Here's my review, featuring bunch of comparisons to one of their predecessors, Denon D2000. (I've used them Fostex's mostly through Modi Multibit DAC & Lyr 2.)
 
 
My sound preferences

1. I love some great sub-bass and lively highs to go with them.
2. The presence region needs to be "present" and upfront (think HD600 and a little bit less 3k, maybe).
3. My favorite full-sized headphones are an LCD-2.1

 
 

 
 
 
 
Looks, comfort, cable

1. I don't give a hoot about bubble wrap marks. They are very, very difficult to see in my usually darkly lit apartment. Also, that very cool color & wood grain are hard to see well here - looks great in bright light though.
2. The earpads should really be thicker. That smaller opening is ok for me, but D2000 is way more plush on the head and clamp less (maybe because they are quite old). Are these tiny pads all about sound?
3. The headband adjustment doesn't extend a lot, but just enough for my big melon. I've had few pairs I need to extend fully besides these: M80 (too small), M100 (bit too tight), K701 (too small), CAL!. Others have had adjustment to spare. (D2000 has one more "click"/dent of adjustment, so no wonder there.)
4. The cable is what it is - long & thick - not a big deal. But it not being detachable might be one day. This is 2016, and these cost lots. This is a minus, no way around it.
5. I haven't used these with a mobile device, but could imagine they'd work ok there too - maybe a 3,5mm with a screwable 6,3mm (like the D2000) would be a good idea. I'm not going to have that standard 3,5mm-adapter sticking out of my phone - it just might break the output with any sideways force.

 
Sound

1. The bass is monstrously huge, you have to want that to get on with these (or D2000). Ok, there are many hp's with more, but not at this range of quality or price that I've heard. It is quite clean though, but somewhat slow with all that mass it's producing.
2. Listening to RATM's Renegades or some of Dr Dre's beats these are a huge amount of fun!
3. The bass unfortunately bleeds some into the mids, I'd like less mid-bass bloom & force. D2000 has way clearer separation of bass and mids. There's clearly extra boom (upper bass) & bloom in comparison.
4. Mids are very laid back, which is quite ok, it's what I expected too. There's more of them vs D2000.
5. BUT, there is a dip in the upper mids / low highs that makes things like vocals, drum transients etc. sound distant. (Maybe in the presence region, 4khz-ish?) This isn't happening with the Denons...
6. ...Which makes snare drums & distorted guitars (palm-muted especially) sound more snappy and present with my Denons.
7. Highs are much less upfront than the D2000s, which seem more lively & snappy up top. Some call them too bright, I mostly disagree. Both tunings work for me. The Denons have some weird coloring and spikes up there in comparison, though. If you like lively (but colored) highs and more of a subs thump, them Denons provide.

 
Conclusions

1. The PH's have a very warm tone to them, no way around it. That extra boost in mid-bass and smooth highs make them sound like a "HD650'fied" version of the D2000. I'm not sure they needed it.
2. This comparison has been quite a revelation for me... Damn it, I think I like the D2000 better! They were about half the price and have been deemed too boomy, slow and whatever. But, when compared to the PH they've got that big bass that doesn't boom too high in the frequency range or make the overall sound too warm for me. They have lots of snap, crackle and low pop that I just love.
3. BUT, trying to be somewhat objective - TH-X00 PH are a big win for fans of smooth highs, mid-bass warmth and cool looks.

 
 
Stuff I noticed

1. The Purplehearts look better, but don't feel any better made. The Denons have some nice touches, like rounded edges of that lower part that terminates the headband adjustment. That silver color looks more spiffy too.
2. D2000's headband and pads look a lot like real leather in comparison, which I guess it isn't either. (There is no way it's the same material, though.) Could the Denon's have real leather?! Sure looks like it... So, D2K's materials seem better.

 
 

 
 
There it is! What do you guys think of them? Have you compared TH-X00's to Denons Dx000-series?
 
Comment below, why don't you!

