A Refined Experience Philips Fidelio M1

On the surface, the Philips Fidelio M1 on-ears look like a simple pair of supra-aural headphones. Our review unit’s black and monotonous aesthetics were broken by orange stitching on the headband, as well as a dash of orange on the ear-cups. Cross-hatched surfaces on the outside of the ear-cups add a textural component to the looks of the product.

Closer inspection however reveals that these supra-aural headphones might not be a run-of-the mill product after all. Philips paid attention to portability, and the M1’s ear-cups can be rotated so that the headphones can rest flat on a surface. A large portion of the cabling can be detached and stowed away. On the main cable you will also find an in-line, one-button control pod with built-in microphone.

Philips Fidelio M1

The M1 sports a closed back design. There’s a small hole on the ear-cups which act as a vent for Philips’ Bass reflex system, obviously aimed at helping produce a better bass response. Additionally, the M1 also has double-layered ear-shells engineered to reduce resonance and dampen vibration. Factor in the 40mm neodymium drivers the headphones sport, and you have an impressive list of hardware for an on-ear headphone.

A one-button, in-line control pod with a microphone is provided for pairing with your smartphone

When worn, the M1 sits well on the users head. The faux-leather covering feels organic and close to the real thing. Soft cushioning supported by gentle contact pressure means that the fit is very comfortable. The light weight of the M1 also makes it possible to keep the headphones on for long durations of time.

The tone of the M1 is well-rounded, and the headphone comes with refined presentation. During our listening sessions, the on-ear headphones impress with how every band of frequency is given room to develop and exert itself in the overall mix. On Adele’s Melt My Heart To stone. The singer’s voice is given center stage billing while the rest of the accompaniments add flavor to the track. But on more complex tracks like the acoustic version of Hotel California by the eagles, each voice and instrument is given its time to shine at the appropriate moment. The Bass reflex system also justified its inclusion as the M1 demonstrates powerful, yet defined bass. A good amount of low frequencies are achieved without a proper seal; seeing that the M1 is a supra-aural headphone, makes this very impressive indeed.

Philips Fidelio M1 headphone

Owning an M1 does come at a price; $399 to be exact. However, great audio performance and a high comfort quotient definitely help justify the cost, with the M1 being undoubtedly one of the best on-ear headphones on the market at present. Here’s a suggestion, Philips: drop the price by about 50%, and we’d be more than happy to label this as a must-buy.