The Danish luxury audio brand, Bang & Olufsen has just introduced its third wireless earbud called the Beoplay EX. The $399 ANC earphones have an AirPod-like design in some rather attractive color options. They join the Beoplay EQ and Beoplay E8 Sport earphones ($350) — the latter of which made our list of best wireless earbuds last year.
At first glance, the Beoplay EX seem to combine the best features of its existing models. The Beoplay EX boasts Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation and a fully waterproof design for use in the office, on the move, in the gym or at home.
The Bang & Olufsen’s new shape has created space for a 9.2 mm speaker driver in Beoplay EX; the biggest ever used for a true-wireless device by the brand. This results in a significant upgrade in the power of each audio moment, without compromising on comfort. Listening can last all day, as Beoplay EX has up to 20 hours of total playtime including charging in the case, and 6 hours of playtime with ANC turned on.
Call quality is also said to be improved. Each earphone has three microphones, beamforming technology and own voice functionality built in, to ensure a seamless call experience.
Design
Beoplay EX differs most notably from previous Bang & Olufsen earphones in the shape of its design. Designed by Thomas Bentzen, the stem-based shape has been adopted and transformed into a finished offering that is equal parts stylish and comfortable. The housing of the earphone placed inside the ear, is smaller than ever before, and ensures a comfortable and stable fit that can be worn for hours without readjustment.
The practicality of this new shape is matched with the signature Bang & Olufsen aesthetic, perfected over 96 years of craftmanship and design innovation. From the mirror-like glass interface which catches the light at the perfect moment, to the surrounding brushed aluminum ring, Beoplay EX creates a statement for the wearer whether they opt for the slick Black Anthracite, opulent Gold Tone or striking Anthracite Oxygen finish. Beoplay EX comes complete with a matching brushed aluminum charging case, which is conveniently pocket-sized, making it the perfect travel companion.
With the latest in Bluetooth 5.2 technology and background noise reduction, Beoplay EX makes it easy to go wireless and connect with the office, friends and family in any location. With Multipoint connectivity, the earphones can also connect to two devices at the same time, allowing wearers to listen to music from one and make calls with the other. Beoplay EX is also sweat and IP57-certified dust resistant and waterproof, making it an extremely durable personal sound solution.
Pricing & Availability
The Beoplay EX in Anthracite Oxygen (Blue/Black) is available now for $399 at bang-olufsen.com and internationally priced at 399 EUR / 349 GBP / 2998 CNY.
The Gold Tone color option will be available from May 27, 2022 with the Black Anthracite (all-black) color becoming available from June 2022, each for the same price.
Specifications
- Frequency Response: 20 – 20,000 hz
- Impedance: 32 Ohm
- Sensitivity: 108 +/- 2 db, 1mW @1kHz
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.2 · AAC, SBC, aptX Adaptive
- Speaker Drivers: 9.2 mm Electro-dynamic drivers with neodymium magnets
- Microphone
- 6 Digital MEMS Mics in total
- 3 Digital MEMS Mics in each earphone
- Buttons
- Touch controls: Play/Pause/Skip track/
- Answer calls ANC/Transparency mode/
- Volume up/Volume down
- Battery
- Earphones: Up to 6 hours with ANC
- Earphones + charging case: Up to 20 hours with ANC
- Battery Size
- Charging case: Capacity 600 mAh
- Earphones: Capacity 70 mAh
- Charging Time
- Earphones: ~ 1.5 hours in charging case
- Charging case: ~ 2 hours via USB-C / ~2.5 hours wireless charging
- Weight: 65g (2 x 6g earbuds + 53g case)
- Dimensions (WxHxD)
- Earphones: 22.5 x 34.8 x 22.66 mm
- Charging case: 66.15 x 28.1 x 48.15 mm
Beoplay Comparison
| Beoplay E8 Sport | Beoplay EQ | Beoplay EX | |
| MSRP | $350 | $399 | $399 |
| MODEL YEAR | 2021 | 2021 | 2022 |
