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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a superior sound quality and a wide soundstage, the HifiMan Edition XS would be better for you, as they excel in these areas but lack a built-in microphone and wireless capabilities. However, if you need versatility with good sound, wireless options, active noise cancelling, and a useful microphone for calls, the Bose 700 would be a suitable choice, despite a slightly lower sound quality score and less expansive soundstage compared to the HifiMan. The Bose 700 are also more portable and suitable for air travel thanks to their active noise cancelling feature and better battery life. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bose 700
- Very good for phone calls
- Best in class for air travel
Advantages of the HifiMan Edition XS
- Very good for music
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.5
8.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the Bose 700 is good.
Gaming
5.3
7.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Bose 700 is poor.
Phone Calls
8.3
5.0
The Bose 700 is very good for phone calls, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
9.5
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Bose 700 is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose 700 is excellent for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Battery
20.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose 700 has 20 hours of battery life. The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery.
Cost
$299
$269
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose 700 has a price of $299 and the HifiMan Edition XS costs $269.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Bose 700 has excellent build quality, while the HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.8
7.9
The HifiMan Edition XS and Bose 700 are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the Bose 700 and the HifiMan Edition XS compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose 700 | HifiMan Edition XS |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$299 | $269 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2019 | December 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 8.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 7.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 5.5/10 | 4.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 20 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 9.1/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 8/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 263 Grams | 421 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Bose 700
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Adam Molina | June 2023
"Bose took active noise canceling and made it mainstream but eventually, the market caught up. Well, it seems like Bose was listening, because the Noise Canceling Headphones 700 is a complete redesign of its iconic product. The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 have a new design, improved sound quality, a touch-sensitive gesture pad for playback controls, and even USB-C charging."
HifiMan Edition XS
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Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | January 2023
"The Edition XS easily compete with headphones in their price range with a very high price-to-performance ratio. The XS are an amazing value and offer performance not far off from headphones more than twice their cost. These will be a mind-blowing revelation for enthusiasts and music lovers who have only heard standard big-brand mainstream headphones."
Get a great deal on the Bose 700 or the HifiMan Edition XS
About Bose
Bose is an American audio equipment manufacturer based out of Framingham, Massachusetts. Founded in 1964 by Amar Bose with the goal of creating a speaker system that could accurately recreate the sound of a concert hall, Bose has become one of the most prominent players in the modern consumer audio market due to the premium feel of their products and their wide brand recognition.
About HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
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15
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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