Baseus Inspire XC1 Review: Excellent Open Earbuds

Speaking of critical listening, the XC1 works with Sony’s hi-res capable LDAC Bluetooth codec, provided you own a compatible Android phone (sorry, iPhone users). Using LDAC provides more detail, especially when listening to lossless audio sources, but for these earbuds, I don’t think the juice is worth the squeeze. Using LDAC disables your EQ settings and Bluetooth multipoint, and the XC1 struggles to maintain a stable Bluetooth connection when LDAC is set to the highest quality setting.

Baseus includes two Dolby audio modes (music and movies) to create a more immersive, spatial experience. For me, it’s the opposite. I see that they wash the sound, the movie is absolutely muddy. At 60 percent volume, there was enough power for an engaging listening experience indoors. Outside, I needed a little more oomph.

Beyond Music

Photo: Simon Cohen

Better call the Inspire XC1. Whether indoors or out, your callers will be easier to understand, and almost all background sounds are avoided. However, like most clip-style open-ear earbuds, your voice won’t be crystal clear – some distortion can occur, especially when outdoors.

Baseus rates battery life on the XC1 at eight hours per charge, with 40 hours of total use when you include the case’s battery, numbers eclipsed only by the OpenDots One’s 10/40 combo. Baseus assumes 50 percent volume and does not include use of Dolby Audio or LDAC. LDAC can be very power hungry, often reducing battery life by up to 30 percent, which is another reason to avoid it.

Open-ear earbuds aren’t for everyone, but with great sound quality, a comfortable, clip-style design, and easy-to-use controls, the Baseus Inspire XC1 are an excellent choice. They check a lot of boxes, including strong water and dust resistance, optional LDAC mode and Bluetooth multipoint for a significantly lower price than their closest competitors. The only thing missing is support for Auracast. Unfortunately, that feature has yet to be widely adopted. If you’re after an affordable open bud that competes with the best, these are among the best we’ve tried.