This Philips has to say "I am no Philips anymore, I am just a mediocre overpriced Chinese crap from TP-Vision, with a franchise logo from a once famous company."
It sounds like they messed up the entire point of the Fidelio line. That’s too bad, I was hoping the x3 would great as I personally own the x2hr. A pair of Philips Fidelios not having much bass is like a sennheiser 6 series headphone having a recessed midrange. Great review Brian. I’ve been looking forward to a video about the x3.
a simple pad change puts more bass into the X3 than the X2hr ( i have both)... although I don't see anything wrong with a different model having a different sound signature... afterall, what would be the point of more than one headphone event existing if they all had the same sound signature.
This makes me appreciate my X2HR's even more. I actually ended up getting it for $80, down from a $99 sale price because I initially ordered the SHP9500S and received the wrong one from Amazon THREE TIMES. I complained to customer service and they covered the difference in price so I got the more expensive X2HR's for a banging deal.
@@andytan4055 probably just yet another black friday sale or sth, now it's back to 12X on Amazon, probably because its stock finally running out due to X3's really bad pricing
Picked up a pair of X2HR's (returned, unopened box though, heh) for ~66US (Incl sales tax/vat) in EU. Can't think of a better headphone for that sort of money.
I got an x2 on your recommendation, which I have appreciated very much. It's neat that there's an x3 now but I think I'll pass. The x2 ticks all my boxes. Thanks for the content bro.
Yeah man, I'm still feeling pretty good about my X2hr purchase earlier this year. Great for gaming and great for music. If you want to enhance the bass even more I'd recommend picking up some brainwavz leather ear pads. My main reason was for comfort and to get rid of the lint/hair magnet velour pads, but I'd generally consider the bassier tone to be a positive.
@@RikuoNura383 the stock earpads have a plastic frame that clips onto the main body, I used the large leather pads from brainwavz and just fitted them directly to the main body of the headphones. It's a tight fit and needs some careful stretching but they will fit without any problems.
I own the original X2 that i picked up for $250. The X2HR went on sale for $99 and had to check it out. After close to 2 years of ownership of the X2HR i believe the original is my preference. Then the X3 just went on sale on "Prime Day" for $135 so i had to check it out knowing i could send it back if it wasn't to my liking. I've only had it for like 5 days but it is quickly becoming my favorite. The layering width and spacial cues are far superior than the HR that i received. Also i find the HR's treble to be a bit fatiguing and not noticing that at all on the X3's. The X3's have less sub bass but i am totally satisfied with the bass. I actually feel that it is more accurate. The original X2 i think is excellent but the X3 to my ears is a more refined headphone. Was all ready to send it back but it is staying. If i were to send one back it would have been the X2HR. That being said for $99 the X2HR's are a PHENOMENAL headphone to wear while playing bass guitar. Been playing for 42yrs now and they work great for that so i will keep them for my practice cans. I can see at the price these were reviewed at of $350ish that some price bias would def creep in. For the price i got them for i don't think it is close. This all for my earballs of course. ;)
I have the x2hr paired with the boom pro and the schitt fulla 3... I don't want/need audiophile level sound, and I think you hit the nail on the head. Sounds like Philips didn't quite understand why people liked the previous version.
@@user-sf9jk6yr6e initially it wasnt that apparent to me, but now if i switch back to my old setup (gaming headset and onboard dac), it becomes pretty noticeable. The volume was the biggest difference for me. I can get as loud as I can handle now without ever hitting 100% of the fulla3... having the physical volume knob is also extremely handy. I do get some crackle from a noisy volume pot when adjusting the volume (i've seen others that have complained of this as well), so take that for what it is.
I'm in agreeement. I run the X2HR at my office to listen to music. I run Sennheiser HD58X for home/gaming setup. But the X2HR are such a pleasure for general music listening.
I bought thr X2HR and got a Fiio BTR5 for wired and wireless use, and it’s been nothing short of amazing. Added a mod mic usb and I really enjoy my setup. Thanks for your reviews and recommendations man. Really enjoy watching your content, cheers! 🍻
And Philips improve the bass for SHP9600... and the price tag is almost the same with X2HR... I guess X2HR is still the winner with one cable for the V-Moda
Audiophiles only hate bass because most average consumer headphones have boosted bass. They just like to have headphones that sound anemic because they want to seem more sophisticated than everyone else. The X2HR had a pretty neutral bass relative to the Harman curve. But obviously audiophiles despise the harman curve because the harman curve actually calls for at least SOME bass.
I don’t know about other audiophiles (most likely redditors that don’t actually own this stuff) but the audiophile reviewers I trust pretty much all agreed the x3 was a mistake and that philips should listen to its fans not it’s haters.
The X3 looks pretty clean, but the industrial design on the X2 is just something special. Also, I already have the occasional issue with sibilance on the X2, so if the X3 has even more brightness in the highs, that's a no go; sorry Philips... Thanks for another great video other Philips!!
You're who I go to for audio, because we have very similar taste in "sound". I bought my x2 on your recommendation and sold my Jubilee's. No regrets. Thanks.
I wouldn't go to anyone for audio, especially someone who recommends X2HRs. I'd say that you should buy things try em and if you dont like em you can return em
Having never listened to the X2HR's personally, but picking these up at $200, I'm very glad I caught them on sale. I've listened to other open-backed headsets in the past and comparitively, these sound amazing (especially with a little EQ treatment) and/or some Dekoni pads, but if I had picked these up at $350 I would have been very disappointed compared to others in that price category. With that being said, if you were interested in these, go snag em now while they're cheap (At the time of this writing they're actually on sale again for $190), as that's a steal and 100% worth it at that price point in my humble opinion. Thanks for the great review as always Brian!
