Hands on: Xiaomi Mi Headphones

The Xiaomi Pistons earphones had wowed us earlier with their good bass response and clarity.

So when we got hold of Xiaomi’s latest low-cost wonder, the S$119 Mi Headphones, we expected it to perform just as well. But more on that later.

Like the Xiaomi Pistons, the Mi Headphones’ 50mm drivers are made of beryllium, a material that supposedly offers four times the strength of steel and yet is the lightest of all alkaline metallic elements.

Xiaomi also claims that by using a two-micron thick diaphragm, the Mi Headphones offer enough sensitivity that you can distinguish subtle nuances in music.

The Mi Headphones come with an adjustable headband and three different ear cushion kits that can be used interchangeably to reduce sound leakage and insulate against ambient noise.

The ear cushions can be attached using a twist and snap mechanism – Xiaomi makes it easy for you to do this through alignment arrows printed on the headphones and the plastic frame of each ear cushion.

The over-ear cushions are more comfortable, and are great for extended listening, while the on-ear ones make the headphones less bulky while listening on the move.

Our brand new review unit came with small dents and scratches on one of the drivers, but as far as build quality goes, the Mi headphones won’t disappoint for the most part.

In fact, they look more expensive than they are, especially with the use of a Kevlar-braided tangle-resistant cable found on higher-end models and a slew of accessories such as a 3.5mm to 6.3mm gold-plated adapter, a microfibre drawstring pouch and a hard zip case.

When put through my usual battery of tests for audio gear, the Mi Headphones delivered strong bass performance like the Pistons did.

However, the lows tend to overpower finer musical details in albums such as Mediterranea by Johannes Linstead. In one particular track, the bass was so overbearing till it became a distraction.

With predominantly vocal numbers, the Mi Headphones did better by bringing out the mid-tones and highs clearly without sounding too harsh. Stereo separation was commendable too.

The headphones’ semi-open design means the soundstage does not sound as wide as what you’d expect from a pair of open cans, which I prefer.

Nor do they sound as enclosed as closed headphones. Though a semi-open design caters to neither camp, Xiaomi claims it helps to reduce distortion.

All in, the Mi Headphones is a stylish pair of cans that will suit the needs of those who don’t mind its bass-heavy profile.

But if you’re after a more balanced sonic performance, consider a pair made by specialist headphone makers Sennheiser and Audio-Technica.