BeoET wrote:

Hi, I've got the H8 since x-mas, and have experienced annoying dropouts when using these with my Samsung smartphone. Not that much dropouts when using the H8 with my iPad, but it is more convenient to use Spotify on the mobile than on the iPad when travelling....

The Samsung supports aptX, but only BT 4.0. The H8 now supports BT 4.2 in the latest sw upgrade.

My question is: If replacing my smartphone, should I go for an iPhone 6s or a Samsung S7 (with BT4.2 and aptX) to have the best listening experience (i.e. least dropouts) with the H8?

BT is backwards compatible.  The local B&O store sent me on a WILD odyssey in Feb 2015 by saying that my dropouts were caused by my MacBook Pro (2011) being equipped with only BT2.0.  Bull.  Folks at Bluetooth chuckled at that notion and told me that it was unnecessary for me to have upgraded my Bluetooth/Airport card to one that is BT4.0 because BLUETOOTH IS BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE.  Upgrading anything in your Apple computer must be done on your own because none of the Apple "geniuses" or authorized repair centers will install equipment that wasn't part of your original build.  In short, I had to install it myself with the aid of very good video instructions.  The result was less than disappointing because all of that work didn't improve the dropouts.  Last year I replaced my computer with a 2015 MacBook and the dropouts seemed to disappear (my dropouts were occurring within 2-3 feet of the laptop) until I traveled >10 feet from the laptop and then only intermittently.  

Noteworthy to point out that initially Beocare tried to deny the serial number thing and said "you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet." Ultimately, though, they succumbed to reason and contacted the local B&O store to authorize them to provide a warranty replacement pair (I asked for the black one) for 2 reasons:  one - manufactured after the alleged antenna redesign; two - it's the color I would've wanted from the very beginning but was not available at product launch.

This experience has taught me to look at the B&O brand differently and to not patronize the Boston B&O store at all because of their horrible treatment of a potentially good customer.  They're a franchise and have proven to be most unhelpful post sale.

BeoET wrote:

Hi, I've got the H8 since x-mas, and have experienced annoying dropouts when using these with my Samsung smartphone. Not that much dropouts when using the H8 with my iPad, but it is more convenient to use Spotify on the mobile than on the iPad when travelling....

The Samsung supports aptX, but only BT 4.0. The H8 now supports BT 4.2 in the latest sw upgrade.

My question is: If replacing my smartphone, should I go for an iPhone 6s or a Samsung S7 (with BT4.2 and aptX) to have the best listening experience (i.e. least dropouts) with the H8?

BT is backwards compatible.  The local B&O store sent me on a WILD odyssey in Feb 2015 by saying that my dropouts were caused by my MacBook Pro (2011) being equipped with only BT2.0.  Bull.  Folks at Bluetooth chuckled at that notion and told me that it was unnecessary for me to have upgraded my Bluetooth/Airport card to one that is BT4.0 because BLUETOOTH IS BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE.  Upgrading anything in your Apple computer must be done on your own because none of the Apple "geniuses" or authorized repair centers will install equipment that wasn't part of your original build.  In short, I had to install it myself with the aid of very good video instructions.  The result was less than disappointing because all of that work didn't improve the dropouts.  Last year I replaced my computer with a 2015 MacBook and the dropouts seemed to disappear (my dropouts were occurring within 2-3 feet of the laptop) until I traveled >10 feet from the laptop and then only intermittently.  

Noteworthy to point out that initially Beocare tried to deny the serial number thing and said "you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet." Ultimately, though, they succumbed to reason and contacted the local B&O store to authorize them to provide a warranty replacement pair (I asked for the black one) for 2 reasons:  one - manufactured after the alleged antenna redesign; two - it's the color I would've wanted from the very beginning but was not available at product launch.

This experience has taught me to look at the B&O brand differently and to not patronize the Boston B&O store at all because of their horrible treatment of a potentially good customer.  They're a franchise and have proven to be most unhelpful post sale.

BeoET wrote:

Hi, I've got the H8 since x-mas, and have experienced annoying dropouts when using these with my Samsung smartphone. Not that much dropouts when using the H8 with my iPad, but it is more convenient to use Spotify on the mobile than on the iPad when travelling....

