In-depth Review: Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay H9i - Exquisite Craftsmanship
Vložit
- čas přidán 9. 02. 2018
- Very clear and open sounding headphones with a beautiful design and top notch craftsmanship. However, I still cannot recommend them at this time of the review. Find out why in this review!
October 2018 Update: I’ve decided to revisit these headphones after the firmware updates rolled out by Bang & Olufsen and want to reiterate some things. No, these are not the best overall wireless ANC headphones you can buy. That title goes to the Sony WH1000Xm3 due to their well rounded feature set. However the sound of the H9i has improved and is a very elegant, refined and open sound signature that I enjoy. Sibilance and distortion has been mostly improved. The H9i is one of the best sounding wireless ANC headphones that I’ve heard. In terms of Bluetooth codec support. AAC is actually a superb method of transcoding files and now that Android Oreo and up devices support it natively, I am satisfied in that regard. If anyone wants any further updates, please let me know. - Věda a technologie
![[BeoPlay H9i review] So good, so Bang & Olufsen! vs Bose and Sony ANC Headphones | DHRME #70](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dknhXIrmV-Q/mqdefault.jpg)
October 2018 Update: I’ve decided to revisit these headphones after the firmware updates rolled out by Bang & Olufsen and want to reiterate some things. No, these are not the best overall wireless ANC headphones you can buy. That title goes to the Sony WH1000Xm3 due to their well rounded feature set. However the sound of the H9i has improved and is a very elegant, refined and open sound signature that I enjoy. Sibilance and distortion has been mostly improved. The H9i is one of the best sounding wireless ANC headphones that I’ve heard. In terms of Bluetooth codec support. AAC is actually a superb method of transcoding files and now that Android Oreo and up devices support it natively, I am satisfied in that regard. If anyone wants any further updates, please let me know.
TheGamingAudiophile do you recommend this colour or black?
Ashley Lloyd I would probably go with black. Matches more clothing.
What about the bass after this update? when i tried h9i s 5 months ago, for me they were just not punchy and deep enough, especially when you try them after h9s or h7s. some tracks had a distortion on the regular equalizer settings, and absolutely awfull when you increase low frequencies for 1 or even 0,5db...
Interface Bass still has a boosted low region around 50Hz for me.
TheGamingAudiophile I was looking at some high end gaming headphones but they don't connect wireless via Bluetooth but a radio connector. If you were going to use h4 or h9 for pc gaming as well as music on the fly can you use Bluetooth in the pc or is the lag over aac too high or would you recommend to use the cable and plug into the pc? I just want a great pair I can use for both pc and my android for music and calls.
THANK YOU for an actual audiophile review of these cans! All the other reviews spend 20 minutes talking about how they look and then go 'yeah they sound great'. It seems like the reviewers have never heard the words 'soundstage' or 'transparency' in their life
very impressed with the detailed analysis of sound quality
Very useful review. I highly appreciate the quality of this review and the care you show about giving really useful information and especially not leaving out the negative aspects of the product.
Thank you for those sophiscated and useful review!! Your comments are pretty helpful for me!!
What a superb review.
You just saved me money which other h9i yt reviews didnt do.. I was all set on these.. Until you talked about codecs... I listen to my hi res flacs all the time on my lg g5 aptx phone...thanks looks like im staying with wired for the time being.. I just hope b&o support flac in version 3 of these.. Keep up the great work
Forgot to mention that the H9i has a proximity sensor that auto pauses and plays the music when you remove the headphones from your head. I disabled that feature because it became unstable and would pause my music on its own even whilst the headphone was on my head while I was walking.
TheGamingAudiophile Nice review bro. Also please make a review of the Sennheiser PXC 550, because I own them and I want to know your thougts about them, how to compare them bitween sony mdr1000X and Bose qc 35 II regarding NC and sound quality? And would you recommend me to upgrade to the h9i? Cheers bro.
I’m experiencing the same issue while at my desk at work. How do you disable the proximity sensor functionality?
spacejockey Press and hold the power switch until the Bluetooth pairing light begins to blink. Once you see the blue light, double tap on the right ear cup until the light turns red. The proximity sensor will now be disabled.
TheGamingAudiophile thanks!!!!
