Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX - The IMPERFECT King

EL JEFE REVIEWS
3 May 202216:27

Summary

TLDRThe Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX earbuds offer Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, and aptX Adaptive codecs, boasting a 34-foot range and multipoint connectivity. They lack active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode in single-use mode, but provide solid ANC and a natural transparency mode otherwise. With up to 8 hours of battery life without ANC and a fast-charging case, they are comfortable and have an IP57 rating, making them suitable for workouts. The sound quality is excellent, with well-balanced bass, midrange, and treble. However, at $399, they are pricey compared to competitors like Sony and Bose.

Takeaways

  • πŸ’» The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX features Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, and AptX Adaptive codecs, offering a reliable connection up to 34 feet.
  • πŸ’΅ These earbuds lack active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode when used in single usage mode, which is a notable omission.
  • πŸ’² Beoplay EX supports multipoint connectivity, allowing simultaneous connection to two devices, ensuring a smooth and stable experience.
  • πŸ“± The earbuds deliver low latency during video streaming, making them suitable for watching various services like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney Plus.
  • πŸ’· For gaming, the Beoplay EX is adequate for casual games but may not be ideal for competitive play due to the absence of a gaming mode with low latency.
  • πŸ’΅ Battery life is rated at six hours with ANC on and eight hours with ANC off, plus an additional three charges from the charging case, though testing yielded slightly less.
  • πŸ’΅ A fast charge feature provides an hour and 45 minutes of playback time after only 20 minutes of charging, enhancing the convenience.
  • πŸ’΅ The charging case supports both USB-C and wireless charging, and while it's larger than the Beoplay EQ's case, it maintains a high-quality feel.
  • πŸ’΅ Comfort is reported as excellent, with the Beoplay EX fitting large ears well and providing a secure grip without slippage during various activities.
  • πŸ’΅ The earbuds are suitable for workouts due to their IP57 rating and secure fit, but side sleepers may find the stems uncomfortable.
  • πŸ’΅ The Beoplay EX offers full touch controls that are responsive, but they are not customizable via the B&O app, which is a limitation for some users.
  • πŸ’΅ Sound quality is a strong point for the Beoplay EX, with well-balanced bass, clear midrange, and smooth treble, making them stand out among competitors.
  • πŸ’² The price point of $399 may be considered high compared to other brands like Sennheiser, Bose, and Sony, potentially limiting their appeal to a niche market.

Q & A

  • What Bluetooth version and codecs does the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX support?

    -The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX supports Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, and Aptex Adaptive as the connection codecs.

  • What is the Bluetooth range of the Beoplay EX earbuds?

    -The Bluetooth range of the Beoplay EX is approximately 34 feet or around 10.3 meters.

  • Does the Beoplay EX support multipoint connectivity, and if so, how many devices can it connect to simultaneously?

    -Yes, the Beoplay EX supports multipoint connectivity, allowing it to connect to two separate devices at the same time.

  • How is the latency of the Beoplay EX when watching videos or playing casual mobile games?

    -The latency of the Beoplay EX is minimal when watching videos on platforms like YouTube, Netflix, or Disney Plus, and it's suitable for casual mobile gaming.

  • What is the battery life of the Beoplay EX with and without noise cancellation?

    -The Beoplay EX claims six hours of battery life with noise cancellation turned on and eight hours with noise cancellation turned off. In testing, five hours and three minutes were achieved with noise cancellation on, and seven hours and 37 minutes with it off.

  • Does the Beoplay EX support wireless charging and fast charging?

    -Yes, the Beoplay EX supports both wireless charging and fast charging, with a 20-minute charge providing an additional hour and 45 minutes of playback time.

  • How comfortable are the Beoplay EX earbuds, and do they come with different tip options?

    -The Beoplay EX earbuds are reported to be comfortable, fitting large ears well, and they come with both silicone tips and a set of comply foam tips for added passive noise isolation.

  • What is the IP rating of the Beoplay EX, making them suitable for workouts?

