Review of Philips Fidelio on-ear headphones. All top line

I have repeatedly described Philips products belonging to the Fidelio line (L1 headphones, P9 audio system), but the Fidelio X1 exceeded my expectations, perhaps in all respects. This review is dedicated to them.

I once wrote about how I understand the concept of the Fidelio line from Philips, but I’ll repeat it again. There are few companies with such experience in the development of audio equipment (and not only) as Philips, but this did not save them from losing positions in some segments, and the production of headphones is an example of this. The company's previous good headphone models (such as SHP 895) were unable to advance into the top segment and occupied the niche of very good, but budget solutions. The company’s engineers thought, collected the best ideas and came up with the excellent Fidelio L1 model, then followed by the portable Fidelio M1 (I haven’t heard, I won’t judge), the in-ear S1 and S2 (judging by the reviews, very good) and, finally, a shot from the main caliber - Fidelio X1, right on target.

First, it’s worth understanding who the Fidelio technique is intended for. This is not an audiophile “in the bad sense of the word” line of products, it is clearly not suitable for “sound lovers” for a number of reasons (starting with the affordable price), this is not a youth line, there are no famous DJs and rappers here (or even not so famous record-breakers). producers). We can say that this is a line of products for adult music lovers. For those who want to enjoy music as a whole, without vivisection it into its component parts, without selecting a USB cable that plays with your DAC, without special stands for the network cable. Fidelio products sound good and look chic, and in the case of headphones, they are also comfortable.

What are we talking about?

We are talking about devices from Philips Fidelio . In addition to the Philips team, the people responsible for the legendary Gibson . The popularity of Gibsons is known far beyond the music industry, but if you need proof, check out the volume of a separate Wikipedia article dedicated to the musicians who own these instruments.

When musicians and experts make equipment for themselves, it can be seen (and heard) from afar. And if you season it with marketing, you also get a very worthy product, for which you are not ashamed

More seriously, Fidelio is an attempt to combine classics and modern technologies in the mid-price segment. The headphones can be considered a challenge to sub-brands from Asia, capable only of design and pompous “show-off”: they also worked on the sound, this is immediately obvious.

At the same time, Philips is not limited to any one ultimate model. The range includes portable headphones, home headphones, “special” ones (for example, with a Lightning connector) and, of course, amateur and professional ones.

On our table are Fidelio F1, L2 and X2. Personally, I listened to the last ones, and there were a lot of impressions.

Text: Vitaly Gladkov Fidelio F1 will primarily appeal to young people. They are light, compact and delight the ear with bright sound. Taking into account decent sound insulation, the headphones will be an excellent option for outdoor use, and will also be suitable for those who like to listen to music at home in the silence of the night.

Design

The headphones are devoid of controversial design decisions. They look discreet and attractive . It is possible that those who like to stand out from the crowd will find them somewhat boring.

The Fidelio F1's design is as compact and lightweight as it gets for on-ear headphones. The folding mechanism allows you to further reduce the size. When folded, the headphones are, of course, unlikely to fit into a jeans pocket. However, they fit quite easily into the pocket of shorts that are not too tight.

The headphones are well assembled. The parts do not play, do not creak, and overall give the feeling of a reliable and durable product. The headband is based on a steel frame enclosed in a plastic casing. And to add softness to the rather rigid structure, it was covered with genuine leather.

It is very rare to find genuine leather in basic-level models. To Philips' credit, this is exactly the case.

The ardent heart of the Fidelio F1 are full-range 40mm speakers with neodymium magnets. They are enclosed in closed housings and covered with external aluminum covers. The rear side of the speaker cups is topped with ear pads made of soft memory foam.

To improve sound insulation, the ear pads are firmly glued to the speaker housings. Therefore, you should be doubly careful with the rather delicate surface of the linings. Damaged ear pads cannot .

Fidelio F1 is not just headphones, but a full-fledged headset. The detachable 3.5 mm cable houses a microphone with a control button.

According to the manufacturer, the headset is compatible with smartphones from Apple, BlackBerry, HTC, LG, Sony Motorola, as well as modern Samsung and Nokia models. If problems arise with the cable, it can be easily replaced. This is much more convenient and easier than buying new headphones due to a damaged wire.

