Better than the X1's? Hmmmmm... Maybe not!

First off, let me say I'm not an audiophile, or even someone looking for the most accurate, monitor type of headphones. Everyone likes something different and is looking for something different when they pick up a pair of headphones. I have both the Fidelio X1's and now the X2's. I love the X1's for their warm bass'y sound (difficult to find in an open headphone) but after reading reviews for the X2's I decided to give them a try. Well, the mids are more forward (as the reviews said) but I tend to like my mids a tiny bit recessed. And the top end has a bit more sparkle which I personally don't really care for either. But the real difference to me was in the bass. It's definitely more controlled and less mushy than the X1's BUT, and this a big one for me, there's quite a bit LESS of it. Now, I do consider myself to someone who likes a lot of warmth in their headphones. I love the presence it brings. I think technically the X2's are "more accurate" headphones, but if you like more bass while still having the very open soundstage of an open headphone, then I might suggest sticking with the X1's. And speaking of the soundstage, I also felt the X1's were just a just a bit wider spatially. I know the X2's are supposed to be better, but that's not the experience I had. As far as weight, the X2's are definitely lighter, but not significantly enough for me to really care. The X2's do have replaceable ear pads (if you can find them) but I don't really mind that either. These aren't the kind of headphones you wear outside to mow the lawn so you should be able to keep the ear pads plenty clean without essentially any effort. In a nutshell, I still feel they are an excellent set of phones, even though I still prefer the older model. Would I buy them again if I couldn't get a hold of a pair of X1's? ABSOLUTELY! Just my two cents. :)Read full review

Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned