Both are open-back headphones with a similar design and performance, but the X2HR have a more neutral, balanced sound profile. I must sayt that that headphone was the biggest disappointment in my audio gear in about all times. First impressions of the Fidelio X3 are that they're shaping up to be a fine pair of open-backed headphones. I have been a technology writer and editor for more than 20 years. Nobody could accuse Philips of skimping on sound quality with the Philips Fedelio X3 cans, but do they have quite enough of life’s luxuries to justify their $350 price tag? Adjusted Fakespot Rating: … All rights reserved. If I’m paying $350 for headphones, I want to be turning left at the cabin door. The Fidelio X3 headphones are, alas, a few refined touches away from greatness. Whatever you love, these Hi-Res Audio headphones let you feel the full impact of every note. The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones boast double-layered ear shells that reduce resonance and vibration. The Philips Fidelio X3 is not just any headphones, but a modern update to a hi-fi product that was very popular with connoisseurs and the general public. The included cable boasts a 6.3–3.5 mm jack adapter, so you can listen on your smart device as well as your home setup. The much cheaper Philips SHP9600 cans ($129) are well worth considering if you’re in the market for a home headset but can’t stretch to $350. The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones boast double-layered ear shells that reduce resonance and vibration. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. The Philips Fidelio X3 was released in September 2020 and is the sequel to the four-year-old Fidelio X2. Philips Fidelio X3 Open Back Headphones $304.73 + Delivery ($0 with Prime) @ Amazon US via AU. They have a neutral and balanced sound profile, but their treble response is a bit uneven, and they're lacking a touch of low-bass. The outer headband adds a reassuring weight, while the snug fit of the feather-light memory foam ear-cup cushions creates a perfect seal. They’re a wired headset, supplied with two enormous 3m cables, one with a 3.5mm jack and one with a 2.5mm. The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones offers for its price excellent sound quality, a character that allows long listening and a high level of comfort. But all the rest was just disappointment. Ideal with a glass of whiskey, we think. kg, 24.5 There is a large price difference between the Philips Fidelio x3 vs x2hr. These over-ears share some of … The clean, elegant design of these premium over-ear headphones beautifully updates their predecessor-the legendary Fidelio X2. The premium headphone market has never been more competitive, which means manufacturers have to work harder than ever if they want to part you from a few hundred dollars. If that is the case, the Philips Fidelio X3 is something that may be of interest. The result: flawless performance, with exquisite detail. kg, 26.5 I has so high expectations because of really good reviews. The Philips Fidelio X2HR are better headphones for neutral sound than the [nolink:Philips Fidelio X3]. The Philips Fidelio X3 is the latest version of its hugely popular open-back headset, much loved by both audiophiles and artists for their unique combination of natural, accurate sound quality, extreme comfort and stylish, luxury design. They need to be plugged into serious sound equipment. The neodymium drivers are engineered to tilt at 15 degrees, fitting the natural geometry of your ear for optimal accuracy at high frequencies. Read the review. Again, you don’t feel like Philips is matching first-class sound with first-class design. kg, 0.915 The Philips Fidelio X3 are open-back headphones designed for neutral listening. Hz, 12.2 If you want people to know you’ve blown a few hundred dollars on headphones, these aren’t the going to broadcast the fact. cm, 11 Twinkling pianos. 4 0. kg, 19 cm, 1.35 The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones deliver clean and balanced audio performance that will appeal to anyone seeking accuracy over boosted bass and sculpted highs. The black Muirhead Scottish leather that covers the outer and inner headband is sustainably and ethically sourced. All Rights Reserved, This is a BETA experience. The open back design gives the Fidelio X3 headphones a broad and spacious sound with superb sound staging. . Do you think of big audiophile headphones with a super wide soundstage? Philips Fidelio X3 Wired Over-Ear Open-Back Headphones, Multi-Layer 50mm diaphragms, Hi-Res Certified, Premium Finishing - Hear The Difference $321.92 Get the deal There are currently no items in your shopping cart. Philips SHP9600 (Image credit: Philips) And if you're based in the US, Philips has another new over-ear option for you: the SHP9600. For the price, however, the $350 Fidelio X3 headphones offer a wonderful, accurate audio experience, and are well worth considering if you don't need Bluetooth functionality. The Fidelio X3 are technically compatible with any source with a headphone jack, and come with a 6.3mm adapter to go with the 3.5mm jack at the end of their 3m cable, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care when pairing. kg, 25.5 There’s a quarter-inch jack in there too for plugging into hi-fi equipment, as well as a much-needed cable tidy. cm, 0.38 Ideal for long listening sessions. They’re not oppressively heavy and they are comfortable to wear, but you’re not going to forget you’re wearing them, either. On Bjork’s Hunter for example, the aggressive cello strings, swirling vocals and rapid drumbeats all combine to deliver an amazing sound stage where no part is drowning out the other. Write your own review for Philips Fidelio X3 Blistering rock. Their treble accuracy is better-balanced than the [nolink:X3]. Never had the Fidelio X3 to hear. Orchestral music poses no problems