[begor]

It sounds like the sound quality is not really on par with IO-12 because of overwhelming mid-bass. @angelom can you comment on bass quantity/quality for H100? I hope it's nowhere near PX8...

 

[streetbeat]

EDIT: You even have a "Battery Health" section in the settings menu. And here you have a "Usage Cycles Count" for knowing the "number of full charge cycles your device has gone through" -- this is not only good for knowing the health of your battery (like in a mobile phone) but for knowing the health of the battery if you buying a second-hand unit (sometimes a seller isn't saying the truth about real usage).

Oh, I've waited for that for too long. Don't understand why it's not a common thing in major headphones apps.
What would be great to see as well is amount of running time since last charge, like in every smartphone around.

 

[angelom]

It sounds like the sound quality is not really on par with IO-12 because of overwhelming mid-bass. @angelom can you comment on bass quantity/quality for H100? I hope it's nowhere near PX8...

I'm agree, and I saying this before, that the iO-12's sound, in general, is better than the H100's sound, is more reference/neutral (when ANC and "bass" setting are off in the iO-12).

I have my 7-8 years old B&W P7 Wireless (P7W) still wit me and the mid bass of the P7W is less (not a lot) than the PX8 -- I always saying I prefer the sound of the P7W to PX8 in the PX8 thread and several PX8 huge fanboys objecting strongly. The mid bass of the P7W is have more elevation than the H100's mid bass, not a lot more but is very clearly and easily audible the difference. The P7W (and even more the PX8) are affecting more the midrange, making the sound unnaturally thick (again, specially the PX8) and sometimes muddy.

You have better, more realistic sub-bass in the H100 than the iO-12, but more natural mid and high bass in the Dalis. The iO-12's mids are more correct too but I prefer the not treble spike that the iO-12 have -- in that part of the spectrum the H100 is little more correct for my ears.

Yes, the H100 will sounding still bassy for some people with tendency for appreciating a more reference/neutral type of sound. BUT, like I saying before, B&O are doing something very good with their software where when you increase the volume, this bass isn't becoming overwhelming at all (for me, at least). BUT when you have very low and mid volumes, this software is compensating for the natural decrease of low frequencies that others headphones having in this volumes and you have the more natural perception of more bass. This, for me, in general is very pleasing, not perfect, and not always ideal, but sufficiently good for me and at times really very nice. At very low volumes, this is even better.

 

[boodi]

It feels like listening to h95 before h100 ( then also same day ) is a wise thing , i will do

 

[extenso]

It sounds like the sound quality is not really on par with IO-12 because of overwhelming mid-bass. @angelom can you comment on bass quantity/quality for H100? I hope it's nowhere near PX8...

Preferring "the neutral, sort of hi-fi sound" as well as the PX8? Something doesn´t add up.

 

[angelom]

I'm agree, and I saying this before, that the iO-12's sound, in general, is better than the H100's sound, is more reference/neutral (when ANC and "bass" setting are off in the iO-12).

I have my 7-8 years old B&W P7 Wireless (P7W) still wit me and the mid bass of the P7W is less (not a lot) than the PX8 -- I always saying I prefer the sound of the P7W to PX8 in the PX8 thread and several PX8 huge fanboys objecting strongly. The mid bass of the P7W is have more elevation than the H100's mid bass, not a lot more but is very clearly and easily audible the difference. The P7W (and even more the PX8) are affecting more the midrange, making the sound unnaturally thick (again, specially the PX8) and sometimes muddy.

You have better, more realistic sub-bass in the H100 than the iO-12, but more natural mid and high bass in the Dalis. The iO-12's mids are more correct too but I prefer the not treble spike that the iO-12 have -- in that part of the spectrum the H100 is little more correct for my ears.

Yes, the H100 will sounding still bassy for some people with tendency for appreciating a more reference/neutral type of sound. BUT, like I saying before, B&O are doing something very good with their software where when you increase the volume, this bass isn't becoming overwhelming at all (for me, at least). BUT when you have very low and mid volumes, this software is compensating for the natural decrease of low frequencies that others headphones having in this volumes and you have the more natural perception of more bass. This, for me, in general is very pleasing, not perfect, and not always ideal, but sufficiently good for me and at times really very nice. At very low volumes, this is even better.

Continuing from my comments about sound quality and the software that I think B&O are using in the H100...

I'm a person that don't usually listening to music at loud volumes -- is usually mid, mid loud, mid low or low volumes. This is a preference and I'm not doing this for protecting my ears.

