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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The HifiMan Edition XS headphones offer an exceptional sound quality with a wide soundstage, ideally suited for high-fidelity listening and immersive music experience; they are open-back and wired, lending to a natural and spacious sound but at the expense of sound isolation and portability. Choose the Edition XS for the highest audio fidelity at home, and the Ear Stick for convenience and varied use cases on the go. 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
- Best in class for TV and video
Advantages of the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.8
6.1
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is only fair.
Gaming
7.4
8.1
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for gaming, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
Phone Calls
5.0
8.6
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for phone calls, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
8.4
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HifiMan Edition XS is good.
TV and Video
9.5
7.5
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick is good.
Battery
N/A
5.0 Hours
The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery. The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has 5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$269
$99
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick costs $99.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick has excellent build quality, while the HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Noise Reduction
2.5
2.5
The HifiMan Edition XS and "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick are both poor for noise reduction.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $99 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | "Nothing" Brand | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | November 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 6.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 8.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 7/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 22 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Small | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 421 Grams | 4.4 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."
"Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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Sound Guys
Jasper Lastoria | December 2022
"If the Ear (stick) fits your ears, its light weight means you can easily wear it until the unimpressive battery life totally drains. The IP54 rating of the buds lends some confidence that it’ll survive some light abuse too. Finally, for the person who only wears earbuds at their desk, the Nothing Ear (stick) with its decent microphone could offer a reasonable Zoom meeting solution."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Edition XS or the "Nothing" Brand Ear Stick
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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Why trust us
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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