Philips Fidelio X2

I bought the headphones on 26 / january / 2015 this first thing that made me happy was the excellent comfort of the headphones and the ability to stay on my head even if was leaning my head these headphones stay on your head and when you start playing music through them you would not  want to take them off .

I use audioengine D1 DAC/ AMP with the S/PDIF on my computer and the volume is more than enough on 35%  
 
This is the first headphone i have experienced the full range i didn't know how much detail i was missing  

I have heard 24 bit version of Pink floyd - comfortably numb, led zeppelin - no quarter , Jimi hendrix - voodoo Child and it felt like i was listening to it for the first time i heard new sounds that i never heard before 

list of songs 
Exist strategy - Horizon aura
Jake Chudnow - Shallow Anne
Ermes Thomas Window The Album Leaf
Zack Hemsey - The Way (Instrumental)
Ludovico Einaudi - Nuvole Bianche
Ludovico Einaudi - Divenire
Ludovico Einaudi - I Giorni
Al AMin - Meknes Arabia (to test the bass)
 

Build: It's superb. Feels incredibly sturdy and solid. Pretty sure I can drop them on the ground and they would be fine.
 
Comfort: They are amazing in this department as well. I also got a couple of Beyers laying around, which are pretty much pillows wrapped around your head, (velour pads with lots of 'travel') and the X2's are almost as comfortable. The only thing is, they catch quite a bit of dust, which is easily rubbed off though.
Edit: After 100+ hours of use, I think the X2's are actually more comfortable. When I switched back to the Beyers, I noticed my ears touch the drivers inside the Beyers, this doesn't happen with the X2's. Also the headband on the X2 do a supreme job at distributing the weight across your head. Way better than the barely padded Beyers.
 
Sound: They are the best all-rounders on the market right now in my opinion. And not only in this price category, also above. Read about lot's of people selling their HD-6x0's with crack etc and keeping these with a basic amp like M2/M2 combo or Fiio's. Yes, it's that good. And no, you don't need an amp, but I would recommend one for desktop use, because it really does love some extra power.
They do everything good basically, nothing superb. (roughly said) Except for sub-bass, which is insane on these. Best buy I ever did with headphones.
Won't go into details of the sound much, because I don't feel experienced enough to do so. But user Baycode wrote an excellent long review here.
 
Lows: Very very good. (for open cans) Mids: Great, not as forward as HD-600 etc, but very good. High: Great and smooth. No sibilance for me, although in the beginning there was a bit. But after 50+ Hours, there is no such thing. (burn-in, brain burn-in, call it what you want) Love this because my Beyers sometimes make me almost throw them out of the window. Although the highs on my Beyers are very detailed.
 
All in all these are amazing sounding neutral-ish and relatively warm sounding cans. They don't disappoint with any kind off music.
 
Absolutely wholeheartedly recommend these. They are truly great. Curious to see what Philips is going to do with the X3 in a couple of years. Hopefully kick ass.
 
Here are some pictures:
 

 
 

Build
I've had a lot of headphones in the past and prior to this I thought in the sub 300 price category the Beyer DT990/880 were the best, they certainly still are at the top of the chart but this x2 is just as good and has a better styling, in my opinion these are one of the the better looking headphones out there. The headband is two metal rods that seem pretty sturdy, not exactly sure what the cups are made of but they seem well built and have a nice feel to them, overall I think these are built to last everything on this phone feels of premium quality. 

Aesthetics
To my eyes these cans are gorgeous, Phillips put some effort into the design of this can. With mostly metal and the use of leather on the headband make it look like a premium product. The cups have a very elegant yet simple design and mechanism used to attach the cups to the headband also look great with the circle ring around the ear-cup, I also think the grills complement the look and really like the pattern of the grill, also the grill being silver compared to the stealthy matt-black color of the phone adds contrast. Overall I think its a very pleasing, understated and elegant design. 

Comfort
Comfort has never been an issue for me as I don't even find the LCD series from Audeze uncomfortable and as most of you may have heard that the audeze's have a terrible reputation when it comes to comfort. Using memory foam pads which are pretty thick and the hammock system makes the phillips an easy and comfy wear, they don't create any hotspots on my head nor do they clamp tight, They feel like a pillow on my head they are extremely comfortable, it is when I wear these I notice that the big planars are uncomfortable. I don't think anyone will have an issue with these cans in terms of comfort, I have heard issues with the velour ear pads being itchy for some, unfortunately I don't have this particular problem with mine, could be me or my pair YMMV. 

Sound
I just adore the sound of these, They sound more like speakers in a room. The bass is amazing on these, although my He-500 and El-8 have tighter bass, this has more impact and a better slam which makes it much more pleasing for me, it doesn't quite have the refinement of the planars (texture and detail) but its not far off you could say its on par.
 
The mids are thick, juicy and very organic, they also sound pretty spacious and not as forward as the el-8, I also find the mids on the x2 very coherent and detailed.
 
The highs are a mixed bag for me, they are a bit laid back, which is what I like but they also have some grain and artificial-ness to them, they aren't articulate or as refined as more expensive headphones but still I find that they are not a big complaint at this price range. 


Soundstage and imaging are great on this phone, I find it better than the venerable HD600/650, and I also think they image and do soundstage better than my el-8 and He-500.

 
 
Conclusion
I think phillips has made an exceptional phone not only at its price range but a great headphone period. I think everyone should own a pair of these and enjoy it, they aren't as analytical or technically superb can as the HD-800 or other high end cans, but I believe that they are very balanced and extremely enjoyable and don't really do much wrong and play well with most genres. At the 500 under price range I don't think there is can that will offer a better listening experience than this, for mixing and other pro audio purposes I think one needs to look elsewhere, they are balanced and neutral but tuned for audio enjoyment rather than monitoring or mixing. 

