Xiaomi Mi Headphones Review | 93 Data compared

The Koss KSC75Go to product viewer dialog for this item. is highly regarded as an unparalleled budget clip-on headphone featuring an open, forward sound, impressive instrument separation, and a full-sounding midrange. Pros include sparkling high frequencies, a forgiving 60-ohm impedance suitable for all sources, and a secure design ideal for outdoor activity. Head-Fi.orgConversely, the review notes a slightly muddy, unrefined bass that lacks deep extension and leaks into the lower-midrange. Additional cons include an average, intimate soundstage and severe lack of isolation, rendering them unsuitable for noisy environments. Further details are available on Head-Fi.

The WIRED review of the Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones rates the budget earbuds a 6/10, describing them as a solid product with distinct acoustic flaws. Debuting in China for 99 yuan and priced around $29 for US consumers, the earphones feature a dual-driver design inside each chamber—combining a balanced armature driver for high frequencies and a traditional dynamic driver for mids and lows. On the positive side, the hardware offers an exemplary fit and finish for the price, utilizing sturdy, sophisticated machined aluminum sound chambers, several rubber tip options for a comfortable fit, and robust Kevlar-reinforced cables. Additionally, the dedicated dual-driver system ensures that vocals and high frequencies remain isolated and tidy rather than getting completely obliterated by the low-end performance.

The Xiaomi Mi Headphones (ZBW4189CN) are a semi-open, over-the-ear headset designed by 1MoreDesign that offers high-end aesthetics and rich structural inclusions at an affordable price point of around $80. A standout positive feature highlighted in the review is the premium build quality, which incorporates a heavy use of milled metal for the earcups, folding joints, microphone housing, and cable plugs, ensuring great long-term durability. Furthermore, the inclusion of a robust semi-rigid carrying case and three distinct interchangeable types of earpads (small pleather, large circumaural pleather, and small foam) provides impressive customization for comfort and physical fit. In performance testing, the headphones displayed a well-tuned acoustic chamber with an even impedance profile varying from 33.6 to 39.8 ohms, making them easily powered by standard mobile devices without requiring an external amplifier. However, the reviewer notes a prominent "identity crisis" regarding their functional design and acoustic performance. While the compact folding design and inline microphone target mobile commuters, the semi-open build provides almost no noise isolation, meaning external sounds leak in and music leaks out. From a sonic perspective, the default and...

The Xiaomi Mi Headphone is described as a versatile, premium-feeling, semi-open portable headset featuring milled aluminum ear cups, a foldable design, and three interchangeable ear pad options (on-ear, over-ear, foam) that significantly alter the sound profile, particularly the bass. Pros include high-value construction, a warm and energetic sound, and strong modularity, which allow for a personalized, non-fatiguing listening experience. However, reviews highlight a significant drawback in the tedious, high-torque pad-switching mechanism, which is prone to breaking the plastic locking tabs. The semi-open design results in poor noise isolation and high sound leakage, limiting portability, while audio performance is described as having a compressed upper-midrange and a lack of treble detail, often requiring EQ adjustments.

Review Summary The TechRadar review of the Xiaomi Mi Headphones gives the product a mixed 3.7/5 overall score, praising its premium design but critiquing its steep Rs 5,499 price tag and acoustic flaws. The reviewer notes that while Xiaomi is celebrated for high-value, budget-friendly gadgets, these headphones struggle to compete against established audio giants like Sony, Sennheiser, and JBL. On the positive side, the headphones offer exceptional build quality featuring aluminum grills, a durable rubberized cable, and elegant leather stitching, while weighing a portable 220 grams. Additionally, they come highly customizable with a built-in microphone and three interchangeable pairs of ear cushions included in the box. However, the headphones falter significantly in performance, failing to deliver the audio quality expected at this price level. Major cons include a complete lack of active noise cancellation and a severe sound leakage issue that worsens considerably when the volume is turned up. The sound profile features a clear treble ideal for low, smooth classics, but it suffers from overwhelming, cranky bass that makes it completely unsuitable for high-tempo genres like EDM, rock, or...

The Xiaomi Mi Headphones are highly versatile, semi-open portable headphones that uniquely convert from an on-ear to an over-ear design using two sets of factory-supplied, twist-and-lock earpads. Boasting an exceptional build quality for their price point, they feature machined aluminum earcups, metal mesh grilles, and heavy plastics that deliver a remarkably premium and solid feel. Their sound signature is distinctly V-shaped, meaning the bass and treble are elevated relative to the midrange, creating a punchy and energetic listening experience. Swapping between the pads shifts the audio presentation; the on-ear configuration provides a bassier, harder-hitting punch, while the over-ear setting scales back the lower bass emphasis to deliver a more balanced, neutral sound signature. The major pros of the Mi Headphones include their highly modular design, outstanding construction, generous accessory pack (including a hard carrying case and a soft pouch), and long-lasting wearing comfort due to plush padding and pivoting earcups. On the downside, the cloth-covered detachable cable suffers from prominent microphonics, meaning physical movement transmits annoying cable noise directly into the microphone and degrades call quality. Additionally, the sound can...