I love mine, Although I never heard them next to the 6xx but I have no complaints. I compared them directly with the X2HR and SHP9500 and the 58x was the clear winner for me. Sound stage is quite a bit less but everything else was a lot better.
@@hha8356 yeah I like the way my shp9500 look a lot better than the shp9600. Same goes for x2 vs. x3. I don't know why but I really like the look of the text wrapping around
@@hypnoticlizard9693 Where do you find the X2HR's for so cheap in Norway? :) I live in Denmark and can't find them for under 1800dkk which is 2500nok :)
Thanks for the review! As a 9 month owner of & gamer on the X2HR, I was mildly curious about the X3 especially for exploring balanced. MIGHT watch for this set on the used market but not really in any rush if it's not such a step up from the x2.
Brian P man your reviews are so detailed. I'm not even after headphones but I love your reviews so much I still watched it all the way through. You describe everything to detail and don't hesitate or stutter when given all the info. Amazing job, looking forward to your review on the Glorious Model O wireless 😀
For those looking for an upgrade to the X2/X2HR without foolishly spending money on the X3, I would suggest going for the Hifiman Sundara instead. The Sundara fixes everything wrong with the X2HR, including its harsh/sibilant treble, recessed mids and improved comfort due to being lighter weight. The bass on both is about the same, but the Sundara is much more impactful, punchy and never bloated or boomy. The clarity, imaging and instrument separation are way better on the Sundara. I don't notice a real downgrade to the sound stage either. I upgraded from the X2HR to the Sundara and I'm going to return the X2HR (as much I love it for its performance to price).
Funnily enough I use the X2HR for gaming all the time hooked up through an extension and a V-Moda BoomPro. One of the best purchases I ever made instead of buying another gaming headset. I obviously use it for jamming out too, and prefer its look and build over these new X3s.
Do you keep the V-Moda plugged in or do you switch out cables, when you're no longer using the mic? I kind of want to buy the mic, but at the same time i always hate having a mic near my face, if i'm not using it.
Agree sound wise. Although I assume they don't have similar QC issues on the Sundara. Mine had channel imbalance out of the box. Not taking into account possible driver issues. Play the lottery and you may win or lose.
The funny thing is, Hifiman headphones are really cheap in China. I bought my Sundara from their main store in China for about $270. I thought it was fake at first. Then I went out and looked at their sign lol.
@@NyangisKhan nope, I had just checked and it still cost around 360USD anywhere in China, you either got a great discount or had purchased a refurbished one.
I've had a pair of X2's and they were *absolutely* amazing! I used them daily from 2017 to 2019-ish where i switched to Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro (i think), and they were actually equally as good, they broke last year though sadly. So my question is, should i go for the X2's or X3's? Both are on sale for around $150.
Personally, if you can get X2 and X3 for around the same price... just pick the one you find more aesthetically pleasing. Yes, there is some sound signature difference, but it's really not that drastic. If you are one to agonize over every minute detail of a piece of music while sitting in a dark soundproof room, then you should not even be considering either of these headphones to be honest. I have both. Dekoni makes pads for them and the pads DO change the sound signature noticeably so you could drop the bass off a little on the X2 or increase the bass noticeably on the X3 by picking a different pad. Bass seems to be the only thing people care about... especially when talking about these two headphones.
@@squirts1 Agreed. I listened to the X2 and the sound signature on those was too bass heavy for me. Every review I've looked at was complaints about the controlled bass and how it doesn't measure up to the X2 that way. Yet when I listened to the X3's, it was far more pleasing and I felt bass was more accurate to the original recordings for pieces I listened to. It's all subjective, though.
@@pk.002 I just picked up the X3 on Prime Day for $135. My feelings about the bass are exactly as you describe. I love bass too! Heck i'm a professional bass player. The X3 nails reggae bass and it is really tight and warm. Prefer all aspects of it actually over the X2HR which i also picked up on sale for $99. To my ears the X3 is the much better headphone.
Good review, thank you. The elastic and (non replaceable) foam pads are pretty much shot in my 9 year old X1's. At the moment amazon are doing both sets of cans for about same price so it was this review that made me go for the X2HRs over the X3.
I'll be rocking my X2's for a while. I actually like the new design though. I am using the boompro for that gaming headset setup until I finally decide to get a stand-alone mic. If/when I move up to that audiophile level I would probably look elsewhere though.
Love your reviews. Own Aeon Flow Open, 1990's, and 58X among others. Your reviews were spot on. Review the M570. On sale and is a steal at the current price. I sent my Sundara's back with channel imbalance issues out of the box. I unfortunately lost the QC lottery.
I'm still rocking the DT770 Pros from your review and I love listening to them everyday. Low key want to pick up the X2s before they go away forever though...
I have had the X2 since 2015 and still use them till this day. I don't think I will be upgrading to the X3 or even consider buying them anytime soon at their current price. I might just buy and try them out later on but return them if I don't like them. I plan on buying another pair of X2's though :)
All My Headphones Now Sound Better Because On Sept. 11 2020 I purchased my BTR3K it and it's clip case are still going strong . I Skipped Getting The BTR5 . On March 9 2023 I finally took the plunge and got the BTR7 And WOW It's A Bluetooth LDAC Codec Beast But In Wired DAC Mode Is Where The BTR7 Really Shines . I Am Hard Pressed To Tell The Difference Over My Hidizs S9 Pro DAC AMP DONGLE And BTR7 When In Wired DAC Mode Of BTR7.
