Although famous for its high-end headphones, B&O has never equipped its products with ANC technology. To satisfy music lovers, B&O has launched the B&O Beoplay EQ true wireless headphones ~ the first product to integrate ANC active noise cancellation technology. So what is the noise canceling effect and sound quality of Beoplay EQ?
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ – Active Noise Cancelling Wireless In-Ear Earphones with 6 Microphones, up to 20 hours of playtime, Black: Buy it now
Table of Contents
Packaging and accessories
B&O Beoplay EQ along with a series of accompanying accessories is packaged in a small cardboard box with a simple, elegant design and true to B&O standards. The front of the cover box outside the image of the Beoplay EQ will have some more information about the outstanding features. On the back, there will be more detailed information about the true wireless headset.
Inside the cover box, in addition to the pair of Beoplay EQ headphones and charging box, users will receive an additional set of accessories including:
3 pairs of silicone ear tips
1 pair of foam ear tips
1 USB Type-A to USB Type-C cable
Detailed user manual and warranty card
Design and wearing experience
As a high-end product from the famous brand Bang & Olufsen, Beoplay EQ is carefully cared for in the design stage. Made from high-quality materials with high perfection and IP54 water and dust resistance, the headphones can work well even when exposed to sweat or rain. The in-ear design and compact weight allow Beoplay EQ to fit neatly in the listener’s ear and bring a very smooth and comfortable wearing feeling.
The faceplate is a concentric circle made of shiny metal with the B&O logo printed in the middle. By lightly touching the faceplate, users can easily control the headset such as Increasing/decreasing volume, changing songs, stopping/playing music, turning on/off ANC, crosstalk, …
The B&O Beoplay EQ charging box has a very compact size and uses a clamshell opening and closing mechanism. On the lid of the charging, box has printed the words “BANG & OLUFSEN”, while on the front there will be an LED light showing the battery status. The Type-C charging port is located on the back of the charging box. The headphones will have all 3 color options: black, copper gold, and dark blue.
Check out outstanding features and technologies
Located in the high-end segment like Beoplay EX, B&O Beoplay EQ is equipped with many modern amenities by Bang & Olufsen. May be mentioned as:
6.88mm dynamic driver for realistic and balanced sound throughout the range
Dual active noise canceling features ANC and Transparency Mode
6 conversation microphones (allocated to 3 microphones in each ear) combined with beamforming technology to help improve conversation quality
Supports Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connection, well compatible with SBC/AAC/aptX Adaptive codec series
Easily control the headset through touch operations on the faceplate surface
Install the “Bang & Olufsen” app to fine-tune sound quality, control headphones, etc.
With Bluetooth 5.2 standard and support for aptX Adaptive codec, audio signals will be transmitted with very low latency. And this is very good for gaming needs. Although not equipped with the Google Fast Pair feature, B&O Beoplay EQ does have the Microsoft Swift Pair feature. In addition, B&O’s tws headphones also support connection to Apple Watch and are NFi certified, allowing for optimal usage experience when paired with Apple smartphones.
Beoplay EQ provides users with two different noise-canceling options: Standard and Adaptive. With the first option, you have to fine-tune the noise cancellation performance completely manually through the Bang & Olufsen app. With the second option, the microphone cluster inside the headset will measure the noise in the outside environment. Based on measured data, the headphones will automatically fine-tune the noise canceling effect accordingly.
Sound quality and anti-noise/crosstalk effectiveness
B&O Beoplay EQ possesses captivating sound quality with the ability to create a highly open and realistic sound stage, easily retrieving microscopic details in the music. In terms of realism and vividness in sound quality, Beoplay EQ is completely on par with Sony WF-1000XM4.
At low volume, the B&O Beoplay EQ has a slightly too quiet and reserved background sound. This causes the overall sound to lack a bit of force and the openness is not airy. Increasing the volume to a high level will give the sound have better presence, the width of the soundstage will be wider and the bass range will become more dynamic.
High definition and smooth, natural mid-range have contributed significantly to increasing the clarity of vocals and instruments. The singer’s voice not only sounds smoother but also warmer. Meanwhile, the sound of the instrument is clear, bright, and has good resonance. One of the strengths of B&O Beoplay EQ is that every emotional level of the vocal part is conveyed completely and accurately. From Toni Braxton’s voice in the classic song Un-Break My Heart to the soulful voice of female singer Taylor Swift.
The bass range is not a strong point in the sound quality of B&O Beoplay EQ. With a somewhat gentle and warm approach, the bass range on Beoplay EQ lacks a bit of necessary depth. However, with its neat shape and structure, the bass range does not encroach on the low mid and creates separation from the mid-range. The treble sounds tinkling but not too sharp, creating comfort for the listener. Slight sibilances on high notes appear very rarely.
The ANC active noise cancellation feature on Beoplay EQ works very effectively, although, before that, B&O did not have much experience in developing ANC technology on true wireless headset models. Turning on the ANC feature and adjusting the volume to a high level (60% or more) will help listeners be completely immersed in the music without being affected by ambient noise. People’s voices and car engines are the most effectively eliminated noises. The bass range will now be a bit more vibrant, the detail will become sharper, but the aperture will be a bit narrower horizontally.
When switching to crosstalk mode, listeners will have a clearer awareness of their surroundings while listening to music. The sound will now have better airiness, but in return, the detail will be significantly reduced. This is completely understandable.
Conversation ability
With 3 microphones arranged on each ear plus unique beamforming technology, conversation quality will become louder, clearer, and clearer. In places with crowded people, B&O Beoplay EQ tends to eliminate noise caused by the voices of people around. Thanks to that, the listener on the other end of the line will hear your voice more clearly. These true wireless headphones also cope well with wind noise. Driving at a speed less than 50km/h will not greatly affect the quality of the conversation.
Battery life
When used at moderate volume and selecting AAC codec, B&O Beoplay EQ can play music continuously for 6.5 hours with ANC on and 7.5 hours with ANC off. With aptX codec, battery life will be reduced to 5.5 hours but music quality will be greatly improved. Using it with the charging case will increase the total battery life to 20 hours. This noise-canceling headset has built-in fast charging and wireless charging features. With 20 minutes of fast charging, the headphones will work continuously for 2 hours. Wireless charging via Qi charging docks takes a little longer than charging via USB Type-C ports.
The price is not cheap, but with what has been shown, the money you spend to own B&O Beoplay EQ is completely worth it.