Philips Audio SHP9500 HiFi Precision Stereo Over-Ear Headphones (Black)

These are excellent headphones but consider your usage. These are big open-backed headphones. They leak sound and don't guard against outside noise much. These are for your usage at your desk/couch when playing games (no mic) or listening to music/watching tv. They are big and comfortable and do all of that really well but at that price there are cheaper headphones that also do that well. I think these have a very neutral sound profile. They handle whatever you throw at them but it isn't like bass or treble or anything will explode at you. In that sense, if what you really want are Sennheiser or Beats, then you should buy those because they sound different at a fundamental level. It isn't a "quality" thing, it's just a preference thing. That's fine! I just want to you have a sense of what you'll be getting and you should understand these headphones have a different profile from the other brands, and they sound different from Skullcandy as well. I guess my only concern with these headphones, having accepted that they are for home use, is that I'm not driving them properly. They don't get that loud compared to other headphones I have. I'm running them out of my tv monitor or laptop. I think I'm leaving a lot on the table without additional power for these things. I imagine they'd get louder and brighter, in which case they'd be truly marvelous. As it stands, they sound wonderful (distinct, but wonderful) and for the value hit above their weight class. If you've been in the $40-$50 range these are a clear improvement-- that much is clear. Probably with an amp they'd be even more. The sound is very neutral. A lot of high-end brands play up warm profiles and deep bass. I guess these could have deep bass, but the warm, bass-y sound stage you hear on headphones that cost more is a design choice. You may like that! These are designed to be clear and crisp and they are. At the same time, because they aren't getting super loud, and don't necessarily do anything to "grab" me with the listening experience like an artificial bass or a "comfy" sound stage, I find myself frequently using cheaper headphones to get that quick hit of warm bass and (overly?) engineered sound-stage. Don't get me wrong: I've used these nearly every day for years (2nd pair). I always come back to these headphones. But I can't help but think they are also designed for more than just laptop or TV monitor power. If you are fine with what you have, you may not be blown away by these headphones unless you specifically want something clear or very comfortable for a very specific use. Beyond that, these are great.

Great headphones at a reasonable cost. I love music and need hi-fidelity but can't afford serious studio monitor headphones etc. I've gone through others and it's always something, too hot, too tight, smash ears, sound off, etc. I decided I needed "around the ear" not on the ear, and open back to allow breathability. I got these about a week ago and love them. They're light and comfortable, don't overheat your ears, don't smash them, and they sound good. 5 stars.

The philips shp9500....is overall a great headphone for this price. It gets plenty loud. Its clear, has crisp audio, and very balanced sound. Do no believe the people who say this has no bass. What you have to understand is that this is an open-back headphone, the sound can freely leak out and theres not a crazy seal like most consumer headphones. If you have never heard hifi audio in an openback, you must give yourself some time to get acclimated to the way natural sound should be. There is such a thing as Brain burn in but not headphone burn in. The only real knock I can have on them is a personal one. The fabric on the earpads is rough in texture, and I am bald with facial hair, so if I move it around too much it can cause the slightest scratchiness. Thats the only knock. They are super lightweight, comfortable headphones. Tons of this is subjective to each person. There is hate for this headphone online and there is love for it online. You really do have to just bite the bullet and try it out yourself. Personally I love using this as my daily driver and all rounder. I've had the Sennhesier HD600 before and these get me back to most that way. These sound a bit more 'fun' (and I mean just a bit) than the very neutral 600s. I highly recommend to anyone starting their journey or even just curious.

