Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ – The sound of silence

It is the first true wireless in-ear headphones to feature Active Noise Cancelling and distinctive Bang & Olufsen sound, according to Bang & Olufsen’s description of the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ.

Outstanding sound, active noise cancellation and a unique design, all this is supposed to offer the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ, which the Scandinavian company Bang & Olufsen now presents as another so-called True Wireless In-ear Headphone.

They state that the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ is designed for the demanding everyday life, a headphone that combines the latest technology, comfort and durability in itself and is thus designed for the way to the office, on vacation trips, but also for the home office.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ with adaptive ANC

The basis for the promised fine sound is, of course, first of all an electrodynamic driver with a diameter of 6.8 mm. In addition, there is a DSP-based signal processing, which brings a number of functions with it, first and foremost a so-called adaptive, active noise cancellation.

This relies on no less than six microphones, which are integrated into the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ and have been designed as so-called MEMS microphones. These microphones continuously analyze ambient noise and adjust the active noise cancellation accordingly.

In conjunction with an ergonomic design of the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ and various earpieces optimal fit and the associated passive shielding should always guarantee unclouded music enjoyment.

Bluetooth 5.2 as signal transmission

The limiting factor in signal reproduction is once again Bluetooth, even if the very latest Bluetooth 5.2 standard is used. This guarantees a comparatively low power consumption despite good signal quality, but since only the codecs SBC, AAC and aptX are used, a signal transmission with approximately “CD quality” is no longer possible. The frequency range covered by the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ is thus ultimately 20 Hz to 22 kHz.

However, one point must be emphasized in this context. The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ remembers the last eight paired devices, and also automatically connects to one of these devices when switched on.

To ensure that this pairing always takes place smoothly and the handling with different source devices is always intuitive, the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ is “Made for iPhone”, MFi certified for short, and it also has Microsoft Swift Pair and Apple Watch interface support certifications.

Hands-free function with high speech quality

The already mentioned six integrated MEMS microphones are not only used for noise suppression, they are also used for phone calls and video calls, and voice control assistants can also be used with them. Thanks to their so-called beamforming technology, the best possible voice quality is always guaranteed.

Long battery life, fast charging

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ is supposed to offer a playtime of up to 6.5 hours with activated noise cancellation. If this is deactivated, it should even allow up to 7.5 hours.

Of course, the scope of delivery of the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ includes a suitable transport box, which functions as a power bank and thus has an integrated battery. This is supposed to provide a total playing time of up to 20 hours.

It is interesting that this aluminum transport box can not only be charged via USB-C, but also “wirelessly” via Qi Wireless Charging.

After only 1.5 hours in the charging cradle, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ should already be fully charged again. According to the manufacturer’s promise, charging for just 20 minutes already provides a playing time of up to two hours via a quick-charge function.

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ with Premium Design

Design always plays an important role at Bang & Olufsen, and this also applies to the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ. The manufacturer once again speaks of premium design, which also combines the highest functionality, appeal and robustness.

The new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ not only has an optimal fit for a comfortable, secure fit, it is also IPX54 certified and therefore sweat and water resistant. By the way, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ weighs just 8 g per earplug.

Even the aluminum transport box is very small and weighs no more than 50 g, this is mentioned here for the sake of completeness.

“When developing the Beoplay EQ, we aimed to meet the expectations of our customers, whether they use their headphones for travel, business or leisure. The ergonomic headphones are designed to be comfortable to wear and offer powerful and authentic sound. This makes them an absolute must-have for design and music lovers. Thanks to the robust aluminum charging case as well as the adaptive active noise cancellation, the Beoplay EQ offers a revolutionary listening experience wherever you go.”

Christoffer Poulsen, SVP of Product Management at Bang & Olufsen

The new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ comes in Black Anthracite and Sand Gold Tone finishes. As already mentioned, you will of course find different earpieces in the scope of delivery, so that every user can choose the version that suits them best.

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ should be available in stores from mid-August 2021. The recommended retail price is stated at € 399.

Getting to the point

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EQ is another in-ear headphone in the premium segment that features particularly accurate active noise cancellation and is intended to provide maximum freedom of movement in all situations as True Wireless in-ear headphones.