Same thing happened to me - had to disable the proximity sensor. I wonder if they can fix this with a firmware update.
Thanks for the review. I will be purchasing these today. The lack of a hard case at this price point is disheartening but that is a easy fix with hard cases going for as low as $10 on Amazon.
Thanks for saving me the trouble of trying these.
Chris Pineo they’re fantastic Headphones, you going to let one guy make your mind up for you? Spend the money you won’t regret it.
I have just ordered them for 280€ brand new on discount here in Slovakia. I am upgrading from Audio Technica M50x. Can´t wait.
I love mine and they sound magnificent. Way better than my old Beyerdynamic DT770.
I wonder if it will be possible to add more codecs with firmware updates.. Disappointing either way that they didn't include the other ones, for those on Android.
With the Android Oreo update coming within the next few weeks for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, there will be support for AAC
I'm looking for a pair of excellent go-to Bluetooth headphones with the capability of wired use without power should I want to not waste battery.
I really love the design of the H9i but I'm also looking at the Sony xm3 and Sennheiser momentum wireless 2.0 and a handful of others. I do wish to have at least the aptx codec available to me and I do know that the H9i does not support it. All up I just want a truly enjoyable listening experience in both comfort and audio performance. I don't really care for ANC so which, if any of these headsets would you recommend or would you steer me in another direction all together?
Keep up the awesome content, I love what you're bringing to CZcams!
Hi, is this headphone after the updates in firmware and focus on sound quality mostly, better option then the PX/Sony/Bose , understated that the NC is not as good but I’m asking in overall aspect with a focus on SQ. Thanks!
Great review! Do you have the Aedle VK-X on preorder?
It's funny how most people think $500 is a lot for a headphone. $5000 is a lot for a headphone, folks. I wouldn't complain that at $500 you don't get a hard case -- I'd rather pay for the sound quality, not the case. At $500, you don't have a lot of room for things like cases.
Excellent review.
My H8 got internally damaged some how and I managed to get a pair of these
I was watching you other review on the H8 and you got me really excited, however many are complaining about the Bluetooth dropping issue and I wanted to ask if you ever faced such a problem ?
mahmoud naffas I didn't experience that issue as badly.
hey u didn't show the app n its features there.....?????? on the app
That's a picture of the headphones on the box? Wow. I would not have known that if you didn't tell us.
Great review! I currently have the h8 and I really like the bass on it, is there a massive difference bass wise?
Tech Everything no
I've had the H9i for a week now and I'm really loving them. Coming from the H9, the H9i is quite an upgrade in my view. Haven't experienced any distortion, I tried the song you mentioned but no difference (distortion wise) with ANC on or off. Do you have more examples of songs that you experienced this with? Also, did you do the software update?
I upgraded to the latest firmware. Other songs are Still Remains by Riya and Feeling The Groove by Jonathan Fritzen. I have a few others that I notice it in too.
TheGamingAudiophile Long shot but could it be something was wrong with your pair? I tried the songs you mentioned.. no distortion whatsoever with mine... even on the highest volume
TheGamingAudiophile
Have you tried using other device's & what impedance rating are they? Wonder if your device's amp's are the issue nwavguy.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/headphone-amp-impedance.html
I am using them over bluetooth so the built in amp on the H9i are at use. I'll try and pick up another pair and see.
Also, could it be that you have an iPhone (X) that you use them on? On a forum that I'm active on it seems that others who have the distortion problem are iPhone X users...
Unfortunately, the battery compartment on mine is stuck and cannot be opened.
I still wonder if there's some kind of trick to get it open, but here it looks very easy.
What would you say in comparison to h6 in terms of sound quality and driver character?
I have not experienced any distortion on mine. Not problems with low volume either. Firmware 5.04
Weight?
I don’t know what headphones you listen to but the B&O H9i were well rounded. I personally didn’t like the ear pressure I felt from Bose and Sony’s headphones weren’t likable to my listening taste either. People headphone comfort and sound are so subjective that people should personally try each pair out themselves if the can and if you do make a purchase, simply return them if you’re not satisfied.