I suspect when a headphone lowers too much in price, it begins to be critisized more. This does not just happen with headphones, but with any product that has a price. It has to do with psychology and I am not going in to that. I will just say that some headphones I have had costing 600 or 700 euros (Grado rs1 or Denon d7200) do not perform as greatly as these X2. Some of you might argue that the D7200 are closed-back headphones, but for 700 euros, I would nonetheless expect them to perform a bit better that a pair of headphone that cost me 79 euros.

Perhaps I prefer the Hifiman Sundaras over the Fidelios, but these are valid alternatives to the Sundara if you favour fullness and versatility (they sound ok when plugged to a phone or a tablet) over speed and ultimate accuracy.

I have also had the HD650 and they had lighter treble, less bass, less soundstage, were less versatile and had more forward mids by comparison. Definition was more or less the same. Overall I prefer the Fidelios between the two.

Let me start this review with some information about the company that made these headphones, Philips. The company that invented the CD, the first radio etc. As a Dutch guy, I'm very connected with this company. I’m studying at the Technical University of Eindhoven, where Philips has their main office and invented all their breakthroughs. This review is totally independent however. 
 
Philips only started to make high-end headphones three years ago, with the X1. It was made by some very young engineers in Belgium, and auditioned by the “golden ears” panel. 
 
There are only two acoustic engineers working at Philips at this moment, and only one industrial designer. It’s an extremely small team. And yet, they’re producing great headphones that are better than Sennheiser’s offerings. Sometimes, the best things seem to come from small teams (like the Microsoft Surface). 
 
Unboxing: In typical Philips “style” the box is very barebones black cardboard with white texts. Nothing fancy at all, no excessive use of parfume (like B&W does). The X1 had better packaging, but was also 100 dollars more expensive. I personally only care about the headphones, not the packaging. You can have stellar packaging (like Audeze), but if the headphone sounds horrible (Audeze el-8), you have only a nice box to look at. 
 
The build quality of these is pretty good, very sturdy and nicely built. In comparison with other brands in the same price range, it is way above the competition. The MDR-Z7 is already squeaking at every joint and the leather is degrading (the MDR-Z7 is a 700 dollar headphone!), I'm confident the X2 will last long.
 
The comfort of these is good, but it takes a while for the metal parts to break in. The clamping force in the beginning is a little bit high. The stretch band works very well and adjusts to your head very easily. If you have a small head, they might be too big. They seem to be developed for Dutch heads (those are pretty big). If you have a small head, the clamping force might be too low. 
 
Sound quality: not a lot of people have Fidelio products in their homes. I have the Fidelio E5 HiFi surround/stereo system. All of these products sound the same. Exactly tuned to their own house sound, as they do that using their golden ears panel, and the two sound engineers. 
 
The tuning is very neutral, no coloring in the mids and highs. The bass goes very deep, but is not exaggerated or lifted in any way. There is a sort of grain in the highs and mids. It isn’t very noticable, but in comparison with the Denon AH-MM400 they are not as clean. The quality of the bass is very addicting and in comparison with other headphones in this price range, but even above (like the EL-8), the Fidelio X2 has a better bass and lifelike sound. 
 
The midrange sounds a bit like it’s “out of phase”. This can be heard on every Fidelio product. It makes Jazz recordings very lifelike and open sounding. It sometimes doesn’t work that well with other genres, as it makes the midrange a bit “distant”. The hollowness is especially bad with poorly mastered rock music and live recordings. I can’t listen to live recordings on my Fidelio E5, as they sound very hollow, the same can sometimes be said about the Fidelio X2. It really depends on the quality of the CD. Keep in mind that a bad mastered song will sound bad on the X2. 
 
The imaging and soundstage is really something you can only get with an open headphone, and the X2 delivers in this regard. It's very good. 
 
In summary, I would recommend this headphone, as it's cheaper than it's rivals, sounds way better, is very comfortable and well-built. 

These are, without a doubt, my favorite headphones I've personally listened to. They are super comfortable (I can listen to these things for hours without any fatigue), really easy to drive, and have amazing build quality. My listening consists of MP3 320 from my laptop>FiiO E07K>Philips Fidelio X2. I have also tried them with my iPhone 6 Plus and it seemed to drive them fine.
 
Sound:
 
Like I said, these are my personal favorite headphones. I think they sound great throughout the entire frequency range. There is actually a surprising amount of bass (not too much for me and I'm not a basshead). To me it sounds like there is quite a wide soundstage, and I can hear all sorts of details that I haven't heard before in my music.
 
Comfort:
 
Wow. Are these things ever comfortable. The pads are really nice, and the auto adjusting headband works really well. I feel like there is the perfect amount of clamping force.
 
Value:
 
I think these cans are one of the best values out there. I've listened to a fair amount of more expensive headphones and I think that these sound better. I have heard some people make the case that the X2s are the best sounding headphone under $1K, and I think I'd agree with them.
 
 
All in all I can't recommend the X2s enough, especially if you are looking for an open can. I love them, and they will be the headphone that I will be using the most from now on,

This is not the absolute best money can buy, but it is the best value amongst all existing headphones in my opinion. As always, it is a matter of taste. But this one is just exactly what I was looking for: Detailed open cans with fun and tight bass for my computer. It's not a neutral sounding headphone, so if that is what you're looking for, look elsewhere and I mean it. If you want warm, emotional and fun, this is it! 
 
It kind of combine the best from my K701, HD650 and my Edition 9. From my K701, it has a wide soundstage without being too airy along with its nice detailed highs. From the HD650, it has the warmer sound signature I love, but without being laid-back. And from my Edition 9, the punchy and fast bass, but without being as overpowered like them. Unfortunately, at high volume, it can sound bright like my Edition 9, something I really can't stand. But I never listen at high volume, so it's just perfectly at the limit of what sounds bright to me. A very weak point is female voices can get artificial on some occasions, something in the high mids does that, but they sound really good for everything else. Very engaging headphones, they are very good to get immerse in movies and video games. Not neutral for sure, but extremely well-balanced and fun.
 
