I think in this demo the XS strings have crisper high end while the XTs have a darker tone - good in the base but less high end sparkle. I have not played with either one, but I think I'll try a set of XS strings on my next change, especially on my Orangewood guitar whose mahogany top tends to have a darker tone than instruments with a spruce top. I look forward to experiencing the smoother feel of the XS strings as well. Thanks for the comparison.

Whatever the background music is for this video - it's epic.

The XS’s are much warmer which I like! The XT sounds tinny more clarity on high strings to me! I just switched to the XS from Elixirs for first time and am loving them! Great review!

Awesome needed this. First video where I can actually hear a difference, thank you. I love elixir for my big acoustic but im looking to try these lighter strings for my travel gutair. Mike dawes recommended these so ill give them a go.

Thanks for the review! super helpful especially @ 6:02

Tried the XTs and they sounded deader than my old EJ16s that they replaced. Took them off after 2 days and tried the XS - home run. They sound like new strings and I really don’t notice the coating. Love them!

Thank you 👏👏👏

Here is the best description. The XS is similar to the “Polyweb” Elixirs as the whole string is rapped. The wire only is wrapped on the XT so it feels much more natural like a real string. The XS has that smooth plastic feel to it. Some people like it. Others don’t. Personally, I hate it. The XT are so much better, but honestly they cost 3x what a set of ej11 cost so most of the time I just use uncoated strings.

The XS strings sounded the best to me on your (Taylor)? guitar. Not sure how they would compare on a Martin etc. Great video thanks for the comparison. I love D'addario strings; Great sounding, reasonably priced, made in the USA, and great customer service. Like many others players, I have spent a lot of time and $ on other brands of strings and always come back to D'addarios.

They're making these in a resonator gauge now which I have been waiting! for and think is great

thank you for these videos they are so useful

Great comparison video. I agree with you on these. I started using XS and love them. I prefer the sound and feel compared to elixirs. I also really like EB Earthwoods which sound great on anything. D'darrio Nickel Bronze and Martin Retro on OOO15M.

XS for me sounds fuller and somewhat more bassy. XT sounds great too by the way with a lot of detail. But after this I have to have a go with the XS. Would be nice if you could make a video with the 80/20 bronze too. Much love! :) EDIT: I found it.... Thanks again!

As I understand it, the XT strings are coated before they are wound around the core string. XS strings are coated after they are wound which makes the XS strings feel more like Elixirs. I like both the XT and XS strings, but prefer the XS. They just seem to have the tone and punch I'm looking for. This comes from a loooong time user of Elixir nano light phos bronze.

I agree the XS sounds better. Brighter and definitely more punch. Great experiment!

I appreciate what you were attempting. However, let me suggest that you be very careful to keep the same position relative to the mic in for the comparison to be useful. The difference in positions would have a far greater effect on the sound than almost anything you might be comparing. If you look back at the video you will notice how different your playing position was. Again, good idea, so keep it going!

XT's for me. I've just listened to your 80/20 vs Phosphor Bronze string comparison. The XS sounds a bit brighter than the XS. Thanks for this comparison!

XS sounds great!

XT has the thinnest and longest life with a natural feel. Xs has a coating that has more of a slick un natural feel to it.

Is there an effect on the clip with XTs? It almost sounds like a 12 string guitar…

Excellent comparison. Based on what I'm hearing in this video, I think I prefer XS.

You save us some money on your videos. Thanks!

Listening to the strings my mind was clearly made up and my opinion was that the XS's sounded better. It was nice to get confirmation at the end of the video that you felt the same way. I do wonder if your performance may have been affected in any way since you admitted to having a preference to coated strings.

The XS strings have a significantly bigger ‘Presence’, which I prefer. D’Addario XS are my favorite strings. Well worth the extra cost.

