I got the X3s today. And they seem noticably uhm lesser, in the low end, like, less, impactful and not as deep. rtings seem to confirm this, also seem worse in treble and midrange based off of their comparison with the X2HR.
In short: the X2 HR's sound almost exactly the same : "20 minutes blind test with these I would have a hard time telling them apart" and they (x2's) are more than half cheaper and have a better cable. Thanks, I'm skipping the x3's for sure👍
@3a.m.284 Still the same problem after 3 years.... They cost the same as the X2hr but no one is selling a replacement cable for them.... Unacceptable. ( I bought the X2hr instead)
The fact that they spent all that time to add in leather, and not add caps to the glued ends of the headband is ridiculous. Zeos even started lifting the leather off the headband so easily in the unboxing.
After following your advice a couple of years ago on a not so comproming (price-wise) good IEM and buying the TIN T2's and enjoying them thoroughly (still...), I decided to make the leap into a pair of good heaphones. I was looking on the 100€ range and after a long time researching (on your website too), took the leap on a pair of Phillips Fidelio X2HR. Holy shit.... All I can say is thank you, again.
I like the look of the X3's better but I don't think they sound better. There is a treble peak in the X2's that bothers me sometimes and I find myself turning the volume down occasionally because of it (and I'm a Beyer fan). I like the X2's overall but they aren't my favorites. I find the X3's to be brighter, sibilant and with less bass which makes the balance even worse. But that's just my opinion based on my X2's compared to the X3's that I borrowed. I'm sure there will be plenty of people who find the X3's to be a sonic improvement.
All I can say is X3 I love the X2HR calibrated by Sonarworks Reference 4. There's so much artificiality in the treble that's just completely changed when calibration is enabled.
I own these and what I did was I took the headphone apart (the first day I got it) and switched the right headphones leads in the jack to match actual regular cables. Still work great and I do love them beyond that extra little problem.
Have you happened to have tried the HD560S? I’m wondering how the tuning compares between those and these. My perfect headphone would be the HD560S tuning with X3/X2HR soundstage
Fidelio X2HR : YES ! - Durable, cheaper, sounds amazing... and NO rivals @ that price tag ! Fidelio X3 : NO ! - Too much marketing gimmicks: real leather shit, un-standart cable inputs , grey-ish cloth that will get dirty by even looking at, unleashed hell @ that price tag ! Fidelio X3-S : Maybe... - If only they decide to correct those caveats and go cheaper...!
I own the original X2 and paid like $240 so when I saw the "revised" versions for like $145 I told my buddy about them. He ordered them and I spent hours trying to find a difference. There is none. Same detachable pads, same driver, same cable, same everything except his packaging had a gold hifi sticker on it. That's it.
The earpads are a lot different in the X2HR model..really stiff. And the headband has a smaller circumference. I think I hear more treble out of the X2HR, but that's probably the earpads making less of a seal.
I had the X2's for a little while, loved the tone (bass-heavy open-back? YES!) but returned them due to driver imbalance. Then bought the X2HR's, they seem a little brighter, and a little less of the bass "slam" of the original X2's. A nice sound signature, but lacking a little something from the originals. At least no imbalance. I'll keep them, but looking for something a little better.
@@jesuguru2394 If you want some of the slam back, ifi ZenDAC TRUEBASS. It barely changes the tonality on the X2HR but makes Bass-Kicks harder and dryer. It's like a high/low-gain switch for low frequency on this headphone.
I almost ordered the X3 but then I thought let's see what Zeos thinks. Just ordered X2HRs to replace my broken X2s. You saved me 100,- Euros and the hassle of dealing with that silly cable situation. Big THANK YOU! :)
How do you feel about the X3s at £99, Zeos? I love them. I've just ordered a set of Hifiman HE400se to compare. I'm using the X3s through a Fiio K7, balanced. They are so good.
Im listening to this with my Fidelio X2HR which has a vmoda boompro mic plugged into it and going through a sennheiser gsx 1200. Best audio setup for gaming. Thanks to your recommendations in the past Zeo! Cheers man.
@@KloVnPT The GSX1000 and 1200 are amps. Not the most powerful amps though but they definitely make a difference. One of the main selling points for them though are their gamer centric options like micmonitoring and separating game audio from chat audio (with a separate volume wheel for each). But the best feature has to be the surround sound setting that it offers. Its not a gimmick, it works amazingly well for competitive gaming. It's expensive though.
@@Ton-uy1xd im sure there is but this is enough for now haha. For context, i upgraded to this setup from an Astro A50 gaming headset. So the improvement was substantial.
Got the X2HR in July after looking at all reviews. I guess I even looked 3 times at Zeos his review. At the time, I knew these X3s were coming but I reasoned that the launch price would be high and that Phillips choose a new direction. And honestly I liked the price of the X2 HR then and was extremely curious for the sound. Guess Philips has some homework to do for the X3 gen2... for now I’m delighted with my X2HRs.
Pretty much the same for me. Was thinking about buying a headphone, had a few pairs on my wish list, but then noticed a deal for the X2HR and out of a "they are going to be replaced probably discontinued soon" and "oh that is a good price" momentum just ordered X2HR. Couldn't be happier with em, love on first tone playing music. I'm not using em for gaming though but music all the time, for me they are very comfortable so also very welcome for videos(yt, series, movies) too.
@@1800moonSugar lol-SAD reply... Buy you a new car and run the hell out of it without break in... a SOLID WOOFER is ZERO difference. Play it LOUD and ruin it... I certainly don't give a sh*t about you or your opinions. BLOW your engine and your driver. be well pal
The price is irrevelant in long term in THAT DEPTH as we hear this video... Like, for now the X3 had a drastic price drop, its 100$ in my country.... So i just say, that sound, how it sounds is much more important cuz its a permament thing, while the price is just termporary and dynamic with time.
Heyyooo, I am currently watching these on X3's while I watched this on my X2's before they broke (not HR) gonna say it is a pretty decent upgrade- love the clarity, and openess of them. BUT I do agree for the price tag, wish they were 250ish, its a bit of an upgrade but I wanted to upgrade since my X2's retired after 4 years of service (Right side completely broke off + cutting the wire)
I rather spend those 200 bucks on some used cans with a different sound signature than a marginal upgrade on the x2hr sound myself. That's these can's problems their little brother are too good haha.
