Getting the position that Sony's WH-1000XM range currently has in terms of sound is quite difficult. The Japanese firm has spent several generations demonstrating its good work with its famous active noise cancellation and planting it at home is not easy. But not impossible. Philips announced these days Fidelio L3, a high-end model that seeks precisely to make a hole on the shelves next to the new WH-1000XM4. Will you get it?
Philips Fidelio L3, high performance sound
TP Vision, the company behind Philips, decided to renew its Fidelio family with new products taking advantage of the recent "online" celebration of IFA 2020. Among the products announced, the Fidelio L3 stand out, without a doubt, some wireless headphones that boast a good design and a combination of very effective noise cancellation systems.
with drives of 40 mm, enjoy an outer metal headband wrapped in sustainable leather and an inner cushion covered in soft leather. Their pads (with a three-layer construction and foam that also contributes to insulation) promise a comfortable in-ear experience while sporting an open-fit aluminum frame that adds plenty of personality and appeal to the set.
The headphones have a four-microphone hybrid ANC system that seeks to offer us a good level of noise cancellation without influencing the time or musicality of the playback, which remains the same, whether the aforementioned system is on or not, explains the people at Philips. One of these microphones is also dedicated exclusively to eliminating background sounds in calls.
They have touch controls (slide, touch and pressure), are compatible with Google Assistant and do not forget the Bluetooth 5.0 connection or compatibility with Qualcom aptX HD. In terms of autonomy, they have a battery of up to 35 hours in play (30 if you have the cancellation system on all the time) and a fast charging option that leaves them ready in 15 minutes for six hours of use.
Headphone price and availability
Philips has revealed that the new headphones will be available this last quarter of the year, although without specifying a date. As a guide, we have other products in the range launching in October, so the Fidelio L3s are likely to hit our storefronts next month or the next at the latest.
As for the price, be careful that they are not cheap -as you would already be fearing-: they have a cost 349,99 euros, practically the same as the Sony (the WH-1000XM4 are 31 euros more expensive, specifically, they are 380 euros on the manufacturer's official website).
It's hard to make a value judgment without trying them, but first impressions are good. At least in design they have a plus of attractiveness that also reminds us a bit of the bose 700 headphones. Now we will have to see if they reach the excellence of the WH-1000XM4 in terms of noise cancellation, this feature that obsesses us so much today.