Beyerdynamic Xelento!

[JoshG1217]

Ive had that issue too. I found the z5 work pretty well because the fit is a bit different. N3 wasnt bad either and seals better but z5 has more dynamic sound. Best bass and soundstage I have ever heard from an iem.

 

[JoshG1217]

So, went to RMAF today. Spent moat of my time with Beyer, Dekoni and Sony. Thoughts: xelento is just meh with the foam tips. Beautifully built but mediocre sound. Sony Z5 and N3 recommended. The Sony Z1R at $2k sounds only slightly better than Z5 and maybe nor better at all. Dekoni Blue planar (modded Fostex TP 50) punches way above its price point. Lastly, Lagoon ANC murders Sony XM3 and while Lagoon pnly has Aptx, firmware updates will include Aptx HD.

Not all relevant, but was underwhelmed by Xelento... At least with foam tips at the show. Fit wasnt great for me.

 

[Adnan Firoze]

So, went to RMAF today. Spent moat of my time with Beyer, Dekoni and Sony. Thoughts: xelento is just meh with the foam tips. Beautifully built but mediocre sound. Sony Z5 and N3 recommended. The Sony Z1R at $2k sounds only slightly better than Z5 and maybe nor better at all. Dekoni Blue planar (modded Fostex TP 50) punches way above its price point. Lastly, Lagoon ANC murders Sony XM3 and while Lagoon pnly has Aptx, firmware updates will include Aptx HD.

Not all relevant, but was underwhelmed by Xelento... At least with foam tips at the show. Fit wasnt great for me.

Yeah absolutely right. I really disliked the Xelento with foam tips. This is probably the most tip-sensitive IEM ever. Also, the fit is either a hit or a miss. If you luck out on both tip (almost always silicone) and fit, it's a fabulous IEM. I had to experiment a lot with it to get past the initial disappointment. Also, you can see so many "how to put tips on properly i.e. due to the oval nozzles" posts.

 

[Timthegreek87]

Hi all.

I am hoping to get some advice, unfortunately I am not in a position where I can audition headphones easily.

I am looking to upgrade my Sennheiser ie80 IEM's and from the research I have done I feel the Xelento's may be the headphones for me. I currently also own the Ultrasone sig Dj's, and these to me are a really beautiful sounding headphone. I listen almost exclusively to techno and electronic music, so like headphones with good bass!

My questions about the Xelento's are:

1.) I intend to use the headphones while on my bike. I cycle on quiet cycle paths so external noise is not an issue, but I have noticed with the ie80's that the wind (obviously) really distorts the sound. I am not expecting to listen critically while cycling, but I was wondering if anyone had used the xelentos in a similar way and do they still sound ok.

2.) I will also be using the headphones on flights with reasonable frequency. Has anyone used them on a plane and do they still sound ok.

3.) The main competitors I am looking at are the Shure SE 846. Between these and Xelento which will be best for techno and which have a sound more similar to the Sig DJ's (if anyone has ever done this comparison). - I know the shures have better sound isolation so might be better for traveling. But I will also be using the headphones just going out and about when sound isolation is less of an issue - but still something to take into consideration!

Thank you in advance for any responses!

 

[Hellraiser86]

Hi all.

I am hoping to get some advice, unfortunately I am not in a position where I can audition headphones easily.

I am looking to upgrade my Sennheiser ie80 IEM's and from the research I have done I feel the Xelento's may be the headphones for me. I currently also own the Ultrasone sig Dj's, and these to me are a really beautiful sounding headphone. I listen almost exclusively to techno and electronic music, so like headphones with good bass!

My questions about the Xelento's are:

1.) I intend to use the headphones while on my bike. I cycle on quiet cycle paths so external noise is not an issue, but I have noticed with the ie80's that the wind (obviously) really distorts the sound. I am not expecting to listen critically while cycling, but I was wondering if anyone had used the xelentos in a similar way and do they still sound ok.

2.) I will also be using the headphones on flights with reasonable frequency. Has anyone used them on a plane and do they still sound ok.

