1. Philips Fidelio M2BTBK / 00 - sound of Fidelio is similarly matched as the BeoPlay, but overall somewhat bass-heavy. Comfort initially very good - after about 10 minutes but very warm to the ears. Due to the continuous bearing surface I also often felt an unpleasant vacuum feeling on the ears when the pad to closely clung to the ear surface. Very good Bluetooth connection, which is more stable than that of the BeoPlay. Trouble-free operation of my Android smartphones. Housing and switch Although very easy to operate, but seem a little shaky (for the Fidelio is also much cheaper). In addition, no active noise cancellation.
2. B + W P7 - very well made and comfortable, very good sound - many older recordings (eg Dire Straits) liked better with the P 7, the most recent on the other hand with the BeoPlay (eg sound, the voices in Madonna's current album relatively tinny with the P7, while the BeoPlay it reproduces outstanding). The sound of the P7 is clearly "airy", more spacious and more transparent (probably due to the over-ear design with respect to the on-ear BeoPlay) - in direct comparison to BeoPlay but also "boring" (one could also say "neutral" ). Unfortunately no control functions of Android, no wireless and no active noise cancellation.
3. Sennheiser Momentum wireless - to my mind quite uncomfortable fit, quite bulky (if you hang the strap around the neck, the ears can not be rotated so that they lie flat against the body - the BeoPlay this is possible, so that it in daily use more comfortable is). Workmanship is very good - but P7 and BeoPlay seem to me still-quality and robust. Sonically very good - very transparent sound (probably comes here the over-ear design to fruition), but on my smartphone with the inclination rightly pointed / intrusive heights. Active noise suppression and Bluetooth connections work very well and stable. In my view, the biggest shortcoming: active noise cancellation can be in Bluetooth mode to my knowledge not switch off - it unusable for situations where you do not want to be so completely isolated from the environment.
4. BeoPlay H8: processing quality comparable to P7, so very good. Of the mentioned headphones by far the best comfort (at least in my mind), sitting not too tight, but still stable - nothing pushes, no "vacuum" effect (s Fidelio.), Even after long wearing no hot ears. Bluetooth connectivity and smart phone operation well within its capabilities. Bluetooth connection is prone to occasional misfires in interference from the outside, in my copy but rarely and very moderate. Sonically excellent, an amazing amount of bass (when switched noise reduction), while also very clear highs and silky middle - not necessarily the most neutral sound - (without having to activate any Equalizer) for but at first the sound I personally above the other would try headphones via Equalizer, to achieve ... and that both the smartphone, as well as iPod and stationary CD player. Thus, certainly not a neutral studio monitor, but rather an extremely suitable for everyday life companion. Active noise cancellation works well, but also reduces slightly so that the sound image rather then approximates the bass content of the music, the momentum or P7. The battery life is excellent, also allowing the battery exchange (especially with headphones in this price range in my opinion an important aspect)!
All four og headphones play sound at very high levels - but there are significant differences in the practical usability:
By P7 I have always enjoyed long and listened to music (with light equalizer use), however there were many situations where the cable bothered (no Bluetooth), and once you wanted to use his mobile phone / smartphone, the fun was quickly terminated due to the lack of Android-control ability.
The Fidelio inspired me at first with its surprisingly good sound and good Bluetooth Android connectivity. I had always throttle the bass per Equalizer, I was not particularly dramatic. But for more than 10 to 15 minutes I liked the plastic pad not have on my ears - too hot, also the above-described vacuum effect.
The momentum is certainly a very good headphones - because if harmonizes the fit with your own head ... for me personally the visually inconspicuous and in everyday use less bulky BeoPlay like much better. The sound of the momentum is impressive at first listening-on time for my taste but a bit annoying - too much sensationalism, lack of musicality. Even with Equalizer use I could not achieve the feel-good effect of BeoPlay. Absolute "no go" criteria for me was the fact that the noise cancellation in Bluetooth mode can be switched off is not (and if you can replace the battery without any problems as the BeoPlay, I do not know).
The wired sound of BeoPlay seems to me still a little bit more transparent than via Bluetooth - but it's amazing what sound quality is possible via Bluetooth with this device. Just this wireless option (in conjunction with the great comfort) helps me considerably to the fact that I now much more frequently pick up the headset than ever before.
As an accessory for the BeoPlay H8 I can recommend:
"Hama headphone stand, with cable holder, height 23 cm black" - so that the headphones are always at hand,
"Gocase F2 Case Premium Headset Case" - tailor-made for the BeoPlay H8 and well suited for transporting in the backpack.