Bang & Olufsen Cisco Bang & Olufsen 950 True Wireless Review

The Cisco Bang & Olufsen 950 delivers elite Bang & Olufsen sound and incredible call clarity wrapped in enterprise security. Its 97th percentile audio and mics are fantastic, but the high price and niche focus make it a specialist's tool. Worth it for IT departments and Webex power users, but overkill for most people.

The Cisco Bang & Olufsen 950 earbuds are a fascinating hybrid. They're a high-end audio product from B&O, but they're wrapped in Cisco's enterprise-grade security and device management tools. This makes them a very specific tool for a very specific job: the IT professional or corporate user who wants top-tier sound and call quality without compromising on security.

You get the full Bang & Olufsen audio experience—rich, detailed sound that lands in the 97th percentile—but with features like Webex certification and centralized IT management. It's like someone put a luxury car engine in a company fleet vehicle. The build and microphone quality are also exceptional, scoring in the 98th and 97th percentiles, respectively.

Performance-wise, these earbuds are built for clarity. The six-beamforming microphones deliver some of the clearest call audio we've tested, which is the whole point for a work-focused device. The sound profile is detailed and balanced, perfect for both music and conference calls. The adaptive ANC is solid, sitting in the 84th percentile, though it's not quite class-leading. The battery life is good but not great at 6 hours per bud, and the case adds another 20 hours. It's enough for a workday, but power users might need a midday top-up.

At around $367, the value proposition is entirely dependent on your needs. For a regular consumer, this is a tough sell. You can get similarly great sound and better ANC from competitors like the Sony WF-1000XM5 for less money. But if you're an IT department provisioning devices, or a professional who lives on Webex calls and needs ironclad security, the price starts to make sense. You're paying a premium for the Cisco ecosystem integration, which is invaluable in that context.

Stacked up against the competition, it's a niche play. The Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra have stronger noise cancellation. The Apple AirPods Pro offer seamless integration for Apple users. The Jabra Evolve2 Buds are a more direct business-focused competitor, but the B&O 950 likely has the edge in pure audio fidelity. Think of it this way: the Sony and Bose are for drowning out the world on your commute. The Cisco B&O 950 is for sounding crystal-clear to your colleagues while you do it.

Skip these if you're just looking for the best noise-canceling earbuds for travel or commuting. You're paying a premium for enterprise features you won't use. Also, if you're on a tight budget (its weakest area), there are countless fantastic options under $250 that will serve you better.

Buy these if you're an IT manager looking for secure, high-quality audio devices to deploy, or a corporate power user whose job revolves around clear communication. The blend of B&O sound and Cisco's management is unique and powerful for that audience. For everyone else—the average music lover, traveler, or casual user—there are more versatile and better-known options that offer similar or better performance for less cash.