Still looking for ANC headphones?
Today, we’re going to be taking a closer look at one of the top-rated premium wireless headphones of 2021: the Philips Fidelio L3. And by a closer look, we mean taking it on a 13-hour Trans-Pacific flight to test how its ANC features fare against engine noise and ambient sounds.
Read our full review below or scroll to the bottom to check out the airplane video.
At first glance
The first thing we noticed out of the box is how well these headphones are built. Compared to its little sibling, H9505, the L3 is a little heftier, but much more high-end looking, with its Muirhead leather headband, beveled aluminum ear cups, and understated design. The soft trapezoid-shaped carrying case is also made of leatherette and adds a nice touch.
Other accessories include 2.5mm-3.5mm audio cable plug-in, USB-C charging cable and airplane adapter.
When put on, nothing rubs against the skin, and there’s just enough foam and padding to keep you comfortable for hours on end.
Features we applaud
-Incredible sound quality: A slight departure from the Fidelio X3, whose performance is neutral and transparent, the L3 boasts bespoke 40mm drivers which lean towards a more analytical sound signature. Rich bass. Sparkling treble. A great fit for anyone who enjoys the Fidelio X2, but is looking for an upgrade.
-Impressive battery life: Up to 38 hours playtime / 32 hours with ANC. Wow. Just wow.
-Simple and intuitive touch controls: Apart from the three prominent buttons (power, awareness mode, microphone), there’s also a touch-sensitive pad on the right earcup. Everything a typical user could want is accessible here: play/pause, call answer, volume up and down, track skip forward and back. Controls are sensitive but not too sensitive.
-Multipoint Bluetooth connection: This feature comes in particularly handy if you’re trying to do a lot of things at the same time. You can get notifications from your phone and laptop simultaneously, and switch seamlessly between the two devices.
Trans-Pacific Flight Test
Verdict
