Ear candy: B&O's future-proof H5 wireless earphones
A good pair of headphones is akin to a well-tailored suit or the perfect pair of shoes – of all the options available, you'll eventually find the ones that fit just right. B&O has a long and illustrious history of biding its time until it gets things right, and then sticking with its superior technology for as long as is feasibly possible.
The Beoplay H5 headphones aren't the Danish audio brand's first set of wireless headphones, but they're certainly shaped by many years of thinking about the ins and outs of music on the move. For a start, there's form. Styled by Jakob Wagner, the earpieces and docking station form a harmonious chunk of soft velvety metal once everything's been magnetically clipped together to charge. Magnets are also built into the earpieces themselves, letting them clip together to be worn round the neck when you’re not listening, separated by a soft braided textile-covered cable.
The quality also shines forth in the sound, which ekes out a healthy, rounded audio portrait from such a small footprint thanks to the use of B&O's Beoplay App, a slick smartphone-based way of shaping the dynamics to suit your circumstances. Whether or not Apple confirms the rumours and does away with a headphone jack in the next generation iPhone, the Beoplay H5 will keep you future-proofed in style.
INFORMATION
B&O Beoplay H5 wireless headphones, £199. For more information, visit the B&O website
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Architecture and the new world: The Brutalist reframes the American dream
Brady Corbet’s third feature film, The Brutalist, demonstrates how violence is a building block for ideology
By Billie Walker Published
-
Danish manufacturer Zenvo Automotive’s Aurora is the true enthusiast’s hybrid hypercar
Zenvo Automotive dovetails Danish design culture with a love of high-end engineering and exceptional performance. We talk to the company’s Jens Sverdrup about its newest machine, the Aurora
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Taking off? XPeng Aero HT promises world’s first all-electric ‘Land Aircraft Carrier’
Six wheels, six rotors, four seats and an aesthetic that bests even the boldest futurologist – Chinese manufacturer XPeng looks to the skies with this truck and its onboard flying machine
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Year in review: top 10 audio acquisitions of 2024, as chosen by Wallpaper’s Jonathan Bell
The best audio technology of 2024, from pocketable earbuds to room-filling speakers
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Tech Editor, Jonathan Bell, selects six new and notable Bluetooth speaker designs, big, small and illuminating
These six wireless speakers signal new creative partnerships and innovative tech approaches in a variety of scales and styles
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Bang & Olufsen brings the noise with its second audio-visual collaboration with Ferrari
The new Ferrari Edition collection of components from Bang & Olufsen includes speakers, a soundbar and a Beovision Theatre TV
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Lasting impressions: the latest Beoplay H100 headphones from B&O are for keeps
Bang & Olufsen’s head of design, Tiina Karjalainen Kierysch, talks us through the new Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100, headphones designed to last a lifetime
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Bang & Olufsen’s Recreated Classics series continues with a CD player revival
Bang & Olufsen’s Beosystem 9000c music system brings the original digital compact disc format back to life and pairs it with the latest in speaker design
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The Beosound A9 x MonoNeon brings bold colour to the ultra-refined Danish speaker system
Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound A9 limited-edition speaker with musician MonoNeon sees the brand continue its collaborative streak
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Year in review: top 10 audio products of 2023, as selected by Wallpaper’s Jonathan Bell
Every audio brand offers high fidelity as a gilt-edged promise – which products matched up to the claims? Consult our top 10
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8 is a stunning standalone speaker
The new Bang & Olufsen Beolab 8 speaker can be used on its own or in a pair, or even as part of the ultimate home cinema set-up
By Jonathan Bell Published