Not their historic lowest, but it's the cheapest they've been for a long time and they're a damn good buy at £130 either way. Excellent sound, great build quality, and they're relatively easy to drive from conventional PCs and media players while scaling quite well if you have an amplifier to pair it with. They're relatively balanced with a slight bassy tilt, making them nice and versatile without sounding bass deficient (as strictly neutral headphones can sometimes be perceived). From my experience as a long suffering headphone nerd these are the best sounding of all the open-back headphones you can pick up for under £150 on Prime Day, the other contenders being the AKG K702, Beyerdynamic DT770/DT990, and Sennheiser HD559/HD598SR.
19 comments
Noclouds
11 Jul 17#1
Apparently the difference between these and the 'HR' version, is the HR version has more breathable ear pads and headband. Gibson apparently say there are more improvements but Philips apparently say the same driver units are used. That's the short version, long version below!
There was some controversy about quality control when Gibson took over production, some users stating there was an imbalance between left and right channel, one being louder than the other, some saying the Gibson version sounded 'muddy'/'muffled' but more typical were complaints that the removable ear pads were no longer properly removable but lightly glued on and different pads from the original design, which might or might not have accounted for the different sound that some reported. Some felt the Gibson edition was a little sibilant compared to the 'original'. Around this time, perhaps in response to negative reviews, the price dropped a lot on Amazon. I had them in my basket and every other day there seemed to be a not insignificant price drop, then it stabilised and slowly went up again. During that price drop, a lot purchasers seemed to be happy with theirs and felt they had scored a bargain. It seems a very good price. I am temped, have been for a long time, but will hold off until the price of the HR model drops (the more breathable ear pads and strap appeal to me, because I wear headphones for long hours; I suppose if people wanted, they could change out the pads for HR ones?!) or Philips/Gibson release an X3, if it gets stellar reviews, too, which the X2 did.
This serves as a sort of buyer beware based on what seems to be a bit of paranoia, overhyped. I would be very surprised if those on sale aren't perfectly fine. The last video I saw on them on Youtube, the user sent them back to Philips because of channel volume imbalance, and he shows the replacement HR model that Philips apparently sent him, which he says lack the sibilance of the X2's he sent back and that he feels they breathe better, sweat wise.
Anyway! At that price, hot!
Hassann
11 Jul 17#2
Awesome price! I've got these, they're the best headphones I've used by far. Would have snapped Amazons hand off it I hadn't already owned a pair!
zizzles to Hassann
11 Jul 171#3
You can never have too many hands
robertvan1
11 Jul 17#4
Top cans. Great for electronic music.
ElGofre
11 Jul 17#5
Point taken, I've removed the audio nerd terminology.
zizzles
11 Jul 171#6
Phew, I actually really want to buy these but my credit card balance has already hit what I can only assume is a Prime number. I'll just have to settle for setting a camel-alert and wait it out.
mikeyfive
11 Jul 17#7
These are great. Bought another pair.
callump01
11 Jul 17#8
I bought a pair of these some time ago, fantastic sound quality (imo the best all round at this price point) but my pair has had an issue where the right ear pad would fall off at the slightest bump since day 1. It's a bit of a pain but i'm too lazy to send it in for a warranty claim. QC seems shoddy.
rev6 to callump01
11 Jul 17#9
Live chat is useful with Philips. Get them to send you a new pair of pads.
straybezza1
11 Jul 17#10
These any good with iPods?
rev6 to straybezza1
11 Jul 17#11
I don't see why not. They're extremely efficient (easy to drive).
ElGofre to straybezza1
11 Jul 17#12
An iPod will power them just fine, but these are not suitable headphones for portable use if that's what you want them for!
straybezza1
11 Jul 17#13
No just indoor
rev6 to straybezza1
11 Jul 17#14
They're very "open" but great sound.
sugdude
11 Jul 17#15
Are these decent for gaming on Xbox one? Not much of a soundaphile but I'd prefer it if they allowed you to hear if sounds were behind you for example? Or are you needing to spend a lot more for that?
jaju123 to sugdude
12 Jul 17#17
You only need stereo for sound postioning when speakers are right on your ears, you only have two ears after all. These would have been great (I have them for PC games).
MBeeching
11 Jul 17#16
If you fancy a pair of open back headphones I strongly recommend the X2 for £130 (though my pair is pre-Gibson).
Found them a little bass heavy at first (coming from the Shure 1440) but I did warm to their sound signature.
Admittedly they're no longer my prime headphone (Focal Elear) but great for the price.
rev6
12 Jul 17#18
Indeed. The X2's have wide soundstage too, easy to pin-point things.
david_wavid
12 Jul 17#19
Does this headphone use the apple lightning connector?
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Opening post
19 comments
There was some controversy about quality control when Gibson took over production, some users stating there was an imbalance between left and right channel, one being louder than the other, some saying the Gibson version sounded 'muddy'/'muffled' but more typical were complaints that the removable ear pads were no longer properly removable but lightly glued on and different pads from the original design, which might or might not have accounted for the different sound that some reported. Some felt the Gibson edition was a little sibilant compared to the 'original'. Around this time, perhaps in response to negative reviews, the price dropped a lot on Amazon. I had them in my basket and every other day there seemed to be a not insignificant price drop, then it stabilised and slowly went up again. During that price drop, a lot purchasers seemed to be happy with theirs and felt they had scored a bargain. It seems a very good price. I am temped, have been for a long time, but will hold off until the price of the HR model drops (the more breathable ear pads and strap appeal to me, because I wear headphones for long hours; I suppose if people wanted, they could change out the pads for HR ones?!) or Philips/Gibson release an X3, if it gets stellar reviews, too, which the X2 did.
This serves as a sort of buyer beware based on what seems to be a bit of paranoia, overhyped. I would be very surprised if those on sale aren't perfectly fine. The last video I saw on them on Youtube, the user sent them back to Philips because of channel volume imbalance, and he shows the replacement HR model that Philips apparently sent him, which he says lack the sibilance of the X2's he sent back and that he feels they breathe better, sweat wise.
Anyway! At that price, hot!
Found them a little bass heavy at first (coming from the Shure 1440) but I did warm to their sound signature.
Admittedly they're no longer my prime headphone (Focal Elear) but great for the price.