Philips Fidelio X2?!

[Kammerat Rebekka]

I bought this headphone on a whim. I was actually looking for the Onkyo A800 but seeing as it has been discontinued, I gathered the X2 was the next best thing. They both use the same drivers and are voiced somewhat similarly. The Onkyo being more reference tuned whereas the Philips takes on a slightly more fun and exciting presentation.
I really dig the bass on this fella. Big, voluptuous and rather nimbly steps out of the way of the midrange..which is sweet. I do hear some extra zing up top but done pretty elegantly and rounding out the slightly v-shaped signature. Compared to a lot of popular headphones though, this sucker is approaching reference class.
It’s a ‘Beatles-headphone’ methinks. It’s just a sound that is so easy to love…and hate if you’re one of those ‘if something is massively popular, it’s gotta be trash’ kind of peeps
But..err..yeah..I got a headphone with a build quality that rivals and in some cases tops flagships I’ve had my hands on that easily cost 10-15 times as much. That is just bananas! Outside of the ridiculous funky new car smell it also came with, this is without a doubt one of the best built headphones I’ve ever owned. I’ve had some Focals that look more luxurious..but I wouldn’t trust the build like I trust the X2’s…because holy karate!
…and what..I paid something like a 160$ for it
This hobby man.

 

[MisterMudd]

I bought this headphone on a whim. I was actually looking for the Onkyo A800 but seeing as it has been discontinued, I gathered the X2 was the next best thing. They both use the same drivers and are voiced somewhat similarly. The Onkyo being more reference tuned whereas the Philips takes on a slightly more fun and exciting presentation.
I really dig the bass on this fella. Big, voluptious and rather nimbly steps out of the way of the midrange..which is sweet. I do hear some extra zing up top but done pretty elegantly and rounding out the slightly v-shaped signature. Compared to a lot of popular headphones though, this sucker is approaching reference class.
It’s a ‘Beatles-headphone’ methinks. It’s just a sound that is so easy to love…and hate if you’re one of those ‘if something is massively popular, it’s gotta be trash’ kind of peeps
But..err..yeah..I got a headphone with a build quality that rivals and in some cases tops flagships I’ve had my hands on that easily cost 10-15 times as much. That is just bananas! Outside of the ridiculous funky new car smell it also came with, this is without a doubt one of the best built headphones I’ve ever owned. I’ve had some Focals that look more luxurious..but I wouldn’t trust the build like I trust the X2’s…because holy karate!
…and what..I paid something like a 160$ for it
This hobby man.

You describe the sound characteristics to a T. Which is why I have kept my original old guard pair from October 2014 and still listen to them every day. Philips nailed it for sure. Enjoy!

 

[Kammerat Rebekka]

Thanks.
Yep this is definitely a keeper. I arrived at that conclusion fairly quickly.
I think I’ll round the night off with some Bowie. I think the Philips will dig Lodger. Always great introducing new cans to old music.
Red Sails!

 

[Rantanplan]

I would love to have replacement pads that are very close to the original ones, the dekonies don't look that great.
Since my original pads are in no way functional anymore i can't compare with my current pair so i dunno in the end if i would rather prefer the original sound or my current one.

 

[Twizzleshnizzle]

I would love to have replacement pads that are very close to the original ones, the dekonies don't look that great.
Since my original pads are in no way functional anymore i can't compare with my current pair so i dunno in the end if i would rather prefer the original sound or my current one.

The Dekoni are better quality than the original. But you get a change in sound. But more bass again, but it doesn't muddy it. I liked them (the suede).

 

[Radio81]

I just ordered a set of B stock Dekoni choice suede. Saved $15, so that helps.

I also ordered some 3D printed pad adapters for the X2HR along with some Shure 1540 Alcantara pads. Going to see which pads are better between the two. Couldn't decide on one or the other.

 

[Rantanplan]

The Dekoni are better quality than the original. But you get a change in sound. But more bass again, but it doesn't muddy it. I liked them (the suede).

At least if this is something that can be corrected with an EQ i could be fine with it, problem tho, is the shipping fees being 1/2 of the product price to be shipped in france..

I just ordered a set of B stock Dekoni choice suede. Saved $15, so that helps.

I also ordered some 3D printed pad adapters for the X2HR along with some Shure 1540 Alcantara pads. Going to see which pads are better between the two. Couldn't decide on one or the other.

I got those shure pads, the size was way too small for me, it became an on-ear instead of over-ear, not comfortable and i would have to remove the headset within the next 2 hours because of headaches (due to the change in sound)

 

[Radio81]

At least if this is something that can be corrected with an EQ i could be fine with it, problem tho, is the shipping fees being 1/2 of the product price to be shipped in france..

I got those shure pads, the size was way too small for me, it became an on-ear instead of over-ear, not comfortable and i would have to remove the headset within the next 2 hours because of headaches (due to the change in sound)

I have the Shure 1840 pads on my SHP9500. They're a little smaller opening than the stock pads, but it's not at all snug around my ears. Hoping the 1540 pads are similar for me.

 

[GoodBoy]

Got X2HR again this year's prime day as I missed the sound and couldn't resist the offer (100$/90Euros). Unboxed it few days ago and what I immediately noticed the pads are somewhat different. It's not shredding anyomore and the material dosesn't attract lint like I remember my previous pair did.

There's also some difference in sound as I remember my first X2HR had definetly better bass extention and more reccessed mids (not that I complainted about it). With new pair mids are more upfront and the bass kicks a little less, however might be because it's brand new.