Hi Jeremy, I feel Daddario XT sounds like muted and darker than Daddario Exp or XS, I switched Guitar last time and I also had 224ce K Dlx, back and sides are gloss finish koa mahogany woods, my fretboard is Ebony satin, if it’s gloss finish the wood isn’t easy to break when it’s dry because gloss finish looks like 2 pieces of woods in Guitars body, satin finish is a bit easier to break when it’s dry winter, what’s your Taylor 812ce woods style? Is it gloss or satin back and and sides, and what’s your 812ce fretboard?

I d,nt speak english but i think that you made a great/better work. Thanks from Spain.

Great video. Thanks for doing it. I have a question however. For both demos, did you record in the same room with the microphone, same settings on audio interface, same distance etc? They sound so much different that I’m a bit sceptical that there would be such a difference between the string types. I’ve been playing guitar since I’m 12 and now going on 64 having tried and used every brand and types of strings on my acoustics and none made a drastic difference. They all have their characteristics for sure but the recording of the guitar with the non XS strings seemed to have been recorded further away from the microphone?

The xt sounds more alive to me.. but im kinda digging the sound of the XS... really new to playing guitar but im wanting some really good quality strings!

I like the XS better too. Sound wise the XT just sounds about the same as the regular J-17 Mediums.

I have to disagree. I thought the XT's sounded way better and much fuller. The XS's sounded fine too, albeit a little on the thin side. As you say, string choice is subjective. I mostly use coated strings and have to agree the Elixir's nano PB's are hard to beat, yet I'd give these XT's a lash, they sound alright.

Спасибо за обзор!

Why do you have so less subscriptions? The video is god damn professional and overall nice done! Regarding the strings: From my experience the XS felt much more better. Sliding was without any problem and there was much less string noise. The price is a bit high though (In Germany 21,90€ vs. 14,90€ for the XT). But I made the experience that when you can get them in an offer for 18,90€ it's an investment which is very good. My opinion :)

Your demos did sound better with a XS. I put some XTs on my Gibson LG3 and that guitar has more low and highs than ever before and now sounds just like a J45.

For picking the xt let more of the guitar tone come through and not so much of the string sound which is why I liked the xs for finger picking. The notes were clearer and the xt seemed muffled to me. The xt brought depth and the xs was shallow.

You were much closer to camera when playing XS than with XT. I assume this means you were closer to mic as well. This gives the XT an unfair advantage when it comes to volume/punch.

I rewatched your older showdown of XTs & Elixir to get an idea for how they all compare to each other. To me, XT sound like a darker version of Elixir: similar mid and bass character, but significantly less treble. Personally, I find them lacking. Perhaps they could be useful if one is looking to tame a very bright guitar, but then again yours should have a lot of highs being a smaller body and it still sounds better with Elixirs, at least to my taste. XS have a completely different sound, very mid scooped. I would probably pick Elixir for instrumental parts as they seem to have the most balanced frequency profile on your recordings, but XS might be more suitable for rhythm accompaniment. By the way, did you notice any difference with respect to string tension? Somebody mentioned that they found XS to be noticeably more flexible compared to Elixir, but it might be a placebo effect of some sorts.

XS all day and tomorrow

To my ears, the difference in sound is huge. I'm listening through the M2Tech HiFace DAC and the Shure SRH1540. The XS sound way better. Compared to them, the XT sound like cheap strings with absent mid-range. Thanks for the recording. It helped me make a decision. PS I can imagine a different DAC + headphone set might lead to a different conclusion. Also, the microphone and the guitar play a role; in kzfaq.info/get/bejne/e5t4lLmSq-CZm2w.html, for example, the difference is more subtle and at times I may be preferring the XT (although I don't know if they used the Phosphor Bronze or the 80/20 Bronze versions). Switching from the M2Tech to the Chord Mojo did not change the overall picture much --- I'd still go for the XS.

XT has less bite and are warmer. That’s what I’m looking for.

I still wonder which last longer?

Can you please help me find the right strings for my Yamaha Fgx800C. I changed the stock strings and put elixir. But I am not satisfied. Because it's coming too much noisy and not clear and clean. But I need something which is Cristal clean and clean sound. Which one is clear..... daddario XT 80/20 or phosphor bronze. ? It's stock strings were so clear. But I don't know which strings were used

The mid-range is so strong in xs.

