Bang & Olufsen launches H6 headphones and H3 in-ears

Bang & Olufsen, the Danish A/V brand best known for its overtly engineered speaker products, has launched two new pairs of headphones as part of its growing B&O Play range. The over-ear H6 and in-ear H3 continue B&O's precise attention to detail thanks to aluminum construction and, apparently, high clarity sound.

The over-ear H6 is built from a combination of aluminium, leather from New Zealand and lamb skin designed by Danish designer Jakob Wagner – so perhaps not one for the vegans amongst us. 40mm audio drivers deliver a 20Hz to 20KHz frequency range, with a 30 Ohm impedance - they have apparently been tuned to create a "truly natural and authentic sound performance" - which we hope means they won't be explosively bass-heavy like the vast majority of headphones currently on the market.

Despite all that metal, at 230g they shouldn't weigh your head down when listening, even if you wear them all day. They also have a Daisy Chain feature, with a 3.5mm audio jack in each ear cup - if you want to share your music with another H6 owner, just link up the audio cables and start playing. The cable itself has a three-button in-line remote, with integrated microphone, for controlling playback on a smartphone or making calls.

Meanwhile, the H3 in-ears are also available for anyone that dislikes wearing a set of cans. Again designed by Jakob Wagner, each H3 earbud is machined from a single block of aluminium. The 10.8mm drivers inside cover the 20Hz-16KHz frequency range, with an 18 Ohm impedance, and use the 23 tiny ventilation holes drilled into each earbud to deliver bass.

"A wide range of headphones on the market today compromise on quality and sound performance", Henrik Lorensen, VP of the B&O PLAY division, said of the launch. "We’ve worked with professional sound technicians and studio musicians, to offer people a pristine sound experience in a package that is a delight to wear."

Both the H3 and H6 will be available to buy from May onwards, from Bang & Olufsen stores, the B&O PLAY online store, Apple's retail and online stores and selected department stores. Before you rush out, keep in mind that they carry B&O's typically high-end prices; you can pick up a pair of H3s in black, red or silver for £199, or grab the H6 in either black or natural leather for £329.