Fidelio X3 Professional Studio Monitor Headphones for Recording & Mixing Wired Over The Ear Open-Back Headphones, Multi-Layer 50mm Diaphragms, Hi-Res Music Studio Headset, Premium Finishing

I hate velour, gotta get that out of the way. Not sure why so many companies insist on velour as the material to use with pads. What I own: Beyer DT880s (balanced) Beyer/Drop 177x Go Senn 660S Meze 99 Classics AKG K371 Audio technica 990z Audio technica 500x Blue Lola X2HR Source: Android runnin Viper 24bit/48khz through optical out to smsl m200 dac to smsl sp200 amp. I know, i know, why so many headphones...Soooooo I felt compelled to write this review because i bought these when the ball and chain gave me a $100 gift card and the price had dropped. I liked the X2HR but didn't love them; wasn't in that bass canon great soundstage camp everyone else was in. Don't get me wrong, they are very good but the sub bass roll off is so severe, I just can't get the sound I like out of them. Reading the reviews of the X3 was a mixed bag, mostly because everyone was comparing them to the X2; it seemed if you loved the X2 then there was no need for the X3 to exist. A quick tangent on pads; to my ears suede is the best pad on almost any headphone. It does darken the headphone a little for sure but suede also takes the shine of the top end, something headphones like the K371s and 99 classics need in my opinion as they can be very bright (same for the X3, with the stock pads). Suede also takes away some of the mid bass, turning the 99 classics in into some real closed back monsters. Also, if you own a pair of DT880s and are not using suede pads I don't know what you are doing with your life; the sub bass roll off completely disappears (not so with X2) without hampering the soundstage. Sheepskin is good too and my 2nd fav but doesnt lower the mid bass. Back to the X3s. My favorite headphones before these were the DT880s and 660s. The Senns were the king of fidelity; if you wanted to hear the track exactly as intended, you wanted the 660s. Great mids and the artist is right there, great for vocals. The DT880 soundstage and imaging are superb; the stage isnt as wide as the X2 or even the 500x but you could hear everything. The presentation is as much about the instruments as it is the artist. The 177x are also superb for imaging but can get a little clampy after a while, and the bass, so much bass. I got the X3s 10 days ago...and haven't taken them off. Quick observations: Best looking headphones I have ever seen, period. Great construction and just a superb, understated design. They will meld into your desk as opposed to being an ornament. Most comfortable headphones I have ever owned, period. My first full day with them i wore them for 11 hours. You know they're there but after putting them on, I don't have to make any adjustments, they just sit there. I wear glasses, btw. Not sure why there are so many comparisons to the X2; while not a completely different sound there is a fullness to the X3 that I don't hear in the X2. The X3 can be driven off of anything to great affect; I also own a THX Onyx, HUD100 and ibasso DC03, all getting great volume and push right around 60% volume (sounds the best on optical, even at the lower bit depth). The most important thing: No bass roll off if you change the pads. The Beyers and ATs and Meze have moss bass, but none sound this good. No bleed, the drivers are in complete control on even the most bass heavy tracks (the X2s would distort pretty easily). Comparisons: 660s The whole mix and incredible imaging. The mids are king here but if you want bass you can eq it in (if you change the pads) without distortion. Truly great headphones. The X3s are as resolving in my opinion but with a much, much wider stage (by design I believe the 660s is meant to be intimate). Voices are more full as well on the X3 and i would say the mids are just a good as the 660s. DT880 (250ohm) A lot more bass in the DT880 but the driver doesn't seem to be as fast; bass heavy tracks mask some parts of the mix when i listening to the DT880s while I still hear it all on the X3. You see a lot of headphones claim they go down to 5hz, i don't doubt it with the X3. The instruments are a little more lively on the DT880 but they are also closer to you; with the X3 those cymbals are waaaayyy over there (and I swear the bass is behind me), with the DT880, the cymbals are way over there. Not dissing the DT880s, those were my babies for a loooonngg time...but the reason I am writing this review is because they have been dethroned. Comfort, resolution, presentation, its like going from a Charger to an E Class; I loved my Charger but everything is just smoother in this E Class. I didn't buy these before now because i couldn't justify the price (didn't buy my 660s) but if i could have test driven before purchase, I would have paid the $350. The X3 does everything every other headphone in my collection does, better. One word of caution: aftermarket cords will not work with these headphones unless special ordered. 4 stars is too few, the X2HR don't come close to these, not sure what people are hearing. I have the Dekoni choice leather and suede pads, both are more comfortable than the stock pads. 5:stars is not enough, I have never had a better, more musical experience than with the X3s. Every genre, every type of song sound great, sound musical. Truly incredible headphones, buy them and don't look back.

