HIGH FIDELITY Philips Fidelio L4

Over-ear ANC headphones aren't short of competition, but Philips' Fidelio L4 can go head-to-head with the best

- Josh Russell

£299.99 philips.co.uk

You'll likely already know that the active noise-canceling (ANC) headphones market isn't short of competition. But Philips needn't shy away from its Sony or Bose competition: its Fidelio L4 over-ears have some seriously sophisticated features and deliver indulgent sound.

If you were to place the Philips Fidelio L4 next to their older L3 equivalent then you'd not spot massive variations in appearance. However, the new model is marginally larger for an even better fit, with deeper earcups to accommodate more types of ear shapes and sizes.

And that physical scale is going to be the main reason to buy or avoid them. While we wouldn't call them massive headphones, compared to something like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, the Philips feel much larger. For some, this deeper earcup proposition will be the better solution, though it simply depends on your preference.

We preferred wearing the Fidelio L4 most at home. When on the go, that critical earcup positioning can slip around those larger openings mean you need to ensure your ears sit in a relevant position to the drivers. The ANC isn't great at avoiding distortions from wind tear, so these weren't our favourite out-and-about headphones.