    -The Beoplay EX has an IP57 rating, which makes them a good option for people looking for workout earbuds due to their grip and resistance to water and dust.

  • How do the Beoplay EX perform in terms of active noise cancellation compared to competitors like Sony and Bose?

    -While the Beoplay EX offers solid ANC performance, it is not on par with what Sony or Bose provides. However, it can be improved with the use of comply foam tips for additional passive noise isolation.

  • What are the key features of the B&O app that comes with the Beoplay EX?

    -The B&O app provides battery life information, music controls, ANC and transparency controls with sliders, adaptive ANC toggle, listening modes with EQ presets, call settings, auto standby toggle, and prompts for firmware updates.

  • How does the sound quality of the Beoplay EX compare to other high-end earbuds in the market?

    -The Beoplay EX excels in sound quality, offering well-executed bass, a warm and rich midrange, smooth treble delivery, and good soundstage with above average imaging and separation.

  • What are some areas for improvement in the Beoplay EX according to the reviewer?

    -The reviewer suggests areas for improvement include adding active noise cancellation and transparency abilities in single usage mode, introducing a low latency or gaming mode, customizable touch controls, and addressing the high price point of $399 US.

Outlines

00:00

🎧 Beoplay EX Overview and Bluetooth Connectivity

The video script introduces the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX earbuds, highlighting their Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity with support for SBC, AAC, and AptX Adaptive codecs. The range of Bluetooth connection is tested to be approximately 34 feet or 10.3 meters. The earbuds support single usage mode but lack active noise cancellation (ANC) and transparency mode in this mode. A key feature discussed is the multipoint connectivity, allowing simultaneous connection to two devices, which is tested with a Xiaomi Mi 11 Light and an iPad Pro, showing a smooth and stable connection. Latency during video watching is minimal, making them suitable for casual gaming but not recommended for competitive gaming due to the lack of a low latency mode. Battery life is discussed, with claims of six hours with ANC on and eight hours with ANC off, supported by an additional three charges from the charging case. The charging case supports both USB-C and wireless charging. The case design is slightly wider and thicker than the Beoplay EQ but maintains a high-quality feel. Comfort is deemed excellent, with a less bulky design than the previous version and no discomfort or fatigue reported during use. The earbuds have a good grip and an IP57 rating, making them suitable for workouts. They are also suitable for back sleepers but not ideal for side sleepers. The earbuds have touch controls with various tap and hold options but are not customizable via the app.

05:02

πŸ”Š Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode

The script discusses the active noise cancellation (ANC) performance of the Beoplay EX, noting that while it is solid, it does not match the performance of Sony or Bose. The ANC can be improved with the use of included comply foam tips, which add passive noise isolation. The ANC is effective against steady and low mid-frequency noises but has three levels of adjustment for comfort. The adaptive ANC feature is mentioned but does not seem to function properly in the reviewer's experience, with no noticeable difference in ANC strength. The transparency mode is praised for its natural sound, with three levels of adjustment available. The volume of the earbuds is tested to reach a peak of 112.3 dB, which is considered more than enough for most users. The sound quality is highly praised, with excellent bass, midrange, and treble. The bass is described as having enough weight and punch while being controlled, the midrange is warm and rich with clear vocals, and the treble is smooth without harshness. The soundstage is also noted to be good, with above average imaging and separation. The EQ is simple to use with a circular interface and allows for multiple presets to be saved.

10:03

πŸ’Έ Criticisms and Comparisons with Competitors

The script offers constructive criticism on the Beoplay EX, pointing out the lack of ANC and transparency mode in single usage mode, the absence of a low latency or gaming mode despite having aptX Adaptive, and the lack of customizable touch controls. The price of the earbuds is highlighted as a significant drawback at $399, which the reviewer suggests is difficult to justify compared to competitors. Comparisons are made with the Sony WF-1000XM4, Bose QuietComfort Earbuds, Technics AZ60, and Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro. Rankings are given for ANC, transparency mode, volume, and sound quality, with the Beoplay EX coming last in ANC but first in sound quality. The Sony earbuds win the transparency mode ranking, and Bose takes the lead in volume. The script emphasizes that fifth place in any ranking does not mean the product is bad, but rather that the others performed slightly better in those specific aspects.

