Philips SHP9500/00 Headphone

Very good previous review by Dale and we do need regular neutral reviewers who inform us truthfully about headphones in order to help us make an informed choice. It is hard to get demonstrations of most headphones as shops and retail outlets carry only the more well known headphone brands and even then a limited selection only. As such we need accurate reviews. Buying headphones is difficult whether we want one good pair or whether we collect them. I have over time acquired many headphones, the pick of the bunch being the PSB M4U-1, the Yamaha PRO 400, AKG K551, Yamaha HPH-200, and the AKG Y50. Stupid hobby as I can only wear one pair at a time, but that is what I did with my spare cash. Maybe I should have bought just one pair of expensive headphones. Still I have had great fun and can make true comparisons. At the present price of £52.95 these headphones represents the best value of any headphone I have ever bought. The Philips SHP-9500 is as good as any of the other pairs I have mentioned here. To be the equal of the PSB M4U-1 means the SHP-9500 is one heck of a headphone. It is my headphone of choice at the moment. The clarity and soundstage are unbeatable. Bass is well defined and realistic for an open headphone, with no wooliness or bleed whatsoever. It does lack the thump of the open Yamaha HPH-200, the closed Yamaha PRO 400 and PSB's though. Unlike the AKG K551's which have and accurate but comparatively diluted bass, the SHP-9500 has perhaps the most accurate bass I have heard in a headphone, truthful and satisfying which adds something extra that the other headphones cannot. But if you like a really thumping bass these will not be for you. Please remember that. The high end and midrange are just right though. They just sound right. As a whole the accuracy, spaciousness and musicality present the enjoyment factors in abundance. They have an astonishing sound which never sounds harsh at all. If there is one place they cannot match either the PSB's or the Yamaha PRO 400's is in pace. Both are faster than the SHP-9500 and therefore at times more exciting. The other factors make up for this though. The PSB's have 'room feel' technology. This means the bass is adapted to sound as if the headphones were a standing speaker. All recorded music is developed by being played back through speakers, so according to PSB headphones must account for that. Even accounting for that, the SHP-9500's have a profoundly musical sound, that taken overall, present the most enticing and listenable sound of all these headphones. They are also the most comfortable of all these headphones alongside the Yamaha HPH-200's. They, like the AKG K551's, are a VERY large headphone but lightweight and built really well. Most who listen these headphones will agree they are wonderful. Some say they are as good and maybe better than the Philips Fidelio series and that really is an indictment of excellence. Importantly remember these are open back headphones, very open headphones. Other people will hear very loudly what you play through them and they will not stop you hearing the sounds of the world around you, but if you love music and privately sit at home listening, then these headphones are a joy.

Yes Philips do the mediocre. They have also done some incredible stuff. Those of you who heard the Philips Motion Feedback Speakers will doubtless know what I'm talking about. Those of you who have heard the Fidelio S2 IEMs will also know what I'm talking about. The SHP9500s aren't perfect. The bass rolls off a bit but what is there is ample and good tight quality. The mids are clear and vocals are well presented. The treble doesn't extend as far as some more expensive headphones but I don't feel deprived. The balance of the sonics is just about perfect. Enough treble for good detail, a well presented mid range and a fair thump at the bottom end. Build quality is excellent at this price. The headphones are huge. They fit easily over the biggest ears. They are light and comfortable, maybe a little warm. They bleed both ways so just be aware of where you wear them. The sound stage is accurate enough for these to be the choice of many gamers for RPG. You should buy these even if you have better headphones. I have Grado SR80s and Monolith M560s but the Philips beats them on ease of use and comfort. Just fling these on your head. The sound is good enough for me not to feel anguish at the downgrade. EDIT: Encouraged by the extraordinary sound from these relatively cheap headphones, I ordered a pair of their 'audiophile' cousins the Philips Fidelio X2HRs. I'm sorry to say the Fidelios went back. Compared to the SHPs the bass on the Fidelios could become overwhelming. The Fidelios were also heavier and not as comfortable. Don't get me wrong the Fidelios are a good pair of headphones but not sufficiently better than the SHPs to warrant spending the extra cash and having both headphones on the shelf.

These are my first open back headphones and were bought after reading extensive reviews . I am not an audiophile or someone who analyses every aspect of the sound frequency in minute detail . What is important to me is clarity of sound and overall soundstage listening to everything from choral to metal . The 9500 are about as good as it gets at this price point and in my opinion better than the similarly priced Sony MDR-7506 which I have also tried . The sound is clear , bass is perfect for me ( not intrusive but perfectly audible ) and mids and highs are clear with only a touch of sibilance on a very few tracks . The soundstage is open and airy as you would expect from open back cans and this you either prefer to the more compressed sound from closed back or you don't . Consequently they leak a lot of sound and can annoy people you live with . Volume powered from my android Samsung is just about adequate for me and I would have preferred to be able to crank it up just a little more . Comfort is superb . They are quite loose on me so long sessions are pain free but bear in mind I have a head like a peanut . They can be adjusted to accommodate all sizes and the clamp is not overly tight . Overall the 9500s are not absolutely perfect in sound quality but up to 150 to 200 quid I don't think you will find better . I have no idea what I would ever upgrade to as sound preference is so subjective that I would be scared to spend a lot of money ie £200+ on someone else's perspective. For example , I was nearly at the point of buying Sony's Wh1000xm3 or 4 until I came across some absolutely damning "expert" reviews on their sound quality . So , the search for perfection continues but in the meantime these Phillips SHP9500 will do me just fine .