Planar magnetic technology is now a thing in portable headphones too, thanks to Oppo's PM-3 and this set right here, Audeze Sine. Stylish design and quality materials are clearly a big factor nowadays also, as the prices keep going up. And I'm a big fan of pretty headphones! Unlike the Oppos, these sit on ones ears instead of over. This was the thing that gave me most pause about the model when I first heard of it. Having owned Sennheiser's standard setting HD-25 on-ear that has basically no soundstage, wonky fit and funny looks - I thought, "really Audeze, a pair of on-ears"? I still would have preferred a pair of over-ears (like the 2nd generation Momentums), but I see where they are going with these. More about the design later.
 
 

 
 
About me
I bought this pair for full price from my local dealer. I'm not affiliated with Audeze in any way. Headphone audio has been a big part of my life for about 13 years - since the day I got a pair of my first nice cans, the Beyerdynamic DT770s. I mostly listen to rock, metal and hip-hop, but enjoy some soul, pop, reggae and electronic music too. I play guitar, drums, and some bass and record my own music regularly. I have about 15 years of experience in non-professional mixing, mastering and DIY recording.
 
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Gear used
iPhone 5S (with Cipher and standard 3,5mm cable)
Apogee Duet DAC and Schiit Lyr 2 amp (with 3,5mm cable)
 
Comparisons with:
Audeze LCD-2.1 (with new thicker Audeze pads)
Sennheiser Momentum (1st gen)
 
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Here we go...
 
 
Build quality
These are built very well, not even considering price (my 2010-made LCD-2s look and feel like a high school project next to these). There's leather on the outside of the cups and around the headband, but for some reason not on the earpads. Other than that, it's pretty much made of metal - a good kind of industrial design. It all feels very functional and thought out. They feel hefty, and yes; they are clearly heavier than my Momentums and V-Moda M100s. I guess it's the planar drivers adding to the weight. The cups turn 90 degrees in both directions. This is especially nice when wearing them around the neck. The headband adjustment doesn't unfortunately have any clicks to tell where you are, but this is a matter of opinion. The adjustment is very sturdy anyhow. By the way, I have a large head and the Sines fit with ease, even when wearing a cap (For comparison, V-Moda M100 doesn't quite extend enough for me, M80 not even close.) 
 
These have (flat) wires going into both drivers, in an odd angle too. But, this gets the wires far away from one's shoulders. I can see why it's Audeze who did this design - the old LCDs had some long cables sticking into your shoulders when turning your head. I bet they got some slack for that (and that made them change the design).
 
 
Comfort
Let's get this straight, these aren't the comfiest portables around. But not the worst either. I'd say these are close to over-ear, but not really for most of us. Clamping force isn't too bad even on my large head, though. After an hour or two one of my ears tend to hurt slightly, but less so after some time and use. I haven't bent the headband to relieve the clamp. At least not yet.
 
The earpad size is pretty much comparable to my Momentums, but the pads are not as soft:

 
 
 
But what is this?
There's this one odd thing about wearing the Sines, though. When they're on my head and I push them against my head even slightly, volume level goes down, very clearly (same happens on both channels). In reverse, they get louder when I pull them off of my head slowly. Is this a known feature of the Sines or what? Maybe it has to do with that planar driver being closed in? 
 
(Please comment below, if you've noticed this or understand what's going on!) Basically, it's not a huge deal. But I've also noticed I get more level from one channel if I lean my head towards it (leaning left releases the seal from that side and increases volume as mentioned.) Chewing gum etc. doesn't do good to the volume balance, I've realized. At first I thought I was going nuts!
 
 
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Sound quality
 
Neutrality?
Overall, these are a surprisingly neutral pair. Neutral? Meaning, that these have quite strong mids (no V-shape here) - maybe even some mids boost - and a very strong attention to small details in the mid-highs and highs especially. This means that they really do not make a crappy recording sound smooth and nice. I've noticed this sentiment said over and over when reviewing quality headphones, but yeah. These can sound downright ugly with brickwall-distorted recordings and the like. And you will hear the buzzes and clicks from your vinyl player, no doubt. These have a resemblance to many good active studio monitors (Genelec, Adam) in this regard. For fans of clear transients and instrument separation these are very recommendable.
 