Comfort

The manufacturer deprived the Fidelio F1 of an active noise reduction system. However, its absence is more than compensated for by decent sound insulation. Properly worn headphones cut out a good portion of external noise and do not irritate others with the noise of the music being played at almost any volume level. This quality is worthy of special praise. Bravo!

The length of the headband has an impressive range of adjustment. For precise symmetrical setting of the temple size, just like in older models, scales are applied to the inner frame.

The elastic headband holds the headphones securely and firmly on your head. However, they should be used with some caution when playing sports. Shaking and sudden turns of the head can dislodge the headphones, which can cause them to fall on your neck, or worse, to the ground.

On the other hand, those with thicker hair on their heads are unlikely to think about such trifles.

I would especially like to note the effect created by the ear pads. Fitting tightly to the ears, they create a single whole with the speaker cup and the ear. Of course, the ear pads make the ears a little hot, but they do not cause any discomfort or pain during use. The foam from which the pads are made gently hugs the ears without squeezing them.

Philips also took additional care of the safety of the headphones and added a faux suede handbag to the package.

Sound

The dynamic drivers, which are quite large for compact headphones, are capable of reproducing frequencies in the range from 7 to 40,000 Hz , which, coupled with a low impedance of 16 Ohms, guarantees excellent performance of the headphones even when paired with a smartphone.

Philips Fidelio F1 surprised me with its unusual sound tuning. The sound of the headphones at half the maximum volume seemed a little flat to me. However, when the volume level is increased to 75% of the maximum, the headphones literally blossom.

The sound is filled with crisp, moderate bass, detailed highs, while maintaining a clear midrange. The music gains depth, richness and enthusiasm, prompting you to make the sound a little louder.

The most interesting thing is that the Fidelio F1 maintains an ideal tonal balance, without detecting significant acoustic distortion, almost throughout the entire volume range above 75%. This is especially valuable considering that headphones can be actively used while traveling, on noisy streets or in public transport.

At a volume level close to the maximum, you can feel how the speakers work out low frequencies, transmitting vibration to the ears through the ear pads.

The headphones have an excellent volume reserve. However, it is better to limit comfortable listening to a level of about 90% of the maximum. Then the sound becomes prohibitively loud and threatens hearing impairment.

Specifications

Conclusion

Of course, Gibson-Philips turned out to be imperfect, but excellent headphones for all occasions. While the Fidelio F1 may sound a little tight at times, it doesn't always have the ability to reproduce the full width of the soundstage. However, the positive aspects - such as excellent sound insulation, high-quality materials and comfortable sound for the street - make you forget about all the shortcomings.

Philips Fidelio F1 is not an audiophile device for the home, but a musical companion for all occasions.

Buy Fidelio F1 with a 10% discount in the official Philips store!

Text: Ilya Shevtsov If you are a true musical conservative, then this model is just for you. Fidelio L2 is the older brother of the M2L model with a Lightning connector, but is equipped with a standard 3.5mm minijack. Did this affect the sound?

Specifications

• Emitter: 50 mm, dynamic
• Frequency range: 10 Hz – 40 kHz
• Impedance: 30 Ω
• Maximum input power: 500 mW
• Sensitivity: 100 dB @ 1 mW
• Total harmonic distortion: <0,1 %
• Cable: oxygen-free copper, 3 m, replaceable
• Plug: 6.3 mm, adapter to 3.5 mm included
• Dimensions: 19 cm x 22 cm x 11 cm
• Weight: 0.43 kg
• Packaging: 24 cm x 28.5 cm x 12 cm

Crystal Precision

It’s not for nothing that the Philips line of “Fidelio” headphones bears its name, derived from the English word “Fidelity”, which can be translated as “precision”. The headphones in this series are distinguished by very detailed and clear sound. Moreover, this definition applies to all models, from “plugs” to full-size on-ear headphones. And the L2 model is no exception.

Packaging and delivery

The design of the box is consistent with the general style of the Fidelio line of products: black thick cardboard, restrained color scheme - all this emphasizes the status of the model. The lid comes off upwards, no surprises here.