There are 2 CAMPS: Camp 1 - Fidelio X3 "Haters" Those that say this headphone is overly bright and sibilant are definitely individuals who don't understand listening volume and sound engineering. Anyone with normal hearing that listens extremely loud isn't actually listening to the TRUE FIDELITY of their music. There is a science to it! Tyll from inner fidelity discussed this in full in a 3 page Headfi post titled, "Listening Loud Destroys Fidelity" Camp 2 - Fidelio X3 Lovers SIMPLY IMPRESSIVE!! The soundstage on display here is nothing like what most have experienced. Detail Retrieval is simply outstanding. I don't say this lightly. Once you've figured out how to listen to music at an optimal level, you shall know why these headphones should be worth around $600 in my opinion. At about $200 with it's stunning build quality and sound, this headphone is a STEAL! Remember, only for those who can listen at an optimal level. THESE HEADPHONES ARE DESIGNED FOR THE SOPHISTICATED LISTENER. If you love to listen extremely LOUD, don't bother with these headphones. You need something dark with tame treble. In addition, the construction and choice of materials used is remarkable; a metallic head band wrapped in fine Scottish leather. It's a great looking headphone. Now onto the sound structure. BASS: It's flat, present and extremely controlled. It's sufficient enough to be present & punchy. It's predecessor the X2 does offer a boosted bass performance that's quite addicting I have to admit. As a result of the X3's tuned down bass, all subtle details of the music can be heard very effortlessly. MIDRANGE: Liquid and Smooth! It's very comparable to the rich midrange of the X2. The layering on the X3 is very well done. Initially, the midrange might seem distant on the X3, give it time and you'll appreciate why. The distance paints the illusion of sound coming from speakers placed significantly in front of you. Vocal & instrumental timbre is realistically uncolored. TREBLE: Perfect! Perfect! Perfect! It never gets offensive. Well tuned to fit the concert hall theme. After listening for weeks, I'm still quite impressed at the realism of the cymbals produced. Note: If you love listening at extreme head banging levels, I'll highly suggest you steer clear and pick up a dark headphone. You'll be better served by a dark sound signature. Your hearing maybe still be at risk even with a dark headphone that's played very loud. Hint 1: Some YouTube reviewers have no clue on proper and optimal listening levels no wonder they never discuss it while they review & compare gear. The result, most of members of the community have been gravely misguided. Be sure to give Tyll Hertsen's article on Headfi a read. You'll be thankful you did. Here's Tyll Hertsen's 2 step guide on how to tell your listening volume is too loud: 1. A sense of fatigue with listening 2. A sense of pressure as you listen Hint 2: Do some research on Aliasing, Over sampling and why 'high resolution audio' sounds better (SMOOTH with ZERO GRAIN). It's has to do with a gentle low pass Anti-aliasing filter and not necessarily "Resolution". A very intriguing topic indeed. I highly recommend this Headphone, Great execution Philips!

Fidelio x3 are the best looking, most comfortable and most well made headphones I own. They're a great deal at their current price. They sound very nice and balanced, however I prefer Hifiman Ananda Stealth (with a good dac/amp). Still, Fidelio x3 places above my Grado x325 and BD dt770 pro to my ears. I'm keeping 'em.

As you can see from the title I am reviewing these headphones from a content creation and streaming perspective. Comfort: These headphones feel like a dream on my head. I have a larger than average noggin and these do not feel tight or heavy. The foam pads on both sides are memory foam so they conform to your head shape perfectly and the floating headband makes adjustments very easy. My only complaint with the comfort is that it does have a tight clamp force for the first few hours of use but after breaking them in for a few days I've noticed the clamping force loosening up and now I no-longer even notice it. Design: Come on, these are gorgeous. Minimal, sleek, sexy, you name it. In my opinion these are the best looking studio monitors on the market in 2022. Sound: This is honestly where I was the most shocked. Almost EVERY reviewer on youtube has stated that these lack bass and have a very neutral sound that only praise the highs and some mids. I am here to tell you that those reviewers having something seriously wrong with their ears because the bass on these headphones is DEEP. It's not a rumbling bass like you get on commercial headphones or with gaming headsets, but it's rich, punchy, and has a massively-wide sound stage that sounds WONDERFUL for movies, gaming, and heavy music. On top of that of course it also has amazing clarity for acoustics and vocals but saying this has a flat/neutral sound is just a lie. They sound GREAT. The only issue I have is that the connectors that go into each earcup don't lock into place so they can get ripped out with enough force. Also when the wire rubs against your shirt it does transfer alot of noise into the ears that is a minor annoyance. In the end, are these worse the $350 price tag? Honestly, yes. However, I got them on sale for $165 so if you ever see them on sale below $200 BUY THEM. You will not be disappointed.

