Buzz
After a period of absence, Philips Audio has finally made a comeback, now supported by TP Vision, which has long been trailing behind Philips TV. Part of it is the luxurious Fidelio headphones, part of it is this noise-canceling PH805. They come with a proper carrying case to keep them well-protected in your bag. Of course, you also get an audio cable, and if you're on a plane, an adapter sometimes necessary is there.
Design and Build Quality
Interestingly, the headphones are so discreet they look dull. Philips might have thought of something to make them a bit more interesting. As the earcups can rotate flat and fold, they take up as little space in luggage as possible for such large headphones. However, they feel quite plasticky and squeaky when you fold them together. More metal in the joints would have made us less uneasy. On the other hand, they sit comfortably, thanks to ample padding on the headband and ear cups.
Main Features
Most operations are executed like clockwork. There's a versatile toggle used for power on and off, pairing, play and pause, skip tracks, and answer calls. However, it must be said that one needs to consult the manual a few times. To adjust the volume or change the level of noise cancellation, use the touch controls. Some functions can be easily activated while adjusting the headphones. Philips could have added an extra button there. Fast charging in just two hours for a full charge, fast charging five minutes for 2 hours of call time, or 15 minutes for 6 hours.
Sound Quality
As expected, Philips has surpassed itself in terms of sound quality. You'll get controlled and summarized sound imagery without anything leaking out. Like most other consumer headphones, the sound is somewhat warm, but it's still as expected. However, if you turn on the noise cancellation mode, the bass becomes slightly muddy and harsh. Noise-cancelling capability is also the weakness of the headphones as it's not better than most other headphones in the test.
Conclusion
After a long absence, we finally receive a new pair of headphones from Philips. And they redo what they do best, which is providing something that sounds better than you might think for the price. On the other hand, they feel somewhat plastic, which makes us wonder about durability. Fortunately, you get a nice-looking case to protect them in your bag. Noise cancellation capability isn't something to note, but it's also the case for most headphones in this price range.
