Jewels For Audiophiles
The second-generation Xelento continues to shine in beauty and in sound
After five years since the first Xelento, Beyerdynamic released the second generation of the gorgeous in-ears. The new Xelento Remote features matt-polished housing and its logo on the shiny faceplate is 24K gold adorned. Just like the first generation, there are generous accessories packed in the box, including extra wax guards, a wide range of ear tips in silicone and foam, an unbalanced 3.5mm MMCX cable and balanced 4.4mm cable, a hard carrying case, and a cleaning cloth.
When I previously reviewed the first Xelento Remote and the wireless version, three things impressed me: how pretty they look, especially the silver finish and the silver cables, how comfortable they fit in my ears, and how good they sound. The second generation Xelento Remote continues carrying these traits, with the patented oval-shaped silicone ear tips providing excellent passive isolation to listen without distractions.
After listening to numerous headphones and earphones that have their treble frequencies tuned to sparkling proportions, the Xelento Remote is a welcoming change. The tuning puts more weight on the bass, resonating with a musicality which extends to the midrange. Vocals are presented with good expression and do not sound pushy. Treble-occupied instruments like percussion perform with clarity without taking away attention. It’s a sound signature that favours the listeners who enjoy quality bass supported by clear treble and detailed overall instrumentation. Although the treble does not give me goosebumps like the Sennheiser IE 900 does, neither does the treble lack transparency.
The new TESLA.11 drivers contribute to delivering the finer details. Despite not sounding excessively bright, I can still pick up musical details like that slight bowing tardiness performed by the strings. An average pair of earphone drivers often sacrifice details for dynamics, whereas a great pair of drivers like the Xelento can deliver a full range of details without effort. The sound staging is not exaggerated, layering the various musical parts in distinct but close rows, not too spaced out or overly separated.
Rating: 4.5/5
We Say: The Beyerdynamic Xelento Remote 2nd Generation is beautifully crafted to exude elegance to the wearer and deliver smooth faithful audio to the listener.
S$1,499
global.beyerdynamic.com
Technical Specifications
Driver TESLA.11 dynamic drivers
Frequency Response 10 – 50,000 Hz Impedance 16 ohm
Nominal Sound Pressure Level 114 dB at 1 mW Maximum Sound Pressure Level 134 dB SPL Total Harmonic Distortion < 0.02% at 1kHz Water Resistance IPX4
Dimensions 176 x 193 x 139 mm
Weight 8 g (without cable)