The Samsung supports aptX, but only BT 4.0. The H8 now supports BT 4.2 in the latest sw upgrade.

My question is: If replacing my smartphone, should I go for an iPhone 6s or a Samsung S7 (with BT4.2 and aptX) to have the best listening experience (i.e. least dropouts) with the H8?

BT is backwards compatible.  The local B&O store sent me on a WILD odyssey in Feb 2015 by saying that my dropouts were caused by my MacBook Pro (2011) being equipped with only BT2.0.  Bull.  Folks at Bluetooth chuckled at that notion and told me that it was unnecessary for me to have upgraded my Bluetooth/Airport card to one that is BT4.0 because BLUETOOTH IS BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE.  Upgrading anything in your Apple computer must be done on your own because none of the Apple "geniuses" or authorized repair centers will install equipment that wasn't part of your original build.  In short, I had to install it myself with the aid of very good video instructions.  The result was less than disappointing because all of that work didn't improve the dropouts.  Last year I replaced my computer with a 2015 MacBook and the dropouts seemed to disappear (my dropouts were occurring within 2-3 feet of the laptop) until I traveled >10 feet from the laptop and then only intermittently.  

Noteworthy to point out that initially Beocare tried to deny the serial number thing and said "you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet." Ultimately, though, they succumbed to reason and contacted the local B&O store to authorize them to provide a warranty replacement pair (I asked for the black one) for 2 reasons:  one - manufactured after the alleged antenna redesign; two - it's the color I would've wanted from the very beginning but was not available at product launch.

This experience has taught me to look at the B&O brand differently and to not patronize the Boston B&O store at all because of their horrible treatment of a potentially good customer.  They're a franchise and have proven to be most unhelpful post sale.

BeoET: just check Roger's post above and make sure your H8 are on the right side of the serial number range (I'm pretty sure they are not). If your H8 were made before the revision, just send them back. You won't regret it believe me.

Ho, thanks for the feedback. I've returned my H8 back to Beoplay service team, and they confirmed that that set was faulty. They have now shipped me a set of refurbished ones (not arrived yet, so I haven't tried them...), but the serial number on these refurbished Gray Hazel ones are 2493xxxx, i.e. on the wrong side ot the "2524849 (w1542)" as well. Does that mean that B&O fixes the returned H8s with new BT antennas, and then send these refurbished back to those who have sent their H8s in? Should one be worried?

Hi there BeoET,

I have had an exactly same case where the refurbished replacement was with the "old" serial number. The refurbished pair I had gotten from B&o also had dropouts, not if the iPhone or any other source you're using was static and within the line of sight on approx distance of max 2-3 meters. Try putting the phone in the left front pocket of trousers and take a walk outside - the receiver part is in the right headphone cup and it should start dropping out while walking. Moving the phone to the right pocket of your trousers should al out eliminate effect. The "new" s/n H8 almost every never have audio dropouts, even if your phone is several concrete walls away. Hope I'm wrong but your in case you might want to try pushing for the improved antenna headphones. It worked for me - I got my placement pair of refurbished Hazel gray H8's replaced by BNIB black H8. It took a considerable deal of convincing B&o opthrough several channels (FB, Cust service, Twitter) but I got my headphones case straight at the end. The quality of stream is rock solid now - so it naught be worth taking that road. Good luck anyway, let us know how if you have any droppouts with the current pair.

Regards,

Hello. New guy here thinking about purchasing. Wanted to confirm that the h8 does in fact support not just aptx but aptx low latency. Want to use with home theater / apt X-ll transmitter. Was this question ever answered?  Thanks. 

I don't know if it theoretically supports it. What I do know is that I use it with my Apple TV to watch Netflix. No latency issues. Just make sure you get a 'new' H8. It is an amazing pair of headphones, really!

I don't know if it theoretically supports it. What I do know is that I use it with my Apple TV to watch Netflix. No latency issues. Just make sure you get a 'new' H8. It is an amazing pair of headphones, really!