I AM really pleased with these headphones.. I already have a pair of old Sony MDR-CD280 (cheapos), and an old pair of Sennheiser HD-580 (not so cheap).. both open backs.. I actually bought these Philips to test for my niece, to see if it will work with a record player build I'm doing, and if I didn't like them, I'd send them back, if I liked them, I was going to give them to her.. I didn't think I'd be keeping them and buying another pair for her! I like these that much. Sound profile from low to high is different than my cheap Sony phones.. more bottom end, less emphasis on the top.. more balanced.. not quite the equal of the Sennheisers in high frequencies but the Philips cost a fraction - so not really a fair comparison - you'll still get the highs and they come through sweet enough. Honestly, if I were forced to use these headphones as my main pair, I'd be happy. Good value for the performance, in my opinion. Good build quality, the leather (or pleather?) is nice and soft. I like the understated looks of these as well. Very satisfying purchase.

I own two other high-end headphones by Bose and Sony. I'll be comparing the Philips Fidelio X3 against these. After listening to the Philips Fidelio X3 on both my CD player and my iphone for a few days, my conclusion is that these headphones, while being excellent acoustically, are a mixed bag and won't be for everyone. PROS: 1. Excellent sound quality that is accurate and balanced. You'll hear exactly what was recorded accurately and clearly. You might even be surprised to hear a few nuances, details and instruments that you've never heard before, even after listening to the same songs for years. Bass and sub-bass are definitely there, but are never artificially boosted and overpowering. The key words here are balance and accuracy. Mind you, these headphones are NOT for bass-heads but for those who value sound accuracy. Where these headphones truly excel is at spacial separation and instrument placement. Thus they're especially good for listening to live music and concerts: when closing your eyes, you can clearly visualize where each instrument is located. 2. Build quality seems quite good and materials appear to be durable, if a bit over the top (such as the Muirhead leather finish). A notable exception is the earcups (one of the cons below). 3. The headphones are fairly comfortable to wear and don't put much pressure on your ears and head. However, they're awkward to wear when lying down, and I found it difficult to find a comfortable position for my neck and head. CONS: 1. The open-back design is a disaster as it lets in way too much ambient noise and can also be distracting/annoying to others around you, since music leaks out. With these headphones, you might end up cranking up the volume more than you would with closed-back models, just to cover the ambient noise. This could damage your hearing in the long run, if you're not careful. In this regard, closed-back headphones are superior and more practical. These headphones are not ideal if you're traveling for this reason, and many more. 2. The Fidelio X3 are very large, unwieldy and not easy to carry and store. The included cable is almost 10 feet long (!!!!) and will constantly be dangling from your pocket and hitting the floor if you like listening to music while doing things around the house/walking. You'll want to use cable ties to avoid stepping on the cable and/or wiping your floor with it. And no, the included "cable management clip" is not very useful at all. I find cables/cords that are around 3 feet long to be ideal. The ear cups are made of a material that is a dust/hair magnet and will need to be cleaned often, unless you store them in a drawer. My ears feel slightly warm after using the headphones for a while, which is surprising given their open-back design. This is never unbearable but it is noticeable, especially since it doesn't happen with my other two closed-back headphones. I'm sure it's due to the material used for the ear cups. 3. Unlike most modern headphones, there are no in-line controls on the Fidelio X3, so you'll be forced to manage your music on your devices, which is VERY inconvenient, impractical and frustrating. I can't imagine it would have been too hard or expensive for Philips to include a separate cable with in-line controls for those who want/need this option to further expand their functionality. In conclusion, these are excellent headphones when it comes to sound quality as they will let you enjoy all your music accurately and pleasantly, but are highly impractical and inconvenient to use for travel, or even around the house, due to their sheer size, open-back design that lets in too much ambient noise and leaks music, extremely long 10-foot cable, and lack of in-line controls. Their comfort level/fit will also be subjective. Even though I bought them on sale, all their downsides ultimately do not justify their (still) high price and thus do not make them a good value. Bafflingly enough, Philips ended up dooming them to low sales at best, and to market irrelevance at worst, by only focusing on sound quality, while entirely neglecting to include modern, practical touches that all the competition offers. Sadly, this is a missed opportunity for Philips, and unfortunately I can't recommend the Fidelio X3 for all the reasons above.

The overall build quality is excellent. The sound quality is also excellent. Very well balanced. Not bass heavy, but plenty of bass for sure. The construction quality is exceptional. These will last for a long long time. The headband is Scottish premium leather. My ONLY complaint is that the ear pads are SO WARM - I could wear these skiing. Just sitting in my house after 10 minutes I found my head getting really hot - like I'd put on winter ear muffs. It's winter here and I was overheating. I definitely can't see wearing these during summer. So I will likely be purchasing other ear pads to try because these are just way too hot. But for the money, these are top quality.

