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Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Absolutely the best yet!

Written by TH from Des Plaines

Jul 5, 2005

After reading these reviews I decided to go out and listen for myself. I listened to five different headphones and the most expensive pair I tried was made by Sure at $499.00, and were noise cancelling. In my opinion, these didn't sound any better than B&O and I couldn't see spending more than double the price of an I-pod for headphones. These are worth every penny I paid! Take my word for it, go out and buy now...life is too short! Incredible bass and overall exceptional sound quality. They look awesome and can be adjusted to fit your ears like a glove. Also comes with a nice carrying case.

509 of 715 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

minor tweeking.

Written by JR from MANHATTAN

Aug 4, 2005

after days of deliberating on whether or not to buys these, i took the plunge and spent the full retail price, $160 at an apple store. i was disappointed at first, but after some minor adjustments they're really terrific. i listen to alot of rock music, but the bass is very important, and like alot of reviews other than mine, it's safe to say it's a little lacking. i did a few things that seemed to help. first, the actual ear pieces are a bit large, and i think that's where some of the bass is lost. it seemed to help by using the foam covers that come with the headphones, it traps the sound better (and it's more comfortable with them on). the next thing i did was edit all of my songs in itunes by putting the bass booster on. then on my ipod, i switched the EQ to bass booster (twice the normal amount). not the most bass, but it improved about 60 percent. the good thing about these phones are that they are incredibly comfortable. the sound is also really rich and clear, and outside noise it hard to hear. i am a musician, and even i noticed new things in the songs i had heard a thousand times before. lastly, they just look so cool, and that's where they really sucker you. form right next to fuction, and worth the price, but just barely.

548 of 806 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Well worth the money after 7 years

Written by AP from Floral Park

Dec 27, 2007

I owned this B&O headphones for about 7 (seven) years. It was my first ever over 150 pair. I bought them because that was the only reasonably priced item at B&O store and they sounded great.

Sound:
Let me explain. They sound great if you have no ambient noise. If you are in a quiet place (not commuting on NYC Subway to work), they sound great because they have high fidelity. You listen to the track and you discover that you had never before noticed that a musician touched a guitar string with his hand accidently while playing the note. In the other under 100 dollars phones you hear the song, but you miss all the stuff on the background. I mean it is like listening an acoustic version of the song. They are able to produce high definition of sound at low volume levels. If that what you’re looking for then they are for you.
However they are not for commuting. They are also bad at creating lot of bass (low frequencies). They’re more for a light listening and acoustic sounds.

Comfort:

I found them to bee just an average comfortable. After long wear they have tendencies to feel very uncomfortable. In addition, they should not be worn without the cover pads.

Durability:

Since they come with a case that makes them reasonably safe for the transport, I was able to use them for SEVEN years and they still work and look brand new. I just changed pads. I can only say that I wish the case was redesigned because it is a bit of a hassle to get them in and out of the case.

(4 out of 5)

127 of 177 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

The right stuff!

Written by SC from Lusby

Aug 1, 2005

The B&O phones are the right mix of light weight, comfortable feel, and excellent sound... No one will be laughing at you for those over-the-ear muffs, nor are you feeling the pain of those stupid ear plugs jammed in your ear,(either not fitting well or falling out).

Don't believe the reviews that say these dont cut it because you can hear distracting sounds around you... they must not be listenin' to good music or playing it loud enough. They work on the plane, in the car, on the bike, and you can even sleep in them.

These headphones fit nicely in the ear and stay in place when you are on the move. You could say, that they are "the right stuff" to go with your IPOD.

66 of 74 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Subjective Review

Written by MP from Taipei

Feb 27, 2006

Currently I own three pairs of quality headphones, one is Ultrasone HFI-700 DVD, one is Shure E4C, and the other one is this B&O A8. These retail for about USD110 here in HK, and I thought it was a bargain. So I went in for a demo. It didn't strike me as amazing in sound quality at the time, but I really liked the built quality and the design; so I bought them anyway. For the next couple of days I played around with these headphones and grew more and more fond of them. These are by no means Shure or Ultrasone competition, but they do have good clarity across the spectrum. The high is never ear-piercing and mid is comfortably strong. While bass is lacking a little punch, it is never muddy, the rhythm of concussion instruments are honestly reporduced; which is really surprising to me.

Look elsewhere if you want headphones that put out bass like a champ, but for everything else, comfort, design, quality, and afterservice, these headphones deserve your audition and money.

60 of 65 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

I've had these for a year...

