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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize convenience and noise isolation for versatile use, including exercise and travel, go for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II. They provide active noise cancellation, are sweatproof, have a good comfort score, and are more portable. However, if you want superior sound quality, especially for music and home use like TV and video, the HifiMan Edition XS may be preferred. They offer an outstanding soundstage, but because they have open backs and no wireless capability, they are less suitable for noisy environments or on-the-go use. Additionally, the HifiMan lacks a microphone, so it's not designed for calls. 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the HifiMan Edition XS
- Very good for music
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.4
8.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is good.
Gaming
5.5
7.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.0
7.9
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
TV and Video
6.2
9.5
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is only fair.
Noise Reduction
9.1
2.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II is excellent for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Battery
7.0 Hours
N/A
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II 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 QuietComfort Earbuds II has a price of $199 and the HifiMan Edition XS costs $269.
Build Quality
9.2
8.5
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II has excellent build quality, while the HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.1
5.0
The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and the HifiMan Edition XS compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II | HifiMan Edition XS |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$199 | $269 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bose | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2022 | December 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6.3/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.5/10 | 4.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 7 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | No | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 20 | 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 | 6.5/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Medium | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7.7 Grams | 421 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II
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Dig into reviews and images
What HiFi?
What HiFi? | September 2023
"Bose’s flagship wireless earbuds were never going to be cheap, but the question was whether they’d be competitive in an area of the market where rivals have never been more capable. The fact that the company has not only managed to implement a successful redesign, but also push the envelope for noise-cancelling and sound quality in such a highly competitive category simultaneously is truly impressive."
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 QuietComfort Earbuds II 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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