So it’s basically XS = XT + thin coating ?

XT strings aren’t coated they’re treated, so the same stuff used in the coating is made into the strings so it lasts as long as a coated string but plays and sounds like an uncoated string.

What gauge set? Thnx

am i the only one who prefers xt, xs sound so thin

I prefer the XS sound.

The xt almost makes the guitar sound like it's got a laminated top... like really boxy. Or possibly like it's a smaller guitar or something

Appreciate the video, but on every setup between the 2 strings, the camera position and presumably mic placement was significantly different. Assuming you didn’t change the mic separately, you sat in a different position/angle which will have a much bigger effect on the sound than the diff strings. Even a couple inches one way or the other in mic placement is a lot in recording.

Xs best

Ola. Eu me chamo oseias eu comprei encordoamento daddario xs 011 estranho que acorda (G) ela estar como descascando e normal isso a que vcs testou deu esse desgaste mesmo de 1 mês Comprei 1 kit com 2 unidades para violão ambos a mesmo situação destacando na cidade ( G) . Eu sempre usei daddario xt 0.10 nunca tive problema Nem com cordoamento da minha guitarra nyxl 0.10

Which strings live longer: xt or xs?

Xs sounds exactly like elixirs to me

The #Daddario website descriptions really ARE confusing - I’m also unclear why I should choose one over the other based on that alone. They really need to clarify the differences better. I have to switch the strings on my KLOS carbon fiber, and I was thinking of trying the XS instead of my usual XT’s, but maybe you dissuaded me from switching. I’ve only used XT’s on my KLOS since I’ve had the guitar because KLOS ships with them installed on my model and recommends them specifically after testing boatloads of strings from all sorts of brands - they felt XT’s are mostly playable and sound best dating back to at least 2018 that I’m aware of. Now I’m going to reach out to them to see if they tried the XS strings and how they feel about them on their own guitars as compared to the XT. Here’s my concern: All sound quality aside, I’ve only been playing 1.5 years, so I’m worried what you’re describing as a slicker feeling XS string will lead my fingers to run amuck while I’m still relatively new to playing. I am refining my basic going into intermediate techniques. Do I really want a slicker feeling string? It would seem the uncoated feel would be an asset in this case so my callused fingers don’t slide off the sides of the strings and/or don’t cause my fingers to “slouch” off my fingertips while forming chords, fretting notes, etc. - but feel free to disagree if you think that makes no sense, lol. Maybe your experience will tell me my logic is backwards. I’ve been perfectly happy with the XT’s and enjoy their tone on my KLOS, but the way D’addario hypes the XS’s tech makes me believe it’s supposed to be better. From your assessment, it seems like it’s not a matter of one type being better than the other, but that they actually are serving two different purposes. That’s a very crucial distinction that D’addario is failing to make clear. They probably need to come up with a comparison table and video to help players decide what is most suitable for their needs rather than touting the technology of how their strings are made. Have you shown D’addario your video? Please do. Ask them to come here and respond to our comments, as well as update their website and marketing materials, so we can all make more informed decisions - because the “right” decision for me won’t be the right for another person, and one of us will have felt like we chalked away money on strings that made no sense for our needs. Right now, I doubt they’ll replace XT with XS if your are correct that XT feels like uncoated and XS feels slicker like coated without actually feeling like there’s a coating there - they clearly serve two different purposes. D’addario did replace another version of their strings by the XT’s, though, so maybe those were somehow truly inferior or redundant (never used them). I saw it in the FAQ’s but forget the name of them. Thoughts? Thanks!

First listen wearing earbuds, I prefer the XT. Will listen again with Sony headphones…

You're changing the distance from the mic when you change strings and it's affecting what we are hearing.

well on this video the XT obviosuly sounded better..

Il test non è affidabile. La posizione di ripresa audio è diversa tra un test e l’altro.. peccato

Just more money skim

Your mic placement is way off. Really hard to tell the difference.