for the X3s, either. kg, 31 A layer of “acoustically transparent” Kvadrat fabric covers the … Headphones such as these, aimed at analysis as well as musicality, are deserving of high-quality sources and material. From the singer’s breath to fingers squeaking on a fretboard, these audiophile-grade open-back headphones match feather-light comfort with pristine tuning. Combined with the specially tuned speaker diaphragms, this gives the Fidelio X3 headphones … Beautifully soft and textured, this high-performance leather lends a sophisticated touch to the headphones. Discover new layers of detail each time you slip them on. dazzles on 11/11/2020 - 19:49 amazon.com.au (227 clicks) Last edited 12/11/2020 - 16:32 by 1 other user. They deliver sound that has to be sat back and appreciated. cm, 23 The neodymium drivers are engineered to tilt at 15 degrees, fitting the natural geometry of your ear for optimal accuracy at high frequencies. Built to be the Fidelio family’s latest flagship, it’s designed with three pillars in mind: sound quality, design quality, and enhanced user … Philips Fidelio X3 headphones - crafted for serious listeners Crafted for serious listeners. Philips does slather leather over the dual-headbands – it even includes a little booklet telling you about the Scottish tannery it came from – but personally I’d rather the budget had gone on the earcups. I’ve also appeared as a tech pundit on television and radio, including BBC Newsnight, the Chris Evans Show and ITN News at Ten. The Fidelio X3 low power requirements are a big plus if you plan to use these headphones for multiple applications. The sheer listening pleasure of these sophisticated headphones is … The Philips Fidelio X3 open-backed headphones represent a return for both the brand and one of its most-loved products. The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones boast double-layered ear shells that reduce resonance and vibration. Read on to find out! Philips Fidelio X3 Open Hi-Fi headphones with brilliant power With the Fidelio X3 Philips are targeting an audience who are more concerned with High Fidelity than with True Wireless or Noise Cancelling. Bass is particularly well handled, especially when you edge up the volume, whereas other similarly priced headphones, such as the Sony WH-1000XM4, can let the bass get away from them. / There was a moment of silence around the Philips audio department. The earcups are velvet-covered memory foam, not the soft leather you might hope to find on high-end headsets. Initially releasing in Europe, the Fidelio X3 is an open-back, over-ear pair of headphones designed with audiophiles in mind. If you're eligible for VAT relief on medical devices, you can claim it on this product. The result: flawless performance, with exquisite detail. Where Philips lets itself down is with cost-cutting on design and accessories. However, what I found particularly interesting is in its midrange and treble. The flexibility and smoothness of each diaphragm delivers perfectly balanced sound. So when I found out about the new Fidelio X3 headphones ($349.99 USD), I couldn’t resist giving them a spin. © Koninklijke Philips N.V., 2004 - 2020. When wired to a high-resolution source, you’ll get the full benefit of lossless audio that’s recorded at a higher sample rate than CDs—for a brilliantly lifelike performance. The 50 mm acoustic drivers boast diaphragms composed of multiple polymer layers, and filled with damping gel. Whether you like rock, acoustic or classical music, there are qualities with these headphones that are hard to dislike. The X3s are not the first set of headphones you’d reach for when leaving the house with your smartphone, though. Serving as an update to the Philips X2HR, some well-known open back headphones among audiophiles, will the X3's outcome match the stereotype? They sound great with solid, tight bass, good high-end detail, and a spacious soundstage. I am a consumer tech expert writing about Windows, PCs, laptops, Mac, broadband and more. You can easily hear great music with these, use them for gaming as an example, flexible. The result: flawless performance, with exquisite detail. Still, a new driver was designed for the X3, which was then tuned to closely resemble the X2HR. The light, soft inner headband adjusts to fit perfectly. Philips describes these headphones as having “feather-like comfort”, from which I can only assume Philips are plucking their feathers from ostriches. Throw the Tidal ‘Master’ quality of the John Williams in Vienna album at them and you can delight at the delicacy of the strings and the sheer force of the brass and percussion. The Philips Fidelio X3 is what you expect from audiophile-grade open back headphones: Neutral, balanced output with an acoustically pleasant, natural, and realistic frequency distribution. The Philips Fidelio X3 is wired, but rather than just having one cable from the headphones to the source, instead it has two 3.5mm connections on the bottom of both ear cups. All new Philips Fidelio X3 with wide, natural soundstage and uncolored sound Exquisitely tuned 50 mm multi-layer polymer (with dampening gel) diaphragms - delivers exquisitely detailed highs, full and smooth midrange, and impactful (without overpowering) bass You never get tired of listening to these headphones, which have a warm and inviting sound you can listen to for hours on end. Company: Visit the Philips Audio Store. I was assistant editor of The Sunday Times’ technology section, editor of PC Pro magazine and have written for more than a dozen different publications and websites over the years. Even if you could live with the size of these cans on your travels, the lengthy lead is impractical, and the split-cord design that sends a jack to each ear means you can’t just reach for a shorter 3.5mm cable. The most interesting thing about the Fidelio X3s is that they’re an open-back design, but