You’ve seen them on a flight or in a high-end office. Those perfectly circular aluminum earcups. The soft sheen of lambskin. The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX isn't just a pair of headphones; it’s a statement that you value design as much as your playlist. But here is the thing: after years on the market, the HX remains one of the most polarizing pieces of tech in the luxury audio space.
People either love them or find them infuriatingly polite.
If you are looking for the kind of bass that rattles your teeth, you should probably stop reading right now. Go buy some Sonys. But if you want to know why a specific subset of listeners refuses to wear anything else—even with the hefty $499 price tag—we need to talk about what’s actually happening inside these cans.
The "Invisible" Fit of the Beoplay HX
Most "premium" headphones feel like two heavy pillows strapped to your head. The Beoplay HX takes a different path. It weighs 285 grams. That’s light. Not "cheap plastic" light, but "engineered aluminum" light.
B&O redesigned the headband for this model specifically to solve the "hot spot" problem. You know that stinging pressure on the very top of your skull after two hours? They fixed it by adding a center-relief zone. It’s a small gap in the padding that keeps the weight on the sides of your head rather than the crown.
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Honestly, the materials are where the money goes. We are talking genuine cowhide on the outer headband and soft lambskin on the ear cushions. It feels like a tailored jacket. Over time, that leather patinas. It gets better with age, unlike the synthetic proteins used by Bose or Apple that eventually flake off like a bad sunburn.
Build Details You’ll Actually Notice
- The Sliders: They use anodized, pearl-blasted recycled aluminum. They don't click; they slide with a damped, hydraulic-like resistance.
- The Touch Disc: The right earcup has a diamond-spun finish. You move your finger in a circle to change volume. It feels mechanical, even though it's entirely digital.
- The Case: They finally moved away from the "pouch" of the H9 days. You get a hard-shell fabric case that actually protects the investment.
Why the Sound Signature Is So Controversial
Let’s be real. If you’re coming from a pair of Beats or even the AirPods Max, the Beoplay HX might sound "thin" at first. That is because Bang & Olufsen tunes for "Signature Sound," which is code for a flat, neutral response.
The 40mm neodymium drivers aren't trying to hide a muddy recording with extra bass. They are trying to show you the recording exactly as it is.
I’ve spent hours with these. When you listen to jazz or acoustic tracks—think Norah Jones or some early Bill Evans—the separation is startling. You can hear the physical "thwack" of the drumstick and the breath of the singer. But switch to heavy trap or dubstep? The HX stays polite. It won’t give you that sub-bass rumble that makes your chest vibrate. It’s articulate, not aggressive.
Dealing with the Adaptive ANC
The Noise Cancellation is... fine.
There. I said it. If your primary goal is to silence a screaming baby on a 10-hour flight to Tokyo, the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Bose QuietComfort Ultra will outperform the HX. B&O uses "Digital Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation." It uses four dedicated microphones to monitor the outside world and adjust the counter-frequencies.
It’s great at hums. It’s great at the low drone of an AC unit or a train engine. However, it lets in more high-frequency "chatter" than its competitors. B&O does this on purpose to avoid that "underwater" pressure feeling that some people hate. It’s a more natural isolation. You feel less like you’re in a vacuum and more like you’re just in a very quiet room.
Real-World Battery Performance
B&O claims 35 hours with ANC and Bluetooth on. In my experience, that’s actually a conservative estimate. If you’re listening at 50% volume, you can easily push 38 hours. If you turn ANC off, you’re looking at 40+.
That is basically a full work week of meetings and music without touching a USB-C cable.
The Connectivity Reality Check
The HX supports Bluetooth 5.1 and has Multipoint. That means you can stay connected to your laptop for a Zoom call and your phone for notifications simultaneously. It works well 90% of the time.
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But it’s not perfect.
Sometimes, switching between a Mac and an iPhone causes a brief 2-second stutter. It’s a known quirk. Also, while it supports aptX Adaptive and AAC, it doesn't have LDAC. For most people, that doesn't matter. If you’re streaming Spotify, you won't hear a difference. But if you’re a Tidal Hi-Fi snob, you might wish for that extra bandwidth.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Price
You aren't paying for the tech specs alone. You are paying for the 3-year warranty (if you register) and the fact that these are repairable.
Most wireless headphones are disposable. When the battery dies in four years, you throw them away. B&O keeps parts available. You can swap the ear cushions in five seconds because they are magnetic. You can actually have these serviced.
Basically, the Beoplay HX is for the person who wants to buy one pair of headphones and keep them for a decade. It’s a "buy once, cry once" situation.
Actionable Steps for New Owners
If you just picked up a pair or are about to, do these three things to get your money's worth:
- Download the B&O App Immediately: The "out of the box" sound is very flat. Use the "Beosonic" tool in the app. It’s a circle you slide your thumb around. Move it toward "Warm" or "Excited" to give the bass a much-needed boost without ruining the clarity.
- Update the Firmware: Early units had some "auto-pause" sensor issues where the music would stop if you tilted your head. The latest firmware updates (available in the app) have smoothed this out significantly.
- Check the Fit: Because the clamping force is lower than Sony or Bose, the seal is everything. If the earcups aren't perfectly centered over your ears, the ANC will leak, and the bass will disappear. Take ten seconds to adjust the sliders so they sit firm but light.
The Beoplay HX isn't for everyone. It’s for the person who hates the "plastic" feel of modern tech and wants something that feels like a real instrument. It’s about the texture of the leather and the shimmer of the cymbals. If that’s you, nothing else really compares.