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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for exceptional sound quality and soundstage with premium build and maximum comfort, the Sennheiser HD800S is the better choice, but you'll pay a premium. The Philips Fidelio X2HR offers strong performance in sound quality as well, with a slight edge in the bass response that some listeners may prefer for music listening. Both are over-ear, open-back headphones making them excellent for home use but not ideal for noisy environments or exercise. Neither have a microphone, so they aren't the best choice for calls or gaming if voice communication is important. The Philips offers considerable savings without drastically compromising on the listening experience, making them a great value option for an immersive audio experience. 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
- The Philips Fidelio X2HR has no clear advantages over the Sennheiser HD800S.
Advantages of the Sennheiser HD800S
- Best in class for music
- Best in class for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
9.3
9.9
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for music, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is excellent.
TV and Video
8.8
9.7
The Sennheiser HD800S is best in class for TV and video, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is very good.
Cost
$148
$1,400
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Philips Fidelio X2HR has a price of $148 and the Sennheiser HD800S costs $1,400.
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Key similarities
Gaming
7.0
7.5
The Sennheiser HD800S and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both good for gaming.
Phone Calls
5.0
5.0
The Sennheiser HD800S and Philips Fidelio X2HR are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.9
8.1
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Sennheiser HD800S to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Philips Fidelio X2HR is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
2.5
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and Sennheiser HD800S are both poor for noise reduction.
Build Quality
9.0
9.0
The Philips Fidelio X2HR and Sennheiser HD800S both have excellent build quality.
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How the Philips Fidelio X2HR and the Sennheiser HD800S compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Philips Fidelio X2HR | Sennheiser HD800S |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$148 | $1,400 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Philips | Sennheiser | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2014 | December 1, 2015 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 10/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 5/10 | 5/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.1/10 | 7.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.9/10 | 9.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.5/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 390 Grams | 371.9 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof 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 HD800S
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Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | March 2023
"The cans offer stellar sound quality, comfort, and good maintenance options—so they're an easy recommendation if you have the cash and the need for the last headphones you'll buy for years."
Get a great deal on the Philips Fidelio X2HR or the Sennheiser HD800S
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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Why trust us
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
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
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