Bang & Olufsen H100 Wireless Over-Ear Noise-Canceling Review
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 costs $2,200. For that money, you get mid-tier audio performance wrapped in a beautiful, luxurious package. It's a hard sell for anyone who cares about sound.
The 30-Second Version
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 is a luxury bauble, not a serious audio tool. For $2,200, you get mid-tier performance wrapped in a very pretty, very expensive box.
Overview
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 is a $2,200 flex that sounds like a $500 headphone. The one thing you need to know is this: you're paying for the brand name and the aluminum grille, not for class-leading performance. Everything about it is aggressively average, landing right in the middle of our database for sound, noise canceling, and comfort. It's a beautiful piece of jewelry for your ears, but if you're expecting sonic magic to match the price tag, you'll be disappointed.
Performance
What surprised us was just how... unsurprising it was. With custom titanium drivers and Hi-Res audio support, we expected something special. Instead, the sound profile is pleasant but unremarkable, scoring in the 49th percentile. The active noise canceling is fine for a coffee shop, but it's not going to drown out a plane engine. For two grand, we were hoping for a knockout punch, and we got a polite handshake.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Stunning, luxury build and materials. 100th
- Supports high-resolution 24-bit/96kHz audio via USB-C. 99th
- Dolby Atmos with head tracking is a fun party trick. 98th
- Replaceable parts are a nice nod to longevity. 96th
Cons
- The price is utterly disconnected from the performance. 8th
- Sound quality is merely good, not great or class-leading. 28th
- Noise canceling is mid-pack at best.
- Social proof ranking is abysmal at the 14th percentile—people aren't buying it.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | Over-Ear |
| Open/Closed | Closed |
| Foldable | Yes |
| Weight | 0.4 kg / 0.8 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Driver Size | 40 |
| Freq Min | 10 |
| Freq Max | 20000 |
| Sensitivity | 103 |
| Codecs | AAC, SBC |
| Surround | Spatial Audio |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Wired Connector | USB-C |
| Cable Length | 1.25 |
Battery
| Battery Life | 32 |
| Charge Time | 1 |
| Fast Charging | 5min=5hrs |
| Charging | USB-C |
| Capacity | 520 |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 4 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | Yes |
| App | iOS, Android |
| Water Resistance | IP54 |
Value & Pricing
It is categorically not worth it. At $2,200, you could buy the Sony WH-1000XM5, the Apple AirPods Max, and a nice dinner and still have change left over. This is a luxury accessory, not a high-fidelity audio tool.
vs Competition
Put it next to the Apple AirPods Max, and the choice is obvious. The AirPods Max cost nearly a thousand dollars less, offer better spatial audio integration if you're in the Apple ecosystem, and have similar build quality. Against the Sony WH-1000XM5, it's a massacre. The Sony's are half the price, have best-in-class ANC, and sound just as good, if not better. The Beoplay H100 wins on looks and brand cachet alone, and that's a terrible trade.
| Spec | Bang & Olufsen H100 Wireless Over-Ear Noise-Canceling | Sony WH-1000XM6 Sony - WH-1000XM6- Best Wireless Noise Cancelling | Sennheiser Momentum Sennheiser MOMENTUM 4 Noise-Canceling Wireless | Bowers & Wilkins PX7S2 Bowers & Wilkins - Px7 S2 Wireless Active Noise | Apple iClever BTH12 Kids Bluetooth Headphones,Colorful | Bose QuietComfort Bose QuietComfort Wireless Over-Ear Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear | Over-Ear |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | 40 | 30 | 42 | 40 | 40 | - |
| Impedance Ohms | - | 48 | 470 | 33 | 32 | - |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | - | Closed |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 5.1 |
| Battery Life Hours | 32 | 30 | 60 | 30 | 55 | 24 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bang & Olufsen H100 Wireless Over-Ear Noise-Canceling | 87.7 | 99.3 | 48.1 | 98.3 | 95.6 | 7.8 | 99.9 | 27.6 |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 Best Wireless Noise Cancelling Compare | 94.4 | 99.7 | 98.3 | 99.1 | 95.1 | 91.6 | 99.9 | 97.9 |
| Sennheiser Momentum Noise-Canceling Wireless Over-Ear Compare | 99.5 | 99.3 | 48.1 | 99 | 98.3 | 72.9 | 98.5 | 89.3 |
| Bowers & Wilkins PX7S2 Wireless Active Noise Cancelling Over Ear Compare | 94.4 | 92.6 | 99.9 | 93.8 | 94.1 | 67.9 | 93.3 | 94.3 |
| Apple iClever BTH12 Kids Compare | 87.7 | 92.6 | 98.3 | 93.8 | 97.7 | 99.7 | 94.9 | 94.3 |
| Bose QuietComfort Wireless Over-Ear Active Noise-Canceling Compare | 87.7 | 92.6 | 48.1 | 88.2 | 94.4 | 91.6 | 98.1 | 89.3 |
Common Questions
Q: Is the sound quality really worth $2,200?
No. Not even close. Our testing puts its sound quality in the 49th percentile. You're paying for the design and the brand, not groundbreaking audio.
Q: How's the noise canceling compared to Sony or Bose?
It's okay, but it's not in the same league. It scores in the 48th percentile for ANC. Sony's WH-1000XM5 and Bose's QuietComfort are significantly better at isolating you from the world, and they cost a fraction of the price.
Q: Who is this actually for?
Honestly? For someone who values the Bang & Olufsen logo and the sleek aluminum design more than they care about getting the best sound or features for their money. It's a status symbol.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for the best sound, noise cancellation, or value in a wireless headphone, this isn't it. Go get the Sony WH-1000XM5. If you want premium build within Apple's world, get the AirPods Max. Skip the H100 unless your primary metric is 'looks expensive on your Instagram.'
Verdict
We cannot recommend these headphones to anyone who isn't explicitly buying a fashion statement. If you have unlimited money and want a beautiful object that also plays music, sure. For everyone else—audiophiles, commuters, travelers, students—this is a hard pass. Spend your money on something that delivers performance to match its price.