Apple EarPods (USB-C) vs beyerdynamic Xelento remote (2nd generation)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleEarPods (USB-C) | beyerdynamicXelento remote (2nd generation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | September 2023 | October 2022 |
| Sound | ||
| Type | Open-ear | In-ear |
| Noise cancelling | No | No |
| Driver size | – | 11 mm |
| Impedance | – | 16 ohms |
| Bluetooth codecs | None (wired) | None (wired) |
| Drivers | – | TESLA.11 one-way dynamic driver (11 mm) with neodymium ring magnet, closed; 10 – 50,000 Hz; 114 dB SPL (1 mW); max. 134 dB SPL; THD < 0.02% at 1 kHz; power handling 200 mW; Hi-Res Audio certified (maximum SPL, THD and power handling from beyerdynamic's launch specifications as published by Major HiFi) |
| Noise cancelling detail | – | No active noise cancelling; passive attenuation 22 dBA at 1 kHz (launch specifications, Major HiFi) |
| Lossless over USB-C | Yes | – |
| Audio features | Lossless audio over USB-C (TechRadar); Apple does not publish supported bit depths or sample rates on its product page | – |
| Battery | ||
| Listening time (maker's claim) | No battery (wired) | No battery (wired) |
| Design | ||
| Water and sweat resistance | – | IPX4 |
| Headphone cable | No | Yes |
| Controls | Inline remote for volume, music and video playback, and answering or ending calls | Three-button remote on the 3.5 mm cable (calls, volume, play and pause, voice assistant) |
| Microphones | Inline microphone | Hands-free microphone in the 3.5 mm cable's remote |
| Fit and ear tips | Non-sealing earbuds with a fixed shape and no ear tips | Worn with the cable over the ear; seven pairs of oval silicone ear tips and three pairs of Comply Tx-500 foam tips; weight not published per earpiece (beyerdynamic's launch specifications give "Weight (without cable) 8 g" without saying whether that's one earpiece or the pair) |
| Water resistance detail | Apple states protection from sweat and water but does not publish an IP rating | IPX4 (launch specifications, Major HiFi; also confirmed by headphonecheck) |
| Works with | USB-C Macs with macOS Monterey 12.6 or later; USB-C iPads with iPadOS 16.4 or later; USB-C iPhones with iOS 17 or later | Two detachable 1.3 m silver-plated cables with gold-plated MMCX connectors, one with a 4-pole 3.5 mm jack and remote, one balanced with a 5-pole 4.4 mm Pentaconn jack; optional Bluetooth neckband receiver and 3-pole 3.5 mm cable sold separately |
| Colours | White | – |
| In the box | EarPods with USB-C Connector | Earphones, 3.5 mm cable with remote, 4.4 mm balanced cable, seven pairs of silicone tips, three pairs of Comply foam tips, two cable clips, storage case, spare wax guard, microfibre cleaning cloth |
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