Philips Fidelio X2?!

[Slater]

Hey guys, I posted a few days ago regarding problems I was having with bass rattling in the left ear of my X2's when volume is up fairly high using low or high gain on a Fiio E17 + mobile phone.
I'm still torn between keeping them and using them to listen at lower volumes or sending them back.
I'd like to ask if anyone thinks it may be a case of the E17 pushing the drivers too hard at those higher volumes, and if a more powerful amp that doesn't need to be turned up a lot may help ease the rattling or distortion I'm getting with the E17?

Also, as a side note, I've been looking at amps like the Schiit Magni 3, could I use this without a DAC to listen to music from my phone + headphones? Or even use the E17 as a DAC attached to this setup?
And if so, are there better alternatives to the Magni around the same price range?

I use mine with my FiiO A5, which has way more power than the E17. And I have no such issues. I would send them back for exchange. You have some sort of defect. It could be a crinkled driver, which 1 person in this thread had on his (it's easily fixable though).

 

[Techy1210]

I use mine with my FiiO A5, which has way more power than the E17. And I have no such issues. I would send them back for exchange. You have some sort of defect. It could be a crinkled driver, which 1 person in this thread had on his (it's easily fixable though).

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I think with that info, I'll just send them back. I've already exchanged one pair for this current pair, and both have had the exact same issue, which is why I thought it may be something other than the headphones themselves.
A real shame, as I do love the sound they produce. I'll just enjoy them for the 30 day return period I have with them as I don't intend to exchange them for yet another pair, and possibly order a pair of X2HR's further down the line in hope I don't get the same problem.

In the meantime, I have a pair of Sennheiser HD58X's on the way, and look forward to hearing those.
You mention the Fiio A5, I had a quick search for it and it looks like something I'm after at the moment. Would it have plenty of power for a pair of headphones that are around 300ohms?

 

[Slater]

Thanks for the reply.
Yes, I think with that info, I'll just send them back. I've already exchanged one pair for this current pair, and both have had the exact same issue, which is why I thought it may be something other than the headphones themselves.
A real shame, as I do love the sound they produce. I'll just enjoy them for the 30 day return period I have with them as I don't intend to exchange them for yet another pair, and possibly order a pair of X2HR's further down the line in hope I don't get the same problem.

In the meantime, I have a pair of Sennheiser HD58X's on the way, and look forward to hearing those.
You mention the Fiio A5, I had a quick search for it and it looks like something I'm after at the moment. Would it have plenty of power for a pair of headphones that are around 300ohms?

Hmmm, you've had 2 pairs with the same issue? That's rather odd. I remember you saying yours were Gibson (so are mine).

You sure it's not your source, or the E17? The distortion could come from something other than the headphones themselves.

How loud are you playing them? I have mine to ear bleed levels on my FiiO A5 with high gain, and I've not heard anything like what you've described.

 

[Techy1210]

Hmmm, you've had 2 pairs with the same issue? That's rather odd. I remember you saying yours were Gibson (so are mine).

You sure it's not your source, or the E17? The distortion could come from something other than the headphones themselves.

How loud are you playing them? I have mine to ear bleed levels on my FiiO A5 with high gain, and I've not heard anything like what you've described.

Sorry, but I haven't mentioned whether mine was Gibson or Woox before, perhaps you're thinking of someone else? However, I'm presuming mine are Gibson anyway.

In my first post on this matter a few days ago, I mentioned I tried the X2's on the E17, but also tried them on my DJ mixer with same results. It doesn't sound too much like 'distortion', as much as it does like a kind of 'rattling', like the kind of sound you'd maybe get from the frame of the ear cup somewhere leaning against something else. But the fact it's only the left side on 2 different pairs, while the right side handles the volume fine, makes me think perhaps it's an issue with a batch I've been buying.

 

[Techy1210]

I also mentioned in my original post that playing the same volume levels when used with a cheap £40 pair (OneOdio's) performed much better.

 

[Slater]

Sorry, but I haven't mentioned whether mine was Gibson or Woox before, perhaps you're thinking of someone else? However, I'm presuming mine are Gibson anyway.

Probably confusing you with someone else.

In any case, are you able to go to the store and demo them? That way, you can bring your source and amp and find a good pair that doesn't have the rattle.

The other option is to just open up the right cup and see if you see anything obvious. It could be as simple as a piece of hair or lint on the driver membrane. Or a crinkled membrane as I mentioned previously.

 

[Techy1210]

Probably confusing you with someone else.

In any case, are you able to go to the store and demo them? That way, you can bring your source and amp and find a good pair that doesn't have the rattle.

The other option is to just open up the right cup and see if you see anything obvious. It could be as simple as a piece of hair or lint on the driver membrane. Or a crinkled membrane as I mentioned previously.

They were bought on Amazon, so unfortunately I can't demo them.
I've opened up the earcup and had a look around, as I read it can be something as simple as a hair causing issues, but I don't see anything.