3.) The main competitors I am looking at are the Shure SE 846. Between these and Xelento which will be best for techno and which have a sound more similar to the Sig DJ's (if anyone has ever done this comparison). - I know the shures have better sound isolation so might be better for traveling. But I will also be using the headphones just going out and about when sound isolation is less of an issue - but still something to take into consideration!

Thank you in advance for any responses!

I have got the IE80 (had the IE8 & IE80S) and the Xelentos. I also upgraded from the Sennheiser to the Beyers and was very happy with the result. It was a big jump for me in soundqualiy (and also in price^^).
If you like the IE80 sound you will love the Xelentos.
Shures 846 is also a great monitor. The isolation is quiet better. For me they had more in common (signature wise) than differences. But there is one thing: 846s are Balanced Armature and while many prefer the sound in Bass it would be definitely a big difference from the dynamic driver.
I also listen to techno and more electronic genres and specifically for these genres I would recommend you to go for the Xelentos. Because the music is very compressed and every bit of impact counts^^
For other genres I would go for the Shures.

 

[Chessblitzer2017]

The fit is absolutely phenomenal

 

[csglinux]

Hi all.

I am hoping to get some advice, unfortunately I am not in a position where I can audition headphones easily.

I am looking to upgrade my Sennheiser ie80 IEM's and from the research I have done I feel the Xelento's may be the headphones for me. I currently also own the Ultrasone sig Dj's, and these to me are a really beautiful sounding headphone. I listen almost exclusively to techno and electronic music, so like headphones with good bass!

My questions about the Xelento's are:

1.) I intend to use the headphones while on my bike. I cycle on quiet cycle paths so external noise is not an issue, but I have noticed with the ie80's that the wind (obviously) really distorts the sound. I am not expecting to listen critically while cycling, but I was wondering if anyone had used the xelentos in a similar way and do they still sound ok.

2.) I will also be using the headphones on flights with reasonable frequency. Has anyone used them on a plane and do they still sound ok.

3.) The main competitors I am looking at are the Shure SE 846. Between these and Xelento which will be best for techno and which have a sound more similar to the Sig DJ's (if anyone has ever done this comparison). - I know the shures have better sound isolation so might be better for traveling. But I will also be using the headphones just going out and about when sound isolation is less of an issue - but still something to take into consideration!

Thank you in advance for any responses!

In reverse order...

3) @Hellraiser86 covered this nicely. They're both great headphones. Xelento has more sub-bass and a lot more mid-bass than SE846. Overall, I'd give a slight edge to the Xelento (Xelento has much lower levels of distortion), but you couldn't go wrong with either one.
2) I love the Xelentos, but they're not the headphones for you if you want maximum isolation. Look at something like an Etymotic ER2XR. The 2XR is massively underrated, IMHO. It's only $135. To my ears, it sounds better than most of the current crop of $2000-$4000 IEMs. And no other headphone will isolate like an Etymotic.
1) This is the interesting one. I don't yet know of any headphone suitable for cycling. The problem is wind noise. This is a serious issue for cyclists. The air flow buffeting in your concha bowl can easily expose you to sounds well in excess of 100 dB: https://www.google.com/amp/s/cyclingtips.com/2017/08/listen-cyclists-risk-hearing-loss/amp/

Shoving something into your ears might seem like a good idea, but you might be unpleasantly surprised, because you're likely to create more fluid resonance and the buffeting is likely to be worse. Plus, you're now less aware of hazards like traffic. There are supposedly better helmet designs, or gadgets like cat ears that are supposed to reduce the resonance. I don't think the ideal gadget has been built yet, but when that happens, I'd want to pop a couple of small speakers in that. You want something that makes you a little more streamlined, but still allows you to hear your surroundings.

Any other cyclists got thoughts or suggestions?

 

[fsi22]

Just to add to this discussion on tips. If anyone is having issues, try comply but backwards. Nothing has worked as well for me. Using 1 size up from my usual.