The headphones themselves lie in the box on a black cradle, with a cable wound at the bottom. Under the cradle are instructions and an adapter from a 6.3 mm plug to a 3.5 mm one. By the way, the choice of 6.3 mm as the main plug is interesting, apparently, in this way Philips wanted to distance itself as much as possible from the portable use of the X1, since they are clearly not intended for this.

Of course, I would like the Fidelio X1 to provide more of everything included in the package, but usually in large over-ear headphone models they limit themselves to the bare necessities, especially since the company apparently tried to make the price tag more affordable.

The Art of Technology

Fidelio L2 are semi-open headphones, the sound in them is distributed harmoniously. What enters your ears is not a crushed bass with barely audible high notes, and not an ear-piercing high-pitched mosquito squeak with drums rustling in the background, but an absolutely accurate, verified musical picture.

Philips engineers managed to achieve good sound using several unique technical solutions used in the Fidelio line of full-size headphones.

The L2, like its predecessor the Philips Fidelio L1, is built around two 40mm neodymium drivers of the original design, only this time with improved sensitivity. These small but powerful magnets with a slot in the center are able to enhance the sound of low frequencies, add richness to the bass, and cleanse the mid frequencies and harmoniously blend into the overall musical flow. For a music lover, this means that the music will be holistic and three-dimensional, without distortions towards low or high sounds.

The emitters are placed in specially designed aluminum earcups that can dampen excessive vibrations caused by music. The cups are connected to special plastic rings, thanks to which the entire structure is protected from backlash and possible resonances.

The metal grilles covering the cups from the outside are aesthetically better than in the L1 model, without losing any functionality. Like their predecessor, they implement a semi-open headphone design and evenly distribute the sound coming into your ears into the surrounding space.

The third pillar of the sound of L2 headphones is the location of the emitter itself inside the housing.

The magnets are located in the headphones at an angle that corresponds to the natural inclination of the auricle. Therefore, the sound from the headphones goes directly into the sound channel of your ear, without being distorted or losing a single note along the way. Thanks to this technical solution, you don’t feel tired even after listening to music for a long time.

Soft cushions filled with memory foam also add to your listening comfort. Covered in leather, they fit comfortably and securely to the head, protecting the listener from the sounds of the outside world and allowing you to enjoy music in any environment.

Compatibility

Among other advantages, Philips Fidelio X1 is unpretentious in terms of sound source. With their presentation style, they are able to smooth out and soften many of the shortcomings of the tract and recordings. I listened to them with different players and just with a MacBook - they play very nicely, it’s even surprising how small players rock such headphones.

If you want to get more from the X1, you should take care of a good DAC and amplifier. I really liked the Philips with iDAC+iCAN amplifiers, Audinst HUD-MX2 and tube DarkVoice 336SE (though this is more of a taste combination).

Verified design

In addition to the sound, the appearance of the headphones also deserves special praise. High-quality materials - aluminum and genuine leather - not only look great, but also give the L2 model additional comfort to use.

Taking into account the experience of the L1, designers and engineers have improved ergonomics in the L2. For example, the cable now connects directly to the headphones through a secure connector, rather than using an additional short cable coming out of the headphone body. The designers also worked on the headband, making it more elegant and thinner.

The whole structure weighs a little more than three hundred grams and sits well on the head thanks to the adjustable height of the headband and the method of attaching the earcups themselves to it.

We have not forgotten about ease of use, carrying and storage. A special protective fabric case, durable and roomy, will protect the L2 from the misfortunes of the outside world.

The headphones easily take a flat shape, allowing you to put them in the included case. The detachable cable protects the headphone jack from excess voltage in the “traveling” state. Speaking of the cable: the length is 1.2 meters, there is a thick braid and two versions - with and without a multifunctional remote control. The kit includes a 6.3mm adapter, which allows you to connect the headphones to stationary music equipment.

Design solutions in the L2 model were awarded prestigious awards - IF Product Design Award 2014 and Red Dot Design Award 2014.

Design and wearing comfort

99% of headphones from all companies are clearly inferior to Fidelio X1 on this point. Moreover, many very expensive models from popular manufacturers with a price many times higher than the X1 are uncomfortable and tiresome after a couple of hours of wearing.