Lorsey Jones Yes, that’s true and that’s also why the Nurpahones sounds significantly better than any other headphone I’ve heard.
very very !!well done
Hey man! Really respect your word. I just listened today the h4 and i liked them. Do you had chance to test them out? İf you do, just in terms of the sound quality, how can you compare them with the h9i? @TheGamingAudiophile
The Right Tone Unfortunately, I haven’t heard the H4 yet.
Tried these in store over a wired connection and then later bought them online. Only to find out these sound so much worse over a bluetooth, and the volume doesn't get loud enough. I wish the audio performance wireless was exactly the same as it wired and then it would be perfect. Let down.
My other half has the H4 she really likes it even though she doesnt get slide control like the h9 has, but the build and the sound signature is very good for less then 200.00 .I had to convince her to keep them though because she thinks 189.99 is alot of money for headphones . i have some Phiaton bt460s that have the slide feature . i do think its more convenient then buttons. I bought the Focal Listen wireless instead of the H4s.Not the sweet build quality of the build the B&O'S but i like the sound signature of the Focal's. Thanks for the review P.S The Sony 1000 mx3s are nice but the hinges are faulty.
I am fully in love with these headphones and have been looking for a great pair of anc headphones. These are way too expensive for me and since it seems like you don not like them and won't use them I was wondering if I could buy them from you or if you'd give them to me. I love your reviews btw, your channel and Rtings.com have the best headphone reviews on youtube by far.
Sorry, I already sold them.
anton Jahn-vavrus give them to you, lmao. Seriously I can’t stop laughing.
You can remove the battery just twist the left earcup
Is the H9i a better deal over the new H9?
Thanks for the very thorough review. I was hoping the noise cancellation would make these a good pair of wireless headphones for the office. Guess I'll just stick with IEMs just now.
Do you know how many paired devices it will remember? I use six devices with my Bose QC35'S and they work great as I switch between them and I'm interested in testing the H9i's as long as they don't have to be re-paired as I switch between my devices.
André Breivik I am not sure how many devices it can remember but I would believe it is up to 8.
The thing about removable batteries is that batteries that are non removable have much higher capacity any ways so the only advantage of a removable battery is that it is easier to replace if the battery life starts to degrade
Good review!
thank you!
Thanks for another great review. In terms of overall sound quality, PX or H9i is the best for you? And how does the bass compare between the two?
MrDucatiti Overall sound quality I'd put them on a similar stance. However, the PX had a much higher threshold with composure under high volume. Bass wise, the PX has more mid and upper bass in relation to the subbass than the H9i. The H9i has a beautiful subbass response that the PX doesn't quite match at times. The PX bass on the other hand is more emotive and lively without being overdone and ruining other frequencies.
Makes total sense. If only we can retain the characteristics of the PX and add the subbass cababilities of the H9i as you have mentioned, we would then have a perfect bluetooth headphone.
I have another question for you sir. Is it normal to have my iPhone X better quality sound and a higher volume capability compared to a MacBook Pro 15 2017? I can see that my MBP is running aptx but the music sounds so much better from the iPhone, presence, separation, clarity, volume, etc....
MrDucatiti Which headphone are you using? I've noticed this too on the B&W PX with MacBook in comparison to my Galaxy Note 8 when both in AptX. The volume on my Note 8 is also noticeably louder.
Does this only apply to your PX or your other cans as well? Lastly, how does the maximum volume of the H9i compare to the QC35's? I find the Bose max volume is not sufficient at times.
To answer your question, I noticed this on the PX but I wasn't able to compare it to the QC35ii because I returned it within hours that I found the sound altered by Bose.
Hi there, newly converted to these, I just didn't like the sound coming from my Bose 35ii but they had better comfort over the 2 pairs. Yes I would have like to seeing you using the app on here, and I have a question can you update the firmware directly with the app or do you need to connect to WIndows or Mac to do it from there? as I am using only a Google Pixel Book? thank you
Like me. I couldn't stand the sound of the Bose 35ii. I bought H6 second edition and will never have to buy another headphone in my life. Unless i want wireless...
Good choice, this headphones sounds even better than the xm3 and nv 700 😆
How would you compare the sound quality of the headphones to the Sony XM3?
same price thats why i mean theres also the diference of personal choice and trust to two diferrent kinds of names
Well i have the WH-1000XM3 and the sound is as picture perfect as you can imagine even with ANC music sounds great and with the Sony app you can tweak the audio to your liking i prefer the WH-1000XM3 over these
Sound compared to momentum 3 and px7?