May 2024 Just discovered Philips headphones, purchased the SHP9600 and X2HR's to compare, the latter are amazing. Binge watched a new NF show Hierarchy, AAC 5.1 6 Channels and the sound was amazing, most comfortable headphones I have worn.
Okay so after a few days of having them I can say this. I'm a bit treble sensitive and find them quite sibilant stock. Did some measurements on my E.A.R.S rig and they seem to have a big treble boost centered around 8k, so I thought I'd try the ol' toilet paper mod to try and tame it a bit and it actually worked out great. Tried it with both one and two sheets behind each pad, but two sheets made them sound a bit muffled. One sheet sounded just right to me, actually surprisingly neutral. I can be a bit of a basshead as well so I also EQ'd them a little, turned out they sound great with the same EQ profile I use for my HD650s (low-shelf 110 Hz, +2.0dB, Q-value 0.7). Also made myself a nice 4ft balanced cable with a 4-pin XLR connector, with blue sleeving for the left side and red for right, to make it easier to tell which side is which. Hate the stock cables and the 2.5mm balanced is just insanity, as Z pointed out. I should mention I currently power them with my Aune X7s, so the high output impedance might mess with the frequency response a bit. But I have a Topping A90 coming in so we'll see if they sound any different on that. So far I'm really happy with them. I can definitely see these become my daily driver for a while.
Really loving the quietness of the new house but I will miss your traffic pauses mid rant lol. You should check out My Morning Jackets new album The Waterfall II I think its up your alley!
The X2HR are some of the best value for money in audio. Unless the X3 is noticeably better, forget it. The next close thing are 4XX/58X (and now the M570 for $199 which if you get a good pair are outstanding) but the X2 are sooooo comfortable and durable and wide and warm. They do EVERYTHING well. Nothing spectacular but every single genre of music sounds good on them. Get the X2.
Yes. I've been getting by with the cheap little Apple DAC for now, but I'd like to be able to turn them up louder. I'm looking forward to seeing how much better they sound once I finally buy a soundcard for my PC or something
I'm using them with a Fiio K7. Balanced. It makes so much difference! Even when using the X3s without the balanced cable, there is a noticeable difference, but balanced is where it's at. I got the X3s recently from Amazon: £99!
If you want the same or better detail than the Fidelio X3. Then get the Fidelio X2 HR with Dekoni Choice Leather Pads for the Fidelio X2 HR. It'll cost you as much as a Fidelio X3. It'll give you the same or better detail retrieval as the Fidelio X3 and it will give you a better bass response and the comfort will be vastly improved. Also Phillips just discontinued the Fidelio X2 HR.
I own both, got the X3s first and later the X2s because every reviewer out there claimed the X2s are better....but they are not. There is this consensus that the X3s are brighter and more peaky in the treble than the X2s. To my ears, and I may be the only one yet, the X3s are smoother, have more warmth in the mids. Especially vocals sound fuller. But I agree, their bass is leaner and tighter. Their timbre I think is better than that of the X2s, which I find to be grainy at times. I find the X3s to be more like the HD650s, but with wider and better soundstage, due to bit recessed mids and with brighter highs. I listen classical music a lot and with natural recordings the X3s beat the X2s in a significant way. I got them cheap and didn't expect much. First auditions I compared them with the HD650s and I found the HD650s to be better overall, save for soundstage. But after three weeks, listening to them for 6-8 hours a day I prefer them over the HD650s. Their brighter signature is only apparent in direct comparison with my NightHawks and HD650. But just using them on a daily base I find them very unfatiguing, just like the NightHawks and HD650s. I may turn into a treble head, because their highs are simply glorious, just the right amount of peaks and dips, to my ears never harsh, hard or sibilant, as if they were custom tuned to my ears.
@@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797 I paid 207 euro, so yes. But at their retail price? I don't think the Sundara's are that better, maybe in a technical way, but certainly not in built quality and musical enjoyment. The HD650s cost me 330 euro (in Europe we don't have Massdrop's HD6XXs) and even though I think the HD650s are technically and tonally better I like the X3s better. So it is all relative. I'd wait though, till the price drops
@@nout1972 I think people are just disappointed because the x2hr is half the price. In a few months when it is 200 it will be a serious bargain. But the headphone I wanna buy the most right now is 1more triple driver
(english + spanish) 100% agree with everything you say , my bad mood when I see silly details like the bad finish of the glued leather, the long cables "hard and uncomfortable" and difficult to replace, their hot pads that itch in my ears (although a little better than my X2 HR) have made me think about returning my X3s to amazon, but then I remember I paid u$130 for them and realize I can invest a little more in a good cable on aliexpress plus a good set of pads with cooling gel, and after the extra investments it's still a spectacular buy . I loved my Fidelio X2 HR and I'm starting to fall in love with these Fidelio X3, its design, its light weight, its comfort, its materials, its sound ... We will see if our relationship prospers and we get to a happy marriage that lasts for many years. // 100% de acuerdo con todo lo que dices 👏👏👏😎, mi mal humor al ver detalles tontos como la mala terminación del cuero pegado, los largos cables "duros e incómodos" y dificiles de reemplazar, sus almohadillas calientes que pican en mis orejas (aunque un poco mejores que las de mis X2 HR) han hecho que piense en devolver mis X3 a amazon, pero despues recuerdo que los pague u$130 y me doy cuenta que puedo invertir un poco más en un buen cable en aliexpress más un buen juego de almohadillas con cooling gel, y despues de las inversiones extras sigue siendo una compra espectacular 🙌😎. Ame mis Fidelio X2 HR y estoy empezando a enamorarme de estos Fidelio X3, su diseño, su poco peso, su comodidad, sus materiales, su sonido ❤... veremos si nuestra relacion prospera y llegamos a un matrimonio feliz que dure muchos años ❤😁🙌
The X2HR is one of my favorite headphones I own but feel like Phillips is pullin a Loch Ness monster on us with this "I'm-a need about tree fiddy" business.
