Xiaomi SonicBass 2: Rare headphones now available for order in Europe

It's been almost six years since we reported on the Xiaomi Redmi SonicBass. Back then, hardware was a little cheaper and our hair a little less gray. Now, the successor headphones are available from a retailer based in Germany for €34,90, but immediate availability isn't guaranteed. The headphones are expected to arrive no later than Saturday, July 4. This puts the SonicBass 2 on the list of Xiaomi products that apparently aren't officially launching or are rather trickling into the local market.

The product specifications are already known. Featuring 9.2-millimeter drivers, the SonicBass 2 are rather unusual headphones that connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth 5.2, but are connected to each other by a cable. The center section apparently houses not only the USB-C port but also the battery, which is said to allow for approximately 16 hours of music playback. According to Xiaomi, the headphones are protected against dust and water damage in accordance with IPX5 and so should not be damaged by sweat.

Whether the SonicBass 2 are suitable for sports likely depends on personal preference. I used headphones like these with an extension cable for a while years ago, even during intense running workouts. One thing is clear: if a earbud falls out of your ear, the earbud itself usually doesn’t fall to the ground thanks to the cable. However, such a cable can definitely be bothersome. For athletes, (open-back) headphones with ear hooks, such as the Belkin SoundForm Clear Fit (available at Amazon), may be an alternative. Traffic noise may also be a problem with the SonicBass 2, as active noise cancellation (ANC) is not supported.