Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition – Review

Xiaomi Mi Piston 3 Basic Edition

Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition

| Dynamic Driver |



? Our Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition Review will put this in-ear headphone through our standardized tests to see if the budget friendly earphone from Xiaomi can provide a worthy bang for the buck performance.

We have reviewed several Xiaomi Mi earphones and most of them were very good to outstanding such as the Xiaomi Mi Pro HD, Xiaomi Mi Quantie Pro Hybrid or the super budget Xiaomi Mi Piston Fresh Edition. When looking at Xiaomi Mi Piston’s budget line is very easy to think of the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition vs Xiaomi Mi Piston Fresh Edition as both have similar prices and actually look so similar that they can be confusing. Both the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition and the Fresh Edition share almost exact aluminum housings and not only regarding construction materials, also in shape. Housings are solidly built and feel very robust, the coating applied over them is nice looking and kind of pearled.

The cables of the Xiaomi Mi Basic Edition vs Xiaomi Mi Piston Fresh Edition vs Xiaomi Mi Piston 3 are very diverse, the Xiaomi Mi Basic Edition has a flat rubberized cable while the other two make use of round cables. The cable of the Basic Edition has an inline microphone and a 1-button control, this control is differently shaped to the one on the Piston Fresh Edition model.

Some of Xiaomi’s earphones have an official name that is not the most used one, as we saw with the Xiaomi Mi Piston Fresh Edition vs Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Heaphones Pro vs Xiaomi Mi Piston 3 which are actually named Xiaomi Mi Piston Housai 3, Xiaomi Mi Quantie Pro Hybrid and Xiaomi Mi Piston Housai respectively. The official full name of the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition is Xiaomi Mi Piston Housai 2.

You can buy the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition in many good looking colors: blue, black, pink, purple or silver.

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Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition - Review

Tests & Scores

W

Weight

 

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A

Accessories & Packaging

Packaging is the classic Xiaomi’s minimalist white small square packaging, inside you will find 2 extra eartips provided.

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Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition - Accessories
Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition – Accessories

B

Bass & Sub Bass

The Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition has enough punch and depth while not being too boosted or boomy. Seeing the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition vs Xiaomi Mi Piston Fresh Edition, the Basic Edition has a very conservative bass profile and far less impacting but cleaner and less boomier. Still the bass will be able to cover most music genres.

Utilizing an EQ, there is some increment of sub-bass depth but mid-bass looses control and becomes boomy.

During our extreme bass tests, the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition could tolerate a very respectable 55% of the maximum power coming of a Fiio E12 amplifier (high gain, bass boost on and custom basshead EQ were set) translating in an exponential increase of their mid-bass punch and sub-bass depth. Their basshead impact and rumble was not too strong, sitting below the KZ ATE but not that far from it and very similar to the Xiaomi Mi Pro HD. Looking again at the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition vs Xiaomi Mi Piston Fresh Edition, the Fresh Edition are able to achieve a way more impacting basshead level. Of course you cannot expect the Basic Edition to reach the crazy rumble of the Best Basshead Earphones Chart such as the Sony MDR-7550/EX800ST, Pioneer SE-CX8, Pioneer SE-CX9 nor to the Xiaomi Mi In-Ear Headphones Pro, Sony MDR-XB50AP, KZ ZST, KZ ZS1, KZ ZS2, Senfer 4in1, Plextone X41M or Puma Bulldogs.





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M

Mids & Vocals

Mids are rolled off on the lower section with distant lower vocals and lacking energy. Audiophiles probably won’t like their mids but for normal users they might be enough. Higher mids are also rolled off and harshness is not problem with them. Making a comparison of the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition vs Xiaomi Mi Piston Fresh Edition, the mids of the Fresh Edition has more mid-bass bleed but still their mids are able to sound far less recessed, also lower vocals feel a lot less laid back than those of the Basic Edition. Applying an EQ to the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition, lower mids became clearer but a bit boxy while higher mids started to become harshier.

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H

Highs & Treble

The highs of the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition have enough brightness with a darkish tint with no sibilant or piercing highs issues. Comparing the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition vs Xiaomi Mi Piston Fresh Edition, the Basic Edition are a lot brighter and have the ability to resolve much more detail. Using an EQ, brightness is noticeably enhanced and most of detail is highly increased. Piercing highs remain controller but sibilance becomes empowered.

gramophone-256607.5/10

Xiaomi Mi Piston 3 Basic Edition
Xiaomi Mi Piston 3 Basic Edition

MORE: Xiaomi Mi Piston Fresh Edition Review


SL

Sound Leak

The sound that leaks out of these Xiaomi earphones is about the same of most average earphones which makes them perfectly usable in normally noisy situations without disturbing or making too public what you might be listening to.

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SI

Sound Isolation

The Xiaomi’s sound isolation is excellent with a high capacity of reducing ambient noise even while using moderate volume levels. They will totally isolate from surrounding noises if you crank up the volume.

gramophone-256608.5/10


C

Comfort

The comfort and fit of the Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition is wonderful, they fit tight, securely hold their place and are gladly comfortable; they can be used for very long time without any discomfort.

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EQ

Response to Equalization

The Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition respond well to custom equalization but no jaw dropping changes were provided. Bass was able to achieve some enhancement of sub-bass while mid-bass got out of control; highs got noticeably brighter and certainly more detailed with also an increment of sibilance; mids responded with less recessed lower mids but harsher higher mids.

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Scores Scores

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Frequency Response (raw)

Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition Frequency Response

Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition - Frequency Response
Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition – Frequency Response

Specifications

Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition

TypeDynamic
Driver UnitUnknown Sized Dynamic Driver
Sensitivity98dB/mW
Power Capacity5mW
Impedance32 ohms
Frequency Response20-20,000Hz
DiaphragmUnknown
MagnetUnkownn
CordY-type, flat cord
Cord Length1.25m
PlugStereo mini plug
Weight (Without Cord)Approx. 14g
Supplied Accessories2x Earphone tips

Photos
DISCLAIMER
We highly discourage anyone from trying to apply our testings to your own earphones, the risk of damaging or permanently breaking your iems is absolutely probable to happen. With our standardized equalization and amplification tests we push the limits of the earphones to the extreme. If anyway you decide to do so, we cannot be held responsible of the damage done to your equipment. Do it at your own risk.

Xiaomi Mi Piston Basic Edition

7.6

SCORE

7.6/10