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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For superior sound quality and an exceptional soundstage, the HifiMan Edition XS stands out, especially for music listening at home due to its open-back design; however, their larger size and open design limit their portability and offer no noise isolation, making them less ideal for travel or noisy environments. The Soundcore Life Q30, being less expensive, offers good overall performance with active noise cancelling and a closed-back design for better portability and noise isolation, making them suitable for various uses like travel and work. The Q30 also has wireless capabilities and a significantly longer battery life, useful for on-the-go users, but it may not match the sound quality of the HifiMan for critical listening. 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 Soundcore Life Q30
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
8.8
7.1
The HifiMan Edition XS is very good for music, while the Soundcore Life Q30 is good.
Gaming
7.4
5.3
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for gaming, while the Soundcore Life Q30 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
4.8
The HifiMan Edition XS is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Soundcore Life Q30 is poor.
TV and Video
9.5
5.4
The HifiMan Edition XS is best in class for TV and video, while the Soundcore Life Q30 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
8.7
The Soundcore Life Q30 is very good for noise reduction, while the HifiMan Edition XS is poor.
Battery
N/A
44.0 Hours
The HifiMan Edition XS does not have a battery. The Soundcore Life Q30 has 44 hours of battery life.
Cost
$269
$80
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The HifiMan Edition XS has a price of $269 and the Soundcore Life Q30 costs $80.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.0
5.1
The Soundcore Life Q30 and HifiMan Edition XS are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
The HifiMan Edition XS and Soundcore Life Q30 both have very good build quality.
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How the HifiMan Edition XS and the Soundcore Life Q30 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| HifiMan Edition XS | Soundcore Life Q30 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$269 | $80 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | HifiMan | Soundcore | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2021 | August 1, 2020 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8.9/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.1/10 | 5.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9.5/10 | 5.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 5.3/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 44 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.7 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 421 Grams | 263 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HifiMan Edition XS
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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."
Soundcore Life Q30
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Headphones Addict
Peter Susic | December 2021
"Every once in a while, headphones with an excellent price/performance ratio arrive that truly deserves all attention. Anker Soundcore Life Q30 are one of those headphones. Of course, they aren’t perfect, but they do most things better than their competition. Or they give you the option to make them better."
Get a great deal on the HifiMan Edition XS or the Soundcore Life Q30
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 Soundcore
Soundcore is a sub-brand belonging to Anker Innovations. Starting in 2014, initially marketing wireless, Bluetooth, speakers, Anker now offers an array of, budget-friendly, wireless earbuds and headphones that directly compete, especially in the Active Noise Canceling field, with other brands several times as expensive.
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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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