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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 10, 2024·
If portability and use during exercise are top priorities, the JBL Live Beam 3 earbuds would be a better fit, as they are wireless, sweatproof, and come with a secure charging case that supports wireless charging. They also offer active noise cancelling, making them suitable for air travel. For immersive music and TV experiences, the Philips Fidelio X2HR headphones provide superior soundstage and comfort, suitable for long listening sessions, but they're limited to wired use and lack features like active noise cancelling, low latency, and are not optimized for exercise. The Philips are also more affordable, but if modern conveniences like app control and touch case are important, JBL is the way to go despite the higher price. 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 JBL Live Beam 3
- Very good for exercise
- 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
7.8
9.3
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent for music, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is good.
Gaming
5.4
7.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for gaming, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.9
7.9
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
TV and Video
5.6
8.8
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is very good for TV and video, while the JBL Live Beam 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
8.3
2.5
The JBL Live Beam 3 is very good for noise reduction, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
Battery
12.0 Hours
N/A
The JBL Live Beam 3 has 12 hours of battery life. The Philips Fidelio X2HR does not have a battery.
Cost
$216
$140
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The JBL Live Beam 3 has a price of $216 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR costs $140.
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR has excellent build quality, while the JBL Live Beam 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
5.2
5.0
The JBL Live Beam 3 and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for phone calls.
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How the JBL Live Beam 3 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| JBL Live Beam 3 | Philips Fidelio X2HR |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$216 | $140 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | JBL | Philips | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | June 1, 2024 | September 1, 2014 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 7.9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5.3/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.4/10 | 7.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.7/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 8.4/10 | 4.5/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 12 Hours | N/A | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | N/A | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | N/A | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5.3 | N/A | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 36 | 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 | Yes | 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 | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Large | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 8.8 Grams | 390 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | N/A | |
Shopping
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 JBL Live Beam 3 or the Philips Fidelio X2HR
About JBL
JBL is an American audio equipment manufacturer. Owned by Harman International which is, itself, owned by Samsung Electronics. JBL markets a wide array of monitoring speakers, professional headphones and consumer market headphones and earbuds. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing (whose initials give the company its name) and has become one of the most prolific audio companies ever. Their products were responsible for audio during the 1969 Woodstock Festival.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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