Design & Construction

The Beoplay H9i is the follow-up predecessor of the original Beoplay H9. Striking the same looks, the Beoplay H9i upgraded more of the software than the already beautiful hardware.  The right earcup has the (From Back-Front): LED indicator, power rocker, USB Type-C port. 3.5mm audio input, Mic and trackpad on the face of the earcup. Play/pause with a single tap, skip forward/backward with a forward swipe and backward swipe respectively. Increase the volume with a clockwise circle and decrease with a counter-clockwise circle. To turn ANC on/off, slide down and slide up to turn on transparency mode on. The headphones has thick and soft earpads which do a good job of encasing your ears. This means that they do not cause wearing fatigue even after hours of listening. The clamping force is just right and does not cause any noticable discomfort to users who wear spectacles. The headband is made of cowhide leather and has a padded headrest to provide for a comfortable experience. The exterior of the earcups has a anodized aluminium finish which resists fingerprint smudges very well. The earcups pivots in all directions and folds flat for easy storage.

 

Sound Quality

The Beoplay H9i focused on a balanced yet articulate sound setting that is good for genres like Pop, Classical and Piano. The headphone drivers provide a very immersive experience with a emphasis of treble details. The mid-range is balanced and highs are warm and are sometimes sharp. Bass is lacking quite a bit, so those looking for a bass-boosted sound setting should probably turn away. Users may download the compatible Beoplay App on the App Store and Play Store to tune the sound experience. ToneTouch customisation allows users to choose from 4 catergories of Warm, Excited, Relaxed or Bright. Alternately, you may choose from presets like Commute, Clear, Workout or Podcast. Based on user experience, the noise isolation is top-notch, I could not hear much of my surroundings when there was no music on and with Active Noise Cancelling turned off. Turning on ANC significantly improve the isolation and I could only hear minimal muffled noise. Users may also feel a slight air-cabin pressure feeling but it isn't something to write home about if you are going to use the ANC with music on. Transparency mode, on the other hand, pauses your music and lets in all your surroundings so that you can hear a train announcement or catch up with a friend. Call quality was fantastic, the caller manage hear me clearly on the other end.

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Connectivity & Portability

The headphone operates both passively and wirelessly. The volume was similar in both wireless and wired mode. However, listening via the Micro-USB cable is not available. The battery life peaks at 18 hours with Bluetooth and ANC on and 23 hours with Bluetooth and ANC off. Recharging the H9i from a dead battery require 2.5 hours. The Bluetooth range was similar to other headphones with Bluetooth Ver 4.2 and there wasn't any drop-outs from my usage so far. There are also proximity sensors built-in the headphones which helps to pause your music when you take off your headphones and resumes it when you put in back on. The package comes with a 1.2m 3.5mm audio cable, 1.25m USB-A to USB-C cable, a flight adapter and a soft carrying pouch. I'm a little disappointed that Beoplay opted for a soft carrying pouch instead of a hardshell one as the price point of the headphone is significantly higher than other competitors.

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PROS

• Durable Construction

• Articulate Sound Signature

• Replacable Battery

• Controls For Music Playback & Calls

• Strong Active Noise Cancellation

• Folds Flat Into A Smaller Profile

• Transparency Mode

• Proximity Sensors For Convenience

• Soft Carrying Pouch

• A Range Of Colours

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CONS​​

• Lack Of Voice Prompts

• Short Battery Life

• Rather Bulky

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The Bottom Line

The Beoplay H9i is a superior over-ear ANC headphone housing comfortable ear cushions, fantastic noise-cancelling, sound customisation and premium design. It is highly recommended for daily commutes. Two colours is available to fit users of different genders.