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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize wireless convenience, noise cancellation for travel, and features like virtual surround sound and built-in controls for phone calls, the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones are a better fit. They have a durable build, excellent noise isolation, and are optimized for both Android and Apple devices. However, their sound quality for music is very good but not as exceptional as the HifiMan Edition XS. In contrast, if you are seeking the absolute best sound quality and soundstage for music and TV at home and don't need wireless capability or active noise cancelling, the HifiMan Edition XS would be optimal. They offer an open-back design delivering best-in-class soundstage but at the cost of noise isolation, and they necessitate an amplifier for the best experience, which means they aren't as portable or versatile for various settings as the Bose. 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 Ultra Headphones
- Excellent for gaming
- Best in class for air travel
Advantages of the HifiMan Edition XS
- Best in class for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.3
8.8
The HifiMan Edition XS and Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones are both very good for music, though the HifiMan Edition XS is somewhat better.
Gaming
9.3
7.4
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for gaming, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
7.9
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Battery
29.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has 29 hours of battery life. The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery.
Cost
$429
$269
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has a price of $429 and the HifiMan Edition XS costs $269.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones has excellent build quality, while the HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.3
5.0
The Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for phone calls.
TV and Video
9.0
9.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HifiMan Edition XS to be best in class for TV and video, while the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones is excellent.
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How the Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones and the HifiMan Edition XS compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones | HifiMan Edition XS |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$429 | $269 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | December 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired + Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.3/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 7.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.4/10 | 4.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 29 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 3 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | 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 | Yes | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7.4/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 10/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 255 Grams | 421 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Headphones
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Dig into reviews and images
SoundGuys
Christian Thomas | January 2024
"The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones are a credible step up from previous Bose ANC headphones, and they're built to hang tough with the competition for years into the future. No waterproofing is a bit of a letdown, but these headphones have the technical chops to make most quite happy."
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 Ultra Headphones 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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