 

[Twizzleshnizzle]

Got X2HR again this year's prime day as I missed the sound and couldn't resist the offer (100$/90Euros). Unboxed it few days ago and what I immediately noticed the pads are somewhat different. It's not shredding anyomore and the material dosesn't attract lint like I remember my previous pair did.

There's also some difference in sound as I remember my first X2HR had definetly better bass extention and more reccessed mids (not that I complainted about it). With new pair mids are more upfront and the bass kicks a little less, however might be because it's brand new.

Could be because it's new. Could be your memory deceiving you, mine does it all the time with headphones, I think I remember a sound then pick up that same headphone a week later and its not what I remembered. Biggest culprit of all, have you changed source equipment? A change in amp makes a big difference.

 

[phthora]

Got X2HR again this year's prime day as I missed the sound and couldn't resist the offer (100$/90Euros). Unboxed it few days ago and what I immediately noticed the pads are somewhat different. It's not shredding anyomore and the material dosesn't attract lint like I remember my previous pair did.

There's also some difference in sound as I remember my first X2HR had definetly better bass extention and more reccessed mids (not that I complainted about it). With new pair mids are more upfront and the bass kicks a little less, however might be because it's brand new.

Are you sure that you had the X2HR the first time and not an X2/27? Because what you are describing sounds like the differences between the first X2 and the updated model. For what it's worth, I think the X2HR is a clear improvement over the original. Of course, what @Twizzleshnizzle said also holds true.

 

[Twizzleshnizzle]

Are you sure that you had the X2HR the first time and not an X2/27? Because what you are describing sounds like the differences between the first X2 and the updated model. For what it's worth, I think the X2HR is a clear improvement over the original. Of course, what @Twizzleshnizzle said also holds true.

Yeah, what I said

 

[GoodBoy]

Yes I'm sure it was X2HR

What strike me the most is the pad difference. Soundwise I'm not shocked since this is not the first hp brand I've encountered some discrepancies in driver tuning among different units of the same model.

 

[Nirvana Woman]

Not entirely on the topic of the Fidelio X2 but very much related, I was curious about the Fidelio X1S that I'd seen on aliexpress. I wanted to know if they are any different from the original X1, and nobody on the internet seemed to really know as far as I could tell. So I decided to order them, and I received them earlier today.

Well, I can say they sound entirely similar to my beloved five year old X1. Build seems just fine as well, cable is different though (probably a good thing). Pads are glued on here as well. I remember reading some posts on reddit wondering if this "updated" model was adjusted for the Chinese market or some such, and it doesn't really seem to be the case, especially as far as sound is concerned. The box is different though; like the cable, it looks like they took the X2's design instead. The cable is also shorter.

I paid south of 150 bucks for them including tax, which is really great imo. I thought I'd post this here, seeing as the X1 thread is far out of sight and possibly X2 fans might be interested in these headphones.

edit - Just editing this post here in case a lone stranger ever stumbles upon this thread in hopes of finding out more about the X1S (in comparison to the regular X1). My original X1 fell apart today, so two and a half years later circumstances have forced me to pull out the X1S. After closer scrutiny, no. They do not sound the same as the X1, although I think that can entirely be attributed to the bigger pads. The X1S has a bit more of a V-shaped response, the bass is heavier and definitely also the treble, which falls in line with what bigger, more enclosing pads would do to the sound. It's hard to say if there is any change in anything other than the frequency response, I'll have to spend some time with an equalizer to see if I can make them sound the same as my original X1. I might update this post again. Take care out there in the darkness stranger

edit2: Okay so these EQ settings make the treble sound a lot more similar than on the OG X1. I used a basic ten band and reduced 4k by 3db, and 8k by 2db. The 4k range is the crucial one. I used the 2019 remaster of Massive Attack's Angel (6:22) as a compass. At 1:42 a cymbal sounds starts playing at the center of the stereo image which is where I first noticed the treble sticking out as compared to the OG X1. With this EQ I tried to get them so sound the same in amplitude. I'm not sure the quality of the treble is the exact same, it seems slightly more metallic or coarse than the original X1, but I'm not sure, either way it's no cause for complaint as far as I'm concerned. The rest of the spectrum does sound very similar to me, apart from the bass, which does seem a bit heavier or deeper but I actually don't think it's a problem. I'm also not confident that the overall timbre is exactly the same, it's been hard to compare, sometimes it seems like the X1S is more honky or nasally but I'll need to test more. Again, is that only due to the pads? Maybe. Also you can remove their pads, contrary to what I had said before they are in fact not glued on, at least not on my pair. This means you can put on Fidelio X2 pads as they are entirely the same as the stock X1S pads.

 

[HipHopScribe]

Not entirely on the topic of the Fidelio X2 but very much related, I was curious about the Fidelio X1S that I'd seen on aliexpress. I wanted to know if they are any different from the original X1, and nobody on the internet seemed to really know as far as I could tell. So I decided to order them, and I received them earlier today.

Well, I can say they sound entirely similar to my beloved five year old X1. Build seems just fine as well, cable is different though (probably a good thing). Pads are glued on here as well. I remember reading some posts on reddit wondering if this "updated" model was adjusted for the Chinese market or some such, and it doesn't really seem to be the case, especially as far as sound is concerned. The box is different though; like the cable, it looks like they took the X2's design instead. The cable is also 50 cm shorter.

I paid south of 150 bucks for them including tax, which is really great imo. I thought I'd post this here, seeing as the X1 thread is far out of sight and possibly X2 fans might be interested in these headphones.

I've wondered about the X1S so that's good to know. Personally I've always had a slight preference for the X1 over the X2 because of the smoother upper mids and highs. Once the stock cable on the X1 is swapped out of course.