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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If excellent sound quality for music and an expansive soundstage are your priorities, the Philips Fidelio X2HR headphones stand out, but they lack a microphone and are primarily designed for wired use with an open-back design that does not isolate noise well, making them less suitable for noisy environments or commutes. On the other hand, the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 earbuds offer great sound quality with added convenience features such as wireless connectivity, active noise cancelling for better isolation, and a microphone for calls, making them versatile for various settings including exercise and travel, but they have a shorter battery life and are not optimized for gaming or TV due to higher latency. 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 Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2
- Very good for air travel
Advantages of the Philips Fidelio X2HR
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
7.5
9.3
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is good.
Gaming
5.3
7.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for gaming, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.6
7.9
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.
TV and Video
6.0
8.8
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is very good for TV and video, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is only fair.
Noise Reduction
8.3
2.5
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is very good for noise reduction, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has 5 hours of battery life. The Philips Fidelio X2HR does not have a battery.
Cost
$127
$148
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has a price of $127 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR costs $148.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
5.0
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for phone calls.
Build Quality
8.9
9.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Philips Fidelio X2HR to have excellent build quality, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has very good build quality.
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How the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 | Philips Fidelio X2HR |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$127 | $148 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Bowers and Wilkins | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | September 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.5/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.2/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 7.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 6/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.3/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 0.75 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 13 | 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 | 8.9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 7 Grams | 390 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2
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Dig into reviews and images
Engadget
Billy Steele | March 2023
"While the overall sound quality is great, these earbuds fall short in terms of battery life, customization and ANC performance. Bowers & Wilkins’ ability to consistently deliver pristine sound isn’t enough to make up for what the Pi7 S2 lacks, which is unfortunately quite a bit."
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 Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 or the Philips Fidelio X2HR
About Bowers and Wilkins
Bowers and Wilkins is a British audio equipment manufacturer with a focus on innovation and product development. It was founded by a couple of real-life James Bonds, the co-founders John Bowers and Roy Wilkins, who met while working for MI6 during World War II. The company keeps being favored by enthusiasts due to their sound quality, craftsmanship and signature aesthetics.
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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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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