Bang & Olufsen introduces Beoplay EQ, a pair of TWS headphones with active noise cancellation that cost a lot but aim so high.
The competition from Bang & Olufsen could be a tough nut to crack for Apple and its AirPods Pro, in light of the "caliber" of the Danish manufacturer that has always stood out with its products in the market for high-end and high-end audio products.
The true wireless headphones with which the Danish company launches the gauntlet to Apple's AirPods Pro are called Beoplay EQ. No competition to what many indicate as the reference of the sector would be possible without active cancellation of environmental noise, which of course the Beoplay EQ offer along with wireless charging and a battery life that Bang & Olufsen claims to be superior to that of Apple's headphones. The challenge, in short, started the moment the Beoplay EQ was presented, and the market will decide which model will be able to win it in terms of numbers and quality, although the Bang & Olufsen headphones will have to demonstrate enough superiority to make people forget the higher list price than the AirPods Pro.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ, the features
The driver included in the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ is an electrodynamic type and has a diameter of 6.8 millimeters, with a sensitivity of 107 decibels. The company guarantees "a powerful and authentic listening" thanks to the electrodynamic driver and also because of the tuning entrusted to "acclaimed sound engineers".
Bang & Olufsen shows to be quite sure, in short, of the qualities of its new true wireless earphones, which offer Bluetooth 5.2 (the AirPods Pro don't go beyond version 5.0), support for AAC, SBC and aptX Adaptive, and IP54 certification that allows daredevils who want to exercise outdoors with Bang & Olufsen's headphones to be relatively comfortable about dust and water splashes, such as a light rain or drops of sweat.
Interesting is the presence of 6 omnidirectional microphones with which the headphones Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ realize the suppression of ambient noise on the call, so that the interlocutor can hear the voice as clearly as possible even in case of wind or other interference, and active noise cancellation (ANC), thanks to which you can listen to music in total comfort even if you were in noisy environments such as the cabin of an airplane.
Notevole, as mentioned above, the performance claimed in terms of autonomy: on a single charge the headphones Beoplay EQ manage to ensure up to 6.5 hours with ANC on (the AirPods Pro offer two hours less) and up to 7.5 hours with ANC off. Aggregating the charging case to the tally, you get, according to claimed data, 20 hours of total battery life with "moderate volume listening," while Apple's AirPods go up to 24 hours total. For the more technical, each headset contains an 85 mAh battery while the charging case has a 340 mAh battery. Wireless charging is possible.
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ, price and availability
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ will be available starting August 19 at a list price of $399, a full $150 more than the AirPods Pro. Still to be determined availability and pricing in Europe.