Source: Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX review: How sweet the sound
(Pocket-lint) – Bang & Olufsen is best known for its premium feel and sound – and it’s no different with the company’s wireless earbuds.
Although its line of Beoplay buds follows this tried and tested formula, they were arguably due for a little refreshment.
Users – including members of the Pocket Lint team – have repeatedly found that models like the Beoplay EQ can be a bit uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time and the shape, while always classy, can often be a bit chunky.
For the Beoplay EX, the script was rewritten. Bang & Olufsen has given its latest pair of buds a stem and a whole new shape, perhaps taking inspiration from a certain Cupertino tech giant in the process.
We’ve been hearing them for a few weeks. That’s how they stack up against the top end of the market.
A whole new look
- Available in Gold, Blue and Gray
- Weighs 65g with both earbuds in the case
The Beoplay EQ, a pair that only came out in late 2021, appear to have been Bang & Olufsen’s last old-style design – unless the company experiments with offering a choice of shapes.
Anyway, with the new Beoplay EX the rounded and bulbous design of older models is gone.
It’s replaced with a look that, despite some major differences, is another in the long line that draws direct inspiration from Apple’s iconic work on the AirPods. Basically, that just means there’s a stem sticking out from under your ear.
However, it does have a major benefit in the form of improved microphone performance for calls and recording, which is great in the age of FaceTime and Zoom. The design doesn’t stop there, however. It also has a significantly smaller in-ear section compared to B&O’s older earbuds.
This makes for an easier and more comfortable in-ear fit – an encouraging change as comfort was one of our few complaints about the Beoplay EQ. There are five welcome options for the tips too, with different sizes and even a set of medium-sized Comply foam tips.
On the outside of each earbud is a beautiful tempered glass mirror finish, branded with the B&O logo. This makes the earbuds stand out from the crowd, and our blue pair is really pretty to look at, especially considering how different light changes their appearance.
We’re sure it will divide people a bit, but the black version will be arriving soon for a more subdued look if desired.
The buds slide nicely into a metallic brushed body that has a bold and premium feel, although it also has a slightly scratch-prone finish. The earbuds are impressively secure inside, so you don’t have to worry about them falling out. The case has wireless charging, as you’d expect, but it also has USB-C if you prefer a wired approach.
The sound of quality
- 9.2mm driver
- 20-20,000 Hz frequency range
Put the Beoplay EX in our ears and you can tell that Bang & Olufsen hasn’t ripped up the book too thoroughly – its earbuds still sound absolutely gorgeous. As always, we test all music genres and Beoplay EX shows real breadth.
Its bass is controlled and deep without being overwhelming, while the mids and highs are similarly balanced and sensitive. There’s a certain accuracy to the performance that makes it a pleasure to listen to when you’re at home or somewhere quieter.
But that doesn’t mean that they’re neglected when you’re out and about. B&O again offers some really excellent active noise cancellation, pleasantly muffles the pops and squeaks of public transport and gives you that coveted feeling of being in a bubble as you walk around.
Transparency modes are helpful when you want to move around safely, and the new design also means you’ll get pretty good call quality when you need it – even in windier conditions.
While in our experience the Beoplay EX represent a real leap forward in terms of comfort compared to the older EQ, we still have a hesitation here. They’re comfortable for an hour or two, but after three or four we felt them pressing on our inner ear.
It won’t matter much to many (and in truth, we hardly ever listen that long at a time), but it does show that there’s still room for improvement to reach the heights of something like the AirPods Pro.
characteristics and experience
- Active noise cancellation
- Touch controls on the earbuds
The ANC that Bang & Olufsen has packed into the Beoplay EX is really impressive. You can also easily switch between these modes using handy touch controls on the outer glass surface of each earbud.
Unlike some other competitors, these glass panels offer a really clear and easy place to touch, resulting in a great experience when using the controls, and you can get a lot done with it.
The companion app that B&O developed is also pretty nifty, starting with a simple pairing process. We downloaded a firmware update with a bit of fiddling, but the instructions were pretty clear and easy to follow.
It’s a solid experience for both Android and iOS, and with some codecs on board, including AptX for low-latency audio, the earbuds should do well for those who enjoy watching movies or TV on their devices. Or actually play mobile games.
Battery life is around five to six hours on a charge, with a few more in the case, which is solid but not outstanding. And at this price you can hope for something better – maybe on par with the Sony WF-1000XM4.
That said, we’ve rarely if ever attempted to listen longer than that at once, so how much of a problem this is depends on your listening habits.
Beoplay EX takes Bang & Olufsen earbuds in a new direction with a stem and better comfort. We’re very impressed with the sound quality, although there’s a question mark over its value given the competition.
Writing from Max Freeman-Mills. Editing by Conor Allison.
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