Wow! I am really surprised at how true the hype is -- I just received these headphones today, and as I was listening to them, I felt compelled to come write this review because I am so happy with the way they sound. I love good sounding audio. I'm kinda picky about it. But I increasingly dislike the term "audiophile," and not being independently wealthy, I don't own much gear. So, I try to make my purchases wisely. That's how I wound up with the SHP9500s. A little background: My first "real" headphones were Audio Technica ATH-M30s (the original generation, not the current M30X). I probably bought ATs back around 2003 or so, and they were pretty much my only cans for 15 years. They were beat to hell, but always never gave me any trouble. And I thought they sounded just fine. Since they were starting to get pretty worn out, I decided it was time to upgrade. So a few years ago, I bought a Schiit Fulla 2 DAC/amp combo and some Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pros (250 ohm). I never knew how much I was missing with the ATH-M30s until I started using the DT 770s. It was beyond night and day. The DT 770s have been my daily drivers for a couple years now. I love them; they really do sound so nice. I think they're beginning to be at the point of diminishing returns, though - if I start to spend much more than I did for the DT 770s, I probably won't notice nearly the improvement I did when I went from the ATH-M30s to the 770s. But, the 770s are closed-back headphones. I had never really tried open-back headphones. I heard open cans tend to have better sound stages, can be more comfortable, and of course make it easier to hear your surroundings (this can be bad and good - but there are times when I need to be aware of what other people are doing, in an office environment, for example, so that's why I consider it a "good" thing). Anyway, while the DT 770s aren't necessarily uncomfortable, they're definitely noticeable and can get kind of tiresome after an extended session. So, I decided it was high time to try some open-back headphones, and the SHP9500 kept popping up with rave reviews. When black Friday came around, I decided to nab 'em. I almost pulled the trigger on the more expensive Philips Fidelio X2HR, which were also on sale, but the SHP9500 seemed like a sure bet based on the sheer number of great reviews, and money was is tight, anyway. Plus, there are those who say the 9500s are less colored or "V" shaped than the X2HRs, and I tend to prefer headphones that don't color the sound too much. TL;DR - My headphone progression has been Audio Technica ATH-M30 > Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (250 ohm) > Philips SHP9500. The DT 770 Pros are arguably several "grades" better than the 9500s, and easily 2x the price. But these 9500s sound *almost* as good -- really. DT 770s are closed-back, these 9500s are open-back. The sound stage is slightly disappointing on the 9500s - I thought it would be better since they're open-back, but I think the DT 770s have a better stage. Definitely less bass with the 9500s, but its still good bass! The SHP9500s are very clear, crisp, and detailed. Overall, there is just a tad less "depth" and "body" to the sound when compared to my DT 770s - and less rumble in the bass - but it is _so close_ in overall quality - and more comfortable than the DT 770s - that these SHP9500s are worth buying for everyday use, backup use, a 2nd pair of cans to keep at the office - whatever. I'm already thinking about buying a second pair! They're that good. That said, I still have a lot more listening and comparison to do, so this review may be subject to change. Also, make sure to check the prices. Around $50-60, they're a steal. Much more than that, I'd consider putting my money toward something higher-end.

I have a pair of Grado SR-60's (the original, not i, is, or e, with probably over 2000 hours of listening time over the years) with the "G-cush" foam earpads that are used on the very high end Grados. I have been listening to these Philips SHP-9500 and they sound better in every department than my Grados, except a bit in soundstage. When I first bought the SHP-9500s, I thought they were no where near as good. While the bass was better (bass definitely isn't something you come to expect from any Grados I've heard), the mids and highs were harsh sounding. I was really disappointed because I had read so many good things about these headphones. However, I'm a real believer in "break-in" on stereo equipment. So, I let the SHP-9500s break-in overnight at the loudest volume my DAC/amp could handle without distortion, a total of about 6 hours. Even that little time really made a large difference. Now, while the bass is still strong (but not overbearing), the mids and highs have smoothed out and, IMO, now exceed those of my SR-60s (based on side-by-side) listening tests, using the same playlist/amp. By comparison, the Grados, while they have a slightly better soundstage, don't have anywhere near the fullness of sound (from bass to highs and everything in between) that the SHP-9500s now exhibit. I'd even go so far as to say the Grados sound a bit "tinny" by comparison. If the SHP-9500s have improved this much in just 5-10 hours of listening, I would imagine that there will not be any comparison between the two after 50-100 hours of listening. I should also mention that the SHP-9500s are a bit heavier than the Grados. The Grados, especially with the G-Cush ear pads, are so light and comfortable you can easily forget they are there. The SHP-9500s feel about 25-50% heavier, but you can still forget you are wearing them. They are very comfortable, but I find that the earpads are slightly too shallow for my, apparently, "Dumbo ears". I find them comfortable, but I am reminded they are there because of this. I have a bit of a large head (at least that is what my kids say), but the SHP-9500s can accommodate my head with about 50% of the adjustment to spare. I can't imagine there are many people out there whose head would be too large for these headphones. On the other hand, the SHP-9500s are probably not appropriate for people with smaller heads. My 14 year old daughter tried these on while studying and they kept falling off whenever she tilted her head forward. I can feel them try to fall forward when I'm wearing them (kept on my head because of my ears), but they don't have enough clamping force for smaller heads. Please note that these headphones also appear to be more efficient than my old Grado SR-60s. The volume, at any given level appears to be about 15-25% louder, more than what you'd expect from the published "ohm resistance" for each headphone (Grados=32 ohms, SHP-9500s=30 ohms). Definitely noticeable and very welcome while using with my smartphone. All-in-all, I think these are a FANTASTIC value and would make great replacements for any Grado SR-60s (including the i, is, and e generations of these headphones. I can't say how the SHP-9500s would compare to higher-end Grados as it has been ~15 years since the last time I listened to a pair of SR-80s and a pair SR-125s. Please keep in mind that the SHP-9500s are "open-back" headphones. Because of this, you will be able to clearly hear sounds from, and leak sounds out to, your environment. These are not appropriate headphones in quiet settings. They have a standard, detachable cable that can easily be replaced. The included cable does not allow for phone calls. However, a replacement cable with microphone can easily and cheaply allow you to use these with your phone for calls: VOJO Aux Cord for Car 3.5mm Auxiliary Audio Cable with Mic / Microphone 4ft Coiled HOTLINE [Black], Premium Metal Shell for iPhone 6 6s Plus, Tangle-free . I have tested this cord and it works fine. I grew up when "Philips" was synonymous with cheap/junky, but pricy (for what you got) electronics. Imagine my surprise after listening to these headphones. At this price, they have no business sounding this good! Hope this helps!