Of course, one can find better headphones that cost over a thousands, but have to be paired with expensive amplifiers. This one stands out as being self-reliant. Easy to drive, it sounds wonderful even on an iPhone. I love them so much that I decided my quest for full-size headphones was over and sold all my other home headphones and amplifiers. Yes, these made me quit or, should I say, retire from the audiophile madness.
 
Still need to find my perfect custom IEM though...

Well, opening the box, I had set my expectations aside. But boy does the build quality impress: rock solid, tank like cans, yet not heavy. Now I became nervous, what if Philiphs had poured all the budget into build quality, and not sound?
 
I plugged them into my amp, put my complex Arjen A. Lucassen "Starchild" track on which all my headphones are measured against, and they did not faulter. Instruments had their own place, all the specialties of Arjens instruments could be heard, and coming to the heavy space parts, it was very deep and rich for an openback. Here some few closed backs and planars will pull ahead, but no other midfi dynamic will do that. The extremely powerful singing of the few elite, could be heard clearly and naturally. Impressive.
 
Trebles were detailed, and lack the grain most people are on about. Trebles are clear compared to sennheisers HD600 slightly veiled ones. Due to the scoop in the treble range of what I remeber is about 6hz, there is no resonance in ear for me, which means these needed no further equlization out of box. Mids are mids though, they are good and impressive for the price, but nothing I notice or praise, they are just too well balanced.
 
Summary: Philips golden ears project apparently paid off and they created a headphone which punches way above its price (and on sale, imo unbeatable audiophile price/performance value), which even don't need an amp to sound decent (but will still benefit from one)

I got my X2 Christmas day and now have 5-6 hours listening and 20+ burning in. I use a Headroom Total Bithead and iTunes with ALAC Redbook on a 2011 MacBook Pro. My other full size headphones are a pair of modded Sennheiser HD 580s with HD600 grills and a HD650 cable and some Grado SR125s with stock cable, new stock ear pads, and a lambskin headband. Also own (but not used for this review) TTVJ Millet Hybrid Portable, Senn Amperior, Ety HF2, UE TF.10 Pro (981/1000), and MEElec A151P. My main system is DefTech BP-6Bs, Arcam A80, Schiit Bifrost Uber USB, fully upgraded Pro-Ject Debut III, and Audioquest cables. I listen to hip-hop, pop, and rock. Most of my headphone listening is with my computer. The tracks I used for evaluation are Daft Punk's Give Life Back to Music from Random Access Memories, Dinosaur Jr.'s Pierce the Morning Rain from I Bet on Sky, and Kendrick Lamar's Money Trees from Good Kid M.A.A.D. City. 

First off, I love the X2. They have a great sense of space, wonderful mids, and deep bass. I've been most impressed with their ability to preserve dynamics in recordings, but bass reproduction is a close second.
 
Comfort:  HD580>X2>SR125
 
The Senns are slightly more comfortable due to the large ovals and foam vs the pure circle and elastic of the X2, but that's splitting hairs. Both sets are insanely comfortable and wear well for several hours. The Grados are very light, but the foam isn't soft and sits on the ear rather than around your head. The Grado headband has no clamping force, so they're not very secure either. Not great for long listening sessions or when you have to move around. The Senns and X2 both stay put. 
 
SQ: All three are equal, but for different reasons. The HD580 is neutral and smooth with good detail retrieval, the SR125 is quick and airy, and the X2 is a great all-rounder with decent detail retrieval, fantastic dynamics, better bass than both, and a hint of warmth. 
 
The X2 is slightly more mid-forward than neutral which gives them a warm feel, but it's only noticeable in A/B tests with the Senns. The Senns are crazy neutral and don't dig as deep as the X2 or have the treble extension of the X2. The Senns aren't as dynamic as the X2. The Grados aren't either. The Grados are faster than the X2 and have a boost in the presence range. The Grados have better attack and speed- the X2 and Senns both feel slow in comparison, like the difference between BA and dynamic IEMs. The Grados isolate notes much better than the X2 or Senns, but that clarity comes from their speed and a boost in the presence range. Definitely not neutral, but lacks the bass impact to be truly V shaped. 

My immediate impression is that the HD580 and X2 have nearly identical neutral signatures, with the X2 having more solid bass, a slightly bumped up midrange, and a better sense of space and dynamics. The X2 is slightly less smooth than the HD580, but the detail is still all there. The differences are slight except for bass response and dynamic performance. The extra bass extension is immediately noticeable, dynamics take a few listens to hear the differences. Against the Grados, the X2 sounds fuller but slightly less realistic, especially with cymbals and snares. 

Overall, the X2 is fantastic. It's comfortable and sounds great stacked against a fun headphone and a true (if aging) reference headphone. I only need one set of full size cans, and I'd be happy to keep the X2. I'll be selling the SR125 and HD580 because I've found my keeper set of cans. Check the FS section for the listings. 
 
Update: Tried the X2 with Laptop --> Bifrost--> Millet Hybrid. The X2 scales really well. Sounds great with both tubes and solid state. My millet swings 8+ volts, which probably explains how the bass solidified vs. the Total Bithead. Imaging and separation improved as well, but that could be the DAC. I'm just happy I can hear the differences- I don't know why some people are calling the X2 mid-fi. It's clearly hi-fi to my ears.

Edit: Will report back here with Fidelio X2/Fiio X5 impressions when the X5 arrives. My X5 hasn't shipped yet, but I plan on using it to replace the Total Bithead as a USB amp/DAC with the added bonus of playing off the grid too. 

UPDATE!

I don't want to get lost in audiophile nonsense language here. The X5 HO is amazing- it's clarity and control are the best I've heard. Not for a portable. For anything. This is a dream combo. 

The story doesn't end there... I stacked the X5 with my PMHA. The X5 running a TTVJ Portable Hybrid with the X2s is insane.

