B&O Beoplay EX is a true wireless headset of very good quality. It has a beautiful design, a comfortable wearing experience, excellent sound quality, fast wireless connectivity, long battery life, and highly effective noise cancellation.
Design and wearing experience
In terms of design, Beoplay EX has an eye-catching appearance and stands out more than its two brothers, Beoplay EQ and Beoplay E8 Sport. Although possessing a form similar to Apple’s Airpods Pro headset, Beoplay EX offers a much better wearing experience.
The housing part with an oval design provides a perfect fit when wearing the Beoplay EX on the ear. The tapered and compact design allows the sound tube to go deep inside the listener’s ear without causing discomfort. Comes with the headset will have 5 pairs of eartips including 4 pairs of silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L) and 1 pair of B&O Comply eartips. Through practical experience, these tips bring comfort and certainty when used.
The entire outer shell of the headset will be made of matte aluminum and undergoes alumite treatment to limit oxidation over time while enhancing scratch resistance. To create a highlight for B&O Beoplay EX, the faceplate of the headset will be covered with a layer of PVD tempered glass. When the light shines on, the glass will change color and look very eye-catching. Surrounding this glass is a shiny aluminum ring.
Similar to the headset part, the B&O Beoplay EX’s charging case also has an outer shell made of matte aluminum and undergoes alumite treatment. The charging box part uses a clamshell opening and closing mechanism with the lid embossed with the “Bang & Olufsen” logo. The front will have an LED indicator that shows the battery status, and the Type-C charging port is located on the back of the charging case.
With the IP57 waterproof standard, being exposed to rain or sweat will not affect the Beoplay EX too much. The headset will have three color options: Anthracite Oxygen, Gold Tone, and Anthracite.
The only downside in the design of Beoplay EX is that the glass on the faceplate is easy to stick to fingerprints. Therefore, users need to clean the headset regularly.
Outstanding Features
Each Beoplay EX headset will be equipped with a driver with a diameter of 9.2mm. This is the largest driver cluster ever used by Bang & Olufsen on true wireless headset models. With this upgrade, the audio performance will be significantly improved, the sound bands will have better detail and dynamics.
Using the Bluetooth 5.2 standard and supported by the SBC, ACC & aptX Adaptive series of codecs, the wireless connection on the B&O Beoplay EX has excellent accuracy and responsiveness. The sound latency is very low and the obstacles in the room will not affect the connection quality much.
The battery life of Beoplay EX is very impressive when it can play music continuously for 6 hours with ANC on and increases to 8 hours with ANC off. The charging case will give the headset another 10 to 12 hours of music playback. In addition to the fast charging feature, the Beoplay EX’s charging box is also equipped with Qi-standard wireless charging with a full charge time of about 2 hours.
Each Beoplay EX headset is equipped with 3 microphones that improve realism, clarity, and sharpness when talking.
Although the passive noise cancellation on B&O Beoplay EX is not good. However, with the help of the ANC feature, the noise in the outside environment such as the howling wind or the chatter of people around is eliminated. You can fully adjust the noise canceling effect flexibly through the Bang & Olufsen app. There are 5 modes for you to choose from Optimal, Sport, Commute, Clear, and Podcast.
Comes with ANC is also the familiar Ambient Mode feature that allows users to both enjoy music and hear the voice of the opposite person.
Sound quality
The sound of the B&O Beoplay EX is vibrant and the volume is louder and clearer than the Beoplay EQ and E8 Sport. This is completely understandable because the driver cluster on Beoplay EX is much larger.
The tonal ranges are reproduced in detail and sharp by Beoplay EX, especially the vocals have very good volume and represent the nuances of the original music. The timbre in the treble and bass ranges sounds very natural, while the image is highly detailed and has a relatively good layering ability. The bass range is lively, rich in internal force, and very powerful, however, the soundstage does not have wide.
The Beosonic feature on the Bang & Olufsen application allows users to flexibly choose between 4 different sound modes: Bright, Energetic, Warm, and Relaxed. Beoplay EX fully meets all audiophile’s music enjoyment needs.
The launch of B&O Beoplay EX is a big step for Bang & Olufsen in the market for true wireless headphones. With a large driver cluster, intensely attractive appearance, many smart features, and high vivid sound quality, Beoplay EX is well worth the money you spend.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency Mode
Beoplay EX headphones from B&O are equipped with state-of-the-art active noise cancellation (ANC) technology. It minimizes background distractions and provides a focused listening experience. Like the hum of an airplane engine or a crowded café, no external sound is too great to be canceled. This allows for easy travelling, daily commutes, and anything involving noisy environments to be enjoyable.
The transparency or ambient mode is equally as productive. The microphones can be used to let external sounds in, allowing a person to be aware of their environment while keeping the earphones in. This is very useful for quick check-ups such as walking in busy roads or talking briefly.
The earphone is able to fluidly change from ANC to transparency mode and back. It requires minimal effort to change modes either via the earphone touch controls or via the B&O app. The earphone can also be controlled with the app in terms of ANC intensity, allowing people to personally fine tune and tailor the earphone’s noise cancellation to the earphone’s environment.
Connectivity and Control Options
The Beoplay EX features Bluetooth 5.2, which guarantees efficient wireless connectivity with minimal lags compared to previous iterations. In addition, the earbuds include SBC, AAC, and aptX adaptive as well as advanced codec support, which enables high-resolution audio streaming from all types of sources. As with all other modern wireless earphones, the Beoplay EX earbuds are simple to pair with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, and even in signal congestion, the connection quality remains excellent.
