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B&O Play announces new H8i and H9i wireless noise-canceling headphones (Updated with price)

By Kenny Yeo - on 17 Jan 2018, 10:58am

B&O Play announces new H8i and H9i wireless noise-canceling headphones (Updated with price)

The B&O Play H9i comes in beige and black. But readers can expect special edition colors in the future.

*Updated on 17 Jan 2018 with news of local availability and pricing*

Wireless headphones have surged in popularity ever since most smartphone makers decided that the 3.5mm headphone jack is mostly redundant and have removed them from their flagship phones.

And at CES 2018, B&O Play has updated its two wireless noise-canceling headphones to ensure that they stay fresh.

From the outside, very little has changed, but the two models feature substantial internal tweaks and updates.

We begin with the larger over-the-ears H9i, which now has a larger battery life of up to 18 hours (with Bluetooth and noise-canceling on). The batteries are also removable so you can bring extra battery packs for those extra-long travels.

It also has proximity sensors that automatically pause your music when you take your headphones off and automatically resume playing when you put them back on.

There's also a new Transparency Mode that instantly lets you hear your surroundings clearly, which is a very nifty feature for travelers who might need to quickly tune in to announcements.

The ear pads are made out of genuine lambskin leather and filled with memory foam. As a result, they are extremely soft and plush.

As befits a B&O Play headphone, the H9i is made out of premium materials like aluminum and a combination of genuine calfskin and lambskin leather.

Finally, the H9i also features retuned drivers to deliver more precise bass and clearer highs. I had a quick listen and they sound pretty good, and were noticeably more dynamic than my own MDR-1000X.

Oh, another cool thing is that the H9i charges using a USB-C connector.

The B&O Play H8i also comes in beige and black. Likewise, one can expect seasonal special edition colors in the future.

The H8i is the smaller model and differs in that it sits on your ears rather than over it.

Like the H9i, the H8i also features proximity sensors and the new Transparency Mode.

 Battery life is an impressive 30 hours. But unlike the H9i, the H8i's batteries are non-removable.

Again, the H8i is constructed using top-rate materials like aluminum and genuine calfskin and lambskin leather.

Note the smaller ear cups of the H8i, which, again, are made out of lambskin leather.

And like the H9i, the H8i features retuned drivers for a more engaging sound.

Finally, the H8i also recharges via USB-C.

The B&O Play H9i and H8i will go on sale later this month and will be priced at US$499 and US$399 respectively.

The B&O Play H9i and H8i will be available locally beginning February 2018. They will be priced at S$699 and S$599 respectively.

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