15:05

🎀 Microphone Quality and Reviewer's Disclosure

The script includes a microphone quality test using the Beoplay EX in their own voice mode, which adjusts the volume of the user's voice and removes background noise. A sample script from a movie is read multiple times to demonstrate the microphone performance. The reviewer then encourages viewers to judge the microphone quality for themselves and provide feedback in the comments section. The reviewer discloses that they purchased the Beoplay EX with their own money and did not receive any monetary compensation or early access to the product from Bang & Olufsen. They emphasize the importance of watching multiple reviews before making a purchase decision and provide links to their reviews of the Technics and Sony earbuds for further comparison.

Mindmap

Keywords

πŸ’‘Bluetooth 5.2

Bluetooth 5.2 is the latest version of the Bluetooth wireless technology standard, offering improved connectivity and performance. In the context of the video, the Beoplay EX earbuds feature Bluetooth 5.2, which allows for a stable connection with devices and supports codecs like SBC, AAC, and AptX Adaptive. This ensures high-quality audio streaming and efficient power usage.

πŸ’‘Codec

A codec is a device or software that encodes and decodes digital audio or video data. In the video, the Beoplay EX supports codecs like SBC, AAC, and AptX Adaptive, which are methods of compressing and decompressing audio data to ensure efficient streaming over Bluetooth. These codecs affect the audio quality and latency experienced by the user.

πŸ’‘Multipoint connectivity

Multipoint connectivity refers to the ability of a Bluetooth device to connect to multiple devices simultaneously. The Beoplay EX earbuds are highlighted for this feature in the video, allowing the user to connect to two separate devices at the same time, such as a smartphone and a tablet, and switch between them seamlessly.

πŸ’‘Latency

Latency in audio refers to the delay between when an audio signal is produced and when it is heard. The video mentions that the Beoplay EX has low latency when watching videos, making it suitable for streaming services like YouTube, Netflix, or Disney Plus without noticeable delays.

πŸ’‘Noise cancellation

Noise cancellation is a feature that reduces unwanted ambient sounds using active noise control technology. The video discusses the Beoplay EX's noise cancellation feature, which claims to offer six hours of playback with it turned on and eight hours with it off. However, it's noted that the ANC performance is not as strong as competitors like Sony or Bose.

πŸ’‘Adaptive ANC

Adaptive ANC refers to a feature that automatically adjusts the level of noise cancellation based on the user's environment. The video script mentions that the Beoplay EX has an adaptive ANC feature, but the reviewer experienced issues with it not seeming to adjust properly, which could be a potential drawback for users expecting dynamic noise control.

πŸ’‘IP57 rating

The IP57 rating is an Ingress Protection rating that indicates a device's resistance to dust and water. The video mentions that the Beoplay EX has an IP57 rating, making them suitable for use in various conditions, including workouts where they might be exposed to sweat or light rain.

πŸ’‘Touch controls

Touch controls refer to the ability to control a device through touch-sensitive surfaces. The Beoplay EX earbuds offer touch controls, allowing users to manage playback, volume, and other functions by tapping or swiping on the earbuds. The video notes that these controls are responsive but are not customizable via the app.

πŸ’‘EQ presets

EQ presets are pre-set equalizer settings that adjust the balance of audio frequencies to enhance or modify the listening experience. The video discusses the Beoplay EX's EQ presets, which allow users to choose from different sound profiles or create custom settings to suit their preferences.

πŸ’‘Soundstage

Soundstage refers to the perceived spatial characteristics of audio, creating an illusion of where sounds are coming from in a three-dimensional space. The video praises the Beoplay EX for having a good soundstage, with above-average imaging and separation, which contributes to an immersive listening experience.