Resumindo: o melhor headphone aberto dessa faixa de preço! O acabamento é simples, porém honesto; além de ser extremamente leve e confortável. O som é limpo e preciso, com um amplo "palco sonoro". Excelente para escutar música, trabalhar com áudio/mixagem, estudar, jogar, assistir filmes/séries; independentemente do uso você estará bem servido aqui. A título de exemplo, você consegue perceber diversas nuances ao ouvir músicas/sons com ele, como a presença de instrumentos e/ou detalhes do ambiente que quase sempre não ficam evidentes em um fone comum/fechado que geralmente abusa dos graves para tentar te impressionar (tal como os famigerados headsets da Razer por exemplo). Falando em graves, este com certeza não é o "forte" dele pois a proposta é justamente ser algo mais neutro e fidedigno, e é justamente por isso que ele brilha e é tão amado pelos audiófilos. Os graves são singelos, se você realmente gosta de um grave exagerado e sempre presente possivelmente essa não é a opção para você. Pelo fato de ser um fone aberto o isolamento do barulho externo também é mínimo, ou seja, vai do seu gosto e/ou necessidade; lembrando que o som que você escuta também vaza para fora. Ou seja: se tiver alguém do seu lado dependendo do volume utilizado é bem provável que a pessoa escute o que você está ouvindo. Todavia, considero essa característica excelente para quem trabalha com locução/gravação de conteúdo por exemplo, pois você consegue ter noção de quão alto/baixo está falando sem precisar tirar o fone. Também é muito útil caso precise estar atento a alguém lhe chamar e/ou para receber alguma encomenda. Além disso, a característica de ser "aberto" é justamente o que faz com que o "palco sonoro" seja muito amplo e agradável. Essa sensação de que você está em um grande teatro e precisão de qual direção está vindo o som é estupenda! Eu particularmente adoro essa sensação de espacialidade. Por fim, justamente por não ter foco em graves e por ser aberto o fone é muito menos "cansativo": você não fica com dor de cabeça e/ou aqueles graves pesados ressoando no seu canal auditivo. É difícil expressar em palavras, mas tentando traduzir a experiência: é como se todo o "ouvir" ficasse mais suave e agradável no geral. Em fones fechados, em especial nos de baixa qualidade (que acabam abusando demais dos graves), a sensação é que o som fica super abafado e/ou todo "embolado"; fica difícil definir o que é o que. Aqui não, o som é cristalino, claro e direto! Também existe um acessório/microfone destacável de outra marca (V-Moda BoomPro) que teoricamente dá para ser adaptado à parte caso você faça questão de convertê-lo em um "headset". Como uso um microfone USB à parte para gravação então não tive a oportunidade de testá-lo dessa maneira, mas dizem que funciona bem. Neste caso vale colocar na balança se vale a pena. Saí de um Astro A40 TR + MixAmpPRO e não me arrependo!

Just get a Tube Amp and all the negative reviews fades away. This is an awesome headphone with mid focused tuning. bass is enough for classical, jazz and country. Bass heads stay away.

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.

J'ai acheté ce casque pour compléter ma collection des Fidelio X2 et X3. Je n'en attendais rien de particulier puisque j'avais déjà ses successeurs a priori plus aboutis... Eh bien, c'est une excellente surprise : ce casque est très léger, très agréable à porter, confortable et le revêtement des coussinets ne m'a jamais irrité (j'ai pu lire ce reproche fait par d'autres acheteurs). J'aime beaucoup le filé de son aigu et la douceur du medium. Il est vrai qu'il est (peut-être) un peu court dans le grave, mais rien de rédhibitoire, et je suppose que ça dépend du genre de musique écoutée ; pas gênant pour le classique (chambre et symphonique) ou le jazz (y compris les bands formations)... Je ne me prononcerai pas pour les autres genres musicaux. Il peut saturer à haut volume, mais il faut y aller fort ! Bref, ses possibles défauts sont amplement rachetés par une couleur musicale que je trouve très agréable. C'est en quelques sortes une version allégée du X2 que j'affectionne particulièrement. C'est, à mon avis, un très bon choix.

