Philips Audio Fidelio X2hr Over-Ear Open-Air Headphone 50mm Drivers- B

Let's start with a disclaimer: I'm no pro audiophile (haha), but every few years, I get this itch to treat myself to new headphones. Not because I dislike my current ones, but just because, you know? I don't cruise around shops to test them out in person (not sure if that's a thing in Thailand), but I dive into online reviews, draw my conclusions, and make my purchase.Currently, my main squeezes are the Sennheiser HD 660S and Ikko OH10, powered by the Fiio K9 Pro and E1DA 9038D (that's my portable buddy).So, I'll be comparing these Philips X2HRs with them.First off, the X2HR is not the same as the X2. Plus, the X2HR has been churned out by three different factories: Woox, Gibson, and MMD Hong Kong Holding Limited (MMD might just be Gibson's new stage name). ... MoreLet's start with a disclaimer: I'm no pro audiophile (haha), but every few years, I get this itch to treat myself to new headphones. Not because I dislike my current ones, but just because, you know? I don't cruise around shops to test them out in person (not sure if that's a thing in Thailand), but I dive into online reviews, draw my conclusions, and make my purchase.Currently, my main squeezes are the Sennheiser HD 660S and Ikko OH10, powered by the Fiio K9 Pro and E1DA 9038D (that's my portable buddy).So, I'll be comparing these Philips X2HRs with them.First off, the X2HR is not the same as the X2. Plus, the X2HR has been churned out by three different factories: Woox, Gibson, and MMD Hong Kong Holding Limited (MMD might just be Gibson's new stage name). And, as far as I can tell, each one sounds a tad different. The pair I got was from the MMD production line.Prelude to the review.The seller was lightning-fast with shipping. Just a couple of hours post-order, and bam! The package was with the courier. Super swift!The outer packaging was top-notch – a fortress of bubble wrap and a sturdy box.But the inner packaging, the one hugging the headphones, looked like it had been in a doggy daycare – all tattered and torn, yet the seals were intact. Definitely not gift material. Given the robustness of the outer layer, it seemed like the seller shipped it out in this 'vintage' state.The headphones themselves were pristine inside, but I spotted some scratches on the outer headband. A small issue, but still a bummer. They seemed new overall (intact seals, general cleanliness), but those scratches had me puzzled. Also, my pair sported a '7D' print, something I haven't seen in online pics or on forums.Now, about the sound – my gold standard is the HD660S. They're warm, with a soft, comfy sound, great mids, and delightful highs and lows.As for the X2HR – I liked them! Great value for the price. Wearing them after the HD660S, there wasn't a stark difference in quality, just a different sound profile.The X2HR boasts excellent bass – prominent but not overpowering, just a notch above the HD660S. It's there, but it doesn't overwhelm.The mids are solid. They don't stand out, but they're not muted either. The HD660S has a brighter, more pronounced mid-range.The highs are splendid. Some reviews said they were too bright and tiring, but I didn't find that with my pair. They're comfy and sparkly.Overall, the headphones have a very soft sound, perfect for long listening sessions. They're even cushier than the HD660S in my opinion.Thanks to their deep bass, they excel at conveying the breadth of the soundstage, making movie watching more enjoyable than with the HD660S.In conclusion, I'm happy with the purchase. These are fantastic headphones, especially considering their price. You won't feel like you're listening to a budget sound, trust me.But, I'm docking points from the seller for the inner packaging and post-sale ghosting. 😒If you've got questions, hit me up on Insta at @ogansk! 😎🎧

Absolutely love these!