πŸ’‘Price tag

The term 'price tag' refers to the cost of a product. In the video, the reviewer discusses the high price of the Beoplay EX earbuds, which may be a barrier for some consumers despite their quality. The price is compared to other high-end earbuds from competitors like Sony, Bose, and Sennheiser.

Highlights

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX features Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC, AAC, and Aptex adaptive codecs.

Bluetooth range is approximately 34 feet or 10.3 meters.

Supports single usage mode but lacks active noise cancellation and transparency mode when used independently.

Exciting feature: multipoint connectivity allows connection to two devices simultaneously.

Latency is minimal when watching videos on platforms like YouTube, Netflix, or Disney Plus.

Not ideal for competitive gaming due to the lack of a low latency or gaming mode.

Battery life claims up to six hours with noise cancellation on and eight hours with it off.

Fast charge option provides an additional hour and 45 minutes of playback with just 20 minutes of charging.

The charging case is recharged via USB-C and supports wireless charging.

The case design is slightly wider and thicker than the Beoplay EQ, with a high-quality feel.

Comfort is excellent, fitting large ears well and less bulky than the Beoplay EQ.

IP57 rating and excellent grip make them suitable for workouts.

May not be comfortable for side sleepers due to the stem design.

Body-borne noise is similar to most Truewell earbuds, noticeable only when walking without music.

Full touch controls are responsive but not customizable via the app.

B&O app provides battery life, music controls, ANC and transparency controls, EQ presets, and firmware updates.

ANC performance is solid but not on par with Sony or Bose.

Adaptive ANC feature did not perform as expected in testing.

Transparency mode offers a natural sound with three levels of adjustment.

Peak volume reaches 112.3 dB, suitable for most users.

Sound quality is excellent, especially in the bass, midrange, and treble.

EQ is simple to use with a circular interface and allows for multiple presets.

Constructive criticism includes lack of ANC in single usage mode, no gaming mode, non-customizable touch controls, and high price tag.

Comparisons show Beoplay EX ranks fifth in ANC but first in sound quality among selected competitors.

Microphone quality sample provided, recorded in the earbuds' own voice mode.

The review is independent and unbiased, with no monetary compensation or early access provided by Bang & Olufsen.

Transcripts

play00:00

- The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX

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are the latest drop from B&O.

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Now we got a lot of talk about here,

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so let's just jump straight into it.

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So first of all, let's talk about that Bluetooth connection.

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So they are featuring Bluetooth 5.2 with SBC AAC

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and Aptex adaptive as the connection codex.

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Now, when it comes to Bluetooth range,

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I got about 34 feet or just around 10.3 meters.

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In addition to this,

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you also get single usage mode with the Beoplay EX.

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Now, unfortunately you don't get active noise cancellation

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or transparency mode when using them independently.

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And that brings us over to

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one of the more important features

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that I'm excited about here,

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and that's the multipoint connectivity.

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Now, multipoint connection with these,

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you can actually connect the Beoplay EX

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to two separate devices at the same time.

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In my own testing,

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I was using them with my Xiaomi Mi 11 light,

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and they were also paired to my iPad Pro.

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The connection was smooth and stable

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and I was able to use my app

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on either device to control the earbuds.

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Overall, it's been a really good experience.

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Now moving over to latency,

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when watching video, there was little to no lag

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or latency to be experienced,

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whether YouTube videos or Netflix or Disney Plus,

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whichever service you're using, it was not an issue.

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Now when it comes to casual mobile gaming,

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not really a problem,

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you can definitely use these for your regular games,

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like Asphalt 9 or things of that nature,

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but if you're gonna play

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any sort of competitive shooting games,

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then you're probably gonna wanna look elsewhere

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because the do not have a low latency or gaming mode.

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So now that's gonna bring us over

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to the battery life of the Beoplay EX.

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So they were claiming six hours of noise cancellation

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turned on and eight hours with noise cancellation turned off

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with an additional three charges in the charging case.

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Now in my own testing, I managed to get five hours

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and three minutes with noise cancellation turned on,

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and then I managed to seven hours and 37 minutes

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with noise cancellation turned off.