Ich habe diesen Artikel aufgrund der vielen guten Rezensionen bestellt und wurde nicht enttäuscht .Es wurde schnell geliefert und die sehr gute Qualität hat mich überrascht. +Tragekomfort. Dieser Artikel ist gewiss nicht der leichteste aber besonders bequem und angenehm zu tragen. Dies auch bei längeren Sitzungen. + Die Haptik und die verwendeten Materialien sind auch sehr gut . Zwar viel Plastik aber zum Preis angemessen hochwertig. Besonders gefallen mir die Hochmuscheln aus Textil, die sehr weich sind und sicherlich auch widerstandsfähig im täglichen Gebrauch. Die Verstellschiene aus Aluminium wirkt wertig und sieht sehr gut aus. + Der Klang ist ausgewogen. Die Bässe sind vorhanden und gewiss laut genug und angenehm trocken. Die Mitten und Höhen sind besonders transparent, luftig und leicht vordergründig. Insbesondere ist dies bei Klassicher Musik sehr angenehm. Insgesamt klingt dieser Kopfhörer sehr klar, detailreich und fein strukturiert . es ist einfach ein Genuss die Instrumentenbühne neu zu entdecken. Ich hatte ständig den direkten Vergleich mit dem Teufel Aureol real den ich abwechselnd zur Beurteilung eingesetzt habe. Das Klangbild des Teufel weiss auch sehr gut zu gefallen und ähnelt dem des Philips SHP 9500 sehr ,allerdings mit etwas mehr Bass und leicht höheren Lautstärkepegel als bei dem Philips. Der Unterschied ist meines Erachtens nur marginal . Ein wesentlicher Pluspunkt des Philips ist jedoch der weitaus bessere Tragekomfort. Die Anpresskraft des Teufels am Kopf ist viel höher und war mir nach kurzer Zeit unangenehm. Ferner lässt sich die Verstellschiene des Teufel schlecht Justieren und bleibt auch nicht richtig arretiert . Beim Philips sind diese Nachteile gar kein Thema . Fazit: der Philips Kopfhörer bleibt und der Teufel Aureol Real geht zurück . Ein besseres Kompliment kann man an den Philips nicht machen !!. Im übrigen sind beide Kopfhörer mit offener Architektur somit eignen sich diese überwiegend für den Hausgebrauch und nicht für außen weil die Musik von daneben sitzenden Personen tatsächlich sehr wohl deutlich wahrgenommen wird und als störend empfunden wird . Dies ist aber ein konstruktiver Merkmal aller Kopfhörer,die eine offene Bauweise haben. Sowohl der Philips wie auch der Teufel sind da ziemlich vergleichbar. Positiv ist dagegen dass die Musikalität bei einer offenen Bauweise viel transparenter und luftiger ist. Es ist auch deshalb kein Zufall, das alle hochpreisige bestens bewertete Kopfhörer fast alle eine offene Bauweise aufweisen. Als einziger Nachteil ist dass der Philips nur einen 3 m langen Kabel hat.Dieser ist aber mit einer 3,5mm Klinke bequem ein und aussteckbar und dadurch auch austauschbar.Ich kann nur dazu empfehlen,einen kürzeren Kabel von 1,5 m für mobile Geräte zusätzlich einzusetzen. dann ist die Ausstattung dieses Kopfhörer perfekt. Auch die Lautstärke am Handy oder Tablet ist mehr als aureichend. Wie denn es auch sei ist der Philips äußerst empfehlenswert und dazu auch bei Amazon sehr preiswert. Eine absolute klare Empfehlung und 5 Sterne für diese Preisleistung. Update oktober 2016 Ich bin immer noch mit diesem Kopfhörer zufrieden. Die Musikalität und Akustik sind eher noch leicht besser geworden. Etwas luftiger meine ich mit etwas besserer Instrumenten Bühne nach längerer Einspielzeit . Insbesondere gefällt mir als Brillenträger dass der Tragekomfort nach wie vor gut ist. nichts knarzt oder wurde ausgeleiert. Keine Sollbruchstelle die Probleme macht. Dies trotz regelmäßiger Benutzung 2/3 mal wöchentlich. Mittlerweile benütze diesen Kopfhörer auch viel am Handy mit Amazon Prime Musik. Eine sehr gute Konstellation mit absolut ausreichender Lautstärke dank der noch geringen Impedanz von 32 ohm. Sogar der Stoff der Ohrmuscheln ist noch im perfektem Zustand. Einziger Nachteil: bei schnellen Kopfbewegungen neigt der Kopfhörer dazu nach vorne zu kippen. Aber mit diesem Kopfhörer sollte man an sich musik im Sessel ruhig genießen. Dafür ist er gedacht und entwickelt worden. Weniger schön: der Preis hat sich mittlerweile verdoppelt aber dies trifft leider auf die gesamte Produktsparte zu. Trotzdem bleibt es immer noch aktuell auch vergleichsweise mit anderen Kopfhörern in ähnlicher oder sogar höherer Preislage eine sehr gute Empfehlung .