ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
First let me just say hello :) I used to hang out on this forum 6 - 8 years ago, but then life got in the way of B&O. Starting to miss it now
Anyway, my question is: has anyone had any trouble using the a8 earphones with an ipod nano? I got the beosound 2 about 9 years ago (still works great) but a couple of years ago I started using an ipod nano as my everyday mp3 player. The problem is that when I use the a8 earphones with the ipod the volume is very low. No matter what I do with the Ipods settings. I dont know if its becous the low volume, but the sound also seems a bit flat or lifeless. The a8s sound great with the bs2 and the ipod sounds great with form 2.
So basically what im wondering is if this is common? Would be too bad since I dont wont to use the form 2 outside in bad weather.
Thanks
Viktor
Hi Viktor,
Yes ALL iPods and iPhones sold in Europe have a volume limit on them due to EU regulations from France. Unfortunately, the Nano seems to be the most effected by this and does have a rather quiet volume to it. I use one for running & the gym. I got around this with BEATS earphones that are extremely powerful and sound great.
The A8s are a funny earphone. Some like them and others hate them. They are certainly flat sounding and not much better than the original iPod earphones. Im sorry to say, i find them totally bland and lifeless sounding. I think they are a disgrace but again, some people like them (although that's probably because they have a B&O badge on them)
Maybe try Atomic Floyd earphones with your iPod too as they have a powerful sound to them.
Hi Paul, thank you for the response.
However I dont think the ipods volume limit is the problem as I get good volume with both the apple earphones and my form 2. Its only when I use the A8 that the volume problem appears.
When i first got the bs2 with the a8 i thought they where fantastic and hooking them up to my laptop and stereo I heard intruments I never noticed in music before. Thanks for the suggestions of other earphones to try, but im not really looking for anything else. When im at home the form2 is great and for walking the apple earphones are fine enough. I just wish I could use my a8 instead of apples when i venture out into the world since i really used to love them. But this sound problem makes the apple earphones seem miles better, exept for falling out of the ears everytime i get the cord stuck in something.
Are the B&O/Beoplay earphones they sell in multiple colors exactly the same as the old A8s? Or have they made any upgrades?
In the past I have measured the A8's to be approx. 6dB quieter than stock iPod earbuds when driven at the same volume setting. The secret to the A8's is getting a good seal in the ear, they are then miles, miles better quality than the apple buds. I tend to use in-ear types now for several reasons, the A8's are awkward to wear with glasses and their isolation properites are poor (to the point of being no good on aircraft) being open back construction. Also, as with all ear bud types, they are prone to breaking the seal as you move about.
Audio quality wise I think they a really quite decent with a good blend of tight, controlled bass (if fitted correctly) and really detailed highs. The two together giving a good spectral balance that suits most types of music.
As Paul says, if you want more boom look elsewhere, however to reiterate they are streets ahead of stock apple buds (this is defintely not badge related).
Ban boring signatures!
I have had a pair of A8's since about 2005 and recently bought a pair of 3i's. To my ear they have changed the sound quite a bit for the better and they require a lot less volume – I'm almost only using the three lowest volume settings on my iPhone now. I don't know if this is only the 3i's or they have changed the A8's as well.
I'm very happy with them, and it's not got anything to do with the badge :-)
I agree with Puncher that the A8's need a very accurate plugging into the ear, at which point they are unbeatable. The curved hooks are good at keeping the earphones on when moving about, but they don't really help to keep the plugs sealed against the ear and pointing in the right direction.
I usually use mine with an iPad when I don't want to disturb anyone else in the room. They are beautifully engineered. The same might not be true of the cheap copies that people often finish up with if they do not buy from a B&O dealer.
With regard to the OP, if the Form 2 and A8's are both satisfactory when used and compared in other equipment then it sounds to me like a connection problem in the iPod socket (one jack plug being a better fit than the other?) My own inclination would be to try out someone else's iPod or go into an Apple store and ask for a demo with your A8's to see whether it's just your particular iPod that has the problem.
Graham
I find the old black A8s (my original ones) are a better fit for my earhole than the newer ones we bought (his & hers in bright colours)
I think there is a fractional difference in their diameters ... but I need something other than my earhole to confirm ... a vernier / micrometer ?
BeoNut since '75