Written by JT from Nashville

Jun 7, 2005

Firstly, these were the first pair of earphones I bought that cost over $20. They changed my perception of what a music recording should sound like. Yes, the cutoff frequency is 35Hz so you'll miss all those frequencies that can wreak havoc on your inner ear while walking through the city with your iPod pumped up to the max. volume setting so you can hear your music, but I realized after about a week of using them that that's fine with me because the acoustic quality of the music that I listen to using these earphones (classical, rock, jazz, rap, bluegrass) is pretty much pristine. I continually find small sounds in recordings (intended by the musicians) that would have otherwise been masked using cheaper (in terms of cost & quality) earphones. I will have to agree that these can be uncomfortable to wear, but this is after about 2-3 hours of uninterrupted wear. As for the design, I've learned to not care that it looks like I'm wearing some hydraulic assembly on my ears. In sum, I would not let the cost be an issue if you want to emphasize the quality (clarity, fidelity, etc) of your music recordings when listening to music.

55 of 60 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Far the best !!!

Written by HB from Sao Paulo

Jan 17, 2008

There is nothing like the Bang & Olufsen earphone ! I can't believe anybody who has it could think on changing
for any other else. It is extremely confortable, light and lasts longer then any other electronics I had. I use
for sports and travel. The leather case is perfect for transporting and the SOUND... mmmm what a great speaker !

89 of 131 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Great Earphones

Written by SN from Richardson

Nov 29, 2007

We have an architectural office which - among other things - specializes in acoustics and audio. Thus, we are always monitoring test tones and music while working in the office, driving, and working in the field. For several years we have kept our eye on the B&O headphones and finally decided to try a pair. We are delighted. The sound quality is fine (we refer to meters when we need more accurate sound data). The adjustability is very adaptable and easy; we often put them on and adjust them, one-handed. The pivoted earhooks are handy when we have to temporarily take them off and hang them on a pocket edge or shirt collar. When in a car as a passenger we use the earhooks to clamp the 'phones to the car door handle, putting the cord and any attached equipment in the door pocket below. We use the speaker pivot action when we need to use a telephone, and then we pivot the speaker back in position after the call. As always for any lightweight equipment, we had some concern about the earphone cords; but the B&O leather storage pouch is so well designed and easy to use that our guys have just made it a habit to store the 'phones and cord in the pouch whenever they don't actually have them on. In summary,wWe're very happy with them. Kudos, B&O.

57 of 69 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

You don't ALWAYS get what you pay for.

Written by JM from Morgantown

Jun 19, 2007

I'm an extreme audiophile, and I experience has taught me in the past that you usually get what you pay for - so since the Shure E500PTH's were the most expensive earphones on the market, I bought them thinking they would be the absolute BEST. THIS IS NOT SO. With sound isolating earphones, the quality is only maintained so long as a perfect seal is secured between your ear and the ear piece. If you're moving around (even walking) or especially if you're sweating at all, that seal is incredibly difficult to maintain. Also, the PHT unit is cumbersome and bulky and NOT something you want if you're using your iPod while walking like I usually do. I kept the Shure's for 30 days in order to get the absolute best and most objective opinion of them before deciding whether or not to return them. I did return them.

Because of the problem I was having with keeping the seal necessary for sound isolating earphones, I ordered Bang & Olufsen A8's - the most expensive NON-sound-isolating ear phones. They are at LEAST as good in sound quality as the Shure's, and in my opinion they are even BETTER - and for less than HALF the cost of the Shure's! They aren't bulky and the sound quality is a 10/10.

Do NOT waste your money on Shure - the Bang & Olufsen A8's are the best earphones I have ever heard in my LIFE, and they cost less than HALF the cost of the E500PTH Shures. GET THE BANG & OLUFSEN A8's!!!!

52 of 64 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Incredible

Written by JG from Pasadena

Sep 8, 2005

To put it simply, these headphones are great. From the fit (which does take some getting used to) to the finish. From the sound to the passive noise cancellation. It all ads up to one terrific package. True the price is a bit much at first glance especially given some of the reviews that some how find these phones lacking in bass or unable to filter out extraneous noise. These phones provide great solid bass and while they don't cut the outside noise by as much as canalphones do they do indeed cut out enough to make listening a pleasure but not enough to be dangerous. I listen to a wide variety of music, however the majority is assorted electronic/hip-hop/rock and I have yet to find these phones lacking in bass on any level.

They do roll off a bit on the upper end of the high frequency but that is to be expected in most non audiophile headphones. Given the performance, fit, and finish it is easy for me to rate this a five star product.

43 of 47 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Great Headphones

Written by PS from West Bloomfield

Aug 25, 2005

The Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones are amazing. They have great sound quality and are very comfortable. I bought these headphones for the gym and they work great. The regular iPod headphones would fall out of my ears and these headphones don't even move. They are worth every dollar and have a good warranty when purchased from a Bang & Olufsen store.