The PMHA is sidegrade or even downgrade in some areas compared to the HO of the X5, for example, bass is noticeably flabby in comparison. I don't even care. There's way more of it. The realism that the tubes give is worth it. Call it midrange bloom, weight, bass slam, whatever. Doesn't matter what you call it, you just have to hear the difference on a suitable recording. I'm using an ALAC rip of Opeth's "Ghost of Perdition" from Ghost Reveries. It's perfect for this combo. It's brutal authority with glowing mids and effortless treble. This combo is worth its weight in gold. For the first time ever, I'm not sorry about my wallet. 

The Philps Fidelio X2 was purchased by me and I’m not in any way affiliated with Philips.
 
Introduction:
The Philips Fidelio X2 is Philips top of the line full size open headphones. I picked up my pair about five months ago and thought it was about time to post a review on them.
 
Built and accessories:
The Fidelio X2’s features 50 mm neodymium drivers in a fully open back design.
 
First impression when opening the box was very positive. The package felt exclusive and the headphones themselves feel very premium. Materials like real leather, aluminum, steel and pads filled with memory foam makes them both look and feel premium. I’ve got a couple of other mid-fi cans as well (SR325is. Q701, DT880) and none of them has the same feeling of quality as the X2’s.
 
Regarding the pads they’re detachable and said to be user replaceable but since Philips still doesn’t provide any spare pads I think it’s better to think of the pads as not replaceable. I really think it’s a shame that Philips didn’t add the pads to their line up the day they started to sell the X2’s.
 
Although the weigh as much as 380 grams they don’t feel heavy at all and I can use them for hours without any discomfort. I’ve got a very small head but I’ve got no problem wearing these for several hours. Initially the pads felt a bit stiff but after heavy usage for several months they’re now extremely comfortable and the pads seem to hold their shape really well.
 
The included cable is 3 meter long and terminated with 3,5mm plugs in both ends. Although the cable itself is pretty nice I swapped it for a shorter one almost immediately because I prefer a shorter one for comfort reasons.  I think Philips should have included a shorter cable and an extension cable instead for better flexibility.
 
Included accessories are limited to the 3 m long cable, a 3.5 to 6.5mm adapter and a shirt clip.
 
 
The Specs:
 
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Sound:
I've used the Fidelio X2’s for well over 200 hours. I’ve used it with my Sony Xperia Z3 Compact, FiiO X3, FiiO X3/Bluebird 6.0 combo, AQ Dragonfly/Cayin C5 combo, Geek Out 720 and Geek Out 720 combined with Matrix M-stage/Schiit Magni/Little Dot I+/Cayin C5. They’ve performed very well with all of the above but my favorite combination is the one with the Geek Out 720 and Matrix M-stage.
 

 
 
I’ve also used them quite a bit with Yamaha RX-A810 receiver watching movies and TV shows on late evenings and that’s also worked very well. I’ve also tried listening to music with them through the Yamaha and this just sound OK, a bit too boomy bass for my preference this way probably due to a quiet high output impedance o the receiver.
 
 
Demo list:
Mark Knopfler – Sailing to Philadelphia
Røyksopp (Feat.Susanne Sundfør) – Save Me
Ane Brun – These Days
Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana
Alice in Chains – Them Bones
The Peter Malick Group – Immigrant
Eva Cassidy – Songbird
Thomas Dybdahl – A Lovestory
Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why
Celldweller – Unshakeable
Jack Johnson – Better Together
Seinabo Sey – Younger (Kygo remix)
Dire Straits- So Far Away
Passenger – Let Her Go
Morrissey – Earth Is the Loneliest Planet
 
The overall sound signature on the Fidelio X2’S is full and well balanced with a small hump in the bass region. Although the X2’s are a full sounding headphone it still offers great clarity and details and there’s no sign of muddiness in the presentation.
 
Soundstage width is good even for a full size open headphone while depth and imaging in very good and probably one of, if not the, strongest parts in the way the X2’s sound.
 
The bass is probably the first thing one notice when listening to the X2’s. It’s very present and impactful for an open headphone. The bass is focused on the lower notes and only on very rare occasions does the bass get boomy and leaks into the midrange. The bass has very good layering and feels well controlled and integrated with the rest of the sound. I consider myself very sensitive to bass bleed and the X2’s really manage to stay just in line with what I can accept except with some very few albums/songs that’s recorded with a high bass presence (Jack Johnson’s “Better together” is an example of such a recording) being the “rare occasions” mentioned above.
 
The midrange doesn’t feel neither recessed nor up front but there’s a slight lift in the lower mids that makes the transaction from the lows smooth and overall sound smooth and full. Coming from something like one of the AKG 70X siblings  the mids might feel recessed initially but once you adapt to the sound of the X2’s it just feels right. I really love my mids and it’s my impression that the X2’s delivers in every way in this area.
 
The treble is well controlled and in good balance with the rest of the frequencies. I’ve read reports about both grain and sibilance in the treble but fortunately this isn’t something my ears are not able to hear at all and if anything I could do with slightly more treble presence. That being said extension is very good and I’m not missing anything there.
 
Comparison:
Fidelio X2 vs AKG Q701:
Compared to the Fidelio X2 the Q701 has a pretty similar soundstage in both depth and width. The midrange (especially the higher mids)  on the Q’s is  more forward while overall sound is less full and bass impact and presence is also lower. The hump in the higher mids/lower highs gives the Q’s an overall brighter and more airy presentation, they’ve also have got more treble presence while treble extension is pretty similar.
 
While both headphones uses velour pads only the X2’s uses memory foam inside and this makes them more comfortable to wear for longer sessions. I also think that the self-adjusting headband on the X2’s does a better job keeping them in place although they weigh over 50% more. The X2’s also feels more solid in overall construction while the Q’s are a bit “plastic fantastic”.  
 
Although the 62Ohm/93dB Q701’s are notorious for needing a lot of power they actually don’t need much more volume on the M-stage to reach the same listening level (11 vs 12 o’clock on the volume pot).
 

 
 
Fidelio X2 vs Grado SR325is:
Compared to the Fidelio X2 the Grado’s has a smaller soundstage width and lose out in depth as well. The midrange on the Grado’s is  more forward while overall sound is less full and bass impact (especially sub-bass) and presence is also  lower. The overall presentation of the Grado’s is more intimate, brighter and with more treble presence ending up in a feeling of better clarity.
 
