Philips Unveils the Long-awaited Fidelio X3

The Philips Fidelio X3 in action (From: Philips)
The Philips Fidelio X3 in action (From: Philips)

After six years, the wait is almost over for both long-time and new audiophiles alike.

The Philips Fidelio X3 in action (From: Philips)
The Philips Fidelio X3 in action (From: Philips)

Philips is finally following up on its successful Fidelio X2 headphones from 2014 with another top-of-the-line entry, aptly named the Fidelio X3. After six whole years, the successor ups the ante in several ways, most especially in design and comfort.

Initially releasing in Europe, the Fidelio X3 is an open-back, over-ear pair of headphones designed with audiophiles in mind. Built to be the Fidelio family’s latest flagship, it’s designed with three pillars in mind: sound quality, design quality, and enhanced user experience.

High-Fidelity Sound Experience

Beginning with sound quality, Philips prides itself in the full dynamic output the Fidelio X3 produces:

Philips Sound has designed the Fidelio X3 to combine accuracy with generous bass and a warm mid-range — where the focus is on a tight, impactful sound with exceptional separation of instruments and voices, while the high-end is clean, detailed, and has an excellent extension.

Naturally, the Fidelio X3 is a step-up from its predecessor in terms of audio quality. This model offers 50mm multi-layered polymer drivers that are filled with gel for improved damping, as well as a powerful neodymium motor system that makes both the highs and lows rich in signature Fidelio fashion.

The Philips Fidelio X3 matches performance with style (From: Philips)
The Philips Fidelio X3 matches performance with style (From: Philips)

An Equally Impressive Design

Thanks to dual-layered ear shells and a reinforced ridge construction, the Fidelio X3 dampens excessive vibrations while maintaining optimal comfort. Philips claims it uses “real materials” from specialist European partners for the best-possible aesthetics and feel.

Philips claims it uses “real materials” from specialist European partners for the best-possible aesthetics and feel.

A dark satin steel frame holds everything together without adding unnecessary bulk. It’s covered in Muirhead leather while the earpads allow for extended listening sessions minus any discomfort.

To ensure that the Fidelio X3 hits the right balance between universal fit and optimum sound quality, a few tweaks were implemented through careful study:

The speaker plates of the Fidelio X3s are pre-tilted to a 15-degree angle to fit more accurately to the natural shape of the ear, and to ensure the music is directed straight into the ear canal for a truly immersive listening experience.
The Philips Fidelio X3's Kvadrat fabric (From: Philips)
The Philips Fidelio X3’s Kvadrat fabric (From: Philips)

Enhanced Experience Fit for Fidelio

The Fidelio X3’s all-around performance is rounded up with a bandwidth of 5Hz to 40kHz and Kvadrat fabric on its open-back side to lessen pressure and standing-wave reflections to the side of the driver.

An optional balanced mode is in place to separate the left and right channels for improved stereo separation. In addition, the twisted-pair cable includes a 2.5mm TRRS connector for your high-resolution music players.

The Philips Fidelio X3 retails for EUR349 (~USD$385) and will arrive in stores in the coming months.

Philips hasn’t given an exact release date for the Fidelio X3 in its press release.

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