BUT, sometimes I like rocking out (with different genres) and sometimes for short periods I like going (very) more loud than usually. Often when the music is becoming (very) more loud than mid-high volumes I perceive some kind of mess (not necessarily distortion exactly) but some kind of congestion that often isn't sounding right with majority of headphones.

With the H100, after 6 days, I'm sometimes listening to more high volumes than normally because of what I think B&O is doing with their 'magic potion' software, where the sound isn't a mess or congested and is simulating very decently the sound of speakers (and I'm not speaking about surround gimmicks). And, like I saying in my previous post, the bass lift of the H100 at more high volumes isn't becoming an impossible horrible mess but is adapting to that volume for still being present but NOT dominating the complete sonic picture and killing my ears.

I even testing playing more loud than I never doing (only for testing purpose) and I getting a similar result where the music is very listenable, similar like listening to good speakers.

I don't think this is new toy syndrome, and is actually a very interesting surprise. This H100 headphone is have more than I anticipating when speaking about sound. STILL, I'm 100% sure some people will not liking this sound, specially people who are looking for a more linear/reference type of sound. But, even in target curves there is still a lot of discussion about what true correctness is.

My advice for people that are seriously thinking about this headphone and aren't only in love with the very expensive aspect of B&O products or that want having a status gadget: Try testing the H100 in (very) quiet environment, spend a minimum of 30 minutes (45 is better) and come ready with good testing tracks of different genres. Not listening to music in previous 12 hours is very good so that your ears are more relaxed and ready for good testing. This is a very expensive headphone.

 

[joe75]

Hi! Could you share what headphones you think are the strongest in terms of noise cancellation if not these? Thank you!

Probably the Bose QC Ultra headphones followed by the Sony WH-1000XM5 but i dont have those headphones.... i only tried them in a demo store...
My H100 still lets some voice through...but i still rate H100 as premium noise cancelling.


@ Angelom : I am on android' i have notice in the B&O app sometimes instead of showing battery percentage, it shows remaing time (in hours)!!!
I think it s a bug..it s strange anyway
4h58m in the app instead of showing 16%

 

[angelom]

Probably the Bose QC Ultra headphones followed by the Sony WH-1000XM5 but i dont have those headphones.... i only tried them in a demo store...
My H100 still lets some voice through...but i still rate H100 as premium noise cancelling.

About ANC, is important remembering that not all ANC headphones and ANC earphones blocking the same level in each part of the spectrum. More high frequencies are usually more difficult for blocking a lot. SoundGuys or some similar publication sometimes measuring how some ANC headphones blocking more low frequencies than others and maybe not necessarily blocking more high frequencies too. Sometimes one ANC headphones is better blocking some mid and more high frequencies but not a lot of low frequencies.

For me personally, the more important thing is the blocking the often strong low rumble engine noise inside an airplane and the noise in a train or underground train. I comparing directly the excellent ANC of AirPods Pro 2nd Gen (APP2) with the Solitaire T's ANC in several flights and in this cases they are very similar for this specific use. Maybe the APP2 is blocking a little more the more high frequencies but for my circumstances this sin't relevant.

In my tests the H100 is blocking more than the Solitaire T and this is why I say the H100's is very good/excellent in general, specially for a premium ANC headphone.

@ Angelom : I am on android' i have notice in the B&O app sometimes instead of showing battery percentage, it shows remaing time (in hours)!!!
I think it s a bug..it s strange anyway
4h58m in the app instead of showing 16%

In my iPhone, if is showing a percentage and I tap exactly there, then is changing to showing remaining time, and the opposite is true, if is showing remaining time and I tap there, then is changing to percentage. When I open the app again is will always showing the last that is showing before closing the app.

But there is a bug, at least with my iPhone, with remaining time because, for example, right now is showing 56% and 102 hrs and 23 mins (!!) remaining time.

 

[joe75]

About ANC, is important remembering that not all ANC headphones and ANC earphones blocking the same level in each part of the spectrum. More high frequencies are usually more difficult for blocking a lot. SoundGuys or some similar publication sometimes measuring how some ANC headphones blocking more low frequencies than others and maybe not necessarily blocking more high frequencies too. Sometimes one ANC headphones is better blocking some mid and more high frequencies but not a lot of low frequencies.

