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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If money is not a concern and you prefer the versatility of earbuds, the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX offers excellent overall sound quality with premium build quality, effective noise isolation, and advanced features like active noise cancelling and sweatproof certification, making it suitable for various environments including exercise and air travel. However, for a more immersive at-home listening experience, particularly for music and TV, the Philips Fidelio X2HR headphones, being open-back, provide a very good soundstage. They're less portable, not suitable for noisy environments or exercise, and lack wireless capability, but they come at a significantly lower cost. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
- Excellent for gaming
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Philips Fidelio X2HR
- Excellent for music
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.9
9.3
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent for music, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is good.
Gaming
9.3
7.0
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is excellent for gaming, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
6.1
7.9
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.3
2.5
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX is very good for noise reduction, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Battery
6.5 Hours
N/A
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Philips Fidelio X2HR does not have a battery.
Cost
$399
$148
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has a price of $399 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR costs $148.
Build Quality
10.0
9.0
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX has best in class build quality, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR has excellent build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.3
5.0
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for phone calls.
TV and Video
8.9
8.8
The Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both very good for TV and video.
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How the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX and the Philips Fidelio X2HR compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX | Philips Fidelio X2HR |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$399 | $148 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bang and Olufsen | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | September 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 8/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.4/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 9.3/10 | 7.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 9/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 9/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 6.5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 1.5 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.2 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 22 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | Yes | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 8.4/10 | 2.5/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | N/A | |
Android App | |||
Android App | Yes | N/A | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | Yes | N/A | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 7/10 | N/A | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 6 Grams | 390 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX
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Dig into reviews and images
Leaf and Core
Danielle | January 2023
"If you’ve wanted truly wireless headphones, but couldn’t pick them up because they sound terrible, these will be the headphones that win you over. If you’re the kind of person who would consider spending $400 on headphones, these are the right truly wireless headphones for you."
Philips Fidelio X2HR
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Dig into reviews and images
Liquid Audio
Stefan | May 2022
"This piece is a fantastic option for music lovers searching for premium sound and a snug fit. You should get these headphones if you care about sound quality and want to hear music in a new light. This technology is a great option for high-quality headphones with superb sound reproduction."
Get a great deal on the Bang and Olufsen Beoplay EX or the Philips Fidelio X2HR
About Bang and Olufsen
Bang and Olufsen is an almost century-old electronic goods manufacturer based in Denmark with a very special focus on design. Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen created the first AC radio in 1925 and went on to develop televisions, telephones and, of course, headphones and loudspeakers. Today, they are partnered with several companies, like Audi, BMW and Aston Martin, to provide very high-quality audio solutions.
About Philips
Philips is a Dutch conglomerate and electronics manufacturer with over 130 years of history. Philips makes the Fidelio audio line which includes several models of full-sized wired and wireless headphones, true wireless earbuds. soundbars and wireless speakers.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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