It continues to amaze me how many people post 'opinions' based on hearsay. I wonder how many of these people have actually listened to these earphones. I realise there are some differing opinions on these earphones, but uninformed comment is no use to anyone.
I will repost what I posted on HeadWize.com in response to this question:
--------------------------------------------------
I have a pair of the B&O A8 earphones, and I'm very happy with them. I was previously using Sony MDR E888 buds, and I find the A8s are more neutral and more detailed, which I prefer. They are a bit light on the very low bass, but that's small transducers for you - only canal phones like the Etymotic can really do justice to deep bass with small transducers.
One point to bear in mind is that a good proportion of the price must be tied up in the precision engineered turned aluminum and rubber skeleton frames. When I bought them, the adjustable comfort and practicality of these frames was a deciding factor - I wanted earphones that I could wear on the move, that wouldn't pull or drop out, and that I could wear for hours without discomfort. These frames do exactly that for me. A superb design, in my view.
On first listening, I found the sound to be very bright and sibilant, but now I've had them about 3 months, used about 3 hours a day, I find them very well balanced, the bass seems to have improved, and the detail is excellent. I don't know whether it's a question of burn-in, or my own mental adjustment. I recently bought a pair of Etymotic ER4P canal earphones as a reference, and to my ears, the A8 have the same neutral balance, although obviously lacking in detail and veiled in comparison.
If you look back through the posts here (or search for Bang & Olufsem and A8) you will find recent comparisons I have made, and discussions that followed, with some (friendly) difference in opinions. You will also find some very negative opinions of the A8. My good opinions of them seem to be in a minority here, although I'm not convinced that everyone who has dissed them has actually heard them.
Given that my opinion seems to be in a minority here, I could point you to some other reviews (http://www.communique.qut.edu.au/cybercentral/new%20technolgy.htm, http://www.epinions.com/elec-review-5EA2-16624E26-3A35D1F5-prod4, http://www.danchan.com/feature/2000/10/30/bno/bno.htm), but ultimately, it's your ears that will be listening, so make your own judgement.
If you can, take your favourite/most demanding music along (with your mobile player if that's how you listen), and give them a good workout. The A8s are very adjustable, and it takes a little time to get them right so that the transducers sit in just the right position and all is comfortable, but once adjusted, they stay that way and are extremely comfortable. They are quite sensitive to being positioned correctly, so don't rush it the first time.
They're expensive, but for me they are just right. I prefer them to the Sony E888s but you may not.
You'll only find out if you give them a try, and let us know the result - I for one am very curious to know what you think.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Sorry that those URL links aren't clickable, but they get screwed up if they're parsed as URLs here.