I intend to buy a new amp (maybe the A5) regardless, and will try a few different things before sending them back.

 

[Slater]

They were bought on Amazon, so unfortunately I can't demo them.
I've opened up the earcup and had a look around, as I read it can be something as simple as a hair causing issues, but I don't see anything.

I intend to buy a new amp (maybe the A5) regardless, and will try a few different things before sending them back.

What’s one of the songs that you hear the buzzing really bad on? I’ll try it out on mine right now...

 

[Techy1210]

What’s one of the songs that you hear the buzzing really bad on? I’ll try it out on mine right now...

Pretty much the majority of dance or techno music I would use to Dj with where there is a straight 4 by 4 kick drum throughout the whole song will result in the 'rattling' right on the kick drum, and nothing else, with the mids and highs being perfectly fine. Other types of music like rock or pop doesn't really present much of an issue.

A quick listen there to a song on Spotify called 'Feel My Needs - Original Mix' by 'Weiss' when the bass kicks in around 15 seconds in has my left ear cup rattling at high gain on 45...

 

[Slater]

Pretty much the majority of dance or techno music I would use to Dj with where there is a straight 4 by 4 kick drum throughout the whole song will result in the 'rattling' right on the kick drum, and nothing else, with the mids and highs being perfectly fine. Other types of music like rock or pop doesn't really present much of an issue.

A quick listen there to a song on Spotify called 'Feel My Needs - Original Mix' by 'Weiss' when the bass kicks in around 15 seconds in has my left ear cup rattling at high gain on 45...

Ok I just blasted that Weiss song at as high of a volume as my ears could take.

The bass on both sides were tighter than a 12 year old back injury.

So I’d send your pair back, and hope Amazon doesn’t send you your 1st pair back lol!

 

[Techy1210]

Ok I just blasted that Weiss song. Both sides are as tight as a 12 year old back injury.

So I’d send your pair back, and hope Amazon doesn’t send you your 1st pair back lol!

Well thank you! lol

No, there's no chance of that. If anything, Amazon have a great returns policy!

I may even order an A5 first before I send them back.

Thanks for the feedback anyway, it's appreciated.

 

[gargani]

Pretty much the majority of dance or techno music I would use to Dj with where there is a straight 4 by 4 kick drum throughout the whole song will result in the 'rattling' right on the kick drum, and nothing else, with the mids and highs being perfectly fine. Other types of music like rock or pop doesn't really present much of an issue.

A quick listen there to a song on Spotify called 'Feel My Needs - Original Mix' by 'Weiss' when the bass kicks in around 15 seconds in has my left ear cup rattling at high gain on 45...

I just listened to that song, with no bass boost or eq, and like slater, as loud as I could stand.
I used my old radio shack analogue spl meter , and measured the output from the left ear cup, and it measured an average of 88db to 89db, with the occasional peak of 90.5db; and all I heard was clean ,punchy bass, with no rattle or buzzes.

 

[Techy1210]

I just listened to that song, with no bass boost or eq, and like slater, as loud as I could stand.
I used my old radio shack analogue spl meter , and measured the output from the left ear cup, and it measured an average of 88db to 89db, with the occasional peak of 90.5db; and all I heard was clean ,punchy bass, with no rattle or buzzes.

Thanks for taking the time to do that.

They will almost certainly be getting sent back, and I may use the refund money to go towards a nice amp to go with my HD58X's, which should hopefully arrive some time soon.

 

[Slater]

Thanks for taking the time to do that.

They will almost certainly be getting sent back, and I may use the refund money to go towards a nice amp to go with my HD58X's, which should hopefully arrive some time soon.

You could also try the X2HR (the X2’s successor), which is available on joybuy right now for $159

 

[Justin Hood]

You could also try the X2HR (the X2’s successor), which is available on joybuy right now for $159

Speaking of, shouldn't the X2HR have "High Resolution" instead of "High Definition" printed on the side? Thought I saw a pic demonstrating as much in this thread. Ordered X2HR, the box they came in has the yellow high res badge in the corner, but the actual headphones do not- "High Definition"

Anyway they sound really great. None of the occasional complaint I'd read about like L-R imbalance, no buzzing, creaking, muddiness or overpowering bass, no harsh frequency spikes, pads have passed the white paper stain test so far, are uniform & symmetrical, and not glued. Just trying to find a way to make the comfort aspect work for me before sending them back. The heavier weight I think I'll get used to, and too-tight clamping force for me will loosen over time ofc. Am finding the pads itchy & hot, why I wonder if I actually got the HR version that are supposed to have reverted back to something similar to the original production pads. That's my biggest concern, along with the headband, which on mine stretches out to too easily for me, so can't keep the pads exactly where I want them. Clever design, just less impressed with it in person, how the elastic attachment is inside the sleeve. Otherwise, the rest of the materials and build quality are super impressive. Sound quality even better. If these headphones were on a normal headband that clicked to position, and the pads weren't itchy & hot, no question I'd keep them HR, HD or whatever.