I bought these back in 2020 and had been using them ever since for all my music listening and gaming use. Last Thursday they were on their last legs and the right piece fell off completely, due to me putting them back on and off every morning and night (sometimes I am a little rough with them). I love listening with these headphones, the sound out of the box is very clear , not muddy at all so it's plug in and play. For reference, I listen to a lot of rock/alternative so if you're looking for something specific with bass / listen to hardcore or EDM music then it might not be for you. The clamping isn't too tight for me at least, so it's comfortable even with glasses on. I bought another brand to see if it would be any better, but it was only more expensive. After a day of using the other brand, I had to order these again. So glad I did as the quality is just as good as I got it since then. If you're looking for something more on the budget side, good quality build, and good sound, then this is the one.

I have had these for 5 years. They’re perfect. I love the sound and the comfort. Since I bought it, I have never needed or wanted another pair. I can literally wear it for long hours and have no headaches. I use it for listening to music, gaming, watching videos and for calls. So no audiophile sorta thing. Also, I have a separate mic so I didn’t need a mic attachment. The cable is long and reliable. There were times when I thought the headphones broke but it was just the cable. This cable is superman (durable af) because it still works after it got squished on my table legs, my chair wheels, or the little tube protector on the jack loosens (I just had to slide it back on). The original cable still works to this day (I hope I didn’t jinx it). I’m not sure if it’s just my cable. Why am I writing a review now? It’s because recently I got a conch ear piercing. It’s been 2 weeks and the headphones do not squish my ear and cause discomfort or pain on my ear piercing like I was worried about like a week ago. The headphone is not tight on my head and it does slide down a tinie winie bit but I like it loose like this compared to my Bose QC. I like the design and color. When I purchased this in 2020, I just wanted a pair that sounded really good, provided extreme comfort, durable, open-back, and did not give me listening fatigue. I don’t play loud sounds on it. Just the general healthy volume. If you’re like me, I highly recommend these pair. I think these are one of those you buy for life and grow to appreciate its durability.

