Bang & Olufsen presents the B&O Play Earset, the evolution of a Bang & Olufsen design icon. Earset comes with state-of-the-art wireless audio technology, world-class Bang & Olufsen Signature Sound, and a fresh look for the next generation. The best part? It does all this while preserving the flexible design aspects that led to the success of the original.
The Predecessor
The lines for the original design were drawn by Anders Hermansen in the ‘90s with a strong focus on making a set of earphones flexible enough to adapt to any ear. The adjustment system on the earphones lets you modify the angle of the earbud, the height of the piston, and the curve of the earhook individually to ensure a perfect fit. It is truly an example of how expert engineering and design goes hand in hand to create an object as beautiful as it is useful.
The new Earset brings all this, and is updated with wireless technology and a classic updated hue and satin.
Crafted With Premium Materials
In the spirit of the Bang & Olufsen legacy, Earset is crafted from premium materials made to last. The aluminium used for the telescopic piston is precision-forged for fluid movement, ensuring a hydraulic-like feel. The iconic earhook has sections of soft rubber, to deliver a comfortable and secure fit behind the ear. Similarly, a hex screw attaches the piston to the hook, underlining the mechanical ideals that once inspired the original design.
The anodization process of aluminium allows colours to be deeply integrated into the core of the material. This provides more depth and durability, while the aluminium on the housing has a diamond-cut edge, and a radially polished surface to catch and reflect light.
Design That Lets The World In
The construction of the new Earset earphones has a different starting point than most models on the market. Rather than a deeper in-ear fit, Earset allows the speaker house to fit comfortably just inside the inner ear without blocking it. Apart from a more comfortable feel, this style allows ambient sounds to be heard while still maintaining the audio performance that you would expect from a set of B&O Play earphones.
Knud-Erik Lauridsen, Executive Sound Engineer for the brand, names ergonomics as the main challenge in design, just like with the original. “We wanted to adapt the earphone closer to the shape of the ear, so the tip would sit in the concha of the ear with the housing supported by an earhook. The earbud does not feel ‘enclosed’ in the ear. This makes the sound feel clearer, while allowing elements of the surrounding environment to intervene.”
The angle of the ear bud housing design is adapted to determine the optimal angle for sound performance. Similarly, the speaker housing is now tilted slightly towards the ear, to ensure better sound delivery and reduce sound leakage.
The acoustics of the new earphones revolves around a 14.2mm speaker unit with a neodymium magnet. The cabinet behind the speaker unit has two acoustic vents and a bass port to optimise the sound performance. Meanwhile, digital equalizers inside the Bluetooth chipset fine tune the final sound performance. Finally, the grill on the earbud is designed with inspiration from the hole pattern on the Beoplay A1. This ensures optimal sound dispersion.
Your Daily Companion
With up to five hours of battery life, Earset is a great companion for daily activities. The in-line anodized aluminium remote with three buttons and built-in microphone lets you control your music, take calls, and activate Siri or Google Assistant on your smartphone via Bluetooth. Finally, if you’re not using the earphones, you can store them in the included pouch for optimal scratch-protection.
Pricing & Availability
Earset is available in Graphite Brown and White, and retails for SGD$429. It is available in the following locations:
- Bang & Olufsen Grand Hyatt
- Bang & Olufsen Takashimaya
- Analogue +
- Apple Premium Resellers
- Changi Airport Duty Free
- Newstead
- Robinsons
- Tangs
- and other leading independent retailers
Earset Graphite Brown is available from mid-May 2018, while White will be available from June 1st 2018.
