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.
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
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
INFORMATION
B&O Beoplay H5 wireless headphones, £199. For more information, visit the B&O website
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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.
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