I'm in no rush, but once these get down to 250 in the next year I think that's when I'll grab them. LOVE the X2HR's. 58X's have been solid as well. My 6XX's need some more love lol.
I got the X2HR/00 version when they were on sale, i liked the attack in the sound and the spacious soundstage, but at first i was suprised as a basslover that i thought they were too bassy as they felt a little boomy at first, but after a couple of weeks of burn in they sound like a very different headphone compared to right outta the box, even though my brain has probably adjusted to them but they do change after burn in, atleast my pair did, the bottleneck of these headphones are the treble metallic shrillness on certain material and it is still there, but not as much as in the beginning thankfully
Currently in one of the retailers in my country the X2HR's and X3's are on sale at the exact same price. Which one to get? I see people usually say stick with the X2HR's, but that might often be because they think the X3's are too expensive, so what if they're equally priced? I like my bass quite a bit, which is why i think i'll still order the X2HR's, but anyone else has an opinion on this?
I got the X2HR for $112 back when Amazon was having a crazy holiday sale, along with the Schiit Fulla 3 and it's been amazing. I think I want to upgrade to the Dekoni choice leather pads whenever they're back in stock.
Got the X1 for about $200. For some reason once it gets to that $350 mark I feel it’s okay to start looking into the $500 zone where the best bang for buck reside. Phillips may find out they’ve lost many buyers by losing that single connection/boom mic combo
I use the Fidelio X2's for my PC, watching videos, listening to music and playing a lot of games. I used to run DT990 PRO's but upgraded to the X2's. Most people would look at that as a downgrade, but I LOVE the X2's. I can't find any headphones I like more than the X2's. Too bad the X3's look like they aren't going to beat the X2's either. As a side note, I bought some generic leather earcups and glued them to the plate that attaches to the earcup in the X2's. They are WAY easier to keep clean and add a little bass to the headphones too, not that they needed that.
All my X2HF needed was some dense felt (sticky backed slider felt) about the size of a quarter stuck to the inside of the metal grill. Cleaned the low end without loosing subbass.
For Jazz and any acoustic music these are enormously better than the X2HR, which I also have (heading to Ebay soon as no longer needed). You did state to listen very different types of music which explains the very different conclusion you reached. But these headphones do have a place in alternative, rather than replacement, of the X2. I see them as a viable alternative to the HD800S for who is on a budget.
Brother....seriously this video is amazing. You deserve all of revenue...and I need myself some trade coffee..and Philips cans. Also what’s happened to the Sim Rig video what you were going to do? 🤣🤣
I still use an SHP9500 with VMODA as my gaming and music listening setup... it was cheap but it really, really works well. Can't believe I hadn't given those a try earlier.
The X3 is now $220 on Amazon, I’m curious as to how the price difference would change your opinion. Think they’re as good or better than their similarly priced competition?
I own a pair of X3s. Never auditioned the X2s, so I cannot confirm the differences stated in this review. What I can say is that I don't find the highs to be sibilant or aggressive at all. To me they are slightly less smooth as the HD650s. Bass is pretty strong, but I agree, they don't 'bloom', like my NightHawks do. But the bass probably is still bigger than neutral. Soundstage is great with these and I enjoy them with every kind of music.
I just ordered these. I'm a big fan of the X2's and already have an amp with 2.5mm balanced so I couldn't help myself. Btw, you remind me of Sgt. Zim at 0.48 :)
I have a disgustingly oily 10-year old X1 with an Antlion Modmic, fed by an 02 Amp/DAC. Best sound I've ever heard, but feels heavy on the head. I would appreciate the lightness of the X3, but the split cable is a deal breaker for me.
Can you make a new best gaming headset video? Idk if there are better options under a 100 than the Philips SHP9500 or the Sennheiser GSP 300. Also thanks for the amazing content, always a reliable source for detailed not too long reviews!
I got both x3&x2hr, be honestlly and the sound is very very big different, the x3 can feel better dynamic, more tight bass details and less dynamic compression. if you listen to the violin or piano, you can hear the “Grainy” and “muscle” is more spririt than the X2HR. But X2HR still have these advantages. the 1st is the x2hr got deeper bass expansion. Yes!! the X3's bass is powerful but not too deep. The 2nd because the X2HR sounding more soft in whole frequency, especailly in treble range, you can feel some deeper soundstage and extensive soundfield.
For sound quality there is no difference with even budget modern amp/dacs today when running single ended, it's about power. On my Monoprice THX DAC/Amp the power on single ended can get cut in half (depending on the headphone) compared to running it balanced via XLR. With my 6xx running balanced I get the volume pot to about -27db, on single ended I have to take it to almost -20db. With my LCD2C -32db via balanced, on single ended -25db. What made the X2s' and the 9500s' appealing is the price to performance, by raising the price the appeal is gone. To give me the same price to performance appeal as the previous generation at $350 for the X3's they would have to punch above their price range and compete with something like the Focal Elex or the LCD2Cs. If they did that then buying them would be a no brainer.
