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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a wireless, noise-cancelling gaming headset built for Xbox and long sessions, choose Bang & Olufsen Beoplay; if you need wired, closed-back high-fidelity headphones for pure music listening, choose Amazon Renewed Focal AZURYS High-Fidelity.
• Bang & Olufsen Beoplay — biggest strength: a full gaming feature set: adaptive ANC, Dolby Atmos virtual surround, a four-mic virtual boom-arm, and a lossless Xbox connection.
• Bang & Olufsen Beoplay — biggest trade-off: it leans on wireless connections and app-based control, so it isn't the plug-and-listen purist option.
• Amazon Renewed Focal AZURYS — biggest strength: closed-back, audiophile-tuned sound from aluminum/magnesium "M" dome drivers, handcrafted in France.
• Amazon Renewed Focal AZURYS — biggest trade-off: it's a renewed unit with a 90-day limited warranty, and it's a wired-first design without active noise cancellation.
• Who each is for: Beoplay suits gamers and Xbox/PC players who want ANC and a mic; the Focal AZURYS suits music listeners who want wired, isolating hi-fi sound.
The Beoplay Portal is, first and foremost, a gaming headset. Its whole design story is about play: a lossless connection to Xbox, quick-touch controls for muting and volume, and adaptive active noise cancellation that strips out background noise so you can stay locked into a match. Bang & Olufsen tuned the sound and layered in Dolby Atmos for Headphones, which creates a virtual surround effect — the kind of spatial audio that helps you place footsteps and directional cues in fast-paced games. Four separate beamforming mics form a "virtual boom-arm," and Own Voice technology keeps your own speech clear during chat.
Comfort is clearly a priority here. At 246 g with a uniquely padded headband and memory-foam earcups with jaw support, it's built to be worn for hours rather than minutes. The materials — aluminum, leather, and rubber — and the Grey Mist finish give it a premium, furniture-like look rather than a plasticky gamer aesthetic. Battery is rated at around 12 hours of average life with a 24-hour charge time, and Bluetooth 5.1 gives you roughly 10 meters of range. There's also a 3.5 mm jack and a bundled 3.5 mm cable, so you're not stranded when the battery runs down.
Who should buy it? If you game on Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One and want one headset that doubles as a wireless music and chat companion, this is the natural pick. The app-based EQ and touch controls reward people who like to fiddle. Who should skip it? If you mainly listen to wired, high-fidelity music and want isolation without electronics, the gaming-focused feature set and app dependence are more than you need. And if you want a traditional boom mic, note that this uses a virtual one instead.
The Focal AZURYS is the opposite philosophy: it's a closed-back, high-fidelity headphone aimed squarely at music. The headline is the driver — an aluminum/magnesium "M" dome, the kind of material choice Focal uses to chase precision and clarity. Closed-back means the earcups seal around your ears, which gives you passive isolation and keeps your music from leaking out. That's the setup most listeners want on a commute, in a shared office, or late at night.
The build reads as genuinely premium. It's handcrafted in Focal's French workshops, with a genuine leather headband, breathable braided textile, and memory-foam earpads. A magnesium yoke keeps the frame light and balanced, which matters if you wear headphones for long stretches. The deep blue finish is inspired by azurite — a deliberate design statement rather than a generic black can. Enclosure material is listed as stainless steel, and the listed weight is 2.4 pounds for the item as packaged.
The key caveat is that this is an Amazon Renewed unit. That means it's a pre-owned product that has been inspected and refreshed rather than a brand-new one, and it carries a 90-day limited warranty instead of the longer coverage you'd get on new stock. It ships in a standard box, not premium packaging. Who should buy it? Music-first listeners who want closed-back hi-fi sound with real isolation and don't mind a renewed unit to get there. Who should skip it? Anyone who needs active noise cancellation, a built-in mic, or wireless freedom as their main mode — those aren't what this headphone is designed around.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for gaming on Xbox → Bang & Olufsen Beoplay. Lossless Xbox connection, quick-touch controls, and Dolby Atmos for Headphones.
• Best for pure music fidelity → Amazon Renewed Focal AZURYS. Aluminum/magnesium "M" dome drivers and a closed-back, isolating design.
• Best for voice chat and calls → Bang & Olufsen Beoplay. The four-mic virtual boom-arm plus Own Voice technology is built for clear conversation.
• Best for long-wear comfort on the move → Amazon Renewed Focal AZURYS. Magnesium yoke, leather headband, and memory-foam earpads in a lightweight, balanced frame.
• Best for wireless freedom → Bang & Olufsen Beoplay. Bluetooth 5.1 with about 10 m of range; the Focal is a wired-first design.
• Best for premium materials and craftsmanship → Amazon Renewed Focal AZURYS. Handcrafted in France with a leather headband and braided textile.
• Best for warranty peace of mind → Bang & Olufsen Beoplay. A 3-year manufacturer warranty versus the Focal's 90-day limited warranty on a renewed unit.
If I had to choose one, I'd buy the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal. In my opinion it's the more versatile pick: it does gaming, chat, and music in one device, adds adaptive ANC and Dolby Atmos, and backs it with a 3-year manufacturer warranty. The Focal AZURYS is the better pure listening tool — closed-back, French-built, and beautifully finished — but the renewed status and 90-day warranty make it a more specialist, higher-caution buy. So: Beoplay for the all-rounder, Focal for the dedicated music rig.
Yes, in my opinion. The Beoplay is engineered for gaming, with a lossless Xbox connection, Dolby Atmos virtual surround, and a four-mic virtual boom-arm. The Focal AZURYS has no gaming-specific features or mic.
Does the Focal AZURYS have noise cancellation?
It means the unit is pre-owned and professionally inspected and refreshed rather than new. It carries a 90-day limited warranty and ships in a standard box, so weigh that against the 3-year warranty on the Beoplay.
I'd lean toward the Amazon Renewed Focal AZURYS for music, because its aluminum/magnesium dome drivers and closed-back build are aimed at fidelity and isolation. Pick the Beoplay instead if you want wireless freedom, ANC, and music in the same headset. Either way, check the current price on Amazon before deciding.
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See also: Floriogra Noise Cancelling Headphones vs Amazon Renewed Beats Solo 4, Amazon Renewed Sony WH-1000XM5/S vs Razer BlackShark V3, Sony INZONE E9 vs Amazon Renewed JBL Tune Flex