Earbuds

On a sunny Wednesday morning in August, I arrived at the London flagship store of Bang & Olufsen. But, of course, it’s not just a regular shop; it’s an “atelier,” or so I’m told. On the ground floor, you can peruse their range of chic, expensive speakers and headphones, but head upstairs — complimentary coffee in hand — and you can dive into their tailoring service. Do you want all the speakers in your home and office to match the materials and colors of their surroundings? Or match your car? Or what about a particularly beloved artwork? This is where you do that — and their sound will be as moving and astounding as their price tags. But downstairs, one floor below the main sales area, there’s a little preview room, hidden away from the world.