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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Philips Fidelio X2HR offers a superior overall sound quality and a more expansive soundstage, making them better suited for an immersive music listening experience. However, this open-back design comes with lower noise isolation which is not ideal for noisy environments. Conversely, the Sennheiser HD 400S has an in-line microphone which can be valuable for calls and meetings. They have a closed-back design, offering better noise isolation, making them more versatile for use in varied settings. While the Philips models are typically much more expensive, they provide a more premium experience for critical listeners who prioritize sound quality over other features. 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 Philips Fidelio X2HR
- Excellent for music
- Very good for TV and video
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD 400S
- Very good for phone calls
- Very good for gaming
- Good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.3
7.1
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent for music, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Gaming
7.0
8.6
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for gaming, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
Phone Calls
5.0
8.2
The Sennheiser HD 400S is very good for phone calls, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is poor.
TV and Video
8.8
7.6
The Philips Fidelio X2HR is very good for TV and video, while the Sennheiser HD 400S is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The Sennheiser HD 400S and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for noise reduction, though the Sennheiser HD 400S is somewhat better.
Cost
$148
$61
$0
$50
$100
$150
$200
The Philips Fidelio X2HR has a price of $148 and the Sennheiser HD 400S costs $61.
Build Quality
9.0
8.5
The Philips Fidelio X2HR has excellent build quality, while the Sennheiser HD 400S has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
7.6
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and Sennheiser HD 400S are both good for podcasts and audiobooks.
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How the Philips Fidelio X2HR and the Sennheiser HD 400S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips Fidelio X2HR | Sennheiser HD 400S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$148 | $61 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2014 | January 1, 2019 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 8.7/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 390 Grams | 213 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
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."
Sennheiser HD 400S
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphone Dungeon
Jim | August 2022
"Sennheiser has done it again. The HD 400S performs well beyond its price range and is one of the better budget model headphones I’ve tried. It has very few bells and whistles and offers a simple means of listening that still delivers amazing clarity and quality. If you need a good first pair of headphones or need something that you can take out of the house, then the HD 400S is definitely for you."
Get a great deal on the Philips Fidelio X2HR or the Sennheiser HD 400S
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.
About Sennheiser
A family-owned company, Sennheiser is a German, high fidelity, audio equipment manufacturer founded in 1945. Their consumer audio division is now owned by the Swiss hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturer Sonova. Sennheiser offers a wide variety of, very high quality, audio equipment solutions, from headphones to earbuds, full sets of monitoring speakers, amplifiers and microphones. They also make what is widely regarded as the best, and most expensive, headphones in existence, the HE-1 Orpheus, costing a whopping $59,000 dollars.
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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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