Philips Fidelio L3 review: Bluetooth headphones for demanding users

The Philips Fidelio L3 is a Bluetooth headphone that aims to be a bridge between the audiophile and consumer schools. How do they cope with this role?

If you look, you'll quickly discover that the market for premium wireless headphones has gotten a little tighter. Fidelio L3 from Philips may not be the most popular representative in this segment, but the Fidelio line has a good reputation, and the price is 25 thousand rubles. indicates that we are dealing with a high-class product.

Specifications Philips Fidelio L3

1. Driver diameter: 40mm
2. Type: closed, dynamic, full-size
3. Impedance: 16 Ohm
4. Sensitivity: 103 dB
5. Frequency range: 7 ~ 40,000 Hz (wired connection!)
6. Certification: Hi-Res Audio
7. Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1
8. Communication range: up to 10 m
9. Audio codecs: aptX, aptX HD, SBC, AAC
10. Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, HSP, HFP, AVRCP
11. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Yes
12. Autonomy: up to 38 hours
13. Extras: voice call support, fast charging, quick pairing, dedicated app, switch between 2 devices
14. Weight: 360 g
15. Price: 25 thousand rubles.

How to choose and what to pay attention to?

Basic parameters influencing the choice of wireless headphones:

• Bluetooth version (the latest existing version is Bluetooth 5.0), the newer it is, the better the sound quality of the device will be and the longer the headphones will work without recharging, since less energy will be spent on maintaining communication;
• device design - internal headphones are inserted into the auricle, and external ones are large in size and fixed on the head with a hoop, while internal headphones can have a neck hoop or holder (bow) for additional fastening, and can also be equipped with ear pads - earbuds that cut off excess noise;
• True wireless - completely wireless in-ear headphones that do not have any external wires in their design, while one earphone - the main one - “retransmits” the signal to the second earphone;
• operating time on one charge is an important indicator, the value of which in modern models varies from 12 to 20 hours;
• the presence and mobility of a microphone - a movable microphone, which guarantees a clearer sound, can be moved to the side when there is no longer a need for a conversation;
• noise reduction (or sound insulation) function - most in demand for internal headphones, while vacuum-type headphones are considered more secure;
• audio parameters : frequency range, which should cover from 20 to 20,000 Hz, headphone sensitivity (optimal value 95 dB and above) and impedance - the resistance of the headphone windings (you should prefer headphones with a resistance from 8 to 42 ohms);
• additional functionality - protection from moisture, comfortable size and color, charging connector and other features.

Unboxing and kit

Even the Philips Fidelio L3 box tries to create the impression of a premium product.

Inside the package, in addition to the headphones, we will find:

• 3.5mm jack cable
• Airplane adapter
• Short USB-C cable
• A bag made of soft material
• Hard leather case, case
• Documentation and user manual

Design and appearance

Externally, the Philips Fidelio L3 headphones are without a doubt one of the strongest models on the market.

The manufacturer focused on minimalistic, even industrial design. A small number of decorations and matte finish of the elements. All this makes the headphones more elegant and modern.

But the Fidelio L3 is definitely not small, even given the fact that it is a full-size design. The cup bodies are made of plastic, but from very high quality materials that are pleasant to the touch and seem very durable. Unfortunately, the matte finish of the case greedily collects fingerprints, which are then difficult to remove.

There are some concerns about the durability of the tested model. Although I have no complaints about the choice of materials and the fit of the elements - they are mostly solid - the leather overlays cannot be quickly replaced. This is a consumable item that will wear out sooner or later, and the manufacturer’s decision in this regard seems to me not only unjustified, but even reprehensible.

Ease of use

When it comes to the convenience of the Philips Fidelio L3, it would be appropriate to write here - good, but...

Let's start with the positives - the Fidelio L3 fits very securely on the head and provides effective passive isolation from the environment. The headband, covered with Alcantara (or its imitation), fits comfortably on the top of the head.

Unfortunately, due to the high pressure of the cups, long sessions can be unpleasant.

Although the soft pads are effective at dissipating pressure, we still have to deal with heat and sweaty ears. And this despite the fact that we don’t have glasses, you will suffer with them. Perhaps over time, as the pads and headband wear out, this problem will partially disappear, but in general, the tested Philips headphones are one of the few where I had to take off my glasses to listen to music comfortably.

Control and noise reduction

The Philips Fidelio L3 is largely controlled using touch gestures, as is the case with competitive models.

Although the solution itself is intuitive and convenient, in practice the accuracy left much to be desired. Fortunately, the manufacturer did not forget about traditional buttons, which we can also use to work with active noise reduction mode.