they look like they’re closed-back. Discover new layers of transparency and detail every time you slip them on. cm, 3.18 See all specifications See less specifications, Selected products The dark satin finish of the metal frame seems to float over the durable, black Kvadrat fabric that covers the ear cups. Consider the $349 Philips Fidelio X3 as something of an antidote to all the bass-boosted, sports-focused wireless models we typically review. Air is able to flow freely through the fabric-eliminating air pressure build-up behind the diaphragm and creating immersive, spacious sound. Let’s start by sorting out what these headphones are and what they’re not. It had stellar comfort, that cannot be denied. cm, 0.435 Hit me up if you’ve got a tech story that needs breaking at barry@mediabc.co.uk. The backs are covered in a textile of the type you would normally see covering smart speakers. Philips’ latest headphone is very much from the old school of design and aimed at ‘audiophiles.’ Is this the secret to open back bliss? Sonic precision Pre-tilted drivers angle the sound to your ears as directly as possible. Cashback. (, Fidelio X3 wired over-ear open-back headphones, Discover your savings when you bundle the below products together, 5 - 40 000 The X3s just aren’t luxurious enough to qualify for business class and their lack of flexibility – no Bluetooth, no noise cancellation, not lightweight enough for travel – makes them a niche product. The Philips Fildelio X3 headphones deliver awesome sound quality. The whomping bass sound on Christine and the Queens’ Tilted is a great example of where the X3s let the bass almost lift you out of your seat without polluting the vocals. kg, 2.31 Philips Fidelio X3 Wired Over-Ear Open-Back Headphones, Multi-Layer 50mm diaphragms, Hi-Res Certified, Premium Finishing - Hear The Difference $321.92 Get the deal You may opt-out by. The open-back ear-cup design is covered with acoustically transparent Kvadrat speaker fabric. The Fidelio X3 cans are pitched in the direction of audiophiles. The VAT amount will be deducted from the price shown above. Immerse in your favorite albums—however you like to listen. cm. If you’re simply looking for superb quality headphones to pair with your hi-fi set up, the Fidelio X3 headphones should definitely be on your shortlist. The lack of luxury extends to the accessories too. The bass is impactful without being overpowering. Philips Fidelio X3 sounds like it looks: beautiful. EY & Citi On The Importance Of Resilience And Innovation, Impact 50: Investors Seeking Profit — And Pushing For Change, Michigan Economic Development Corporation With Forbes Insights. Back; 2020 Equipment Buying Guide; 2019 Equipment Buying Guide; 2018 Equipment Buying Guide; 2017 Equipment Buying Guide; 2016 Equipment Buying Guide; 2015 Equipment Buying Guide But I owned the Sennheiser HD700. That all combines to deliver an immaculately balanced sound that delivers oodles of detail, no matter what type of music you’re listening to. Name: Philips Fidelio X3 Wired Over-Ear Open-Back Headphones, Multi-Layer 50mm diaphragms, Hi-Res Certified, Premium Finishing - Hear The Difference. The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones are on sale NOW Kob Monney Contact via Twitter | August 31, 2020 7:14 pm BST Philips announced that the Fidelio X3 headphones … The supplied bag is a limp sack of unbranded polyester that will provide less protection than a cocktail umbrella. Go to Deal. The Philips Fidelio X3 is a great headphone, no doubt about it. The neodymium drivers are engineered to tilt at 15 degrees, fitting the natural geometry of your ear for optimal accuracy at high frequencies. See all benefits. The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones are priced at £299 (€349, $349, about AU$449) and will be available from September in the US. I was assistant editor of The Sunday Times’ technology section, editor of PC Pro magazine and have, I have been a technology writer and editor for more than 20 years. But then most smartphones wouldn’t have the power to make the most of these extraordinary headphones. They're well-built and comfortable, and their open-back design helps create an open and speaker-like soundstage. This headphone usually retails for $349 USD which is completely overpriced. From the singer’s breath to fingers squeaking on a fretboard, these audiophile-grade open-back headphones match feather-light comfort with pristine tuning. They don’t sacrifice an awful lot of sound quality and they’re a shade more portable. They’re equipped with 50mm neodymium drivers that deliver a frequency range of 5Hz to 40kHz. They clamp your head tightly and they’re not letting go. High frequencies are exquisitely detailed. Amazon Product Rating: 4.5. The design of the headphones is where Philips and I start to part ways over the merits of these headphones. Fakespot Reviews Grade: A. The overall design is subtle and elegant, but they don’t scream luxury and they do leak sound. There really is nothing to criticize about sound quality, as long as they’re paired with a high-quality source. You can almost train yourself to listen a different detail every time. If you’re simply looking for superb quality headphones to pair with your hi-fi set up, the Fidelio X3 headphones should definitely be on your shortlist. Midrange frequencies are full and smooth. These over-ear headphones aren't just built to sound spectacular: they feel incredible too. cm, 0.87 If we compare the two headphones A / B with a Chord Hugo 2 (which has two headphone outputs) and 2go as a source, we indeed notice that the Philips Fidelio X3 headphones … Look for full details in your shopping basket. © 2020 Forbes Media LLC. 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Home and studio, but they ’ re equipped with 50mm neodymium drivers are engineered tilt!, but they don ’ t sacrifice an awful lot of sound,!