 
Bass
This is what planars are known for, flat and punchy bass. And yes, the Sines provide in spades. But not so much in quantity as quality (provided EQ helps there though, read further). These are certainly not bass-head cans, just very clear and punchy down low. I cannot stand headphones that lack bass, this is not the case here. With the Cipher there is a nice boost for portable use too, good for the times when the surrounding noise takes over. This is the best bass I've heard in a portable set yet. If you want huge amounts, look elsewhere. 
 
 
Mids
No problems here either, but you just might hear a slight emphasis at 1-2khz. I'd dare to say these are mid-centric with the 3,5mm cable. (I bet this is very much down to seal, fit and clamp as is everything with closed cans, on-ears especially.) Details are heard very clearly, resolution is good, but the Sines have a slight analytical feel to them. I've found no problems with this aspect, but one should keep this in mind. These are not "mini-LCD's". Headphones like LCD-2 and HD650 are much more buttery in the mids. The Sines could very well be used for mixing etc. after some (brain)adjustment. Transients are quite easily heard.
 
Some very compressed mids sounds, especially big metal/rock guitars can sound slightly boxy and compressed. Maybe it's that small cup resonating? Just a guess.
 
Highs
No "evil" spikes here, even though there is not much air in the highest regions (Audeze's EQ helps here too). This is something one might suspect from a small cupped on-ear design, not bad at all. The trebles are quite balanced and natural sounding, they don't screw up the sound of cymbals or other instruments. I've heard the Sines described as a trebly can, I don't see that. Highs are there, but not in an aggressive, in-your-face way. 
 
 
Sound-Stage
These are small on-ear portable headphones, HD800s these are not. These spread the sound quite nicely for this style of headphone. This is not nearly as bad as my previous best in on-ears, the HD-25, which is super-closed and in-your-face. The Sines are mid-focused, which might be because of the design. The sound-stage isn't claustrophobic.. Look for really big stages elsewhere.
 
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Comparisons to other models!
 
 
Vs. Audeze LCD-2.1 (from 2010)
The Sines cannot really compete with the full-sized pair. They are not "mini-LCD's", as some hopefully claimed. Portable headphones are good for their size, isolation and style, but that's basically it. When those parameters are thrown out the window, the big and open ones usually prevail. That LCD-2 bass is much better in the sub-regions, clean and flat. Mids seem more drawn back, but that is because of the added highs and air.The sound-stage is on a completely different level. These older LCD's have quite a smooth sound to them, still the highs are clearly more forward. Sines through the 3,5mm cable are mid-focused in comparison. Sine's have a vibe of a good studio/monitor headphone.
 

 
 
Vs. Sennheiser Momentum (first over-ear version)
These Senns are not over-ears really, either. But yes, they are more comfy than the Sines. My ears just love the Senns and their soft leather pads. The low-end is much more boomy here, low-end has much less clarity and snap than the Sine. Momentums are more like a warm & pleasing approximation of the lows compared to the Sine's tightness and clarity. Senns have that mid-bass warmth the company is known for. With the 3,5mm cable especially the Audezes are more mids forward. The Senns are sort of V-shaped, Sines are not. Resolution and neutrality is clearly better with the Sines. Momentum is much more forgiving when listening to not-so-good mixes. Amplification helps a bunch with both headphones. Both of them are well built from quality materials and look nice. Momentums seal outside noise better.
 
 
 
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Cipher cable, is it worth it?
For starters, these are seriously weak straight out of a phone. You'll need an amp of some sorts in most cases.The Cipher is what really made them special for me from the start, it really was a different kind of a deal. I want good sound quality, but lugging around an extra brick with cables attached to my phone isn't my idea of a nice walk (yeah, I've done it). There must be another way? I'm not going to describe the specs here too much (basically it's a DAC, amp, mic, remote and DSP rolled into one cable), but this Cipher is the real deal. It seems to have a bass boost integrated, some say 3db. Seems about right. If you use Apple products with Lightning-connection, it is a no-brainer for about 50 bucks.
 
You have to push the volume pretty much to max on many tracks when using the 3,5mm cable into a phone. Without Cipher the amount of bass is very nice in a silent environment, like at home. But for me, that's not what I bought the Sines for, good sound in a noisy environment is a must.
 
