Cisco Bang & Olufsen 980
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A top-tier work headset with a price tag that'll make your wallet weep. Great for calls, but you're paying a premium for the Bang & Olufsen badge.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best-in-class mic quality for calls 98th
- Adaptive ANC that actually adapts 98th
- Excellent sound with aptX Adaptive support 98th
- 47-hour battery life is no joke 92nd
Cons
- Comfort is just average for all-day wear
- Price is absurd for most buyers
- Social proof is nearly nonexistent
- Audio frequency range looks oddly limited on paper
The proof
Performance
The mic array is the real story here. Six mics with active voice adjustment put this in the top tier for call clarity, and the adaptive ANC is right up there with the best we've tested. Sound quality is also a standout, which is no surprise given the Bang & Olufsen tuning. But comfort lands in the middle of the pack, which is a weird miss for a headset you're supposed to wear all day. The 47-hour battery life is solid, though talk time drops to 23 hours with ANC on.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | over-ear |
| Open/Closed | closed |
| Foldable | No |
| Weight | 0.3 kg / 0.6 lbs |
Audio
| Driver Size | 40 |
| Freq Min | 80 |
| Freq Max | 6800 |
| Impedance | 24 |
| Hi-Res Audio | Yes |
| Codecs | AAC, aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX LL, SBC |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| ANC Type | adaptive |
| Transparency | Yes |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.1 |
| Profiles | HSP, HFP, AVRCP, A2DP |
| Multipoint | Yes |
| Wired Connector | 3.5mm |
| Detachable Cable | Yes |
| Cable Length | 1.8 |
| Range | 12 |
Battery
| Battery Life | 47 |
| Charge Time | 2 |
| Fast Charging | 10 Minutes for 3 Hours |
| Charging | USB-C |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
| Mic Count | 6 |
| NC Mic | Yes |
| Mic Pattern | Cardioid (Unidirectional) |
Features
| Touch Controls | No |
| App | Bang & Olufsen |
| Volume Limiting | Yes |
vs Competition
Against the Sony WH-1000XM6, the Cisco 980 wins on mic quality and call clarity, but Sony crushes it on comfort and price. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is a closer match on sound quality and luxury feel, but again, the Px8 is cheaper and more comfortable. The Sennheiser HDB 630 is a solid middle ground if you want good calls and good music without the enterprise tax. Honestly, the Cisco 980 only makes sense if your workflow is 80% calls and 20% music, and someone else is paying.
| Spec | Cisco Bang & Olufsen 980 | Sony WH-1000X WH-1000XM6 | Sennheiser HDB 630 | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 | TOZO HT3 | Apple AirPods Max 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear |
| Driver Type | - | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | 40 | 30 | 42 | 40 | 40 | 40 |
| Impedance Ohms | 24 | 48 | 480 | - | 16 | - |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Open Closed Back | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed | closed |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 6.0 | 5.3 |
| Battery Life Hours | 47 | 40 | 60 | 30 | 90 | 20 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Bang & Olufsen 980 | 98.3 | 98 | 74.7 | 97.6 | 84.7 | 43.1 | 91.5 | 11 |
| Sony WH-1000X WH-1000XM6 Compare | 98.3 | 98 | 90.4 | 98.5 | 82.1 | 79.8 | 99.9 | 84.1 |
| Sennheiser HDB 630 Compare | 98.3 | 81 | 74.7 | 97.9 | 91.2 | 43.9 | 98.3 | 95.1 |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Compare | 98.3 | 99.1 | 94.1 | 98.9 | 76.6 | 51 | 97.6 | 95.1 |
| TOZO HT3 Compare | 90 | 81 | 94.1 | 98.4 | 97.7 | 51 | 96.6 | 95.1 |
| Apple AirPods Max 2 Compare | 98.3 | 78.7 | 90.4 | 90.9 | 70.9 | 29.9 | 99.4 | 95.1 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At $829 USD, this is a tough sell unless your employer is buying it for you. The specs are impressive, but you can get 90% of the call quality from a dedicated work headset at half the price. The Bang & Olufsen name adds a premium, but it doesn't add enough to justify the cost for most people.
We started tracking prices for this product on May 14, 2026. The chart appears once we have more data.
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Overview
The Cisco Bang & Olufsen 980 is a work headset wearing a luxury audio costume. It nails the call quality and noise canceling, but the price tag will make most people choke on their coffee. This is a niche product for people whose company is footing the bill, not a casual music purchase.
Common Questions
Q: Is the Cisco Bang & Olufsen 980 good for music?
Yes, the sound quality is excellent, but the audio frequency range listed is oddly narrow at 80Hz to 6.8kHz. That's likely a spec sheet error, because the actual listening experience is much fuller. Still, for pure music enjoyment, there are cheaper options that sound just as good.
Q: Can I use this with my phone and laptop at the same time?
Yes, it supports Bluetooth multipoint, so you can stay connected to two devices simultaneously. That's a huge plus for work-from-home setups where you're bouncing between calls and music.
Q: Is the Cisco 980 worth the price?
Only if you spend most of your day on calls and your employer is covering the cost. For personal use, the price is hard to justify when competitors like the Sony WH-1000XM6 offer better comfort and similar features for less.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a comfortable all-day music headset, this isn't it. The comfort is average at best, and you're paying a huge premium for call features you might not need. Go grab the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 instead and save yourself some cash.
Verdict
The Cisco Bang & Olufsen 980 is a fantastic work headset with a luxury price tag. If you live on conference calls and your company has deep pockets, it's a great choice. For everyone else, there are better values out there.