I work in a micro center where these were marked down several times over the course of months before someone bought them. We only had two to begin with. I started to feel bad for them, like the dog in the selter no one wanted.
Great advice to wait....because now they are only $199 on Amazon. Now is the time to snag some up! I think I am going to buy some at the discounted price. I have the X2HR which I really enjoy listening to. Based on your review it certainly makes sense at the price of $199 as it seems you had good things to say about them besides the price. Obviously somebody at Phillips is paying attention possibly took your advice and decided to drop the price right here at the best time to do so. Thanks for a great review Zeos
Ok I love my x2hr. Can anyone honestly say the x3 is worlds better in terms of sound quality? Because if they're very similar, it doesn't make sense to upgrade
2.5mm balanced are usually 4 pole. It's really only 4.4mm pentaconn that's 5 pole because it's supposed to do both balanced and single-ended in one connector.
Great rev, just ordered the X2HR, it's currently 99 eur on amazon while the X3 is just over 200. For me it's mainly for gaming, tho i do listen to music occasionally but didn't make sense to pay double.
@@icedviking4485 For the price they’re pretty good for sure, not as neutral i expected for an open back headphones but still good spacing. The bass is a bit much for me so i’m going for a HD6xx from drop since they’re on sale. Still i def recommend the X2HR around a 100eurs over any gaming headsets with the same pricetag
@@nonamejustx Yup, they're on sale right now. X3s are around 150, but I'm not sure whether I should get them or just get a razer kraken ultimate. Tough choice! ;p
@@icedviking4485 not an expert but i think the fidelio is at least a tier above of these gaming headsets. personally i'd always go for the studio stuff over the gaming ones. also (this is also a personal preference) i hate talking while i'm wearing closed back or noise cancelling phones so i always go for the open backs. they always have great spacing, so far i used K612 pros, DT880 pros and the X2HR and they are all great for gaming as well as casually listening to music (with an entry level DAC ofc, i have the fiio e10k)
@@nonamejustx I'm fairly new to all of this because I would just use some more expensive headphones without DAC, etc. Do you really need it to use these headphones?
Hey man, i just did a direct comparison with the x3 and x2 since my old x2s broke and I need new headphones. And I got to say the Soundstage of the X2 is absolutly unmatched. While the x3s may be more precise (or rather the x2s loose precision due the the big stage) they just cant compare to the x2s. Although nowadays the X3 are actually a little bit cheaper and I love the build way more than x2 I just cant put them above the x2s, since the Bass is also better on x2 (goes lower and is more noticeable) I also recently compared the x2 with the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro.. I thought it would be a significant upgrade, but they sound very much like the x3s. I really wanted to like them, but it wasn't much of an upgrade. Do you have an upgrade to the X2 you can recommend in terms of sounstage and similiar Bass?
I have the Fidelio X1s and they are so much fun. Thinking about buying the Klipsch HP-3s and be done with it. V shaped bass open headphones is where i want to be. I would've looked at X3's but they have gone in a different direction. Folks, 'audiophile' is boring, you want bass and presence in a headphone, believe me.
I think I'll stick to my X2HR. I've got mine setup with an ES100 plugged directly into it with a male 3.5mm to male 3.5 mm adapter. They make a pretty good set of wireless headphones.
I loved the sound. It did exactly what I expected of the X3. When another reviewer says different things you need to question the consistency of the manufacturing FIRST.. He is on the other side of the country so who knows what his set of X3 was doing on his equipment. Personal Taste has a lot to do with it but if there is faulty hardware you are going to get a confusing mess on the internet.
Right now I can get these X3's for $258 Canadian.. Vs X2HR that cost $202 but have $30 import fees. So the difference is about $30. So I think it's pretty safe to say the X3's would be the better option right now, at least for me as a Canadian.. When they were $400 it might be a different story. These X3's are absolutely gorgeous in style. Not that that is the important part. But still.. So if sound is the same or tiny bit better can't go wrong?
I was very close to getting the X3 yesterday on Amazon but I’m going to wait a bit longer to see if the price drop a bit... Let me know what you think of the X3 if you get the pair.
Its crazy that you dont get multiple lengths cables, different boxes to store it in like travel and one like thing to put it in on the table when headsets is so damn expensive. I dont mean this headset in particular, but like man I get that some parts is really expensive and the technology is impeccable. Why is it so hard to make small gestures that would keep a customer to stay fans of the brand for life.
Hey! From the information I found on TH-cam Its an F ranked 350 dollar headphones that had to compete to Sandara and hd600. But today you can get them for 130 bucks. While Sandara and HD600 are still at that 250-300 price range. How are they ranking NOW compared to other 150$ish headphones? I am looking for my first open back headphone on a budget. Was looking at Grado SR60e ect. Thanks!
Just ordered this for around USD180. Hopefully I'll be satisfied. These are my first "high-end" headphones. Going from Steelseries Arctis Wireless 7 and a pair of Sennheiser PC 363D gaming headset. But I should get a decent dac right? The Fiio K3 are USD130 here in Sweden now.
good news is at the moment they are on sale for about 317. bad news is that the T60rp's are also on sale for 250. just get the T60rp's and send them to Ryan for the argon conversion.
Just bought a second pair of X2. I have the OG X2 and now have the X2HR, just because I need a back up ☺️. I also have a brand new X1 still in its box lol.
I think i remember you mentioning the sound stage of the x2hr's being one of the closest things to hd800 or something like that. Feel like if they really made a massive jump in the original price of those, to this, they should've been more cognizant and aware of what it should actually be trying to accomplish if anything. Its strange the hd800 is a dynamic and not a planar. But this is a dynamic too. So it should've had a clear idea of what to try and beat. But otherwise, competing with itself it shouldn't really warrant a big price bracket increase.
The thing is, people who enjoy jazz/cooking podcast / pop / classic enjoy brighter headphones and are willing to pay extra for a classy low profile design. I'm ok with a more 80's looking headphone@x2 ;)
How can I made the Headband less hurt? I tired stretching them out with some success someone on Amazon said they moded the Headband on theirs not sure what they did.