Maybe it´s so sturdy it does´nt need a case. Bose QC35 is cheap plastic so it needs it
Do you think the B&W PX is comfortable? I tried it and i think it is kinda uncomfortable. I used Bose headphones for the last 5 years, so I'm very spoiled in this aspect.
Aaron Wėë They’re okay in the comfort. At first they’re borderline uncomfortable but after while the pads loosen up and adjust to your head and they become bearable. They’re no where as good as the Bose QC series in comfort.
They were selling earlier today for 299.99 on Amazon I just bought a pair
I'm considering upgrading to these from the H8's. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions on this as you have reviewed both? Many thanks!
Zishan Ali If using both over Bluetooth, the H9i is an upgrade. The clarity is significantly improved and there is a much more nuetral balance. However, keep in mind the distortion in the H9i when ANC is activated.
Thanks for the reply. Is the distorition on the H9i's worse with ANC than on the H8's?
Yes.
Does jt have NFC?
Hey, what about touch controls? I've heard about a lot of flaws using touch panel.
MultiBagginz mine work very well, even with gloves
Excellent Review! So what are your top 3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones from Best to Worse? Thanks!
mjohnsonjr23 I'd say the Bowers and Wilkins PX ranks first followed by the Bose QC35 II and then the Sony WH-1000Xm2.
TheGamingAudiophile Have you tried the Sony H.ear On 2? If not, you should check them out.
Wow, would the H9i fall 4th? I really had high expectations for this release considering they had a h9 platform to work on improvements from. I anxiously waited for this release.
MrDucatiti The price and factoring in the lack of AptX and the distortion in the treble with ANC activated. Unacceptable for a $500 headphone.
Don't you just love the names they give these products? Just so easy to remember!
I’m currently trying to decide if I should go with the B&W PX or these H9i’s, I’m on the iPhone X and need a replacement for my Bose QC35’s. I heard the H9i was the best most rounded headphones, but the PX has better sound with less comfort. I’m more of a Pop guy and travel around quite a bit so the ANC is important. Also heard problems with these headphones with the iPhone X and don’t know if anyone knows if it’s been resolved or not, or if it was just a special case where some people got it and most other had no problems at all.
BorneRad The PX sounds better than the H9i. I also recommend the Bose QC35 II.
H9i have better sound quality and ANC than px and are ultra comfortable.
The separation on these headphones is where they win over the Sony and the Bose. The ANC isn’t quite as good as the aforementioned but it’s quite minimal. For the price they’re at now, they’re astonishing.
I want them 😭 these are made for me
Get em bro 278$ on amazon. I just copped
What no one is commenting on is that you can replace the batteries which would make the last forever! With the 5.0.4 update and the fact that they are available at $409, they make a truly great proposition.
No, they're not. There are too many headphones at the same price or less that outperform them in numerous categories.
TheGamingAudiophile which other high quality headphone could one buy with a replaceable battery?
@@drrahulmehta There's other headphones such as the Sony WH1000XM3 which boasts nearly twice the battery life of the H9i off a single charge.
TheGamingAudiophile I’m talking about cumulative battery life. What do you do when a Sony’s battery runs out? You have no alternative but to throw it in garbage. Potentially, the B&O will last years and years with the option of a replaceable battery.
All makers, bet it Sony or Bose or Sennheiser or B&W want you to throw you equipment once battery runs out like legacy iPhones.
This is why i shelled out big money for these!! not only do they sound great but after a few years when the battery degrades i can just buy a new battery and keep them going for a few more years and keep doing that indefinitely!! If i were to buy a 400 dollar pair of sony headphones or beats headphones i'm basically left with a wired headset once the non removable battery degrades. Great point!!
i was gonna go with some beats for 350 but when i saw that these were made of aluminum and leather and the fact it has usb c and a removable battery they're basically good for the foreseeable future! i use my headphones every day on my commutes and since i live in an apartment complex it's the only way i can really listen to music. With non removable batteries after 2 - 3 years when the battery degrades, your 350 dollar pair of beats are useless.