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In addition to this,

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the Beoplay EX are also featuring a fast charge option

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where you can drop these earbuds

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back into their case for 20 minutes,

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and that's gonna give you an additional hour and 45 minutes

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worth of playback time.

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When it comes to recharging the case itself,

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that does charge via USB type C

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and they also feature wireless charging.

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So you have both options here.

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Now the case itself is slightly wider

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and thicker than that of their previous version,

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the Beoplay EQ.

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But it still has that high end feel fit and finish,

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it's not cheap or plasticy.

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it feels like you're getting something

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that is built very, very well.

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So that's gonna bring this over

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to one of the most important questions

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that I get asked about any set of earbuds

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and that's how comfortable they are.

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So for me, my experience with the Beoplay EX

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is that the comfort is excellent

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and they fit my large ears perfectly.

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If you're wondering,

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these are actually less bulky than the previous version,

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the Beoplay EQ and they fit my ears better.

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Now, I haven't experienced any fatigue

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or discomfort over the past few days of using these

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and I'm still using the large silicone tips

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for a proper seal.

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Thankfully B&O also included

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a set of complied foam tips in the box

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if foam tips are your jam.

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Overall, the grip is excellent.

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And I haven't experienced any slippage while walking,

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eating, or working on my day to day stuff here.

play03:01

The combo of their grip and the IP57 rating

play03:04

make these a good option

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for people looking for some workout earbuds.

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Now, when it comes to sleep, the Beoplay EX

play03:10

can work well for back sleepers

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but side sleep is probably gonna be a no go

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if those stems bother you.

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And then last but not least,

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when it comes to body born noises,

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these are no better or worse

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than most other Truewell earbuds on the market.

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You can hear your own footsteps and breathing

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because they do isolate quite well,

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but it's only bothersome if you're gonna be walking around

play03:31

while not listening to music.

play03:33

So now let's talk about how you control the Beoplay EX

play03:35

and they offer you full touch controls here,

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so you get single, double tap, triple tap

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and a tap and hold or long press,

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however you wanna call it.

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Now, the touch controls are highly responsive

play03:46

and they're very easy to locate.

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Unfortunately, the controls of the Beoplay EX

play03:50

are not customizable via the app.

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I'll expand a little more on this later in the video.

play03:54

Now, speaking of the B&O app,

play03:56

it is available for both iOS and Android devices.

play03:59

So when you first open up the app,

play04:00

you're gonna get greeted with the battery life,

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and then you get your music controls, play, pause,

play04:04

skip track, volume, things of that nature.

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Moving below that,

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you get your ANC and transparency controls

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with their associated sliders.

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Below this, you have a toggle

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for the adaptive active noise cancellation.

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Now below this, you also have your listening modes

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which is your EQ presets,

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along with any customs that you've set up for yourself.

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Below that, you have your call settings,

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and this is where you can make adjustments

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between own voice, neutral

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and noise cancellation for your phone calls.

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Below that, you have a toggle for the auto standby.

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And then last but not least, if you need a firmware update,

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the app will prompt you accordingly.

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I actually had a firmware update

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as soon as I pulled mine out of the box.

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Unfortunately, that firmware update

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took like 45 minutes to complete,

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but I got it done and they're working perfectly.

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But before we get into the actual performance

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of the Beoplay EX,

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if you've gotten any value out of this video so far,

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please consider hitting that thumbs up

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along with that subscribe button for me, it's free for you

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and it helps the channel greatly.

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So let's move over to the active noise cancellation.

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The Beoplay EX are giving you solid ANC performance

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but unfortunately it's not up to par with

play05:04

what you're getting from Sony or Bose.

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However, they can be improved

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by using the included comply foam tips.

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These memory foam tips

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add additional passive noise isolation,

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which works well in combination with the ANC.

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Overall, the ANC works well against steady

play05:19

and low mid frequency noises

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like machines, engines and things of that nature.

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And there are three levels of adjustments,

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so you can dial in a comfortable amount

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of active noise cancellation.

