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Image © AmazonPhilips Shp9500
At a glance
- Brand
- Philips
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Fit
- open
- Connection
- Wireless
- Noise cancelling
- No
- Released
- 2014
Score breakdowngreat overall
Sound7.8
Value7.3
The HearWiki takeAI-condensed
The Philips SHP9500 is an affordable open-back headphone aimed at budget-conscious audiophiles, offering a balanced, accurate sound signature that doesn't require a dedicated amplifier. Its lightweight design and comfortable fit make it a solid choice for home listening, though it lacks modern conveniences like wireless connectivity or noise cancellation. With a 50mm dynamic driver and 32-ohm impedance, it pairs easily with most devices via its 3.5mm cable.
What works
- Excellent sound clarity and detail for the price
- Open-back design provides a wide, natural soundstage
- Lightweight and breathable for long listening sessions
- Easy to drive from phones or laptops without an amp
- Comfortable ear pads and headband for extended use
What doesn't
- No wireless or Bluetooth support; wired only
- No active noise cancellation or isolation
- Non-detachable cable and no inline controls
- Not foldable, making travel less convenient
Paraphrased from published reviews & specs - not an original hands-on test. Our AI disclosure.
Specifications
| Driver | 50 mm dynamic |
|---|---|
| Driver type | dynamic |
| Driver size | 50 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 |
| Impedance | 32 Ω |
Audio
| Driver | 50 mm dynamic |
|---|---|
| Driver type | dynamic |
| Driver size | 50 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 |
| Impedance | 32 Ω |
Wireless
| Multipoint pairing | No |
|---|
Battery
| Wireless charging | No |
|---|
Features
| Active noise cancelling | No |
|---|---|
| ANC type | none |
| Transparency mode | No |
| Companion app | No |
| Custom EQ | No |
| Wear detection | No |
| Controls | none |
Design
| Weight | 320 g |
|---|---|
| Water resistance | none |
| Foldable | No |
| Detachable cable | Yes |
| USB-C | No |
| Connector | 3.5 mm |
Where to buy
Retailers we matched to this exact model. Prices are periodic snapshots - the link always opens the retailer's current listing.
What the reviews said
1 source(s) feeding this product's score.
What YouTube reviewers say
Video reviews we found, each condensed to its verdict. They do feed the HearWiki score, at a measured weight below what a published written review carries.
The consensus
Positiveacross 6 videosReviewers overwhelmingly agree that the Philips SHP9500 offers exceptional value, with most praising its comfort, lightweight design, and open-back sound quality for both music and gaming.
Reviewers liked
- Excellent value for the price
- Very comfortable and lightweight for long sessions
- Great open-back sound quality for music and gaming
Reviewers flagged
- Ear pads are rough, shallow, and absorb sweat
- Plastic build feels brittle with a fragile swivel joint
- Slight sibilance or brightness in the highs; bass rolls off below 70Hz
14:15🟥Philips SHP9500 (AKA F'n Amazeballs)
The reviewer is extremely impressed with the Philips SHP9500, calling them the most comfortable headphones they've ever worn and praising their sound quality, which they compare favorably to the much more expensive Sennheiser HD600. They believe these $60 headphones are an incredible value and should be the default recommendation for anyone, regardless of budget. The only significant drawback mentioned is that the ear pads absorb sweat, but the reviewer still strongly recommends them.
PositiveWatch on YouTube
9:20Philips SHP9500 Review: REAL Budget Audiophile Gaming Headphone
The reviewer finds the Philips SHP9500 to be an exceptional value at around $80, offering impressive sound quality for music with a warm, airy, and detailed presentation, and strong gaming performance with good imaging. They praise its comfort, lightweight design, and detachable cable, though note some build quality concerns and a slightly rough ear pad fabric. Overall, they highly recommend it as a budget audiophile and gaming headphone.
PositiveWatch on YouTube
8:21Philips SHP9500 Review (you know where this is going)
9.5/10The reviewer highly recommends the Philips SHP9500 as an excellent value open-back headphone, praising its rich mid-range and wide soundstage for both music and gaming. He notes a slight sibilance in the 4-5kHz range and a bass roll-off below 70Hz, but considers these minor trade-offs at the price. He gives it a 9.5/10, calling it a personal favorite.
PositiveWatch on YouTube
8:33Phillips SHP9500 Review, ANY GOOD FOR GAMING?
The reviewer highly recommends the Philips SHP9500 as an excellent budget open-back headphone for gaming and general use, praising its comfort, lightweight design, and sound quality across multiple devices. They note minor issues with the rough fabric and shallow ear pads, as well as a potential durability concern with the swivel joint, but conclude it's an absolute steal at around $60.
PositiveWatch on YouTube
9:08Philips SHP9500 - Review
The reviewer finds the Philips SHP9500 to be a very good budget open-back headphone, with impressive build quality and comfort for the price, but notes that the sound is grainy and lacks detail compared to higher-end models. They recommend it only for those on a strict budget under $100, suggesting the Sennheiser HD 598 as a better option if you can spend a bit more.
MixedWatch on YouTube
5:17💡Is the Philips SHP9500 Worth Buying?! [Rabbit Hole Series]
The reviewer strongly recommends the Philips SHP9500 as an excellent value open-back headphone, praising its neutral and revealing sound, natural timbre, comfort, and impressive soundstage for the price. The only notable drawback is a slight brightness in the high-mid/treble region, but this is minor and does not detract from an overall positive verdict.
PositiveWatch on YouTube
Summaries are AI condensations of each video's own conclusion, not transcripts. Titles, thumbnails and view counts belong to their channels.
What owners say
A sample of buyer reviews, quoted as written. They aren't verified and they don't feed the HearWiki score - that comes from published reviews only.
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Where it sits in our rankings
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