The last time we caught up with Bang & Olufsen in New York, the Danish company was preparing to launch its larger than life A9 wireless speakers. This time, we’re introduced to its new headphones in the Beoplay line that’ll be launched right in the middle of summer. In our brief hands-on, we can tell you that this thing isn’t just one of the most stylish cans you can get, it sounds as good as it looks.
The Beoplay H6 is the higher end model of the line, with an all-leather and brushed aluminum body around the over-ear headphones. The mix of cow and sheep leather makes for extremely comfortable wear, and the leathers were treated to age beautifully with continued use. Available in tan or black, the H6 sports 40mm drivers, a range of 20Hz to 22kHz, and incorporates passive noise cancellation. But perhaps the most useful feature of all is the ability to daisy chain headphones with the built-in jacks right on each side of the ear cups so you can say goodbye to annoying little splitters. The laser-etched B&O logo on the side of the headphones also make for subtle branding without being obnoxious.
Even with all the features, the H6 headphones are quite compact. Most high end over-ear headphones tend to be rather monstrous, but these look elegant and stylish – and that’s exactly the target B&O is aiming for. Basically, if you’re one to spend $300 on a pair of Italian leather shows, what’s another couple hundred for a nice pair of headphones to match?
If you’re into something a bit more discreet, the in-ear Beoplay H3 might be more suitable. The earbuds, available in red, silver, and black, come with 10.8mm drivers, a mini bass port, and a 20Hz to 16kHz range. No daisy chaining abilities here, but they look equally sleek and are designed to blend into your outfit while delivering maximum quality sound. Designer Jakob Wagner also purposely made 23 air holes on each side of the ear buds to allow appropriate ventilation without compromising noise cancellation. They also stay well within your ears even during movement – which is great for everyone from the casual travelers to exercisers.
The Beoplay H6 and H3, $400 and $250 respectively, may not be the most budget-friendly, but they look good and appeal to a very specific audience. After all, this is a brand that loves to make cameos in Hollywood blockbusters, so to look the part, you’ll have to pay the price. The latest Beoplay line will be available this July in stores and online.
