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Beethoven, grumpy perfectionist that he was, only ever got around to writing the one opera – about a woman who disguises herself as a male guard called Fidelio to save her husband, a political prisoner, from death; in that way that people in operas tend to do.
But AV enthusiasts may better know Fidelio as Philips’s ranges of premium headphones and speakers, including its latest home cinema offering, the Fidelio FB1 Dolby Atmos Soundbar. And, much like Beethoven’s titular character, it is a deceptively cunning unit, with an awful lot lurking underneath its seemingly plain exterior you might not expect at first sight.
Tasteful leather trim
The Fidelio FB1 is described by Philips as a 7.1.2 soundbar. It has a remarkable 15 drivers concealed under its dark grey wraparound metal grille, tastefully trimmed with perfectly colour-matched Muirhead leather. Despite not being vegan-friendly, with the FB1, Philips has found a way to strike a balance between understatement and sleek design touches that mean this soundbar appears more compact than it actually is.
