Bang & Olufsen (B&O), the iconic Danish audio brand known for its sleek designs and premium price tags, has launched its latest flagship product, the Beoplay H100 headphones. These new wireless headphones are designed to deliver high-end audio performance with a luxurious aesthetic, and as expected from B&O, come with a hefty price tag of $1,549, significantly higher than the company's previous flagship model, the Beoplay H95.

The Beoplay H100 boasts a sleek and modern design that incorporates a mix of premium materials, including lambskin leather, aluminum, and scratch-resistant hardened glass. Each earcup features a rotating haptic dial that allows users to intuitively control both volume and noise cancellation.

The headphones are available in three color options: Infinite Black, Hourglass Sand, and Sunset Apricot, with each variant featuring aluminum accents that draw inspiration from fine jewelry, aiming to add a touch of elegance to the overall design.

“Beoplay H100 is the best pair of headphones we have ever created,” says Bang & Olufsen Director of Technology, Neo Kaplanis. “Whether you are listening to your favourite music, having a phone call in a noisy environment, controlling the effect of the surrounding environment with active noise cancelling or audio transparency, H100 always delivers exceptional audio performance,” he concluded.

A key aspect of the H100's design is its modular construction, which embraces sustainability and user convenience. The headphones include replaceable parts such as the ear cushions, the textile-wrapped inner headband, and the batteries. According to B&O, this modularity extends the product's lifespan by allowing users or technicians to easily replace components that may wear out over time, such as circuit boards and drivers.

At the heart of the Beoplay H100 are 40mm custom-made titanium drivers, which B&O claims can reproduce frequencies ranging from 10 Hz to 40,000 Hz, making the headphones compatible with high-resolution audio sources up to 24-bit/96kHz. The design of the H100 is said to take inspiration from B&O’s Beolab 90 loudspeakers, known for their sound clarity and dynamic performance. 

The company has introduced its new EarSense adaptive audio processing technology in the H100, which adjusts the sound profile in real time based on the unique fit of the headphones on the wearer.

In terms of noise cancellation, the H100 features a six-mic array designed to provide twice the noise-canceling effectiveness compared to the Beoplay H95. This array is supplemented by a four-mic system dedicated to voice pickup, which B&O claims can deliver clear voice quality even in challenging environments. Additionally, the headphones support spatial audio with head tracking, optimized for Dolby Atmos, providing an immersive listening experience.

The Beoplay H100 comes equipped with a USB-C port that serves multiple purposes, including high-resolution audio playback via a wired connection and compatibility with analog sources through an included USB-C to 3.5mm analog cable. Although the H100 does not currently support high-resolution Bluetooth codecs, B&O has announced plans for a future update that will introduce these features, although specific details and a release date have not been provided.

One of the standout connectivity features of the H100 is its support for three-device Bluetooth Multipoint, which allows users to connect to three devices simultaneously, an upgrade over the standard two-device capability seen in many competing models. The headphones also include a suite of touch and physical controls on the glass outer surfaces and earcup dials, which can be customized through the B&O companion app.

The Beoplay H100 offers up to 32 hours of playback with active noise cancellation (ANC) enabled. This is a slight reduction compared to the H95’s 38-hour battery life. When using spatial audio and head tracking, the battery life drops further to around 30 hours. For users on the go, the H100 features a quick-charge option that provides up to five hours of playback from just a five-minute charge.

Additional features include a low-power mode that can keep the headphones on standby for up to 90 days when not in use and outside of their carrying case. For those moments when users need to be aware of their surroundings, the H100 offers a “TrueTransparency” mode and a “Quick Listen” feature, which allows users to momentarily hear ambient sounds without disabling the headphones entirely.

Technical Specifications:

• Driver: Electro-dynamic Titanium Driver with Neodymium magnets.
• Driver diameter: 40mm.
• Frequency range: 10 – 20,000Hz / 10 – 40,000Hz (Hi-Res mode).
• Sensitivity: 103dB SPL (1kHz/-3dB FS).
• Bluetooth: Version 5.3.
• Audio codecs: SBC, AAC with Hi-Res wireless codecs due in 2025.
• Battery life: ANC 32 hours / Spatial audio and headtracking 30 hours / Talk time up to 26 hours.
• Microphones: 10 (4 x digital MEMS voice mics / 4 x MEMS feed forward mic,
• 2 x analog feedback mic for ANC/Transparency function.
• Certifications: Google Fast Pair, Made for iPhone (MFi), Microsoft Swift Pair, Optimized for Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res.
• Weight: 375g.

The Beoplay H100 is now available for purchase through Bang & Olufsen stores and the company’s website, and will soon be available on Amazon too.