I put the most expensive ANC headphones you can buy to the test — here’s what $2,200 gets you

Tom's Guide Verdict If you’ve got the money, then Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 are the ultimate ANC status symbols. These headphones scrimp on (almost) nothing, offering refined sound quality and impressive bass response; fantastic ANC; supreme build quality and comfort; and modular replaceable parts. I said “(almost)” above because they scrimp on one thing, which is an up-to-date Bluetooth version. The default tuning isn’t for me, with a slightly dark tune for easy listening, but that can all be sorted via the fantastic app-based EQ. In my book, they’re the finest ANC headphones around… for millionaires. Pros +Lovely sound quality +Excellent ANC +Luxurious design and build +Extremely comfortable +Modular and replaceable components Cons -Outrageously pricey -Bluetooth 5.3 and no high-res codecs -Default EQ not for me Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. Jump To: Specs Price & availability Design Sound quality ANC Call quality App Battery life Verdict The Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 are a set of luxury over-ear ANC headphones from the legendary Danish high-end audio manufacturer. I’ve seen these cans described online as the Rolex of headphones, and that sentiment tracks pretty true. These things cost $2,200 in the U.S. these days, so yeah, we’re into 1% territory here.When it comes to build and comfort, the H100 are truly a luxury product. They also pack some impressive features, boasting the last word in wear detection and a fantastic app. Sound quality is solid, although I had to do a little EQing to match my preference.Aside from that, and some minor connectivity gripes, I really have very little to say against the H100. If you can afford them, I’m sure they’ll make you very happy. So, could these be the best headphones for millionaires? Find out in my full Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review.Latest Videos FromTom's GuideBang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Price $2,200 / £1,450 Headphone style Closed back Drivers 40mm Electro-dynamic Titanium Driver Frequency response 10 - 40,000 Hz Durability IP53 Connectivity Bluetooth version 5.3; USB-C Multipoint connectivity Yes ANC Yes Wear detection Yes Battery life 32 hours Weight 13.2 ounces Colors Brown; black; sand; apricot Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Price & availability (Image credit: Future)There’s no getting around it, at $2,200 the H100s are eye-wateringly expensive in the States. Admittedly, the H100 are at an all-time high right now, likely thanks to tariffs, and have been hiked from $1,549 back in May 2025. We’ve since seen them drop back to around $1,750 during sales events — scant consolation, I know.In the U.K. where I live, the H100s are still very pricey, but retail for a decidedly more palatable £1,450, although as I write this they’re on sale for £1,299. I would definitely advise waiting for a sale — or for one of B&O’s “Reloved” refurbished fire sales.The only more expensive ANC headphones that I can think of are six-figure jewel-encrusted limited runs like the Loewe LEO x Jacob & Co. As far as consumer cans go, the closest and only real rivals to the H100 are the Loewe LEO ($1,680) and DALI IO-12 ($1,750). The IO-12 sound beautiful, but lack features like ANC modes or a companion app for custom EQ. There’s also the Focal Bathys MG ($1,299), which offer supreme magnesium build quality and gorgeous sound, although cost nearly a grand less.Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Design (Image credit: Future)The H100 are built as you’d expect from $2,200 cans: exquisitely. The aluminum machining is nanometer-precise, with not a single imperfection to see. Then there are the earcups. Pillow-soft doesn’t cut it. These things are soft like a chinchilla wrapped in silk and marshmallow, sitting on a cloud. They’re not actually made from chinchilla, I ought to add. Unfortunately, they are actually made of lambskin leather, and for a vegan that’s just as bad. There are no vegan replacement options, either.Tom's Guide: Direct to Your InboxGet instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.The thick, comfy headband is wrapped in good ol’ cow leather, and clicks off if you need to replace it. These cans are intended to last you a long time, so B&O has made it easy to swap out parts. I love that.If I had one minor design complaint, it’s that, while they look utterly luxe, the H100 aren’t particularly striking. Not that it matters when they’re on your head, of course. And besides, if you’ve spent $2,200 on headphones, it’s probably best they don’t stand out. (Image credit: Future)The H100 come with an ultra-premium protective case that looks like a designer handbag. Not only does it look great and protect your cans, it’s a lot more flexible and forgiving than the solid and scratch-prone case of the younger B&O sibling, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H95.Comfort (Image credit: Future)As might be obvious from my prior gushing, the H100s are extremely comfortable to wear. You don’t get the sheer breeziness of a suspended headband design, as on a lot of open-back audiophile cans, but it’s not like the H100s are heavy enough to give your neck or noggin any real problems.WeatherproofingThe H100 have an IP53 rating, so they’re dustproof enough for the beach and waterproof enough for the odd bit of sweat or a light rain shower. This suits them nicely to the role of daily driver — remember, most over-ear headphones have no waterproofing.Controls (Image credit: Future)I love the H100 controls, which are very similar to those on the H95. There are two wheels for volume and ANC levels; a touchpad with taps and swipey-swipes for controlling playback; and a button for shifting between ANC modes. Once you know your way around, it’s highly intuitive. It’s also reliable — I’ve never missed an input and the controls prove surprisingly difficult to engage accidentally. Everything is also fully customizable in the B&O app, so you can make the controls your own.The H100 also feature excellent wear detection. After a short (customizable) while off your head, though, they’ll also power off and back on automatically, saving battery. There’s also single earcup detection, so you can just raise an earcup to talk to someone if needed — very handy.Connectivity (Image credit: Future)The H100 are a little behind the times in 2026 as I write this, sporting only Bluetooth 5.3, which offers less stability, inferior power consumption and narrower codec support than the latest version 6.0. But hey, the Apple AirPods Max 2 launched in 2026 with only 5.4, so it’s not just B&O at the back.The H100 only support AAC and SBC Bluetooth codecs. The B&O website says: “The selected codec solutions are more relevant for the Beoplay H100 design and performance profile than LDAC, which is only supported by specific devices.” Utter baloney. It’s not a binary issue: every LDAC device I’ve ever seen, tested or owned also supports SBC and AAC.Personally, advanced codec support bothers me very little. I only use Bluetooth when out and about or working, and therefore not listening particularly critically. But I can see how the lack of hi-res codecs could be frustrating when paying $2,200.Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Sound qualityI tested the H100 using Qobuz, in our eyes the best music streaming service for audiophiles. I streamed in hi-res or CD quality and over USB-C. (Image credit: Future)Putting the H100 on, the first thing I noticed was the warmth. Bass is thick and rich, but fast and well-controlled nevertheless — the surreal oscillating bassline of James Blake’s Limit To You Love was delivered with absolute precision. I was particularly impressed with the sub bass, too. I haven’t yet tested a set of closed backs with as much oomph in the subby section of SOHN’s Antigravity. It's almost high-end planar performance.I found the default Optimal EQ a little too dark for my preference, especially with ANC on. Treble and upper mids sounded somewhat muted and hazy; vocals soft and distant. Thankfully, there’s a custom EQ in the B&O app so you can dial in the sound to your liking. It’s not the most comprehensive EQ, with adjustments made based on the sound characteristics you want, but it is user-friendly and quick. I tweaked the sound to be more energetic and the upper range cleaned up nicely. (Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)EQ’d up, the resolution and speed of the drivers across the frequency range was on full display. Mids, especially guitars, had plenty of definition and texture in sludgy tracks like Melvins’ Honey Bucket and Siva by The Smashing Pumpkins. In bassy electronica like Dusky’s Stick By This and Burn Water’s Ikigai, the added airiness helped ethereal backing effects shine. Vocals were clean and pronounced, with natural timbre and strong separation to the harmonies in Blusher’s cover of Your Love Is My Drug.Overall, I’m pleased with how the H100 sound. The default EQ tuning isn’t for me, as I felt it was a little too dark at the top end. But it’s fine, because if you want something else, the H100 let you get exactly what you’re after via EQ, and can handle pretty much anything.Listen along to my testing playlist on Qobuz.SoundstageB&O claims the H100 are tuned with spatiality and Dolby Atmos media streaming in mind. Indeed, in the app’s Stereo Spatial mode, the springy opening percussion of Antigravity pinged inwards and outwards with an impressive amount of width for closed backs.Using the Dolby Atmos mode, there was an equally wide soundstage on display in the two movies I watched, Dune and Dune: Part Two. In Paul’s hallucinations on Arrakis, hearing the shimmering foley effects sparkling all around my head was like being in a movie theater, especially when combined with that hammering bass.Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: ANC (Image credit: Future)The H100’s ANC is extremely good. I live next to a very busy road. So, at rush hour, I opened and sat next to the window with the H100 on my head, using maximum ANC and my music volume at around 50%. I could barely hear a thing from outside. Trucks, motorcycles, cars — all blocked save the odd faint whoosh during quieter moments in songs. In the office, I couldn’t hear my colleagues talking around me, or their music being played.Not bad at all from the H100, although I’d say my much cheaper Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are equally as proficient (they even managed to cut the noise of a screaming baby directly in front of me on a plane returning from, of all places, Denmark).Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Call qualityThe H100 call quality is fairly run-of-the-mill. I called my wife over WiFi and she reported that I sounded a little quiet and distant — she had to take me off loudspeaker to hear. After that, though, she said the clarity of my voice was pretty good, and she could make out everything I was saying. It's like 3.6 Roentgen: not great, not terrible.Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: App (Image credit: Bang & Olufsen)The B&O app is excellent. It’s slick and polished, giving you full control over controls and the custom EQ. My only gripe is that the EQ is a little basic — as I mentioned earlier, it's a circle with various characteristics, rather than a proper parametric equalizer. But hey: it works, and it's quick.Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Battery life (Image credit: Future)Bang & Olufsen claims the H100 will last 32 hours with ANC on, which is really strong. The Sony WH-1000XM6, Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) and Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 will all give you a respectable 30 hours, while the Apple AirPods Max 2 last just 20.After using the headphones for around 7-8 hours over the course of two days in testing, the battery dropped to 74%, which correlates to the manufacturer-stated figure. I only had to charge the cans once during the week I tested them. Not bad at all.Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 review: Verdict (Image credit: Future)Obviously, the elephant in the room here is price. The H100 are a flagship product from a high-end audio brand, so they were always going to be spenny. And it’s not like they don’t justify their position at the top of B&O’s range. Their sound quality and custom EQ are fantastic, the ANC is top-notch, they’re packed full of features to make your life easier, and they’re literally built to last a decade (or more).I’m not going to tell you that they’re $1,300 better than the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 or B&O’s own H95, though. Because that simply isn’t true. You can get more value for money elsewhere. But you probably already knew that.In the end, the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 are a gloriously extravagant status symbol. In my eyes, they’re probably the best over-ear ANC headphones you can get, performance- and quality-wise. But if you want the best, you’re gonna have to pay through the nose for it. Senior Editor, Reviews & CamerasPeter is a Senior Editor at Tom's Guide, heading up the site's Reviews team and Cameras section. As a writer, he covers topics including tech, photography, gaming, hardware, motoring and food & drink. Outside of work, he's an avid photographer, specialising in architectural and portrait photography. When he's not snapping away on his beloved Fujifilm camera, he can usually be found telling everyone about his greyhounds, riding his motorcycle, squeezing as many FPS as possible out of PC games, and perfecting his espresso shots. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.