Bang & Olufsen HX Review: When Elegance Meets Everyday Listening with Style and Quality

There are headphones that sound good, and then there are headphones that feel good even before you hit play. The Bang & Olufsen HX definitely belongs to the latter group. It’s one of those products where you can tell just by holding it that it’s been designed with care, taste, and that subtle Scandinavian refinement. But good looks alone don’t make a great pair of headphones — so let’s dive into what makes the HX such an interesting piece of audio gear, and whether it’s more than just a luxury accessory.

Design & Build Quality

Bang & Olufsen doesn’t really do “ordinary.” Everything they release, from speakers to TVs, has this blend of artistry and minimalism — and the HX continues that philosophy beautifully. The materials immediately tell you what you’re dealing with: soft lambskin leather, anodized aluminum, and a tactile, fabric-covered headband. It feels premium in every sense.

The construction is solid yet lightweight enough for long listening sessions. The earcups pivot nicely, and the clamping force strikes a fine balance — firm enough to isolate without feeling like a vice. Small details like the smooth rotation of the hinges, the magnetically attached earpads, and clean tactile buttons make it clear this is a refined piece of industrial design.

It’s not flashy or over-styled — more like a quiet expression of sophistication. You could wear them on a business flight, at home, or in a café and they’d look perfectly in place anywhere.

Technical Aspects & Features

Underneath all that luxury is a technically capable wireless system. The HX uses custom 40mm electro-dynamic drivers tuned for balance and clarity. Bluetooth 5.1 is on board, with support for aptX Adaptive, AAC, and SBC codecs, which ensures good audio quality across both iOS and Android devices.

Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is here too — adaptive and smart, not overly aggressive like on some Sony or Bose models. It cancels out background hums, office chatter, and plane noise without killing the life of the music. The transparency mode works naturally, too, so conversations don’t sound robotic or artificial.

Battery life? Excellent — up to 35 hours with ANC on, and even more with it off. It’s one of those “charge once, forget for a week” headphones. USB-C charging is fast and modern, as you’d expect.

Sound Quality

Now, this is where things get interesting — because the HX has a very distinct sonic personality.

Bass

The bass here is tight, smooth, and reserved rather than thunderous. It doesn’t punch you in the chest like a Beats or Sony WH-1000XM5 might, but it carries itself with finesse. The sub-bass has enough extension for electronic and hip-hop tracks, but it’s not boosted artificially. You feel it when it’s there in the recording, not when it’s forced upon you.Listening to Massive Attack’s “Angel” or Daft Punk’s “Lose Yourself to Dance”, the low-end is articulate, clean, and layered — it moves air but doesn’t dominate.

Midrange

This is where the HX really shines. The midrange feels organic and lifelike, with vocals rendered naturally and instruments positioned accurately. It’s slightly warm, never clinical.Tracks like Norah Jones’ “Come Away With Me” or Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” sound intimate and cozy. Guitars, pianos, and vocals come through with texture and space. There’s a slight forwardness to the upper mids that adds presence without harshness — it gives clarity but still feels easy on the ears during long sessions.

Treble

Treble on the HX is smooth and elegant, with a touch of sparkle up top. It’s not the most extended or analytical — so if you like that ultra-detailed “studio monitor” style, this isn’t it. But the advantage is that there’s no sibilance or fatigue, even at higher volumes. The tuning prioritizes comfort and musicality over forensic precision.

Tonal Balance

Overall, the HX sits firmly in the balanced-warm territory. It’s tuned for long-term listening, not immediate “wow factor.” Everything feels cohesive — bass, mids, and treble flow naturally without fighting for attention. It’s a sound that’s meant to please, not impress — and that’s a strength in its own right.

Genres & Musical Pairings

The HX works best with acoustic, jazz, pop, classic rock, R&B, and vocal-centric tracks. It loves texture, nuance, and emotion.Try John Mayer, Adele, Coldplay, Billie Eilish, or The Weeknd, and you’ll see how it preserves the soul of the recording.Even orchestral and soundtrack music — Hans Zimmer’s “Time”, for instance — comes alive with width and cinematic depth.For EDM or aggressive metal, it might sound too polite, but if you appreciate refinement, you’ll likely enjoy its tuning across most genres.

Synergy & Companion Gear

Even though the HX is a wireless headphone, it benefits from thoughtful pairing when used wired or with high-quality Bluetooth sources.

If you’re using it wired, something like the iFi hip-dac 3, Fiio Q15, or Chord Mojo 2 gives it extra energy and body — you’ll notice tighter bass and a bit more clarity in the treble.For Bluetooth, phones that support aptX Adaptive (like recent Android flagships) or even LDAC through USB adapters can make a noticeable improvement over standard AAC streaming.

Bang & Olufsen’s Bang & Olufsen App also adds EQ options, letting you subtly tilt the sound to your preference — more bass or extra brightness without ruining the balance.

Comparison with Competitors

At around this price range, the HX competes directly with:

• Sony WH-1000XM5

• Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S2e / PX7 S3

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless

• Dali IO-6 / IO-12

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Compared to Sony XM5, the HX is less bass-heavy and less “digital” in its ANC tuning. Sony isolates better, but B&O sounds more natural and looks more premium.

Against Bowers & Wilkins PX7 S3, the HX trades a bit of energy for a smoother, more relaxed presentation. The PX7 has more drive and openness, but the HX feels calmer and easier on the ears for longer sessions.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 is probably the closest in sound philosophy — both are refined and smooth, though the Sennheiser offers more detail and better app control, while the HX wins in comfort and craftsmanship.

And compared to Dali IO-6, the HX feels more luxurious and slightly more balanced tonally, though Dali wins in bass authority and openness.

Pros

• Exquisite Scandinavian design and materials

• Balanced, smooth, non-fatiguing tuning

• Excellent build quality and comfort

• Long battery life

• Refined ANC and transparency performance

  
  

Cons

• Slightly polite bass and treble for analytical listeners

• ANC not as strong as Sony or Bose

• Price premium for design and brand

  
  

Final Thoughts

Bang & Olufsen HX is for those who appreciate craftsmanship, calmness, and class. It’s not trying to impress with exaggerated bass or piercing treble — instead, it invites you to listen, not analyze.It shines with vocals, jazz, and acoustic music, pairing best with clean sources and warm DACs.While competitors may win on specs or ANC, few can match how effortlessly enjoyable the HX feels day after day.It’s less about being the “best” headphone — and more about being the most pleasant companion for real-world listening.