Soo after the existing stock of x2hr's is gone, these are worth buying at 250ish euros (available at that price currently)? Otherwise get x2hr's beofre they are gone, for 99% same sound experience.
I suppose there is alot of comments on this already, but the bag does not look like pastry. (Balaclava = Skimask . Baclava = Pastry) Sorry Zeos, just had to
Of all the negatives mentioned the one that bothers me the most is that leather with no finish or stitch at the end. That's just lazy and, along with that janky cable, is unacceptable at a price where you can get the Sundaras.
I picked these up today and ran them on my Fiio x5 gen3. I plugged them in using the standard cables. My reaction was similar to some other reviewers where they were saying things like "needle sharp" and "treble canons". Kinda miserable unless you turn the volume way down. Then I pulled out that balanced cable and set the fiio to Hi gain and balanced turbo. The treble is much more under control (although still sometimes sibilant), and the soundstage is wider. I think these are just bad performers out of balanced mode. Not sure if I'm going to keep them. Got a THX 789 arriving tomorrow. I fear my eardrums might blow out with this combo :)
I was totally wrong about the THX and Fidelio. Plugged into the THX, these Fidelios sound like something special. Now I'm thinking that treble spike was an extremely narrow range of something like 100hz that goes way out of control on a weak amp. These things still have lots of treble, but my ears are no longer ringing on the THX, and the whole thing comes together into a cohesive musical presentation. I actually might like these better than the Sundara's for about half my music.
I have the fidelio l3 and I like the design and comfort more than the 100 eur more expensive B&o, the sound is not that good but it's close and bass is better, but the comfort is better and I rather carry them around and use the b&o at home
ear padsThis essentially results in the headphones being disposable, which is unacceptable for any headphone over $75 imo. As you removed the X3 ear pads they look similar to the X2/X2-HR ones. Can you try and see if the X2 pads fit the X3?
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dms says x2/x2hr is total shit. talk to him. make something with him))
x3 vs k712?
are x3 weight exactlly the same as x2????? i dont get it. manuals says 380 both. is it true???
@@stringbreaker87 Z answers only for $?
I got the X3s today. And they seem noticably uhm lesser, in the low end, like, less, impactful and not as deep.
rtings seem to confirm this, also seem worse in treble and midrange based off of their comparison with the X2HR.
I was never bothered by the background noise in your old place, but I really notice how quiet your new room is. It's nice.
In short: the X2 HR's sound almost exactly the same : "20 minutes blind test with these I would have a hard time telling them apart" and they (x2's) are more than half cheaper and have a better cable. Thanks, I'm skipping the x3's for sure👍
bUt ThE x3 L0okS bEtTeRrRr
Do you know what cable hes using on the X2's? I'm not sure where to find it or maybe I have the wrong name for it.
X3 here are the same price as X2 here rn
@@seulgisglassofcoke5703 yeah same here lmao
@@seulgisglassofcoke5703 Bruh where do you live I need a new pair of headphones after my cat chewed my damn cables
Balanced is nice and all but damn, X2HR + Vmoda boom pro mic is a match made in heaven! Love mine!
Yeah, I’ve been using shp9500’s with a boom pro for about 4 years and I’ve never been happier with a headset
I hear you, running the same setup...
What DAC/AMP are you running it on?
Incredible set up for gaming, absolutely incredible
X2s with vmoda is my setup as well its nice as heck
Running the same thing off a Schiit Hel DAC/AMP and the Dekoni suede pads. This is my END GAME for my PC. Love it
That cable incompatibility alone is a massive deal breaker. Its basically a baby step towards priorietary connectors.
They're $160 now on Amazon, and I still won't buy them because of that cable problem alone
@3a.m.284 Still the same problem after 3 years.... They cost the same as the X2hr but no one is selling a replacement cable for them.... Unacceptable. ( I bought the X2hr instead)
The fact that they spent all that time to add in leather, and not add caps to the glued ends of the headband is ridiculous. Zeos even started lifting the leather off the headband so easily in the unboxing.
Just an FYI, Hart Audio made me a similar cable for my Monolith M560 easy peasy
Same cable for Sundara
Already have the X2HR, so I'm good.
I'm glad I watched this video bought x2hr for 115 vs 255 for these
@@ht8138 yeah, x2 are amazing value at 115
Just bought mine yesterday for $95 off amazon, woot!
@@Zelldinchtjr your gonna love it!
@@ht8138 It came in yesterday and boy, oh, boy. It's goooood. I wonder how the sennheiser 560s sounds, though.
After following your advice a couple of years ago on a not so comproming (price-wise) good IEM and buying the TIN T2's and enjoying them thoroughly (still...), I decided to make the leap into a pair of good heaphones. I was looking on the 100€ range and after a long time researching (on your website too), took the leap on a pair of Phillips Fidelio X2HR. Holy shit.... All I can say is thank you, again.
I like the look of the X3's better but I don't think they sound better. There is a treble peak in the X2's that bothers me sometimes and I find myself turning the volume down occasionally because of it (and I'm a Beyer fan). I like the X2's overall but they aren't my favorites. I find the X3's to be brighter, sibilant and with less bass which makes the balance even worse. But that's just my opinion based on my X2's compared to the X3's that I borrowed. I'm sure there will be plenty of people who find the X3's to be a sonic improvement.
I think I might like them. Love my X2/00's but I'vs always found them bit too bassy.
All I can say is X3
I love the X2HR calibrated by Sonarworks Reference 4. There's so much artificiality in the treble that's just completely changed when calibration is enabled.
I own these and what I did was I took the headphone apart (the first day I got it) and switched the right headphones leads in the jack to match actual regular cables. Still work great and I do love them beyond that extra little problem.
Have you happened to have tried the HD560S? I’m wondering how the tuning compares between those and these. My perfect headphone would be the HD560S tuning with X3/X2HR soundstage
@@TheHulksMistress I haven't unfortunately, my choice was between the hd600 and these, I have yet to be able to hear them
Fidelio X2HR : YES !