| NOISE ISOLATION | Passive Noise Cancelling | Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation | Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation |
| DRIVER TYPE | Electro-dynamic, 5.7 mm diameter | Electro-dynamic, 6.8mm diameter | Neodymium, 9.2 mm diameter |
| DRIVER SENSITIVITY | 107dB ± 3dB, 1kHz @-3 dBFS (max volume) with Bluetooth playback | 107dB ± 3dB, 1kHz @-3 dBFS (max volume) with Bluetooth playback | 108 dB +/- 2 dB 1kHz @ 1mW (0.178V) |
| FREQUENCY RANGE | 20 – 20,000 Hz | 20 – 20,000 Hz | 20 – 20,000 Hz |
| IMPEDANCE | 16 Ohm | 17 Ohm +/- 2.55 @ 1KHz | 32 Ohm +/-3.2 @ 1KHz |
| CUSTOMIZABLE SOUND EQ | Presets available and fully customizable through Bang & Olufsen App | Presets available and fully customizable through Bang & Olufsen App | Presets available and fully customizable through Bang & Olufsen App |
| Design | |||
| DESIGNER | Bang & Olufsen | Thomas Bentzen | Thomas Bentzen |
| FIT | True wireless In-ear Fit for sport | True Wireless In-ear | True Wireless In-ear |
| EARGELS | 4 pairs of silicone tips (XS,S,M,L) 3 pairs of silicone earfins (S, M, L) Comply™ Foam tips (M size) | 4 pairs of silicone tips (XS,S,M,L) COMPLY™ Isolation ear tips series 200 (Size M) | 4 pairs of silicone ear tips (XS,S,M,L) |
| MATERIALS | Aluminium Polymer Silicon | Hard anodised Aluminium in space craft grade quality Polymer Silicone | Aluminium Tempered Glass Polymer Silicone |
| DUST AND WATERPROOF RATING | IP57 rating: fully dust protected and can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. | IP54 (dust and splash/sweat resistant) | IP57 (dust and waterproof) |
| DIMENSIONS (MM) | Earphones: 23 W x 25 H x 21 D Charging case: 70.6 W x 33.5 H x 35.6 D | Earphones: 24 W x 22 H x 27 D Charging case: 77 W x 40 H x 26 D | Earphones: 22.5 W x 34.8 H x 22.7 D Charging case: 66.2 W x 48 H x 22.1 D |
| WEIGHT | Earphones: Right (Primary): 6.4 g Left (Secondary): 6.4 g Charging case: 55 g (without earbuds) | Earphones: Right: 8g Left: 8g Charging case: 50 g (without earbuds) | Earphones: Right: 6g Left: 6g Charging case: 53 g (without earbuds) |
| Battery | |||
| BATTERY LIFE | Up to 7 hours Up to 30 hours with charging case at moderate volume | Up to 6.5 hours with ANC Up to 7.5 hours without ANC Up to 20 hours with charging case at moderate volume | Up to 6 hours with ANC Up to 8 hours without ANC Up to 20 hours with charging case at moderate volume |
| CHARGING TIME | Earphones: approx. 2 ½ h Charging Case (USB-C): 2 h Charging Case (Qi Wireless): 2 ½ h Charging for 20 minutes gives approximately 1½ hour playback. | Earphones: approx. 1 ½ h Charging Case (USB-C): 1.40 h Charging Case (Qi Wireless): 1.50 h Charging for 20 minutes gives approximately 2 hours playback. | Earphones: approx. 1.5 h Charging Case (USB-C): 1.45 h Charging Case (Qi Wireless): 2.15 h Charging for 20 minutes gives approximately 1.75 hours playback. |
| BATTERY SIZE | Earphones: Right (Primary) 60 mAh Left (Secondary) 60 mAh Charging Case: 450 mAh | Earphones: Right (Primary) 85 mAh Left (Secondary) 85 mAh Charging Case: 340 mAh | Earphones: Right (Primary) 70 mAh Left (Secondary) 70 mAh Charging Case: 380 mAh |
| Connectivity | |||
| BLUETOOTH | Bluetooth 5.1 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| SOUND CODECS | SBC, AAC codec, Aptx classic | SBC, AAC codec, aptX™ Adaptive | SBC, AAC codec, aptX™ Adaptive |
| MICROPHONE | 4 – With beamforming signal processing | 6 x MEMS, omni-directional (beam directional for speech) | 6 x MEMS, omni-directional (beam directional for speech) |
| INPUTS AND OUTPUTS | 1.25 m USB-A to USB-C cable for Charging Qi Wireless Charging | 0.50 m USB-A to USB-C cable for Charging Qi Wireless Charging 5V DC / 500mA USB-C or 400mA Qi charged | 0.50 m USB-A to USB-C cable for Charging Qi Wireless Charging 5V DC / 500mA USB-C or 400mA Qi charged |
| CERTIFICATIONS | – | Google Fast Pair Made for iPhone (MFi) Microsoft Swift Pair Supports Apple watch interface | Google Fast Pair Made for iPhone (MFi) Microsoft Swift Pair Supports Apple watch interface |
| MULTIPOINT | – | 2 active devices simultaneously | 2 active devices simultaneously |
| MSRP | $350 | $399 | $399 |
| MODEL | Beoplay E8 Sport | Beoplay EQ | Beoplay EX |
