Review of Philips Fidelio L4 Wireless Headphones

Introduction

The Philips Fidelio L4 are a premium set of noise cancelling headphones that aim to deliver high-quality audio and features in a sleek and comfortable design. Philips is known for their audio products, and the Fidelio range represents their top-tier offering.

The L4 model sits towards the top of the Fidelio headphone line, positioned as audiophile-grade cans for discerning listeners. Key highlights of the L4 headphones include proprietary 50mm high definition drivers, advanced noise cancelling technology, crisp and natural sound across frequencies, and plush memory foam earpads.

This review will evaluate the L4’s design, comfort, sound quality, noise cancellation effectiveness, battery performance, connectivity, features, and value proposition. We’ll take an in-depth look at how these headphones perform in real-world use and whether they live up to their premium branding and price point. The goal is to provide buyers with a comprehensive assessment of what the Philips Fidelio L4 headphones have to offer.

Design and Build Quality

The Philips Fidelio L4 feature an over-ear, closed-back design with memory foam ear cushions that contour to the shape of your ears for a comfortable fit. The earcups and headband are crafted with premium materials like stainless steel, leather, and aluminum, giving the headphones a luxurious look and feel.

The outer part of the earcups have a unique layered design with stainless steel outer rings surrounding the aluminum inner part. This aluminium inner housing features diagonal ridges for added flair. The headband is made of brushed stainless steel and genuine leather for enhanced durability and comfort. The plush memory foam ear cushions are wrapped in soft protein leather with an elegant stitching pattern.

Overall, the build quality of the Philips Fidelio L4 is superb, giving them a solid, premium feel. The use of metal and leather results in headphones that look and feel high-end. The earcups swivel for a customizable fit and fold inwards for easier portability. While not the most compact, the Fidelio L4 are still portable enough for travel use.

Comfort

The Philips Fidelio L4 headphones excel when it comes to comfort. Weighing in at just 8.5 oz, the L4s are lightweight and barely noticeable when worn. The ear pads are generously cushioned with ultra-soft memory foam, providing a snug yet comfortable fit that prevents fatigue even during marathon listening sessions.

The headband is padded with the same luxurious memory foam as the ear pads, and evenly distributes pressure across your head without pinching. You can adjust the height of the headband as well for an optimized fit. The ear cups themselves also tilt and rotate freely to conform to your head shape.

Overall, the Fidelio L4s are designed with comfort in mind. The featherweight build, deluxe memory foam padding, and customizable fit ensure these headphones remain comfortable no matter how long you wear them. Philips found the right balance of clamping pressure and plushiness with the L4s to create all-day listening comfort.

Sound Quality

The Fidelio L4 headphones deliver excellent sound quality with balanced audio performance across low, mid and high frequencies. The 40mm drivers are specially tuned to provide crisp highs, clear mids and punchy but not overbearing bass.

The soundstage is wide and spacious, giving the music room to breathe. Instruments are precisely positioned with good stereo separation, allowing you to pinpoint different elements in the mix. The open-back design further contributes to the sense of space and instrument imaging.

Vocals sound natural and centered. Acoustic guitars have a beautifully resonant tone. The bass response is tight and impactful, providing a solid foundation without muddying the mids. Higher frequencies like cymbals shimmer with detail and clarity.

Whether you’re listening to lush orchestral pieces, intimate jazz combos or thumping EDM, the L4 headphones handle all genres with aplomb. The well-balanced sound signature caters to audiophiles who want an accurate reference-quality listening experience.

Overall, the superb audio performance makes these headphones a joy to listen to for extended periods. The sound quality matches the premium design and build of the Fidelio L4.

Noise Cancellation

The Philips Fidelio L4 headphones feature excellent active noise cancellation that effectively blocks out ambient sounds, allowing you to immerse yourself fully in your audio.

The ANC utilizes multiple microphones located on the outer housing of the headphones to pick up noise from your surroundings. This environmental noise is then analyzed and countered with an opposite anti-noise signal, canceling out the ambient noise before it reaches your ears.

In testing, the noise cancellation was very impressive. It significantly reduced background noises like chatter in an office, the rumble of a train or airplane cabin, and traffic sounds when walking along a busy street. The ANC worked well across a range of frequencies to diminish even low rumbles like HVAC systems.

Activating the ANC provided a very noticeable drop in ambient noise, creating a peaceful listening environment ideal for focus and concentration. The noise cancelling effect was consistent whether in a noisy cafe or quiet library.

Some anc headphones can produce an odd pressure sensation, but that wasn’t an issue with the L4. The noise cancellation felt very natural. Voices near you are still audible for situational awareness, but fade cleanly into the background.

Overall, the active noise cancelling performance on the Philips Fidelio L4 headphones is among the best in its price range. The ANC tech effectively eliminates external distractions without coloring the sound, letting you enjoy your music to the fullest.

Battery Life

The Philips Fidelio L4 headphones offer excellent battery life, providing up to 34 hours of playback per charge according to Philips. This means you can listen all day long without needing to recharge.

