Norwegian audio specialist X by Kygo has announced a new range of headphones that includes noise-cancellers and true wireless earbuds
X by Kygo may not be a brand name you’re familiar with, but with its latest range you may hearing about them a lot more.
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Born from the mind of the ridiculously young and successful Norwegian DJ, Kygo (real name Kyrre Gørvell-Dahll), the new range consists of wireless over-ears (Xenon), ANC headphones (A11/800), true wireless (E7/1000), wireless in-ears (Xelerate) and wireless on-ear (A3/600).
Starting with the Xenon (£199), these wireless over-ears feature active noise-cancellation to blitz environmental noise to smithereens. Battery life is 24 hours with Bluetooth on, but drops to 16 hours with ANC. Pumping out audio via 40mm drivers, the earpads use memory foam cushion for a comfortable fit, and the foldable design means you can chuck them in a bag when not in use.
The Kygo Xenon over-ears
The A11/800 (£229) are the most expensive, and also boast active noise cancellation technology. While the Xenon’s aren’t stated as having an awareness mode, the A11/800 do, and it can be tweaked through the earcup controls or the app. Battery life with ANC and Bluetooth activated is 19 hours, and voice commands are supported if you own a device with Google Assistant or Siri smart assistants.
The true wireless E7/1000 (£149) enter in the mid-range bubble of wireless earbuds. With winged-eartips and an IPX7 rating, the E7/1000 would be a good fit for the active user, the addition of Comply foam tips offering a number of different wear options. Battery life is six hours – 24 in total with the charging case – plus there are multi-touch buttons for volume and playback control.
The Kygo A11/800 ANC headphones
The Xelerate wireless in-ears (£79.90) are also for the gym lover. Weighing at 12.9g, Kygo claims the construction and build is durable enough to withstand a bit of punishment, which should ensure performance over long sessions. Rated at IPX4, a 10 minute charge grants an extra hour of playback, and audio quality should be better than average thanks to aptX Bluetooth support.
Finally, the A3/600 wireless on-ears (£79.90) are budget priced headphones. Portability is what’s on offer here with 23 hours of battery life, a foldable frame, a weight of 180g, as well as support for Bluetooth 4.2 and AAC codec.
All feature the distinctive ‘X’ brand design and feature in either black or white finishes. They’re on sale now from Argos, Amazon and other online retailers.
We have an A11/800 review in-waiting, so we’ll be offering our impressions in the not-too-distant future.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.