Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95 Premium Comfortable Wireless Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) Over-Ear Headphones with Protective Carrying Case, RF, Bluetooth 5.1, Black

I’ve been very impressed with my Beoplay H95 headphones, which I have been using for about 2 weeks. For context, I am a classical musician and record my own music. When researching BT ANC headphones, I sought out experiences by classical musicians, or people who listen to classical music, as the needs are different compared to other musical genres. Despite an extensive search I did not find much in this area so I am posting some of my experiences as they might be of interest to others.I use several different pairs of headphones, some for monitoring use in recording and editing, and others for sound checks and pleasure listening. It is unusual for any one headphone to serve all purposes! During recording, I generally use the tried and true and surprisingly inexpensive ubiquitous Sony MDR-7506 headphones for monitoring. Most agree that these are very detailed and help reveal all the “warts” during the recording process, which is essential. However, I feel their sound signature is very bright and frankly unpleasantly harsh so they are not ideal for pleasure listening. I also use some excellent higher end headphones including the Sennheiser 800s, along with the companion Sennheiser headphone amp HDV 820, for critical and pleasure listening, as well as the Audeze LCD-X headphones which I use as a reality check during the recording process as well as for pleasure listening.With that context, enter the Beoplay H95. I purchased these for pleasure and convenience listening – as opposed to critical listening or recording - in a sometimes noisy home environment (lots of nearby heavy construction noise and leaf blowers nearly every day). I was seeking a pair of Bluetooth headphones with ANC that approached the higher fidelity of my other cans. After extensive reading of reviews of popular Bluetooth ANC headphones, for example Sony WH-1000XM4, Bose 700 and Apple Air Pods Max I decided to trial the Beoplay H95. Note that I did not audition these other lower cost headphones so I can’t realistically compare them to the Beoplay H95. However, I can compare the H95 to my higher end headphones and this may be of interest to some.Now, for additional important background, my use case is probably different than that of other headphone users. I don’t intend to use full size headphones walking about outdoors – I use Apple Airpod Pros for this. I also don’t intend to use full size headphones with ANC on commutes or on planes. Again, I would use the Airpod Pros or an older pair of Bose wired QC20 earbuds for this. So – my use case for a full size Bluetooth ANC headphone is for use indoors, freeing me from the cable tethering me to my good rig, listening for pleasure in a sometimes noisy environment. Other than ANC, sound quality is of paramount importance to me. Other features such as phone calls, apps, control gestures, voice control, are of secondary importance to me.I’ve found the Beoplay H95 sound signature to be very neutral and transparent. While clearly not as fine as higher end - and more expensive - cabled headphones, the sound quality that the H95 offers is quite respectable. The soundstage is fairly expansive, and while it may not be as wide or deep as the Sennheiser 800s (which is unusually vast) – the H95 soundstage is quite generous. This makes spatial location of different instruments, for example in an orchestra, better than in lesser headphones. The mid-upper frequencies are transparent and airy, and vocals, such as in classical art songs (e.g. lieder) sound very true and engaging. Instrumentals (piano, strings, orchestra) seem pretty accurate as well. Bass is tight and certainly present in sufficient quantity for classical music. It is not boosted or exaggerated as some might prefer for other genres of music. Recordings I’ve made of myself (i.e. me as performer) also seem pretty accurate. Of course, when I compare the H95 sound to my good rig, the difference is readily apparent – for example the Sennheiser 800s has a great deal more body, heft, clarity, liquidity, dynamic range and nuance where the H95 is a bit lighter weight, somewhat veiled, slightly grainy and compressed by comparison - but I feel overall the H95 does quite a very respectable job representing reality for a BT headphone. Again, it is unreasonable to expect a BT ANC device to perform at the same level as much more expensive corded audiophile equipment. The H95 does come surprisingly close however!I have noticed what some others have called out, that to achieve decent listening volume, I need to dial the H95 up to >70% volume, which I feel is less than ideal and shouldn’t be necessary. For some softer classical tracks I need to dial it up to 90-100%. This suggests to me that there isn’t adequate headroom in the amplifier. The supplied USB-C to USB-A cable, intended for recharging the H95 battery, can also be used as a wired connection to a computer. In this case, the achievable volume is much improved compared to BT. I estimate that at 50% volume level in this wired setup is similar to 70-80% level in the BT configuration. A similar “boost” in volume occurs when using the supplied 3.5mm cable to the source, be it my iPhone 11 (with a lighting to USB cameras adapter), or PC. I believe the sound quality is also improved using the USB-A to USB-C cable, perhaps because the digital signal from the PC is bypassing the DA conversion in the H95. Another factor in the low volume output of the H95 via Bluetooth from my iPhone is EQ. Usually I have this set on “Classical” as that is the majority of my listening. However, I found that the EQ setting “None” (or “Flat” which seems equivalent) is still excellent sonically for my needs, and the volume is noticeably louder.I did have occasion to use the H95 in a phone call, and the sound was quite good at my end. At the other end, the sound quality was good enough for a hard of hearing elderly person to carry on a conversation better than when we use my land line.Regarding ANC – I agree with some other reviewers that while the dial on the left earpiece is handy for immediate control of ANC vs transparency, it would be nice to have a physical “stop” where it is obvious where the dial is minimized and where it is maximized. The dial spins freely so you have to judge based on your hearing to detect and set the desired amount of ANC. To be fair, they do offer audible tones instead of a physical stop, but you need to learn to “decode” the different tones. I found the ANC effective enough to minimize noise from construction next door through open windows, nearby washer/dryer noises, and even our land line ringing 3 feet away from where I’m seated was barely audible. Standing outside in my yard, a wood chipper being used 2 doors down was fairly noisy as one would expect. With the H95 on full ANC but without music playing, the wood chipper was about 80+% dampened, still somewhat audible. With music at low-moderate volume (~40-50%), the wood chipper was not apparent.Other Notes:- The dial on the right earpiece for volume is a brilliant feature in my opinion. Might be easier than APM's small knob. Incidentally, the small knob on the Apple Watch does control H95 volume when listening to Apple Music in an iPhone.- H95 has physical shut off switch, unlike APM, although the H95 has an ultra long battery life (38 hrs with ANC on and 50 hrs without ANC) making this less critical.- H95 has multipoint connection, allowing maintain connections to two Bluetooth sources, which means for example you can listen on one and make calls on the other- H95 has two corded options, both provided in the box: 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable (analog), and USB-C to USB-A (digital).- H95 has a real case, unlike APM. However, I feel it is useful mainly as a protective case at home, not practical for travel.- The Bang & Olufsen app is nice but not essential. I did not find the EQ options to be as useful as expected. I’ve settled on “Optimal” and have not found a need to change it. The variable option didn’t seem helpful or practical. The battery level indicator is useful to a degree, but due to the very long battery life, it doesn’t come into play much. On my PC Bluetooth section, the battery level is also indicated. The volume level can be adjusted on the H95 with the dial on the right earcup so the app is not needed for this. The app is a little glitchy on the iPhone – more than once even though it was paired (appears in Settings>Bluetooth and music plays through) the app sometimes paradoxically cannot detect the H95. I had to delete and reinstall the app more than once. There is no app for computers (just mobile devices) but sometimes the Bluetooth connection on my PC is glitchy with drop outs.SummaryWhile it is not fair to expect that Beoplay H95 would perform at the same level as corded audiophile headphones costing much more, I believe that B&O did right by most things that count to optimize fine sound quality. The only significant downside for me is the relatively lower volume level, requiring cranking up the volume >70%. Whatever this suggests about the amplifier design and relative lack of headroom, it is not a deal breaker in my mind. And even though the H95 is much more expensive than every other BT ANC headphone currently available, for me attaining this high level of sound quality was worthwhile. Of course, each person must make his/her own assessment and decision based on their sound goals and personal financial situation.

