Philips X2 Around-Ear Open-Back Stereo Headphone review

[dalethorn]

Taking a break from the very low-budget headphones and reviewing the Philips Fidelio X2 (which I missed in the initial intro), I was actually surprised at how good the X2 is. You'll appreciate the X2 if you've been using small plastic headphones like I've reviewed recently, even when you carefully EQ those small headphones, because Philips corrects the X2's resonances or other sonic anomalies with a much larger and better build, etc. I paid $199 at Massdrop, which is one heckuva deal.

 

Philips X2 Around-Ear Open-Back Stereo Headphone review | Headphones Hangout Forum

[DigiPete]

Got myself an X2 completely blind but based on great reviews of Tyll (InnerFidelity) and now Dale.

I have been lurking around the X1 and now the X2 and a price drop and a birthday gave the final push.

 

My little setup is X2 and a Audioquest Dragonfly 1.2 DAC.

At EUR 200 and EUR 150, this is a very cost efficient setup in my book.

Burned in 50 hours on a broad diet and semi-loud.

My plan is to use it for late night music and films, probably combined with surround software "Out Of Your Head" from Darin Fong Audio.

 

I first thought the setup was a little noisy until I switched to some of my favorite 2L recordings.

Gone was all hiss !!! I was simply hearing the recording clean and clear as I always ask for.

 

The setup sounds very clean and natural, not much unlike my main rig of Genelec 8260's.

Tyll thinks everything is accentuated, I think everything is exactly where it should be.

 

Underwhelming to some degree, and nothing is accentuated.

Impressive only over time as the rig handles everything I throw at it.

Smooth without losing details, physically large but still light and comfy.

 

In short, this rig is extremely enjoyable and insane value for money.

 

 

Rig:

 

MacBook Pro, 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3, SSD

PureMusic 3.0.3 with iTunes

Audioquest Dragonfly 1.2 DAC

Philips Fidelio X2

 

 

Music:

 

Antonio Forcione - Live 16/44

Cara Dillon - Live At The Grand Opera House 24/48

Diana Krall - The Girl In The Other Room 24/96

Infected Mushroom - Army of Mushrooms 16/44

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - The Eternal Traveller 16/44

Popa Chubby - Big Man Big Guitar 16/44

Ray Brown, John Clayton, Christian Mcbride - SuperBass 2 16/44

Rodrigo y Gabriela - 11:11 16/44

Sigmind Groven & Iver Klieve - harmOrgan 24/96

Steve Wilson - The Raven that refused to sing 24/96

Vestbo Trio - Flowmotion 24/96

Yello - Touch Yello - 16/44

[dalethorn]

Got myself an X2 completely blind but based on great reviews of Tyll (InnerFidelity) and now Dale. I have been lurking around the X1 and now the X2 and a price drop and a birthday gave the final push. My little setup is X2 and a Audioquest Dragonfly 1.2 DAC. At EUR 200 and EUR 150, this is a very cost efficient setup in my book.

Burned in 50 hours on a broad diet and semi-loud. My plan is to use it for late night music and films, probably combined with surround software "Out Of Your Head" from Darin Fong Audio. I first thought the setup was a little noisy until I switched to some of my favorite 2L recordings. Gone was all hiss !!! I was simply hearing the recording clean and clear as I always ask for. The setup sounds very clean and natural, not much unlike my main rig of Genelec 8260's. Tyll thinks everything is accentuated, I think everything is exactly where it should be. Underwhelming to some degree, and nothing is accentuated.

Impressive only over time as the rig handles everything I throw at it.

Smooth without losing details, physically large but still light and comfy.

In short, this rig is extremely enjoyable and insane value for money.

MacBook Pro, 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3, SSD

PureMusic 3.0.3 with iTunes

Audioquest Dragonfly 1.2 DAC

Philips Fidelio X2

Antonio Forcione - Live 16/44

Cara Dillon - Live At The Grand Opera House 24/48

Diana Krall - The Girl In The Other Room 24/96

Infected Mushroom - Army of Mushrooms 16/44

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - The Eternal Traveller 16/44

Popa Chubby - Big Man Big Guitar 16/44

Ray Brown, John Clayton, Christian Mcbride - SuperBass 2 16/44

Rodrigo y Gabriela - 11:11 16/44

Sigmind Groven & Iver Klieve - harmOrgan 24/96

Steve Wilson - The Raven that refused to sing 24/96

Vestbo Trio - Flowmotion 24/96

Yello - Touch Yello - 16/44

 

There is a controversy of course about how warm is too warm, or how bright or too soft is too much of that. But the X2 is good enough that picking the right amp makes it very enjoyable. I think that the DF v1.2 is just right for the X2, and I use it myself. My impression of extra warmth in the X2 is offset by a leanness and clarity with the DF 1.2 - a match made in heaven as it were.