I never thought a high-end audio brand like Bang & Olufsen would ever go for a stick design TWS. But here it is, Bang & Olufsen’s first TWS with a stick design, the B&O Beoplay EX.
To be fair, stick design is not ugly. It’s just that Apple made look awkward with its AirPods. However, audio brands like Skullcandy and Marshall managed to make stick design look good.
I think Bang & Olufsen may hit the nail on the head with the EX too, mostly because it stays flush with the ears and the stick isn’t a round stem that looked truncated.
If you really think about it, headphone makers never tell us what is inside the sticks and why exactly it has to have a stick. B&O, however, did.
The Danish high-end audio brand said the stick silhouette ensures stability while staying snug and flush to the ears.
In addition, it is where you find the 6 microphones necessary for the adaptive active noise cancellation and clear voice calls.
The 6 microphones are backed by beam-foaming technology that distinguishes between your voice and other sounds, so the other end can hear you without all the distractions in the background.
Adaptive active noise cancellation monitors ambient outside noise and adapts to cut it out for distraction-free listening and calls. There is also a Transparency mode for the time you need to be aware of the surrounding.
Audio is transmitted wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive technology and delivered through a 9.2 mm driver.
The earbuds support multipoint pairing, letting you switch devices seamlessly. Meanwhile, an IP57-rated construction affords it to stand up to dust and sand, and waterproof in up to a meter (3.3 feet) of water for 30 minutes.
The onboard battery on each earbud offers up to 6 hours of playtime with ANC or 8 hours without ANC. When use with the Q- wireless charging case, it affords a total of up to 28 hours of run time.
Finally, control is via the super sleek glass touch surface (is this the first earbuds to rock glass design?) surrounded by aluminum, and it works with the B&O app to personalize your listening experience.
The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX is available now for US$399, and in a choice of Black Anthracite, Gold Tone, and Anthracite Oxygen.
All images courtesy of Bang & Olufsen.