My entry into the world of audiophile equipment. Honestly, I don't have the experience at this point to judge these excellent cans against anything above this tier, but I'm already looking at getting another set of headphones (an upgrade) very soon. That's not to say I'm in any way unsatisfied with my experience with the Fidelio X2HR's. The opposite! I'm feeling so drawn now to the pursuit of better, more detailed, or different equipment because of the whole new world of audio I've discovered while the X2s peacefully melt me into complete aural bliss.It's no overstatement. I'm prone to constant multitasking, so for the past few years, my music experiences have been yoked to some form or other of work. I don't think I realized the creeping depreciation of my love ... MoreMy entry into the world of audiophile equipment. Honestly, I don't have the experience at this point to judge these excellent cans against anything above this tier, but I'm already looking at getting another set of headphones (an upgrade) very soon. That's not to say I'm in any way unsatisfied with my experience with the Fidelio X2HR's. The opposite! I'm feeling so drawn now to the pursuit of better, more detailed, or different equipment because of the whole new world of audio I've discovered while the X2s peacefully melt me into complete aural bliss.It's no overstatement. I'm prone to constant multitasking, so for the past few years, my music experiences have been yoked to some form or other of work. I don't think I realized the creeping depreciation of my love and respect for good music over the years. I'm saddened now to think I let myself get to that point. But, alas, the Fidelios have redeemed me of my sin of omission and now my feet are firmly planted back on the straight and narrow, so to speak. I find myself for the first time in so many years losing track of time rediscovering (or indeed discovering) sonically superior scores on this sublime set.In all seriousness, I recently got into some higher resolution music and tried out various streaming services (Amazon Music HD was my favorite by far). There was noticeable difference on even my regular headphones and AirPods Pro. Putting these bad boys on and playing anything RedBook and above is, for me, the yet barely initiated, the best way I've ever experienced music. You feel as though you are on stage with the band. The separation is great (of course there's better), and they are not fatiguing. You can crank the volume up and up and it just sounds better and better. In sum, I want to speak directly to those thinking about getting into the audiophile lifestyle: THESE ARE THE ONES TO START WITH. I can't imagine one not being extremely satisfied with the X2HR's, so just get them now!

Amazing sounding Open Back Headphones

Although I wouldn't call the X2HR a reference style open back headphone, I would say they are a very enjoyable pair to listen to all kinds of music on. I've listened to everything from Jazz, Classical, Hip Hop, old school to modern R&B, all eras of rock to Death Metal, and the X2HR sounded great with all of them. Great detail, ample bass that holds together and the soundstage is wide but not so much that you lose the mix or the vocals. The X2HR is bright, but never sibilant and the treble range allows for great resolving of ear candy usually lost or hard to hear in poorer performing headphones. I would say the EQ is a bit more of a V shape, but there is enough midrange where recordings never sound hollow. I find the fit very comfortable for my large head and the ... MoreAlthough I wouldn't call the X2HR a reference style open back headphone, I would say they are a very enjoyable pair to listen to all kinds of music on. I've listened to everything from Jazz, Classical, Hip Hop, old school to modern R&B, all eras of rock to Death Metal, and the X2HR sounded great with all of them. Great detail, ample bass that holds together and the soundstage is wide but not so much that you lose the mix or the vocals. The X2HR is bright, but never sibilant and the treble range allows for great resolving of ear candy usually lost or hard to hear in poorer performing headphones. I would say the EQ is a bit more of a V shape, but there is enough midrange where recordings never sound hollow. I find the fit very comfortable for my large head and the build quality is excellent. I will say that ear fatigue settled in for me after about 2 to 2.5 hours of listening at a moderate volume. All in all, a great set of cans.

Good headphones with some caveats.

These are an enjoyable set of headphones. Of particular note is the wide soundstage and amazing bass for open-backed headphones.They are very clear, but this an area where they can be unpleasant at times. Depending on the source they can be rather shrill in the treble. However, this depends on the source because they are quite revealing. If you are sensitive to treble then you are likely to struggle with these at times.I also have Philips SHP9500 and these are my go-to open-back headphones. The 9500’s, by comparison are a bit light on the bass but I find the treble more consistent and enjoyable over longer periods of time. They sound very slightly “warmer” than the X2HR’s. Similarly, I have some Fidelio L2 headphones, which are semi-closed, which I use when my ... MoreThese are an enjoyable set of headphones. Of particular note is the wide soundstage and amazing bass for open-backed headphones.They are very clear, but this an area where they can be unpleasant at times. Depending on the source they can be rather shrill in the treble. However, this depends on the source because they are quite revealing. If you are sensitive to treble then you are likely to struggle with these at times.I also have Philips SHP9500 and these are my go-to open-back headphones. The 9500’s, by comparison are a bit light on the bass but I find the treble more consistent and enjoyable over longer periods of time. They sound very slightly “warmer” than the X2HR’s. Similarly, I have some Fidelio L2 headphones, which are semi-closed, which I use when my family is in the same room. These are also really good with excellent bass and a good balance throughout. I mention these other Philips headphones as a comparison.There is a definite Philips "house sound" with these three sets, but they all have their particular individual characteristics.In summary, I put the Fidelio X2HR in a very, very close 3rd place. This is not a derogatory placement. They are really enjoyable for a particular mood you may be in: enjoyable, fun bass, which is not too bloated but they’re not a "basshead" phone. They have really excellent soundstage and the clarity is good. Sometimes you think the sound is coming from within the room and not the headphones! However, on occasions, they are a bit "sharp" and if you’re not in the mood it can detract.The midrange on all of these headphones is really good.Comfort-wise, these are good. They need a bit of time "wearing in" as they initially felt a bit tight after the SHP9500's, which to be fair are a bit loose but extremely comfortable. The X2HR's, in contrast, won't move on your head easily, and after a few weeks are no so tight and are pretty comfortable.They are extremely well made and feel really solid.I really like the Philips headphones I have. Excellent quality at a reasonable price.

