Best ANC headphones in their price range? Baseus Inspire XH1 over-ear review
Deep sound.
Baseus claims its Inspire XH1 are among the most affordable over-ear Bluetooth headphones with active noise cancelling — and that, thanks to a collaboration with Bose, they deliver outstanding sound quality. According to Baseus, the XH1 can compete with models in the $250 range. We put that claim to the test.Christian Hintze (translated by Christian Hintze) Published 🇩🇪
Verdict – Deep bass at a great price
In practice, the Baseus XH1 sound surprisingly better than many more expensive ANC headphones. The main reason: a very present, yet never overpowering bass — deep, full, and clean.
However, the headphones lack a bit of clarity in the highs, and perhaps some presence in the mids. Still, for the asking price, this is a very solid sound package overall.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
Baseus advertises an almost unbeatable price of under $150. That’s true for the U.S. market, where the XH1 currently sells $149 on Amazon.com — with an additional $20 coupon available.
In Germany, the price is a bit higher: Amazon.de lists the XH1 at €169, currently without any coupon discount.
At IFA 2025, Baseus introduced three new headphone models — all in collaboration with Bose. It’s unclear exactly how much influence Bose had in the development, but the Inspire XH1 promise a massive 100-hour battery life, five microphones, and 35 mm drivers for that “sound by Bose” — all at a very affordable price. So, do they deliver on those promises?
Specifications
| Type | Over-Ear |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 6.1 (Multipoint: 2 devices) |
| Earpads | Protein leather with memory foam |
| Drivers | 35 mm dynamic |
| Audio codecs | LDAC (up to 900 kb/s) |
| Battery life | 100 hours (ANC off); 65 hours (ANC on) |
| Charging port | USB-C |
| Included accessories | Carrying case, AUX cable, manual, USB-C cable |
| Weight | 275 g |
| MSRP | $149,99 |
The XH1 already support Bluetooth 6.1, which promises significantly lower latency than previous versions. There’s also a “Low Latency Mode” in the companion app for gaming or watching movies. Additionally, multipoint connectivity allows pairing with up to two devices at once.
For calls, you don’t need to take the headphones off — five microphones and AI noise reduction ensure clear voice quality, according to Baseus.
Battery life is another major selling point. Up to 100 hours are possible without ANC, and around 65 hours with ANC enabled — not record-breaking, but still impressive for this category.
Design and Comfort – Stays comfortable for hours
The closed-back headphones are available in four colors: black, white/cream, blue, and red/coral. At 275 grams, they feel a bit bulkier than lightweight models such as the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.
The sturdy headband is made of aluminum and, like the ear cups, padded with protein leather and memory foam. The XH1 are genuinely comfortable — even after long listening sessions, we only noticed some warmth around the ears, but no discomfort. The ear cups can rotate 90 degrees for compact storage.
Baseus includes a matching color hard case for better protection when traveling, as well as all necessary cables.
Ports and controls
The XH1 come with a USB-C port for charging and a 3.5 mm audio jack, allowing for both wired and wireless listening. Both a USB-C-to-C and a 3.5 mm cable are included, though no power adapter.
On the left ear cup are the power button and ANC mode switch (ANC On/Off/Transparency). On the right are the volume rocker (also for track skipping) and the play/pause button. All buttons are easy to reach and provide clear tactile feedback, with a voice prompt confirming actions.
Baseus app – Plenty of features
Through the app, you can switch between ANC modes as well as select preset sound profiles that emphasize certain frequencies or music genres. There’s also a Low Latency mode and LDAC toggle.
If that’s not enough, you can activate a Bass Booster or fine-tune your sound manually with the built-in 8-band equalizer.
Sound – Deep and powerful bass
The XH1 use dynamic 35 mm drivers that dig deep into low frequencies. For example, Leonard Cohen’s “You Want It Darker” sounds rich and full, with deep bass that surpasses the older Bose QC II model. The bass is powerful yet controlled — not boomy or muddy.
The highs, however, lack some sparkle and resolution. Even tweaking the EQ helps only slightly. Out of the box, the XH1’s sound profile emphasizes bass while slightly recessing the mids — not a neutral sound, but one that’s definitely fun and engaging. What’s missing in treble detail, the low-end energy makes up for.
The ANC has been improved compared to earlier Baseus models. Even without ANC, the ear cups provide decent passive isolation. When ANC is turned on, it further enhances the sense of quiet, though it still doesn’t quite reach the level of industry leaders. The transparency mode, on the other hand, sounds rather unnatural and unpleasant, we therefore didn't use it much during our time with the XH1.
Conclusion
Despite some minor shortcomings in clarity, the Baseus XH1 offer impressive performance for their price. They sound enjoyable, remain comfortable for long periods, and boast excellent battery life.
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.
No comments for this article
