Customer Reviews

Bang & Olufsen A8 Earphones (Aluminum/Black)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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!!

These earphones fit so securely and so comfortably. That fact alone makes them the best earphones for day to day life. When I run the earphones never come off UNLIKE EVERY OTHER SET OF EARPHONES. On top of that, the sound is incredible! Bang and Olufsen sound quality in a tiny package. They are pricey, but with a three year warranty and the best fit and the best sound, these are the best of the best!

I feel sorry for those who buy this on eBay. eBay is full of fake earphones. I can buy fake versions of these or Shure or Senn CX300 earphones direct from China but they don't sound the same. For that reason, if someone reviews a set they bought on eBay, I'd say that they didn't get the real thing.

For some reason I have never had any luck with standard ear buds. They always fall out and require constant attention on my part to keep them in place. I've also found they do not sound great (primarily because they have to face an odd way so I do not get proper alignment of the speaker into my ear). The ones that have the spongy piece you can insert in your ear canal are uncomfortable for me.

I was looking for earphones that:

1) Sound really good (good bass response and are not tinny sounding).
2) Are compact for travel.
3) I can run with them (which meant they will not fall out of my ear and require constant fiddling with).

This pair gets an A+ for all three of those requirements.

They speaker part is adjustable up/down and the part that hangs over your ear is adjustable also so that it is comfortable clamping around your ear.

Well worth the money.

I've worn my B&O A8 earphones for about four years now, and they're my favorite headphones by far. They're very much worth the price simply for the sturdy fit they give you, particularly if you need headphones for the gym.

I don't think you can find a more fashionable set of earphones. I've gotten many compliments on them, and I think they look great.

They're also very robust. The aluminum construction is very hearty, and I never worry about breaking the earphones when they're rumbling around in my gym bag. The weakest component is the cord, but on many occasions the earphones have been pulled off my head when I snagged the cord, and no problems at all.

My only warning is that the earphones don't have strong bass. The mids and highs are very pleasant and well defined, but these earphones won't throttle you while you're listening to hip hop. I expected a little bit more rounded sound, particularly for the money and from a company like B&0. I use my Koss Portapros (1/5th the cost) when I want a fuller sound with better bass.

If I lost this pair of B&Os, I wouldn't hesitate in buying a new set.

These are actually cheap for me. I initially balked at the price, but since I am a personal trainer and hardcore exerciser[kettlebells, martial arts, sledge hammer]I had to replace my broken headphones about every six months. [The headphones were not broken as a result of accidental interaction with my equiptment. But merely in the normal give and take of a workout.] This infuriated me. But I had a very informative discussion with the B&O salesman. He pointed out the quality of construction and the three year guarentee. The sound was off the hook. So I took the plundge. That was about five years ago. I've had the headphones replaced once by B&O - no questions asked. They are also extremely helpful re giving me those little black pads that fit on the end of the earphones which I occasssionally lose. Frankly dealing with these people is a pleasure and this is a case where you get what you pay for. Also, these is no way I could possibly go back to regular headphones since I am entirely spoiled by the sound quality of these adorable, sturdy instruments.

Just a note to anyone buying a pair of A8's, there are many fake pairs of these headphones on Amazon being sold as geuines. Any pairs for under $100 should be avoided!!! Research your seller!

I tried several pairs of earphones and earbuds before deciding to spend the extra money on this pair. I wish I had just bought these first instead of trying to find a less expensive pair. You get what you pay for.
Although not an audiophile, and comfort being my first priority, the sound is exceptional. Clear, crisp, full range.
The design of the headphone allows them to be easily adjusted. Previous reviews had evidenced this as a problem, but to me it was a very simple adjustment. The headphone joints 2 ways, over the ear adjustment and then the sound bud joints into the ear canal. It is very comfortable and stays in place perfectly while working out. Those of you looking for a good set for workouts, this is it. They also have some real substance to them, not heavy, just sturdy and well built. I expect they will last a long time. I use them 4 days a week to run and have had no problems. Hope this helps.

Considering these are ear-buds, they are wonderful. While they (obviously) don't compare to circumarual headphones, these are closest thing to Grado's in an ear-bud format I have found. High end detail is simply stunning. If you're into hip-hop or rap (what's the difference?) these probably aren't for you.

Construction is over the top, solid aluminum. No, they are not light weight but I find them to be considerably more comfortable than the "in the canal" ear-bud designs. Typical B&O minimalist styling. Puccini never sounded so good through my Zen.

I am familiar with Bang & Olufsen products, so I have no doubt the sound quality is great. However, the product simply wouldn't fit in my ear. I was not able to hear the music unless I held the product in my ears...not an ideal situation for exercising.

The much-praised adjustments that can be made to these headphones are the height of the earpiece from the earphone, the angle of the earpiece, and the angle of the earpiece relative to the earphone. The one adjustment that I needed to be able to make--the tilt of the earphone arm in relation to the ear--was not adjustable. Due to the shape of my ears, the angle of the earphone therefore *pushed away* from my ear, falling out and taking the whole earpiece with it. I wasn't trying to put them deep into my ear, either--just to where normal flat earbuds sit.

The surface of the earphone itself is slightly bigger than average earbuds, even without the added foam cover. So if you have smaller ears like me, you might find that, no matter how you adjust the height and angle of the earpieces, the earphone will not sit snugly *in* your ear. And if that's the case, the angled earpiece hasn't got enough leverage to mash the earphone close enough for you to hear.

In theory, and for most users in practice, the earphone/adjustable-earpiece combo would be great to keep the earphones in during activity. I may be in the minority in that they don't fit me in the ear, but I wanted to share my experience anyway--these earphones are of obvious high quality, but they aren't built for everyone.

If you know you have small ears, best try these on from a friend or a store before you spend a lot of money on something you will have to return. Good luck!