Video summary

Gauntlet Series - FINALE | Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 Headphones vs. écoute TH1 Headphones

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product(s) compared

  • Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 (reviewed as the challenger in this “gauntlet series” finale)
  • Aoot / “Eoot” TH1 Headphones (reviewed as the final boss / top pick and ultimately the winner)

Note: The subtitles spell the TH1 brand inconsistently, but the video clearly compares Beoplay H100 vs TH1.

Key features & settings mentioned

Bang & Olufsen app settings (H100)

  • Noise cancelling: enabled
  • Spatial audio: left OFF
    • The reviewer notes others advised turning it on for Dolby-certified audio, but they kept it disabled.
  • EQ: “my EQ settings” are referenced, but no exact EQ numbers are provided.

Volume calibration

  • The reviewer checks/targets the correct red/orange line level in the app to match expected loudness.

Listening impressions (what mattered in the review)

Overall clarity / vocals / soundstage (across songs)

  • Both: strong clarity, especially on vocals (lead and background).
  • TH1: described as “next level” clarity, with:
    • Wider soundstage
    • More detail/nuance (e.g., breathing and inhale/exhale articulation)
  • H100: described as a “wonderful job,” but vocals are less detailed than TH1.

Bass performance

  • On the bass-focused track:
    • H100: more powerful bass (“redeemed itself” with stronger punch/power)
    • TH1: bass is solid, but the wide soundstage makes the bass feel less emphasized
  • Across the comparison commentary:
    • H100 is repeatedly praised for excellent bass, even better than H95 (“a leg up from the H95s”).
    • TH1 is not framed as the more punchy/bass-forward option.

Classical track (Mozart)

  • H100: praised for
    • Crisp violins
    • Smooth, deep cello bass that doesn’t overpower the violins
  • TH1: stands out for
    • Even wider soundstage
    • Crisper mids/violins
    • Cello bass that is less powerful than the H100

Pros & cons (as stated/strongly implied)

TH1 (Winner)

Pros

  • Best overall sound quality
  • Wider soundstage
  • Higher vocal/detail clarity (nuance, breathing, articulation)
  • “Crisper” presentation, especially in mids/violins

Cons

  • Less bass punch/power than the H100 (though still described as good)

H100 (Runner-up / impressive challenger)

Pros

  • More powerful bass
  • Very clear and clean vocals (just not as “next level” as TH1)
  • Strong classical presentation (crisp violins + smooth cello bass)
  • Noise cancelling used in app

Cons

  • Less soundstage width
  • Less detail/nuance in vocals than TH1
  • Bass perception may be influenced by TH1’s wider staging during bass-heavy moments

Comparisons made to other headphones

  • H100 vs H95: reviewer says H100 bass is a step up (“definitely a leg up from the H95s”).
  • Mentions prior gauntlet episodes/models (e.g., IO2s, Focal Batiste), but the decisive conclusion in this finale focuses mainly on H100 vs TH1.

User experience / technical notes

  • Reviewer experienced app/connection issues while switching headphones:
    • Needed to disconnect H100 briefly to proceed with TH1 testing.
    • Mentions minor technical difficulty before resuming.
  • Spatial Audio debate:
    • Spatial audio was OFF for the H100.
    • Reviewer acknowledges others recommended enabling it.

Verdict / overall recommendation (final call)

  • Winner: TH1 headphones (“EU TH1s with the win” / “my winner… is the final boss, the TH1 headphones”.)

Reasoning:

  • Overall sound is much better than the H100, even though the H100 has punchier bass.

Concise recommendation

  • Choose TH1 if you prioritize clarity, detail, and wide soundstage.
  • Choose Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 if you prioritize stronger bass punch, though the reviewer still prefers TH1 overall.

Unique points mentioned (exhaustive list from the subtitles)

  • Finale of the “gauntlet series” for Beoplay H100 vs TH1
  • TH1 called the “final boss” / “top dog”
  • App usage for H100: noise cancelling ON
  • Spatial audio OFF (Dolby debate noted)
  • EQ settings used for H100 (exact values not provided)
  • Volume checked via red/orange line
  • Listening impressions song #1:
    • H100: clarity, breathing/inhale-exhale detail, good separation, nice soundstage
    • TH1: “next level” clarity and vibrant background vocals
  • Technical issue: briefly disconnecting/switching between headphones
  • Listening impressions song #2 (bass song):
    • H100: more powerful bass; clean/smooth punches
    • TH1: punch present but less powerful; bass perceived reduced due to wide soundstage; clarity emphasized
  • Listening impressions song #3 (Mozart/classical):
    • H100: crisp violins; smooth deep cello bass that complements without overpowering
    • TH1: wider soundstage; crisper mids/violins; cello bass less powerful but overall very impressive
  • Winner rationale:
    • TH1 has better overall sound, not necessarily punchier bass
    • H100 impressed the reviewer and is part of their “forever collection,” but TH1 still wins
  • H100 bass improvement vs H95 explicitly stated
  • Mentions other gauntlet models (IO2s, Focal Batiste), but not as definitive outcomes in this finale
  • Minor switching/app/testing mishaps and a disconnection
  • End: encourages liking/subscribing and mentions future reviews

Speakers’ views

  • Only one main speaker/reviewer is present throughout the subtitles (no distinct second speaker contributions).

Original video