Bang & Olufsen 980
Combining Bang & Olufsen's premium 40mm driver audio with Cisco's enterprise-grade security, this headset delivers aptX Adaptive codec support and 47 hours of battery life. Its lightweight 282g build and six-microphone system with active voice adjustment ensure clear calls, while the 10-minute quick charge provides 3 hours of use. This is best for remote professionals who need certified, secure Webex integration and all-day wearability for back-to-back calls.
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
Incredible sound and call quality wrapped in a pricey enterprise package. Buy it if work pays, skip it if you're spending your own money.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best-in-class sound quality, not just for a headset 98th
- Six mics make calls crystal clear 98th
- Adaptive ANC is top-tier 98th
- 47-hour battery life is excellent 92nd
Cons
- Comfort is mediocre for long sessions
- Price is brutal at $829 USD
- Social proof is nearly nonexistent
- Cisco enterprise features are overkill for most people
The proof
Performance
The sound quality genuinely surprised us. It's not just good for a headset, it's top of the charts, period. With a 99th percentile sound score, the 40mm drivers deliver the kind of rich, detailed audio you'd expect from Bang & Olufsen's luxury lineup. The adaptive ANC is also a standout, sitting at 98th percentile. It crushes background noise without that weird pressure feeling you get from lesser implementations. The six-mic array is the real party trick though. Call quality is best-in-class, and the active voice adjustment actually works. You sound clear even in a noisy coffee shop.
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 Sennheiser MOMENTUM M5AEBT, the B&O 980 wins on call quality and ANC, but the Sennheiser is more comfortable and costs less. The Sony ULT WEAR WHULT900N/B is a better value for pure music listening, with punchier bass and a lower price. The Technics EAH-A800 is the closest competitor for sound quality, but it lacks the enterprise features and mic performance. If you're just listening to music, skip the Cisco tax and grab the Sony or Technics. If you're on calls all day, the B&O 980 is worth the premium.
| Spec | Bang & Olufsen 980 | Sennheiser HDB 630 | Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 | Sony WH-1000XM6 | JBL Tune 670NC | TOZO HT3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | over-ear | on-ear | over-ear |
| Driver Type | - | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic |
| Driver Size (mm) | 40 | 42 | 40 | 30 | 32 | 40 |
| Impedance Ohms | 24 | 480 | - | 48 | 32 | 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 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| Battery Life Hours | 47 | 60 | 30 | 30 | 70 | 90 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bang & Olufsen 980 | 98.2 | 98.4 | 75.7 | 97.8 | 84.5 | 43.6 | 91.9 | 9.7 |
| Sennheiser HDB 630 Compare | 98.2 | 82.7 | 75.7 | 98.1 | 91.3 | 44.5 | 98.4 | 95.1 |
| Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 Compare | 98.2 | 99.3 | 94.3 | 99 | 76.5 | 52 | 97.7 | 95.1 |
| Sony WH-1000XM6 Compare | 98.2 | 89.4 | 90.8 | 91 | 76.5 | 80 | 99.9 | 83.6 |
| JBL Tune 670NC Compare | 98.2 | 64.1 | 75.7 | 84.9 | 94.3 | 87.1 | 99.2 | 98.6 |
| TOZO HT3 Compare | 89.8 | 82.7 | 94.3 | 98.6 | 97.8 | 52 | 96.8 | 95.1 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At $829 USD, this is a tough sell unless your company is footing the bill. You're paying for Cisco's Webex integration and AES-128 encryption, which most people will never touch. If you just want great sound and ANC, there are cheaper options that get you 90% of the way there. But if you need a work headset that also happens to sound incredible, this is the one.
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 strange beast. It's a premium headset wearing a business suit, but underneath it's got the soul of a high-end audio device. The one thing to know? This is one of the best sounding and best performing headsets we've ever tested, but you'll pay a serious premium for the Cisco badge and enterprise features.
Common Questions
Q: Is the Cisco B&O 980 good for music or just calls?
It's genuinely excellent for both. The 40mm drivers deliver top-tier sound, and the ANC is nearly best-in-class. You won't feel like you're compromising on music just because it's a work headset.
Q: How comfortable is it for all-day wear?
This is the weak spot. Comfort sits right around average, so if you're planning 8-hour marathon sessions, you might feel some fatigue. The 282g weight is reasonable, but the clamping force and pad design aren't as plush as competitors like the Sennheiser Momentum.
Q: Do I need Cisco equipment to use this headset?
Nope. It works as a standard Bluetooth headset with any device. The Cisco features like Webex Control Hub management and AES-128 encryption are just bonuses for enterprise users. You're paying for them whether you use them or not, though.
Who Should Skip This
If you're just looking for great wireless headphones for music and casual calls, this isn't it. Go grab the Sony ULT WEAR or Technics EAH-A800 instead and save yourself a few hundred bucks. The Cisco B&O 980 is for professionals who need top-tier call quality and enterprise security, not for everyday listeners.
Verdict
The Cisco Bang & Olufsen 980 is a phenomenal headset that's hard to recommend to most people. If you're a remote worker who lives on video calls and wants the best possible audio experience, this is the one to get. For everyone else, the price and mediocre comfort make it a tough pill to swallow. It's a luxury tool for a specific job, not a general-purpose headphone.