- Durable, cheaper, sounds amazing... and NO rivals @ that price tag !
Fidelio X3 : NO !
- Too much marketing gimmicks: real leather shit, un-standart cable inputs , grey-ish cloth that will get dirty by even looking at, unleashed hell @ that price tag !
Fidelio X3-S : Maybe...
- If only they decide to correct those caveats and go cheaper...!
Xduoo with their XD-05 Basic did pricing right. That review is coming.
Feel like I have to mention this everywhere lol they are 100 bucks off on Amazon right now.
I own the original X2 and paid like $240 so when I saw the "revised" versions for like $145 I told my buddy about them. He ordered them and I spent hours trying to find a difference. There is none. Same detachable pads, same driver, same cable, same everything except his packaging had a gold hifi sticker on it. That's it.
Hey that’s not true. It also says HIGH RESOLUTION or some other bs on the metal lol.
@@FatSacks yeah that was my bad by saying hifi and not high resolution. Haha!
The earpads are a lot different in the X2HR model..really stiff. And the headband has a smaller circumference. I think I hear more treble out of the X2HR, but that's probably the earpads making less of a seal.
I had the X2's for a little while, loved the tone (bass-heavy open-back? YES!) but returned them due to driver imbalance. Then bought the X2HR's, they seem a little brighter, and a little less of the bass "slam" of the original X2's. A nice sound signature, but lacking a little something from the originals. At least no imbalance. I'll keep them, but looking for something a little better.
@@jesuguru2394 If you want some of the slam back, ifi ZenDAC TRUEBASS. It barely changes the tonality on the X2HR but makes Bass-Kicks harder and dryer. It's like a high/low-gain switch for low frequency on this headphone.
I almost ordered the X3 but then I thought let's see what Zeos thinks. Just ordered X2HRs to replace my broken X2s. You saved me 100,- Euros and the hassle of dealing with that silly cable situation. Big THANK YOU! :)
How do you feel about the X3s at £99, Zeos? I love them.
I've just ordered a set of Hifiman HE400se to compare. I'm using the X3s through a Fiio K7, balanced. They are so good.
The x2hr also has real leather wrapped around the metal headband. Says so in the booklets that come with the headphones.
Im listening to this with my Fidelio X2HR which has a vmoda boompro mic plugged into it and going through a sennheiser gsx 1200. Best audio setup for gaming. Thanks to your recommendations in the past Zeo! Cheers man.
I have the same setup except the gsx 1200, it's plugged in directly to the pc.
Is there a substancial difference?
@@KloVnPT The GSX1000 and 1200 are amps. Not the most powerful amps though but they definitely make a difference. One of the main selling points for them though are their gamer centric options like micmonitoring and separating game audio from chat audio (with a separate volume wheel for each). But the best feature has to be the surround sound setting that it offers. Its not a gimmick, it works amazingly well for competitive gaming. It's expensive though.
There's way better if you wanna pay up lol
@@Ton-uy1xd im sure there is but this is enough for now haha. For context, i upgraded to this setup from an Astro A50 gaming headset. So the improvement was substantial.
@@Jutang1992 Yeah man just keep your setup. The shine of the senn gsx is their DSP. Your setup will be good for years to come.
Got the X2HR in July after looking at all reviews. I guess I even looked 3 times at Zeos his review. At the time, I knew these X3s were coming but I reasoned that the launch price would be high and that Phillips choose a new direction. And honestly I liked the price of the X2 HR then and was extremely curious for the sound. Guess Philips has some homework to do for the X3 gen2... for now I’m delighted with my X2HRs.
Pretty much the same for me. Was thinking about buying a headphone, had a few pairs on my wish list, but then noticed a deal for the X2HR and out of a "they are going to be replaced probably discontinued soon" and "oh that is a good price" momentum just ordered X2HR. Couldn't be happier with em, love on first tone playing music. I'm not using em for gaming though but music all the time, for me they are very comfortable so also very welcome for videos(yt, series, movies) too.
First song Z is rocking to is Mac Miller?! Didn't know you had him in the library, love it
Yup, thats the Marantz legacy there. Just got a hold on some NOS Philips bt speakers from the time they used Marantz know how. So good...
I bought these $199 on Amazon. These are superb after 28 hours of break in... Bravo Philips
@@1800moonSugar are you serious ???
Digital ? Correct -A moving Coil instrument- you are clueless
@@1800moonSugar Sorry you are so clueless
@@1800moonSugar lol-SAD reply... Buy you a new car and run the hell out of it without break in... a SOLID WOOFER is ZERO difference. Play it LOUD and ruin it... I certainly don't give a sh*t about you or your opinions. BLOW your engine and your driver. be well pal
@@1800moonSugar bye -best of life
I was considering these. And then I watched this video. I will look into these again when Philips fixes these easy problems.
The price is irrevelant in long term in THAT DEPTH as we hear this video... Like, for now the X3 had a drastic price drop, its 100$ in my country.... So i just say, that sound, how it sounds is much more important cuz its a permament thing, while the price is just termporary and dynamic with time.
Heyyooo, I am currently watching these on X3's while I watched this on my X2's before they broke (not HR) gonna say it is a pretty decent upgrade- love the clarity, and openess of them. BUT I do agree for the price tag, wish they were 250ish, its a bit of an upgrade but I wanted to upgrade since my X2's retired after 4 years of service (Right side completely broke off + cutting the wire)
PS I got em for 300, a 100 more than when I got my X2's
These are $100 off on Amazon right now..
150$ off now, probably just because they’re selling horribly
What? Oh my fucking God, it sucks so bad to live in a country like mine when you want good prices.
I rather spend those 200 bucks on some used cans with a different sound signature than a marginal upgrade on the x2hr sound myself. That's these can's problems their little brother are too good haha.
Whoever has been waiting, these are $170 on Amazon now. edit: grabbed them for $135 on Prime Day. Very pleased with the price and sound.
The documentation for my X2HR says genuine leather. Are you sure it's not?
Nice place Zeos, havent seen videos since your move, nice to be watching them again
TY for doing the gear list Z & Pastah, its always appreciated. Cheers.
