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Verdict: The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 is a $2,200-and-up luxury over-ear headphone built around adaptive noise control, spatial audio, USB high-resolution playback and replaceable magnetic cushions. B&O’s published battery figures are strong on paper, but they are maximum estimates rather than independent test results. The H100 is a compelling fit for buyers who value materials, serviceability and a premium listening system; it is harder to justify if you mainly need the best measured ANC, microphone performance or value.
Beoplay H100 at a glance
| Item | What B&O states |
|---|---|
| Product type | Over-ear headphones for music, work and travel |
| Launch | September 2024 |
| Platform | First headphone built on B&O’s Amadeus software platform |
| Drivers and processing | Titanium drivers, Dolby Atmos optimization, adaptive ANC and TrueTransparency |
| Battery estimate | Up to 32 hours with ANC at moderate volume; up to 30 hours with Spatial Audio and Head Tracking; up to 26 hours for calls |
| Bluetooth range | Up to 10 meters in line of sight |
| Wired high-resolution audio | Supported over USB audio; Hi-Res option is enabled in the B&O app |
| Replaceable parts | Ear cushions and inner headband are magnet mounted and removable |
| Warranty | Three-year limited warranty; Beocare registration may extend coverage to five years, depending on market and terms |
| US listing shown during research | From $2,200; a selected listing displayed $2,300. Color and current price can change. |
Those specifications describe the product as B&O positions it. No independent measurements of sound, ANC attenuation, transparency quality, call microphones, comfort or battery runtime were available for this review, so the claims below are identified as manufacturer statements rather than laboratory findings.
What the Beoplay H100 is—and who it is for
The H100 is B&O’s flagship-style over-ear model for people who want one headphone for focused listening, office work and travel. Its price places it in the luxury category rather than the mainstream noise-cancelling market. The package includes a leather pouch, and B&O offers multiple color finishes.
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The design brief is broader than “Bluetooth headphones.” B&O combines active and passive isolation, a transparency mode, spatial processing, app-based controls, USB audio and a modular construction intended to keep the product in service longer. That combination will appeal to a buyer who cares about industrial design and maintenance as much as a feature checklist.
#1 Best Overall
- STATE OF THE ART: The best of Bang & Olufsen. The latest and most advanced iteration of our ever-evolving technology and engineering expertise
- BUILT FOR THE FUTURE: Designed with replaceability and serviceability at heart, key components can be replaced for longer lasting headphones
- ADVANCED NOISE CANCELLATION: Our most advanced noise cancellation yet, allowing you to fully immerse in studio quality music, every time
- EXTREME COMFORT: Whether you're listening for 10 minutes or 10 hours, slip on Beoplay H100 and enter a world of comfort
- EXTENDED PLAYTIME: Enjoy up to 32 hours of playback with ANC switched on. Need a top up? Get five hours of music on a five minute charge
It is less straightforward for someone choosing solely by measured performance per dollar. The available documentation does not establish that the H100 blocks more noise, sounds better, lasts longer in actual use or handles calls better than less expensive premium models. Those are important open questions, not reasons to assume either a win or a failure.
Price, launch and luxury positioning
B&O’s US product-page search display showed a starting price of $2,200 and a selected configuration at $2,300. Treat those figures as volatile US listing details: the selected color, taxes, regional pricing and current availability can change. They should not be read as a worldwide MSRP or a guaranteed checkout total.
The company’s 2024/25 annual report records a September 2024 launch and calls the H100 the first headphone built on its Amadeus software platform. The report also frames modularity as part of B&O’s approach to longevity, maintenance, repairability and product circularity. Those are stated design goals. They do not, by themselves, prove how many years a particular unit will last, how quickly a repair will be completed or what replacement parts will cost.
At this price, ownership details matter. Before ordering, confirm the exact color and regional price, what is included in the box, return rights, and the warranty terms that apply to your seller and country. A luxury headphone can be a good long-term purchase only if support remains accessible after the novelty wears off.
Noise control: adaptive ANC and TrueTransparency
How B&O says the hybrid ANC works
B&O describes the H100’s Adaptive ANC as a hybrid system. External microphones provide feed-forward sensing while internal microphones provide feedback. The algorithm is intended to adapt as surrounding noise changes. The memory-foam and leather earcups are also described as contributing passive isolation.
That architecture explains the intended operating model, not the result you will get on a train, airplane or busy street. The available material contains no standardized attenuation curves, comparison against competing headphones or independent listening assessment. Consider the ANC specification a feature description, and check a current hands-on measurement if maximum noise reduction is your deciding factor.
