Loewe Leo Midnight beige
Specifications and features
Overview
Loewe’s first portable headphones, the Leo bring the German brand, historically rooted in televisions and hi-fi systems, into the high-end over-ear segment. Beneath the anodized aluminum and leather shell: two 50 mm drivers with OCE diaphragms, a Texas Instruments OPA1622 amplifier, an integrated DAC, adaptive noise cancellation, and a voice assistant capable of translating in real time. Claimed battery life reaches 65 hours.
Anodized aluminum and natural leather
The headband and earcups are built on an anodized aluminum structure that keeps total weight to 360 grams. The headband and memory-foam ear cushions are covered in natural leather and attach magnetically, allowing them to be replaced without tools. An IP53 protection rating shields the whole unit against dust and light water spray, such as fine rain or sweat while on the move. The flat-folding design makes it easy to store in the included hard case. Two finishes are offered, Midnight Blue (midnight blue) and Moonlight Beige (light beige), each with a matching case. The controls combine rotating dials and touch surfaces to adjust volume, playback, and noise-cancellation level without going through the smartphone.
OCE drivers and dedicated amplification
The acoustic engine is based on two 50 mm dynamic drivers whose diaphragm is made of OCE (Olefin Composite Elastomer), a lightweight composite material that combines rigidity and natural damping. Loewe pairs them with a Texas Instruments OPA1622 SoundPlus amplifier, chosen for its low total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N) and usually reserved for high-end wired audio components. An integrated digital-to-analog converter completes the chain, allowing the headphones to operate without relying on the smartphone’s or computer’s DAC. Hi-Res Audio compatibility is provided both wired and wireless, over a claimed frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz. Loewe claims detailed highs, balanced mids, and controlled bass, with distortion kept in check.
Adaptive noise cancellation
Five microphones distributed across the earcups capture the user’s voice and ambient noise in parallel. Adaptive processing continuously adjusts attenuation according to the sonic characteristics of the environment, whether it is an airplane cabin, a train carriage, or an open-plan office. A transparency mode lets outside sounds through on demand, and the headphones automatically switch to this mode when speech is detected: practical for exchanging a few words without having to remove an earcup.
Bluetooth connectivity and codecs
Transmission is based on Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio support. On the codec side, the headphones support SBC and AAC for backward compatibility, LC3 for standard LE Audio, and LC3+ for high-resolution wireless (up to 96 kHz / 24 bits). Multipoint connection allows simultaneous pairing with two sources, for example a laptop and a smartphone, without having to switch manually between them. Dolby Atmos and audio spatialization are also supported for content encoded in spatial audio, both films and music. For wired listening, the USB-C port accepts a direct digital signal, and a USB-C to 3.5 mm mini-jack adapter is included for analog sources. Apple MFi certification ensures integration with the iOS ecosystem.
Voice assistant and multilingual translation
The Loewe leo app accompanies the headphones on iOS and Android. It provides access to an equalizer, Mimi Hearing Technologies sound personalization (which adapts playback to the user’s hearing profile after a quick test), and general settings. The headphones include a voice assistant activated by the command “Hey Leo,” capable of answering questions, taking dictated notes, and performing real-time voice translation between several languages. This assistant function is based on Bragi technology combined with OpenAI; it is offered for one year or 30,000 interactions, after which a subscription allows continued use.
Battery life and replaceable parts
Loewe claims up to 65 hours of listening per charge, with a full recharge in about two hours via the USB-C port. The 3.7 V and 660 mAh lithium battery is not sealed for life: the manufacturer has set up a replacement service through its workshops or network of authorized dealers. The magnetic ear cushions and headband can be changed directly by the user without disassembly. The headphones come with a hard case, a leather cable pouch, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a USB-C to 3.5 mm mini-jack adapter, and a quick start guide.