Great review. So, the H7 is a better choice than H9i?
Shawn Orjiakor The H7 is a bit hazy sounding while the H9 is clearer. I would pass on those too.
TheGamingAudiophile Damn. I want to try out a good Bang & Olufsen headphone. Is there any you can recommend?
Beoplay H7 is great, don't listen to him...
Dokamoto Alright, thanks. From my observation, B&O has mixed reviews and reactions from a lot of people. I might as well just try them out myself. It's all subjective.
Agreed, and its on sale for very cheap right now.
It's very obvious by the comments that people don't understand the difference between audio codecs and Bluetooth ones. Yes, you can still play FLAC files with these. Ever hear people talk about their awesome aptx collection?
Richard Larson yes, there are many morons out there ready to diss these beautiful headphones for the wrong reasons.
Would you recommend these for someone that never owned a wireless headphone? or Sony WH1000XM3?
Scooby I’d recommend the Bose QC35II. If you prefer a bass rich sound then get the Sony’s.
I found this h9i for 329 pounds, the same price of sony wh1000xm3. Which should I buy? Thanks
H9i. No brainer. If you are after sound quality.
Should i cop for 200$?
What's the difference in terms of sound signature between the H9i and H9 3rd Gen?
The H9 3rd Gen is a lot darker in terms of sound, I'm still burning mine in but the highs aren't as bright and vocals aren't as forward. I quite like both signatures but I'm hoping that the highs will come out a bit more as I listen to them more. If you're a basshead the H9 3rd Gen will satisfy you a lot more than the H9i, the bass is a lot fuller, even though slightly less accurate. These are my early impressions though.
@@ZacharyT94 So as someone not a fan of bass overpowering the rest of the sound it seems I'll like the H9i more.
@@ZacharyT94 So how do the H9 3rd Gen hold up now?
@@jarjared3522 The H9s have now settled towards a brighter sound, still darker than the H9is, but the bass isn't as big. Still very good though, vocals are only slightly more recessive than on the H9i, it's like the sound signature slightly upped the bass and slightly lowered the treble. The clarity is still top notch and I'm happy with the instrument separation and soundstage.
im so pissed harmon kardon hasent released new head phones smh
Should I buy b&w px or the 1000xm3s?
Does you ear touches the inside of the earcup?
They are on ear not over ear so they sit on your ears
Sound quality at 13:36
Wow that was a very thorough review, excellent job.
By the way, linear is pronounced lin-nee-er
I just can’t stand this company’s headphones, they just don’t sound right, they sound thin, the mid range sounds bright and wonky And almost all of their headphones sound the same, just not my cup of tea at all.
The only headphone of theirs I have not heard is the H6 second edition
John Jameson I have the feeling that these headphones work better with iphones than with android devices
Headphones are subjective, one mans fantasy is another’s nightmare.
No LDAC or Apt-X (HD), it's very disapointing because the old ones had it.
Looks like the H9 had apt-x low latency and the H9i has no apt-x at all. Horrible $500 for a headset with $30 headphone codecs in it... Similar to the Nuraphone which is a $300 headphone with $15 dollar speakers in it but ironically one of the highest bit-rate codecs (Apt-X HD). WTF were they thinking? For this price the H9i should have Apt-X HD and maybe even LDAC.
@@Calliboss y u need aptx?
My second take on these: I've compared them to my DT770's which are very heavy on the treble and can hurt my ears quite a bit if I listen loudly. These are much worse I'm afraid, due to the sibilant nature of vocals. It stings and tears my ears on particular songs without vocals as well. Classical, electrical guitars, electronica etc.
On other songs they sound amazing. One of the best I've ever heard. These are songs that have a darker, more bass heavy style.
I fell completely in love with the design. It's the most beautiful headphones I've ever laid my eyes on. I have the black ones.
Unfortunately I'm going to return these in hope they update them to the better in the future.
Yes, songs with a darker tuning sounds absolutely amazing on these, but the majority of music out there will have these destroy your auditory senses.
did you try play with EQ.I set mine to warm eq two point's and treble were much smoother.
Very nice review, thank you! I thought I have found my ultimate headphones but apparently not, can I ask a cliche question of which headphone is the overall winner? B&W, Sony or Bose? Thanks again
Nima Reghabi B&W for me.