42 of 45 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Superb

Written by CR from swindon

Apr 11, 2008

I bought these from my Bang & Olufsen store in the UK for the equivalent of $180. My reasons for choosing these were that I cannot stand in ear headphones because it feels like a small squid sucking on your ear canal and didn't want over ear headphones because i wanted portability.
There are three things you will notice about these headphones after using them for more than 30 seconds.
One, firstly, you will notice how unbelievably good looking and classy they look. They just surpass any of the normal plastic headphones for looks without question
Two, when you first hear them, listen to them from CD or at least 320kbps files, or you wont get the full experience. And that would be a great shame because these headphones are have a lot to give. I have found they work best in a silent room, usually at night as the slightly lacking bass is brought out. The crispness is brilliant. I have noticed instruments I couldn't through other headphones. They are that good.
Third, after a couple of minutes, you wont notice you are wearing them. They just seem to disappear, which is helpful for listening for long periods.

If you want portable headphones, with brilliant clarity, without a tight budget, do buy these. I would have been willing to pay $250 for them.

Buying them from the actual B&O store, I also got great customer service, admittedly after they realized I could afford anything, being a teenager and I received a warrantee in the post for 4 years.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

54 of 72 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Incredible clarity, zero bass (kinda, read on)

Written by RM from Portland

Jan 18, 2008

These headphones are incredibly crisp and clear. You can hear nuances that you never even knew were in your music. They're definitely suited to classical music.

The biggest problem is the complete and utter lack of bass that they produce. However, there is a way around this. In the user manual it shows how "to" and "not to" wear the headphones. If you wear them precisely how they say *not* to, that is, stick them sideways into your ear, then suddenly the bass comes alive!

They're tricky to get on at first, but definitely stay in place and are reasonably comfortable. As a final note, they're absolutely beautiful to look at, and very well put together. They also come in a nice leather case.

106 of 176 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Exceeded expectations.

Written by MH from Aptos

Sep 20, 2007

First, I am not an audiophile. I was looking for some comfortable and good sounding headphones in addition to my Bose Quiet comforts 2. The Bose are quite good, but too bulky for everyday use. I tried several in earphones, namely the shure brand among them the SE 530. Although they sounded fantastic, my ears felt uncomfortable after a while. I have to admit that I have really sensitive ears, so it's probably my fault.
After studying the reviews on this board I went ahead and bought the Bang & Olufsen A8. It helped a little bit that I was able to use my 100 Dollar rebate from the iphone.
The A8's are spectacular, in comfort, sound and design. I heard instruments I have never noticed before even with the Bose QC2. I also tried them on some Apple lossless songs - wow.
The Bose is a little bit bass heavy whereas the A8 lacks of bass. I mostly listen to R&B, Jazz, Soul and Classic. My ears don"t hurd even after several hours of using this headphones. The fit is firm and secure.

40 of 44 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Worth Getting

Written by HH from Tampa

Jul 19, 2005

I previously had the Shure E3c headphones, which got left in a hotel. I loved the sound of the Shure's but the buds had to go so deep into your ears it made them uncomfortable. These are by far the most comfortable headphones I've ever tried. They can be adjusted countless different ways for maximum comfort no matter what your ear size. They also don't need to be deeply embedded in your ear. Once on and adjusted, they stay put. I love these so much - I even sleep with them on with no discomfort or moving! My only complaint is the sound is slightly tinny - not quite as full as the Shure's. They're worth the price though for the comfort and although they aren't quite as good as some earphones sound wise, it's not enough of a difference to make me want anything else.

40 of 45 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

BUY NOW!

Written by KM from Malba

Jun 27, 2005

These things are freakin awesome. Don't listen to anybody who says they're not worth it, their liers. These were well worth the 160 bucks and they come with
a 3 year warranty. The bass is good and the sound is
exceptional. The Bose triport are big and ugly while
these are sleek, look cool, and sound great. Stop
wondering if their worth it and buy them!

47 of 61 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Worth the Price!

Written by JJ from Mountain Brook

Feb 15, 2008

Being an audiophile, I wanted a solid pair of earphones. After many considerations, I went with these guys despite the price (for me, a considerable investment). The sound quality has been superb. With crisp audio, you won't find your bass-heavy cravings here, only the highest quality audio. To solidify my opinion, the left bud started cutting out after 1-1/2 years of use and to my surprise, all I had to do was send them to my nearest store for a brand new replacement pair thanks to the 3 year warranty. The only complaint I have is that long listening sessions can be uncomfortable and some with smaller ears may have problems with the size of each bud. Overall, I am extremely satisfied.

33 of 36 people found this useful

Bang & Olufsen A8 Headphones

Well worth itonly if they fit.

Written by MM from Park Ridge

Jul 17, 2005

The problem is they don't fit everyone. When I let others try mine out, half the time they fit, the other half-no luck. What a shame. Those of us who did get them to fit all remarked that we heard subleties that we never knew were in the recording. There were songs that I have probably listened to more than 200 times, yet, with these phones, it was like hearing those songs for the first time. They're that incredible.

My advice? Try them in store (Apple or otherwise) and see if they fit. If not, take a pass. If so, splurge.

And those of you who feel you wasted your money? Ask about the seller if they'll take them back for a restocking fee. Apple does it for 10% (20 bucks). That way, at least, you'll have gotten most of your money back.

35 of 40 people found this useful