For me personally, the more important thing is the blocking the often strong low rumble engine noise inside an airplane and the noise in a train or underground train. I comparing directly the excellent ANC of AirPods Pro 2nd Gen (APP2) with the Solitaire T's ANC in several flights and in this cases they are very similar for this specific use. Maybe the APP2 is blocking a little more the more high frequencies but for my circumstances this sin't relevant.

In my tests the H100 is blocking more than the Solitaire T and this is why I say the H100's is very good/excellent in general, specially for a premium ANC headphone.



In my iPhone, if is showing a percentage and I tap exactly there, then is changing to showing remaining time, and the opposite is true, if is showing remaining time and I tap there, then is changing to percentage. When I open the app again is will always showing the last that is showing before closing the app.

But there is a bug, at least with my iPhone, with remaining time because, for example, right now is showing 56% and 102 hrs and 23 mins (!!) remaining time.

Interesting, i have 2 android phones connected at the same time for the app

On the Samsung my main phone, it shows in B&O app charging and 0h46m and on the Xperia charging and 70% battery.
Tapping has no effect either...i cannot switch from % to remaining time and vice versa.

No biggie it will probably be fixed later

 

[Halimj7]

First, I start this post saying that for the people that know me well, they know that I always giving my 100% honest opinions independently of price, brand or the opinions from others people with or without a lot of audio experience (usually my opinions are coming long time before others people because I'm usually one of the very early adopters, so no chance for me conforming to the 'norm' or having the influence of what others people are saying).

Second, and in relation with my comment above, this time I have even more freedom about my opinions because I have 30 days for returning this product and obtaining a full refund. So,...


The H100: The new (ANC) headphone everybody is hating now

Even when possibly more people have interest in sound quality and comparisons with others top of the line ANC headphones, I will making very few comments about sound in this post but I will mentioning others aspects that I want speaking about in not particular order.

The first thing I want mentioning is that I think the H100 is looking better in person that in photos that I see in the Internet. Aesthetically, I remember not being 100% happy about the combination of semi-rectangular and round shape earcups of the H95 (this is still true today) --- the H100, even when similar, is looking very more aesthetically pleasing.

Even when the H95 having very good construction quality, the H100 is looking more polished -- the silver and black is looking VERY nice and I like the contrast of the 2 colours a lot, specially because I matte silver (not shiny).

You don't have a hard/aluminium case, but the leather case is very good because is semi hard -- big surprise for me because I thinking before (looking at pictures or reading comments) that this case is too soft (only for showing off) and not sufficiently good for a headphone like the H100. I prefer this case to the H95's.

The extra weight of the H100 is making no difference at all vs the H95 or the 50g less heavy and more confortable Solitaire T. Clamping force is similar or little more that H95's, but complete fit I think is better, with more room for more big heads and better distribution of weight in all areas. From my memory, the H100 earcups are a little more spacious than the H95's, accommodating better for more big ears. The part of the headband that is made of fabric isn't looking so bad at all like I thinking when seeing photos before and is VERY comfortable -- the aesthetics are definitely very good and ergonomics too in the H100. I also think you have more room in arms for extending for more big heads.

ANC is a BIG positive surprise. Is clearly and obviously better than the Solitaire T's ANC that having the best ANC of all premium ANC headphones (and I know them all). Excellent job here for the H100.

Quick test in transparency mode is telling me that is similarly good to the very good transparency mode of the Solitaire T.

I don't testing telephone calls yet.

VOLUME: Definitely more than the H95, Solitaire T and ML 5909.

Volume dial: clearly more precision than the H95's -- in Apple devices you have 35 steps with the H100 and not the 16 that Apple is always offering. The Dali iO-12 having 32 steps and I love this, but the 35 steps of the H100 is not only better but, in comparison with my great love for the volume dial of the H95, the H100's volume dial isn't only better than the H95's but having better construction and precision (!) (you hear every small step you're doing).

Play/pause and previous/next track responding beautifully in the H100, similarly or little better than in the H95.

Volume control and playback controls are extremely important for me, and I have usually a big disappintmnet with majority of ANC headphones. I missing this aspect of the H95 for a long time. The H100 is now probably the best in this aspect of ALL ANC/BT headphones I trying in the past (many, many!).

Right now I will saying that sound quality is very good, clearly better than H95... and PX8, and maybe possibly better than Bathys too (not 100% sure because this is only from my memory), and maybe too (from my distant memory) just a little more than 5909 because of the 5909's sometimes problematic treble. I don't think is better than Dali iO-12, but isn't really so far, or Solitaire T. But I will admitting that in my very quick test I have a very good impression of the H100 (with iPhone 15 pro and AAC files). BUT I really must spending more time calmly comparing sound quality, specially between my Solitaire T and H100 and checking all frequencies...because the H100 and the Solitaire T present music VERY differently.