With these down to 165 on Amazon it seems like a great value finally.
May 2024 Just discovered Philips headphones, purchased the SHP9600 and X2HR's to compare, the latter are amazing. Binge watched a new NF show Hierarchy, AAC 5.1 6 Channels and the sound was amazing, most comfortable headphones I have worn.
Baklava? lmao, who'd wear a pastry on their head?! Pretty sure you meant Balaklava.
he probably showers with a falafel too
These were 50% off at a local electronics store so I jumped on them. Now I have a reason to make myself another custom headphone cable 😄
Okay so after a few days of having them I can say this. I'm a bit treble sensitive and find them quite sibilant stock. Did some measurements on my E.A.R.S rig and they seem to have a big treble boost centered around 8k, so I thought I'd try the ol' toilet paper mod to try and tame it a bit and it actually worked out great. Tried it with both one and two sheets behind each pad, but two sheets made them sound a bit muffled. One sheet sounded just right to me, actually surprisingly neutral. I can be a bit of a basshead as well so I also EQ'd them a little, turned out they sound great with the same EQ profile I use for my HD650s (low-shelf 110 Hz, +2.0dB, Q-value 0.7).
Also made myself a nice 4ft balanced cable with a 4-pin XLR connector, with blue sleeving for the left side and red for right, to make it easier to tell which side is which. Hate the stock cables and the 2.5mm balanced is just insanity, as Z pointed out. I should mention I currently power them with my Aune X7s, so the high output impedance might mess with the frequency response a bit. But I have a Topping A90 coming in so we'll see if they sound any different on that.
So far I'm really happy with them. I can definitely see these become my daily driver for a while.
Really loving the quietness of the new house but I will miss your traffic pauses mid rant lol.
You should check out My Morning Jackets new album The Waterfall II I think its up your alley!
They drop price to 199 on your Amazon link
The X2HR are some of the best value for money in audio. Unless the X3 is noticeably better, forget it. The next close thing are 4XX/58X (and now the M570 for $199 which if you get a good pair are outstanding) but the X2 are sooooo comfortable and durable and wide and warm. They do EVERYTHING well. Nothing spectacular but every single genre of music sounds good on them. Get the X2.
3:38 Z, that's not vinyl. I just pulled out my X2HR box and checked in the booklet - it's calf leather. And you can check it on the edges.
Will an amp benefit the X3's or no? Also what amp would you recommend if needed?
Yes. I've been getting by with the cheap little Apple DAC for now, but I'd like to be able to turn them up louder. I'm looking forward to seeing how much better they sound once I finally buy a soundcard for my PC or something
Depends on your music source, but overall any amp $70-200.
I'm using them with a Fiio K7. Balanced. It makes so much difference! Even when using the X3s without the balanced cable, there is a noticeable difference, but balanced is where it's at.
I got the X3s recently from Amazon: £99!
Man I am so glad for my X2s.
Wow..It's been a while since I've watched a review. I'm going to have to catch up with the house tour!
I wish Tyll would make a review of these
I build my own short adapter for right side with correct polarity and it fixed all problems with standard non X3 cables.
If you want the same or better detail than the Fidelio X3. Then get the Fidelio X2 HR with Dekoni Choice Leather Pads for the Fidelio X2 HR. It'll cost you as much as a Fidelio X3. It'll give you the same or better detail retrieval as the Fidelio X3 and it will give you a better bass response and the comfort will be vastly improved. Also Phillips just discontinued the Fidelio X2 HR.
X2s were two fiddy when I bought mine. They are a steal at $145. Loving the basement.
I own both, got the X3s first and later the X2s because every reviewer out there claimed the X2s are better....but they are not. There is this consensus that the X3s are brighter and more peaky in the treble than the X2s.
To my ears, and I may be the only one yet, the X3s are smoother, have more warmth in the mids. Especially vocals sound fuller. But I agree, their bass is leaner and tighter. Their timbre I think is better than that of the X2s, which I find to be grainy at times. I find the X3s to be more like the HD650s, but with wider and better soundstage, due to bit recessed mids and with brighter highs.
I listen classical music a lot and with natural recordings the X3s beat the X2s in a significant way.
I got them cheap and didn't expect much. First auditions I compared them with the HD650s and I found the HD650s to be better overall, save for soundstage. But after three weeks, listening to them for 6-8 hours a day I prefer them over the HD650s. Their brighter signature is only apparent in direct comparison with my NightHawks and HD650. But just using them on a daily base I find them very unfatiguing, just like the NightHawks and HD650s. I may turn into a treble head, because their highs are simply glorious, just the right amount of peaks and dips, to my ears never harsh, hard or sibilant, as if they were custom tuned to my ears.
Are they worth the price?
@@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797 I paid 207 euro, so yes. But at their retail price? I don't think the Sundara's are that better, maybe in a technical way, but certainly not in built quality and musical enjoyment. The HD650s cost me 330 euro (in Europe we don't have Massdrop's HD6XXs) and even though I think the HD650s are technically and tonally better I like the X3s better. So it is all relative.
I'd wait though, till the price drops
@@nout1972 I think people are just disappointed because the x2hr is half the price. In a few months when it is 200 it will be a serious bargain. But the headphone I wanna buy the most right now is 1more triple driver
@@albertweedsteinthethuggeni7797 I am actually very interested in the Avantone Pro Planar. :)
同意！明显X3的声音更自然，因为这种三明治结构的振膜会有更出色的阻尼
I have compared hd650, byerdynamic 660, shure1840, r70x, a50x. In the end I chose between them and r70x and chose FIdelio x3, they did it all!