Dont forget the 500dollar head phone is made of super good quality and last u the next 10 years remember that B&O istill see alot of people using their tvs from 2003 an they stil work as new
M/S STUDIOS It doesn't excuse the fact that there was a pouch included with a $500 headphone and it only supports two Bluetooth codecs...
You are lucky getting a pouch with it considering B&O builds $20000+ speakers
I dont care about AnC
I dont care about distortion at HIGH VOlume.
What i care about is the sound.
And the sound is frekkin amazing:) Sound it what its all about. Dont care about random features that i will never use.
Its like a toilet with a rubber duck. There is no need for the rubber duck
h9i vs qc35 vs 1000mx2 which is the best to buy?
QC35II.
H9i
Wh-1000xm3
H9i
Had to return these. Sound quality with AAC turned off is quite mediocre. AAC active in open air doesn’t work very well, wind and other noises are actually amplified... not ideal to hear the wind amplified in your ears. In the office environment they are great, but also my 150€ Sennheiser hd25 are.
The app sucks, no way to customize the level of noise canceling. Not worth retail price in my opinion
You should review JBL Speakers and Headphones.
I have a review of the JBL Elite 700.
No aircraft adapter
I want to buy a pair of these, but this review has put me off... What are the headphones you are speaking of in the video, BOS something? send me a link, are they over-ear? because on-ear sucks @SS
B&W PX, Nuraphones, Bose QC35II.
TheGamingAudiophile they don’t look very pretty though :/ thanks
usb c to lightning iPhone?
Josh Jones That should work.
LOL so I do not use iphone
$ 500 worth these headphones for that price?
Not at all.
TheGamingAudiophile I thought so. A lot of money for headphones is silly.
Jonathan Cruz no it’s not, if you want quality it’s worth paying the extra for.
b&o beoplay h9i
Just buy a pair of sennheiser psx 550 or 550 II if you have an iphone and you can throw away all other headphones, unless you need the best anc then buy the Sony wf-1000xm4 Allother BT headsets ar crap in compairison
$500. And you get a pouch. Now that's dirty.
More commercial breaks than a TV show.
400 dollars headphones and they gave u a poach to put them in... loooool
Goldfinga Sliverfinga Actually they're $500. Lol.
There are far better headphones at this price point. Plus, bluntly, B&O will not stand by this product should you need service. Hi Bose, I ditched my H9i for Master and Dynamic. Glad I did.
Whats up with headphone makers not including great cases for multi-hundred dollar headphones? $500 before tax and you give me a soft looking pouch? No thanks.
Even i. Am better than. You in audiophile i make and invest on edm artists like k391 retrovision and on. Ncs
B O made in China... hmmmm
Very poor and incorrect review.
I just finished listening to your review. I disagree with most of it. I've had the H9i for three weeks now and being the "Headphone Junkie" that I am, I have come to enjoy the set more than any other set that I own. I'm also disappointed in the review because I waited through the whole presentation for your info on the tone features, which you neglected to talk about even though about six minutes into the review you said you would touch on it later.
Your thumbs are annoying AF!! Wear latex gloves....
Love your knowledge of the products reviewed tho...
Ha ha ha!
LMFAO only offer poor battery life my WH-1000XM3 get me 30hrs on ANC and i paid 369 with insurance for 2 years headphones were 298 and i got a badass case and these still sale for 300+ on amazon and have a pouch thats a fucken joke in my opinion i really love the sound quality of my WH-1000XM3 even the sony app for the headphones offer you many ways to tweak the audio to your preference that makes them better and the ANC is unmached a 350 dolar headphone with a case beat that B&O
Lmao have you done any research like at all? Numerous test have shown the sonys objectivley don't get 30 hours of battery life and certainly aren't the best sounding ANC headphone available right now....
What a poor gamer and audiophile
I have 3 laptops names acer predator 21x
And additional 2 gaming laptops
Specs is 32 inch wireless led monitor
Lighting keyboard
Wireless and wired mouse
32gb ram 5 pieces of. Corsair
8gb graphic card for gaming
And Sony bdv n9200wl home theater for computer only
nice set up, kappa