The Loewe leo takes on quite an ambitious mission: it aims to be an audiophile-grade headphone that combines a wide range of features – some of them genuinely innovative – into a single product. All while delivering outstanding usability and exceptional design. Can such an ambitious balancing act really succeed? I’ll spill the beans right away: yes, it can.
We use the word “headphones” as though it describes a single category, but in reality the market is incredibly diverse. There are active, passive, smart, and purist models; large and small designs; and options that fit around, on, or inside your ears. Fortunately, most people don’t have to think about this colorful variety very often. Normally, the intended use determines the right choice. On airplanes, buses, and trains, you’ll want a model with effective noise cancellation – ideally isolating in-ear or over-ear headphones. In the office, compact on-ear models are popular, with headset voice quality taking center stage. At home, enthusiasts often prefer large closed- or open-back headphones, ideally connected to an amplifier via an analog cable. This well-established segmentation makes it difficult for manufacturers to discover new and exciting niches. So why not try to satisfy every need with a single pair of headphones?
That – or something very close to it – must have been the thinking behind the Loewe product team’s first sketches of the leo. They envisioned a premium headphone that remains reasonably priced. A true all-rounder that feels equally at home in every environment without ever giving the impression that any of its many capabilities are merely an afterthought. One that also sounds so convincing that you’d leave your oversized passive planar magnetic headphones sitting on the shelf simply because using the leo is so much more convenient.
Looking at the product brief, it quickly becomes clear that many of these goals can be achieved with the same solution. Above all else, the leo is essentially a powerful headphone-shaped audio computer. It houses a capable processor that handles all necessary sound optimization while managing its impressive range of features. If that description makes you roll your eyes, don’t worry: in everyday use, you never have to think about that “overwhelming” feature set. You simply use the leo for whatever you want to do at the moment. Everything else quietly fades into the background without getting in the way.
Visually, the leo is unmistakably a product of Loewe’s hometown of Kronach. Like almost everything Loewe makes, it’s housed in a beautifully crafted aluminum enclosure. Large, elegantly integrated control wheels sit on the outside of each earcup. The right wheel functions as an infinite rotary control for volume, while the left is spring-loaded for track forward/backward and other functions. In addition to the multifunction power button on the right earcup – which activates Bluetooth pairing when held down – the left earcup features a freely assignable button (more on that in a moment).
For active noise cancellation (ANC) to work effectively, over-ear headphones need to fit snugly around your head, and the leo certainly does. Its headband applies firm but comfortable pressure, keeping the earcups securely in place without becoming excessive. To ensure that this pressure remains comfortable even during long listening sessions, Loewe uses luxurious leather-covered memory foam ear cushions that feel genuinely superb. Our review sample came with white cushions, but black and bronze versions are also available – and they can even be swapped out later if desired.
To minimize the amount of signal processing required, Loewe equipped the leo with a large 50 mm driver featuring an OCE diaphragm. OCE refers to an ultra-lightweight elastomer material that, at least in theory, allows the headphone to reproduce the full audible frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. In practice, it comes remarkably close. The word “theoretically” only reflects the unavoidable compromises involved in reproducing the deepest bass frequencies within such a compact enclosure – after all, bass wavelengths are enormous. What truly matters is that the leo always sounds as though its low-end foundation is fully intact.
Power amplification is handled by a Texas Instruments OPA1622, whose quality leaves little room for doubt after only a few minutes of listening. Together, the driver and amplifier deliver a powerful, tonally balanced sound with naturally excellent timing – after all, a full-range diaphragm functions as a single driver without crossover complexity. Although the beautifully anodized aluminum earcups give the leo the appearance of a closed-back headphone, Loewe classifies it as a vented design. Tiny ventilation slots beneath the control wheels increase diaphragm mobility and create a noticeably more open, spacious soundstage.
This brings us to the leo’s extensive capabilities, all of which are closely integrated with Loewe’s companion app for Android and iOS. The Loewe leo app is one of the most intuitive device-control applications we’ve encountered. At the top of the display, you can always see which headphones are connected, along with their current battery level. Tapping the small gear icon opens the settings menu, where you can configure the language, rename the headphones, and select the operating mode.
By default, the leo is optimized – as most active headphones are – for maximum battery life with low latency. With ANC enabled, battery life reaches up to 45 hours; without ANC, it stretches to an impressive 65 hours. Activating Performance Mode disables most DSP functions and noticeably increases the maximum output level. Dedicated rock fans in particular are likely to appreciate this mode, especially since the driver and amplifier remain clean, distortion-free, and highly detailed even at maximum volume. And don’t worry – we’re not talking about dangerously loud sound levels. The Performance boost primarily benefits bass reproduction, giving the music a more emotional and energetic presentation.
Beyond the basic settings, a variety of menu sections provide access to the leo’s specialized functions. Relatively conventional is the five-band equalizer, which offers presets such as Bass, Pop, and Classical, while also allowing complete manual adjustment. Personally, I preferred the Pop preset, which gently boosts the bass and treble while slightly reducing the midrange – but that’s ultimately a matter of taste.
The Ambiance Mode lets you select the various levels of the headphone’s excellent ANC system. As expected, there are On and Off settings, along with a hybrid mode that suppresses traffic noise while allowing speech to remain audible.
