Baseus Inspire XC1 review: Open-ear headphones with Bose-style sound
Bose-like upgrade.
Baseus promotes the Inspire series as a Bose-like upgrade, and the XC1 open-ear model stands out for its excellent comfort and extensive customization options. It also supports multipoint connectivity and LDAC. Our test evaluates how the Inspire XC1 perform in everyday use.Benedikt Winkel, ✓ (translated by DeepL / Ninh Duy) Published 🇩🇪
Verdict - Convincing sound and solid comfort
"Bose Sound" is printed across nearly every surface of the Baseus Inspire XC1, yet the app only offers a single preset EQ. Still, the Inspire XC1 deliver good overall sound quality, excellent customization options, and a feature-rich companion app.
The headphones are easy to tune for different music genres and remain comfortable during long listening sessions.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
The Inspire series sits at the top of Baseus’s lineup, and the Inspire XC1 has an MSRP of €150 (approx. $173). During the Black Friday promotion, the price drops to €100 (approx. $116).
Baseus sells the headphones through its own online store, but they are also available from major retailers such as Amazon. They come in two colors: Cosmic Black and Starlight White.
Table of Contents
- Verdict - Convincing sound and solid comfort
- Specifications
- Housing and ergonomics - XC1 sits comfortably yet securely
- Features and operation - Inspire XC1 with Bose, Dolby, and Multipoint
- Sound – Effective tuning options on the Baseus Inspire XC1
- Battery life - Baseus Inspire XC1 recharge quickly
- Conclusion
Baseus offers headphones across a wide range of price categories, generally targeting budget-minded buyers. With the Inspire series, however, the focus shifts toward delivering better sound quality.
Baseus highlights its collaboration with Bose, and the “Bose Sound” logo appears on the packaging, case, and headphones. The Inspire XC1 are open-ear headphones that do not include ANC, but they do support LDAC.
Specifications
| Wearing style | Open-Fit |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.1 |
| Range | 10m |
| Audio codecs | SBC, AAC, LDAC |
| Charging port | USB-C |
| Wireless charging | no |
| Weight | 42.2 g (case), 6 g per earbud |
| Water resistance | IP66 |
| Battery capacity | 48 mAh / 0.185 Wh (per earbud), 600 mAh / 2.22 Wh (charging case) |
| Firmware version | 1.0.41 |
| Scope of delivery | Earbuds, charging case, USB-C cable, sticker |
| Price (MSRP) | €150 (approx. $173) |
Housing and ergonomics - XC1 sits comfortably yet securely
The structure and housing of the Inspire XC1 closely resemble the Baseus MC1 Pro we previously tested, though they differ in details such as surface materials. The Inspire XC1 are open-fit headphones, meaning they rest just outside the ear canal rather than inside it.
A titanium clip holds them in place, with the main components positioned behind the ear. The clip is flexible for easier on-and-off use, and the manufacturer claims it can withstand more than 10,000 bending cycles without damage.
In everyday use, the fit is impressive. The Inspire XC1 are very lightweight, and the tester quickly forgot they were being worn. Even during cycling or workout routines, the headphones remain secure and do not slip. With an IP66 rating, they are also well suited for sports.
The charging case features a two-tone design and leaves a high-quality impression, though the matte black lower section is prone to fingerprints and becomes greasy rather quickly.
Features and operation - Inspire XC1 with Bose, Dolby, and Multipoint
Baseus provides an app for setting up and controlling the Inspire XC1, though it isn’t strictly required. Within the app you can switch between different modes, including Low Latency, Dolby Audio, LDAC, Bass Boost, and multiple equalizer presets. A short tutorial appears the first time you connect the earbuds.
“Bose Sound” is simply an EQ preset in the app, but it becomes unavailable when Dolby Audio or LDAC is enabled. The differences between the various modes are easy to hear.
The Inspire XC1 also support multipoint connectivity with two devices.
Each earbud has a mechanical button on the top, positioned for easy access. Button functions can be customized in the app, although customization is limited; double-press actions have far more options than single-press actions.
Firmware updates are available through the app as well. During the test period, an update was constantly offered, but every attempt to install it failed.
Sound – Effective tuning options on the Baseus Inspire XC1
The Inspire XC1’s wide range of settings is useful for tailoring the sound to different music genres. These adjustments can make a substantial difference, as the sound profiles vary noticeably.
With Bass Boost enabled, the open-ear design produces respectable low end for this style of headphone, though it still falls short of what in-ears can deliver. While the LDAC codec performs well on the Baseus Inspire XH1, it results in a noticeably muffled sound on the XC1. The lack of treble clarity is especially apparent with classical music. Disabling LDAC and using an EQ preset produces a much cleaner result.
With a bit of tuning, the Inspire XC1 deliver very good sound quality across multiple genres. It’s also helpful that Baseus improved the sealing and sound direction, reducing audio leakage despite the open design.
Each earbud includes four microphones for call quality, supported by AI processing. As with the MC1 Pro, the results are mixed. Call quality ranges from very good to just adequate, but the XC1 handle voice messages well.
The right earbud of our test unit occasionally produced a faint crackling noise, though it did not occur consistently.
Battery life - Baseus Inspire XC1 recharge quickly
Baseus claims a battery life of up to 8 hours with LDAC disabled and volume set to 50 percent. In testing, we were not able to reach that figure. Under typical everyday use, the earbuds lasted about five to six hours. However, they recharge very quickly in the case.
After 10 minutes in the charging case, the earbuds regain roughly 20 percent battery. They are held securely in place by magnets, making them easy to insert while preventing them from falling out when the case is opened.
Conclusion
With the Inspire XC1, Baseus delivers open-fit headphones with very good sound quality. Their strong tunability across different music styles is especially impressive. “Bose Sound” is simply an equalizer preset, but the XC1 also offer multipoint connectivity, Dolby Audio, and LDAC. Unfortunately, these sound options can’t be used at the same time.
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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