I am listening to this on a pair of second hand X2HR's that I just picked up for $40 AUD (around 30 USD)... and I am obviously thrilled about that price, but also honestly I can't say I like ANYTHING about the X3 from this review. 1. They don't sound like they will be as muscial. 2. 2.5mm dual cable. I hate dual cables (or whatever they're called) in general. I don't want to be constantly bumping the cable. 3. Can't easily put a mic in. I don't really care about this but it's nice to have the option. 4. I don't think the X3s look as good. In fact I think the X2s are downright sexy and I thought that long before I even knew what kind of headphone they were.
Since this product isn't available on Indonesia, I will research first. Are X3 better than X2HR and good choice for X2HR successor ? Because I have X2HR and I like this headphone.
I bought these on Amazon ($200 ATM), but I think I will be returning them. The sound quality is similar to my Sennheiser 599s but these make my head a bit hot and I loathe split cables (I didn't even think about looking at this detail when I bought them given the X2s). The sound stage is smaller too. There is a potential though, I've only had them since yesterday. I'll decide if they're keepers in a couple weeks, but like I mentioned right now I'm leaning towards return.
X3 has Less sub bass, more agressive treebles, during prime days i am going to buy a 2nd fidelio x2hr for 79€. I think it s a very good price for this headphone
I think Philips reused their old drivers for the shp 9600 and X3, tuned them a bit with dampening materials, changed the aesthetics, and released them as new products. To me they are a fancy iteration, but not a warranted release.
I've got set of X2HR, a Schiit Heresy and a Creative Sound Blaster X3 on the way. It's my first step into open backs and a proper amp. had thought of going with the Modi DAC but I needed the mic input as well as side tone/mic monitoring.. maybe I could have done without but having it all simplified into a nice set up was an attractive idea that and two of the items were surprise gifts to me by my partners as I had it all on my amazon wish list lol.
It's because of the x2hr build quality was the reason why I had to get the jubilee I haven't had the headphone for a month and they already cracked at one of the grommets the black grommets that kept the ear cup on the headband. I'll just wait for the price to go down on these
“That’s what Philips has to say but what THIS Philips has to say...” mind blown
69
This Philips has to say "I am no Philips anymore, I am just a mediocre overpriced Chinese crap from TP-Vision, with a franchise logo from a once famous company."
It sounds like they messed up the entire point of the Fidelio line. That’s too bad, I was hoping the x3 would great as I personally own the x2hr. A pair of Philips Fidelios not having much bass is like a sennheiser 6 series headphone having a recessed midrange. Great review Brian. I’ve been looking forward to a video about the x3.
Keep the X2
a simple pad change puts more bass into the X3 than the X2hr ( i have both)... although I don't see anything wrong with a different model having a different sound signature... afterall, what would be the point of more than one headphone event existing if they all had the same sound signature.
This makes me appreciate my X2HR's even more. I actually ended up getting it for $80, down from a $99 sale price because I initially ordered the SHP9500S and received the wrong one from Amazon THREE TIMES. I complained to customer service and they covered the difference in price so I got the more expensive X2HR's for a banging deal.
Hi, when did it become 99 bucks? It is still 144 when i last checked. And that price is really an amazing steal
@@andytan4055 probably just yet another black friday sale or sth, now it's back to 12X on Amazon, probably because its stock finally running out due to X3's really bad pricing
Picked up a pair of X2HR's (returned, unopened box though, heh) for ~66US (Incl sales tax/vat) in EU. Can't think of a better headphone for that sort of money.
I got an x2 on your recommendation, which I have appreciated very much. It's neat that there's an x3 now but I think I'll pass. The x2 ticks all my boxes. Thanks for the content bro.
Me 2.
Yeah man, I'm still feeling pretty good about my X2hr purchase earlier this year. Great for gaming and great for music.
If you want to enhance the bass even more I'd recommend picking up some brainwavz leather ear pads. My main reason was for comfort and to get rid of the lint/hair magnet velour pads, but I'd generally consider the bassier tone to be a positive.
@@LyK0sa how do you change the pads? x2hr has that proprietary lock on the earpad, dosen't it? it seems the earpad is glued
@@RikuoNura383 the stock earpads have a plastic frame that clips onto the main body, I used the large leather pads from brainwavz and just fitted them directly to the main body of the headphones. It's a tight fit and needs some careful stretching but they will fit without any problems.
got the x2hr on black friday and loving it with the boom pro mic
I own the original X2 that i picked up for $250. The X2HR went on sale for $99 and had to check it out. After close to 2 years of ownership of the X2HR i believe the original is my preference. Then the X3 just went on sale on "Prime Day" for $135 so i had to check it out knowing i could send it back if it wasn't to my liking. I've only had it for like 5 days but it is quickly becoming my favorite. The layering width and spacial cues are far superior than the HR that i received. Also i find the HR's treble to be a bit fatiguing and not noticing that at all on the X3's. The X3's have less sub bass but i am totally satisfied with the bass. I actually feel that it is more accurate. The original X2 i think is excellent but the X3 to my ears is a more refined headphone. Was all ready to send it back but it is staying. If i were to send one back it would have been the X2HR. That being said for $99 the X2HR's are a PHENOMENAL headphone to wear while playing bass guitar. Been playing for 42yrs now and they work great for that so i will keep them for my practice cans. I can see at the price these were reviewed at of $350ish that some price bias would def creep in. For the price i got them for i don't think it is close. This all for my earballs of course. ;)
I have the x2hr paired with the boom pro and the schitt fulla 3... I don't want/need audiophile level sound, and I think you hit the nail on the head. Sounds like Philips didn't quite understand why people liked the previous version.
