Philips Fidelio X3

Lovely expansive sound with hi-res audio ; Tactile, comfortable and good-looking (in a massive sort of way) ; Excellent value for money

Quite sniffy about lower-quality audio ; Leak sound unapologetically ; Quite big

There are products of very selective appeal, and then there’s the Philips Fidelio X3. But anyone after a pair of luxurious and hugely accomplished open-backed headphones for personal indoor use, at a very aggressive price, should give the Fidelio X3...

Detailed presentation ; Rich midrange ; Comfortable

Lack energy ; Treble could be more open

The time for home headphones might well be returning, and Philips has staked its claim well with the Fidelio X3

Modern cloth design Both comfortable and durable Robust mid-range and low-end Crystal clarity and large soundstage

Fidelio X2 are much cheaper Weak sub-bass response Can experience sibilance Wired with sound leakage

As an alternative to more expensive open-back headphones out there, the Philips Fidelio X3 combine impeccable sound quality with a comfortable and durable design. The treble and sub-bass might be two minor soft points, the overall clarity and large...

Comfortable fit with premium materials used ; Superb musicality ; Neutral sound signature ; Reasonably priced for this category

Need decent volume to get the best from them ; An additional shorter cable would have been nice

These open-backed, on-ear headphones represent a triumphant return for a much-respected audio brand. They are neutrally tuned to allow your own music to sound its best without obstruction and capable throughout the frequencies too. Just make sure you...

Wide-open, detailed and confident high-resolution audio sound ; Nice materials, properly used ; Not madly expensive by prevailing standards

Bass response could be more assertive ; As big as a very big thing ; Unwilling to tart up inferior recordings

One of the best ways of enjoying some ‘me time’ we can think of

Excellent audio performance with accurate bass depth and detailed highs ; High-quality materials and cabling ; Comfortable, self-adjusting fit

Expensive ; No adapter for devices with Lightning ports

The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones deliver clean and balanced audio performance that will appeal to anyone seeking accuracy over boosted bass and sculpted highs.

Open and spacious soundstage. Consistent audio delivery. Comfortable fit.

Bulky design. Not stable enough for exercise. Lacking low-bass. Terrible noise isolation performance. No microphone.

The Philips Fidelio X3 are very good for neutral sound. They have a very balanced, neutral sound profile, especially in the mid-range, so vocals and lead instruments are accurately reproduced. Their open-back design creates an open and speaker-like...

Reasonable price for audiophile-class, hi-res headphones ; Quality, very well-made and finished ; 3.5mm and Balanced inputs ; Comes with 3m oxygen-free braided cables ; Neutral sound signature and a vast sound stage ; Slightly heavier but nonetheless...

Fabric slip-cover does not fasten ; No 4.4mm Balanced adapter ; Remember its audio quality is directly related to the source content audio quality

The Philips Fidelio X3 are the best cabled headphones it makes. These are great value that makes an amateur audiophile without pretentiousness, smile.

Beautifully warm and inviting sound. You are guaranteed not to get tired of listening to these!

A little bit much energy in the middle of the treble range. Sibilance on female voices. The deep bass could have been more energetic.

Philips Fidelio X3 sounds like it looks: beautiful. You never get tired of listening to these headphones, which have a warm and inviting sound you can listen to for hours on end.