Documentation
Technical specifications
Type and design
- Wireless closed-back over-ear headphones
- Materials: anodized aluminum, genuine leather
- Lightweight structure with ergonomic headband
- Memory foam ear cushions
- Modular design: replaceable battery, ear cushions, and headband
- Weight: 360 g
- Protection rating: IP53
Sound reproduction
- 50 mm drivers with OCE (Olefin Composite Elastomer) diaphragm
- Texas Instruments OPA1622 SoundPlus™ amplifier
- High-resolution audio compatibility
- Precise and dynamic sound reproduction
- Detailed highs
- Balanced mids
- Deep and controlled bass
- Low distortion
Noise cancellation and listening modes
- Adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC)
- Continuous analysis of the sound environment
- Automatic adjustment of the attenuation level
- Transparency mode
Supported audio technologies
- Dolby Atmos
- Spatial Audio (Spatial Audio)
- Mimi Hearing Technologies sound personalization
- Adaptation to the user’s hearing profile
- Apple MFi certification
Wireless connectivity
- Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio
- Multipoint connection
- Supported codecs: SBC, AAC, LC3
- Stable transmission and low power consumption
Smart features
- Dedicated Loewe leo app
- Intelligent voice assistant
- Note-taking
- Practical information
- Instant voice translation
Battery life
- Up to 65 hours of battery life
Included accessories
- Premium hard carrying case
- Leather protective pouch
- USB-C cable
- AUX to USB-C adapter
- Quick start guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of protection does the IP53 certification provide?
The IP53 rating guarantees protection against dust and against sprayed water coming from an angle of up to 60 degrees from the vertical. In concrete terms, the Leo can withstand light rain, perspiration during a trip, or an accidental splash. This protection does not cover immersion or sustained water jets. For intensive sports use, more water-resistant in-ear models remain better suited; the Leo remains an over-ear headphone dedicated to prolonged listening and transport.
What is Mimi Hearing Technologies personalization used for?
Mimi Hearing Technologies offers a hearing test within the Loewe leo app: the user listens to series of beeps at different frequencies and confirms the ones they can hear. The resulting hearing profile is then used to compensate for the areas where the ear’s sensitivity has decreased, generally in the high frequencies with age. The result stands apart from a simple equalizer: it is a correction calculated from the hearing thresholds of each ear separately. The function can be enabled or disabled at any time.
Does multipoint support more than two devices simultaneously?
Leo’s multipoint connection supports two paired devices simultaneously, for example a laptop for video calls and a smartphone for music. The headphones automatically switch to the active source without having to manually disconnect either one. Other devices can be paired and stored, but only one additional pair of active connections is supported at any given time.
Is the voice assistant still usable after the trial period?
Classic functions (audio playback, noise reduction, transparency mode, Loewe leo app, Bluetooth codecs) remain available without conditions. The AI-powered voice assistant and real-time translation are offered for one year or 30,000 interactions, whichever comes first. At the end of this period, Loewe offers a subscription to extend access to these services. Refusing the subscription does not disable the headphones; only the cloud-based smart functions are no longer accessible.
How does battery replacement work?
The 660 mAh lithium-ion battery cannot be replaced by the end user, unlike the ear pads and headband, which detach magnetically. Loewe has, however, provided a dedicated replacement service through its workshops or network of approved dealers, to extend the headphones’ lifespan beyond the inevitable capacity loss after several hundred charge cycles. This modular approach is part of the repairability strategy claimed by the manufacturer.
Does wired listening via USB-C offer an advantage over Bluetooth?
The USB-C port sends a digital stream directly to the headphones’ internal DAC, bypassing the source’s DAC and Bluetooth compression. For high-resolution files played from a computer or compatible smartphone, wired mode therefore avoids any intermediate conversion and any penalty related to wireless transmission. The 3.5 mm mini-jack remains accessible via the supplied adapter for analog sources, but the signal then undergoes an additional conversion.
- Eco-contribution included in the sale price.
- Manufacturer reference: LOE0021
- GTIN / EAN: 4011880180139