I think they got the SHP9600 right but not the price tag... :/
@@user-sf9jk6yr6e initially it wasnt that apparent to me, but now if i switch back to my old setup (gaming headset and onboard dac), it becomes pretty noticeable. The volume was the biggest difference for me. I can get as loud as I can handle now without ever hitting 100% of the fulla3... having the physical volume knob is also extremely handy. I do get some crackle from a noisy volume pot when adjusting the volume (i've seen others that have complained of this as well), so take that for what it is.
Nice of them to engrave your name in the sides 👍
Thats how brands bribe us into giving them great reviews lmao
The sheer quality of your intros and videos in general keeps me coming back to hear what you have to say about any product. You rock! 💯
Thanks so much man!
I'm still super smugging about my X2HR purchase last week. Thanks for the reviews.
X2HR is by far the best overall music headphone out there right now anywhere below 300
Agreed
I'm in agreeement. I run the X2HR at my office to listen to music. I run Sennheiser HD58X for home/gaming setup. But the X2HR are such a pleasure for general music listening.
have you ever used the HD6XX or the Audio Technica ATH-A990Z
Do y'all use an amp for your X2HR?
@@GmOnEy21O No. In fact, I find it's actually a bit sensitive for one of my amps.
I bought thr X2HR and got a Fiio BTR5 for wired and wireless use, and it’s been nothing short of amazing. Added a mod mic usb and I really enjoy my setup. Thanks for your reviews and recommendations man. Really enjoy watching your content, cheers! 🍻
This is a really comprehensive review of the X3, lots of informative bits to help you decide if you’re undecided which variant to buy.
Your reviews are always such a good source of information for what to buy, bearded buddy
Philips must have toned down the bass because some of the "audiophiles" out there complained.
And Philips improve the bass for SHP9600... and the price tag is almost the same with X2HR... I guess X2HR is still the winner with one cable for the V-Moda
Audiophiles only hate bass because most average consumer headphones have boosted bass. They just like to have headphones that sound anemic because they want to seem more sophisticated than everyone else. The X2HR had a pretty neutral bass relative to the Harman curve. But obviously audiophiles despise the harman curve because the harman curve actually calls for at least SOME bass.
@@pasta8793 can't agree more.
I don’t know about other audiophiles (most likely redditors that don’t actually own this stuff) but the audiophile reviewers I trust pretty much all agreed the x3 was a mistake and that philips should listen to its fans not it’s haters.
@@pasta8793 What are you talking about? The X2 are praised in the audiophile community.
Dude this guy's voice is incredible lol do you do voice over work?
The X3 looks pretty clean, but the industrial design on the X2 is just something special. Also, I already have the occasional issue with sibilance on the X2, so if the X3 has even more brightness in the highs, that's a no go; sorry Philips... Thanks for another great video other Philips!!
X2’s r just too fun. Don’t feel like upgrading them until another open back has more soundstage, more sub bass.
You're who I go to for audio, because we have very similar taste in "sound". I bought my x2 on your recommendation and sold my Jubilee's. No regrets. Thanks.
I wouldn't go to anyone for audio, especially someone who recommends X2HRs. I'd say that you should buy things try em and if you dont like em you can return em
Having never listened to the X2HR's personally, but picking these up at $200, I'm very glad I caught them on sale. I've listened to other open-backed headsets in the past and comparitively, these sound amazing (especially with a little EQ treatment) and/or some Dekoni pads, but if I had picked these up at $350 I would have been very disappointed compared to others in that price category.
With that being said, if you were interested in these, go snag em now while they're cheap (At the time of this writing they're actually on sale again for $190), as that's a steal and 100% worth it at that price point in my humble opinion.
Thanks for the great review as always Brian!
I've seen 5 different reviews on the X3. This review actually pushed me over to get the X3, even though it is the least flattering of them all.
How do you like them? I just ordered the X3.
Nice video! I never tried the X2, but i got the X3 for $230, and im really in love with them! The best headphone i ever heard 💚
Great video, just bought the hd58x and I think I'll love them.
I love mine, Although I never heard them next to the 6xx but I have no complaints. I compared them directly with the X2HR and SHP9500 and the 58x was the clear winner for me. Sound stage is quite a bit less but everything else was a lot better.
@@jasonfranciosa Yep really excited to to get mine, just have to wait for shipping
I got the 58x for games, and the Hifiman Sundara's for music, love them both.
@@foulplay99 Great setup. Out of curiosity, why don't you use the Sundara's for gaming? How do the Sundaras and HD 58x compare for gaming?
I've had them for about a year now and I use them for everything. They are great
Crazy how a coffee from a local roaster near where I live was featured in the ad
The X2 is still one of my favorite looking headphones ever, these look cheaper.
I think thats been a common reaction so far to the new design
same for the shp 9500 compared to the 9600 (in my opinion)
yeah design wise shp9600 will be the best headphone philips ever release
meaning i don't like them
@@hha8356 yeah I like the way my shp9500 look a lot better than the shp9600. Same goes for x2 vs. x3. I don't know why but I really like the look of the text wrapping around
I'll stick with my x2s based on your recommendation.. love them! Also from a bearded brother to another.. yours is still on point!
you can get x3's for about $200 now, probably makes them a much easier recommendation
Here in Norway, I can get the X2HR for $140 and the X3 for $225. Im still leaning towards the X2s to save some money and they look better imo.
