For most XP DEUS II owners, the XP WSA ST is the right pick: at 72 g (2.5 oz) it is the lighter of the two, and its back-phone frame stays cool on long, warm days. Choose the XP WSA XL ST if you hunt in wind, near traffic or surf, or in cold weather, where its full cups cut background noise and keep your ears covered. Both have the same stereo sound specs, the same fast XP wireless link and the same 2-hour USB-C charge, so the choice comes down to fit and conditions.
WSA ST vs WSA XL ST at a Glance
| Feature | XP WSA ST | XP WSA XL ST |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Back-phone frame | Full cup, over-ear |
| Weight | 72 g (2.5 oz) | 250 g (8.8 oz) |
| Water protection | Rainproof | Rainproof, IP68 tested to 1 m (3.3 ft), not designed for diving |
| Sound | Stereo, 4-band equalizer, 10 volume levels | Stereo, 4-band equalizer, 10 volume levels |
| Charging | USB-C, about 2 hours | USB-C, about 2 hours |
| Works with | DEUS II remote, WS6 Master, WS6-ST Master, ICON/ICONX | DEUS II remote, WS6 Master, WS6-ST Master |
| Warranty | 5 years (lithium battery 2 years) | 5 years (lithium battery 2 years) |
What the Two Headphones Share
The WSA ST and WSA XL ST share the same audio and wireless specs. Both are stereo, both run XP's own 2.4 GHz wireless protocol, which XP rates at about 10 times faster than low-latency Bluetooth, and both cover 20 to 20,000 Hz. That speed matters when you sweep the coil over a target: the tone reaches your ears as the coil passes, so pinpointing by ear works the way it does with a wired set.
Both switch on and off with your DEUS II remote or WS6 once paired, turn themselves off after 5 minutes if no detector is found, and shut down after 5 hours without a key press on the controller. A battery LED shows the charge on start-up: three flashes for full, two for about 60 percent, one for about 30 percent. XP covers each with a 5-year warranty, with 2 years on the lithium battery.
Stereo sound and the next generation of XP audio arrive with the DEUS II version 4 software. Our DEUS II update 4 guide covers which headphones it applies to and how to update.
Where the WSA ST Is the Better Choice
The WSA ST weighs 72 g (2.5 oz) and sits on a back-phone frame behind your head, so your ears get air and you hear what is going on around you. That makes it our pick for:
- Hot weather and long days, where full cups get warm and heavy
- Parks, beaches and other public places where you want to hear people, dogs and traffic
- Wearing a hat or a hood, since nothing clamps over the top of your head
The control module also detaches, so you can connect an optional wired headset or replace the back-phone frame. XP also lists the WSA ST for the ICON and ICONX, as well as the DEUS II.
Where the WSA XL ST Is the Better Choice
The WSA XL ST weighs 250 g (8.8 oz), and its full cups close around your ears. What you gain is isolation: the cups cut wind, surf and road noise, which makes faint, deep signals easier to hear. We recommend it for:
- Windy fields and beaches, where wind across open ears covers up quiet tones
- Cold weather, when covered ears are a bonus
- Hunting near roads or machinery
- Rain and wet sand: XP tested it to IP68 at 1 m (3.3 ft) depth, the highest water rating of the two
XP is clear that the WSA XL ST was not designed for diving, so treat the IP68 rating as protection against rain, spray and a drop in the shallows, not as an underwater headphone.
Common Mistakes When Choosing XP Wireless Headphones
- Taking either one underwater. Neither the WSA ST nor the WSA XL ST is a dive headphone. For hunting with your head under water, the XP BH-01 bone conduction headphones are the XP option built for it.
- Expecting two pairs to run at once. The DEUS II remote or WS6 pairs with one set of headphones at a time. Unpair the old set before you pair the new one.
- Skipping the software update. To get stereo sound, update the DEUS II to version 4 or later, and update the WSA ST or WSA XL ST headphones to the same version as the remote. XP notes that mismatched versions can stop the headphones from working with the DEUS II.
- Buying for the original DEUS or the ORX. The WSA ST and WSA XL ST are made for the DEUS II, and XP also lists the WSA ST for the ICON and ICONX. For the original DEUS, XP makes the WS5 and the WSAudio; for the ORX, the WSAudio. See our metal detector headphones.
Replacement Parts
Both headphones use the same XP lithium replacement battery. For the WSA XL ST we also carry the top replacement part and the replacement circuit board, so a worn or damaged set can be repaired instead of replaced.
Our Recommendation
Start with the WSA ST if you hunt mostly in mild weather, cover a lot of ground, or want to hear your surroundings. Go with the WSA XL ST if wind, cold or background noise are part of most of your hunts. If you hunt year-round in both kinds of conditions, some detectorists keep one of each. Browse the full XP Metal Detectors range, or call us and we will help you match the headphones to your sites.