Great Sound Quality and Comfortable

I was debating between the X2HRs and a couple of much higher-priced corded headphones. I decided to give the X2HRs a try based on the double headband. I wanted something that I could wear for extended periods of listening while working. I am using the X2HRs with an ifi Zen DAC and greatly enjoy the sound and the comfort of these. I would recommend a break-in period before judging the X2HRs. I think they have improved after the first 40-50 hours of use. The ear cup pads are made of velour, and this is very comfortable, but beware, if you have furry friends, they tend to trap hair.

My favourite headphones

Wide soundstage, deep and punchy bass, detailed mids, and precise, detailed treble that is not harsh or sibilant. Ive never owned headphones costing more than around 300 - so no electrostatics, orthodynamics or seriously-expensive open-backed headphones. And I am sticking to wired headphones, rather than wireless. But, for me, these beat all the other headphones Ive owned, including V-moda Crossfade 100, B&O H8, AKG Sextett and AKG k240 df. They seem to combine the airiness and space of open-backed cans with serious low-end punch. These headphones are very comfy and come with soft velour ear pads. In the past, Ive replaced velour ear pads and thin leather pads on headphones with thick, chunky leather ear pads to maximise sound isolation and bass. But I dont think I ... MoreWide soundstage, deep and punchy bass, detailed mids, and precise, detailed treble that is not harsh or sibilant. Ive never owned headphones costing more than around 300 - so no electrostatics, orthodynamics or seriously-expensive open-backed headphones. And I am sticking to wired headphones, rather than wireless. But, for me, these beat all the other headphones Ive owned, including V-moda Crossfade 100, B&O H8, AKG Sextett and AKG k240 df. They seem to combine the airiness and space of open-backed cans with serious low-end punch. These headphones are very comfy and come with soft velour ear pads. In the past, Ive replaced velour ear pads and thin leather pads on headphones with thick, chunky leather ear pads to maximise sound isolation and bass. But I dont think I will change the ear pads on these headphones, because Im very happy with the sound signature.

Pleasant surprise!

I am blown away by how these $150 headphones from a brand I never gave much thought to sound better than my old music setup of Sennheiser HD660S phones, Schiit headphone amp, and Schiit discrete DAC. These headphones have already saved me two outlets and like 50 cables.Music sounds full and very detailed, and everything from The Beatles to deathcore to trance sounds amazing. I am most blown away by how premium the build quality is, though! Very comfortable and just feels sturdy. Sennheisers tend to really clamp on your head and are usually all plastic and light. I also appreciate the cable terminating in a standard 3.5mm plug instead of having to use one of Sennheiser's silly and unwieldy adapters. The braided cable is very nice, as well.

The best open back headphones

These headphones are unbelievably amazing. You really can't beat them for this price. The frequency response is tuned so closely to the harman curve, which I personally find superior. If that's not your sound, then you obviously wouldn't like these. The only part of the frequency response I find lacking is the <40 hertz sub-bass range. That range of sound is so low and is mostly imperceptible that I find that it doesn't really matter. Overall the bass is really dynamic and not colored, honestly you'd be hard pressed to find open back headphones with bass this present and accurate. The mids are extremely accurate and detailed. The trebles are airy without ever being sibilant, and they add a lot of openness. The soundstage is OPEN, more open than any headphone I've ... MoreThese headphones are unbelievably amazing. You really can't beat them for this price. The frequency response is tuned so closely to the harman curve, which I personally find superior. If that's not your sound, then you obviously wouldn't like these. The only part of the frequency response I find lacking is the <40 hertz sub-bass range. That range of sound is so low and is mostly imperceptible that I find that it doesn't really matter. Overall the bass is really dynamic and not colored, honestly you'd be hard pressed to find open back headphones with bass this present and accurate. The mids are extremely accurate and detailed. The trebles are airy without ever being sibilant, and they add a lot of openness. The soundstage is OPEN, more open than any headphone I've tried.I've A B compared these to the Hifiman Sundaras, Sennheiser HD600, Beyerdynamic DT990, and Audio Technica M50x and honestly these are superior in terms of overall accuracy. All of those headphones offer different sound experiences to the table but I would put these X2HRs over all of them.These headphones are amazingly comfortable. I've used them every single day for at least 5 hours a day for the last 2 years and they still look and feel brand new. They're heavy, but they were engineered perfectly to where the weight is evenly distributed throughout your head that you hardly notice you have them on. They have a 3.5mm connection which is universal with any 3.5mm cable you throw at it. If you want to use them for gaming, you can buy a cable with a boom mic. They're also only 30 ohms so they can be driven on anything, I love that I can drive them with my DAC/AMP, my phone, laptop, electric piano, playstation controller, literally anything. They have a sensitivity of 100 dbs or so, so you'll have to crank the volume slightly more than a tiny pair of earbuds, but they can literally be driven by anything.These headphones are one of my favorite consumer products I've ever owned, I'm not exaggerating. From clothes, electronics, furniture, cars, tools, whatever. These are up there as one of my favorite things I've ever owned.You really can't beat them for the price. Just get them. Who knew Philips would be making the ultimate open-back headphone that checks all the boxes?

