Why You Can Trust CNET Philips Citiscape Metro Headphones review: Philips Citiscape Metro Headphones
Philips Citiscape Metro Headphones
The Philips Metro headphones are the company's entry-level model in the sartorial Citiscape line. Priced appropriately for their build and sound quality at $49.99, their Euro-inspired looks are contemporary and clean with availability in black, white, blue, purple, and pink. The thickly padded ear cushions lend a luxurious feel to the design as well, though the headphones look better than they sound, and discerning audiophiles may express disappointment with the veiled, hollow signatures. The Koss PortaPro headphones offer better sonic fidelity, but if you're willing to sacrifice sound for style, the Philips Metro headphones are a practical option.
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Design and features
The Citiscape Metro is a lightweight closed-back, on-ear set of headphones. I see a definite kinship with the Downtown, the next model up in the Citiscape line. Both headphones are wrapped in faux leather with thickly padded ear cushions and pivoting earcups that naturally conform to different head shapes.
The Metros take a price cut to the Downtowns since they omit Philips's "MusicSeal" feature that promises superior isolation from external noise to keep the user's music a private experience. It's not just hype, either--the Metro's ear cushions aren't nearly as effective in blocking external noise.
Large perforations speckle the center of the ear cushions, presumably to allow sound to pass while simultaneously providing air circulation, but my ears still felt overheated after just 15 minutes of use.
The Citiscape Metro is a 32-ohm design and features 40 mm Mylar drivers and neodymium magnets. The flat, 46-inch long tangle resistant cable attaches to the left ear cup that terminates in an L-shaped, gold-plated 3.5 mm plug. While the Philips Web site claims the Metro has a microphone and one-button remote compatible with Android and various iDevices, our two review Metro samples did not have those features.
The Citiscape Metro's headband and earcups don't fold flat or have hinges, which might make this headphone unsuitable for buyers shopping for a compact set of headphones that can easily store in a small pouch for travel. Of course, durability is enhanced by the lack of hinges, but I can't predict how the Metro would fare over the long term after being stuffed into a bag or backpack hundreds of times. The Metro doesn't come with even a single accessory such as a 6.3mm adapter or airline plug.
Performance
The Citiscape Metro headphones sound soft and rounded; unworthy of what I would call a high-resolution signature, but that's not necessarily a negative criticism. The overemphasized bass will likely be a boon for hip-hop-loving music fans, but it comes off muddy with a veiled profile on some recordings.
Comparing them to the Citiscape Downtowns confirmed those hunches. It's a day and night difference, but the Downtown retails for double the Metro's MSRP, so the budget Koss Porta Pros present a more logical comparison. The Porta Pro opens up brighter and more natural sounding than the Metro, whereas the latter's lack of clarity detracted from my enjoyment in both music and movie tests. Again, the Koss PortaPro was a more attractive alternative if you care more about sound than style.
Conclusion
The Philips Citiscape Metro looks and sounds like an above-average budget-price, full-size headphone. Comfort levels are fine, but the sound quality is a letdown, and its lack of detail and excitement made it a challenge to keep me interested in the sound. Unless you're prepared to take a hit in fidelity, I recommend the Koss Porta Pro's instead.