I’ve always found the comfort on the stock Grado’s to be terrible due to the combination of the weight of the housings and my small head. I’m also not particular found of on ears so I’ve modded my 325is with a HD650 head pad and some OEM velour pads and in this configuration I’d say that comfort is about equal between the two. The construction on the Grado’s is very simple but the material is also very good so I’d say that build quality is also equal on the two.
 
At 32Ohm/98dB the SR325is are rated very similar to the X2’s and that also shows in practice where I use them with the volume pot in the same place for both.
 

 
 
Fidelio X2 vs Fischer Audio FA-011:
The FA-011 was a revelation as an open headphone with great bass impact a couple of years ago. Compared to the X2’s they’ve got less sub bass and more mid-bass and also lose out in bass quality. They’ve got a much smaller soundstage in both depth and width and honestly are outclassed sonically by the X2’s.
 
Comfort is very good on both although the stock pads on the FA-011’s very thin so I’ve replaced them with some HiFiMAN velour pads and that works really well. I really love the wood housing of the FA-011’s but apart from that the construction is flimsy and gives a cheap feeling so overall build quality is definitely better on the X2’s.
 
At 160 Ohm/98dB the FA-011 are quite a bit harder to drive compared to the X2.
 

 
 
Summary:
While the Fidelio X2 is not the headphone for someone preferring a cold “neutral” sound I honestly don’t find it to be particular warm either but rather full and natural sounding.
 
The fact that they sound great out of any source and with any kind of music makes them the best all round headphone I’ve ever owned and I get a bit scared when thinking about what it’ll cost me to move up to a significantly better sound. Luckily I’m in no hurry for that since I still fully enjoy the Fidelio X2’s and expecting to do so for a long time still.  

A short review comparing these to a few other headphones that I own: NAD HP50, Bose QC25, and Sennheiser HD595. Listening via Dragonfly Red and Aune X1s. 
 
These are the only headphones I own that will survive a nuclear apocalypse. They're built so well and feel so good in the hand. It's all metal and leather. 
 
And then Philips goes and blows my mind with the sound these make. They best all these other headphones that I've mentioned in most ways. See my review of the NAD HP50s for a more detailed comparison. 
 
Look, if you want perfect neutrality and a headphone that precisely recreates what the artist recorded, the NAD HP50s or perhaps the Sennheiser HD600s might be closer to the mark. But if you want headphones that just make you groove and bop your head and enjoy your day, buy the X2s. They deserve a place in any collection, especially given the price. 
 
These are fun headphones that make even bad music sound good. Seriously, I'm thinking of listening to Spice Girls and One Direction just for the sake of proving this point. There's something to the sound that is hard to define--I could talk about treble and bass and detail and soundstage, and all of those things are good, but they're all pretty good on the HP50s, too, and I don't enjoy my music near so much wearing them as these. 
 
That's why you buy them. It's not about an audiophile's breakdown of why these are good or bad. It's simply that you stop worrying about what headphones you're wearing or what DAC you're listening to, and you just enjoy your music and get on with your day. 

The Philips Fidelio X2 are my favorite of all the headphones I have listened so far, except the LCD3, for a few reasons. I have a few headphones (Blue Mo-Fi, HD800, HD650, HD598, HD558, Urbanite On Ear, Urbanite Over Ear, Philips Fidelio X1, Grado SR80e, Beyerdynamic CustomOnePro, NVX XPT100, AKG K702,  HD419, HD429, HD449, ATHM50X, Audeze LCD3, Westone W30, Clarity One, Westone Alpha beta, Monster Cable Copper Pro, SMS In Ear Sport, JayBird BlueBuds X, Beyerdynamic DT99032, and more)....yes I actually have all of these as I work with headphones all day. They work will with pretty much every genre of music and sound really good. I listen to a wide variety of music, pretty much every genre except for Banda and Ranchero music. In my opinion they really shine on hip hop/rap, dubstep, and other electronic.  With music that focuses more on vocals and instruments like reggae, jazz, etc they could use a slight more center stage presence but unless you're able to AB test it to HD650 level headphones or higher you won't even notice.  They are slightly less detailed compared to some higher end cans but very close in my opinion. I like them better than the HD650 except the highs which are more laid back yet still detailed. With that said, I SOMETIMES switch to the HD650 when listening to bands and jazz. Anyways, I could go on for days about headphones so I'll end it here.  Great job Philips.

Fidelio X2 is a really nice headphone at this price point. I paid only 190 USD for a new pair and cannot be more happy with the purchase. X2 sounds very open and has an airy soundstage. Still the imaging is quite good, especially compared to some other headphones with large soundstage, like the AKGs k712 or k7xx. The bass goes very deep indeed and is nicely controlled.
 
It is important to pair the Fidelio with an amp with low output impedance. O2, for example, is a really nice match for X2. But even Matrix M-Stage works well with the Fidelio.
 
The sound signature is on the darkish side of neutral which means that the initial perception of details will be missing. Actually, X2 is a very revealing headphone once we have tuned in to their sound signature. With some music, larger orchestral pieces for instance, X2 can be perceived as a little muddy, compared to some pricier (and brighter) headphones like T90 or HE-400i for example. This is actually not a big deal and the difference is not that large. I still like X2 for listening to large orchestral pieces.The strings sound rich and the full-bodied bottom end gives very nice weight to orchestras. The sound of X2 is very life-like and transparent for acoustic music. 
 