The wonderful sounding Philips Fidelio X2 headphones.

When I first set on the X2s, I loved the way they look! They felt a little weighty when removing them from the well made packaging, but once on my head I did not feel any discomfort or heaviness. The ear pads are of good quality, in fact all the materials used in the manufacturing process are top notch without a doubt. Then came the sound. WOW! Instantly loved the deep tight bass, the Mids sound lovely, warm and detailed, the top end is bright but not harsh, no chance of making you screw your face up in pain! I love the Philips Fidelio X2, top notch product at an amazing price.

Worthy Upgrade from the ATH-M50X

After owning a pear of M50X's for about three years I suddenly got the idea to try a new pair of headphones. They weren't super comfortable to wear for long sessions but I wasn't dissatisfied overall and all things considered, they were my first pair of decent sounding headphones.The first difference I noticed when putting these on was the feel of the earcups. These are a bit larger and after owning these for a bit over a week, I can confirm that they are indeed more comfortable the the pads on the M50X. The velour cups are of a different material and are softer on the ears. During the first few days of use I felt like the headphones were putting more pressure on my left ear than my right (it still feels that way now, but it's not a big deal and I forget about it ... MoreAfter owning a pear of M50X's for about three years I suddenly got the idea to try a new pair of headphones. They weren't super comfortable to wear for long sessions but I wasn't dissatisfied overall and all things considered, they were my first pair of decent sounding headphones.The first difference I noticed when putting these on was the feel of the earcups. These are a bit larger and after owning these for a bit over a week, I can confirm that they are indeed more comfortable the the pads on the M50X. The velour cups are of a different material and are softer on the ears. During the first few days of use I felt like the headphones were putting more pressure on my left ear than my right (it still feels that way now, but it's not a big deal and I forget about it after extended use). Clamping force on both phones are a bit high for my tastes. In regard to comfort, I put these above the M50X.The build quality of these headphones are very solid - the chassis is a sturdy metal construction compared to the plastic of the M50X and the headband on the X2HR feels sturdier. The build on the Audio Technica's is decent and has held up quite nicely after three years of daily use (with some peeling where my head touches the inside of the headband), so I'm confident these will stand the test of time.As for sound quality, I must admit that at first I didn't notice the major leaps and bounds that I was expecting - music sounds great, puncy, clean, but I never would've said it didn't during my time with the older headphones. It wasn't until I tried the M50X again a few days later that I really started to notice the difference. Sound was just a bit harsher on the ears (especially with the notoriously fatiguing highs) and everything felt just a bit narrower and more one-dimensional than I had remembered. This is the difference one can expect when going from closed-back to an open-back pair of headphones - the wider soundstage on the X2HR wasn't something I really noticed until I went back to the M50X. A week later and I think the X2HR is the clear victor in regard to audio quality: the only advantage that the M50X has here is the non-leaking closed-back, so I bring them with me to the office when I don't want other people hearing my musicThe only category I can think of where the M50X trumps the X2HR's is portability - the swiveling earcups and collapsible design made the Audio Technica phones super portable and comfortable to wear around the neck when not actively listening. These cups can tilt slightly but that's it - wearing them around the neck feels bulky and awkward in comparison. This might be a serious consideration if you plan on using these for DJingAll in all, I think the X2HR is superior to the M50X (which is pretty insane considering the M50X is actually more expensive at the time of writing this review) and that these headphones will be more than enough to satisfy 90%+ of serious audio listeners out there. It sounds better than the M50X (an opinion shared by almost everyone on internet forums who have tried both) and completely crushes all consumer-tier audio equipment. At $145, these headphones offer truly exceptional value for the money.