@@hypnoticlizard9693 Also from Norway but where did you find so cheap X2's? I found the X3's for 2,000kr and the X2 for 3,000kr
@@hypnoticlizard9693 Where do you find the X2HR's for so cheap in Norway? :) I live in Denmark and can't find them for under 1800dkk which is 2500nok :)
@@frederik9453 It was a black friday sale
@@frederik9453 komplet has them on sale right now for 1000
Thanks for the review! As a 9 month owner of & gamer on the X2HR, I was mildly curious about the X3 especially for exploring balanced. MIGHT watch for this set on the used market but not really in any rush if it's not such a step up from the x2.
Fuck ! I let the phone down for a sec and he switch to coffe review ! So i pick the phone again and go to another review ! Piss
Brian P man your reviews are so detailed. I'm not even after headphones but I love your reviews so much I still watched it all the way through. You describe everything to detail and don't hesitate or stutter when given all the info. Amazing job, looking forward to your review on the Glorious Model O wireless 😀
I have the X2HR for sale.
Bought them because of you but regret it when I heard it. Like the mids are gone
how much
You answered exactly the question I needed answered about the boom mic issue. Thanks, man!
Would love to watch your beard maintenance video
For those looking for an upgrade to the X2/X2HR without foolishly spending money on the X3, I would suggest going for the Hifiman Sundara instead. The Sundara fixes everything wrong with the X2HR, including its harsh/sibilant treble, recessed mids and improved comfort due to being lighter weight. The bass on both is about the same, but the Sundara is much more impactful, punchy and never bloated or boomy. The clarity, imaging and instrument separation are way better on the Sundara. I don't notice a real downgrade to the sound stage either. I upgraded from the X2HR to the Sundara and I'm going to return the X2HR (as much I love it for its performance to price).
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed with these. Great video as always!
Funnily enough I use the X2HR for gaming all the time hooked up through an extension and a V-Moda BoomPro. One of the best purchases I ever made instead of buying another gaming headset. I obviously use it for jamming out too, and prefer its look and build over these new X3s.
Do you keep the V-Moda plugged in or do you switch out cables, when you're no longer using the mic? I kind of want to buy the mic, but at the same time i always hate having a mic near my face, if i'm not using it.
They clearly forgot about the Sundara when they priced their X3 at $350 LOL.
Agree sound wise. Although I assume they don't have similar QC issues on the Sundara. Mine had channel imbalance out of the box. Not taking into account possible driver issues. Play the lottery and you may win or lose.
The funny thing is, Hifiman headphones are really cheap in China. I bought my Sundara from their main store in China for about $270. I thought it was fake at first. Then I went out and looked at their sign lol.
@@NyangisKhan nope, I had just checked and it still cost around 360USD anywhere in China, you either got a great discount or had purchased a refurbished one.
@@YakuzaPanda Might be. I couldn't read Chinese so I can't say for sure.
Their on sale rn for me for around 150 bucks idk if i should buy the x2hrs for the same price:/
Love my X2 and a lot of it is to do with that rumbly bass at any volume.
Awesome review! Hope to see more of your content! Just subscribed
"YOU READY? LET'S GO!", Love you dude!
I've had a pair of X2's and they were *absolutely* amazing! I used them daily from 2017 to 2019-ish where i switched to Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro (i think), and they were actually equally as good, they broke last year though sadly. So my question is, should i go for the X2's or X3's? Both are on sale for around $150.
Personally, if you can get X2 and X3 for around the same price... just pick the one you find more aesthetically pleasing. Yes, there is some sound signature difference, but it's really not that drastic. If you are one to agonize over every minute detail of a piece of music while sitting in a dark soundproof room, then you should not even be considering either of these headphones to be honest. I have both. Dekoni makes pads for them and the pads DO change the sound signature noticeably so you could drop the bass off a little on the X2 or increase the bass noticeably on the X3 by picking a different pad. Bass seems to be the only thing people care about... especially when talking about these two headphones.
@@squirts1 Agreed. I listened to the X2 and the sound signature on those was too bass heavy for me. Every review I've looked at was complaints about the controlled bass and how it doesn't measure up to the X2 that way. Yet when I listened to the X3's, it was far more pleasing and I felt bass was more accurate to the original recordings for pieces I listened to. It's all subjective, though.
@@pk.002 I just picked up the X3 on Prime Day for $135. My feelings about the bass are exactly as you describe. I love bass too! Heck i'm a professional bass player. The X3 nails reggae bass and it is really tight and warm. Prefer all aspects of it actually over the X2HR which i also picked up on sale for $99. To my ears the X3 is the much better headphone.
The x2hr is a better headphone in every way shape and from.
Brian is rocking 225k subs it is so cool. Great breakdown man 🤘🏼👍🏼
Happened to be here exactly on the right time, 3 seconds after the video release.
Nice
Good review, thank you. The elastic and (non replaceable) foam pads are pretty much shot in my 9 year old X1's. At the moment amazon are doing both sets of cans for about same price so it was this review that made me go for the X2HRs over the X3.
I'll be rocking my X2's for a while. I actually like the new design though. I am using the boompro for that gaming headset setup until I finally decide to get a stand-alone mic. If/when I move up to that audiophile level I would probably look elsewhere though.
Love your reviews. Own Aeon Flow Open, 1990's, and 58X among others. Your reviews were spot on. Review the M570. On sale and is a steal at the current price. I sent my Sundara's back with channel imbalance issues out of the box. I unfortunately lost the QC lottery.
I'm still rocking the DT770 Pros from your review and I love listening to them everyday. Low key want to pick up the X2s before they go away forever though...