Overall this is probably the greatest bargain at the moment, alongside Hifiman HE-400s and AKG k7xx. Great bang for the buck 

Very, very, very good headphones, Kudos to Philips for making such a stunning performer.
Neutral headphones, they still mantain a very high fun factor and high trasparency. Very detailed yet very musical too. A true masterpiece. Bass is extended, creamy, textured, detailed and with good presence. Mids are perfection. Highs are smooth yet airy and sparkly, holographical. Not laid back in any way, yet smooth. Very very easy to drive, even from a smartphone. Very high trasparency and wide soundstage. They only lack the ultra uber high end tecnicalities of a 30.000$ system, but not even HD800s have that. Still burning in probably, here are some impressions on some songs.
Check the end of the review for burn in impressions.
Animusic: 

Acustic Courves 
Oh my god. This is wonderful. Incredible detail, with a supremely organic and layered sound. Pluck of guitars is very satisfying and with excellent texturing. Drums are excellent, with great body and presence. Very realistic.
9.5/10
The Harvester
The strings. Ohhhh. How good, so organic, yet realistic. Veeeeery very good. And then the electric guitar. It's just perfection. Not  too intimate, not too spread, with right amount of body. X2 has a very high ability to mantain high contrast and sound still fun and smooth.
10/10
Pipe Dreams
Again very very good contrast, organic yet airy sound (!?!?!). Very very enjoyable and neutral. Very good soundstage. Instruments are all around, you feel in the room.
9.8/10
 
I Want To Spend My Lifetime Loving You - Tina Arena & Marc Anthony

Vocals are sooo good. Very good extension and transparency. Very very enjoyable. Addicting. Exceptional naturalness and wide, immersive soundstage. Very controlled, great body.
10/10
 
I will always love you - Dolly Parton & Vince Gill

Again, vocals are just exceptional. Stunning. I don't know what to say, I would just repeat myself. This is incredible, how balanced the sound is, yet how enjoyable.
9.8/10
 
Digital Love - Daft Punk

 
Bass is really great. Very immersive. Vocals, as always, just perfect.I'm stunned by the ability of these headphones to never sound congested. Very good detail. BAss is very "open", almost as if in a real room. Definitely not boomy, very very good control and transparency. And again, that feeling of enjoyment. You forget the headphones.
9.5/10
One Day (Vandaag) - Bakermat

Exceptional realism. Pianos have great body and realism. Bass slam is fenomenal. Very good Prat and impact. Perfect vocal rapresentation. Very good soundstage. Right amount of sparkle.
9.5/10
 
What I Might Do - Ben Pearce

Stunning bass performance, vocal perfection, very detailed yet involving. Bass is almost creamy.
10/10
 
Bust A Move - Infected Mushroom

 GREAT! Really great! Very airy and detailed. Bass is again present and impactful, creamy. Cymbals are higly realistic. I hate repeating myself, but again, vocal perfection. Incredible soundstage. Very airy. Wonderful imaging abilities.
10/10
Savant - Nazareth

 
Very high realism and contrast. High detail retrieval, great soundstage. Very good impact and PRAT. Very credible. Still pretty smooth anyway.
9.5/10
 
Savant - Wild Ganja

Again a stunning performance, perfect balance, extremely wide soundstage. Bass has very good punch and presence, mids are perfect, highs detailed and smooth but not laid back.
10/10
 
Moonlight Sonata - Beethoven

 
Exceptional. Stunning. Lovely. You feel the notes on the piano as if they were real. Black background. Very immersive.
10/10
 I will add more songs and impressions as burn in goes on.
These are very very very good allrounders anyway.
 
Having owned HD600s, wich i loved very much but ended up selling after getting some HD800s, I have to say these are clearly better. Yes, better than HD600s and near HD800s. I'm the one who spent 1200 dollars for HD800s anyway
Vs HD650s: X2 has much better soundstage,sound is more realistic; definitely more enjoyable sound (especially bass is more extended, textured and punchy, one of the weaknesses of HD650 IMO), highs are more airy, much more holographical sounding but still lightly warm and smooth sound. Mids on X2 are more neutral( I always found HD650 to be emphatised at around 500Hz) but equally natural. HD650s are a little more forgiving, treble is a little tilted down on them on some areas but more present higher up and i do not find it very entertaining. On X2s it is almost right, smooth, yet not laid back, definitely. There's sparkle. HD650 is near neutral, but there is a little veil, since it is a little warm but with not perfect bass extension and forward mid-bass. X2s are definitely the winner here.
 
VS HD800s:X2 has a little less wide sound,separation, detail and articulation on par. Still more enjoyable, but HD800's sound is a little more transparent (faster, more control, less distortion?) but not by much. still X2 has better depth, more credibility and a more balanced sound, in fact they are very good even without amp. HD800 has a more analytical sound (it is not bright, but bass is very fast and it presents detail in a forward sounding way). HD800 is tecnically better but X2 is the better headphone overall.
These are the most enjoyable headphones I have ever heard. Neutral but fun, with both a hint of warmth and of sparkle. Fenomenal. 
Comfort and build quality are very high. Pads are very comfy (no problems of ink leak), headband almost disappears. Comfort about on par with HD800s. Cable has much better quality than HD650's stock but seems less high end than HD800's.
Price/performance ratio is the best i have ever seen in audio. If these were selling for 900$, it would still be good value. Yes they are that good
I have had them for few days (almost two weeks), thus the sound may change ... will post if it happens.
 
Look is very good for the headphones by themselves, not so much on head because of the big headband system,looks a bit weird on head. Still very sexy though  
 
Overall thoughts:
 
Sound: 10-
 
   Bass presentation: 10
 
   Mids presentation: 10- (slightly behind HD600 wich is more natural)
 
   Highs presentation: 9 (a little artificial atm times, not the smoothest out there)
 
   Distortion measurements: 9+
 
   Space recreation and coherence: 9.7
   
   Fun factor: high
   
   Transparency: high
 
Comfort: 9.7
  
   Pads: 9.5
 
   Headband: 10
 
Look: 9
  
   Alone: 9.5
   
   On head: 8.5
 
Value: 10+
 
Overall: 9.5
 




 

 

 
 
 

 

P.S.: you want a more HD650ish sound? Try placing HD6xx foam, cut to fit, over the drivers(under the pads). Hd6xx sound with better extension and imaging.
 