The headphones do not require any applications to operate, but if you want one, the manufacturer has provided this option. Philips offers its own application for convenient use of ANC mode and built-in equalizer.

As for noise reduction, it is here and works effectively - as befits headphones of this class. The ANC here may be less effective than that of the Sony WH-1000XM4, but it's sufficient for everyday use, especially when combined with effective passive isolation.

Premium materials and soft landing

• headphone type: full-size open;
• design: automatically adjustable internal headband, covering ear pads with memory effect;
• weight: 380 grams;
• materials: metal, plastic, genuine leather, fabric and velor.

The Philips Fidelio X3 has an unusual design with a metal plate at the base of the headband. It has cups and an automatically adjustable internal headband. The cups feature acoustically transparent fabric from Kvadrat, and this is not just a design element, but part of an open scheme. The headband deserves special attention; its outer and inner parts are covered with genuine leather from the Scottish manufacturer Muirhead. In addition to appearance and tactile sensations, the material gives a pleasant smell to the leather product. The headphones look solid and not provocative.

The ear pads are made of thick velor and filled with memory foam. The material does not cause discomfort when worn for a long time and, judging by the condition of the test headphones, has good wear resistance. But dust and hairs cling to the villi, which are not easy to remove.

The ear pads are removable and secured with T-clips for easy installation. They do not scroll or lose shape, thanks to the rigid metal frame. Thus, they can be washed carefully without fear of losing their shape, just do not neglect prolonged drying at room temperature.

Despite premium materials, Philips Fidelio X3 weighs only 380 grams and has balanced ergonomics. This is thanks to the automatically adjustable headband on the inside; it precisely follows the contour of the head without the need for manual adjustment. The landing is soft and without unnecessary pressure, but with sufficient pressure. The headphones do not tire at all after several hours of listening to music.

Large full-size headphones with open drivers are not designed for street walks; they are more of a home option for quiet music playing. Therefore, the Philips Fidelio X3 does not fold, and a simple fabric bag is provided for storage, which will also accommodate cables. I would like to see a hard case complete with serious equipment.

Sound quality

The Philips Fidelio L3 sounds really great, it's like a bridge between the average consumer and more audiophile solutions.

In terms of quality, I have a hard time finding fault with the Fidelio L3. The sound is characterized by high resolution and excellent detail. There is very good separation and differentiation of sounds, as well as stage width. However, the problem may be bassiness, which is not a very universal solution.

There is no hiding this - the Philips tested placed emphasis on low tones. They have a sensationally strong sub-bass emphasis, which is rare. The bass is varied and really hard to find fault with. These are headphones in which you can perfectly watch movie hits or listen to music from films.

However, in musical genres, this results in a warm, calm sound that is ideal for delicate vocal pieces, for example. But, paradoxically, I would recommend being careful with light music. Firstly, the low tones in Fidelio are quite slow and massive, and secondly, they tend to reveal any mistakes made by the sound engineers.

Both can lead to poor synergy in the case of popular pop, rock and even electronic recordings. We must also give credit to the fact that when we listen to a well-made track on the Fidelio L3, the experience is amazing. It is worth considering that these are not universal headphones, as you would expect from a model in this price segment.

⇡#Conclusions

The Philips Fidelio L1 model should hardly be considered as headphones for true “sound gourmets” who are able to enjoy not only individual musical instruments, but also individual notes. Those who prefer to call the sound at low frequencies in all its manifestations music should not take a closer look at this model, because the bass of the top model from Philips is soft and calm, and not penetratingly bright. But for all other users who want to get headphones with a smooth but rich sound, playing equally brightly throughout the entire frequency range they reproduce, the Philips Fidelio L1 model will certainly be to their taste. And these are the overwhelming majority.

The new product has three undeniable advantages:

• rich set of supplies;
• impeccable design and consistent style;
• high sound quality.

The latter is nothing revolutionary, but it is suitable for almost any musical genre. But, in fact, there is only one minus - the high cost of almost 10,000 rubles, which not everyone can afford. But the sound is good. Very good.

Microphone and battery life Philips Fidelio L3

Unfortunately, it's hard to be as forgiving with the Fidelio L3's built-in microphone, which isn't of good quality.

The sound of my voice is distorted and slurred, so it’s difficult to talk about comfortable conditions for conversation here.

Philips Fidelio L3, according to the manufacturer, should work for about 32 hours on a single charge in wireless mode and with noise reduction turned on. According to my tests, the result is approximately true, and I consider it decent.

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