Using transparency
TrueTransparency is B&O’s name for its hear-the-surroundings mode. The company says the left dial can vary the balance between ANC and transparency. Its support guidance also describes quick switching with a button, covering the glass surface with your palm to activate transparency, and lifting one earcup to pause content and engage transparency. Controls can be customized in the B&O app.
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- STATE OF THE ART: The best of Bang and Olufsen. The latest and most advanced iteration of our ever-evolving technology and engineering expertise.
- BUILT FOR THE FUTURE: Designed with replaceability and serviceability at heart, key components can be replaced for longer lasting headphones.
- ADVANCED NOISE CANCELLATION: Our most advanced noise cancellation yet, allowing you to fully immerse in studio quality music, every time.
- EXTREME COMFORT: Whether you’re listening for 10 minutes or 10 hours, slip on Beoplay H100 and enter a world of comfort.
- EXTENDED PLAYTIME: Enjoy up to 32 hours of playback with ANC switched on. Need a top up. Get five hours of music on a five minute charge.
These options are useful in different situations: a physical button is predictable when walking, the palm gesture is convenient for a short conversation, and earcup lifting can avoid touching the controls. Exact behavior can depend on the selected setting and app configuration, so verify the current control assignments after pairing.
The important limitation: there is no passive mode
B&O says the H100 has no passive listening mode. Its explanation is that the headphone relies on ANC-related processing for Earsense, music compensation and reducing the occlusion effect; the company says a fully passive path would not fit its progressive ANC-to-transparency experience.
This matters if you want to listen with every electronic process disabled, conserve power by using the earcups as ordinary wired headphones, or keep listening after the battery is empty. The H100 is designed around active processing rather than offering a conventional “electronics off” setting.
Battery life: what is the battery life of my Beoplay H100?
B&O publishes three maximum estimates. At moderate volume with ANC enabled, it says the H100 can run for up to 32 hours. With Spatial Audio and Head Tracking, the estimate is up to 30 hours. When used only for calls, the figure is up to 26 hours.
| Use case | B&O’s maximum estimate | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Music with ANC | Up to 32 hours | Measured by the manufacturer at moderate volume |
| Spatial Audio with Head Tracking | Up to 30 hours | Manufacturer estimate; processing reduces the stated maximum |
| Calls only | Up to 26 hours | Manufacturer estimate for call use |
B&O says volume, music intensity and equalizer settings affect runtime. Spatial processing, frequent calls, a strong wireless environment and other power demands can also make real use differ from the headline figure. None of these numbers is an independent battery test, and the documentation does not establish a typical runtime at a fixed volume across a standardized playlist.
For travel planning, use 32 hours as an optimistic ceiling for moderate-volume ANC playback, not a promise. If you rely on the H100 for a long workday of calls, plan around the lower call estimate and charge before departure.
Bluetooth range and connection behavior
What is the Bluetooth range of my Beoplay H100?
B&O states a Bluetooth range of up to 10 meters in line of sight. Walls, a body between the headphone and source, radio interference and the source device can reduce that distance. The company specifically cautions that nearby active wireless devices may affect the connection.
Rank #3
- STATE OF THE ART: The best of Bang and Olufsen. The latest and most advanced iteration of our ever-evolving technology and engineering expertise
- BUILT FOR THE FUTURE: Designed with replaceability and serviceability at heart, key components can be replaced for longer lasting headphones
- ADVANCED NOISE CANCELLATION: Our most advanced noise cancellation yet, allowing you to fully immerse in studio quality music, every time
- EXTREME COMFORT: Whether you're listening for 10 minutes or 10 hours, slip on Beoplay H100 and enter a world of comfort
- EXTENDED PLAYTIME: Enjoy up to 32 hours of playback with ANC switched on. Need a top up. Get five hours of music on a five minute charge
Ten meters is therefore a best-case reference, not a guarantee that audio will remain stable through every room or office floor. Keep the source on the same side of your body when possible, avoid placing it behind dense obstacles, and test the actual range with your phone or computer before relying on the H100 for a presentation.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchSpatial Audio, Dolby Atmos and head tracking
The H100 offers three Spatial Audio choices:
- Off: conventional playback without B&O’s spatial processing.
- Virtualise: processing for stereo sources.
- Immersive: processing intended for Dolby Atmos sources.
Head Tracking can be enabled or disabled for the processed modes. B&O notes that Dolby Atmos availability depends on the streaming service and a premium subscription. A track, app or account that does not supply Atmos content will not become a native Atmos mix simply because Immersive is selected.
