The Philips Fidelio X3 headphones have open backs and are made for neutral sound. They are well-made and comfortable, and their open backs help create a soundstage that is open and like a speaker. They have a neutral, well-balanced sound, but the treble response is a little uneven, and they could use a little more low bass. Like most open-back headphones, they are not very versatile, but they are still a good choice for neutral listening at home.
First of all, they look like they belong. Where you might choose something more durable than pretty for the cans that rattle around in your work bag five days a week, the Fidelio X3 combines both with a leather and metal design that almost begs to be taken care of. Comfort has to be a priority when listening to music at home, too.
An hour-long train ride is nothing compared to an afternoon spent listening to music, and Philips has done a great job in this area. Like a good winter duvet, the Fidelio X3 are light but sturdy. The headband on the inside can be adjusted to fit your head, while the one on the outside adds a bit of weight. The memory foam ear cups are both comfortable and tight enough to make a good seal, which is very important.
Philips says that the low end goes down to 5Hz, which sounds just as far-fetched in practise as it does on paper. The bass that the X3 makes is clear, has a lot of detail, and is nicely controlled, but it doesn’t hit as hard as it could. But the speed and organisation of the low-end sounds make the X3 sound lively, and they help rhythms come through well.
The Philips have two large, full-range dynamic drivers that are 50mm in size. They are made of three layers, with a layer of damping gel in the middle of two layers of polymer. This design is meant to reduce resonance and control the driver’s break-up mode. It’s a thicker and stiffer driver than the one in the old Fidelio X2 headphones, and it has a paper-and-felt barrier behind it. The goal is to cut down on both internal resonances and the amount of outside noise that gets into the earcups.
The Philips Fidelio X3 is stable enough to be used. They move a bit when you wear them. They shouldn’t fall off your head when you’re just listening to music, but they’re not meant to be used at the gym, and they might if you’re doing a lot of hard work.
The sound profile of the Philips Fidelio X3 is very neutral and well-balanced, which makes them good for a wide range of music. Like most open-back headphones, they don’t have much low bass, which may disappoint people who like bass-heavy music like EDM. Their treble range is also not very even, so sounds with higher frequencies can be either sharp or flat.