Design and features:The E8 2.0 (2nd Gen) has an integrated microphone and touch sensitive volume, music player, call connect/disconnect, and ambient sound monitoring controls. Additional features include a right earpiece that can be used alone for one ear monitoring of Bluetooth streamed audio and telephone communications, support for voice control and digital voice assistant voice commands when used with Bluetooth capable devices that have those features, and wireless recharging with optional Qi-compatible wireless charging mats. This model is claimed by the manufacturer to be water and dust resistant, and comes with five pairs of ear pieces in various sizes and types, a USB charging cable, and a charging cradle/carrying case with built-in battery that the manufacturer claims can be used to recharge the earphone batteries 3 times between its own charges. The Beoplay app shows the battery level, provides tonal presets and custom tonal adjustments, can activate three different levels of ambient sound monitoring (two of which lower audio playback volume but don't pause audio playback), can act as a music player, and can be used to update the model's firmware.
Sound quality: We found the E8 2.0 (2nd Gen) delivers Very Good overall sound - it reproduces music and voice very well although it does have some noticeable sonic quirks. With the Bang & Olufsen BeoPlay app set at the Optimal setting (as received state of the earphone) the bass (as in bass drums, bass guitars, stand-up bass, etc.) is detailed and has decent impact, but is a bit subdued. The midrange (voices, guitars, horns, etc.) is somewhat thin, grainy and etched (a bit more sharply outlined then it should be), a touch hazy, a bit metallic and the upper midrange can sound strident at higher volume levels. The treble (cymbals, the upper range of violins, etc.) is extended but is a somewhat prominent and sizzly (sounds that should have a delicate shimmer have a sound reminiscent of bacon frying). The sound also has a good sense of liveliness and is open--sound-wise it's like you don't have anything plugging up your ears. This model does a good job of recovering room ambience (the sense of the acoustic space in which the audio program that's being listened to was recorded) in the upper midrange, but lower midrange ambience is lacking. The overall sound can be summarized as somewhat thin and sterile. The tone settings of the app do have a noticeable effect on the sound of these earphones.
Comfort: We found that these earphones produce as typical of in-ear models a sense of pressure in the ear canal opening which might be uncomfortable for some. Users with small earbowls will find that these earphones will generally stay in place during casual use but that the earphone body might feel a bit bulky in their earbowl, stick out too far, and are mostly held in place by the section of the earphone that is inserted in the ear canal. Users with medium sized ear bowls will probably find that this model fits and stays in place with no problems for casual use and that they are very stable even during vigorous head movement. Users with large sized ear bowls will probably find that with the earbowl supports this model stays in place with no problems for casual use, but they may not feel stable during vigorous head movement. some uses might find tapping on the touch controls to actuate some of the functions drives the earphone further into the ear bowl and/or canal and causes ear discomfort. Incidental contact with the touch controls can cause unintentional volume level changes, playing, pausing, track skipping, or ambient sound monitoring.
