Sony WH-1000XM4 killer revealed - and it's crazy expensive

Sony WH-1000XM4 killer revealed - and it's crazy expensive

Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones have been very impressive in reviews, effectively becoming the noise-canceling headphones to beat. However, Bang & Olufsen seems to be taking on this headphone with its new Beoplay H95 headphones.

Clad in "soft lambskin" over smart oval earcups, the headphones are a luxury design synonymous with Bang & Olufsen's audio equipment; the Beoplay H95s cost as much as $800.

In contrast, Sony's WH-1000XM4 is half that, at $349.99, a much more expensive price tag for an over-the-ear wireless headphone.

The Beoplay H95 was created to celebrate B&O's 95th birthday, and the price takes into account that these are special edition headphones. For this reason, animal skin was used, and the carrying case is also made of aluminum instead of cloth.

Despite such a high price, the Beoplay H95 features active noise cancellation with a rotary control on the left ear cup to adjust the volume. This should make fine-tuning the Beoplay H95's volume and noise filter much easier than adjusting it with a small button on the earcup or a swipe on the touch-sensitive panel.

B&O claims that its ANC is the "most advanced" of any headphone to date. The noise canceling feature works in conjunction with the passive noise block provided by the headphone's design to shut out noise in any environment.

The headphones use 40mm titanium drivers with neodymium magnets in the enclosure to help displace air and improve bass response. In addition, Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity, aptX Adaptive and AAC support should guarantee a high level of sound quality and solid connectivity.

Finally, 38 hours of playback is advertised by B&O, which should mean that the Beoplay H95 will last longer than the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones. To be sure, one would have to try them out in person. But you won't have to wait too long, as the Beoplay H95 is available now from B&O's website or in brick-and-mortar stores on September 10.

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