I have just been notified that a fault was found with my H8s and I am being sent a 'factory certified' replacement from Germany. The serial number is earlier than the cut off for the improved Bluetooth hardware so I will wait with interest to see if these are an improvement. One positive is that the 2 year warranty will start again from the delivery date.

Update:

A box has been delivered to my home by UPS. Have no idea if it's new or refurbished black H8 inside. I guess I'll know in a few hours.

Will keep you posted. To be continued... :)

Update:

A box has been delivered to my home by UPS. Have no idea if it's new or refurbished black H8 inside. I guess I'll know in a few hours.

Will keep you posted. To be continued... :)

Actually, what I am looking for for headphones (especially as I travel a lot) is:

- Active noise-cancellation (no background noise during flights);

- With wire (for maximum quality for my FLAC files, no BT and no drop-outs) - when sitting in a plane, the wire does not bother me; and especially

- over-ear type (on-ear models are usually tiring after a couple of hours, plus they get too warm for comfort).

In effect, what I would like is model H6 with ANC. Sadly (and surprisingly, at least for me), B&O doesn't make any headphones of this type. Maybe one day, and if so, I'll be on them instantly.

VANTAGE

The replacements have arrived via UPS.

Positives: Arrived quickly - 8 days from me sending them off. They came with a complete set of extras - cables, pouch, aircraft adapter (I had kept mine being unsure of what might be returned). Fresh 2 year warranty starting today. On very quick testing in the office droputs are fewer (but can still be provoked) and no high pitched noise with ANC.  I will go out for a walk with them later and get some idea over a longer time in more challenging conditions.

Negatives: Despite sending my pair in the orginal box (as suggested on the website), the new pair have come to me in a cheap cardbox box (as pictured above by Mirzoni). The headphones were sent with the original firmware (no battery indication on the ipod and no Beoplay recognition) - easy enough to rectify but I wonder why not already done. The headphones are in generally good condition but there are signs of wear at both hinges with a small scratch on one of them - not enough to justify a return but a shame.

@Mark:

Did you get a pair with OK S/N signaling it's upgraded hardware? 

No - as I indicated a few posts earlier the S/N indicates this pair is earlier than the hardware update. A quick test in the office suggests that they are an improvement both in terms of BT droputs and high pitched noise with ANC. So it is possible the refurbishment has included replacing the original hardware with the revised version.

I will reserve judgement until I have had the chance to use them for longer and done so outdoors.

I will post an update when I have done so.

No - as I indicated a few posts earlier the S/N indicates this pair is earlier than the hardware update. A quick test in the office suggests that they are an improvement both in terms of BT droputs and high pitched noise with ANC. So it is possible the refurbishment has included replacing the original hardware with the revised version.

I will reserve judgement until I have had the chance to use them for longer and done so outdoors.

I will post an update when I have done so.

Can someone PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY a posh, super premium brand like BANG&OLUFSEN is sending SECOND HAND headphones to customers who have paid £400 for the privilege? 

How can this be allowed? They are less than one year old. Trading like this is HIGHLY ILLEGAL in Europe. It needs stopping immediately. Is this how low BANG&OLUFSEN values its customers???

This needs to be addressed instantly. 

I am in the US and I feel like I am getting a different treatment. I sent my H8 on 4/19, replacement was approved a few days after and I got a message from B&O this morning confirming that they will ship my "replacement order" on May 9 from Denmark - estimated delivery May 11. That's a little bit more than 3 weeks for the whole process while you guys have been reporting 8 days on average. I'll let you know what I get.