Baseus' Inspire XH1 Bring Bose-Designed Sound to the Masses

"But thanks to a big increase in competition among lesser-known Chinese brands, these compromises are rapidly shrinking. Baseus' Inspire XH1 ($150 from Baseus, $100 on Amazon) are a great example. These noise-canceling headphones deliver a level of sound quality and isolation that comes impressively close to what you'll find in a much more expensive pair. They look good, they feel good, and their battery life is up to four times longer than many other options."

"The Inspire family of Baseus products, which includes the XH1, the true-wireless noise-canceling XP1, and the open-ear XC1, all feature "Sound by Bose," which means that Bose had a hand in tuning the audio. Baseus' design language is also Bose-inspired: the two main color options (Cosmic Black and Starlight Off-White) are similar to Bose's primary hues, and the XH1's blending of metal and plastic components mirrors Bose's QuietComfort Ultra Headphones."

"The XH1's hinges fold up and fold flat, something the headphone market is leaning into after a period of only offering the fold-flat option. In the case of the XH1, it doesn't quite deliver the space savings achieved by other cans with a similar articulation. I'm a bit uneasy about the hinge itself. It's made of metal, which bodes well for durability, but it's also extremely loose, letting the ear cup yokes spin and swivel with no resistance at all."

Baseus Inspire XH1 headphones offer high-quality sound, effective noise cancellation, and exceptional battery life at a budget-friendly price. Bose participated in tuning, and the design mirrors premium models with metal and plastic blends and two subdued colorways. The headphones fold up and fold flat but deliver only modest space savings; the metal hinges are notably loose and allow ear cup yokes to spin without resistance. ANC modes alter the sound signature, and Dolby audio performance is disappointing. The package includes a protective travel case comparable to pricier models and competitive overall value for the price.

Read at WIRED