Philips Fidelio X2 Headphones On Ear Wired 3.5 mm jack, Black

With its second iteration of the Fidelio X series Philips have further refined the model and proven that they are serious in their quest to melt the hearts of music lovers. SPECS Frequency response: 5-40,000 Hz Impedance: 30 Ohm Sensitivity: 100 dB @ 1mW Speaker diameter: 50 mm Acoustic system: Open Cable: 3 m, detachable PROS 1. These are among of the best-sounding headphones that I have owned. Being of the open type Philips X2 offer a sweet combination of spacial sound, warmth and surprisingly articulate bass. It is difficult not to fall in love with them. 2. They are extremely comfortable, because they sit around the years (as opposed to pressing on them). Your ears will not heat up in the open cups even in warm weather. 3. They are built like a tank: headband and cups are made of steel and it is difficult to imagine that they could break, when bumped or dropped, or fall apart on their own with the passing of time (See picture 1 below). 4. Detachable oxygen-free high-quality braided cable upgraded from the X1 model. No proprietary connections means that you could buy your own cable, if you wish. 5. With their low impedance of just 30 Ohm and sensitivity of 100 dB @ 1mW Fidelio X2 are easily driven even by a smartphone. 6. Memory foam cushions, wrapped in soft black velour (See picture 2 below). Since the outer material is not faux leather, it will not start flaking off 12 months after the purchase. Moreover, the cushions are removable which means that you can clean or exchange them. CONS 1. At 380 g Fidelio X2 are not exactly light, so using steel has its drawbacks. However, for me personally, solid construction is more important than weight. Sony MDR 1A for example are as light as a feather, but they are still uncomfortable to wear over long periods of time, they sometimes make creaking sounds and your ears will get sweaty. This needs to be considered carefully. 2. Fidelio X2 are enormous (height: 23 cm, width: 20 cm) and do not fold. For the price, Philips should have included a hard case or a soft pouch in the package. Since the headphones are so big, you may find out that they do not fit in your desk drawer. To make matters worse, it is very difficult to find a headphone case (from any manufacturer) that they can fit in. I had to make my own soft pouch in the end! (See picture 4 below). The front and back are made of felt (you can buy some from a store selling fabric) and the brown sides are actually cut from a woman's purse, so it is not difficult or expensive to put together! 3. Because of the fact that X2 are of the open type (the cups are in essence made of metal mesh, not solid material – see picture 1 below) everyone in the room will know what you are listening to. It is a bit like having small-size speakers attached to your head! Therefore, these are not suitable for the office or even the living room if your family members are easily disturbed. 4. Because of their size, weight, the fact that they do not fold, the 3 m cable, the open cups and the type of materials used Fidelio X2 are clearly not engineered with road warriors in mind. Exposing them to wind, rain and dust will not necessarily break them, but it would ruin them nevertheless. 5. Aesthetic considerations: Although the headband is covered in real leather, the latter looks more like plastic (See picture 3 below). The soft velour used as outer layer of the cushions is a magnet for dust (See picture 2 below). The cups are made of metal, but the edges do not meet perfectly (See picture 1 below). 6. There have been multiple reports of quality issues: dulled sound, glued cushions, the problem with metal edges mentioned above. Apparently, production of X2 has been entrusted to several producers some of which are not up to the task. The pair reviewed here has been made by WOOX Innovations Netherlands B. V. and is not affected by sound reproduction problems or the glued cushions gate, hence the five-star rating. CONCLUSION 1. Fidelio X2 are probably the best sounding and most comfortable headphones in this price range. There are more expensive and arguably, better sounding headphones on the market, but those are usually priced exuberantly and require amplification. 2. I have never held a sturdier pair of headphones in my hands. Real steel in the headband and cups, real leather in the headband, no corner cutting. 3. They cost a considerable amount of money. I had to think long and hard before buying them. That said, they are actually cheaper than premium headphones of comparable quality.

Fantastic headphones when correctly amplified. Hard to describe how warm, detailed and comfortable the Fidelio X2 is. I've been using these cans on vinyl listening mainly. These headphones have an analogue feeling. I just think that most portable audio players and mobile phones are not capable to extract all the X2 potential. An extra amplification may be needed.