Beyerdynamic Xelento Wireless Review

February 9, 2019 6:00 pm

As the realm of top-tier wireless IEMs continues to evolve, Beyerdynamic has finally released their much-anticipated Xelento Wireless – constituting a Xelento earphone and Beyer’s pendant-style Bluetooth cable. Wearing like a fancy piece of nerd bling, this $1199 setup will cost you more than the Shure SE846 or the Westone W60 Wireless. But how does it sound?

Packaged in a snazzy case with a wealth of accessories on board, the Beyerdynamic Xelento exudes an air of quality.

In addition to the earphones and the wireless MMCX cable, you’ll also find 10 pairs of eartips, a carrying case, a micro-USB charging cable, a 3.5mm single-ended MMCX cable, and a pair of replacement filters or grills for the earpieces.

Like its wired predecessor, the Xelento Wireless feels lightweight but still solid. With a machined metal housing and sleek, ergonomic build, it’s easy to wear and just as easy to admire.

Inside each earpiece, a Beyerdynamic Tesla driver provides the Xelento Wireless with a unique sound – a unique sound further enhanced by the silver plated wired and wireless cables.

In terms of wireless performance, Beyerdynamic’s cable offers a decent 8 hours of use from one 75-minute charge. Like the Shure BT2 cable, the Beyerdynamic cable can hang at the front or back of the neck. For folks on the go, the cable can be kept in place on a shirt collar or jacket, thanks to an integrated clip.

Bluetooth on the Xelento Wireless offers support for aptX and aptX HD, as well as good ol’ AAC codecs.

Specifications

Frequency Response: 8-48,000 Hz
Nominal Impedance: 16 ohms
Sound Pressure Level (SPL): 110 dB

From the specs, the Xelento Wireless appears to offer a bit of extension in the lows and highs. The low nominal impedance of just 16 ohms remains on-par for an earphone of this caliber, and the 110-decibel sound pressure level means volume won’t be an issue.

Low End

Some earphones offer more or less bass depending on the eartips and fit, and the Xelento offers a prime example of this phenomenon. With the silicon tips in place, the low end seems washed out and hollow, but the included Comply foam tips restore the low end to a luscious fullness. There’s good detail here – lifelike but energetic, it forces my toes to tap on every track. Bass lands with impact, reminding me of that telltale Beyer sound: forceful but reserved, powerful but tempered.

Midrange

The mids seem a little recessed, and while I usually prefer a more forward-leaning midrange, the Xelento Wireless still doesn’t slouch on clarity or contrast. Vocals and instruments still stand out from the background, but don’t overtake the smooth highs or thick lows. Despite this slightly warmer sound, the level of clarity in the mids remains evident; on vocal-heavy tracks, details comes through with zero distortion. Even when using the wireless pendant cable, compression is negligibly minimal.

High End

Smooth highs characterize the Xelento Wireless. Never too piercing or uncomfortable, this earphone struts a fine line between detailed and rolled-off. The resultant sound works well with any genre, but also melds seamlessly with the overall sound on display here. On my test tracks, female vocals sound particularly smooth, but edgy alto saxophones still retain their brassy edges.

Soundstage

With a good sense of space and impressive depth, the Xelento offers a good measure of soundstage. While soundstage may suffer from the in-ear design and wireless connectivity, the depth and breadth do much to recommend it. On every track, this soundstage remains evident, offering a more spacious sound than I would expect from another wireless model.

Other Observations

Having been announced almost a year ago, the Xelento Wireless has been a long time in the making. But to be honest, I feel like it was worth the wait. Beyerdynamic has definitely created something special here. More than just a stylish earphone, it offers a wireless listening experience I just can’t get from Shure or Westone.

The overall sound quality could be summarized as smooth but warm. Detailed throughout the frequency range, Germany lavished just a bit more extra attention on the low end. This leaves the Xelento Wireless with a classic neutral-ish flavor, enhanced by that Beyerdynamic Bass I’ve come to know and love.

Beyerdynamic’s MIY app allows a user to take a hearing test and upload a music preset to the Xelento Wireless, adjusting sound in the process. Free to download, the app does take some time to set up, but allows for a more personalized listening experience.

Recommendations

For folks who want a beautiful headphone that seamlessly blends audio quality with ease-of-use and practical functionality, the Xelento Wireless triumphs over all else. It sounds better than the wireless versions of the Shure SE846 OR the Westone W60. Even wired, the Xelento offers a hard mark to hit.

For folks who want more neutrality overall, I would recommend the new DUNU DK-4001 with a Shure BT2 cable. With this setup coming in at $1049, it would be cheaper than the Xelento Wireless, though without the same level of craftsmanship or thick low end.

If you’re more into a mid- or high-heavy sound, I would suggest the Westone W60 Wireless bundle. While a bit less energetic or engaging than the Xelento Wireless, this earphone offers an emphasis on the upper end of the frequency range you won’t soon forget.

Final Analysis

The Xelento Wireless constitutes a solid buy for its $1199 price tag. Despite the flashy appearance, this gorgeous earphone remains true to its heritage, offering a detailed, competent sound that goes head-to-head with the best IEMs out there. Rest assured, if you want the best quality wireless earphone, the Xelento Wireless should be on your demo list.