IMAX power
Not only is the B97 the
world’s first IMAX Enhanced
soundbar, but the wireless
detachable speakers allow for
true ‘Surround on Demand’
rather than a virtual version
from the front only.How it started to how it’s going – don’t call it a comeback,
because Philips’ audio prowess has been here for years
THE RETURN OF FIDELIO:
A FEAST FOR YOUR EARS
W
hen Philips first
established its Fidelio
brand, it was with
the express intention
of doing the ‘premium’ thing a
little differently.
And those Fidelio headphones
and soundbars certainly stood
out from the crowd, thanks to
an unbeatable combo of premium
materials, premium performance
and a most un-premium ease
of use – because unlike its
competitors, Fidelio never
considered complexity or wonky
ergonomics to be virtues.
And now the brand is back, ready
to build on its reputation and ready
(again) to redefine what ‘premium’
really should mean where materials,
performance and accessibility are
concerned. The new soundbars and
headphones embody the whole
Fidelio philosophy: they look, feel
and sound superb.X gon’ give it to ya
The X3 open-backed over-ear
headphones are a brilliant example
of what Fidelio stands for. Their
mix of metal, sustainable Muirhead
leather and Kvadrat acoustic
cloth brings tactility, longevity
and sophisticated good looks; and
the 50mm neodymium driver in
each earcup has multiple polymer
layers and a damping gel in order to
deliver deep, balanced and accurate
sound from any source.
The Fidelio philosophy is even
clearer with the extraordinary B97
soundbar – if for no other reason
than that there’s plenty more of it.
In fact, the description ‘soundbar’
is to understate the Fidelio B97’s
capabilities somewhat. Yes, at first
glance it’s a good-looking, well
made soundbar. But there’s a bit
more to it than that.
With speaker drivers facing
forwards, angled out from the endsand firing upwards too, the B97
can deliver all the sonic width and
height that a Dolby Atmos or DTS:X
soundtrack demands. Its discreet
wireless subwoofer adds the sort
of low-frequency punch every
blockbuster needs; and for when
only truly full-on surround sound
will do, the end modules detach to
become wireless rear speakers.
As well as performing brilliantly
with movies, the Fidelio B97 is also
an accomplished system for music.
It has wired and wireless inputs, so
any source can be supported – and
of course, it’s perfect for the spatial
audio that so many streaming
services are beginning to offer.The power of 3
It’s with the Fidelio L3 headphones,
though, that Philips has made its
biggest statement of intent. At
every turn, these wireless noise-
cancelling over-ears set standards:
they’ll run for over 30 hours on one
charge and can manage six hours
of playback after just a 15-minute
top-up, while aptX HD Bluetooth 5
means solid wireless connectivity
and superb sound from their triple-
layer 40mm drivers.
The four mics monitor external
conditions to deliver the most
effective noise-cancellation
available; and, of course, the Fidelio
L3s use a combination of soft,
sustainable Muirhead leather,
memory foam and aluminium to
create a pair of headphones that’s
as big a pleasure to look at as it is to
wear and listen to.
Fidelio by Philips is back. And
if you want an audio device that
looks, feels and performs like a
premium product but doesn’t have
premium-style complexity or cost,
Fidelio by Philips has you covered.Philips Fidelio audio products
are available from Currys, Richer
Sounds, AO.com and Amazon.co.ukFidelio