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The information that came with the Philips Fidelio X3 over-ear headphones. Since concert rooms have been closed for most of this year, there hasn’t been a better time to release a pair of open-back headphones since the market switched to more portable models a few decades ago. We hope that concert halls will be open again soon, but we may still spend more time at home than we did before.
So, if you use headphones at home instead of when you’re out and about, the sound leaking of open-back headphones may not be as much of a problem as it used to be. In fact, this design is often better for the sound. So, if you think now is the time to buy a good pair of wired headphones for home use, the Philips Fidelio X3 has a lot to offer.
Philips Fidelio X3 SPECIFICATIONS
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Driver Size | 50mm |
| Frequency Response | 5 Hz – 40 kHz |
| Impedance | 30 Ohm |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Cable Length | 3-meter detachable cable |
| Weight | 0.63 lbs (approx. 285 grams) |
| Connectors | 3.5 mm Jack, 6.3 mm Jack, and 4.4 mm Balanced Jack |
Philips Fidelio X3 review: Design

The insides of these headphones are made of Kvadrat speaker cloth, which is acoustically transparent. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that they are closed back. Air will flow easily through the fabric, preventing air pressure from building up behind the drive unit diaphragm. However, as with most open-back designs, a lot of sound will leak out.
The double-layered ear shells reduce internal resonance and vibration, and the 15-degree tilt of the neodymium drivers is meant to match the shape of your ear for the best accuracy at high frequencies. These 50mm drivers also have diaphragms made of several layers of polymer and filled with damper gel. You can buy this headphone from its official website
Philips Fidelio X3 review: Comfort
We liked how modern the design of the fabric and metal was and how easy it was to wear. The braided wire is less likely to fray than plastic shielding, and Philips has found the right amount of clamping force to keep the headphones stable around your ears without putting pressure on your skull.
Philips Fidelio X3 review: Sound quality

When given the highest quality materials to work with, the Fidelio X3 unquestionably produces the highest quality of work possible. These headphones will show their appreciation if you are willing to pay top cash for services such as Qobuz or TIDAL.
When listening to the X3, it is clear that the open-backed setup has practical benefits in addition to the theoretical ones. They are able to fix every component of even the most complicated arrangements securely in place, and they depict a soundstage that is relatively large in size.
Philips Fidelio X3 review: Performance
On songs with a lot of sub-bass, like “Silent Shout” by the Knife, we can hear the deep, thumping lows with a sharpness that is hard to find in headphones these days. The lows are full and full-sounding, but they aren’t really brought forward in the mix much. The drivers in the Fidelio X3 can go as low as they need to, but they don’t boost everything else in the process. What you’re left with is a clean copy of the mix that is true to the original.
Price and Availability
The new HiFiMan Deva headphones cost $220 and are great planar magnetic headphones. For an extra $80, they come with a Bluetooth dongle that lets you stream high-resolution music. The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Studio, which costs $180, and the Bowers & Wilkins PX7, which costs $400, are two of our other favorite models in this price range. The $350 Fidelio X3 headphones, on the other hand, sound great and are accurate for the price. If you don’t need Bluetooth, you should definitely think about getting them.
Final Words
The sound is bland on the Philips Fidelio X3. They have a neutral, well-balanced sound, especially in the mid-range, so singing and lead instruments sound just like they should. Their open-back form makes a soundstage that is open and like a speaker. But their treble sound isn’t very even, and they don’t have enough low bass.
Philips Fidelio X3 Ratings
Philips Fidelio X3 review: THE GOOD AND THE BAD
The Good
- Modern cloth design
- Both comfortable and durable
The Bad
- Lacking low-bass.
FAQS
Even though the Fidelio X3 headphones have a low impedance of 30 ohms and a high sensitivity of 100dB, they can’t be used without a USB audio DAC, a headphone amplifier, or a DAP with enough power to drive their big drivers.
The Philips Fidelio X3, which was released in September 2020, is the sequel to the Philips Fidelio X2, which was released four years prior.