If you are looking for high-end headphones at an affordable price, the Philips SHP9500 Headphones can be a great buy. We stumbled upon these headphones while looking for the best headphones with an open-back design and high-precision sound.
Initially, we were somewhat skeptical about buying these headphones as we were looking for wireless headphones; however, after reading hundreds of existing user reviews we decided to buy them. Post-purchase we tested the Philips SHP9500 Headphones over 30 days and have compiled our complete experience in this detailed Philips SHP9500 Headphones Review.
Philips SHP9500S
The Philips SHP9500S Headphones offer well-balanced sound; something you won't find in most headphones on the market.
What We Like
- Comfortable - Mild bass; balanced tones - Affordable - Great build quality
What We Don't Like
- Sound leakage - Bulky and difficult to carry
To test these headphones, we used different types of music and file sources. We also tested them on different devices, such as laptops, media players, PC, and so on, and various DAC/amp setups. Read further to know more.
Philips SHP9500 Review – The Verdict
If you are short on time and cannot read the full review, here’s a quick recap of why you should buy the Philips SHP9500 Headphones.
- They are extremely comfortable headphones with a well-padded and adjustable headband, and large ear cups. If you prefer a tight fit, you may find the clamping force a little weak.
- Their sound quality is incredible. The bass is perfectly balanced. However, it’s not something bass fans will like. The mids are natural and warm. The treble is great. The headphones are perfect for casual use.
- The open-back headphones are not suitable for mixing and studio recording due to sound leakage. In the open-back vs. closed-back headphones comparison, the closed-back headphones are more suitable for studio recording.
- The headphones do not provide noise isolation. Therefore, they are not suitable for outdoor use. However, for indoor use, we bet you won’t find such premium-quality headphones at such an affordable price anywhere else.
- The headphones comprise a 3.5 mm jack. Therefore, they are compatible with all devices that have a 3.5 mm audio input.
Philips SHP9500 Review – Experts’ Opinion
We thoroughly tested each and every feature of the Philips SHP9500 Headphones to save your effort and time. Let’s deep-dive into different aspects of these budget-friendly headphones.
Comfort and Design
First things first, the Philips SHP9500 Headphones are exceptionally comfortable. The headband is generously padded and soft. The suspension design of the headband fits accurately on your head and does not exert any pressure. You can adjust the headband per your convenience. Another thing that impressed us is the durability and sturdiness of the headband.
The ear pads are large and well padded. They are covered with a moisture-wicking fabric; however, they are not as soft and plush as the ear pads of the Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Headphones. The ear pads are not interchangeable or removable. All in all, they are comfortable for continuous use and don’t feel tight on your ears.
The Philips SHP9500 Headphones are one of the most comfortable headphones on the market. We wore them for hours without experiencing any discomfort on our ears or head.
Sound
The large 50 mm drivers and open-back design couple to deliver excellent sound quality. The sound is clear, crisp and dynamic. The bass is neither too overpowering nor too dull; it’s just perfect to deliver a spectacular listening experience. Therefore, if you prefer a hard thumping beat and contemporary rock music, these headphones are not for you. If you are looking for headphones with powerful bass, you can consider one of these best bass headphones.
The mids are mild, warm and natural, and the treble is bright and progressive. Everything just sounds like how it should. Since the mids are not very overpowering, the vocals sound perfect.
The highs are well-placed and the peak frequencies are somewhat tapered for smooth sound delivery. The soundstage is decent. It is neither too closed like the Audio-Technica ATH-50X Headphones nor as wide as the Sennheiser HD280 Pro Headphones. The Philips SHP9500 headphones are a perfect balance between analytical and musical headphones. Cymbals and drums sound great; pianos and plucked strings sound phenomenal. The transient response is also quick.
The acoustic, open-back design removes air-pressure build-up on the backside of the driver and provides the diaphragm with ample space for movement. This leads to incredible sound transparency and levels the extended high frequencies.
We tested the sound quality of the headphones both indoors and outdoors. While we did not experience any issues indoors, we did notice some sound leakage outdoors. Also, if you are someone who prefers high volume, the headphones can disappoint you. They have low impedance and you won’t get enough volume when using them with a PC, laptop, or smartphone.
In conclusion, the sound quality delivered by the Philips SHP9500 Headphones is phenomenal. We tested the headphones with different headphone amplifiers too. However, we strongly feel you don’t need a headphone amplifier with these headphones. Even though the headphones are not bass-heavy, they can be a great choice for those who like treble. However, if you are an audiophile and budget is not an issue, you can consider one of these most expensive headphones for a stellar listening experience.
Noise Isolation
No, the Philips SHP9500 Headphones are not good at eliminating external noises. Since they have an open-back design, you will experience sound leakage, especially when using the headphones outdoors. Therefore, they are not suitable for studio use also as the microphone can pick up the leaking sound and lead to disturbance during recordings. For studio recording, you should look at the best studio headphones.
Usage
The Philips SHP9500 headphones are perfect for casual use. You can use them for listening to music or watching movies at home. As already mentioned above, they are not suitable for studio recording or outdoor use. Also, if you are planning to wear these headphones while working out or running, we suggest you look for headphones that are more stable. Bone conduction headphones can be a good choice for working out.
Surprisingly, many gaming enthusiasts are also using these headphones for their comfort. One of the gamers on our team says, “The Philips SHP9500 Headphones are so comfortable and light that you can wear them for hours together without feeling any weight on your headphones. Even though the open-back headphones leak sound, I don’t mind using them as I stay alone and noise isolation is not a must-have feature for me.” The wide soundstage also makes them popular in the gaming world.
Connectivity
The Philips SHP9500 headphones comprise a 3.5 mm jack. The headphones’ wire feels durable; however, the kinks take time to go. If you are not convinced with the length of the wire, you can buy one of the best headphone extension cables to solve the issue.
Portability
As you can see in the image, the headphones are not portable. They are pretty massive and you cannot fold them. Moreover, the ear cups also don’t stay flat leaving no scope to save space. The size makes these headphones difficult to carry around, especially if you are a frequent traveler. While you can carry them in your backpack, there’s no way the headphones will fit into your handbag. And, even if you try fitting them, you’ll end up damaging them. Also, our experts were really disappointed as the Philips SHP9500 headphones were not delivered with a case or pouch (something that they requested us to highlight in the Philips SHP9500 headphones review).
View on Amazon: Philips Audio Philips SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones
Final Words
Now that you have read the detailed Philips SHP9500 headphones review, what do you think about the product? We have discussed each and every feature of the headphones in detail.
Once again, it’s not easy to find such high-end headphones at such a pocket-friendly price. The quality is excellent and the headphones are perfect for listening to all kinds of music (except music with heavy bass). If you are looking for heavy-duty headphones for casual use or gaming, we suggest you buy the Philips SHP9500 Headphones without thinking too much. Imagine, we tested the headphones almost every day for 30 days. We didn’t leave a single feature untried.
We sincerely hope you found the Philips SHP9500 Headphones review useful. If you still feel we have missed out on anything, please feel free to add it in the comment section below.