I have had the X2 since 2015 and still use them till this day. I don't think I will be upgrading to the X3 or even consider buying them anytime soon at their current price. I might just buy and try them out later on but return them if I don't like them. I plan on buying another pair of X2's though :)
X2 Hasn't been out since 2015. X1 Has.
All My Headphones Now Sound Better Because
On Sept. 11 2020 I purchased my BTR3K it and it's clip case are still going strong .
I Skipped Getting The BTR5 .
On March 9 2023 I finally took the plunge and got the BTR7 And WOW It's A Bluetooth LDAC Codec Beast But In Wired DAC Mode Is Where The BTR7 Really Shines .
I Am Hard Pressed To Tell The Difference Over My Hidizs S9 Pro DAC AMP DONGLE And BTR7 When In Wired DAC Mode Of BTR7.
I'm in no rush, but once these get down to 250 in the next year I think that's when I'll grab them. LOVE the X2HR's. 58X's have been solid as well. My 6XX's need some more love lol.
Incredible video!! Completely agree with your on it!!
I also loved the X2 HR more than the X3, the X2 has better lower end as per my preferences
Love the Vice City style colors you always have on your videos. Cheers man, you're doing awesome!
I love your videos style, i feel an informed and honest speak, unlike most kids out there talking about audio. Thanks!
I got the X2HR/00 version when they were on sale, i liked the attack in the sound and the spacious soundstage, but at first i was suprised as a basslover that i thought they were too bassy as they felt a little boomy at first, but after a couple of weeks of burn in they sound like a very different headphone compared to right outta the box, even though my brain has probably adjusted to them but they do change after burn in, atleast my pair did, the bottleneck of these headphones are the treble metallic shrillness on certain material and it is still there, but not as much as in the beginning thankfully
Wait, it’s 350? I’ll be keeping my x2 then. Too many choices on that price range
Yeah he said 155 in the video. Not sure why it seems listed so high.
Nevermind think he was talking about the x2.
Currently in one of the retailers in my country the X2HR's and X3's are on sale at the exact same price. Which one to get? I see people usually say stick with the X2HR's, but that might often be because they think the X3's are too expensive, so what if they're equally priced?
I like my bass quite a bit, which is why i think i'll still order the X2HR's, but anyone else has an opinion on this?
I got the X2HR for $112 back when Amazon was having a crazy holiday sale, along with the Schiit Fulla 3 and it's been amazing. I think I want to upgrade to the Dekoni choice leather pads whenever they're back in stock.
Got the X1 for about $200. For some reason once it gets to that $350 mark I feel it’s okay to start looking into the $500 zone where the best bang for buck reside. Phillips may find out they’ve lost many buyers by losing that single connection/boom mic combo
1:08 Brian: "YO, I'm Brian P.!"
Me: "Hello Brian, I'm Matt. Please entertain me."
@Matthew Wilder
Hang around this channel sir your request will not be denied
Sounds like Philips really shit the bed. SHP9600 and X3's definitely aren't the follows we wanted to the SHP9500 and X2HR's
This headphone is absolute beauty, so modern looking, I feels relaxed just by looking at it
Hey Brian, are you going to review the 9600's?
Yep
I use the Fidelio X2's for my PC, watching videos, listening to music and playing a lot of games.
I used to run DT990 PRO's but upgraded to the X2's. Most people would look at that as a downgrade, but I LOVE the X2's.
I can't find any headphones I like more than the X2's. Too bad the X3's look like they aren't going to beat the X2's either.
As a side note, I bought some generic leather earcups and glued them to the plate that attaches to the earcup in the X2's. They are WAY easier to keep clean and add a little bass to the headphones too, not that they needed that.
get the hifiman edition xs. its basically the x2hr but drastically better in every way
All my X2HF needed was some dense felt (sticky backed slider felt) about the size of a quarter stuck to the inside of the metal grill. Cleaned the low end without loosing subbass.
When are we going to get a review of the SHP9600's?
For Jazz and any acoustic music these are enormously better than the X2HR, which I also have (heading to Ebay soon as no longer needed). You did state to listen very different types of music which explains the very different conclusion you reached. But these headphones do have a place in alternative, rather than replacement, of the X2. I see them as a viable alternative to the HD800S for who is on a budget.
Brother....seriously this video is amazing. You deserve all of revenue...and I need myself some trade coffee..and Philips cans. Also what’s happened to the Sim Rig video what you were going to do? 🤣🤣
I still use an SHP9500 with VMODA as my gaming and music listening setup... it was cheap but it really, really works well. Can't believe I hadn't given those a try earlier.
Thanks for another great review. I'll stick with my X2HR's for now i think ;)
Definitely the move.👌🏻
@@badseedtech any recommendations on an entry level dac/amp to run the cans?
Don't think I'm getting all of it out of my on-board.
@@RandomSheepZA Fiio I think possible choice if you want to cheap price of AMP
@@Gerikahp ended up getting a Ifi Zen DAC and then a pair of DT990's
Man seeing your background always makes me feel like I want to see your room. So when are you going to do a room tour
The X3 is now $220 on Amazon, I’m curious as to how the price difference would change your opinion. Think they’re as good or better than their similarly priced competition?
199 now
@@Princeton_James 169 now
@@Pandize 115-138 now
One of the best channels in my opinion. You deserve Millions of subs. Keep it up. Awesome content !!!
Very detailed review. BP always got the best videos!