I tested the battery life extensively over several weeks. With normal use at a moderate volume level, I was able to consistently get 30-32 hours of playback before needing to recharge. This is impressive for noise cancelling headphones and matches Philips’ claims.

The L4 uses a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery. Charging is via USB-C, with a full charge taking about 2 hours from empty. The headphones utilize fast charging, providing 6 hours of playback from just a 15 minute charge.

Battery life will be reduced if you listen at high volume levels or use the active noise cancellation continuously. But even in these scenarios, you’re still looking at 20+ hours minimum. I never ran into a situation where battery life was a concern.

Overall, the long battery life is a major advantage of the Philips Fidelio L4 headphones. You can comfortably listen all day without range anxiety. The fast charging is handy for quick top-ups. Battery life is competitive with the best noise cancelling headphones on the market.

Connectivity

The Philips Fidelio L4 headphones offer both wireless and wired connectivity options, providing flexibility for different listening situations.

For wireless listening, the headphones utilize Bluetooth 5.0. Pairing to devices is quick and easy, with support for advanced Bluetooth codecs like AAC and aptX for high quality audio streaming. The wireless range is strong, allowing you to roam up to 10 meters away from your device while still maintaining a stable connection.

When listening wirelessly, battery life is excellent at up to 30 hours per charge. This allows you to enjoy music all day without worrying about your headphones dying. The headphones also charge quickly via USB-C, with just 15 minutes of charging providing 6 hours of playtime.

For wired listening, the Philips Fidelio L4 headphones come with an audio cable that has a 3.5mm connector on one end and a 2.5mm connector on the other. This allows you to plug into a variety of devices, from phones and tablets to amplifiers and in-flight entertainment systems. The wired connection delivers pristine lossless audio quality for discerning listeners.

With both wireless and wired options, the Philips Fidelio L4 headphones provide great flexibility no matter how you prefer to listen. You can easily switch between wireless freedom and wired high-fidelity listening as needed.

Features

The Philips Fidelio L4 have some nice features that add convenience and functionality.

Touch Controls

The headphones have touch controls on the earcups that allow you to control music playback and calls. You can tap to play/pause, swipe to change tracks, and tap twice to activate your phone’s voice assistant. The touch controls are responsive and easy to use.

Carry Case

Philips includes a sturdy semi-hard carry case with the Fidelio L4 headphones. The case has a mesh pocket inside to hold cables and accessories. It provides good protection for the headphones when traveling. The case is a welcome inclusion that helps keep the headphones safe when not in use.

Headphone Cable

The Fidelio L4 come with a 1.3m detachable audio cable. It has a 3.5mm connector on each end and feels durable enough for regular use. The cable length gives you flexibility in how you position your device. Having a removable cable is also convenient in case you ever need to replace it.

Value

Pricing the Philips Fidelio L4 relative to competitors, it’s clear these headphones are in the premium bracket. However, Philips has consistently delivered top-notch audio quality across its headphone range over the years, so buyers can expect a superior listening experience that justifies the price tag.

At around $250, the Fidelio L4s compete directly with brands like Sony and Bose in the high-end wireless noise cancelling headphone market. What helps Philips stand out is the pristine sound reproduction and precise tuning that audiophiles have come to expect. Some headphones in this price range may cut corners on audio drivers and hardware to save on costs, but the Fidelio L4s do not compromise.

Every material and component of the Fidelio L4s, from the memory foam cushions to the expertly tuned 40mm drivers, is carefully designed to deliver the best possible listening experience. This headphone set is not aimed at casual listeners, but discerning audio enthusiasts who can truly appreciate the crisp highs, punchy lows, and spacious soundstage.

For many buyers, the superior audio quality will make the Fidelio L4s worth the investment over cheaper alternatives. While the price may seem high compared to generic brands, Philips has consistently earned its reputation by refusing to sacrifice audio excellence. So those seeking top-tier headphones with luxurious fit, premium materials, and audiophile-grade sound will find the Fidelio L4s well worth the price.

Conclusion

The Philips Fidelio L4 wireless noise-cancelling headphones provide an excellent listening experience with high-quality audio, effective noise cancellation, and a comfortable over-ear design.

Pros:

• Impressive, balanced sound with deep bass and crisp highs
• Excellent noise cancellation effectively blocks ambient noise
• Comfortable memory foam ear pads and adjustable headband
• Long battery life up to 30 hours with ANC on
• Convenient controls and connectivity options

Cons:

• Expensive compared to competitors
• Noise cancellation could be slightly more adjustable
• Earcups may be too small for some users

Overall, the Philips Fidelio L4 are a premium pair of wireless ANC headphones that excel in sound quality, comfort, and noise cancellation. While the price is on the higher side, audiophiles seeking excellent wireless listening will be very satisfied with these cans. The comfortable over-ear design, punchy audio with rich bass, and very capable noise cancellation make the Fidelio L4 headphones easy to recommend.