Maybe I didn’t have to write this review, but I still have such puppyish delight from Beoplay: you open the box, start to deal with the chips, wear it, listen, and it’s almost impossible not to write about your impressions. With the H9i, I flew to Berlin and New York, walked the streets between skyscrapers and relaxed with music on the grass, crushed noises in business class and economy class, somehow they pissed me off, somehow made me fall in love.

I’ll tell you everything I understand.

What has changed in H9i?

I assume that Beoplay could well have released this model under a completely different name, for example, H10: the list of changes is long, and the matter was not limited to just increasing the operating time by several hours. Moreover, the headphones really work longer, this is noticeable: unlike a number of models from other manufacturers with similar capabilities, the H9i do not make you want to plug them into the outlet as soon as the opportunity arises. Let’s look at other changes. Transparency mode has appeared: microphones amplify the sounds around you, you can make an order in a cafe without removing your headphones, chat with a flight attendant, listen to a notification at the airport. Turning on Transparency is easy: you need to tap on the cup, from the tenth or twentieth time you even get used to touch control. Useful improvement? Undoubtedly.

The second major change is the sensors in the cups: remove the headphones, the sound is paused; when the cups are back on the ears, playback continues. Why do I consider this change significant? You twitch less: let’s say you got ready to use the toilet on the plane, just took off the H9i and you know that the music also stopped.

The third major change is improved sound quality. I had the opportunity to compare H9 and H9i on the same tracks: they tweaked the low frequencies, it’s noticeable. Of course, for the sake of this, you should not change H9 to H9i, but for those who are looking for top-end headphones with ANC, I recommend immediately looking towards the updated version.

Of the small changes, a long USB Type-C cable is included and a USB Type-C connector for charging. You can also listen to music while charging, which is very nice. They write that ANC eliminates noise more effectively – to be honest, I did not notice this (and I think that the Bose QC35 do a better job with this task). Added the ability to connect to two devices at the same time, increased the range of Bluetooth.

Again, the list of changes is long, but the H9i is worth choosing if you are going to spend money on a flagship model and plan to use it for many years. It doesn’t make much sense to go from top-end Bose, Sony, Bowers & Wilkins: Beoplay H9i firmly occupy the pedestal of the most beautiful large noise-canceling headphones, but I would not call them the best.

What’s annoying about Beoplay H9i?

Most of all, the landing infuriates me: if the Bose QC35, thanks to a well-thought-out shape, sit down like a glove, then the H9i is forced to make adjustments every time. Very large cushion cups: you constantly want to fix it, headband adjustment without clicks dear to the heart. It is necessary to move your head sharply, and you feel how the headphones dangle from side to side – that’s true, like the Cadillac Escalade suspension that we took in the States. It’s like eating on a mattress.

The second annoying moment is touch control. Interestingly, the designer of this model, Jacob Wagner, tried to control the volume by twisting his finger on the iron? This is how I never learned. The official website even has detailed instructions, but in real life it is of little use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=47&v=gPMIwYVV8iI

Until now, when it comes to headphones, it is better to use either physical buttons or simple gestures, like Sony, when you need to close the cup with your palm to turn on the Transparency mode.

In addition to strange ergonomics, I also find fault with the carrying bag: it is made of fabric, it is difficult to pull out the headphones from it, it is difficult to place it there, it does not protect against damage and, after the first attempt to wear the H9i in this way, you just want to throw it away.

For me – either a hard case, like Bose, Sony, or something like dense nylon. The pouch looks beautiful only in official photos.

What did you like about H9i?

Sound. I will continue to do without any attempts to describe something with abstruse phrases: people still buy such models after listening. Although, in Russia people love Bang & Olufsen, and take at least E8 or H5 – people happily carried money to sellers, sometimes even without trying to try it on, listen.

With large headphones like the H9i, things are easier: if this is an impulse purchase, then you are unlikely to be disappointed. Despite the odd fit, they will suit most people, the audio settings are also universal and allow you to enjoy any track.

For the test, they gave me headphones of a strange color, called Natural. If I bought H9i, I would stop at the black version.

