Bang&Olufsen BeoPlay E8 3.0

The pursuit of excellence

It’s hard to surprise buyers with simple TW headphones today, but the specialists from the Danish company Bang & Olufsen succeeded again. Without spreading over dozens of models, they systematically refine the same BeoPlay model, releasing major updates every year. So the third version of the Danish headphones got a wireless charging case with a USB-C port, Bluetooth 5.1 support, integration of the aptX codec, which for some reason has become synonymous with high-quality sound for many. Battery life has increased to 7 hours (previously it was 4), the case is now protected from moisture according to the IP54 standard. And finally, built-in microphones have appeared, so now we have not just headphones, but also a very expensive headset. There would be active noise reduction and there would be happiness.

For demanding music lovers

The first thing to start with a BeoPlay review is the sound. We say right away, it's audiophile, uncompromising, hi-fi here — insert any favorite word. The rendering of the mid frequencies and the detailing of the highs are made in the best traditions of isodynamic headphones, when the sound gracefully floats through the air without encountering any obstacles. BeoPlay E8 3.0 fully reveals itself when listening to ornate compositions with cool mastering and high-quality sources. For example, the audiophile classic "The Dark Side of the Moon" from Pink Floyd reveals itself so willingly, as if these are not earplugs, but complex isodynamic headphones. The downside is that such elitism can interfere if you descend from heaven to earth, launch Spotify and turn on the conditional 6ix9ine album mastered for inexpensive headphones. Then, instead of enjoying the carefully scattered details, the ears begin to suffer from the debris that accidentally gets into them, which was not removed during mixing and mastering.

Charging case as a work of art

In terms of design and management, the changes are the least. The BeoPlay E8 3.0 looks interesting but doesn't really stand out from other TW headphones. But the branded charging case with natural corrugated leather trim looks great. When you open one, you expect to see an expensive watch or cufflinks, not headphones. The management is also in full order, it was not in vain that the previous versions were praised in the reviews. It was done wisely and is different for the right and left channels: for example, to start the next track, you need to touch the right earphone, and to return to the previous one, touch the left earphone. If you forget the list of commands, you can peep them in the mobile application. The touchpad itself is crisp and responsive, with no false touches or the need to bang on the case to “knock” on the headphones.