Bose-Infused Baseus Encourage XH1 Headphones Exceeded My Expectations
Execs
- Snug match with a pretty, sturdy design
- Reasonably priced value
- Excellent sound for the worth
- First rate noise-canceling and voice-calling efficiency
- Sturdy battery life
- Exhausting case included
Cons
- Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio mode does not actually enhance the sound
- Noise canceling could possibly be a bit higher
- No USB-C audio or ear-detection sensors that mechanically pause your music once you take the headphones off
Funds model Baseus has two new-for-2025 earbuds — the Encourage XP1 and Encourage XC1 — and one set of full-size headphones, the Encourage XH1 reviewed right here, that each one characteristic Sound by Bose and ship good bang for the buck.
Learn extra: Finest noise-canceling headphones of 2025
Recognized extra for its reasonably priced energy banks and chargers, Baseus is considerably new to the audio market, though it has just a few headphones and earbuds that value lower than $75. The brand new Bose-infused fashions I examined are a departure for the model because it ventures into extra premium territory. For its half, Bose has collaborated with a handful of different reasonably priced audio manufacturers too, regularly increasing its “Sound by Bose” initiative.
The Encourage XH1 in black.
Like each the Encourage XP1 and XC1 earbuds, the Encourage XH1, whereas largely plastic, have a extra elevated design than most “worth” headphones. Out there in just a few completely different shade choices, the XH1 aren’t solely pretty light-weight (275 grams) and comfy to put on, however they’ve first rate construct high quality, together with a seemingly sturdy headband coated in fake (“vegan”) leather-based and a dual-hinge design that permits the headphones to each fold flat and fold up.
I needed to consult with the directions to determine that you simply maintain down the quantity buttons to advance tracks ahead and again. However total, the controls for playback and switching between noise cancellation are good, and the Baseus companion app for iOS and Android is easy to make use of. Additionally, the headphones include a tough case, which isn’t at all times a typical characteristic at this value.
Sturdy sound high quality for the worth
The sound high quality of finances headphones and earbuds has been steadily enhancing in recent times. Whereas the Encourage XH1 fall into extra of a midrange pricing classification, their sound measures up effectively to dearer headphones.
Geared up with 35mm drivers, the headphones do certainly characteristic Bose-like sound, which is fairly well-balanced and provides good readability and punchy bass, together with a reasonably extensive soundstage. The sound lacks the extra articulate refinement and depth of higher-end headphones, however the XH1 are tuned to work effectively with quite a lot of music genres and have sufficient heat to maintain from experiencing listening fatigue.
They’ve a slightly V-shaped sound profile out of the field, with barely accentuated highs and lows and barely recessed mids (the place voices dwell). However the sound is much less bass-heavy than Nothing’s CMF Headphone Professional, which can also be a great worth. Nonetheless, I want the Encourage XH1’s sound as a result of it has a bit extra readability and definition.
The headphones characteristic strong construct high quality and a extra premium design than many headphones of their value vary.
You’ll be able to tweak the sound profile barely within the companion Baseus app for iOS and Android, which features a “Sound Match” take a look at to create a personalized sound profile tailor-made to your listening to. Android customers have the choice of utilizing the higher-resolution LDAC audio codec (the SBC and ACC audio codecs are additionally supported), and there is a low-latency mode for gaming and video watching, in addition to a volume-limiting listening to safety setting.
Baseus touts the headphones’ Dolby Spatial Audio characteristic, however I used to be a bit disillusioned with the spatial audio mode as a result of it did not appear to enhance the sound high quality. I ought to observe that these headphones do not have the extra superior spatial audio with head-tracking. Nor have they got USB-C audio, although they arrive with a wire for wired listening.
The headphones of their carrying case. A cable is included for wired listening however the Encourage XP1 do not have assist for USB-C audio.
Middling noise canceling…
Bose’s QuietComfort Extremely Headphones (2nd Gen) are best-in-class for noise cancellation, proper alongside Sony’s WH-1000XM6 headphones for ANC. Alas, the Encourage XH1 fall effectively in need of providing top-tier noise canceling. You do get a great passive seal from the properly padded reminiscence foam earcups, however the headphones solely did an OK job muffling the buzzing/rumbling of an HVAC unit in my condominium at their highest ANC setting.
Whereas they decreased some background noise when navigating the streets of New York and its subway system, the beforehand talked about Bose and Sony headphones (and Apple’s AirPods Professional 3) made the XH1’s noise canceling appear about half as efficient by comparability. I might grade the noise canceling a B-.
… however a good transparency mode and powerful voice-calling efficiency
The transparency mode is not top-tier — it simply cannot match the pure sound of Apple’s AirPods Professional 3 of their transparency mode — nevertheless it does sound fairly pure. By that, I imply when you will have the headphones in transparency mode, which permits sound from the skin world to enter your ears, you are listening to sounds pretty near what you hear once you take the headphones off.
The headphones fold up and fold flat.
I felt higher in regards to the XH1’s voice-calling efficiency after testing them in some fairly harsh situations. Geared up with 5 microphones and the requisite AI noise-reduction algorithms, they did an excellent job at decreasing background noise within the loud streets of New York. Callers stated my voice typically sounded a bit digitized and robotic, however they may hear me fairly clearly. I might charge voice-calling efficiency a B+ and even an A-, and so they did higher than the Encourage XP1 buds for voice-calling (I rated the XP1 a B for voice-calling efficiency).
Battery life is one other sturdy level. The headphones are rated for 100 hours of battery life with noise cancellation off, and as much as 50 hours with noise cancellation on at average quantity ranges. I fell a bit in need of 50 hours in my battery take a look at (it was extra like 48 hours), however that is nonetheless fairly good.
Baseus Encourage XH1 remaining ideas
Whereas I can not say I used to be completely blown away by any aspect of the Baseus Encourage XH1 headphones, they’re total fairly competent.
Backside line: When you’re searching for a snug, well-designed set of over-ear headphones that provide largely sturdy efficiency throughout the board and value quite a bit lower than premium fashions from Sony, Bose and others, they definitely match the invoice.