There is also Terracotta and Limestone, but all this is unlikely to be approved in Russia, and rightly so: black, as for me, is the most stylish. A black piece of thick leather on the headband, black matte metal, clearly visible channel designations (I’m talking about the letters L and R), black ear pads – oh, my hands itch to give 35,000 rubles, but I’d rather add a little and update my subscription to a sports club.

Assembly, appearance, chips – just shine, chic and respect. For this, Jacob Wagner wants to slap on the shoulders and say kind words to him. Headphones are comfortable to wear around the neck, chin rub against leather ear cushions, there is some inexplicable pleasantness in this. Probably, you are already very tired of soulless materials in technology, so you involuntarily perceive wood, leather or stone positively (for example, NATIVE UNION makes cases with marble, and very cool ones).

As in the first model, the headphones have a replaceable battery, which is a huge plus for the owner. Many do not understand what the trick is, but when you buy headphones for five hundred euros, you want to use them for many years, and they are unlikely to get worse even in ten years. And the most vulnerable spot is just the battery. You notice that the battery holds worse – you bought a new one, it was easy to replace it.

Bose QC35 Series 2 or Beoplay H9i?

I often get asked this question, and I choose Bose because I fly often and pay tribute to the landing, comfortable handling – I like absolutely everything about the QC35. But, if you take the employees of Wylsacom Media (and this is about fifteen people), then you can see how Bang & Olufsen influence minds that have grown stronger and not quite strong ones. Even the most advanced begin to smile and rejoice at the sight of the H9i, because everyone likes the leather, the lordly style and all the flair that is understandable in Russia – what is associated with “bangs” – expensive, rich, intricate.

Against this background, gray or black Bose are somehow lost, and it is difficult to talk about the merits when there is LEATHER GREATNESS nearby.

And yet, if the result is more important to you than design delights, I strongly advise you to choose Bose. Noise canceling definitely works more efficiently for them (as for me), the second version has a built-in Google Assistant. Still pleased with thoughtful precise control with buttons without sensors, hard case, cool fit.

You may ask: what if not H9i, and not QC35, but Bowers & Wilkins PX? Yes, a good option, of course, you can read our review. Functional but not as pretty as the Bang & Olufsen creations. With good noise cancellation, but they fall short of the Bose QC35. But they can be easily connected to smartphones with USB Type-C and receive a signal directly. Nice app for iOS and Android. An interesting sound, not even that – an amazing sound. But a somewhat oaky landing can be frustrating, especially on a long flight.

Here you can also remember Sony: at IFA I was lucky to try the third version of the thousandth series – we are talking about the Sony WH-1000XM3. We have a video about this model:

For all the listed models, this is a very serious competitor: they have become lighter, received USB Type-C, pressure equalization works, the leather on the cups has not gone away. Good noise cancellation, as cool as Bose. Intelligent fast charging, an application for updating, they fit great, like Bose. A familiar gesture: he closed the cup with his palm – the ambient sound is amplified.

The price of this model in Russia is still unknown, I assume that it will be about 30,000 rubles or a little more, it all depends on the exchange rate.

The H9i has plenty of competition, anyway after using it for a month they didn’t make me think about replacing the second generation Bose QC35. Rather, on the contrary.

Verdict, pros and cons

Unconditional pluses: image, design, assembly, support for Bluetooth 4.2, excellent sound quality, 18 hours of operation with a wireless connection and working ANC, good voice quality, a convenient smartphone application for updating and configuring a number of functions, a position sensor for autopause , the Transparency feature so you can hear what’s going on around you without removing your headphones. A big plus is the replaceable battery.

Unconditional disadvantages: complex and incomprehensible touch controls, an overly “soft” fit, a pouch in the kit (and not a hard case), could combine a 3.5 mm jack and USB Type-C in one: now USB Type-C is used for charging, and for audio transmission over a cable – a 3.5 mm connector.

I suppose that the Beoplay fans will not be stopped by the cons, the headphones are generally excellent and occupy a niche inaccessible to most manufacturers – a fashion model, good both in terms of technology and in terms of design. I really love the H9i, but as I said above, they didn’t make me put Bose aside.

The author expresses his gratitude to the SoundProLab stores for providing headphones for a long test.