Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ Review: Big Buds, Big Sound

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ in the test: big buds, big sound – big price

RRP $ 399.00

“Bang & Olufsen's Beoplay EQ true wireless earbuds are $ 400, so is the price justified? Yes, if you value tradition, excellent workmanship and construction as well as a distinctive sound signature. "

advantages

• Pronounced signature sound

• Long range, reliable Bluetooth

• Wireless charging

• High quality metal components and housing

• Effective adaptive ANC

disadvantage

• Earphones don't always sit properly in the case

• No adjustment for touch controls

• No support for virtual assistants

There has been some talk at Digital Trends lately about not really having to spend hundreds of dollars to get a good pair of true wireless earbuds. I recently enjoyed the $ 99 Nothing Ear 1 earbuds while my colleague Simon Cohen tested a number of similar models and concluded that $ 100 is more than enough to get a great one, unless of course , You are a true audiophile pair of true wireless earbuds.

Where's the $ 400 Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ? It's all about heritage, audio appreciation, and the very big sound they deliver that opens your wallet a little bit more.

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It is immediately clear that the Beoplay EQ are not small earbuds. The case is considerably larger than an Apple AirPods Pro-Bud and even larger than the Beoplay E8-Bud. That means they stick out quite a bit from your ear and are definitely not subtle. Each weighs 8 grams, so you can feel them in your ear more than a lighter bud like the Apple AirPods Pro. But the metal case and glossy end caps with the eye-catching B&O logo look great. The box contains four silicone earbuds that offer a flexible size selection for even the smallest ears.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

However, I initially had problems holding the Beoplay EQs securely in my ears. The large silicone tips were too big and the middle ones a bit too small, so that you can quickly get started with activities. Fortunately, Bang & Olufsen includes a pair of Comply Sport 200 foam nibs in the package. They are really excellent and immediately resolved the fit issue. In addition, they also helped to minimize the effects of weight, and I found them extremely comfortable to wear for a long time, with slight fatigue not showing up until about four hours.

The earphones are housed in a stylish aluminum case in the colors Black Anthracite or Sand Gold. It's a discreetly designed piece with Bang & Olufsen branding on the top of the case and a non-slip base so it doesn't slip off the table. It looks really great. The buds are held at an angle on the inside and are very easy to remove, but putting them back in is tedious. They are held magnetically, but you need to be very precise when inserting them correctly or the buds will not sit or charge. It just needs to be slightly out of alignment too.

I often listen to podcasts to help me fall asleep and in my semi-awake state it was frustrating to play around with the case and earbuds and most of the time I would wake up in the morning to find that an earbud was not inserted properly and not charged. Once you know you need to check this out, it probably won't happen, but it's nothing like other true wireless earbuds that suggests the pretty case is all form over function.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

There's a tiny LED light on the outside that shows the charge level, but the top of the case doesn't seem to have a magnet to keep it securely closed, or if it does, it's pretty dim. However, it's compact and much more practical than the leather-covered case of the Beoplay E8, as the aluminum case should look better for longer.

You certainly pay a premium for the quality workmanship and materials, as well as the brand name, but there's nothing really wrong with that, especially when the product is as stylish, portable and classy as the Beoplay EQ.

Controls and functions

The earbuds connect via Bluetooth 5.2, which offers excellent range and rock-solid reliability, and use Qualcomm's AptX Adaptive Codec, so they deliver the same sound quality as AptX and AptX HD, but adapt to the best possible sound depending on the audio source and environment Quality play. The earbuds also support AAC and SBC codecs.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

You interact with the EQs via touch-sensitive controls that have to learn a plethora of gestures, differ for each bud and cannot be adjusted in the app. There are too many double-tap commands and the earbuds get confused. For example, you can double-tap the left bud to toggle between Active Noice Canceling (ANC) modes, but you can also double-tap and hold to decrease the volume. It's okay to sit still, but difficult to modulate when you're moving. Also, due to the sensitivity of the controls, it is far too easy to pause playback while temporarily adjusting the fit of an earbud.

The Beoplay EQ is Bang & Olufsen's first pair of true wireless earphones with Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (AANC). This clever technology uses the six omnidirectional microphones in the earphones to adapt the ANC in real time to the ambient noise in your environment. Think of it as a more personalized version of the normal ANC. I used the EQs indoors and outdoors and didn't really notice the adaptive part, and think that's a pretty good thing. Most of the time it kept ANC active and only slipped into transparency mode a few times. Since I was one of those times having a conversation outside, it seems to be working fine. A function that B&O calls "Own Voice" made me sound less echo in my ears even in transparency mode.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I found ANC mode's isolation very effective, minimizing all noise in my house and on the street, even if I only heard the spoken word. I didn't notice any added pressure in my ears, but there is a small hiss when the ANC is on and nothing is playing. The adaptive part can be deactivated in the app if you prefer manual control of the ANC. I also like that you can only use one earbud at a time which is handy for making calls.