Burn in impressions: sound is definitelt improving and I don't think it's placebo since with HD800 I heard no change whatsoever in sound . These are definitely changing. Mids are more forward now, the sound in general got more trasparent and a little more smooth. Maybe pads are changing with use? Dunno, anyway, for anyone buying them, wait at least two weeks of burn in until giving them a final judgement. Again, I'm shocked by the quality. Very very good Philips
 
Burn in 2: these keep improving it's crazy. Or I'm becoming crazy. Really, this cannot be true, for so little money. They are really really underestimated just because they are relatively cheap compared to the insane prices of hifi audio.
Revising votes as time goes. Sound gets a little more mellow

I own these for almost a year, so I thought they deserve my positive opinion in written form (I wouldn't call it a review).

At the beginning I have to make clear I am not a professional audiophile, not even an audiophile. I just like my music in the best possible quality I can get for my money. I like good value for money musical headphones, I want a pair of headphones, that put a smile on my face.

I didn't find headphones better for that purpose than X2s so far. Actually I prefer them over HD600 or HE-400s.

I like experimental electronica, different types of psychedelic music, downtempo, ambient, etc., so details are quite important for me, so is bass, layering and space.
Occasionally I listen to other type of music as well, but this is my main direction.

Even though I like HD600 or HE400s for classical or acoustic instrumental music (and vocal) for my purposes X2s blow them away.

HD600s have an unmatched midrange, but lack extension in treble and even more in bass. 400s has a better extension, but still sound pale and lifeless compared to X2s with EDM.
Choosing between 600s and 400s is personal preference. They are very close in purpose and target group. Balanced, neutral, natural sound. Not too exciting, but realistic and honest. For monitoring or realistic acoustic sound you can't go wrong with any of them.

However, if you are into modern music, X2s will give you 3 times more joy than any of the previously mentioned headphones.
Bass and soundstage is exceptional. Sound feels full, there is body to it. Mids might feel a tad recessed, but the sound is quite balanced, and you have that awesome bass what you can't find in any other full sized opened headphone. Great bass with not loosing the space of an opened headphone.
What a deal for this price!

Not perfect, of course. Could be more balanced, but it delivers the Hi-Fi grade sound for a crazy price. (£165 new at the moment? No brainer. It competes with £400 headphones with a proper DAC.)

Talking about DACs it does make a big difference, what DAC or headphone amp you use. X2s might have low impedance, and sound is quite fine out of phone or laptop, but does benefit a lot from quality DACs and amps. 
 
I tried X2s from phone, laptop, tried it with iFi Micro and Nano iCan and Chord Mojo.
 To me from phone and laptop they sounded pretty bad.
From Micro and Nano they were fine, enjoyable, but a bit V shaped.
From Mojo however they sound much more balanced. Mids are not anymore in the background, and all frequencies of the music are equally there.
Compared to Micro iCan, Mojo made X2s sound almost like a different pair of headphones.

In my opinion X2s are easily judged superficially. There is much more potential in them as the average reviewer says.
They were made for people who simply want to enjoy their music. Especially if that music is from the last 30 years.
These are just great fun. And they do scale good with higher end equipment.

At $225, I can't imagine anything better.  The build quality would do a $1000 headphone justice.  Fit is very comfortable and snuggly on the head.  Sound is VERY dynamic and full bodied.  Mids are slightly recessed but overall balance very good.  Bass is excellent for an open headphone--perhaps excellent period.

To be totally honest, I went for the Fidelio a bit biased. I own several pairs SHP2000 and have always considered the name Fidelio as the highest form of Hi-Fi. Therefore, you may say im a Philips fanboy....

Yes and no. What drew me to the SHP2000 was its cheap price and what you get for it. 40mm angled drivers, velour pads and minimalist design. Open back too. What more could you want for 20$. Well, headband cushion would be nice, but cant complain for the price. Nor cant complain about the neutral sound with lots of bass. Perfect as a commuter headset that allows you to hear traffic while having the guts to punch some tunes when it gets quiet. And since they were cheap, not a big loss to replace them every 2-3 years when they got worn form all the dust, sun, rain, sweat and so on.

But something was missing. At that point I had heard Sennheisers, Koss, AKG. Even a couple of planars. High range was lacking in comparison. Even the mellow bass seemed lacking. What I needed...was a proper headset.

Then I remembered an ad I saw years ago about the first Fidelio X1. Instantly hooked on the classic curves and beefy grill. And thats what drew me to the Fidelios. The look. The average, classical clean look. Nothing fancy, but not lacking in style in any way. In a way, a more royal form to everything else.

And then came the magic moment I got a pair if X2HR-s. To be honest, I was not blown away, like with Senneheisers. I was not amazed like I had with planars. It felt like I was listening to SHP2000-s...but with a bit more volume. I really had to listen to the subtle difference in high range clarity and punchy bass. The funny thing is...I could listen to them, even concentrate on finding "it"

Reason being these headphones are the most comfortable pair I have ever tried. And even when they are full metal and weigh almost 2x to any Sennheiser or AKG. You simply cant notice them for extended periods of time. Elastic headband conforms perfectly to your head and the big velour memory foam cushions form a nice contact over the ears. Pressure has been well established with metal hoops and the leather binder is un-commonly sturdy. The metal construction has no creaks, no rattles.

And then comes the reproduction. Everyone will say its neutral, un-offensive, pleasing. Yet, somehow its has more bass than most of its competitors. Thanks to the 50mm drivers, they ought to have. Couple of other tricks Philips engineers pulled are angled drivers and very well tuned reflex port. Angled drivers point the radiation pattern away from your ear canals, allowing a passive filtering by manipulating radiating patterns. And the reflex port allows just enough rear end to bleed through to boost the bass.

All this coupled with neodynium motors and you have a pair if headphones that are...average. Nothing special, they do the job. And you might be thinking: thats a bit anti-climactic.

