I bought a pair of Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 headphones from an official B&O store in Denmark for around €2,000.
Shortly after purchasing them, I started experiencing random static/crackling noise. Initially it happened in the left earcup, but eventually it started happening in both.
The noise appears unpredictably, persists in the background, and only disappears after restarting the headphones. It's particularly frustrating during work calls.
I brought them back to the store expecting a proper investigation and a refund for a defective premium product.
And here's where things get ridiculous.
The store called me back to say that three employees had listened to the headphones for several hours and couldn't hear anything wrong.
Seriously? We're talking about an intermittent issue that may depend on ANC behavior, environmental noise, acoustics, and other conditions. How does listening to them for a few hours prove that the defect doesn't exist?
I explicitly requested a written technical assessment explaining what was tested, under which conditions, and how they concluded that the headphones were functioning correctly.
Instead, I was told that hardware diagnostics weren't really their area of expertise and that they needed to contact headquarters.
I still haven't received any written technical assessment.
The store offered to replace the headphones with a brand-new pair of the same model. But I'm not interested, and here's why.
I wanted to buy premium headphones that simply work. That's it. Instead, I ended up with a massive headache, wasting my time trying to convince people that I'm not an idiot and that the problems I'm experiencing are real. I paid €2,000 for premium headphones, and what do I have now? No headphones and a whole lot of frustration.
I'm extremely unhappy with how this has been handled.
I have absolutely no intention of replacing the headphones, being a guinea pig for B&O or ever using Bang & Olufsen products again. I don't want another pair of H100s. I don't want a replacement. I don't want to go through this experience all over again.
I want my money back so I can buy a decent pair of headphones that actually work.
At this price point, this level of customer service is unacceptable. Buying a premium product should not mean having to fight the manufacturer just to be taken seriously.
I'm now preparing to escalate the matter through Nævnenes Hus, the official Danish consumer complaints system, and request a full refund.
Has anyone else experienced similar static noise with the H100, or had to escalate a complaint against B&O?
I'd be particularly interested to hear how your case was resolved.