound to user they would hear/experience when not wearing the headphones) • Clockwise rotation – volume up • Anticlockwise rotation – volume down • Back to front – next track • Tap once to pause during music or answer call; long tap to hang up and double tap to redial • Back to forward swipe during call to transfer call to phone It took some time to learn but once mastered, they feel pretty cool. The right ear cup also houses the power button (secondary function initiates Bluetooth pairing), the USB C port and the mini jack. The left ear cup features only the voice assistant button (Google assistant). Band and Olufsen has an App on both Google Play and Apple App store. The app can help you connect to your device and even has short videos to introduce the user to features. The app delivers options for 5 preset listening modes: • Commute • Clear • Workout • Podcast • Optimal The user can use the optimal selection to create a personal mode by dragging the central circle to any of the quadrants. These headphones can be worn hours on end; they are that comfortable. Sound output by default is excellent for any of the preset modes. Bass is deep and tones finely tuned. Calls are clear and have no complaints from neither me nor the callers. My wish list of improvements would be: • Bluetooth 5.0 (longer range and faster transfer rate) • A hard case for storage, if even at the expense of the included bag (not a deal breaker as third party cases are available) This is probably one of "the" best premium headphones out there. Whether just immersing yourself around the house or an transcontinental trip, it'll make the perfect companion to help you get through it. You literally get a work of art that serves some functions in the process too; highly recommend!

If you are looking for a fantastic sounding headset with a long lasting rechargable battery, great active noise canceling, bluetooth and wired capability, comfortable for wearing on long flights or in the office all day, AND has a one touch button for talking to the built-in Google assistant... Look no further - this is your headset. Me: "Hey Google. What's the best headphones out today?" Google in your ear: "This one." Pros: Sounds awesome! Every style of music I pumped through these sounded great. Over the ear Active Noise Canceling - works great on planes Comfortable for long periods of wear Easy to use - the gunmetal steel controls look great and are easy to learn One finger swipe turn on transparency mode to hear your surroundings instantly without removing them One touch Google Assistant - now have your Google Assitant in your ear whenever you want* Long battery life - like 25 hours on bluetooth and if you run out of juice you can use the included audio cable Rechargeble battery Cons: Pricey - but you are getting the best headphones out there so there's that. *Note that the Google assistant is only available when connected to your phone/tablet's Google assistant app and internet connection. Works with either iOS or Android.

I am smitten with these headphones from day 1. Bang & Olufsen has been a premium brand for years and a product maker that I always thought was out of my price range. Yes, they cost a lot but it is worth it due to the quality of the product. The Beoplay H9 has a premium look and quality feel to it right out of the box. Nothing about this headphone makes you think it's a cheap item. The materials are premium and it feels it when in your hands. The leather ear cups are soft and the padding is superbly comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The ANC is very good as it truly blocks out the outside noise and makes me feel like I'm in a sound booth. Listening to my music sounds so amazingly crisp and clear. The high notes are precise without distortion and the bass is deep and rich. The overall feel of the comfort when the headband is on my skull is nice due to the padding. Pairing these with my home devices was easily done and used mostly with my iPhone XR. The Bang & Olufsen app will allow you to tweak the sound theme that suits you best. Easy to use and a nice way to find your niche tone. The Google Assistant button on the left cup is a nice addition to these excellent headphones. The touch features on the right cup take a little bit of getting familiar with and can be sensitive to control. Once you can get the hang of it after a short time, using these headphones becomes easier. Included in the box is a premium quality travel pouch, 3.5 mm audio jack cable for when you don't want to use the bluetooth function, charging cable, and a 2 pin adapter. PRO: Superb sound quality Excellent look and feel CON: Touch gesture control takes time to learn