Hmm, I only tried my friend’s AirPods Max but I wouldn’t say the case is much more convenient.
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Bang & Olufsen Launches $499 Beoplay HX Noise-Canceling Headphones Offering 35 Hours of Battery Life
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Pricy, but good long-term quality from my experience. I got the Beoplay H9i. Long battery life and even before Apple introduced switching between devices on Airpods I could effortlessly do this from Macbook to iPhone with these ones. (about 2 years long daily use). Especially in the epidemic, I prefer the on-ear model and even for 8 hours long on your head it doesn't hurt my ears at all.
I think there was a typo in the article, you probably read it correctly! It's been fixed now.My mistake. I read the price as 499/499/499.
I shall go and order an Apple XDR display immediately to punish myself.
Those displays are spectacular!
They did improve the sound quality and stopped approaching it the Bose way
Yeah whether it's the weight that's causing the extra clamping force or the earcups themselves with the heavy spring, they're just uncomfortbale.
I really wished they worked with my head, they were magnificently sounding headphones.
You're right, I think it's the clamping force, really, which is necessary to keep them in place because of how much they weigh.
I'm really wearing these for the sound quality and the quality of the noise cancellation and transparency mode. I could live without some of the "premium" construction and a bit more plastic, if it meant less weight, less clamping force, more comfort.
I found the APMs to be ugly (especially the shape of the ear cups), and I didn't like the use of aluminum on the cups, either. They had *by far* the best ANC I've ever experienced. But I didn't find them comfortable, either (the fabric on the ear cups is pretty coarse -- compare that to the soft leather on the B&O's). And the H1-mediated device switching didn't work very well.
@ignatius345 have you got the Beoplay Hx or are you referring to the APMs that you've got right now. I'm just waiting for a few more reviews to surface and will take a dive and chance.
@odysseus I thought they were really good looking, maybe because I'm a fan of the bold look, I'm a dude and I went for pink/red - maybe attention seeking, maybe something else, but I was a big fan. Interesting that your H1 switching didn't work that well, it was supreme for me, and that really made me keep them for longer than I should have, enduring ridiculous amounts of pain because I liked them that much.
Although I found the Sony XM4s (which I had before the APMs) did have better ANC, the transparency on the APM was fantastic, beyond anything I've experienced.
I'm very happy that there are some serious players to the market now, I've seen marginal increase in the last 2-3 years from Sony and Bose, now that there are some other players with contending features, I'm sure everyone else will begin to step up or just get left behind.
Also snazzylabs gave an excellent explanation as to why there's clamping on the sides of your head, skip to 1:50
Basically because of the heavy weight they couldn't just have all the weight forcing down on the top of your head, it would be too much pressure on the skull, instead the sides clamp more, so the headphones weight isn't just held up by the top of your head, but the clamp from the sides too - poor explanation by me, great one by snazzylabs.
I'm referring to the AirPods Max. I just looked and the Beoplay HX are apparently about 100g lighter (so, about 3/4 the weight of the APM) and I bet that makes a difference. They do seem interesting and I'm definitely going to keep an eye on the reviews as they roll in.
The other big piece, of course, is the integration with Apple stuff that the APM has. I use mine with Apple TV, iPhone and Mac, and the instant switching is massively helpful if you switch devices often.
fully agree, it’s something you massively appreciate when you’re bouncing around the home between workouts on your watch to lounging with her iPad to working, its so seamless.
There's one huge feature on the AirPods Max I'm surprised more people haven't commented on: more granular volume controls. With most bluetooth headphones, you only get these really coarse volume adjustments. It's especially noticible at lower volumes, where one click will go from "super quiet" to "a little bit louder than you want". Apple's seen fit to let AirPods access much tinier volume increments. I'm not sure if it's a technical limitation or what, but in quiet listening situations it can be quite noticable.
I got my HX's yesterday and also picked up a pair of AirPods Max. I have to say, it is going to be a tough decision. Overall the APM are better I think. They have the better ANC and transparency and better connectivity. Sound quality between the two is different, but both are good. Comfort is tricky. The APM are heavy and create some cabin pressure (though I have been acclimating), but the ear cups are pretty comfy. The HX's are lighter (and you feel it) and are exceptionally comfortable, but the round ear cups do not complete surround my ear so they end on my ear in spots. It is something you get used to, but still not as nice as cups that completely surround the ear. Obviously have a case and nearly double the battery life is a big win for the HX. On the other hand seamless connectivity is a big win for the APM. The HX has a longer warranty (3 years).
Going to give it another day or two before I decide. I am leaning toward the APM, but the cost (~$700 with case and AppleCare) is really not ideal and I am a bit worried about long use comfort.
Going to give it another day or two before I decide. I am leaning toward the APM, but the cost (~$700 with case and AppleCare) is really not ideal and I am a bit worried about long use comfort.
Thanks for sharing. Could you go into a bit more detail about how the sound compares between the two? From the impressions I've read it sounds like the bass may be a little on the thin side on the HX (but with excellent detail in the mids and highs), do you find it to be so or is it good but just less pronounced? I have the Bose QC 35 atm and I do enjoy the bass on them, so might be put off the HX if their bass lacks any punch.
I'm coming from a Bose noise cancelling headphones that I used for travel. How is B&O's noise cancelling technology (compared to Bose)? Would I be able to connect this to an iphone/ipad, while another person connects their own BT headset, and we can hear the same music/movie together?
The HX sounded thin to me. Especially back to back with the AirPods Max. Now they may have sounded more lacking in the low end than they really are because the APM have more low end. However, the APM felt full and livelier than the HX which on some tracks sounded a bit tinny.
The ANC on the HX is fine. It isn’t really the same level as Bose, Sony, or Apple, but it is good enough. I do not know the answer to the second question.