 
The Sines with the Cipher:

 
 
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App with EQ
At this time Audeze's app for Apple's iOS only has this 10-band EQ, but they've promised there will be more fun stuff in the future. This add-on works quite nicely for me. It allows me to drop a few db's from 125hz, making the mid-bass less prominent and the lower bass more clear. Cutting the mids doesn't really work for me, but boosting the 8 and 16k about 1-2db helps bring out the highs sparkle a bit. Boosting 2 and/or 4k brings out vocals, guitars etc. Basically the "presence" region. As an EQ hint - very big boosts tend to sound unnatural. Dips too, but not as much.
 
An early test of EQ settings:

 
 
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Last thoughts
This is one well-built set of expensive portable headphones. There's been a bunch before - Beats, Oppo, Momentum and many others. Unlike many before them, Sines are on the neutral side of things, not made for bassheads or fans of a strongly V-shaped signature. But, the resolution and clarity throughout the frequency range is the best I've heard from a portable pair. These get my recommendation, especially using the Cipher cable with an Apple-device. 
 
Something to improve for Audeze? The obvious over-ear version.
 
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Cheers for reading!

This is one popular set of headphones in 2016 pretty much everywhere. The X2 have often been compared to the top-class models of "mid-fi" headphones (Sennheiser HD600, HD650 etc.), but I must say, they don't quite get to that level in pure sound quality.
 
I listen to lots of rock, metal, punk, hip-hop and pop. I tested these through my iPod and Apogee Duet (DAC) -> Schiit Lyr 2..
 
Let's get into more detail with the....
 
 
PHILIPS FIDELIO X2 REVIEW
 
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THE VIDEO!  Here's my extended video-review of the Fidelio X2's (with comparisons to my similarly priced Denon D2000 and Sennheiser HD600):
 

 
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BUILD QUALITY, LOOKS & COMFORT
These are clearly a very sturdy pair of headphones, I'm sure the structure lasts a long while. My pair is made by Woox in China. There have been reported problems concerning build quality with some people, but I've had none. They are heavier than normal over-ear models, quite large too. The outer headband sticks out in a very funny looking way out of ones head - especially if you have a small head. All in all, these are a very well made pair in my opinion.
 
The comfort is only ok, my HD600, DT770 and D2000 do much better here. First, the earpads have some nice & classy feeling velour, but they are quite stiff and hard. Maybe they get better, we'll see. The Sennheiser & Beyerdynamic pads are both much softer. The earpad opening is easily large enough for my ears, though. Clamping force is pretty much just right for me. These velour pads seem to be magnets for dirt, hair and all that. I have a pretty big melon, so these tend to slide very slowly upwards because of that springy headband. I prefer the clicking-type of mechanism, they just stay still - you set it once and enjoy. Overall, the headband is very soft & comfortable, this is just not my favorite design.
 
 

 
 
Let's get into SOUND QUALITY...
 
 
THE BASS
I bet this is why these have gained so many fans, this is the X2's calling card! Open headphones don't usually have this kind of fat and punchy bass, for sure. The biggest surprise to me is the lower regions of it - these sound pretty deep in the subs (although the boost seems to be located in the upper sub-regions, but I'm not sure). Old & thin masters gain a big sense of oomph with these Fidelios, but modern bass-heavy tracks tend to sound slightly muddy and overly warm. For fans of neutral or flat bass these are nowhere near the mark - this low-end is all about a boosted sense of fun, "screw neutrality!", they seem to shout. Although My D2000 does sub-bass even better, these are quite nice for people looking for big bass in an open headphone. (Denon D2000 isn't open in design, but sound pretty similar to these still. They're closed mostly in name only.)
 
 
THEM MIDS
Ok, here's where I start to find some real problems. (No matter the claims to the contrary) this IS a V-shaped headphone, at least when talking about bass & mids (and higher treblies) - the mid-frequencies take a back seat. To me, they sound too laid back and soft. There is this one four letter word excellent for describing the lacking ingredient: BITE. This is best heard in my case when listening to some awesomely produced rock-guitars (like some old-school AC/DC), they sound soft and often overwhelmed by that big bass. The same goes for vocals, in my opinion. They are not very easily discerned or upfront by any means. So yeah, the mids are not the reason you should pick this pair up.
 