(english + spanish) 100% agree with everything you say , my bad mood when I see silly details like the bad finish of the glued leather, the long cables "hard and uncomfortable" and difficult to replace, their hot pads that itch in my ears (although a little better than my X2 HR) have made me think about returning my X3s to amazon, but then I remember I paid u$130 for them and realize I can invest a little more in a good cable on aliexpress plus a good set of pads with cooling gel, and after the extra investments it's still a spectacular buy . I loved my Fidelio X2 HR and I'm starting to fall in love with these Fidelio X3, its design, its light weight, its comfort, its materials, its sound ... We will see if our relationship prospers and we get to a happy marriage that lasts for many years. // 100% de acuerdo con todo lo que dices 👏👏👏😎, mi mal humor al ver detalles tontos como la mala terminación del cuero pegado, los largos cables "duros e incómodos" y dificiles de reemplazar, sus almohadillas calientes que pican en mis orejas (aunque un poco mejores que las de mis X2 HR) han hecho que piense en devolver mis X3 a amazon, pero despues recuerdo que los pague u$130 y me doy cuenta que puedo invertir un poco más en un buen cable en aliexpress más un buen juego de almohadillas con cooling gel, y despues de las inversiones extras sigue siendo una compra espectacular 🙌😎. Ame mis Fidelio X2 HR y estoy empezando a enamorarme de estos Fidelio X3, su diseño, su poco peso, su comodidad, sus materiales, su sonido ❤... veremos si nuestra relacion prospera y llegamos a un matrimonio feliz que dure muchos años ❤😁🙌
would u recommend these at the sale price of $160 or still stick to x2 at around $120-140
The X2HR is one of my favorite headphones I own but feel like Phillips is pullin a Loch Ness monster on us with this "I'm-a need about tree fiddy" business.
Again....congrats on your new house!!!!!
I work in a micro center where these were marked down several times over the course of months before someone bought them. We only had two to begin with. I started to feel bad for them, like the dog in the selter no one wanted.
Great advice to wait....because now they are only $199 on Amazon. Now is the time to snag some up! I think I am going to buy some at the discounted price. I have the X2HR which I really enjoy listening to. Based on your review it certainly makes sense at the price of $199 as it seems you had good things to say about them besides the price. Obviously somebody at Phillips is paying attention possibly took your advice and decided to drop the price right here at the best time to do so. Thanks for a great review Zeos
Ok
I love my x2hr.
Can anyone honestly say the x3 is worlds better in terms of sound quality?
Because if they're very similar, it doesn't make sense to upgrade
bought the Philips Fidelio X3 for 135€ looking forward how they sound
Im a proud owner of x2hr and i think ill stick to them, better looks dont justify 350$ in my book
Just got my pair for 170, thanks for the tips.
Definitely worth it at that price. Not at 300+ though...
Just order X3 from Amazon at US$160. Hope can work well with my ZEN DAC V2
Z would you say the X3 is also great for gaming if I can get them for a good price?
I love these headphones for $150 with tax. Magical.
Pairs well with Fiio BTR3k with the included 2.5mm balanced cable. Needs just a little eq bump in the lower part. Verry comfy cans!
How many poles are there on that balanced cable at 8:50 ? I'm expecting 5 (ground, left, left inverse, right, right inverse)
2.5mm balanced are usually 4 pole. It's really only 4.4mm pentaconn that's 5 pole because it's supposed to do both balanced and single-ended in one connector.
Great rev, just ordered the X2HR, it's currently 99 eur on amazon while the X3 is just over 200. For me it's mainly for gaming, tho i do listen to music occasionally but didn't make sense to pay double.
How are they for gaming? Been thinking about getting a pair, but I mostly play apex so I need directional sound.
@@icedviking4485 For the price they’re pretty good for sure, not as neutral i expected for an open back headphones but still good spacing. The bass is a bit much for me so i’m going for a HD6xx from drop since they’re on sale. Still i def recommend the X2HR around a 100eurs over any gaming headsets with the same pricetag
@@nonamejustx Yup, they're on sale right now. X3s are around 150, but I'm not sure whether I should get them or just get a razer kraken ultimate. Tough choice! ;p
@@icedviking4485 not an expert but i think the fidelio is at least a tier above of these gaming headsets. personally i'd always go for the studio stuff over the gaming ones. also (this is also a personal preference) i hate talking while i'm wearing closed back or noise cancelling phones so i always go for the open backs. they always have great spacing, so far i used K612 pros, DT880 pros and the X2HR and they are all great for gaming as well as casually listening to music (with an entry level DAC ofc, i have the fiio e10k)
@@nonamejustx I'm fairly new to all of this because I would just use some more expensive headphones without DAC, etc. Do you really need it to use these headphones?
Hey man, i just did a direct comparison with the x3 and x2 since my old x2s broke and I need new headphones. And I got to say the Soundstage of the X2 is absolutly unmatched. While the x3s may be more precise (or rather the x2s loose precision due the the big stage) they just cant compare to the x2s. Although nowadays the X3 are actually a little bit cheaper and I love the build way more than x2 I just cant put them above the x2s, since the Bass is also better on x2 (goes lower and is more noticeable)
I also recently compared the x2 with the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro.. I thought it would be a significant upgrade, but they sound very much like the x3s. I really wanted to like them, but it wasn't much of an upgrade.
Do you have an upgrade to the X2 you can recommend in terms of sounstage and similiar Bass?
Got the X2HR for 90 bucks new. Love them :P
I have the Fidelio X1s and they are so much fun. Thinking about buying the Klipsch HP-3s and be done with it. V shaped bass open headphones is where i want to be. I would've looked at X3's but they have gone in a different direction. Folks, 'audiophile' is boring, you want bass and presence in a headphone, believe me.
Every other reviewer I've seen says they're nothing like the X2HRs and have zero bass...
I think I'll stick to my X2HR. I've got mine setup with an ES100 plugged directly into it with a male 3.5mm to male 3.5 mm adapter. They make a pretty good set of wireless headphones.
Get a short 2.5mm to 3.5mm balanced cable and you can use the ES100's balanced O/P too. That's what I do. :-)
So there's no hemorrhaging of bass like Josh said?
I loved the sound. It did exactly what I expected of the X3. When another reviewer says different things you need to question the consistency of the manufacturing FIRST.. He is on the other side of the country so who knows what his set of X3 was doing on his equipment. Personal Taste has a lot to do with it but if there is faulty hardware you are going to get a confusing mess on the internet.
Maybe it's just a problem of the fitting, remember Z has a bigger head than Josh (?)
