Philips Fidelio M1MKII review

Best portable on-ear headphones £100-£200, Awards 2016. A lovely pair of portable headphones. Highly recommended. Tested at £180

What Hi-Fi? Verdict

Best portable on-ear headphones £100-£200, Awards 2016. A lovely pair of portable headphones. Highly recommended.

Pros

  • +

    Smooth delivery

  • +

    Weighty, punchy bass

  • +

    Good clarity and precision

  • +

    Comfy to wear

Cons

  • -

    Not the most spacious soundstage

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Philips has done very well with its Fidelio range of audio products – and that good form looks like it will run and run. Last year, we gave the Fidelio M1 on-ear headphones an Award, and the follow-up effort - the M1MKII - is every bit as impressive.

MORE: Awards 2014 - Best on-ear headphones

Design

The official blurb boasts of a lighter voice coil, extended high frequencies and more accurately tuned bass. That’s a relief, because on the outside it would appear little has changed. Fine by us: we quite liked the original design, which was discreetly stylish.

It’s a light frame, which belies the mostly metal (and rather sturdy) construction. The headband is coated in leather, the underside of which is now dimpled to prevent too tight a grip; it grips without squeezing and the clamp force is nicely judged.

Make sure you properly connect the cable, which you can disconnect for replacement

Make sure you properly connect the cable, which you can disconnect for replacement

The memory foam earpads covered in faux-leather are comfortable. They’re never too warm, but are snug enough to provide a few degrees of noise isolation – good commuting buddies, then.

Also welcome is the fabric coating on the cable, which is designed to fight tangles: it works well. These cans are fairly portable.

The earcups swivel flat, and you get a soft carrying pouch in the box – but there’s no folding action here.

Performance

The memory foam earpads are super-comfy

The memory foam earpads are super-comfy

There are few physical changes to the M1MKII from its predecessor, then. However, the sound is a step up from what we already liked last year.

You get the same abundance of detail, only now accompanied by more precision, greater clarity, and a larger sense of space.

A spin of System of a Down’s Radio/Video gives a terrific amount of texture, accessible even during the song’s more turbulent moments. Instruments are nicely separated and organised, but never in danger of sounding clinical.

There's a bit more added pep to the sound with the MkII version

There's a bit more added pep to the sound with the MkII version

There’s plenty of punch. Dynamics are strong, and timing is tight. The weighty bass is more taut and better defined than before. The sound is entertaining but gentle enough not to tire you – the M1MKIIs provide welcome authority.

The sound is a rounded, refined presentation. Vocals are given room to breathe. The high end is natural, never hardening even when the volume is cranked up.

You get the same warmth as with the predecessors, but with a bit of added pep. And while we can’t quite bring ourselves to call it an attacking sound, there’s enough energy and agility to make for an exciting listen.

Verdict

We really like the Philips Fidelio M1MKIIs. They’re everything we could hope for: an improvement on an Award-winner.

Although the price is creeping up a little, we think it’s justified by the subtle improvements in audio performance. If you have just under £200 to spend on a pair of portable on-ear headphones, this is a most worthy candidate.

MORE: Awards 2014 - all the winners

What Hi-Fi?

What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence.

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