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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize excellent overall sound quality and a best-in-class soundstage, especially for home listening, then the HifiMan Edition XS would be a superior choice; however, consider their open design which means sound will leak and they do not isolate noise well, making them less ideal for noisy environments. Additionally, they're not wireless, so are better suited for stationary listening with a potential need for a dedicated amplifier for optimal performance. In contrast, if portability, convenience, and budget are key concerns for you, the JBL 510BT headphones offer wireless listening, are less expensive, and have features like foldability for easy transport. They also have integrated controls and better durability, suitable for casual use and travel, but they offer fair sound quality which might not satisfy a keen audiophile. 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 HifiMan Edition XS
- Very good for music
- Good for gaming
- Best in class for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the JBL 510BT
- Good for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.8
6.2
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the JBL 510BT is only fair.
Gaming
7.4
5.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
5.6
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
TV and Video
9.5
5.5
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the JBL 510BT is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The JBL 510BT and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for noise reduction, though the JBL 510BT is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
38.0 Hours
The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery. The JBL 510BT has 38 hours of battery life.
Cost
$269
$30
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the JBL 510BT costs $30.
Build Quality
8.5
6.5
The HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality, while the JBL 510BT has only fair build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.0
5.1
The JBL 510BT and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for phone calls.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the JBL 510BT compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | JBL 510BT |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | February 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 5.5/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 5.8/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 38 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 421 Grams | 158.7 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 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."
JBL 510BT
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SoundGuys
Sam Smart | September 2023
"The JBL Tune 510BT is affordable and compact, making it a great companion for a commute, so long as you don't need active noise canceling. If you wear glasses or have ear piercings, the on-ear design might not be comfortable, since the ear cups will squish your ears."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Edition XS or the JBL 510BT
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.
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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
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 is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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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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