@@ZReviews good point
Plot twist: Z got a faulty pair.
Is it just me or the new review place looks much more like the very OG review place way before old apartment?
Are the pads interchangable between X2 and X3? Because if they are I might just find the new ones and put them on my ol' reliable X2.
just bought these for 138 USD on Amazon. The Sennheiser HD650 is 300 but these are 138?? Nuts.
Right now I can get these X3's for $258 Canadian.. Vs X2HR that cost $202 but have $30 import fees. So the difference is about $30. So I think it's pretty safe to say the X3's would be the better option right now, at least for me as a Canadian.. When they were $400 it might be a different story.
These X3's are absolutely gorgeous in style. Not that that is the important part. But still.. So if sound is the same or tiny bit better can't go wrong?
I was very close to getting the X3 yesterday on Amazon but I’m going to wait a bit longer to see if the price drop a bit...
Let me know what you think of the X3 if you get the pair.
Its crazy that you dont get multiple lengths cables, different boxes to store it in like travel and one like thing to put it in on the table when headsets is so damn expensive. I dont mean this headset in particular, but like man I get that some parts is really expensive and the technology is impeccable. Why is it so hard to make small gestures that would keep a customer to stay fans of the brand for life.
Hey! From the information I found on TH-cam Its an F ranked 350 dollar headphones that had to compete to Sandara and hd600. But today you can get them for 130 bucks. While Sandara and HD600 are still at that 250-300 price range. How are they ranking NOW compared to other 150$ish headphones? I am looking for my first open back headphone on a budget. Was looking at Grado SR60e ect. Thanks!
Just ordered this for around USD180. Hopefully I'll be satisfied. These are my first "high-end" headphones. Going from Steelseries Arctis Wireless 7 and a pair of Sennheiser PC 363D gaming headset.
But I should get a decent dac right? The Fiio K3 are USD130 here in Sweden now.
How are they compared to pc 363d?
Lol loved the 2.5mm cable rant 😂
good news is at the moment they are on sale for about 317. bad news is that the T60rp's are also on sale for 250. just get the T60rp's and send them to Ryan for the argon conversion.
just got mine for 138.i do hate that i cant use another wire tho.
I like how cheap you can get Philips stuff for if you watch for deals. (I got mine open box on Woot for $100 a couple years ago)
What about Philips TAH9505, anyone seen them reviewed anywhere? Wonder how they'd perform against xm3/4.. seems like they're in the same price range.
2024: both 140-150€ worth or go for something else? I’m a newbie
Just bought a second pair of X2. I have the OG X2 and now have the X2HR, just because I need a back up ☺️. I also have a brand new X1 still in its box lol.
These are now discounted to $250 in bunch of places. I'm guessing they realized they over did it with the price.
Thanks for the detailed review!!
The X3 looks super premium with a superb build quality but what is your opinion about the SHP9600??
When the X2 came out and when I first saw your channel it was around 300 bucks. 3 years later its not 145, I can wait lol.
I think i remember you mentioning the sound stage of the x2hr's being one of the closest things to hd800 or something like that. Feel like if they really made a massive jump in the original price of those, to this, they should've been more cognizant and aware of what it should actually be trying to accomplish if anything. Its strange the hd800 is a dynamic and not a planar. But this is a dynamic too. So it should've had a clear idea of what to try and beat. But otherwise, competing with itself it shouldn't really warrant a big price bracket increase.
The thing is, people who enjoy jazz/cooking podcast / pop / classic enjoy brighter headphones and are willing to pay extra for a classy low profile design.
I'm ok with a more 80's looking headphone@x2 ;)
How can I made the Headband less hurt? I tired stretching them out with some success someone on Amazon said they moded the Headband on theirs not sure what they did.
Basement is coming together. Definitely need more monitors with 'various' wallpapers in the background - or a large projector screen.
Soo after the existing stock of x2hr's is gone, these are worth buying at 250ish euros (available at that price currently)? Otherwise get x2hr's beofre they are gone, for 99% same sound experience.
I suppose there is alot of comments on this already, but the bag does not look like pastry.
(Balaclava = Skimask . Baclava = Pastry)
Sorry Zeos, just had to
Of all the negatives mentioned the one that bothers me the most is that leather with no finish or stitch at the end. That's just lazy and, along with that janky cable, is unacceptable at a price where you can get the Sundaras.
in my country at the moment they cost 250 and x2HR costs 145... which one should i get?
I picked these up today and ran them on my Fiio x5 gen3. I plugged them in using the standard cables. My reaction was similar to some other reviewers where they were saying things like "needle sharp" and "treble canons". Kinda miserable unless you turn the volume way down. Then I pulled out that balanced cable and set the fiio to Hi gain and balanced turbo. The treble is much more under control (although still sometimes sibilant), and the soundstage is wider. I think these are just bad performers out of balanced mode. Not sure if I'm going to keep them. Got a THX 789 arriving tomorrow. I fear my eardrums might blow out with this combo :)
I was totally wrong about the THX and Fidelio. Plugged into the THX, these Fidelios sound like something special. Now I'm thinking that treble spike was an extremely narrow range of something like 100hz that goes way out of control on a weak amp. These things still have lots of treble, but my ears are no longer ringing on the THX, and the whole thing comes together into a cohesive musical presentation. I actually might like these better than the Sundara's for about half my music.
Here is the Unboxing BTW - th-cam.com/video/63_HlMolsPY/w-d-xo.html
I have the fidelio l3 and I like the design and comfort more than the 100 eur more expensive B&o, the sound is not that good but it's close and bass is better, but the comfort is better and I rather carry them around and use the b&o at home
Got both i love HR3 more but only with the earpads you reviewd
Would it be possible to add a small spacer on the end of an ordinary 3.5 mm plug to "fix" the problem?
ear padsThis essentially results in the headphones being disposable, which is unacceptable for any headphone over $75 imo. As you removed the X3 ear pads they look similar to the X2/X2-HR ones. Can you try and see if the X2 pads fit the X3?
Was thinking about either picking these or some 58x’s up. Anybody got some advice as to which might be better?