ISSUE 88 • ANDROID ADVISOR 97Whetheryouuseit forgamingormusiclistening,theBeoplayPortal
is a luxuriousheadset.in a gorgeous,
durable cowhide,
while its memory-
foam earpads are
wrapped in genuine
lambskin. The ear
pads are thicker than
I’ve seen on other
B&O headphones
I’ve reviewed,
creating a deeper
cavity for your ears.
They’re also tapered
and provide an extra
tight seal all around
your head.
I’ve been constructively critical of
past generations of B&O headphones
for being uncomfortable to wear for
long listening sessions, but that’s not the
case here. B&O wrapped the underside
of this headband with a bamboo-
fibre textile that is both durable and
breathable. Gone are the days when a
B&O headphone would cause me fatigue
or pain from the top of its headband.
The Beoplay Portal features a unique
offset padding to relieve any pressure
on the top of your head. In fact, when
you look at the headband, you’ll see
the offset as a slight V-shaped notch at
the headband’s midpoint. I spent hours
and hours wearing the Portal – including
falling asleep while wearing it – with no
discomfort whatsoever. Kudos to B&O’s
design team.
The Beoplay Portal’s brushed-
aluminium arms expand – no, glide- with a smoothness that I’ve not
experienced with any other headphone.
It’s pure butter. There’s no clicking, no
stuttering of any kind. Let the arms go
and voilà, they lock solidly into place like
pure magic.
The aluminium discs on each ear
cup exemplify B&O’s focus on form
and function. Light seems to dance
across them; and on closer inspection,
you’ll notice that the light spreads
into a subtle coloured gradient. In
low light or gaming environments rich
with colour LEDs, you’ll be drawn to