But here is the genius of Philips. While everyone else is busy making THE BEST, nailing the average takes more skill. It takes more skill to make something that you are not going to get tired of (which I was after a short period of time with fore mentioned high-end headphones) even after many many hours. Something that works and does it with classy elegance. And the best part is: Fidelio X2HR costs around 200$/€/£. Thats 2-3x less than most other high-end offerings. The funny thing is...you can get the same neutral warm sound for only 1/10th of the price too.

So to sum up this, I thought I would borrow from Old Top Gear and something either Clarkson, May or Hammond would have said. Comparing a modern hypercar to a beautiful classic. Its not difficult to put a 1000Hp engine in a body styled to look like a jet fighter, everybody is doing it. And its fun for that little while until you get scared or tired from spinning around all day. But if you have an old Jaguar E-type, you get the sensation of an average handling car that sounds magnificent, looks absolutely stunning. Is comfortable to drive...and does so for as long as there is a sunny summer road. And THAT is the essence of a car!

This particular pair of X2 appear to have glue only on the pegs, not anywhere else. Sound like all other good X2.
 
So I get the box in the mail, and upon first inspection I notice that you might have to run over these with a car to destroy them. Plenty of metal to go around.
 
Looks: I like the look, though they do portray a bit of a horn shape, which is kinda frowny-face. They look good overall though.
 
Build: Holy crap these are tough. the construction is solid. They are kinda heavy as a result.
The removable cable feature is wonderful, and the included cable is Fantastic; one of the best cables I have ever seen.
If you want you can use a V-moda BoomPro with the Fidelio X2 (a fantastic mic btw).
The headband uses the suspension system I am not usually much of a fan of, but Philips does it the right way, making it solid enough that I am not worried about movement, padding, or anything else I usually associate with suspended designs. The pads on the earcups are kinda hard, but somehow are still nice enough not to complain much about. The comfort surpassed my expectations.
 
Sound: 
I waited to write this review until i had received all the headphones I recently purchased to arrive. This includes the Pioneer SE-A1000, HD558, SHP9500, Fidelio x2, and the AKG k7xx.
 
I will put these in order of cleanliness.
1. SHP9500
2. K7xx
3. SE-A1000
4. HD558
5. Fidelio X2
 
The thing to note here is that cleanliness is not all there is to sound. I get the most resolve out of the SHP9500, but that does not mean they have the best overall sound quality.
 
As you see, the X2 in on the bottom for cleanliness. This is immediately apparent when putting these on. I was not impressed by the clarity at all. I couldn't believe it. I was feeling mislead. I took them downstairs and asked a nice woman to try them out, and she plugged them straight into her iphone (didn't care much for the dac/amp). She picked a song, listened for 20 seconds then smiled and put the headphone on my head. The key to the puzzle is bass. 
 
Recommended song:
Til The Day I Die - TobyMac
 
This is the song she played. I instantly understood why these are so popular. The sheer quality of the bass tones these produce is fantastic.
If I made a Bass list, these would be first for both volume and quality (dynamic open headphones). I simply said "wow" with wide open eyes, proceeded to let her enjoy them for a while, then went back upstairs and drooled everywhere as every dubstep song on the planet was funneled into my ears. The goal is not accuracy, it is sheer enjoyment, and the Fidelio X2 do this in style.
I still am not convinced the soundstage is much. It sounds kinda wide, but there is no foward/back depth.
 
I have a hard time comparing there to anything else I own. The closest thing I have owned is a cheap pair of earbuds with were bass mongers. Clearly the Fidelio X2 blows those to another galaxy.
 
Now, this has been a topic many have wondered, and discussed: the SHP9500 vs the Fidelio X2. This is like comparing apples and oranges. The SHP9500 is neutral with very good clarity, and thinner bass. The Fidelio X2 is one heck of a bassy pleasure can. Is the Fidelio X2 worth the price increase? This is not the right question to ask. The Fidelio X2 is in no way an "upgrade of the SHP9500" They are completely different.
 
The other comparison others might mention is the Fidelio X2 vs the K7XX. This is more fair than comparing the X2 to the SHP9500, but still not quite fair. The K7XX is far cleaner, and more toward the analytic side of the equation. I don't know If I could pick between the two, but I would have to give the overall sound quality edge to the K7XX. I think most will find the K7XX boring in comparison to the Fidelio X2, but I prefer the sound of the K7XX personally.
 
Conclusion: If you like open back, but miss your bass: buy these. If you like your bass, but think you will miss your vocals, these might not be for you. If you like thin analytic sound a lot, go elsewhere.
I recommend these with the caution above.
 
If there is anything else you guys want, please feel free to comment, and I will update the review accordingly.

This review won't be too detailed, just a vote of respect for such a fine pair of headphones.  I tend to like warm toned headphones, rather than purely neutral sets, and the Philips Fidelio X2 has met my expectations in its ability to bring some bass into play, while keeping the airiness of open back headphones intact.  Sound stage is wide, but not deep with this set, and it has great energy/liveliness to the sound.
 
Though bass is its main claim to fame, the X2 doesn't seem to reach deep into the sub-bass regions, so for pure bass heads, it may not be enough.  Its been more than adequate for me, though the mids do recede too much sometimes and the highs are not always well controlled.  I find that mediocre recordings or low bitrate streams don't sound good with the X2.  Another characteristic of the set is its need for power.  Though they'll run from portable devices, or straight from the computer, they don't really shine until I hook them to an amp.
 
Physical construction is first rate, with excellent materials used throughout.  I'm not the greatest fan of suspension headbands, but these surprised me with both their comfort and effectiveness.  The pads on the X2 are large enough for my oversized ears and comfort levels are very good.  I can wear them for several hours at a time with no issues.
 
Overall, I'd certainly recommend them for casual listening, but they are not intended for those looking for ultimate precision and a razor edged analytical presentation. 

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
 
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 
THE VIDEO!  Here's my extended video-review of the Fidelio X2's (with comparisons to my similarly priced Denon D2000 and Sennheiser HD600):
 

 
___________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 
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.
 
________________________________________________________________________________________________
 
 
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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