 

[Timthegreek87]

I have got the IE80 (had the IE8 & IE80S) and the Xelentos. I also upgraded from the Sennheiser to the Beyers and was very happy with the result. It was a big jump for me in soundqualiy (and also in price^^).
If you like the IE80 sound you will love the Xelentos.
Shures 846 is also a great monitor. The isolation is quiet better. For me they had more in common (signature wise) than differences. But there is one thing: 846s are Balanced Armature and while many prefer the sound in Bass it would be definitely a big difference from the dynamic driver.
I also listen to techno and more electronic genres and specifically for these genres I would recommend you to go for the Xelentos. Because the music is very compressed and every bit of impact counts^^
For other genres I would go for the Shures.

In reverse order...

3) @Hellraiser86 covered this nicely. They're both great headphones. Xelento has more sub-bass and a lot more mid-bass than SE846. Overall, I'd give a slight edge to the Xelento (Xelento has much lower levels of distortion), but you couldn't go wrong with either one.
2) I love the Xelentos, but they're not the headphones for you if you want maximum isolation. Look at something like an Etymotic ER2XR. The 2XR is massively underrated, IMHO. It's only $135. To my ears, it sounds better than most of the current crop of $2000-$4000 IEMs. And no other headphone will isolate like an Etymotic.
1) This is the interesting one. I don't yet know of any headphone suitable for cycling. The problem is wind noise. This is a serious issue for cyclists. The air flow buffeting in your concha bowl can easily expose you to sounds well in excess of 100 dB: https://www.google.com/amp/s/cyclingtips.com/2017/08/listen-cyclists-risk-hearing-loss/amp/

Shoving something into your ears might seem like a good idea, but you might be unpleasantly surprised, because you're likely to create more fluid resonance and the buffeting is likely to be worse. Plus, you're now less aware of hazards like traffic. There are supposedly better helmet designs, or gadgets like cat ears that are supposed to reduce the resonance. I don't think the ideal gadget has been built yet, but when that happens, I'd want to pop a couple of small speakers in that. You want something that makes you a little more streamlined, but still allows you to hear your surroundings.

Any other cyclists got thoughts or suggestions?

I think I am swinging towards the Xelento's, from what I have read the isolation is pretty good and so I think it will suffice! Thank you for your quick and helpful responses!

 

[Didier Louchart]

I love the Xelentos.

The sound is excellent and it's the first time I've had such a good fit

 

[JoshG1217]

The Xelentos are excellent

 

[PureViewer4t1]

Any other cyclists got thoughts or suggestions?

There are bone conduction headphones, but you will sacrifice the audio quality.
Also there are some headphones which use microphones to let you hear the outside world. But I'm afraid they will record the wind when cycling.

 

[csglinux]

There are bone conduction headphones, but you will sacrifice the audio quality.
Also there are some headphones which use microphones to let you hear the outside world. But I'm afraid they will record the wind when cycling.

That's true - I also own the Trekz Aeropex bone-conduction headphones. They can't get anywhere close to competing with the Xelentos for SQ, but they are fun and convenient. I've not spent much time with them yet on my bike, but (like most headphones/buds) they'll protrude a bit, which creates another source of turbulence buffeting noise. I'd bet that wind noise would be worse while wearing these (bear in mind your ear canals are completely open with bone-conduction headphones, so there's nothing to protect your ears from wind noise).

 

[PureViewer4t1]

That's true - I also own the Trekz Aeropex bone-conduction headphones. They can't get anywhere close to competing with the Xelentos for SQ, but they are fun and convenient. I've not spent much time with them yet on my bike, but (like most headphones/buds) they'll protrude a bit, which creates another source of turbulence buffeting noise. I'd bet that wind noise would be worse while wearing these (bear in mind your ear canals are completely open with bone-conduction headphones, so there's nothing to protect your ears from wind noise).

I don't wanna go off-topic but,
you can try Human Headphones as well. They have a "blend" mode which may be useful for cycling. As of SQ, I wouldn't count on it. YMMV though.

 

[csglinux]

I don't wanna go off-topic but,
you can try Human Headphones as well. They have a "blend" mode which may be useful for cycling. As of SQ, I wouldn't count on it. YMMV though.

Great suggestion for cyclists! They look super aerodynamic! What's the fit like? It looks like you'd need to custom order these based on the size of your ears?