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And that brings us over to the adaptive ANC,

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which is available, but in my instance,

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it doesn't seem to be working properly.

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Now to be fair, it could be that maybe mine are messed up,

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I'm not sure, but let me break it down for you.

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So I tested it with both crowd noise

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and jet engine noise at various volume levels.

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I never felt any increase or decrease in ANC strength,

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the way that you can feel it

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when you're using the ANC strength slider.

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Now, when I test this type of a feature,

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adaptive noise cancellation

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on the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro,

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or say like the OnePlus Buds Pro,

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you can feel the active noise cancellation

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ramping up and down,

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and the difference in ambient noise reduction is noticeable.

play06:08

So B&O might have been aiming for a more subtle approach,

play06:12

but this ain't it, bro.

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If I can't feel or hear the difference,

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then it might does will not even be working.

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Now I know sometimes that could sound a little harsh,

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but I'm just trying to keep it real with you,

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and if BNO watches this video,

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I definitely want them to hear that feedback.

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Now let's move over to the transparency mode.

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Now they have a natural sounding transparency mode,

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it's not overly processed,

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things sound normal the way that you would hear it.

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There are three levels of adjustment.

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So you can dial in to the exact amount that you want.

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The difference between the three levels

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is subtle but noticeable.

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So it goes from a full transparency

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to a more voice focus mode where it reduces ambient sounds.

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What I would like

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is the slider to actually raise the volume up and down,

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that would've been a little bit better in my opinion,

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but it's nice that we have some sort of adjustment here.

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Now that's bring us over to the volume of the Beoplay EX.

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And in my testing,

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I managed to get a 112.3 DB peak volume on these earbuds.

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So definitely more than loud enough for most people.

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Common listening for me is right around 55% to 75%

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if I wanna jam out with my music,

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probably a little bit less

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if I'm just gonna be listening to a podcast

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or an audio book of some sort.

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With that outta the way,

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that's gonna bring us over to the sound quality.

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And this is where the Beoplay EX truly shine.

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The sound quality and clarity here are excellent.

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Now testing was done with the factory optimal EQ applied.

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So let's break it down.

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First up, let's talk about the bass.

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Now, the bass is well executed here.

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There's enough weight and punch

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to satisfy all my bass heads out there, bass head crew,

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but controlled at the same time.

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And it can be dialed up or down as needed.

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So it hits hard

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and it gives you that sub bass rumble, if you want it.

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Now, one of the test tracks that I used

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was "Me and You" by Cassie.

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Now, no timestamp, just go ahead and let the song ride.

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Now let's move over to the midrange.

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The midrange is warm and rich with the Beoplay EX.

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I wouldn't call the sound mid forward,

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but it's also not recessed.

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There's depth to the sound here.

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The vocals come in clear and natural,

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they never get muddied by the instrumentation of a band.

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One of the test tracks that I used was a song

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called "Sabor A Mi" by El Chicano.

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This is some old school fire

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that some of you young bucks might not be familiar with,

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but I highly recommend it.

play08:25

The vibe and the warmth of the sound is just unbelievable,

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and it really highlights the midrange of the Beoplay EX.

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And then that's gonna bring us over to the treble.

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So the be play ex have a smooth treble delivery,

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there's no harshness, there's no sibilance,

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there's enough power to give weight to the strings

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and symbols without overpowering the rest of the music.

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There's good sound stage here as well

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with above average imaging and separation

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in my personal opinion.

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Now there is an airiness

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and an openness to the sound as well

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that I was not expecting.

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And one of the test tracks that I used to test this out

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was "To Be Young, Gifted, and Black" by Donny Hathaway.

