HifiMan Edition XS
HifiMan Edition XS
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MUSIC: Very Good—8.8/10
CALLS: Poor—5.0/10
GAMING: Good—7.4/10
TV: Best in Class—9.5/10
PODCASTS & AUDIOBOOKS: Good—7.9/10
EXERCISE: Poor—4.3/10
AIR TRAVEL: Poor—4.1/10
NOISE REDUCTION: Poor—2.5/10
BUILD QUALITY: Very Good—8.5/10
The HifiMan Edition XS are premium over-ear, open-back headphones that excel in sound quality, especially for music listening and TV or video use. They have a wide soundstage that provides an immersive experience. The build quality is very good, but they lack built-in controls and have poor scores for mic quality, meaning they are not the best for calls and meetings. They do not have wireless capabilities and require a wired connection. The headphones are not suitable for exercise, as they offer neither sweat resistance nor a secure fit for physical activity. They are also not suitable for air travel or noisy environments due to poor noise isolation. They are relatively heavy and not easily portable but come with a detachable cable and are best used with a dedicated amplifier for optimal performance. They support balanced audio with the purchase of special cables. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Evaluation
Pros
- Excellent overall sound quality
- Superb soundstage and imaging
- Comfortable for long listening sessions
- High build quality
- Detachable cable enhances durability
Cons
- Poor microphone quality
- Lackluster controls for adjustments
- Not suitable for exercise use
- Poor noise isolation
Ratings by Category
TV & Video:4.9
The HifiMan Edition XS is ideal for watching TV and videos because it offers a wired connection, which ensures low latency and no lag between audio and video. Additionally, it delivers excellent sound quality with a 'best' rating in soundstage and imaging, which contributes to a more immersive viewing experience, though they lack features like sweatproof certification, active noise canceling, and are not designed to be particularly portable.
Music:4.7
This evaluates the product when used solely to listen to music. It takes into account the sound quality, whether or not they support high quality codecs, their ability to reproduce soundstage, and whether or not it has any virtual surround capabilities.
Podcasts & Audiobooks:4.4
This score evaluates the product when used solely to listen to podcasts or audiobooks. It takes into account sound quality and sound signature, to be able to keep voices clear and intelligible. It also considers battery life, when available, and comfort.
Gaming:4.2
The HifiMan Edition XS is suitable for gaming due to its excellent soundstage and imaging capabilities that provide an immersive and precise audio experience, which is crucial in gaming for detecting direction and distance of sounds. However, the lack of a built-in microphone means gamers will need an external mic for communication.
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $269 | ||
Brand | HifiMan | ||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | ||
Form Factor | Headphones | ||
Connectivity | Wired | ||
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score  | 8.9/10 | ||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | ||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | ||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | ||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | ||
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | No | ||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | ||
Virtual Surround | No | ||
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | ||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | ||
Weight | 421 Grams | ||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | ||
Dustproof Rating | 0 | ||
Shopping
HifiMan Edition XS
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
Comparison charts
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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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