The Beoplay H95 headphones are the epitome of style, comfort, and performance, delivering an unparalleled listening experience. With their sleek and minimalist design, these headphones exude luxury, making them as much a fashion statement as a top-tier audio device. The premium materials, including memory foam ear cushions and lightweight aluminum, ensure hours of comfortable wear without fatigue. In terms of performance, the sound quality is exceptional, offering deep bass, crisp highs, and a perfectly balanced midrange. The adaptive noise cancellation is top-notch, creating an immersive experience even in noisy environments. Additionally, the long battery life—up to 38 hours—means you can enjoy uninterrupted music or calls for extended periods. Whether you’re a music enthusiast or simply appreciate high-end tech, the Beoplay H95 headphones are a stunning combination of form and function.

It is easy for those who receive these headphones to have bias and say they are great, and they clearly are! I also think there are those who purchase these headsets for different reasons. For some, it's based on the infamous elegant and sophisticated appearance of the B&O, some choose based on the music sound, based on reputation, based on life of the battery and so on. For me #1, it is about the music: its intricacies, the bass, the great mids, etc...., and yes it is for looks because of Bang & Olufsen's being best at this.I do disagree bigtime with one poster (MD) who says these are less competent than Apple Airpods! Like really?! haha I couldn't disagree more, and I am an avid Apple fan and I have the latest Iphone 14 Pro. The Airpod Max are superb headphones, and I would have been fine purchasing them. For me though, it is about the DEPTH of the music. And when I tested both, looked at new reviews of both, observed reviews of those who have owned both for a while, B&O came out much better long-term. And as good as the Airpods are for all-around listening, including listening to streamed movies and the like, B&O whips circles around Airpods when it comes to the music. Streaming entertainment sounds as though you're in a theatre or you possess quality surround sound components. I was very tempted to get the Airpods only because of the lower price, and because it would integrate well to my Iphone obviously. They are probably good enough for most people, even without the Iphone! But for depth, longevity, clarity and interpretation of pure sound, choosing Bang & Olufsen is a no-brainer in my opinion.I really love them as a travel companion more than anything! I do wish that the headphones side hardware would come around closer to my head because I feel as though I look like a ram or wild bull waiting for the red cape. hahaThese headphones are perfect. I love them, and I'm crazy about the sound.

Really loved these headphones. Best sound quality of all I tried. However they just fell apart and that is so disappointing as I had older Bowers and Wilkins headphones that never fell apart to this degree.