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HifiMan Edition XS
JBL Live Beam 3
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024· Prices updated 24 hours ago
If you prioritize sound quality and soundstage, particularly for an immersive music or TV and video experience, the HifiMan Edition XS would be the better choice, although they require a dedicated amplifier for optimal performance and are not suitable for exercise or travel due to their size and lack of noise isolation. Alternatively, the JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds provide good noise isolation and are very portable, making them great for use during exercise, air travel, and daily commutes; they also offer a variety of modern features like wireless charging, a smart charging case with a touch display, and are sweat and dustproof, but are not suited for high-quality TV and gaming experiences. Consider the tradeoffs in price, use case, and the importance of additional features to your lifestyle when making your decision. Give Feedback
At the time of writing the HifiMan Edition XS cost $379 and the JBL Live Beam 3 cost $216. The HifiMan Edition XS has dropped in price by $110.
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 Live Beam 3
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.8
7.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is good.
Gaming
7.4
5.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
5.9
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
TV and Video
9.5
5.6
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.3
The JBL Live Beam 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Battery
N/A
12.0 Hours
The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery. The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life.
Cost
$269
$216
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the JBL Live Beam 3 costs $216.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.0
5.2
The JBL Live Beam 3 and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The HifiMan Edition XS and JBL Live Beam 3 both have very good build quality.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the JBL Live Beam 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
VS
Sound Quality Score
Price
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | JBL Live Beam 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $216 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | JBL | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | June 1, 2024 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 5.4/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 12 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.3 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 36 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 7/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 421 Grams | 8.8 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
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."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Edition XS or the JBL Live Beam 3
0
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
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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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