I think that, even when this is a B&O product (you always pay premium for a luxury brand), 1300€ (and not 1500€) is a very more realistic price for the target audience.

Here are a few screenshots of the notes about the first BIG software update that I installing for the H100:

You said it sounds different from the Solitaire T. How so please?

 

[boodi]

I made up my mind on Beoplay ex ( first B&O product I get hands on)
I see why someone feels comparing them to ie900 too.
Overall the sound quality is there, far from my totl wired iems , might be very slightly better then Sony xm5 headphones , but less involving and less musical ..Quite hope h95 and h100 are more..

 

[angelom]

Exploring the H100 a little more, I decide today experimenting a little with EQ in the app.

This is working better than I imagine before. My previous experience with the H95, H9 and H8 using EQ isn't very good at all -- I don't know if is because of limitations of this headphones when using EQ or that the EQ have poor implementation, or if is a combination of both. I think B&O putting decent work with their EQ for achieving 2 things:

a) Making the experience even more intuitive than before and easy for people that don't want, or don't know how, using a parametric EQ. Look at screenshots below that showing 4 quadrants and being specific about "Low bass" (less bass), "High treble" (more treble), "High bass" (more bass) or "Low treble" (less treble). When the big dot is in the centre of the circle, this is "optimal" sound (factory sound).

b) Making the sound really change with small movements of the big dot without causing distortion or making the sound very wrong.

Moving all around the big circle is having so many sound combinations, and this is why is a very good idea experimenting, taking slowly, and learning about this sound modifications. I still think B&O must adding a good 7-10 bands EQ in the app, offering the users both types of EQ.

 

[Fabik]

Thank you, @angelom, for looking at the EQ settings and sharing your experiences.

I have to get a few thoughts off my chest here, which I'm sure will be met with controversy:

A large part of musical perception can be influenced by EQ. If I have headphones that don't sound good out of the box, but can be adjusted to your personal (!) optimum with EQ, then I don't think that another pair of headphones that sound better out of the box are necessarily better headphones. Sound is subjective, and why should you ignore the possibility of EQ settings to make it "your" headphone?

Of course, there is also the case in the spectrum of tonal perception that some headphones have a wider dynamic range and a large sound stage. An EQ will have no influence on this, as far as I know or manufacturer provide to manipulate. However, if the dynamics and soundstage are comparable and the sound can be adjusted, the ‘only’ thing that remains is the comfort of the headphones and the user experience.

After Apple only gave the AirPods Max a USB-C connection in yesterday's keynote - which is really disappointing - the H100 seem to me to offer the optimal overall package. In any case, I've already ordered the H100 and will report back in comparison to the H95, AirPods Pro and Bose QC.

 

[streetbeat]

Gave H100 a short try today in a local B&O store.

Comfort - surprisingly spacious earcups, clampforce is noticeable but okay. I had similar feelings with B&W PX (2017) but H100 are better. Seemingly should be very comfy for whole day use. One note that even after 10-15 mins my ears got a little hot though it was somewhat chilly morning. Maybe just cause of my excitement
Appearance - though earcups are quite compact, the overall footprint due to headband is rather big. Oh, and this is probably the first time I had to adjust the headband up to the limit. Head size is 63-64 just in case.
Controls - these volume/environment rings are sooo cool!
Sound - enjoyable, with good amount of (sub) bass and not too bright high end, should be good enough for EDM.
ANC - obviously wasn't able to test in all scenarios, but human voice cancellation is mediocre, like on par with my Momentum 4, not up to QC Ultra level at all.
Case - a softshell leather pouch the headphones to be just thrown in, and a pocket inside for cables and whatnot. Very strange departure from H95, idk maybe looking good as a fashion accessory (not to my liking), but meh as an actual protective case.

Decent headphones? Yes, sure. Worth to switch over from IO-12 for home use? No. Better than M4 for commute? Very unlikely, even not considering that I couldn't care less about M4 (costed me €250). Would I spend €1500 on them? Hell, no.

 

[HeadphoneAddict00]

TBH I don't think it's even a fair comparison between things like the Dali/Solitaire and other models, they're not really portable, no one would wear those on transit outside. It's a lot easier to make good sound quality when the headphones are huge, I would call them semi-portables.