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Updated April 11, 2024·
If you prioritize exceptional sound quality and soundstage for music and TV, the HifiMan Edition XS would be your choice, but remember they are open-back, require an amplifier for best performance, and are not suited for outdoor use or noisy environments. On the other hand, if you're looking for a more affordable, portable option that also lets you take calls, the Sony MDR-ZX110 would be more convenient, though it offers lower sound quality and not as immersive an experience. Neither are suitable for exercise or travel, and the HifiMan is much heavier, which could affect comfort during long listening sessions. 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 Sony MDR-ZX110
- The Sony MDR-ZX110 has no clear advantages over the HifiMan Edition XS.
Key differences
Music
8.8
7.6
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is good.
Gaming
7.4
5.9
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
Phone Calls
5.0
3.0
The HifiMan Edition XS and Sony MDR-ZX110 are both poor for phone calls, though the HifiMan Edition XS is somewhat better.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
4.3
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is poor.
TV and Video
9.5
6.9
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The Sony MDR-ZX110 and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sony MDR-ZX110 is somewhat better.
Cost
$269
$10
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the Sony MDR-ZX110 costs $10.
Build Quality
8.5
6.0
The HifiMan Edition XS has very good build quality, while the Sony MDR-ZX110 has only fair build quality.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the Sony MDR-ZX110 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | Sony MDR-ZX110 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $10 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | July 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 5.9/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 3.9/10 | |
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 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 421 Grams | 119.9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof 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."
Sony MDR-ZX110
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Audio.org
Audio.org | December 2022
"My opinion about Sony MDR ZX110 is they are the best budget headphones of Sony with top-class sound. Clear vocals, great bass, and balanced sound with low sound distortion. The treble could be sharper, but it's ok. 30 mm neodymium dynamic drivers give clear and precise audio, and an inline remote with a mic give decent call quality. Closed-Back Design also helps to improve sound performance."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Edition XS or the Sony MDR-ZX110
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 Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
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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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