The heroes of this review are completely open, the outer side of the cups is covered with a mesh, and they play outward almost as well as inward. They also allow outside noise to pass through well. In general, these headphones are not for the street (that's what the Fidelio M1 is for) and, perhaps, not for the office. Their purpose is long listening sessions in comfortable conditions, at home, in a chair, fortunately their design itself hints at this.

The X1 uses what Philips calls a “hammock design,” a euphemism for an auto-fit design similar to that used by the AKG K70x: the cups are mounted on a flexible headband, underneath which sits a soft, elongated cushion that automatically adjusts its height . It rests on top of your head and provides a comfortable fit. By the way, unlike AKG, this Philips headband does not press, but sits softly. The headband is made of two hardened metal rods covered with leather, this provides an unobtrusive and comfortable grip. This is complemented by deep and soft velvet ear pads filled with material with a “memory” effect. This adds up to the most comfortable fit imaginable.

The rest of the materials used in the design are comparable: only metal, leather and fabric. Together it not only looks good, but also feels good to the touch. It looks like this review is turning out to be too positive, but what if the Fidelio X1 is exactly like that.

I see, perhaps, only one drawback in the design - over time, the ear pads will lose their former shape, so I would like to hope that Philips will release them as a separate accessory.

Classics in a new way

Fidelio L2 headphones look and sound great. They would fit in perfectly both in the everyday life of a modern “digital” music lover and in a small recording studio, like the Californian “Soundcity”, where the grunge trio Nirvana recorded their legendary record “Nevermind”.

The lush sound of L2, iridescent and lively, takes its listener back a couple of decades ago, to the times of tube garage gatherings with guitars, hurricane live concerts in underground clubs and the good old tape music players. Fidelio L2 is a true example of neoclassics - traditional sound is provided here with the most modern and new technological solutions.

L2 should be ideal for both conservative music lovers and modern music fans. The first, accustomed to listening to the original vinyl records of the 80s, will appreciate the “liveness” and spaciousness of the sound . The latter will pay tribute to the modern technologies used in L2, which can make even new music sound beautiful and meaningful.

Comfortable, lightweight, beautiful and high quality, sounding great and looking great - all this is the Philips Fidelio L2.

Buy Fidelio L2 with a great discount at the Philips store!

Headphones that you don't want to take off. Is this real life?

Fidelio X2 is considered the top model in the line, and deserves it one hundred percent. I would even say it differently: I have never heard anything like this for this money. And I didn’t put it on. Just wow, period.

I see no point in discussing the box and packaging. We've all seen cardboard, right? The packaging of the headphones, by the way, is spartan: here we only have a cable, an adapter for professional equipment and a small clip.

Powerful cable

Let's take a quick look at this cable. It is protected, with a thick fabric braid, which should prolong the service of the cord for many, many years. But the trick is different.

The headphones come with a 3-meter cable and nothing else. So that you understand, you can wrap it around yourself three times, like beads on an aborigine, and there will still be

The long cable is not without reason: the Fidelio X2 are positioned exclusively as home or studio monitor-format headphones designed for stationary listening. They offer to connect them to professional equipment - so they put in enough cable to fit anywhere. You can buy a short one for 200 rubles at the nearest electronics store, so I can’t consider this a drawback.

Calm design

Fidelio X2 has a classic shape without obvious modern frills. The main part of the body is made of plastic, but it is crowned with a large steel mesh and an aluminum rotary ring. The speakers are attached to the headband through a steel base, and the headband itself is covered with a thick layer of leather.

There are no buttons or switches on the case, and all attention is drawn exclusively to the steel mesh. It is clear that the headphones were not made to show off with them somewhere. Everything is focused on providing maximum comfort.

Comfortable fit

The stationary purpose of the headphones allowed Philips not to waste time on trifles in the literal sense. Fidelio X2 is a big thing, no matter how you look at it. Whether on the table or on the head, they look impressive, like monitors in a studio booth. I call these “Cheburashkas”, if anything, and here it is quite appropriate.

On the back side of the headband there is an arc, on which a pillow made of mesh fabric is placed. The material is very soft and instantly takes the shape of the head due to the natural tension of the arch.