These headphones are amont the most comfortable I've ever worn. They are big and easily fit over my ears and do not press too hard. The cups are fabric and very comfortable. The sound is natural without the emphasized bass that many headphones are subject to. And all things considered the price is pretty good at around $150. So why the one star review. Well, when I research an item to purchase, the first thing I do is read the one star reviews. I know an unfair review brings down the average but actually reading reviews mitigates this problem. The cord is VERY long and is not coiled. I tripped over my cable and almost ripped it out of the jack on my computer. I damaged the jack and bent the pin on the cable. Fortunately I bought a USB to 3.5mm converter for about $10 which is not as convenient but will suffice for the broken jack. The cable is another matter. Apparently Sennheiser does't carry replacements and neither does their service provider. So if you break one you might be stuck. I did find replacement cables that I could have purchased but they were in the $50 to $100 range each. Fortunately, I had bought them around Black Friday so they had a return period up to Jan 31. I did tell Amazon that the defect was of my making and I was totally responsible for the problem. They decided that they would accept them for a refund anyhow. Perhaps the CSR noticed the amount I spend with Amazon and wanted to keep on my good side :) Anyhow, my point is they are very good headphones as long as nothing happens to them because if something does, they could be junk.

My Fidelio L2s were my daily cans. My L2s are my value kings and I love them. They have excellent detail, good soundstage and bass. Was going to pull the trigger on the X2s but decided to hold out for the X3s and glad I did. There cans are neutral. Your not going to get a ton of bass - it is there when the track calls for it - and its detailed and textured, not muddy, bloomy or bleed into the mids bass. The midrange is upfront and centred, not in your face, but definitely not recessed. Treble detail is high, airy, clean, wonderful, but yes, borderline a touch too much, however I have sat down with these for hours and never get fatigued. The X3s are soooo good. So detailed with a soundstage the size of a bus. If you love detail youll love these, but its not dry. Thank you Phillips for brining such great sound at such little cost. These easily compare to $1K cans.

Philips Fidelio X3/00 Hi-Res Audio X3, Much confort on the head. I first used it with the realtek audio card chip in my mother board but sound was not that great. Then I used it together with the Creative Sound Blaster Play! 4 DAC USB Portable High Resolution and the sound is excellent. Great headset. There is also no latency in game (I use a 240 Hz screen). Recommended.

Nach einer kurzen Einspielzeit legte der Fidelio X3 sehr gut los. Ob im Bass, Mitten, oder in den Höhen. Die versprochenen 5 bis 40.000 Hz nehme ich ihm ab. Da wird nichts verfälscht. Keine Beschneidung der Höhen und auch keine Überbetonung im Bassbereich wie es heute ja unnötigerweise bei anderen Herstellern so üblich ist. Durch die schöne Abstimmung, eben ohne beschnittene Höhen, wird eine realistische breite Bühne erzeugt. Ob das feine Schlagen des Beckens von Ian Moslay, oder die Spielfreude von Pete Trewavas am Bass und Steve Rothery an der e-Gitarre von Marillion in den Alben "F.E.A.R. oder An Houer Befor It's Dark, oder die Live- Konzerte mit dem Klassikorchester". Es wird alles erstaunlich gut wiedergegeben. Alle Instrumente sind zu vernehmen in einer schöhnen breiten Bühne. Stimmen werden realistisch wiedergegeben. Der Tragekompfort ist etwas fester, aber dafür hält der KH auch gut. Schnelles verrutschen ist so nicht möglich. Die Ohrpolster sind angenehm weich. Ein Schwitzen unter dem KH konnte ich nicht beobachten. Durch die 30 Ohm auch am Handy, oder der Soundkarte vom Laptop, gut zu betreiben. Einzig das mitgelieferte Kabel, was über einen 3,5 mm Klinkenanschluß mit Adapter auf 6,3 mm besitzt, ist für mich nicht die beste Wahl von Philips gewesen. Durch die wohl so qualitativ hochwertig wirken sollende Gewebewandverkleidung ist das Kabel einfach zu steif / unflexibel. Aber ist Jammern auf hohem Niveau. Der X3 braucht sich nicht zu verstecken. Da sind KHs im Bereich von 1.000 EUR unausgewogener und deutlich schlechter im persönlichem Hörempfinden. Der AKG 702 ist in der selben Preisklasse und vielleicht subjektiv etwas Spielfreudiger. Man sollte beide mal ausprobieren. Fazit: Zu dem Preis einfach nur gut.

Tiene buen nivel de graves, son muy cómodos aunque no apreta bien en las orejas, el audio de hi-res se escucha limpio y de gran calidad.

I was looking for some new home headphones and found a great deal for these headphones. They are super comfortable and made of great quality materials. The sound is really smooth - slightly warm - and makes you want to keep listening to more music. I’d really recommend these as high quality but reasonably priced Hi-Fi headphones.