But the bottom line is that with the X1 and the L1 we’re talking about two completely different sounding headphones. It does sound bigger than the L1, and it does sound more HiFi so in that regard Philips have done the X1 right. It doesn’t have the L1’s black background and the sound of the X1 is actually quite grainy like the HD650 and DT880. Though a bigger headphone is usually more laid back than a smaller one, the X1 is more forward than the L1. The L1 which was the first Fidelio headphone, is really nice with its laid back sound, good bass with a clean and black background. I wouldn’t have guessed how the X1 came out with this sort of a sound signature. Ignoring the good adjectives I throw at it, the X1 is most importantly an enjoyable headphone to listen to. And yet, while most “middle ground” headphones often fall sounding flat and dull, the X1 happens to be a successful blend. Likewise on the other hand the Senn crowd may complain that the treble is still a tad too much than what they’re used to on the 650, and that the mids aren’t as smooth as the 650, and that ultimately bass impact still wins by a few percents on the 650. Of course if you like the linear top-down clarity of the DT880, which some people call unreal since bass doesn’t sound as clear in real life as the DT880 portrays, the X1 would still sound a tad less clear and less articulated. With the X1, Beyer people should not be calling veiled anymore, and the Senn crowd should be equally happy as this headphone does have a worthy low end. Well those two camps can now make peace as the X1 combines the strengths of the Beyer and the Senn, meanwhile the K701 camp now have the K550. The HD650 camp however, always found it to be lacking warmth and low end body. People like the 880 for its clarity, detail and speed. If you were there during the K701, DT880, and HD650 era years ago, you know how we used to fight over which of the three was really the best. Definitely there is something more being offered here by the Philips. The Beyers, the AD-Series Audio Technicas, the Grados, you don’t really have to wait for the X1. Of course, if air and clarity is what you are looking for, it’s pretty easy to find such characteristics on many other headphones. A lot more airy than the 650, and very clear sounding. The X1 by contrast was a lot more snappy especially on the top end. After just weeks with the X1 however, I went back to the 650 and there it was: that slow, sluggish sound that felt a little veiled. It’s not fast, but I didn’t really feel it to be slow. And although I’ve always knew that the 650 is a slow headphone, my ears have somehow adapted to it during the many years that I listen to music through the 650. I did go back to the 650 once or twice during my few weeks with the X1.
All without losing the bottom end weight and punch.
#AUDIOENGINE D1 DAC HD598 FULL#
Take the warm and full sound of the HD650, add top end air, add pace, snap and attack, and you’ve got the X1.
However when you look at the positives of the X1, not only does it sound very good in a review like this, it also sounds really good when you are listening to it. It’s really hard to say since the X1 is very new and the 650 has been tested for years. I’m not saying that this is a better headphone than the HD650. Weeks go by where I didn’t listen to the HD650, mainly due to this Philips. From the first moment I listened to the X1, my impression have been very positive.
I’ve had it for almost two full months now and I’m guilty for not having published this review sooner. Disclaimer: I received the X1 sample directly from Philips Asia.Īh, the Philips Fidelio X1 headphone.
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