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The Sound of Rapha: as Heard through Custom Bang & Olufsen H6 Headphones

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The latest piece of unapologetic luxury to come from the Rapha camp isn’t specifically cycling gear, but it is something you will use on the road. That is, if you frequently take to the road to travel between events. It’s probably safe to assume that most of us are fans of music, whatever your tastes may be. Whether you’re warming up on the trainer, trying to drown out the noise on a plane, or simply looking to isolate your brain for a bit, a good pair of headphones can be welcome distraction.

Leave it to Rapha to team up with Bang & Olufsen to create a pair of headphones worthy of the Rapha name, and a large portion of your wallet…

 

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Starting with their BeoPlay H6, the audio performance of the B&O headphones is the same that you will find in their other H6 models. As to where Rapha fits in, the headphones have been given the luxury treatment in terms of looks and the feel of the materials used. Ultimately, this isn’t just to create a product with the “Rapha” look, but to make a pair of headphones that are the perfect companion for long trainer sessions.

Using the same black African Hair Sheep leather used in their GT gloves, the headphone’s ear cups are sweat resistant, soft, and breathable. The underside of the anodized aluminum headband is also treated with Rapha fabrics using the same technical material found in their Pro Team Softshell jacket. Combined, the two touch points keep the headphones comfortable on the road or on the trainer.

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Additional features include a detachable 3.9′ pink cord with a built in microphone/remote as well as a removable jersey clip to keep the cord in place. As far as Rapha products go, the B&O H6 headphones are certainly expensive at $429, but only carry a $30 mark up over the standard B&O BeoPlay H6. Based on the premium materials used for the Rapha version, that’s not such a bad deal. So just what does Rapha sound like? Head over to their site to check out the Rapha Recovery Tracks Spotify playlist.

rapha.cc

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24 Comments
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Dave
Dave
8 years ago

The cord is too short. Seriously.

Ryan
Ryan
8 years ago

“Using the same black African Hair Sheep leather used in their GT gloves, the headphone’s ear cups are sweat resistant, soft, and breathable.”

What makes and breaks headphones. So many nice sounding options now, it takes more than fidelity to exude quality. Every last pair of nice headphones I have had to retire had the same failure—ear padding/material. Either the padding breaks down after 5 years or the material is deteriorating. If their solution solved this problem, I would consider it money well spent…assuming the sound quality and comfort perform as expected.

Pistolero
Pistolero
8 years ago

the solution is called Sennheiser HD-25 II, which have all parts replacebla and top sound quality.

MissedThePoint
MissedThePoint
8 years ago

Good thing you can get a longer cord for under $10. 3.9′ isn’t short if you’re using a portable music player stashed at least above the hip.

I use Sennheiser HD590s at home. Only had to replace the cord over its 7 year lifetime. I slack on cleaning the earpads… only clean it if it has become too oily, which isn’t too often.

scott
scott
8 years ago

Royskopp? Thievery Corporation? The Calvin Harris mix I bought in Ibiza? My options are as infinite as the edge of the pool at my Calabasas ranch house which I bought to get away from my wife and kids.
I accept nothing but the most expensive in my life. This house had more rooms than I needed, but the asking price was twice what it should be so I bought it AND paid closing. My Mercedes is more than I need, yet in light of my neighbor’s new BMW how could I not buy two?
In Cat 5 Masters I race only the finest carbon, fitted with the finest ceramic, and I would never be caught in a gravel grinder on a cyclocross bike. That is the domain of peasants and those in my employ. So when it comes to headphones, the sound quality is no matter, but the price tag is.
Enter the Rapha BeoPlay H6. For use on my trainer alone as the black African Sheep leather found it GT training gloves is resistant to sweat. The technical material on the inside of the headband stays my phones so that I may listen to whatever I am told is “in”. Waves of sound! I know nothing of frequencies, sound purity, only high prices. My needs are met.

what the f^$#?
what the f^$#?
8 years ago

I have to have those in order to sit on my Pinarello on in my custom spin room that my minions built for me last week. A longer cord? I’ll by four extra. What a joke. I’ll stick to the $13 Sony headphones that last years.

cork grips
8 years ago

scott nailed it.

Jaded Industry Type
Jaded Industry Type
8 years ago

Agreed. Best comment I’ve seen in a while here.

Chris L
Chris L
8 years ago

Yet they don’t sound as nice as a pair of Grado Reference headphones which cost 1/4 the price. Among audiophiles B&O is sort of like Bose: it’s better than the crap you’d get at a big box store but not nearly as nice as true audiophile equipment (even though Bose and B&O often cost more!)

Antipodean_G
8 years ago

@scott nailed it to the wall. Brilliant.

That Guy
That Guy
8 years ago

@scott TLDR and also it’s ‘Royksopp’

Jeff
Jeff
8 years ago

High quality headphones to listen to low quality audio files. Sounds about right.

Myke
Myke
8 years ago

7506 all day long.

james
james
8 years ago

As far as audiophile head phones go, these are not expensive. I have a pair of Beyerdynamic T5p which sound absolutely wonderful and I can use them all day without discomfort. Rapha makes great bib shorts and jerseys, what do they know about making headphones?

Der_kruscher
Der_kruscher
8 years ago

(deleted)

myke
myke
8 years ago

@james i think your on to something rather important. i think it promotes listening to music while riding which is down right dangerous. i think it is a rather bad move on Rapha’s part and just looks like a money grab to me.

xc-fr
xc-fr
8 years ago

using headpones during cycling is highest irresponsible.
my niece did it too and because of that she is wheelchair bound now 🙁

rico
rico
8 years ago

7506. someone knows.

rico
rico
8 years ago

Agree about not on bikes! Only on trainer, etc.

nightfend
nightfend
8 years ago

I’m enjoying this new website: Audiorumor

SB
SB
8 years ago

$150 Grados would still be better.

Tom
Tom
8 years ago

Scott, FTW!

Kark
Kark
8 years ago

Scott. ftw

Someone give that man a (deleted) highfive.

Proper_Modulation
Proper_Modulation
8 years ago

You know I usually have been one of the guys to defend some of the raphia gear and yeah I usually wait for the closeout deals but this… THIS IS INSANE! Why the heck do they need to be worrying about headphones? Yes I get that it is a lifestyle brand but this is jumping the shark.

Also thank you @scott for that chuckle.

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