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Now, once again, there's no timestamp needed,

play09:07

his voice with the band and the organ in the mix

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is absolutely soul stirring.

play09:12

I got the chills listening to it with the Beoplay EX.

play09:15

So do yourself a favor and add this song to your playlist

play09:18

if you haven't already.

play09:19

Now moving over to the EQ.

play09:21

Now, EQ is a simple affair with the Beoplay EX.

play09:23

They use a circular interface as opposed to a graphic EQ.

play09:27

It's easy to use and they respond well to the adjustments

play09:29

based on what sound you personally prefer.

play09:32

You can also save multiple presets if that's your jam.

play09:35

I created one I call Crisp

play09:36

which you can see here on the screen

play09:38

if you want to try it for yourself.

play09:40

Now, if I had to give Bang & Olufsen

play09:42

some constructive criticism here with these earbuds.

play09:45

So first of all,

play09:46

the fact that there's no active noise cancellation

play09:48

or transparency abilities when in single usage mode,

play09:51

I'd love to see that

play09:52

'cause some people do use single usage mode

play09:54

and would like to have that ambient mode turned on.

play09:57

Secondly,

play09:58

the fact that there's no low latency or gaming mode.

play10:00

Now mind you, they do have aptX Adaptive,

play10:02

but still, it'd be nice to see a dedicated mode

play10:04

for people who wanna play first person shooting games.

play10:07

On top of this,

play10:08

the fact that there are no customizable touch controls,

play10:10

we have an app.

play10:11

Why don't we have customizable tap controls here?

play10:13

Let me adjust these to the ability that I want.

play10:16

I wanna set things up the way that I wanna have 'em set up.

play10:19

So it'd be something that I think

play10:21

is like low hanging fruit for them to put into their app.

play10:24

And then last but not least,

play10:25

it's gonna be the elephant in the room,

play10:26

which is the price tag.

play10:28

These come in at 399 US

play10:30

and that is a tough pill to swallow for most.

play10:33

Obviously everyone's budget and finances are different,

play10:35

and fans of B&O products probably wouldn't even bat an eye

play10:39

at this price tag, but considering the current competition,

play10:42

it's tough to justify the price.

play10:44

For me personally, I think that 250 to 300 bucks

play10:47

is where I would draw the line,

play10:49

considering that's where Sennheiser, Bose, Sony

play10:52

and many of their competitors,

play10:54

that's right where they're sitting.

play10:55

So now let's get into the comparisons,

play10:57

and for this competition against the Beoplay EX,

play11:00

we've got the Sony WF-1000XM4,

play11:03

the Bose quiet comfort earbuds,

play11:06

the techniques AZ60 and the Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro.

play11:10

All right, so first let's start with the ANC rankings.

play11:13

So in first place, we've got Bose,

play11:15

second place, we've got Sony,

play11:17

third place, we've got Technics,

play11:19

fourth place, we've got Soundcore,

play11:21

and fifth place, we've got B&O.

play11:23

Now this is where both Bose and Sony truly shine.

play11:26

The ANC strength they offer is tough to beat,

play11:29

and it's a noticeable difference

play11:30

between those and the Beoplay EX.

play11:32

But if I had to choose a winner,

play11:34

the Bose still edge out Sony

play11:37

for sheer noise cancellation power.

play11:39

Now moving over to the transparency mode.

play11:41

In the first place, we've got Sony,

play11:43

second place, we've got Bose,

play11:45

third place, we've got B&O,

play11:47

fourth place, we've got Soundcore,

play11:48

and fifth place, we've got Technics.

play11:51

Now Sony takes a win here

play11:52

for having the most natural sounding transparency mode

play11:54

out of the bunch.

play11:56

To be clear, none of these do a bad job of this.

play11:58

All are very good to excellent, but a win is a win.

play12:03

So that's gonna bring us over to the volume rankings.

play12:05

In first place,

play12:06

we've got the Bose coming in at 115dB,

play12:09

in second place, we've got the B&O's coming in at 112.3dB,

play12:13

in third place, we've got Soundcore with 111dB,

play12:16

in fourth place, we've got Technics with 108dB,

play12:19

and in fifth place, we've got Sony with 104dB.

play12:22

Now I believe these measurements speak for themselves here

play12:24

so let's go ahead and move on.

