MacDEF
Headphone Hussy (will wear anything if it sounds good)
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2001
- Posts
- 6,761
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Long-time no post, I know
Long-time Head-Fi members know that I've generally been, well, less than kind to the Bang & Olufsen A8. The few times I had heard them in the past I was quite unimpressed. Although I liked the design, I thought they sounded mediocre and were completely overpriced at $160. I even went so far as to state that the $15 Sennheiser MX 400/500 were better sounding earbuds. In short, I thought they provided horrible *value* for the price.
A friend of mine here in the Bay Area is a technology writer who is currently evaluating some earbud-type headphones, and one of those is the A8. I decided to give them a try again.
First, let me state that over the past year I've softened my hardline "Who cares what it looks like?" stance -- I've met too many people who really, really, really want headphones that look good. I've come to the conclusion that while some people can be convinced to listen for sound first, others will never buy something they think is "ugly" -- or, at the very least, will want the best looking option among those that sound good. I say this because I don't think you can fairly evaluate the A8 unless you place them in this context.
That out of the way, here's the thing: I kind of liked the A8 this time. For whatever reason, the ones I spent time with recently sound much better than the several units I heard a few years back. Perhaps newer models are improved over older versions? I don't know, to be honest. But I do know that whereas I previously felt that both the Sennheiser MX 500 and Sony MDR-E888 were better than the A8 in terms of sound quality, I can no longer say that in good faith. All three of these "earbuds" are quite good -- considering the limitations of earbuds, of course. Which you'll prefer, sound-wise, will probably depend on your preferences. As my previous posts have explained, I personally like the MX 500 slightly better than the E888, mainly because they cost 1/4 a much, but I can see how some people would prefer the E888. The A8 are very similar to the E888 in that they don't quite have the bass of the MX 500 but they have a lot of good detail (though a bit too much for my taste at times). I would say that between the A8 and E888, that the A8 have a bit better treble, whereas the E888 have a bit better midrange.
TIP: The A8 are fairly sensitive to placement; if they aren't seated properly in your ears, they sound pretty bad. Thankfully, you can get them to "fit" however you like, thanks to adjustable earclips and movable (height and angle) earbuds.
So, assuming that the E888/A8 sound is more to your preference than the (much less expensive) MX 500 sound, what do you get for the extra $80 (the difference in cost between the E888 and A8)?
* Better build quality: the E888 are built a bit better than most earbuds, but the A8 are tank-like by comparison
(On the other hand, they also have more moving parts, so perhaps after a few years they might not hold up as well; I don't know.)
* Much better comfort: the A8 are one of the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. I like their fit even better than my old comfort standby, the Koss KSC-35 -- the A8 basically disappear.
* Design: As with any B&O product, you pay a lot for design. Granted, it's good design that results in comfort, attractiveness, and "gadget factor." But the fact remains that you're paying $160 for a pair of earbuds.
My new position on the A8: They're among the better sounding earbuds on the market, but they're still earbuds. If you're looking for the best sound for $160, there are a LOT of better options out there. If you're looking for pretty good sound in a comfortable, portable package, and you're willing to pay more for good looks/design, give them a try. They're certainly better than the stock headphones that come with most portable players.
Long-time Head-Fi members know that I've generally been, well, less than kind to the Bang & Olufsen A8. The few times I had heard them in the past I was quite unimpressed. Although I liked the design, I thought they sounded mediocre and were completely overpriced at $160. I even went so far as to state that the $15 Sennheiser MX 400/500 were better sounding earbuds. In short, I thought they provided horrible *value* for the price.
A friend of mine here in the Bay Area is a technology writer who is currently evaluating some earbud-type headphones, and one of those is the A8. I decided to give them a try again.
First, let me state that over the past year I've softened my hardline "Who cares what it looks like?" stance -- I've met too many people who really, really, really want headphones that look good. I've come to the conclusion that while some people can be convinced to listen for sound first, others will never buy something they think is "ugly" -- or, at the very least, will want the best looking option among those that sound good. I say this because I don't think you can fairly evaluate the A8 unless you place them in this context.
That out of the way, here's the thing: I kind of liked the A8 this time. For whatever reason, the ones I spent time with recently sound much better than the several units I heard a few years back. Perhaps newer models are improved over older versions? I don't know, to be honest. But I do know that whereas I previously felt that both the Sennheiser MX 500 and Sony MDR-E888 were better than the A8 in terms of sound quality, I can no longer say that in good faith. All three of these "earbuds" are quite good -- considering the limitations of earbuds, of course. Which you'll prefer, sound-wise, will probably depend on your preferences. As my previous posts have explained, I personally like the MX 500 slightly better than the E888, mainly because they cost 1/4 a much, but I can see how some people would prefer the E888. The A8 are very similar to the E888 in that they don't quite have the bass of the MX 500 but they have a lot of good detail (though a bit too much for my taste at times). I would say that between the A8 and E888, that the A8 have a bit better treble, whereas the E888 have a bit better midrange.
TIP: The A8 are fairly sensitive to placement; if they aren't seated properly in your ears, they sound pretty bad. Thankfully, you can get them to "fit" however you like, thanks to adjustable earclips and movable (height and angle) earbuds.
So, assuming that the E888/A8 sound is more to your preference than the (much less expensive) MX 500 sound, what do you get for the extra $80 (the difference in cost between the E888 and A8)?
* Better build quality: the E888 are built a bit better than most earbuds, but the A8 are tank-like by comparison
* Much better comfort: the A8 are one of the most comfortable headphones I've ever worn. I like their fit even better than my old comfort standby, the Koss KSC-35 -- the A8 basically disappear.
* Design: As with any B&O product, you pay a lot for design. Granted, it's good design that results in comfort, attractiveness, and "gadget factor." But the fact remains that you're paying $160 for a pair of earbuds.
My new position on the A8: They're among the better sounding earbuds on the market, but they're still earbuds. If you're looking for the best sound for $160, there are a LOT of better options out there. If you're looking for pretty good sound in a comfortable, portable package, and you're willing to pay more for good looks/design, give them a try. They're certainly better than the stock headphones that come with most portable players.
