Olufsen Beoplay H6 Review: Is It a Good Buy?

Bang and Olufsen have quite a large line of headphones and earbuds. Their Beoplay H6 falls right in the middle of their line, sitting between the $499 Beoplay H9s and the $199 H2s. While the headphones aren’t the top of the line for Bang and Olufsen, they still come in at a decently pricey $299.

Despite that the Beoplay H6s maintain stellar sound quality and comfort, justifying the premium cost, while still holding back some features to be reserved for the more expensive H9s. Overall, the headphones don’t come out to be the most full-featured headphones for $299, but they sound (and feel) incredible.

B&O Play by Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H6 (Natural)
$180.00
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03/18/2024 03:12 pm GMT

Specs

Frequency Response 20Hz – 22kHz
Driver Size 40mm
Materials Aluminium, Leather, Fabric, Polymer

 

Dimensions 197 X 194 X 40 mm
Weight 230 g, 8.1 oz

 

Price $299

Construction and Comfort

The first thing that sticks out about the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H6s is how well they are put together, something that reigns true for their entire line of headphones. The construction made up of aluminum, leather, fabric, and polymer parts feel engineered to perfection, taking the premium price of the headphones and putting it into context.

On top, the headband is stitched perfectly. The band rests perfectly on the head with little to no annoyance from them for extended listening periods. The cowhide leather, while not as soft as the ear cups, will patina over time and give your pair their own character.

As far as comfort goes, it seems to not get much better than this line of headphones at this price point. The soft lambskin leather of the ear cups gives them a luxurious feel without sacrificing comfort.

However, Bang and Olufsen cut no corners outside of the comforted areas. The rest of the construction is made up of rigid aluminum. The headphones can take a significant beating before needing to be repaired in any way.

Overall, the $299 price tag is easily justified in the construction and comfort of these headphones. They truly feel premium, like not a single thing was overlooked. This kind of attention to detail reveals the pricing ideology and justifies why they are priced so high.

Ease of Use

Now, the headphones are certainly comfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are easy to use. Thankfully, Bang and Olufsen have thought through the Beoplay H6s to match up in this regard.

It’s nice to see that the headphones come with a detachable (and easily replaceable cable). For cabled headphones at this price point, it’s essential that they include something in the way of a detachable cable for easy replacement.

The headphones also have a 3.5mm connector on each ear cup meaning you can use the cable on either side which, while not essential, is nice to have.

When the other connector is not in use, you can plug a 3.5mm to 3.5mm jack and connect two headphones, daisy-chaining them together. This is a nice feature for those who travel often with someone else and want to listen to the same music without having to have multiple devices.

The cable does mean that these headphones don’t feature any sort of wireless functionality. No, this feature is reserved for the far more expensive H9s. Bluetooth is not here which is pretty disappointing at $299 for a pair.

Of course, the cable features a no-frills-in-line remote to control your music. The remote features volume controls and a decent microphone. While not a stellar performer, it’s enough to satisfy.

Sound Quality

However, every piece of comfort, premium design, construction, and more could completely justify the price of the headphones. Thankfully, the Beoplay H6s are excellent in this department as well. They sound incredible, matching their excellent build and ease of use.

I would describe the sound overall as “premium” still. It feels sophisticated in a lot of ways. The entire frequency spectrum feels tight with no particular areas sticking out like a sore thumb. Despite this, the music still feels full. The headphones feel like a good piece of meat that doesn’t need any seasoning to show off how good it tastes.

The bass on the headphone is full without being boomy. Comparing them to some less expensive and more trendy headphones makes them feel like a Rolex and the cheaper pairs feel like a knock-off. Particularly in this region, there is a certain maturity that is sensed when listening.

The midrange stands out here too. Literally. The mids are very present in these headphones without giving too much to cloud the rest of the frequency spectrum. In a world with very scooped-sounding headphones, the Beoplay H6s feel like a breath of fresh air providing present mids that don’t cloud but still punch.

The top-end tells a similar story. The highs are definitely there, without being too hyped or pokey. In fact, they may be a little too underhyped. While there is plenty to satisfy, the headphones take on a more “warm” characteristic. For my tastes, I’d prefer it (especially if you listen to music loud) to be this way so the treble doesn’t destroy your ears.

Overall, Bang and Olufsen show why their headphones are so premium in the sound department. The audio being pumped out of the 40mm drivers satisfies almost every front. While the frequency response isn’t extended into the extreme subs and extreme highs, it seems that Bang Olufsen focused on getting a better curve overall instead of trying to extend the range into territories that may have tainted the overall sound.

Best Feature of Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H6

Despite the shallow nature of the statement, the standout feature of the Beoplay H6s is definitely in the design and construction. Every piece of these headphones just screams excellence, down to every last stitch.

The soft lambskin leather earcups wrap around your ears perfectly, isolating your listening experience in a way that truly feels “high-end”.

Worst Feature of Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H6

However, with all the sound and the construction top-notch, there still is something to be desired with the Beoplay H6s. The lack of wireless functionality seems to be hurtful to the headphones, especially at $299.

While I understand the reserve of Bluetooth for the H9s, but inclusion on this pair of headphones would have pushed them even further. So the lack of Bluetooth ends up being the worst feature of the H6s.

Conclusion

B&O Play by Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H6 (Natural)
$180.00
Check Price
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.
03/18/2024 03:12 pm GMT

The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay H6s are a fantastic pair of headphones. At $299, they are built like few other pairs, with comfort to match. The aluminum frame matched with both soft lambskin and cowhide leather is a fantastic combination, striking a critical balance between rigid construction and comfort. The genuine leather gives a premium feel with the cowhide headband providing a personalized patina over time.

However, it seems that Bang and Olufsen thought further than skin deep. These headphones sing beautifully with a frequency spectrum that is confined and refined. While there is no fancy marketing material about extended frequency response, it’s clear that Bang and Olufsen have spent their time dialing in the frequencies that they’re working with to perfectly compliment the 40mm drivers.

The only real issue at a price point of $299 is the lack of Bluetooth. While it’s not essential and instead reserved for the $499 H9s, it would push these headphones over the edge, making the $299 price tag seem like a steal.

Regardless, the 3.5mm detachable connector provides plenty of flexibility in use. The cord is easily replaceable and the ability to daisy chain multiple pairs together is something that is useful for those who travel often and need to share their music.

Overall, Bang and Olufsen’s price of $299 for the Beoplay H6s is easily justified in their premium fit, finish, and sound. These headphones eat and breathe luxury and you will feel just the same in them.

Alternatives to Consider

  • V-MODA Crossfade Wireless – $299
  • Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless – $349
  • Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro – $199

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