Philips Fidelio X3 (X3/00)

Premium materials and workmanship

Philips Fidelio X3 is a worthy continuation of the legendary Fidelio series, started by the X2. These premium headphones not only maintain the high standards of their predecessor, but also bring a number of improvements. Philips has focused on enhancing comfort: the ear pads are covered in velor, the comfortable self-adjusting headband is covered in Kvadrat fabric, and the outer fabric trim of the ear cups gives the impression of audiophile headphones costing several thousand dollars. It's no wonder that the X3 won the Best Design Award at the Red Dot Awards.

Honest neutral sound

The audio performance of the Philips Fidelio X3 is neutral and detailed. The bass is deep, but not overloaded, the mids are clear and clean, and the highs do not suffer from excessive harshness. The headphones are ideal for users who value smooth, uncolored sound with high detail and a wide soundstage. When listening to jazz or orchestral music, it feels like you can pinpoint the placement of the instruments.

Where did the bass go?

Compared to the previous Fidelio X2 model, the X3 has lost the sub-bass that adds weight to dance music. Frequencies below 40–50 Hz are weakly expressed, which is why aggressive genres sound less expressive. The X3s require a high-quality audio source and amplification to reach their full potential, which can be inconvenient for users who plan to listen to the headphones on the go. Otherwise, these are comfortable headphones with honest sound, thoughtful ergonomics and a detachable cable.