Review: Bell’O International BDH821 Over The Ear Headphones

While Bell’O International is mostly known for their quality line of audio/video furniture and accessories, the Bell’O Digital brand also has some incredible in ear headphones out there. We met the Bell’O team at CES 2013 in Las Vegas and they were excited to show us their new over the ear headphones, the BDH821, and we couldn’t wait to get them in our hands (or on our heads) and put them to the test.

INITIAL THOUGHTS AND PRESENTATION

The BDH821 headphones are definitely presented well, and the packaging is not where the quality stops. Inside the box you will find the headphones and a microfiber travel bag that also doubles as a cleaner (my iPad said thank you). The first thing we noticed when examining the headphones was the cord since tangled cords on headphones are one thing we all hate. The cord for the BDH821 is a premium fabric covered cable that has cable strain relief built in and an inline control that allows the user to control their music or to take calls since a microphone is also embedded. The connector is 24K gold plated to assure a good connection and the copper wiring the cables are made from produces an outstanding sound transfer.

COMFORT AND SOUND QUALITY

The headphones are pretty lightweight and we found the ear cushions and padded headband to be pretty comfortable. We’ve been using them regularly for a month and the headphones show no wear or aging yet…even though we haven’t exactly been gentle with them. The sound quality of the BDH821 is comparable to other headphones that are in the $100-$125 range, but will debut at half that price. We were very pleased with the precision of the bass and the range that the headphones hit without distortion. We honestly did not know what to expect from Bell’O with these, but they have exceeded our expectations for sure.

SPECIFICATIONS

• 24K Gold Plated Plug
• 99% Oxygen Free Copper Wiring
• Inline Controls for Audio and Calls
• Neodymium Speaker Magnets for Optimizing Drivers
• Lightweight and Durable
• Available in Black or White
• One Year Warranty

WRAP UP

Overall we think that the BDH821 over the ear headphones would be a great addition to anyone’s headphone collection, and the quality of the build should mean they will last for awhile and provide an above average listening experience.

The BDH821s are not available at this moment (out in April), but when they hit the market we anticipate they will be a hit with both audiophiles and the casual listener with the low price of only $49.99!  We award these headphones an 8.5 out of 10 and expect even greater things from Bell’O Digital in the future.

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I would like to thank Bell’O for sending us out this pair of the BDH821s for review. This, however, has not changed any of my opinions of the product whatsoever.