Spatial audio is a preference feature, not an established quality advantage in this evidence. Some listeners may prefer a wider or more speaker-like presentation; others may prefer the unprocessed setting. Compare the three modes with familiar recordings, and disable head tracking if its movement effect distracts you.
Wired listening and high-resolution USB audio
How to play high-resolution audio
B&O says high-resolution playback is supported over USB audio. Its documented workflow is:
- Connect the H100 to the source device with a USB audio connection.
- Open the B&O app and enable the Hi-Res option.
- Configure the operating system and the streaming application for the desired high-resolution output.
- Start playback and confirm that the source is using the H100’s USB audio path rather than Bluetooth.
The support material includes device-specific notes for iOS/iPadOS, Android, Windows and macOS. Menu names and maximum output choices can vary by operating-system version and app, so follow the current instructions for your device rather than assuming a single setting applies everywhere.
B&O explicitly says enabling Hi-Res does not provide an audible benefit when listening over Bluetooth or Line-in. The setting is relevant to USB audio; it is not a way to increase the resolution of a wireless or analog signal.
For a desktop setup, USB is the clearest route when you want the documented Hi-Res feature. For a phone, check whether the handset supports USB audio output, whether an adapter is needed and whether the music app actually offers high-resolution material. A lossless label in an app does not automatically mean the H100 is receiving that stream over USB.
Rank #4
- Extended Battery Life: Up to 38 hours of playtime on a single charge, with ANC switched on. A powerful battery lets Beoplay H95 push boundaries and maximise uptime
- Advanced Noise Cancellation: Our most advanced adaptive, active noise cancellation lets you concentrate on the music. Tune out background noise and immerse yourself in the moment
- Premium Sound Quality: Two 40mm titanium drivers with neodymium magnets, specially selected and customised for precise and powerful sound. Redefine grab-and-go listening
- Crystal Clear Calls: Four built-in microphones for crystal clear voice calls. Chat with friends, family and colleagues, confident you'll be heard
- Luxurious Comfort Design: Soft to the touch, sturdy in build. Titanium, lambskin leather and memory foam crafted into extremely comfortable headphones with an elegant, foldable design
Comfort, fit and replaceable parts
There is no independent long-session comfort assessment in the available material. The H100 uses over-ear cushions made with memory foam and leather, which B&O says also help passive isolation. Whether the clamping force, weight distribution and heat buildup suit you depends on head shape, glasses and session length; those variables cannot be settled by the specification alone.
The practical maintenance detail is clearer. B&O says the ear cushions and inner headband can be pulled off because they are magnet mounted. The left and right cushions have specific orientations, so replacement requires matching each cushion to its side.
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Removability is a meaningful advantage over headphones whose pads are glued or permanently stitched. It does not mean every repair is user-serviceable, that a damaged electronic component can be replaced at home, or that third-party parts will fit. Confirm exact H100 compatibility and current availability before buying spare cushions or a headband.
Controls and app features
The H100 combines physical controls with gesture-like interactions. B&O documents a left dial for the ANC/transparency balance, a button for quick mode switching, palm-over-glass transparency and earcup lifting to pause and activate transparency. The B&O app can customize some controls and exposes the Hi-Res option.
This gives you more ways to operate the headphones than a basic button-only design, but it also creates more settings to learn. After setup, test each shortcut while stationary: confirm which action pauses playback, which changes listening mode and whether lifting an earcup behaves as expected. If a gesture becomes inconvenient, use the app to adjust the available controls instead of relying on memory.
No independent assessment established app reliability, firmware stability or control latency. Keep the app and headphone software current according to B&O’s instructions, and document your preferred assignments so a reset does not leave you guessing.
Sound quality and calls: what this review can—and cannot—say
B&O specifies titanium drivers and Dolby Atmos optimization, but the supplied evidence does not include frequency-response measurements, distortion figures, codec testing or an independent listening session. It would be misleading to call the H100’s sound “better” than another model on that basis.
Best Value
- COMPATIBLE MODELS - Compatible with Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 headphones. Please check your headphone model before purchasing.
- GENUINE SHEEPSKIN LEATHER - Crafted with genuine sheepskin leather in an Hourglass Sand finish, providing a soft tactile feel, natural breathability, and reliable durability.
- HIGH-DENSITY MEMORY FOAM - Filled with high-density memory foam that provides superior cushioning and a rich acoustic seal, helping reduce ear pressure during extended listening sessions.
- MAGNETIC INSTALLATION - Designed with an integrated magnetic setup. Simply align the replacement earpad with the earcup and let the internal magnets pull and lock it securely into place. No tools or force required.
- PACKAGE CONTENTS - Package includes 1 pair of replacement earpads. (Headphone is not included.)
