Bang & Olufsen 980

The microphone and sound quality are elite, landing in the 98th percentile of all headphones we've tested. But comfort, build, and battery life trail behind, and prices swing wildly from $829 to $1,136. It's the call-quality champion, but only if that's your number one need.

These are an interesting collaboration between Bang & Olufsen and Cisco, putting work calls front and center. Our database scores them at 98th percentile for mic quality and sound, making them one of the absolute best performers in those areas. That's a claim few headsets can make. The trade-offs? Comfort and build quality land in the bottom half, and the price is steep. The 23-hour battery life with ANC on is decent but not class-leading, especially at this premium tier. Where these truly shine is in crystal-clear communication: six onboard mics and active voice adjustment mean your voice cuts through like you're in a quiet room, even when you're not. They support every aptX codec under the sun, plus multipoint, so they're flexible enough for both work and play.

Mic and sound are the headline acts. In our tests, the microphone performance sits in the 98th percentile, so this is one of the best call-quality headsets we've measured. For anyone who lives on Zoom or Teams, that's a big deal. Sound quality, also 98th percentile, delivers Hi-Res audio with support for AAC, aptX Adaptive, HD, and Low Latency. That means you're getting detailed, nuanced audio whether you're on a call or streaming music. The 40mm drivers push out a frequency range of 80Hz–6.8kHz, which is tailored more for clarity than deep bass, so bass heads might find it a touch polite. ANC is well above average at 83rd percentile, but it's not quite at the level of the best from Bose or Sony. Connectivity is a strong point: Bluetooth 5.1 with multipoint lets you switch between devices easily, and you get a wired 3.5mm option too. The quick charge is handy: 10 minutes nets you 3 hours of talk time. But the overall battery life of 23 hours is just solid—middle of the pack.

At $829 to $1,136 depending on where you shop, this is a serious investment. That price range spans a $307 gap, so it pays to hunt for a deal—you can snag it near $829 at some retailers. For a headset that dominates in mic and sound, it offers unique value if your work demands flawless call quality. But if sound and ANC for music are your main priority, you'll find equal or better performance for less money.

Stacked against the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra, the Cisco 980 outclasses them both in microphone performance, where they sit at the top of the charts. But those competitors deliver superior ANC and comfort, plus they cost significantly less. The Sennheiser Momentum 4 offers better battery life and build quality, though its mic isn't in the same league. The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 edges ahead in overall audio finesse, but again, the Cisco's call clarity remains unmatched. So it's a trade-off: you're paying a heavy premium for enterprise-grade communication and that B&O/Cisco integration.

If you're not constantly taking calls, there are better options for your money. The build feels underwhelming for the price, and comfort isn't great for all-day wear. Rivals from Sony or Sennheiser offer more polished ANC, better battery life, and richer audio for music, often for less. Skip this unless your primary use case is to sound like you're in a broadcast studio.

If you spend your day on calls and demand the very best voice quality, the Bang & Olufsen Cisco 980 is a top-tier choice—the mic performance alone justifies the cost for a niche of users. But for everyone else, the stiff price and mediocre comfort make it hard to recommend over more well-rounded competitors. Data-wise, it's a specialist, not an all-rounder.