The included app has an adjustable equalizer mode, a battery indicator for each earbud and the case, and a few other settings, including turning on an automatic standby mode where the earbuds turn off after 15 minutes of inactivity. What's unusual about Beoplay EQ is that there's no way to use a virtual assistant, a feature found on most competing earphones regardless of price.

sound

The Beoplay EQ is equipped with 6.8mm electrodynamic drivers and Bang & Olufsen has not held back when it comes to tuning. The earbuds are pretty big, but the sound is bigger. From the wide soundstage to the deep, powerful bass and breathtaking voice control, the Beoplay EQs sound fantastic. I've heard with an iPhone 12 Pro, an iPad Pro (2020), a OnePlus Nord 2, and an Asus Zenfone 8.

The old Beoplay H8 were the first headphones I really loved, and the Beoplay EQs remind me: they're full of depth, energy, warmth and detail. I far prefer the sound here from the Beoplay E8s, which for some reason never quite hits the sweet spot. What I mean? When everything comes together just right. It struck me especially when I was listening to Yasashii Dake Nara from Nogizaka46, where the sweet but powerful vocals shine, but are not quite as up front on the soundstage as, for example, headphones from Audio-Technica, which gives you the orchestra in this special way appreciate can pursue even more. The Beoplay EQs get it right.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

CloZees Inner Peace demonstrates both the wide soundstage and the details, along with the sheer power of the Beoplay EQ. There is nice, thick bass everywhere, with the entire synthesizer madness of the track remaining clear and defined. The complex bassline in Red Velvets Queendom remains controlled and never overwhelms the vocals while still delivering the required level of warm thump. In my ears I find the way B&O tunes the bass to be preferred over the Sennheiser, for example, with more authority and a harder punch.

You pay a lot for the Beoplay EQ, but that's why. You are not getting an off-the-shelf audio tune from a newbie, but rather all of Bang & Olufsen's 95 years of experience in beautifully designed and engineered earphones. Big and bold, but full of delicious detail, the EQs deliver all of this remarkable legacy straight to your ears. If you like this, you will be very happy with your purchase.

Battery and charging

B&O states that the battery provides approximately 6.5 hours of playback with ANC or 7.5 hours without ANC. The case stores enough energy for two more charges and takes an hour and 40 minutes to charge. In my experience, the EQs seem to come very close to the times stated by B&O and come in use after about six hours before they have to be charged with the ANC switched on.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The case has a USB Type-C port on the back, or you can use a Qi wireless charging pad to charge it. I used the bottom plate on the Belkin Boost Charge 3-in-1 and it worked with no issues.

Price and availability

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ is available now through Bang & Olufsen online and in its retail stores for $ 399 in the US or £ 349 in the UK.

Our opinion

If your mission is to pay the least amount for a new pair of true wireless headphones, the Beoplay EQs are not for you. What do you get for four times the price of the Nothing Ear 1, for example? On up to 100 years of musical knowledge and high-quality product design. As much as I like the Nothing earphones, the quality is nowhere near the Beoplay EQs. The workmanship of the housing, the feel of the metal and the safety and comfort of the compliance tips provided make the EQs stand out as a quality product even before you hear them.

The sound is almost perfectly matched, ready for a bombastic or relaxing listening pleasure, depending on the mood and choice of music. The ANC kept the outside world away from my ears and the transparency mode isn't intrusive or too artificial. The 6 hour usage and two extra charges from the case mean it will last a couple of weeks (work) if you use it for a couple of hours or so per day.

With Beoplay EQ, you pay for quality, from design and construction to sound and battery life. Not all of these aspects are indispensable for everyone, but the Beoplay EQ brings them all together in one very desirable package for those who expect a little more from headphones.

Is there a better alternative?

The high price of the Beoplay EQ means you have to be really taken with the brand's style. Anyone looking for just a pair of true wireless earbuds would be well advised to check out the cheaper options, including the Nothing Ear 1, but if you're looking for higher quality sound, a distinctive audio signature and are looking to spend more money, then Beoplay EQs are good choices, but there are others to consider.

The $ 280 Sony WF-1000XM4 are our current top pick for true wireless earbuds and are notoriously hard to beat for sound quality, plus they feature adaptive active noise cancellation. Anyone who wants to spend that much on true wireless earbuds is likely to be heavily influenced by style and sound quality as well. The $ 299 Master & Dynamic MW08 looks and sounds great, and the boutique audio brand has a distinctive and always very enjoyable sound signature. his own, similar to B&O. That's before you consider Apple's AirPods Pro and a host of others.

How long will they last?

The earphones have a waterproof rating of IP54, so they are protected against sweat and dust and should also be used in the rain. The aluminum case has not yet been scratched and will certainly protect the earphones well. Bang & Olufsen has already delivered a software update since it was launched in mid-August, which is installed via the app. All of this, along with great sound, means you should be happy with Beoplay EQs for years after you buy them.

Should you buy it?

Yes, if you value brand heritage, quality and a distinctive signature sound, the Beoplay EQ is well worth the enjoyment.

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