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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize superior sound quality along with an expansive soundstage, the HifiMan Edition XS headphones are a superior choice, especially beneficial for listening to high-fidelity music at home. However, they're open-back, wired, and less portable, which might not be ideal for commuting or exercising. The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds, on the other hand, offer very good sound quality with the convenience of wireless connectivity, active noise cancelling for peace on commutes or flights, with good comfort and fit during physical activity. They're more suited for a versatile lifestyle but won't match the audiophile-grade sound of HifiMan's. If portability, noise cancellation, and wireless functionality are key for you, the Bose earbuds would be more suitable; if sound quality and openness are primary, and portability is not an issue, go for the HifiMan. 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 Quiet Comfort Earbuds
- Very good for air travel
- Best in class for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the HifiMan Edition XS
- Very good for music
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
Key differences
Music
7.1
8.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is good.
Gaming
5.6
7.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is poor.
Phone Calls
6.6
5.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair for phone calls, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
9.5
7.9
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is best in class for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
TV and Video
6.0
9.5
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds is excellent for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has 7 hours of battery life. The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery.
Cost
$199
$269
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds has a price of $199 and the HifiMan Edition XS costs $269.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.9
8.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and HifiMan Edition XS both have very good build quality.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds and the HifiMan Edition XS compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds | HifiMan Edition XS |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $269 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | December 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.1/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 6.7/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.8/10 | 4.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.1 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 18 | 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 | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 5.4/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.5 Grams | 421 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Earbuds
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Sound Guys
Lily Katz | March 2023
"The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds is a great do-it-all option for anyone, so long as you can afford it. This is a great alternative to the Apple AirPods Pro and Sony WF-1000XM4. You can choose the degree of noise canceling, and enjoy premium features like automatic ear-detection. These earbuds merit an IPX4 rating, making them a fine workout companion."
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 Quiet Comfort Earbuds 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.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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