B&O’s 2024/25 annual report reproduces a Forbes review excerpt dated September 3, 2024: “The sound is impeccable, and the tone has been tuned to perfection.” The report does not identify an individual author. This is an attributed publication excerpt, not an independent measurement or a test performed for this review.
Microphone quality is similarly unresolved. The documentation establishes a 26-hour manufacturer estimate for calls, but it does not provide voice-recording samples, background-noise tests or a comparison with competing headsets. If calls are central to your purchase, seek a current microphone test for the exact firmware and device combination you use.
Warranty, longevity and ownership risk
B&O’s limited-warranty page lists three years of standard H100 coverage. It says registering through Beocare in the B&O app can extend coverage to five years. The annual report also references a five-year warranty through Beocare.
Coverage depends on geography, purchase conditions and the current terms. Registering is not a substitute for reading those terms: confirm whether your country, seller and date of purchase qualify, what proof of purchase is required, and which exclusions apply.
The removable cushions and headband support a maintenance-oriented design, and the Amadeus platform is presented as a foundation for future software capability. Neither point guarantees a particular repair outcome or a specific number of supported software years. Keep your receipt, register promptly where eligible, store the headphone in its pouch and avoid treating removable parts as proof that every internal failure is repairable.
How the H100 compares with other premium headphones
A useful comparison should test the areas that determine daily value, not just count features. For the H100, the available documentation supports a comparison framework but not a winner:
- Current price: verify the local price and selected finish at the time of purchase; the US listing observed was $2,200 starting and $2,300 for one selection.
- Noise reduction and transparency: look for standardized measurements and consistent real-world tests rather than relying on the presence of “adaptive” in a product name.
- Battery: compare measured runtime under the same volume, ANC and codec conditions; B&O’s figures are maximum estimates.
- Comfort: check long-session fit, heat, clamping pressure and glasses compatibility.
- Calls: compare microphone recordings in quiet rooms, traffic and wind.
- Wired use: confirm whether USB audio, analog input, charging while listening and high-resolution support match your equipment.
- Controls and software: assess app reliability, firmware support and whether gestures can be disabled or reassigned.
- Repairability: ask for replacement-part prices, service locations and turnaround times; removable cushions alone do not answer those questions.
- Warranty: compare the coverage period and conditions in your region, including any registration requirement.
Because independent competitor measurements were not part of this evaluation, the H100 should not be declared the overall winner on ANC, sound, comfort, calls or battery life.
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- Choose it if you want: a luxury over-ear design for music, work and travel; physical and gesture controls; adjustable ANC/transparency; spatial-audio options; USB high-resolution playback; and cushions and headband parts that B&O says are magnet mounted.
- Choose it if service matters: the potential five-year Beocare warranty extension and modular design are meaningful priorities, provided the terms and parts support exist in your market.
- Look elsewhere if value is primary: the $2,200-plus US listing places the H100 far above ordinary premium headphones, and the available evidence does not establish a proportional performance gain.
- Look elsewhere if passive listening is essential: B&O says there is no passive mode.
- Wait for more evidence if performance is the deciding factor: independent ANC, battery, comfort, microphone and sound measurements are still needed for a confident technical ranking.
Recommended first-day setup
- Charge the H100 fully and install the current B&O app for your phone or tablet.
- Pair it with your primary source and test playback from the location where you normally work or travel.
- Try ANC, TrueTransparency and the left-dial balance control in a quiet room before judging the effect in traffic.
- Test the button, palm gesture and earcup-lift behavior, then customize available controls in the app.
- Listen with Spatial Audio Off, Virtualise and Immersive using familiar tracks; enable Head Tracking only if you prefer its effect.
- If you need Hi-Res, connect USB, enable Hi-Res in the app and configure the source and streaming app. Do not expect that setting to change Bluetooth or Line-in playback.
- Register for Beocare if the program is available in your market, and save the purchase documentation.
- Fit the leather pouch and identify the left and right cushion orientation before you ever need a replacement.
Final verdict
The Beoplay H100 is best understood as a luxury, actively processed headphone system rather than a conventional passive-capable headset. B&O gives it an ambitious feature set—adaptive ANC, adjustable transparency, spatial audio, USB Hi-Res playback and modular wear parts—and publishes up to 32 hours of ANC playback. The trade-offs are equally clear: a very high and changeable price, no passive mode, and a lack of independent evidence proving class-leading ANC, comfort, sound, calls or real-world battery life.
Buy it when the design, ownership model and B&O ecosystem justify the premium for you. Do not buy it on the assumption that the price alone guarantees the best measured performance.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
