Active Noise Cancelation or ANC has long been one of the top wanted features in headphones and earphones, and it’s traditionally been limited to more extensive accessories that have room for the hardware needed to form it works. Thankfully, that hardware has become sufficiently small to suit even in small earbuds, making it a standard feature even there. A minimum of it’s small enough for Bang & Olufsen to finally upgrade its truly wireless earbuds and convey that ANC tech to the new Beoplay EQ.
ANC works by analyzing surrounding sound waves and pushing out sound that cancels ambient noise. To accomplish that, most ANC systems require a variety of microphones, circuits, and software that previously couldn’t fit inside earbuds. However, advancements in technology and manufacturing have finally made that possible, resulting in the Beoplay EQ, B&O’s first ANC TWS buds.
The earbuds utilize six mics and an ANC DSP to accomplish all that. A double press of the left earbud’s buttons lets wearers quickly turn ANC on or let sound through with Transparency mode. With ANC enabled, B&O says you’ll get 6.5 hours of playtime or 20 hours with the charging case without ANC.
As with any B&O product, the Beoplay EQ flaunts a sleek, premium design that’s also dust and water-resistant at IP54. The interchangeable ear tips offer a cozy fit passive noise cancelation, while the ergonomic design promises comfort for all-day use. The spacecraft-grade aluminum charging case is compact enough to slip into a pocket easily and supports the Qi standard for cable-free wireless charging.
Aluminum in Black Anthracite and Sand Gold-Tone colors, the B&O Beoplay EQ will be available starting August 19, 2021. It carries a tag of $399, which puts it above even the Apple AirPods Pro.