With the Beoplay EX, volume, playback, calls, and ANC toggling can all be performed with basic and effective gestures. Moreover, every earbud’s touch-sensitive area is straightforward to interact with. Users can also tweak the default actions to suit their preferences through the B&O application. It is a welcome addition to have such depth of customization, as it allows users to adjust the controls to match their habits and needs.
Additional Features
The B&O app extends its functionalities with advanced EQ settings and firmware updates. The EQ settings come with thoughtfully crafted presets that cater to various listening preferences. Alongside that, users are enabled to enhance the listening experience of Beoplay EX with their custom EQ settings.
Battery Life
The Beoplay EX is particularly strong in the area of battery life, which is often the most important consideration for true wireless earbuds. With ANC enabled, the earbuds deliver up to six hours of playback, extending up to eight hours with ANC disabled. Alongside this, the charging case adds 14 hours, elevating the total to 20 hours with ANC enabled and 28 hours with ANC disabled. This ensures long hours of uninterrupted listening.
The charging case is compatible with both USB-C and wireless charging, adding convenience and choice. A 15-minute quick charge is enough for 1.5 hours of playback, which is helpful when you need a short energizer before going out. Users appreciate the LED indicator on the case, which shows the battery level, reassuring them that they always know when recharging is due.
Call Quality and Microphone Performance
The Beoplay EX is outfitted with superior microphones that ensure advanced call clarity. The earbuds include beamforming technology which addresses the speaker’s voice and suppresses surrounding sounds. This makes sure that the conversations are clean and understandable—even outside. Dual-microphone noise reduction is also supported by the earbuds and enhances call clarity by removing background noise.
Customers have shared their great experiences with Beoplay EX and its call features; they highlighted that their voice is perfectly clear to the recipient. Likewise, the transparency mode can be switched on in the middle of conversations which facilitates the users to actively listen to their voice without distortion; it helps them effortlessly engage in conversations.
Comfort and Fit
The Beoplay EX does a great job in terms of comfort, which is crucial when considering earbuds to use. The earbuds are swiftly wearable due to their lightweight build and ergonomic design. Serving a range of earbud tips, the package caters to multiple ear sizes and shapes, ensuring a customized and safe fit.
Because of their fit, the earbuds are secure during workouts, runs, and other activities. The IP57 rating enhances their functionality, as it makes them sweat and water-resistant. The Beoplay EX is an excellent pick for users looking for headphones that can be used both for everyday and active life.
App and Software Experience
The B&O app enhances the experience with the Beoplay EX, allowing greater control and personalization. The app works with both iOS and Android devices and offers a clean and simple interface for earbud management.
Here’s what stands out in the app:
EQ Customization: There are multiple EQ presets available, and users can also design their own custom settings for sound personalization.
ANC and Transparency Mode Settings: As with EARBUDS INC, the app provides fine-tuning of the ANC and transparency mode levels, which can be adjusted in response to the user’s environment.
Touch Control Customization: Users have the ability to modify the touch controls on their earbuds, enabling them to change the actions performed by different touch gestures.
Firmware Updates: The app updates the earbuds’ firmware in the background, so users do not need to worry about doing it themselves. This allows the earbuds to keep improving in functionality and to receive new features later on.
The simplicity of the app’s interface combined with powerful features greatly improves the user experience, as it is effortless to derive full utility from the Beoplay EX.
where can you get a B&O Beoplay EX online
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX – Wireless Bluetooth Earphones with Microphone and Active Noise Cancelling, Waterproof, 20 Hours of Playtime: Buy it now
Summary and Recommendation
The B&O Beoplay EX comes with a steep price tag as it is, without a doubt, a premium product. Nonetheless, the pairing of markedly superior sound quality, elegant design, state-of-the-art features, and comfort makes it a magnetic pick for audiophiles and selective customers. The Beoplay EX truly shines in the crowded market for true wireless earbuds by offering a deep and satisfying audio experience.
Thanks to its build quality, design, and sound performance, the Beoplay EX offers significantly more for its price than many of its competitors — a feature that will definitely be appreciated by users looking for a high-end audio experience. The headphones are also sufficiently adaptable to accommodate listening tastes, providing support for bass-heavy compositions and gentle acoustic pieces alike. This makes them a strong option for a diverse set of users.
To wrap up, the B&O Beoplay EX Earbuds offer a unique combination of premium design and superior audio quality, delivering excellent ANC and features that will truly enrich the listening experience of a discerning listener. The Beoplay EX exudes an unrivalled class, blending performance with luxury, which sets it apart from the other brands, cementing its position as a leading product.
Pros and Cons Summary
Pros:
Exceptional sound quality with a balanced and detailed sound signature
Luxurious design and premium build quality
Comfortable and secure fit with multiple ear tip options
Effective active noise cancellation and transparency mode
Comprehensive touch controls and customization via the B&O app
Long battery life with convenient charging options
Cons:
Some customers might find the premium price to be a bit discouraging
The charging case lacks water resistance
Although it is strong, the ANC performance is a bit behind industry leaders such as Bose
Concluding Remarks
It is clear that Bang & Olufsen has an unwavering focus for quality and the refinement of their products, as is exemplified by the B&O Beoplay EX. These earbuds are stylish and are designed with their users’ needs in mind, while also offering their users a listening experience like no other. The Beoplay EX does come with a pricier cost, but it more than makes up for it with its functionality and the attention to detail in its design. For users looking to invest in true wireless earbuds that are high-end and do not cut corners in any area, the Beoplay EX should be considered first.