For the past year, I had heard, SO much about these headphones. I have seen them reviewed time and time again on YouTube. I hardly heard anything negative about them. However, for the longest time, they could not be bought because they were not available. For the ones, which were, they were way overpriced. Then, in March, they became available on Amazon for a nice price. I jumped on it. Now, that I have them, are they worth the hype? DESIGN/FEATURES: The drivers of the SHP9500 are 50mm, which is large. The frequency response is an outstanding, 12-35,000 Hz, which is 1,500 Hz short of Hi-Res territory. Nevertheless, they still sound superb. The impedance is 32 ohms. For PS4 gamers, 32 ohms is low enough for the controller to drive the headphones with the controller volume set to max. The maximum input power is only 200mW, meaning a user will have to be careful when using an amp. A DAC can be used but is not needed. Of course, the sound will be improved and of course, increasingly loud. The design of the SHP9500 is very cool in my opinion. Some could argue that it looks cheap, which they sort of do. However, they have some style to them. The headband is aluminum, cased with a hard, matte black, plastic. Atop of the headband is a glossy-black, Philips insignia. The sides of the headband have measuring notches and a hole, which shows a number, indicating the level, which the headband can be adjusted to. Underneath the headband is a cushion, made of breathable, dual-layered, cloth fabric for head support. On the bottom, inside the right and left side of the headband, a plastic tag with R and L can be seen on the corresponding sides of the headband. This is the part of the design, which I love the most. The ear cups are made of plastic. In addition, the speakers are made of aluminum. On each speaker, R and L are painted in white on the corresponding sides of the speakers. Personally, I believe that the design feature is cool and unique. The speakers are transparent enough, where the drivers can be seen. The ear cushions are over-the-ear and made of the same, breathable, double-layered, cloth fabric. BASS/MID-BASS/SUB-BASS: There is bass. When playing games, which have explosions, I can hear that boom. However, the bass is inconsistent, overall. With that said, the sub-bass is non-existent. I could not hear much of a subwoofer-like rumble when I was playing certain games, which had explosions. HIGHS: The SHP9500 is bright sounding headphones. The sound is crystal clear, overall. The treble highs can be grainy at times. However, there Results and ears vary. For example, Call Of Duty Black Ops 4 is a prime example, which has lots of sharp sounds. Gunshots are loud but clear. Each time bullets hit, there a loud, thumping sound, which follows with a loud, “squish”, when a kill is achieved. I found having the volume high while hearing this sound can be harsh of the ears. The high end of female voices sounds great. Hearing female voices on Call Of Duty Black Ops 4 is another. Hearing my female character, Battery’s voice lines sound great. “Cluster grenade, enjoy!” “Splash!” “Dropped!” “All right, boom time.” “All talk!” “Doggone!” Those are some of my favorite voice lines of hers. Once, Battery ran inside of an open-ended bay of the Summit map. Battery said a voice line, while outside of the bay. Then, her voice became magnified, as she entered the bay. Plus, there was an echo of Battery's voice. The authenticity of the echo was unbelievable and nearly, scary. This was a good example of a transition between mid to high sounds. IMAGING/SOUNDSTAGE: The SHP9500 has good imaging. They handle directional sounds, exceptionally, well. With that said, I tested the performance of the SHP9500 while playing Call Of Duty Black Ops 4. The best map, which showcases the performance of the best is the “Occupation” map, which is a close-quarters. I could hear what was going on and direction, where the action was taking place on the map, whether it was dialogue, gunshots or explosions. Of course, footsteps could be heard, as well. It seems the sound magnifies toward closer sounds coming from a different direction. For example, each time my character looks in one direction, the sound increasingly amplifies in the direction and less in the opposite direction, where lesser actions were taking place. The soundstage is great. Of course, they are open-back, so that is expected. The airiness and open sound of the SHP9500 is great. Very spread out. I played a match on the very open. “Gustav Cannon” map. I could hear sounds, very clear from across the map at a far distance. Not to mention, sounds from a distant, sounded a bit closer than they actually were. LOWS/MIDS: I must say, the SHP9500 picks up subtle sounds, pretty good. Hearing shells hit the floor, coming from a blasting shotgun is addictive to listen to, strangely. On the Morocco map, outside of hearing the common sounds, during game-play, I could hear the subtle, clinking and breakage of pottery being kicked around, while traversing the area. I could barely, hear this with other headsets, but in more abundance with the SHP9500. The unbelievable sound of crunching, as my character was trampling through the deep snow, cracking of the ice or sounds of moving water, while swimming on the Icebreaker map. Once, my character, Battery, ran inside of an open-ended bay of the Summit map. Battery was communicating, while outside and finished talking, while going inside of the bay. There was an echo of Battery's voice while speaking inside of that open-ended bay. The authenticity of the echo was unbelievable and nearly, scary. MIC (OPTIONAL): An external mic, such as a V-Moda Boom Mic Pro will have to be purchased to utilize, while online gaming. The prices vary. I have not tried this, yet, as I do not have a mod-mic at this time. I do know, with one attached, it should perform exceptionally, well. VERDICT: Overall, the SHP9500 is a great headset. For the past year, when constantly, hearing about these, I was wondering, if these lived up to the hype and they did. Never in my wildest dreams, I would ever think Philips would make such an outstanding headset. They were smart to put these back on the market and at an affordable price. With that being said, I would advise anyone looking for a headset to pick these up, just in case they are no longer available, as they were, prior to resurfacing. Honestly, I believe my search for the “perfect” headset(s) is over.