The Multipoint menu enables or disables the leo’s simultaneous Bluetooth connections. Like many modern headphones, it can remain paired with two devices at once. For example, you can watch a movie on your smart TV – preferably with Dolby Atmos – and if a phone call comes in, the leo will seamlessly switch to your smartphone before automatically returning to the TV afterward.
One particularly noteworthy feature is the integration of MiMi hearing personalization. The Berlin-based company developed software that independently detects hearing deficiencies and compensates for them using intelligently optimized filters. Through the leo app, users can launch a guided hearing test that evaluates each ear using a series of high-pitched tones. To ensure reliable results, the app even includes a practice mode that teaches you how to complete the test correctly.
I have to admit that I still had to repeat the roughly four-minute procedure several times before I was satisfied with the outcome. Unsurprisingly – I’m over 50, after all – the resulting profile slightly boosted the upper midrange and treble, making voices noticeably clearer and more intelligible.
The important point is that MiMi is far more sophisticated than a simple equalizer. As with professional hearing compensation systems, it is primarily designed to improve real-world speech intelligibility. Rather than adjusting isolated frequencies, it boosts or attenuates entire frequency ranges to optimize the way speech is perceived. Fortunately, I’m one of the lucky people who doesn’t really need this feature. Even so, while MiMi doesn’t turn the leo into a medical hearing aid, this capability alone could make it especially appealing to a large group of users.
Keeping with current trends, Loewe has also equipped its beautifully designed headphones with an extensive suite of AI features. Most of these functions operate through the companion app – which naturally requires an internet connection – while using the leo itself as the audio interface.
For example, you can ask the headphones about the weather forecast or traffic conditions on Germany’s A3 autobahn. You can dictate notes and ideas. An AI-powered translation feature converts another person’s speech into your own language – or into numerous other languages. All of this relies on the leo’s integrated microphones, which also make it a capable Bluetooth headset. If speaking aloud isn’t practical, you can simply type your requests into the smartphone app, and the AI will still deliver its responses through the headphones. And if you consider all of these AI functions unnecessary gimmicks, you can simply disable them by muting the microphone.
The reason I enjoyed this impressive collection of features so much during testing isn’t just because I’m a complete tech nerd at heart. The leo packages its capabilities exceptionally well: everything is either easy to access or, if you don’t need it, stays discreetly out of your way.
A customizable shortcut menu allows you to assign two functions each to the headphone buttons via double- and triple-click actions – for example, muting a phone call, switching EQ presets, or pausing music playback. These assignments remain consistent, making the controls easy to learn and keeping day-to-day operation refreshingly straightforward.
In addition to the physical buttons, you can assign custom actions to four predefined voice commands (“hot words”). Up to four widgets can also be configured, allowing frequently used functions to be accessed directly from your smartphone’s lock screen.
And before I forget: the leo isn’t just a Bluetooth headphone. Inside the beautifully designed packaging you’ll find two cables – one USB-C to USB-C cable for charging, and a second USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter cable. This allows the leo to be connected to virtually any integrated amplifier or dedicated headphone amplifier.
Because of its internal architecture, however, it remains an active headphone even in wired mode, continuing to rely on its built-in amplification. Bypassing the Bluetooth connection gives high-resolution music a subtle but noticeable increase in transparency and detail. Combined with Performance Mode, wired operation allows the leo to deliver its full sonic potential.
Above all else, I’d like to emphasize just how convincingly the leo reproduces music. It has a dense, punchy, and exceptionally fast character that brings energetic genres like rock and pop vividly to life. Rather than relying on artificial phase manipulation to create an exaggerated sense of space, it simply sounds astonishingly natural. Thanks to its outstanding amplifiers, large ultra-light diaphragms, and vented design, the presentation is tight, controlled, and effortlessly realistic.
My conclusion? An unequivocal recommendation.
As described, the leo successfully masters several challenges at once. It sounds excellent while offering virtually every modern convenience users could want – without ever becoming overwhelming or annoying. Add outstanding craftsmanship and a design you’ll be proud to wear in public, and you have a remarkably complete package that more than justifies its premium price of around €1,500.
Loewe leo Headphones
Concept: Over-ear headphones with Bluetooth and an extensive feature set | Driver: 50 mm OCE diaphragm | Amplifier: Texas Instruments OPA1622 SoundPlus | Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz | Channels: Stereo, optimized for Dolby Atmos | Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3; wired operation via analog connection (adapter cable) or digital USB-C | Battery Life (with/without ANC): Up to 45 / 65 hours | EQ / Filters: Five-band EQ with presets, configurable via the app | Special Features: Android/iOS app, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), MiMi hearing personalization, voice control, AI features (search, assistance, note-taking, etc.), live translation, and much more | Included Accessories: Carrying case with cable pouch, USB-C charging cable, USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter cable | Finish: Anodized aluminum (natural finish); leather-covered ear cushions available in Black, Cream White, or Bronze | Dimensions (W × H × D): 7.5 × 7.5 × 2.0 in. (19 × 19 × 5 cm) | Weight: 12.7 oz (360 g) | Warranty Period: 2 years | Price: Around €1,500
Loewe
Industriestraße 11
96317 Kronach
Germany
Phone: +49 9261 990
Mail: loewe@loewe.de