Bang & Olufsen A8 Earphones | List Price: $219.99
Discount Price: $72.95
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Brand: Bang & Olufsen
Features: - Outstanding sound quality
- Can be adjusted to fit the contours and curves of the individual ear
Finally! A pair of earphones that stay put and sound wonderful! [Posted on 2007-07-30]
I have been searching for MONTHS to find a pair of headphones that wouldn't fall off my ears during exercise. The few pairs that I have found that did stay put, would just sound awful and make my music sound as if it were playing inside a tin can. Although the price tag on this pair was a bit high for my liking, after adding up the prices of all the other headphones I have tried over the past six months, these are still a bargain by comparison.
They have a really unique adjustment that allows the user to manipulate the fit behind the ears. Although this takes a few seconds longer than adjusting a traditional pair of headphones, the big difference is that once these are in place, they won't budge!
Also, I can't say enough about the quality of the sound in these headphones! Since I am a vocalist, I can be a bit snobby when it comes to sound and these really exceeded my expectations. Finally it is a joy to listen to my music with headphones!
The only caution I have for people considering this purchase is to know who you are buying from. A friend of mine claimed to have purchased this same pair on Ebay and realized later they were fakes and not near the quality of mine. If you aren't paying around $100 for these, then there is a very big chance that they are not really Bang & Olufsen. Although B&O is really proud of their headphones, the quality of the product proves once again that you get what you pay for!!
For clarity, detail, and accuracy of mids and highs. Tight, controlled high notes. [Posted on 2007-11-12]
If you have decided headphones are too large, in-ear phones too intrusive, more than 200$ too much, and hearing the crickets chirping in a open field concert not essential, then this is a good place to start. Or maybe you just want to know more about this earphone with such a weird-fangled name.
In either case, read on.
The world Bang & Olufsen is quite an elite one. These people take their audio seriously. Their speakers sell for the price of brand new cars. The A8 earphones, by comparison to their other products, is within much closer reach. Not widely distributed, its price is quite varied, but tends to range from 100-160$ (watch out for lower-priced imitations).
The A8 earphones are a sight to behold, being of fine craftsmanship and quality components. It was one of the first earbuds to address proper fitting and placement retention with its multi adjustment points (I got mine October 2004). It can be shifted vertically for ear height, horizontally for depth, and held in place with a flip-down loop adjustable to your preference. Its body frame is constructed of rigid brushed aluminum, with hard glossy rubber lining the ear loops. The ear-loop and the swing arm holding the phones move with a smooth gliding motion that have held up well over the years. The cords leading from the phones are reinforced with a rubber housing to protect from the potential pull and snag. Mine have survived quite a few. Though in no way am I suggesting you can yank on them, they will last if subjected to frequent light stressing. Of particular note in the design, the cord length is shorter than normal at about 3ft. which is perfect for the portable player close at hand. It comes with a low-profile 6ft. extension cord if longer lengths are desired. I also like the straight-line plug (as opposed to the right-angle ones), nice for audio-players housed in a pouch or bag. Due to its unique design, proper protection is provided in a carry case of hard black leather, shaped to conform to the dual semi-circle ear loops. But enough of its design. What of the sound?
I have to be up front about the weak points, because this is the deciding factor for most. The bass response on these phones is underwhelming. Which is not the same as saying weak/tinny bass, the lack of, or distorted bass. In the quest for high quality, the emphasis was on other aspects of sound quality. Something had to be compromised, that being bass response. When bass is exhibited though, it is clear, distinct, and free of distortion. But you will never feel punch or power to the bass. Which was never the intention of the A8's. One other gripe, a minor one, is that for people who wear corrective lenses, the ear loops on the A8's can get in the way of the lens frame, causing some degree of discomfort to the ears.
If you are still with me, then the bass issue didn't scare you off. Its high points are more important to me, which is why I recommend it. The A8 emphasizes sound detail, clarity, and accuracy (lack of distortion). Sound output is tight and controlled in the high ranges, great for orchestral music, for soprano singers. Instruments, vocals, acoustic resonances, twangs, rings, chimes, are clear and true. Distinction can be made of the parts of the whole, yet there is proper balance so that the different sounds can still meld as one. I hear layers of audio I never knew existed because on low quality phones they had been drowned out or distorted by inaccurate sound reproduction. You get to hear more of what was recorded in the original that can get lost in low quality outputs. [This audio clarity is a bit of a double edge. The flaws of low quality audio sources (like low-bit rates) tend to be more pronounced with high quality headsets.] On a lesser note of benefit, the ear loops hold the ear piece securely from slipping out if you need to engage in some kind of major head movement.
If you spend more money, you can certainly get better. If you go with in-ear buds, you can retain clarity and gain some bass.
But if bass isn't the forte, you believe ear buds gotta stay out of the canals, and clarity is important, the Bang & Olufsen A8's fit the bill.
Not blown away [Posted on 2008-02-05]
I just bought these headphones yesterday. I must say I'm a little underwhelmed. I guess I'm no "audiophile"; I honestly can't tell much difference between these and the buds that came with my Ipod. It handles the high and low ranges much better (no distortion on bass - yea!), but mostly it's about the same. And those silly foam earpads - good grief, it took me 5-10 minutes just to get those on the earphones! And of course they fall off every time you take the earphones off. Couldn't they have come up with something that didn't require these things?
But that's just my initial impressions. I hope to have a follow up review in a few months and will hopefully raise my rating to a four or five star.
Brilliant Design [Posted on 2008-03-12]
The Museum of Modern Art has recognized Bang & Olufsen for their design aesthetic, which they consistently combine with perfect utility. That is why I have come to expect the very best whenever I buy a B & O product. The A8 Earphones do not disappoint although they are deceptively simple. When I first held them in my hand, I thought that they looked well-made as I would have expected, but nothing extraordinary. I put them over my ears and fussed with the fit until they were comfortable, plugged them in to my iPod, and then . . . smiled.
They are exactly what I was looking for: a great sounding bud-type earphone that remained in place as I worked around the house. As people have joked in other reviews of this product, you really do forget that you are wearing them. You will find this out the first time you put the telephone receiver to your ear and ask the caller to speak up, unaware that you are still wearing the earphones.
Perfection! Well, almost. [Posted on 2008-07-30]
First of all, I do not think a proper review should be given until I have put a lot of miles, or hours, on the product. I have owned the A8s for several years now and they are still sounding like they just came out of the box. These things are so durable, it never ceases to amaze me. I have stepped on them twice and nothing was bent, broke, or twisted. Also, the sound is noticeably better than the comparable Etymotic buds, which my step-dad has owned and confirmed. The A8s bass levels could be a little bit better in my opinion, although, I think my MP3 player (Cowon A2 30 GB Portable Multimedia Player) has something to do with this. The only thing that I've not liked about the A8s, are the factory ear pads (big deal). Radio Shack has pads that last a lot longer, and don't wear, or lose their elasticity, as fast. Unfortunately, The RS pads are a bit pricey, at $5.50 a pop, and it comes with four pads but I'm still on my first two.
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