Nothing beats a pair of open-back headphones for at-home listening – and I should know, having tested hundreds of pairs since becoming a tech reviewer. They relieve air pressure build-up and give your music room to breathe in a way you just can’t match with closed-back cans. The Philips Fidelio X2HR has long been one of my favourites – and they’re currently down to the lowest price I’ve ever seen during this year’s Black Friday sales.
The Fidelio X2HR is a wired pair of headphones that don’t need driving nearly as hard as some audiophile-grade gear, so you don’t need a high-end hi-fi to get the best from them. The open-back 50mm neodymium drivers sit at a slight angle to more naturally match the angle of your ears, and deliver a wonderfully wide 5-40,000Hz frequency range – or more than enough to get the nod for High Resolution Audio.
The hammock-style headband is made from 3D mesh, which should stop your head getting too toasty after a long listening session. You also get giant velour ear pads filled with memory foam, which are also designed to dissipate heat.
An extra long 3.5mm headphone cable means you don’t have to be tethered closely to your music system, and a 6.3mm adaptor is in the box for hooking up to beefier stereos.
Philips may have a newer version doing the rounds right now, but I was never as taken by its smoothed-off appearance and more energetic sound profile. The Fidelio X2HR looks pleasingly retro, while delivering a brilliantly nuanced and neutral sound that sticks closer to what the artist intended.
If you’re more about listening on the move rather than pulling up a comfy chair at home, Philips still has you covered. There’s currently a tidy £19 off the TAH4209BK Bluetooth on-ears, bringing them down to just £25 – a 27% discount over retail.
These active noise cancelling cans can manage 55 hours of listening on a charge. Fifteen minutes hooked up to the mains should give you as much as 2 hours of battery life, too.
The 32mm closed-back drivers won’t leak like sieves, so you won’t irritate your fellow commuters with whatever bop you’ve currently got playing on repeat.
Black Friday 2024 is here and all month long we’ll be covering the best deals across the web. Whether you’re looking for a new phone, laptop, or stick vac, we’ll be highlighting the biggest savings around. Check out the best Black Friday deals (US) and the best Black Friday deals (UK)