Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100

With a mic in the 98th percentile and connectivity in the 99th, the Beoplay H100 are essentially a professional headset disguised as a luxury headphone. Sound quality and ANC are excellent too, but build quality lags behind most competitors and the price is sky-high. You're paying for the best wireless call experience on the market.

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 are, without exaggeration, one of the most feature-complete wireless headphones we've tested, with connectivity in the 99th percentile and microphone quality at 98th. That means pairing is rock-solid and call clarity rivals dedicated office headsets. Sound quality is also stellar, sitting in the 92nd percentile, and ANC is right up there too, beating 88% of all headphones we've measured. This is a luxury over-ear that checks nearly every box, from a 32-hour battery to IP53 dust and water resistance.

But numbers also reveal some cracks in the facade. Build quality is where things get dicey: at the 35th percentile, it's notably below average, and comfort sits dead in the middle of the pack. For headphones that can cost nearly three grand, we expected a more premium feel. These are clearly designed for the lounge or office, not for rugged daily abuse, despite the replaceable ear pads and headband that B&O touts for longevity.

The 40mm titanium drivers paired with a 500MHz DSP engine deliver the kind of detailed, airy sound you'd hope for at this price. In our testing, the H100 land in the 92nd percentile for overall sound quality, which puts them ahead of all but the most boutique audiophile cans. The spatial audio implementation is solid, and the frequency response extends from a deep 10Hz all the way to 40kHz, giving you that Hi-Res Audio badge. Bass is powerful without muddying the mids, and the soundstage feels surprisingly open for a closed-back design.

Where these really shine is in speech and connectivity. With 10 mics and some clever AI-driven noise reduction, the mic array scored 98th percentile. That's better than most gaming headsets we've tested. And Bluetooth 5.3 with multipoint means you can hop between a laptop and phone without missing a beat. Gaming performance is actually quite good too, scoring 83.2 out of 100, thanks to low latency over USB-C and that spacious sound. But they're not perfect for every task: our studio performance metric tapped out at 61.6, so don't expect a neutral reference curve for mixing.

Let's be blunt: these are not a value play. With prices ranging from $1,958 to $2,989 depending on the retailer, you're paying a staggering premium for top-shelf sound and class-leading call quality. The $1,031 difference between the cheapest and most expensive seller means you absolutely should shop around. For context, you could buy a Sony WH-1000XM6 and a Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 and still have money left over. You're not buying the H100 because they're a good deal; you're buying them because you want the best mic and one of the best sound signatures in a wireless can, and you don't mind the hit to your wallet.

Stacked against its closest rivals, the Beoplay H100 win big on mic and connectivity. The Sony WH-1000XM6 can't touch that 99th percentile connectivity score, and while its ANC is legendary, the H100's 88th percentile performance is only a hair behind. The Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 offers better battery life and a more neutral sound signature but gets smoked on call quality. Meanwhile, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 brings a more luxurious build and comfort that puts the H100's 35th and 51st percentiles to shame, though its sound is less energetic. If you care more about tactile luxury and all-day wear, the Px8 S2 might be the smarter splurge. For sheer technical prowess in calls and streaming, the H100 are tough to beat.

If build quality and comfort are anywhere near the top of your priority list, look elsewhere. The H100's 35th percentile build score means the majority of headphones we've tested feel more robust and premium in hand. The 51st percentile comfort rating also suggests they're just average for long sessions. Studio-minded listeners should also pass, given the 61.6 out of 100 score for neutral, analytical sound. And if you're not prepared to drop at least $2,000, there are far better values from Sony and Sennheiser that deliver 90% of the experience for a third of the price.

The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 are a very specific kind of headphone: they dominate in connectivity and microphone performance while delivering genuinely great sound and ANC. If you spend your day on Zoom calls and want your music to sound immersive and detailed, these will make you very happy. The replaceable parts and IP53 rating add a longevity angle that's rare in luxury headphones. However, the mediocre build quality and average comfort mean you should temper expectations for that high-end unboxing feel. They're not for everyone, but for the right buyer who values call quality above all else, they're a top pick.