The headband design is atypical for modern, mass-oriented headphones. It adapts to any shape, does not press, and does not leave discomfort after prolonged wear. Such systems are used in amateur and professional studio equipment, and I did not expect to see them in a relatively affordable model.

The ear pads make an even greater contribution. They are non-removable, moderately dense, with high walls. To my surprise, they are covered with velor. A big surprise at a time when almost all manufacturers of full-size and on-ear headphones choose leather.

Velor is a very soft, pliable material that, as ear pads, has low sound insulation but high air permeability. In practice, this means that you can wear headphones even in warm weather - and not take them off from time to time to “ventilate” your ears. The difference with skin in the same role is simply huge.

I'll say more. I wore these headphones for seven hours at home without taking them off. Seven o'clock! This is a record in such headphones. And we could continue. I wouldn’t last this long with any full-size, much less over-ear, model that I’ve ever tested. This is the main advantage of velor, and it more than compensates for the lack of insulation when we talk about home headphones.

Now I'm on the team of velor lovers

Sound! SOUND!

First acquaintance with Fidelio X2: 1. Took it out of the box, twirled it and put it on. 2. Connected to the iPhone, played a familiar track from the library. 3. I didn’t believe it, I filmed it and turned on the HD track in a third-party player.

A little later I looked at the reviews on Amazon. The same thing, reflects the impressions 100%:

The headphones sound great . In a way that others don't sound. Well, now let's get serious.

SOUND

The model uses 50mm neodymium drivers and a proprietary LMC (Layered Motion Control) diaphragm, which improves the sound and variety of high frequencies, while maintaining its naturalness and presence. The speakers are located anatomically, at an angle of 15 degrees. The idea is similar to that used in earplugs: sound is directed directly into the ear canal.

The open design enhances the richness of sound with the realistic transparency you'd expect from high-end headphones, especially full-size ones. For home headphones, the loss in external and internal insulation is not critical, and the benefits are worth it.

It is worth noting that Fidelio X2 is a logical continuation of the X1 model, and specifically in terms of sound quality. In particular, we approached high frequencies differently, making them a little more lively and removing unnecessary “flowingness” with simbilates. We also shifted the emphasis of the bass, making it captivatingly rich, but not booming - capable of being insinuating, soft and at the same time noticeable, without overshadowing the music.

Sometimes it seems that somewhere inside there is a small subwoofer that operates at low power and saturates the compositions with rhythm and motive, which is lost in many open headphones and covers up everything else in closed ones.

The soundstage in the Fidelio X2 is huge , incomparable to anything I've listened to before. It’s as if you put your ear to a shell, which, instead of the sounds of the sea, reproduces a direct broadcast from a concert or just a studio recording.

The X2 motif is slightly warm, elevated in the middle of the spectrum, giving a special charm to jazz compositions. Having listened to Wayman Tisdale's recently discovered album, I almost shed tears in places: the bass guitar is so rich and the saxophone is so bright that you want to get up and dance even with such a huge thing on your head. And yes, in the end I danced, fortunately at home - I do what I want.

By the way, in X2 modern pop music reveals itself elegantly, including avant-garde alternative, which has recently discovered a variety of background sounds and low frequencies. Here the awesome (there is no other way to say it) “midbass” manifests itself, bringing you into a state of trance - as intended by the composers.

It got to the point that I dug out in the closet an old, but still perfectly working Cowon C2 player, whose sound on the Wolfson chip I still consider significantly better than in any of the iPhones and modern iPods. And there is my entire media library from four years ago. Consider it a trip into the past. That day I wore headphones for those same 7 hours. And my wife, watching me in shock, finally asked me to listen too. I also went dancing, but to my own music.

I have a special track that I only play on those headphones that are worthy of it. Its channel separation and breadth of music scene are simply incredible. To date, Fidelio X2 has played it better than anyone else , simply beyond competition. If you test X2 somewhere, try it too, it should be a blast.

Conclusion

In short, guys. I know where you can listen to Fidelio X2 in Moscow. You need to listen to them . It is something.

Philips, BRAVO.

Great home headphones with 10% discount at the Philips store!

Read other materials about Philips Fidelio series products: Review of Philips Fidelio L1 and M1. Contrasting sound Philips Fidelio M2L review. The first headphones with a Lightning cable We found a universal soundbar

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