I actually have, believe it or not, two sets of the A8 earphones. I bought the first one at a B&O store; someone bought a car and the earphones came as a gift. He didn't care for them, so he gave them to me. One set is black (old ones, bought around 2001 or so), one set is white (2014).
Both have one thing in common: you'd be disappointed if they cost $19.95 (from a sonic perspective).
The design is awesome. I've never seen earphones so great looking. They are stylish, even after all these years. They last for ages (my circa 2000 ones look brand new, exactly like my 2014 ones). The earphone and the clip are borderline works of art, like the rest of the B&O gear.
The issue is - well, the sound. There's nothing in this earphone to recommend, other than that it's easy to drive from a phone jack. But then again, it doesn't have a mic, so what's the point?
They are mediocre in every single way. Bass has no texture, highs are undefined and not particularly extended, midrange - it's there, but again, nothing to write home about. It's an absolutely unspectacular earphone, with a rather special price, that competes with the earphones that came with your phone when it comes to sound quality.
Also, although its design is rather good, getting a good seal is sort of difficult. Bass quantity obviously goes down without a good seal.
The cable is the worst one I've ever seen. Cheaper than any quality earphone that comes with any phone. Around the same quality as a $1.99 phone (no joke). Same with the connector - my 2000 model is actually rusting!
If you are aching to get this one - get it used, get it as a gift, do not pay full price. It's just not worth it.
Both have one thing in common: you'd be disappointed if they cost $19.95 (from a sonic perspective).
The design is awesome. I've never seen earphones so great looking. They are stylish, even after all these years. They last for ages (my circa 2000 ones look brand new, exactly like my 2014 ones). The earphone and the clip are borderline works of art, like the rest of the B&O gear.
The issue is - well, the sound. There's nothing in this earphone to recommend, other than that it's easy to drive from a phone jack. But then again, it doesn't have a mic, so what's the point?
They are mediocre in every single way. Bass has no texture, highs are undefined and not particularly extended, midrange - it's there, but again, nothing to write home about. It's an absolutely unspectacular earphone, with a rather special price, that competes with the earphones that came with your phone when it comes to sound quality.
Also, although its design is rather good, getting a good seal is sort of difficult. Bass quantity obviously goes down without a good seal.
The cable is the worst one I've ever seen. Cheaper than any quality earphone that comes with any phone. Around the same quality as a $1.99 phone (no joke). Same with the connector - my 2000 model is actually rusting!
If you are aching to get this one - get it used, get it as a gift, do not pay full price. It's just not worth it.
You do know this is an earbud and not an IEM, right?