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Head to head · for music listening
HIFIMAN Sundara vs Philips Fidelio X2HR
More people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara overall (79 vs 35). None of the 11 comments that name both says outright which one to buy, so read the loves and complaints and decide by taste.
- Comments naming both
- 11
- Say they own both
- 1
- Choose the Sundara
- 0
- Choose the Fidelio X2HR
- 0
Preference evidence:Limited0 explicit choices among 11 comments naming both.What the levels mean
Counted across 10 review videos, harvested Sep 2026. A comment counts as a choice only when it says so in plain words (prefer X over Y, upgraded from Y to X); questions never count. Quotes are whole sentences of 12 words or fewer, linked to where they were said. How we count.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | $179 | $149cheaper |
| Overall rank | #7higher | #21 |
| People who recommend it | 79more | 35 |
| Say they own it | 109more | 61 |
| Mentions | 806more | 413 |
| Type | open-back planar wired | open-back wired |
| Known for | Planar detailHomeAmp helps | Open-backBassNo amp |
| Best for | The planar most often recommended under $200, by people who already have, or will buy, a small desktop amp. | Recommended as an open-back with bass by people who found the Sennheisers too polite. |
| Buy | Amazon · $179 | Amazon · $149 |
#7 overall
HIFIMAN Sundara
1 of the 11 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Planar speed and detail that people say is unmatched at the price
- Good soundstage and imaging; responds well to EQ
- Frequently on sale or open-box direct from HIFIMAN, which is how many owners bought it
- Comfortable and clean; several owners say they stopped shopping after buying it
The complaints
- Needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone
- Older units had driver failures and some people call HIFIMAN build and quality control poor
- Tuning takes getting used to; a couple of listeners simply do not like planars
In their words
“I bought the Sundara on your recommendations and really love it”
A commenter under Sundara v 660S v 1990 (Under $500 Headphone Comparison) (Joshua Valour) · Feb 2020
“I got my Sundaras at a crazy price, and I love them”
A commenter under The Best Deal in Audio... Period. (Joshua Valour) · Nov 2024
“I use the sundaras and i would recommend them”
A commenter under Why Do All Streamers Use These Headphones? (Dagwummy) · Jul 2023
#21 overall
Philips Fidelio X2HR
4 of the 11 comments naming both come from people who say they own this one.
What owners love
- Bass with real weight for an open-back; the fun one for pop and hip-hop
- Called the most comfortable headphone several owners have owned; mostly metal build
- Easy to drive, no amp; often on deep sale
The complaints
- Stock pads: several owners hate them and replace them
- A dark, warm tuning that some find fatiguing or too dull
- Big and heavy on the head
- Stock at Philips comes and goes
In their words
“I highly Recommend X2HR”
A commenter under Philips Fidelio X2HR Review: STILL a BEAST in 2019!! (BadSeed Tech) · Sep 2019
“To anyone stupid and desperate, just get the Fidelio X2”
A commenter under Sennheiser & Massdrop HD 6XX ... Epic $199 Headphones! (Hardware Canucks) · Nov 2016
“Get the X2HR is you guys can, it's an awesome product”
A commenter under Philips Fidelio X2HR _(Z Reviews)_ Still the Soundstage KING (Z Reviews) · Nov 2019
Questions people ask about this pair
Every answer is built from the counts on this page, not from our own listening.
- Is the HIFIMAN Sundara better than the Philips Fidelio X2HR?
- None of the 11 comments naming both says outright which one to buy. Overall, 79 people recommend the HIFIMAN Sundara and 35 the Philips Fidelio X2HR. Read what owners love and complain about below and decide by taste.
- Which is cheaper, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Philips Fidelio X2HR?
- The Philips Fidelio X2HR is cheaper: $149 against $179 when we last checked. Prices move, so the buy buttons show the live price.
- Which do more people recommend, the HIFIMAN Sundara or the Philips Fidelio X2HR?
- The HIFIMAN Sundara: 79 people recommend it against 35. On the site-wide leaderboard the HIFIMAN Sundara is #7 and the Philips Fidelio X2HR is #21.
- Do people own both the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Philips Fidelio X2HR?
- Yes. 1 of the 11 comments that name both come from people who say they own both pairs. 1 say they own the HIFIMAN Sundara and 4 the Philips Fidelio X2HR.
- What do owners complain about on the HIFIMAN Sundara and the Philips Fidelio X2HR?
- The most repeated complaint about the HIFIMAN Sundara: needs a proper amp or DAC/amp; weak from a phone. About the Philips Fidelio X2HR: stock pads: several owners hate them and replace them. The full lists are on each side below.