HIGHS & SOUND-STAGE
Damn it! It has to be said - this the real problem-area for Fidelio X2 concerning good fidelity. The high frequencies are very colored. There's much talk about the term... "Colored" headphones can be very good & fun, but when they take away from an instruments own character in a drastic way like these do, I'd have to say they've gone too far.
 
These have a nice sense of space (sound-stage), but it's kind of futile when the resolution and balance are so off. There's this large boost in the higher ranges of highs (approximately 10khz), but it's too high to affect the fundamentals of vocals, guitars, piano and other central instruments in music. Without that boost, these would be some seriously dark headphones... Below the boost, the X2's are very low in treble energy. The highs end up sounding very soft and non-offensive to my ears. The crunch of a great distorted guitar track or a crack of a brilliant snare track are pretty much lost with this pair. And this, to me, is a big problem.
 
This is all subjective of course, but I find Philips went too far skewing the frequency response of this one in the highs especially.
 
 

 
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COMPARISONS?
Remember, I said these Fidelios were compared to the Sennheiser HD600 and HD650? Hah, that's just silly, in my opinion - these are nothing like 'em (especially the "neutral kings" HD600)! When talking about the HD6x0-series, the mids come up very early in the discussion. Those two are very often used for audio production because of their awesome neutrality (in the world of headphones, at least). X2 on the other hand are all about fun and colored - it's just a very different mindset that's behind the Philips-model. So, don't expect to hear instruments like they are in your space of choice - expect a  strong coloration that allows you to listen to music at quite highs volumes. Soft, softer, "X2 below 10K".
 
When I heard the X2's for the first time, I was reminded of my D2000's very much - big & low bass, V-shaped sound signature and a nice sense of sound-stage on top of it! But, there are lots of differences...
 
Denon AH-D2000 (made by Fostex) are way more comfy with super-soft faux-leather pads and close to no clamping force on the head. They are not as well made though, I feel they're much more fragile in design (are the new Fostex models better in that way? Please tell!) Biggest difference are the highs that have some great crunch & crack - no softness to be found! Mids are kind of laid back on these too - they are V-shaped. Sound-stage is pretty much on par, in my opinion (even though, the Denon's are closed back, kind of). Bass is boosted too, but it's more resolving in my opinion and they go lower into sub-territories.
 
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AMPING
These sound quite alright straight from my iPod. They are very efficient. There was a very slight difference when plugging into my Schiit Lyr 2 amp, but the differences were very subtle, to say the least. Your measly amp should do them justice - if your not sure, spend some 100 bucks and be happy with 'em.
 
 
WHAT WOULD I PAY FOR THEM?
 
300 dollars / euros?
No way, they are way too colored for that price. Both of the Senns should be found for this kind of money. Some more nice ones I've tried: NAD Viso HP50 (weird looks, pretty flat sonics), Focal Spirit Pro (weird fit for some, neutral & very closed), Beyer DT880 (bright and quite neutral).... Even that fun-factor doesn't match my (240 euro) D2000. Fostex TH600 or used THX00 could be found for less.. Fidelio X2 are nice for people coming from very bassy/colored cans, like Beats - people that haven't heard better.
 
200 bucks / euros?
Sure, that's pretty much what I paid for them. If you like this kind of sound signature: big bass with sound stage. Go for it! But, I still prefer my Beyerdynamic DT770 80-ohm - the sound signature is surprisingly similar!
 
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BY THE WAY
Here are some more headphone, guitars, effects and amps reviews from Yours Truly!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvAJbQfGhIXwQTWjBfgt6mA
 
I am affiliated with no one, I do these reviews for my own amusement, maybe your's too!
 
 
 

 
Cheers for reading, folks!  
 
 
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This is a classic for a good reason, it just does so much right. It basically excels at nothing (but the mids), but it's just so easy to believe in the way it represents music. It's my go-to headphone for checking out mixes and music production in general. 
 
