As a reviewer, I’ve the unbelievable privilege of testing so many alternative headphones and earphones from totally different value ranges, however nothing has ever puzzled me as a lot as these second technology Beyerdynamic Xelento Distant in-ear audiophile headphones. It is not as a result of they’re handcrafted with pure gold or the TESLA.11 dynamic driver for Hello-Res Audio and even the truth that you may flip it into an non-obligatory wi-fi neckband headset.
No, it is actually the surprising sticker value of AUD $1,499.99. Sure, let it sink in for some time. We are able to all agree that that is foolish cash for a set of headphones, to not point out earphones. However Beyerdynamic has a really explicit buyer in thoughts. The discerning audiophile who needs the very best audio in music and video games and nonetheless needs to have the ability to take heed to lossless Tidal streams from their smartphone.
Mainly, not me! However since I am a tech glutton, I simply needed to go forward with the Xelentos and see if it was value getting a private mortgage to purchase.
XELENTO distant (2nd Gen) Audiophile In-Ear Hello-Res Headphones Overview
Xelentos are in-ear headphones, extra generally known as Internal ear displays or IEMs but additionally extra generally referred to as earphones. To be sincere, they appear fairly bizarre in 2023 when everyone seems to be utilizing true wi-fi earphones like Beyers’ Freebyrds.
That stated, they are a far cry from a budget, plasticky deal we had with our smartphones again within the day. These are one thing fully on a distinct degree. Beyerdynamic factors out that these are sound jewellerycrafted with the best high quality supplies together with 24 karat gold and sterling silver.
And they’re undoubtedly lovely. They’re a shiny metallic that catches your reflection and requires fixed cleansing with a microfiber fabric. The leads are constituted of silver plated copper and have gold tipped connectors. You get two within the field; a 3.5mm with inline distant to be used with cellular gadgets, laptops and console controllers and a 4.4mm connector to be used with high-end audio elements corresponding to a DAC/AMP.
The earphones are fully removable from the cables, which implies that when you by chance break the cable, you do not have to shell out one other $1500 for the who unit, however slightly, simply exchange the cable. Additionally within the field, you will discover a high-quality leather-based carrying case and a bag of earphones seven sizes to be actual; XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL.
If none of those give you the results you want like they did not for me, Beyer contains three sizes of Comply Tx-500 reminiscence foam ideas that lightly contour to the form of your ear canal. I discover them rather more comfy and provide a greater seal than silicone ideas.
The bizarre factor about IEMs is the way you put on them. Not like typical earphones, Xelentos must be clipped onto the ear after which inserted into the canal. This ensures that the earphones keep securely in your ear and the connectors are designed to rotate so you may get an amazing match. As cool as it’s, I discovered it immensely boring to place them on and take them off one thing to recollect.
The three.5mm cable has an inline distant with three buttons to manage media playback and calls, though you will be actually laborious pressed to discover a trendy smartphone with a 3.5mm port. As such, I have not had an opportunity to check the standard of the microphone, but it surely’s there when you want it.
Lastly, when you’re the kind to coach with earphones, the Xelentos are IPX4 rated for sweat and splash resistance, though I am unsure figuring out with a $1500 set of wired headphones is smart lately. , however hey!
Sound and efficiency
Let me preface this part by noting that with any inner earphone, the match and seal are completely essential to your audio expertise. So, your expertise with Xelento 2 can be very totally different from mine. Even with the best-fitting reminiscence foam ideas, soundstage, imaging, and readability had been nice, however bass was decidedly mediocre.
Beyer makes use of a brand new TESLA.11 11mm dynamic unidirectional driver with a brand new acoustic filter that supposedly offers even finer element and lightness within the excessive frequency ranges. Advertising and marketing spiel after all and since I haven’t got another IEMs to check towards or any goal audio take a look at gear to show it, all I can say is that the Xelentos are the widest, cleanest and most detailed sounding earphones I’ve had. the privilege of listening.
After watching some Youtube movies from OptimumTech exposing the advantages of IEMs in gaming, I made a decision to spend most of my time testing in gaming, but additionally use Xelentos as my day by day driver for listening to music and making calls of labor.
The earbuds arrived as I used to be finishing my recreation Forbidden Horizon West on PlayStation 5 through 3.5mm connection on the DualSense controller. HFW has a splendidly layered soundscape with machines close to and much, all doing various things in a lush, wild setting affected by waterfalls, rivers and pure wildlife. The Xelentos choose up each single element with spectacular sharpness and much more spectacular positioning accuracy. I had no bother figuring out the instructions every sound was coming from, together with above and under.
After that, I performed loads Return which has an extremely moody and layered soundtrack but additionally wealthy ambient audio cues. From bushes brushing towards Selene to numerous orbs of dying making their technique to stay alien crops that reply to your proximity. Every thing sounded nice with a surprisingly extensive soundstage and excellent positional consciousness, so I knew the place the enemies had been round me.
So in video games, Xelentos are definitely spectacular and even when I do not play CoD: Struggle zone OR Apex Legends, I’m assured that you’ll get the very best, clearest and most correct audio for aggressive gaming. You may be always amazed on the soundstage width on these tiny buds, outperforming many full-sized gaming headsets. It actually provides a degree of immersion that is laborious to fault.
Nevertheless, the most important problem I had with these $1500 earphones got here from listening to different media. Simply plug them into my PC or MacBook they usually sounded just a little too scientific with out the bass grit that beyerdynamic guarantees. The highs had been crisp and detailed which is nice when listening to some classical music and the mids had been lush and clean whereas the lows had been all the time just a little out of attain.
Admittedly I haven’t got a devoted DAC/AMP, however even utilizing the DAC in my Steelseries Arctis Nova Professional, I did not get a lot enchancment in audio. I think that utilizing the balanced 4.4mm cable and hooking it as much as a correct Hello-Res Audio setup will produce some mind-blowing outcomes, so maintain that in thoughts. Not like me, nonetheless, anybody who may afford to spend this sort of cash on earphones would most probably have already got stated gear readily available.
Curiously, the Xelento has a extremely low 16 ohm energy requirement which means you do not really want a heck of an amp, I received completely loud audio from a wi-fi console controller. However for the very best expertise, you will positively want one thing further to drive it. Oh, and an amazing ear too.
Verdict
So, after my time with the Beyerdynamic Xelento 2 distant, I am unable to say they match the hype or the value. The bodily design, supplies, and packaging are definitely premium, however the audio expertise would not match the value. Surprisingly, my less expensive and wi-fi Beyerdynamic Freebyrd sounds a lot better in most issues than the Xelento.
Positive, you may’t play them as a result of latency points, and the Xelentos definitely carry out fantastically in video games. However there are dozens of IEMs and gaming headsets that sound nice for a lot much less cash. The Sennheiser 200 or Moondrop Aria sound nice and price a tenth of the Xelento.
So, let’s take it for what it’s, a 24-karat high-tech piece of bijou, a present piece, a collector’s merchandise, one thing to aspire to however not one thing that makes monetary sense to the common gamer. I might like to see Beyerdynamic launch one thing related however with out the flashy supplies and are available in at a price ticket of $300-450; now it might be one thing addictive.
XELENTO distant (2nd Gen) Audiophile In-Ear Hello-Res Headphones Overview
Pleases
Attractive design and building
Unimaginable extensive soundstage
Distinctive sharpness and element
Nice for gaming
A number of ear ideas
I do not like
That is $1500!!
Requires an excellent DAC/AMP for the very best music expertise
Wired earphones usually are not best for mobility
