Am I crazy for disliking the Philips X2 this much?

Not sure if serious.

I think some EQ should suffice to iron out the FR oddities. Particularly in the upper end.

 

@Zed Bopp I enjoyed your review. Your descriptions are on point and well-considered. You also have a nice deep voice--easier to listen to. Smooth graphics too. Nice!

 

@Zed Bopp. That big dip before 10 khz is intentional according to Tyll at innerfidelity. Your review is spot on, especially about the fact that its not for audiophiles who are looking for a linear reference headphone.

 

Cheers guys! I'm thinking about doing some more reviews like that one. Some candidates are: Focal Spirit Pro (liking them lots recently, esp the mids and the neutrality), Aurvana Live (long time cheapo favorite), 1st gen over-ear Momentum or my LCD 2.1 (not a market for these anymore, though)...

Sqveak: I wasn't being serious

 

Do it! I remember hifimaailma really like the FSP, but complained about the fit. A comparison between the X2 and HD600 would also be interesting. ( I have the HD650 and X2.)

 

There was a mention of the HD600's on my X2 review - basically that they are completely different FSP's have a tight fit and there have been some reports of broken headbands... And there are the small earpads too. But, they isolate very well and sound damn good keeping that in mind - there is sound stage (unlike HD25's etc.)! FSP is easily the flatest closed HP I've heard yet.

Damn, I might have just spoiled my next review

EDIT: Eugene - another finn, eh?

 

Imported Finn, yes. There are few others too...

 

This is an eternal forum debate. If the only requirement for a headphone is linearity, then all should be outlawed except for beyer DT 880 or something similar. The much revered Sennheiser 650 is not quite linear either.

(I have the Sen 650 and find it sublime with some music, but don't mind the X2 either. For some reason I must be deaf to the treble spikes, I rarely hear sibilance. The fact that it sounds good out of the phone without amp is very practical for lazy people like me)

 

Indeed. Some hear coloration. I hear tuning, which probably means the same in the end. A good example is Tyll's review of the Focal Spirit Pro and then Bob Katz review. One found it to be exceedingly neutral , the other found it a screechy boxy mess. They are both probably right too...

PS. I do not consider myself a audiophile, therefore I am allowed to like the X2.

 

The FSP's do have strong upper mids, maybe too hot for some. I find that brings the attack & presence of vocals and guitars to the front very nicely. Things like compression on drums and reverbs on vocals are very easily heard. Big guitar riffs and soaring vocals are the central points in rock/metal mixes. Most other headphones are bass/low-mid centric, imo.

I disagree with Bob Katz about the low-end, I think there is a very nice amount, more than HD600 for an example. More would be too much north of neutral, imo. These are very closed in design and that can be heard in the upper treblies, but they have a surprising amount of sound stage.

 

I didn't hear a problem with the upper mids at all with the FSP and I'm sensitive there. My issue with them was that they are a little too dark, not enough air.

 

Yeah, they are very closed - that lack of air is the result of it. I don't think there is a headphone with this much passive attenuation that has better "air".

Is there an FSP-thread for this talk?

 

I just would like to say that I love the X2s. Liquid bass and midrange. For me it makes them extremely easy listening and exciting at the same time. Can depend on what I'm listening to. Either way though excellent. I don't really have an issue with treble. It's not the best I've ever heard but I wouldn't describe it as sibilant at all. The HD700 is sibilant and I can't keep it on my head for longer then an hour without feeling physically uncomfortable. 560's while not quite HD700 bad I had kind of the same experience with. X2's are nowhere near that.

In fact I'd say they are superior to basically all of their closest competitors. AKG 7xx, HD 6xx/700. I prefer them even to the HE-560. Haven't tried everything but yeah. Really love these actually. Sort of hit the spot for me. Only other headphone that I really loved were my Alpha Dogs and they've even replaced them for most of my listening.

 

I just wrote a review of the X2's:
http://www.head-fi.org/products/philips-fidelio-x2/reviews/15336

As I said before, I found the treble on X2's to be very low in energy. That boost high up does make them sound kind of weird, though. It pronounces stuff above the fundamentals of most instruments. It's kind of a "fake" boost for the highs - it doesn't affect the important stuff.

It does boost the treble distortion on many recordings.

 

I had the X1 and didn't like it. I didn't find them to be neutral at all, I thought they were very bloomy in the lower region. Compared to HD650 and much prefered that one. Thought the X1 was terrible with classical music but pretty good for modern music. If you only listen to "modern" music and like a bottom heavy sound you might like the X1/X2.

The X1 isn't a "bad" headphone, in fact it's probably a great headphone to recommend to bassheads and people coming from beats. And I did like the midrange. But for people who are used to more neutral high-end reference stuff I don't think the X1/X2 fits in that category.

 

I feel completely the same concerning the bass and treble.

In comparison to my PC360's (essentially HD558/598), that treble is grain is unbearable. x_x

However, I've never heard a 'phone which such great bass and soundstage--it makes a great immersive gaming can.

 

I had the X2's for a week.
To me they sounded unnatural and dat grainy bad treble was not bareable...

 

I definitely prefer X1 to X2. X2 has a really annoying peak to me and the X1 bass can be controlled (better) with Black Widow. I primarily like them for movies to give low end rumble with a Geek Out, laptop, and Out Of Your Head Software.

 

Yeah, I actually also prefer HD598 over X2...

 

Philips X2HR

Summary: Uncomfortable. Okay for the price but luckily you can get much better with the Emu purpleheart / walnut for even less.





Not what I was expecting. I was hoping for something smaller and more comfortable vs it's brother the Philips SHP9600 which I bet uses the same good very cheap driver (think Porta Pro level but in a full-size). The plan was to upgrade X2HR with Peerless drivers but the surprising lack of comfort means its a no go. The discomfort is mostly down to the lack of articulation for the headphone cups (only pivots on one axis). Then combine that with a heavy metal enclosure with kind of a tight spring on the headband support and stiff pads (user replaceable I believe).

For sound its okay for the price (I paid $85 like-new from Amazon) but would not recommend. A little sharp, a little dry. From memory the SHP9600 is better, more neutral, more comfortable open design, with a big soundstage, probably a great FPS gaming headphone.

Spoiler: Compare to SHP9600 and Hifiman 400se.

^ I do not condone the 400se

More references.
https://www.changstar.com/www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,1945.0.html
https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-philips/fidelio-x2hr/
https://blog.shanock.com/fix-loose-wobbly-earcup-on-philips-fidelio-x2-x2hr/
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...heart-headphone-review-and-measurements.3511/
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...lnut-brief-impressions-and-measurements.2544/
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...assdrop-x-e-mu-purpleheart-measurements.3539/