I own a pair of X3s. Never auditioned the X2s, so I cannot confirm the differences stated in this review. What I can say is that I don't find the highs to be sibilant or aggressive at all. To me they are slightly less smooth as the HD650s. Bass is pretty strong, but I agree, they don't 'bloom', like my NightHawks do. But the bass probably is still bigger than neutral. Soundstage is great with these and I enjoy them with every kind of music.
I got these for Christmas cause they were 40 percent off, seemed like a better buy at that point for me. Not disappointed
I just ordered these. I'm a big fan of the X2's and already have an amp with 2.5mm balanced so I couldn't help myself. Btw, you remind me of Sgt. Zim at 0.48 :)
How is the bass on the x3s? Did you notice a difference in comparison. I don't own either but that is the most focus for me.
I have a disgustingly oily 10-year old X1 with an Antlion Modmic, fed by an 02 Amp/DAC. Best sound I've ever heard, but feels heavy on the head.
I would appreciate the lightness of the X3, but the split cable is a deal breaker for me.
Can you make a new best gaming headset video? Idk if there are better options under a 100 than the Philips SHP9500 or the Sennheiser GSP 300. Also thanks for the amazing content, always a reliable source for detailed not too long reviews!
I love the X2, I’m still curious about these though.
I got both x3&x2hr, be honestlly and the sound is very very big different, the x3 can feel better dynamic, more tight bass details and less dynamic compression. if you listen to the violin or piano, you can hear the “Grainy” and “muscle” is more spririt than the X2HR. But X2HR still have these advantages. the 1st is the x2hr got deeper bass expansion. Yes!! the X3's bass is powerful but not too deep. The 2nd because the X2HR sounding more soft in whole frequency, especailly in treble range, you can feel some deeper soundstage and extensive soundfield.
Does x3 needs an amp?
For sound quality there is no difference with even budget modern amp/dacs today when running single ended, it's about power. On my Monoprice THX DAC/Amp the power on single ended can get cut in half (depending on the headphone) compared to running it balanced via XLR. With my 6xx running balanced I get the volume pot to about -27db, on single ended I have to take it to almost -20db. With my LCD2C -32db via balanced, on single ended -25db.
What made the X2s' and the 9500s' appealing is the price to performance, by raising the price the appeal is gone. To give me the same price to performance appeal as the previous generation at $350 for the X3's they would have to punch above their price range and compete with something like the Focal Elex or the LCD2Cs. If they did that then buying them would be a no brainer.
I am listening to this on a pair of second hand X2HR's that I just picked up for $40 AUD (around 30 USD)... and I am obviously thrilled about that price, but also honestly I can't say I like ANYTHING about the X3 from this review.
1. They don't sound like they will be as muscial.
2. 2.5mm dual cable. I hate dual cables (or whatever they're called) in general. I don't want to be constantly bumping the cable.
3. Can't easily put a mic in. I don't really care about this but it's nice to have the option.
4. I don't think the X3s look as good. In fact I think the X2s are downright sexy and I thought that long before I even knew what kind of headphone they were.
I want that brass knuckle mug more than a new set of headphones
ohh im excited for this one!
Great review! Where can I purchase that shirt??
Sadly not around anymore. RIP Gunsmith
Nice review :-)
At this price you also can find a (brand new) Audioquest Nighthawk Carbon, which is a beast.
Yesssssss its definitely on my radar
Audioquest quit making the Carbons and they're out of stock just about everywhere.
Since this product isn't available on Indonesia, I will research first. Are X3 better than X2HR and good choice for X2HR successor ? Because I have X2HR and I like this headphone.
I bought these on Amazon ($200 ATM), but I think I will be returning them. The sound quality is similar to my Sennheiser 599s but these make my head a bit hot and I loathe split cables (I didn't even think about looking at this detail when I bought them given the X2s). The sound stage is smaller too. There is a potential though, I've only had them since yesterday. I'll decide if they're keepers in a couple weeks, but like I mentioned right now I'm leaning towards return.
Keepikng my X2HR then. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for the info man! Really helpful! ❤️
Great video and content. Tip, try and make more pauses between your speech, specially when entering the advertising. It was ok when coming out of Ads.
X3 has Less sub bass, more agressive treebles, during prime days i am going to buy a 2nd fidelio x2hr for 79€. I think it s a very good price for this headphone
I think the X3's cup looks nice but the strap looks cheap but the words on the outside of the X2 cups felt a bit quirky.
I think Philips reused their old drivers for the shp 9600 and X3, tuned them a bit with dampening materials, changed the aesthetics, and released them as new products. To me they are a fancy iteration, but not a warranted release.
Compared the X3's to my old Denon AH-D2000, that I use mostly for gaming, the Denons trashed them.
I've got set of X2HR, a Schiit Heresy and a Creative Sound Blaster X3 on the way. It's my first step into open backs and a proper amp. had thought of going with the Modi DAC but I needed the mic input as well as side tone/mic monitoring.. maybe I could have done without but having it all simplified into a nice set up was an attractive idea
that and two of the items were surprise gifts to me by my partners as I had it all on my amazon wish list lol.
I liked the X2 but thought it was too sibilant. I kinda can't believe that they upped the sibilance even more for the X3.
if you want a light headphone just get an AKG 702, the best of the best for me, sometimes I wore it for 12 hours
It's because of the x2hr build quality was the reason why I had to get the jubilee I haven't had the headphone for a month and they already cracked at one of the grommets the black grommets that kept the ear cup on the headband. I'll just wait for the price to go down on these
I have the x3 and I love the sound signature !
Phillips made a perfect headphone with the x2hr.