Here's my video-review of the HD600:

 
 
COMFORT, BUILD & CABLE
They sit tightly on one's head, but the clamp is pretty much spot on - a bit tight at first, but it gets very good. These fit my big head easily. The oval-shaped earpads are some of the comfiest (Beyers are maybe even better). They are very light and seem to take lots of beating too. For the price they are kind of plasticky, but all of the components can be replaced in needed. I once misplaced the input on the right side - I thought these 'phones were done for... Well, all I needed to do (after watching a tutorial) was take the HD600 apart (without any tools, mind you!) and move the socket back into place. This took me under 2 minutes.
 
I've had the HD650 cable from the start, that's what my used pair came with. Buying an expensive replacement cable would be the last thing I'd do to make them sound better. If you want different looks or length, go for it - but it's not going to affect the sound quality substantially. If the cable works, it works!
 
Let's get into sound quality! I listen to lots of rock, metal, pop, hip-hop and some jazz...
 

 
 
 
THE BASS
Very well proportioned, it's one of the few that get the amount right. It's not bass-deficient like AKG K701 or too fat like Philips Fidelio X2, it's somewhere in between. For me, it's the right amount of lows to make good judgments when mixing. It's also very pleasing when listening, as long as you're not coming straight from some bassy 'phones. It doesn't screw up the mids or seem lacking either. Bass is where my (150 euro) HD595 faltered, they were kind of all over the place in it.... BTW, I trust the HD600 much more when mixing bass frequencies than my Adam A7 active monitors (with a sub) because of the bad acoustics in my apartment. All in all, these type of neutral headphones are great for mixing the lows especially, much recommended!
 
The sub-region is not at all at the level of my Audeze LCD-2 (rev.1), but this is very similar to most speakers without external sub-woofers. Just to mention, the sub-bass region isn't even that important in most mixes, it's very often cut out almost completely. The "meat" of any mix is above say 60hz anyway. There's no problem with the HD600 there. (When there is much information in the subs I grab my LCD-2's...)
 
MID-RANGE
Man, these do great here. Guitars, vocals, bowed instruments, you name it. HD600 rule the roost (HD650 too). Listening to Back In Black by AC/DC those rhythm guitars just sound so in-your-face, neutral and correct.... Very few headphones get to these levels of mids quality. My LCD's get there pretty much, but maybe not quite as realistic levels - the differences are not that big. This is where HD600 can compete with those 1K-headphones very well.
 
THE HIGHS
Those nice guitars by AC/DC are doing their their beautiful crunch in the highs too, and yes, they most certainly are. There is a boost in the 3K region, that might be the reason HD600 sounds kind of "dry", not dressing up any ugly things happening with the most important things in a mix (vocals, guitars, snare, kick etc.). The sound stage is very much controlled, not very big like K701. But, my Audezes sound audibly more clear in the highs - it seems as if there is more headroom and less distortion. They're at least more pleasant up there. That's for sure.
 

 
 
VERSUS HD650?
I used to have both of the HD6xx-models. But, once I got my LCD-2's, the HD650 became kind of redundant - they didn't match the fun factor of that Audeze low-end or have the same level of resolution in the highs. HD600 is dryer and more "boring" in some ways than the 650, but that's the exact reason I kept them. They are just great at telling what's going on in a mix. HD650 were pretty close, but slightly too nice and fat in the low-end... Bad mixes just didn't sound bad enough! If I could only have one pair of open headphones at home, HD650 just might be my choice. But, HD600 are more neutral and LCD-2 more fun.
 
AMPING
I used to use these straight out of my Apogee Duet's headphone output. Recently I bought a Schiit Lyr 2 that makes the low-end slightly more balanced. But, the differences aren't huge (say it like Trump!). The Schiit brings a slight more subs into the mix and flattens the "hump" in the lows/low-mids. I bet I'd be quite happy with the Duet still though, if I didn't have my Lyr.
 

 
 
Thanks for reading! This headphone gets my recommendation easily, after +30 pairs of different models owned. As the prices for top models go up, these stand firm. Released in 1997, almost 20 years ago... They are still one of the best! Check out a pair if you haven't yet.
 
BTW, I'm not affiliated with anyone, I'm doing these reviews for my own (and your) enjoyment.
 
Cheers folks!