play12:26

And that's gonna bring us to the sound quality ranking,

play12:29

in first place,

play12:30

we've got the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX,

play12:33

second place, we've got Soundcore,

play12:35

in third place, we've got Technics,

play12:37

in fourth place, we've got Bose,

play12:39

and in fifth place, we've got Sony.

play12:41

I know that some

play12:42

of the Sony fan boys will be angered by these rankings,

play12:45

and I wanna make one thing very clear to you,

play12:47

fifth place doesn't make them bad,

play12:49

it's just that the other four in this comparison

play12:51

sound better to my ears with, or without EQ.

play12:55

That said, the Beoplay EX truly came through

play12:58

with excellent tuning and presentation

play13:00

that brought some of my favorite tracks to life.

play13:03

It was a tough comparison between these five,

play13:05

but the Beoplay Ex needed less work than the sound cores

play13:09

and the others to sound great.

play13:12

So the winner was clear.

play13:14

So now let's move over to some mic quality samples,

play13:16

but first let me preface this by saying

play13:18

that these samples were recorded while using the Beoplay EX

play13:20

in their own voice mode,

play13:22

this mode captures and adjust the volume of your voice

play13:25

while also removing background noises.

play13:27

So let's test this out.

play13:29

All right, so here we have the mic sample for the Beoplay EX

play13:32

but we're gonna do this a little bit differently.

play13:34

Read off one of my favorite lines

play13:36

from one of my favorite movies,

play13:38

choose a sword and you'll join me,

play13:41

choose the ball and you join your mother in death.

play13:44

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play13:47

So come boy, choose life or death.

play13:50

Choose a sword and you will join me,

play13:53

choose the ball and you join your are in death.

play13:56

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play13:59

So come boy, choose life or death.

play14:02

Choose the sword and you will join me,

play14:05

choose the ball and you join your mother in death.

play14:08

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play14:11

So come boy, choose life or death.

play14:14

Choose the sword and you join me,

play14:17

choose the ball and you join your mother in death.

play14:20

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play14:23

So come boy, choose life or death.

play14:26

Choose the sword and you will join me,

play14:29

choose the ball and you join your mother in death.

play14:31

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play14:34

So come boy, choose life or death.

play14:38

Choose this sword and you will join me,

play14:40

choose the ball and you join your mother in death.

play14:44

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play14:47

So come boy, choose life or death.

play14:51

Choose the sword and you will join me,

play14:54

choose the ball and you join your mother in death.

play14:57

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play15:00

So come boy, choose life or death.

play15:04

Choose the sword and you will join me,

play15:07

choose the ball and you join your mother in death.

play15:10

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play15:13

So come boy, choose life or death

play15:18

Choose a sword and you will join me,

play15:21

choose the ball and you join your mother in death.

play15:24

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play15:27

So come boy, choose life or death.

play15:32

Choose a sword and you will join me,

play15:35

choose the ball and join your mother in death.

play15:38

You don't understand my words, but you must choose.

play15:41

So come boy, choose life or death.

play15:45

As always,

play15:46

you're gonna have to be the judge of the microphone

play15:47

quality of all these ear buds, that in the comment section.

play15:51

All right, so with all of that outta the way,

play15:53

the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX

play15:54

were purchased by me with my own money for this review.

play15:58

There was no monetary compensation involved

play16:00

and Bang & Olufsen were not afforded any copy approval

play16:02

or early access to this video prior to it being published.

play16:06

I'm telling you this

play16:07

because I believe in honesty and transparency

play16:09

with you as the viewer.

play16:11

As always please be sure to watch multiple reviews

play16:14

before making that final purchase decision.

play16:16

Now, if you're interested in hearing my thoughts

play16:18

about either the Technics or the Sony's,

play16:20

check out the videos that I'm gonna leave for you

play16:22

right up here on the screen.

play16:23

With that said my name is Hefe and I'm out this bitch.

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Related Tags
Audio ReviewBeoplay EXBluetooth EarbudsANC PerformanceSound QualityWireless AudioGadget ReviewB&O EarbudsTech ReviewHeadphone Test