It might seem strange to see an assumed luxury audio brand like Bang & Olufsen enter the competitive gaming accessories market - where the practice has been to offer the best technology at the lowest possible price - and particularly short after the announcement of the new Beoplay HX headphones with adaptive ANC. Essentially, the Beoplay Portal is an optimized version of the HX headphones, fully optimized for a different user profile that is able to appreciate gaming headphones with a sophisticated aesthetic. The Beoplay Portal even retail for the same price of the Beoplay HX headphones, which means, these are expensive gaming headphones - for people who don't like the standard gaming headphones made of plastic with bright neon LED logos.
Combining premium materials with immersive sound, the new Beoplay Portal headphones "bring all the hallmarks of Bang & Olufsen to the world of gaming — and beyond," the company states. Whether used for immersive gaming experiences, watching movies, or enjoying music, they easily adapt to the situation, offering an impressive set of features including low-latency surround sound, outstanding microphone performance, Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, and an elegant user interface. They are also lightweight and built for long-lasting comfort, which is another important factor for users wearing them for a long time.
"Beoplay Portal is the first of its kind — a wireless headphone that combines gaming technology with Bang & Olufsen's characteristic sound, design, and craftsmanship," says Dorte Vestergaard, Director and Head of Bang & Olufsen’s On-The-Go category. "Our designers and engineers have worked tirelessly to create a pair of headphones that meets the advanced technological needs of the gaming community while also excelling during daily use. Bang & Olufsen is thrilled to be entering the gaming market with this category-redefining product."
To create the Beoplay Portal, Bang & Olufsen knew it had to compromise on some areas to reinforce others. The Beoplay Portal headphones were developed as part of the Designed for Xbox program, and connect seamlessly to Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles via Xbox Wireless protocol, providing a high bandwidth, low latency connection. At the same time, the Beoplay Portal headphones are also compatible with PC and mobile devices via Bluetooth 5.1, offer support for both aptX Adaptive and AAC codecs, and feature USB-C, allowing gamers to take their immersive audio experience on the go.
Another different aspect of the design was the sound response, tuned by Bang & Olufsen's acousticians to provide a rich audio experience, with a high level of detail and nuance, targeting a younger audience. Two custom-designed 40mm drivers with neodymium magnets ensure that superior reproduction and power, while the addition of Dolby Atmos for Headphones, offers virtualized surround sound, adding layers of depth and texture to games, movies, and music.
The sound performance of the new Beoplay Portal headphones is further enhanced by a new generation of Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation technology. Using a combination of feed-forward ANC and feed-back ANC, the design allows users to fully immerse themselves, enjoying every detail even in noisy environments. And the addition of Own Voice enables users to hear their own voices while simultaneously canceling out extraneous sounds.
Crafted for style, comfort, and durability, designed by Jakob Wagner in partnership with Bang & Olufsen’s design team, the Beoplay Portal headphones are available in relatively conservative Black Anthracite, Grey Mist, and Navy finishes. The earcups feature touch-sensitive aluminum discs with a gradient effect, produced using a proprietary anodization technique developed by Bang & Olufsen. The earcups feature an elegant user touch control interface, with several simple gestures to raise and lower the volume, adjust ANC and Transparency Mode, and control music and phone calls.
The jaw-supporting earpads are crafted from lambskin-wrapped memory foam. There is a subtle protrusion on the rear of each cushion, which conforms to the shape of the user’s head, enhancing comfort and eliminating sound leakage. The inner headband features offset padding designed to relieve pressure on the top of the head. This padding is covered with a high-quality bamboo fiber textile, which was chosen for its durability and breathability. And weighing in at a mere 282 grams, the new Beoplay Portal headphones are among the lightest on the wireless category, ideal for hours of continuous use.
Since they are intended to be used in gaming, where communications are important, the Beoplay Portal headphones also feature an all-new virtual boom arm, eliminating the need for the traditional boom arm found on most gaming headsets. Using Directional Beamforming technology, an array of microphones helps to isolate and amplify the user’s voice while eliminating background noise, allowing for crystal clear conversations — whether calling out objectives to teammates or talking on the phone to friends.
The touch interface functions can be accessed in the Bang & Olufsen app (available for iOS and Android). With the launch of Beoplay Portal, the Bang & Olufsen app has been updated to include Gaming Mode, which introduces a new set of features designed specifically for gamers, including microphone optimization and game/chat balance. When connected to Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One or PC using a dongle or USB-C, Gaming Mode is automatically activated. When connected using Bluetooth, the features will adapt to the needs of a traditional headphone, and the app’s user interface will adjust accordingly.
The Beoplay Portal design features a 1,200 mAh lithium-ion battery, offering up to 24 hours of continuous playtime using Bluetooth and Active Noise Cancellation; or 12 hours of playtime using Xbox Wireless, Bluetooth, and Active Noise Cancellation.
The new headphones retail for 499 USD / 499 EUR and are available now in the United States and Canada exclusively at Bang & Olufsen, Best Buy, and the Microsoft Store. Global availability online is scheduled to start April 29. The wireless gaming dongle is sold separately.
www.bang-olufsen.com
